Sessions

Lifestyle, Newborn Sessions

Jaiden | Newborn, Lifestyle Session | Brockville, ON

My friend Ashley, contacted me a couple of months ago asking about gifting a newborn session to a friend for her baby shower.  Is that not the best gift idea ever?  You want something your friends will cherish for, literally, the rest of their life?? Get them a session with a photographer you love.  I’m certain that they will NOT be disappointed!

After going over some details with Tiffany over email over the last couple months, I got the news that baby had arrived and I finally got to meet Tiffany, Vijay and their dark and handsome little guy, Jaiden.

I had all the heart eyes with these three.  Totally brought be back to the days of navigating new parenthood and figuring out the ins and outs of life with a little boy.

Vijay had to take a phone call, so Tiffany and her little man got a little one on one time and let me tell you, she’s already got an amazing start to this mom thing!  Watching her and Jaiden interact made my heart swell.

Little mister Jaiden wasn’t too into the whole sleeping thing, and you know what, that was totally ok!  I mean, just look at those eyes!

A little fussiness was no problem, with daddy to the rescue. Some cuddles and a diaper change and this little boy was right as rain and ready for his close up.

Almost was able to get him to sleep, but he was nosey and stayed awake until I left..typical.  Mr. Jaiden, It was such a pleasure to meet you and your family.  I hope to see you again sometime!

 

Take a look at Jaiden’s social media video announcement

 


 

 

Lifestyle, Newborn Sessions

Claire | Newborn, Lifestyle | Brockville, ON

Claire’s Parents, Courtney and Rob, are teachers so they’re on summer vacation right now.  That’s pretty awesome timing to be figuring out life with a newborn, I’d say! And what a lucky little girl, to have both of her parents so available for the first couple months of her life.

This session definitely had that easy, laid back, summer time feel to it.  Little Miss Claire was wide awake when we started, but cool as a cucumber and made it super easy to get really genuine shots of her and her family in their own surroundings, just doing their thing.

I seriously could kick myself for not having more “real life” photos like these.  I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, this time is just so special and often you’re still in the “fog” of new parenthood.  Having these beautiful memories to look back on a little snippet of the sweetness that is life with a new baby is such a gift!

Claire’s nursery was like walking into a bit of a dream, for me! Having 3 boys, 3 nephews and ONE niece 3000 km’s away, pink hasn’t exactly been a colour that we have seen much of, and Claire’s room was the sweetest shade of baby pink and beautifully decorated with white and gold accents

I was hoping all the cozy cuddle time with her parents would knock her out so that I could do a couple photos of just little Claire, but no such luck. Turns out, though, that Daddy has the magic touch and fairly soon after some time with Rob, her eyes were getting heavy and she passed out with enough time to get some solo shots of this beauty.

Thanks Fullarton’s for inviting me to capture this special time in your life story.  It was a pleasure and I hope to see you again sometime!

 

Take a look at Claire’s social media video announcement


 

 

Family Sessions

The Eyre’s | A Multigenerational Farm Family | Athens, ON

I was invited out to Eyredale Farms to document and help celebrate some pretty exciting milestones in this farm family’s life.  Being on a farm, myself, sessions like this are near and dear to my heart.  Seeing something that’s been built up by a generation of hard labourers, who often stared with so little, handed down to the next equally hard working and passionate generation – There’s just something so special about it.

Upon arriving at the house, I was greeted with a smile by Mr. Lawerence Eyre, who is lovingly called “Poppy,” by the vast majority of the family members.  They told me about the events that brought them to wanting some family photos.  The first of which is that Poppy will be celebrating his 90th birthday this year! Wow!  Mr. Eyre was born on the farm in 1927.  In 1952, he took over the farm after his parent’s moved off that makes this year #65 of farm ownership. A couple years later, he married the lovely Thelma.  They celebrate 61 years of wedded bliss this year.  If that isn’t the best example of wonderful marriage, I’m not sure what is.

A handful of kids and a few years later, those kids now have kids and some are following in their father’s and Poppy’s footsteps. This was another cause for celebration – Another generation of Eyre’s gearing up for a future in Ag.

