Happy Earth Day

Its Earth Day!

Despite my terribly politically, socially and environmentally incorrect not-so-secret longing for global warming to hurry up already (see previous post - and yes it is still snowing today), I really am in favour of doing all I can to protect the earth. Its the only home we've got.

I want "my" Earth Day babies - Hannah Mary and Lukas to grow up with clean water and clean air (as well as my own babies, and all the wee ones I photograph here). (Happy birthday Hannah and Lukas).

On the photography front, I would love to photograph a green wedding. Here's some food for thought.

Green Weddings
Green Elegance Weddings
Treehugger.com - there are some great ideas on this site.

Ecologically (and socially) responsible jewelry - how cool is that!
GreenKarat.

What are changes are you making this year? I'm going to buy a rain barrel, get a push lawnmower (right now I'm borrowing a gas one from a neighbour, and would you believe that in one hour, a lawnmower can produce as much pollution as a new car driving over 500 kilometres? I wish I knew that when I "had" to mow the lawn as a child - my children won't have that excuse :) ).

I would love to retrofit my house for geothermal heating. Imaging never having to pay a gas bill again. Wow. Really its not that expensive. I had friends who did their house in the suburbs for $25 000. And of course solar power.

For those of you who would just like to throw your hands up and say "what difference does it make what I do?" Here are some good news environmental stories.

"Thriving seabirds, once devastated by DDT, no longer belong on the national endangered species list, officials say." (Los Angeles Times)

Organic Methods Pay Off for Beekeeper In Midst of Colony Collapse Nationwide

A little of this, a little of that - including an increase in whales due to anti-whaling legislation, and scientists cleaning up their garbage in Antarctica.

And, finally one for all my girl-friends from the '80s. Do you remember the unbelievably difficult choice we were called on to make between our hair and the ozone layer, back in about '86? Scientists telling us that we, the queens of the big bangs, were going to have to stop using aerosol hairspray. Do you remember how devastating that was? That my friends, was our defining moral choice - we did it. Both our bangs and the ozone hole have decreased considerably in size. If we could wean ourselves from our hairspray addiction, there's nothing we can't do.

Spring - Alberta Style

Last week I was sitting in the front garden with a beer, watching my children play in the sunshine, in only one layer of clothing.

Today, not so much.

(My car is diiiirrr-ty!)

People in Pants

I had such a fun shoot today with the folks from the improve group, People in Pants, who recently performed at The Carrot.

It was great to photograph people who don't mind looking silly. (I get most of my clients there eventually, but it was great to start off that way!)




This is my favourite picture. It shows of the amazing glasswork by Keith Walker (read more about this instillation here and here).

Check out May's issue of the Rat Creek Press for the article about People in Pants.

A new look

I'd been thinking for a while about updating my look in the internet world. While I love the drama of black, I think the blue, purple and white represents Dragonfly Photography a little better.

Dragonflies represent light and are a symbol for the magic that can be composed with colour and movement.

Let me know what you think!

Divine Weddings

I took some photos of Tammy, an Edmonton wedding planner, the other day. Tammy owns Divine Weddings - check out her website and her blog.

Tammy's awfully photogenic.






I'm photographing a wedding Tammy's planning in August, and am really looking forward to it.

The Beloved Saige

At their maternity session, Zina and Cole promised me great wall colours for our newborn session. What they forgot to mention was that they would have this beautiful, adorable little girl too. I don't think anyone was quite prepared for just how perfect she would be.



One of my favourite things about seeing parents with their newborns is seeing just how in love they fall. Everyone knows you'll love your kids once they're born, but no-one ever tells you how much having a new baby is like falling in love for the first time.

Cole is serious daddy material. He was in charge of baby smiles during our photo session (including Alexander's).


Saige has the coolest bed ever, courtesy of her grandfather. It hangs from the ceiling on bungee cords, and is right beside Zina and Cole's bed.



And, we all know what this is :). Naked babies = wet floors.



When we were trying to arrange this photo session, I was juggling some scheduling with my kids, as their dad was out of town. Zina said, "oh, bring them along." I was a little nervous, but my boys did great, and were good at showing Cole where their house needs to be baby-proofed. I also discovered I can get bang-on in-focus photos with two children helping me (i.e. playing horse on my back). If I ever get tired of this kind of photography (not likely - I love my job), I feel pretty confident about my skills in a war zone.

And thanks again Zina, Cole and Tas - this was one of my favourite photography sessions ever. You were all so laid back and relaxed, and welcoming to my boys. It was great.

Alexander the Great

Last weekend, I had a great visit with sisters Zina and Tas. They both had their first babies close together, and here is Alexander, who was born in November.

He is an awesome, awesome baby. Beautiful auburn hair, and blue eyes to die for.

Tas was worried about the all the drool Alexander can produce, but I convinced her (I hope) that drool is good. Baby drool is beautiful. This bubble Alexander is blowing is perfect.
His sweet feet.
There's something about jeans and babies I just love. They also go really well with Zina's great orange wall.
And another shot of Alexander's amazing blue eyes.


It was wonderful to hang out with you guys. I had such a great day.

The Great Stella Rescue

We had a Stella emergency today. Gabe left her at the park yesterday and I went to look for her this afternoon. After looking under all the playground equipment, a couple of teachers from their school asked what I was looking for. I said "a doll".

The teacher pointed to the tree and asked "that doll?"

Yup, that would be the one. He said he saw a couple of boys manhandling her yesterday and then they threw her up in the tree.

I wasn't sure what to tell Gabe - but after school we went to the park to have a look. I was worried he would be traumatised, but he thought it was pretty funny that Stella "climbed all night long" to get up in the tree. I decided we needed to go and buy some rope to assist in the rescue operation, and he was really reluctant to leave the park. He gave a couple of rounds of "STELLLLAAAAA" (which cracks me up every time), "we'll be back."

As you can see, she's pretty high up.

Mike joined us on our rescue mission and held Gabe up to see if he could reach her.



The rope turned out to be unnecessary - a full waterbottle did the trick.



And, once she was down, Gabe wanted her to go back up again. So up she went.



And down she came, much to his joy.



And one of Isaac, just because. This is such a typical expression. He's so funny.

DaBaby is da bomb

I was at a tradeshow this weekend and came across these t-shirts, made by Tracy and Darwin of DaBaby. I couldn't stop laughing. I'd actually walked out the door, but had to come back to get these shirts.

I love their stuff, check out DaBaby's website.

Trying to get my boys to pose for some shots was kind of interesting.

Here are some poses. Everyone says Isaac is such a happy baby. Well, he is, until he's not (scroll down to see). His says "I'm such a freaking ray of sunshine, aren't I."

And, being an 80's girl, I could not resist the ACDC inspired shirt. (For those about to read, we salute you.)

My sunshine, at his shiniest best.

My sweet dude, who loves his books.
And a little more sunshine.

Nicola - how you've grown!

It was so great to see Nicola and Reshawn. I couldn't get over how much she's grown and changed.

Reshawn said Nicola is the easiest baby - and she was so great during our session. After we made her lie on her tummy for some photos, she cried for a bit, but other than that, she was so happy and easy going. (Reshawn said the crying was because she was slacking as a mother and didn't give Nicola any tummy time, so she isn't used to it. I say its because Reshawn is an awesome mama who holds her baby lots and lots.)

A sweet moment.
Check out those pipes! Nice definition.
And Her Happiness, herself.
All dressed up. Baby girl clothes are sooooo cute. And so terribly impractical. But, great for photos.
This is my favourite picture. The look of total trust in Nicola's eyes is beautiful.
And all wrapped up in the ducky towel after bath time.

Thanks for having me over again.