I'm skeered of the interweb

For someone who spends so much time on the internet and computers, I'm still a little afraid of technology. But, I took the leap and have a Facebook page. I'm still figuring out how to use it though.

Ack. What if no-one wants to be my friend?

Canadian Style Picnic

It was so cold here in December, and then we had a week or so break, where it got up to freezing. I was so sick of being housebound, I took 4 children under the age of 3 outside one day. It took us half an hour to get on snowsuits etc. but I didn't care.

On the last day it was (sort of) warm, Gabe asked to go outside to play. I couldn't bear the thought of coming in for lunch, so I dragged the picnic table out and brought lunch to the back yard.

This is how we picnic in this country!

Doesn't Gabe look like Relic with his hat like that? He doesn't like having it over his ears.

Gabe is into spitting/raspberries at the moment. I've got him trained not to do it at the kitchen table, only in the bathroom or outside. He took full advantage.

I love this one. The light at this time of year is beautiful. If only it weren't so stinking cold!

And, one of Isaac dancing (also with his tongue out - what is with my kids?!)

Ladybugs

I just did a photo essay in the Rat Creek Press about how much I love my neighbourhood, and I really need to add to that - the people who live here are pretty much awesome.

Jenn contacted me (via Barbara - another member of the fan club!) to do family pictures as they have a new baby and her sister was in country from Australia.

Here is the family.

Jenn's son Trystan is one awesomely cool 11-year-old.
Here are Jenn, Iles and baby Chloe.


This shoot made me think about how lucky Trystan and Chloe are. My brother and I are 13 years apart, and after the first two months of his life, where I called him Tomato Head, I fell in love with him. We were close while he was growing up, even though I was usually in a different city or country, and now we're the best of friends. I hope Chloe and Trystan have that kind of relationship.

Chloe from her mother's perspective. Look at her cute little baby hands and sleeping smile.


With Daddy.
And Grandpa (I think she thinks he's cool!)
The tiny wee bug in her very sweet bedroom.

Chloe got this lovely coat from a friend, and we stuck ladybugs all over her. Babies are the best!

It was wonderful to spend the afternoon with you!

My friend Savannah contacted me to do family photos over Christmas. It took us a bit to get organized, but just before Tanner was to go home to his mom in Saskatchewan, we managed to get it together.

Makenna is nearly 2, and Tanner is 4. Oh boy!

This is what it looks like trying to get everyone settled.


Eventually we did though.

Here is the lovely Savannah and the sweet Makenna.
Makenna and Travis.
Tanner and Travis.
Tanner was very intent on telling us something. I think by this point, he was fed up with photos. But, I like photographing that too!

Makenna was digging her sunglasses, and holy cow, does she look cool.
And finally - yeah!!!! We're done.
As always, a pleasure to photograph you.

And, if any of my other readers are interested, Savannah is a dancer and teaches dance classes - privately too - and Salsa Babies. Let me know if you need her contact info, and I will set you up.

Displaying your photos

For a photographer, you'd think I'd have a better handle on displaying art. Ususally, I avoid it at all costs - when I used to move every 8 months when I was in school, my pictures were often just stacked against the wall the whole time.

(The only thing I know for sure is you are supposed to have the middle of the picture - or the arrangement - at eye level.)

However! I was inspired by my client Michelle's wall display to make my own. I didn't have enough family pictures that went together, so I ended up rearranging some of my other art.

My living room was tidy for 5 minutes today (please ignore the state of the couch!) which I took advantage of to take these pictures.

(all the other pieces, except for the giraffe are my photos and are also for sale.)

Grandma's Feather Bed - or the I love Barbara Scriver fan club

I am a total John Denver fan. There - I said it :) In public and all.

As I was editing this session, the song that kept running through my head was Grandma's Feather Bed. Click here if you want to watch the Youtube version, and here if you too would like refresh your memory on the lyrics as you sing along and view the following pictures.

Onto the fan club stuff . . . I've mentioned before about how much I love my midwife, Barbara. She helped me bring both of my wonderful babies into this world, was an amazing counsellor for the 9 months of prenatal visits (which, for those of you considering midwifery vs. hospital birth - you get hour - or more - long prenatal appointments with midwives, and talk about everything under the sun.) Barbara was the very first person I called when I discovered I was pregnant with Isaac. She was an incredible support all through my pregnancies, and after my boys were born.

And, its not just me who loves her - Mike and I joked we should have more babies just so we could keep visiting her. When I have photography clients who had Barbara for a midwife, our sessions last for twice as long as we spend a couple hours raving about her.

So, when Barbara called me a couple of days after Christmas to see if I was free to take family pictures, as her whole family was around for the holidays, of course I said yes.

This is why the feather bed song got stuck in my head. Where else are you going to take photos in Edmonton, in December when its -30C?

Look at all those lovelies!

This is Barbara and Stephen (Mr. Barbara Scriver has his own name! - and is just as wonderful as Barb.)

Here are their children, Jason, Alia and Luke, inspired to look through their family photos after our session.

Jason
Alia, who coined the term "Barbara Scriver's fan club". Does she look like she has 5 children of her own?!

And Luke. He does not look like this all the time, but I love this picture! He had the idea to do his picture like his grade 4 picture, when he couldn't quite figure out the whole smiling thing.

Kessa, Mona (Barbara's sister, who makes a wicked corn chowder and biscuits) and Luke. Luke and Kessa are Mona's godchildren.

Kessa and Marita (Jason and Heather's daughters)

Is she not one cool chica?

Kessa is so sweet. She came to thank me for taking their family photos after our session.

Here are Alia and David's 5.

Hunter
Quinnlan - she looks like a beautiful fairy.

Hayden - of the mile long eyelashes. (I hope he's too young yet to be embarrassed by that!)

Sammy, the cutie-patootie

And, the newest edition to the family, baby Nina.

And, just for a little reality check on the fabulous Barbara, this is Mona asking Barbara what the h#!? this item is doing in her kitchen (it is a cookie sheet that looks like it was backed over by a truck several times.

It was wonderful to spend the day with you all. Thank you.

Mamma Mia

Angela and Geoffrey were the very first wedding clients I booked. They were brave enough to take a chance on me, as a wedding photographer just starting out, and I am eternally grateful to them.

And, a year and a half after their wedding, they've got a baby on the way. (Due tomorrow actually!)

Something I love with repeat clients, is I feel freer to be a little more creative. We did the standard maternity pictures - i.e. Angela's beautiful belly

We had to incorporate Geoffrey's love of football into our shoot, in particular, the Denver Broncos (who apparently Jr. Pagel is going to play for :) - cause he's already got the jersey). (and I sure hope I have the team right - I am about the most sports-illiterate person you will ever meet).

Then we did some shots around the house. This one was fun, because they discovered things in their fridge they had no idea of the origin of. I'm totally there!

Finally, a beautiful artsy shot of Angela behind their very cool etched glass in the foyer.

I cannot wait to meet baby!

Thanks for continuing to share these special events in your life with me.

xxR

My Carmalita

This is my sister. She's awesome and I love her. Currently, she is in bed, on an extended "vacation" leaking all sorts of nastiness from her ears. She was supposed to leave on Jan 2nd, but can't fly. Which I am totally ok with, because I get to keep her for an extra 10 days. YEAH!

This is what she looks like when she's not really sick, just a little bit. Isn't she beautiful?

I love this picture of us. It is totally how I picture us as children (and obviously hasn't changed) - two wild little monkeys alternately hugging the crap out of each other, and fighting the next minute (although, the last couple of years has seen a huge improvement in the fighting department :) )