The weather wasn’t ideal, but with kids in school and home for the long weekend and the busyness of summer on the farm ahead, we persevered. A little rain never hurt anyone anyway, right?!  AND you can hardly even tell that it was actually raining.  If it wasn’t for the water drops on their grey shirts, I bet you would have never known!

So thanks for being troopers, Eyer family.  It was a pleasure to have a little glimpse into your farm family dynamic.  Happiest of early birthday’s to “Poppy”!  I wish him another year filled with many, many blessings.  You’ve certainly got a lot to be proud of, with that beautiful family that you and your wife have created!

 

“A farm is more than land and crops, it is a family’s heritage and future.”

 

 

 


 

 

Family Sessions, Lifestyle, Newborn Sessions, Sessions

Another little Frisby | Lifestyle Newborn Session | Stittsville, ON

It’s always interesting to see who, from my past, will show up as a client some day.  I knew Kendra from when I was in high school.  She was the office admin, and since I was such a great kid 😉 I can’t say that I saw her all that often.

With the way that social media is these days, I’ve been able to watch Tim and Kendra’s family grow via Facebook posts and photos (Isn’t that so fun…and at the same time so odd!) but I actually got to meet them all in person the other day and fill in a few of the first pages of little Isla’s story.

Being the baby in a family of 6 sure has it’s perks.  This little girly was snuggled and loved up by her bigger siblings the whole time that I was there.  We even used her as a bargaining chip in the relative chaos that is a family session with four littles under the age of five.  She sat quite contently, wide awake.  Didn’t want to miss a thing, until I was finally able to get her asleep…at the very end of the session – Go figure!

It’s easy to see from these photos, that this new little babe is a welcome addition!  BUT you never quite know what is going to happen when you are dealing with kids, and kids with a new baby sister, at that.  Some times, things get a little crazy you just need a little time out with mom all to your self.  One of the reason’s why I love lifestyle sessions is to capture moments like the one below. It doesn’t always have to be all about the frame-worthy photo (though, I would totally frame this one).  Sometimes it’s about remembering the realness of a new chapter and how it effects everyone.

I know, in my own life, if I’m not intentional about being in the photo, there would be no photos of me with my kids.  I always try to find a little time for just mom time, just dad time and time for the two of them together without other siblings, which can also get missed, especially when you’re the youngest of 4.

Isn’t it a beautiful thing, watching families grow and seeing how each one finds their place inside a family dynamic?  Like I said earlier, it’s not always “pretty” or “instagram-worthy,” perhaps, but it’s real life and that’s a beautiful, amazing blessing.

 

Congrats, Frisby family!



Newborn Sessions, Sessions

A rainbow is a promise | Newborn | Hamilton, ON

I always consider it a great privilege to be able to document times in your life that are so tender and fleeting and precious. Newborn sessions are ones that I hold so dear to my heart for that reason.  This session, though, was a little different for me – sacred almost.  You see, this baby holds a special place in my heart.  Friends, this is my youngest nephew, Liam.

Now every baby is a beautiful gift from God, I know that to be true.  Liam, though, is a special reminder of God’s great faithfulness, that sorrow doesn’t last forever and the difference a year can make. You see, a little over a year ago, my sister-in-law, Karen, gave birth to another baby.  On February 12, 2016,  Karen and Will said both hello and goodbye to their first baby boy, Ethan. Ethan was diagnosed, in utero, with a fairly advanced case of trisomy 18  early on in the pregnancy.  After hearing their options, Karen and Will made a brave and noble choice to continue Ethan’s pregnancy as long as the Lord would allow, hoping to be able to spend even a few moments with their boy, while his heart was still beating. Unfortunately at 32 weeks, Ethan’s heart could no longer keep up and he was born still, into the arms of Jesus.

BUT, “sorrow lasts only for a night.” We found out a few months later that we would be welcoming another nephew or niece into the family.  This time, it was, “a very normal, boring pregnancy.” Eight or so months later, we welcome this very handsome new nephew into our lives. What a remarkable and beautiful gift!

Needless to say, this session with this precious, new family was one that I won’t soon forget.  The added bonus of quality Aunt/Nephew bonding time was icing on the cake.

“After the worst storms, come the most beautiful rainbows.”