April Shower

I have to do it; I'm showering my blog with portraits of April. I can't help it, there are too many to choose from, this little cookie was far too much fun, I still can't believe all the quirky little poses she gave me. She was in such a good mood she practically smirked at me the whole time, which is great for those little teeth shots!

My favorites are a toss between the "runaway baby diaper grab", the forehead mommy hug, and this first one...

Happy Happy Happy

I got really lucky last week because every little baby that showed up for a session was as happy as could be, and that included Connie's little guy. Bright eyed and even flashing me a tongue here & there, this little one made my job almost too easy! Here's a peek at a few shots from this session...

A Romantic Session

A romantic session is what I get when the beautiful sunlight I get in the new loft meets a super cuddly baby for one great session. I had a session with Mahima's little cookie the other day and am so thrilled with so many of the images that came from it. Another affectionate and loving family that gave me the sweetest, warmest moments to capture. Here are a few of my favorites...






How about this hand shot? Don't you just want to eat those fingers? :)

Havin' a Hoot!

My biggest goal with every session is to make everyone feel comfortable, relaxed, but most of all, to make sure we're all having fun! The Adamou family definitely caught on to that dealie-o when they came by for their session! We had loads of fun as each kid showed me their best tricks and shared all of their favorite things with me in conversation. Here are a few of my favorites from this session...

Sweet Baby

Well I'm in and settled into the new place and am in love-love-love with the space. My first session back was with Indira and her parents, and I had such a great time photographing this little button. I adored her eyes and her little button nose, and she was so expressive, she gave me a wide range of looks to shoot.



Have you noticed the hands in my photos lately? I've really been enjoying incorporating parents' hands in my portraits these days. I've found it's a great way to create more intimacy in a photograph, and I of course always love to see a connection going on in a portrait. Here's an example with Indira... and I couldn't leave those little toes out, so don't miss out on those!

One good spoil before the move

Two days to go and I'm starting to feel like a mouse living amongst boxes! Things are a little hectic, but excitement is growing and I am so looking forward to being settled into the new studio.

I saw a family not very long ago to whom I promised a sneak peek before I move and they leave on vacation; a very handsome family! I decided to go to town and show quite a few because they're being very gracious and patient in seeing the result of their session.... and it was so hard to choose what to showcase, I loved so many!

So here we go.... boy, I miss these little sneak peeks. I better get back on them when I'm back up & running!

I'm moving!

Yes, already! I've only been in Riverdale for a year but I came across a space I just couldn't resist, and off I go to the west end. This move is quite an exciting one for me, I'm looking forward to meeting my clients, new and old, in a beautiful loft at Dundas & Keele. Now a loft means lots of light, which will bring me back to shooting with that romantic available light I used to work with. Back in those days, I shot with available light only; now that I have the studio equipment, I'll get to enjoy both. What a thrill!

I can't say I'll mind being that close to High Park, too! I'm sure to be found there at least once a day enjoying a walk with the pup.

I'll be taking January 27th to February 3rd off to get settled in, and taking sessions up until the 26th. So if you'd like to see me in Riverdale, make that call. If not, see you at the new place!

A Budding Bond

I have alot of sessions with siblings, but for the most part, they're often toddlers & babies. A couple of weeks ago I had a session with a newborn and her 10 year old brother. I wasn't sure what to expect from a boy that age with a teeny-tiny little baby (my sessions with boys are usually wild & loud!), but I was infinitely pleased and delighted with what went on here.

Have a look at this....






Now how beautiful is that? Shane was so sweet and gentle and confident in handling his little baby sister, I had to remind myself he was just a kid. It was a joy to capture what I'm sure is the beginning of a fantastic relationship between these two. What a lucky mum they have!

My sister is amazing

Ok I'm not quite through ranting about my family yet.

My little sister (well okay, she's only a year and a bit younger than me, but she'll still always be my little sister) works as a translator for a major corporation in the city. And in her spare time, she picks up a piece of watercolor paper and some charcoal and paint and whips one of these together in just a few minutes;



Holy wow. I'm so proud to be related to her.

Ma Belle Famille

When I was in Montreal last week I got to meet a nephew and two little nieces I hadn't met yet, and I was thrilled... I come from a very large family - my parents both have 12 brothers & sisters each! - so it's not entirely unusual for me to have relatives I've yet to meet, but now that I've met these little ones, I'll be sure to make a bigger effort to be a part of their lives.

Within a few minutes of meeting them, I set off to photograph them (because sans studio, I was limited to available light and an on-camera flash). I have to admit I was a little worried because the tricks & tactics I've learnt over the years have primarily been in English and I wasn't used to shooting in French... but everything went beautifully, and my heart just swells when I look at these photographs now. It's perhaps time I take a cross-Ontario and Quebec trip to capture all of my little relatives! I found it really moving to photograph kids that are a part of me somehow.

Here they are in no particular order, all of them being beautiful and as quirky & fun as the next!

This little baby girl is a sweet little cuddle bug, and do I even need to mention those beautiful eyes?





This little guy was a non-stop firecracker... as most boys are in front of my camera!!





And this little angel was quite the gem. I don't usually like dressy outfits, but she was wearing it because she wears this dress everyday when she marries her father in the living room, as my aunt stands in as a witness. Have you ever heard anything more sweet? No? Well I can add to it... her father (my cousin) is an opera singer and being a fan of Edith Piaf, has been watching her autobiographical movie with his daughter, who sings every song that's in the movie. Killer cute.





Last but not least (and not a child!) is my godmother... one of the warmest & kindest people I know. Here she is with her grand-daughter.



Noelle-Ange, Pierrette, Antonio, Jose-Luis, Mathieu, Isabelle & Eric, if you're seeing & reading this post, I love you all very much and can't wait to see you all again.

Quickie Vacation

I'll be away in Montreal this week and back on January 3rd. Have a stellar New Year's Eve!!

Phoooooey! I made it.

I just had a look at the date of my last post and cringed! It's been almost two months since my last entry, which makes sense because that's about when the holiday parade of clients began to roll in, and pretty much how long it's been since I've had a nap!

I decided to take on this holiday season on my own, which was quite a monstrous task. It was non-stop with shoots and orders and holiday cards right up until just a couple of days before Christmas, and I'm just recuperating from the whirlwind now and headed to Montreal for a few days of rest and to ring in the New Year.

It was difficult and exhausting, but these past months have been rewarding in so many ways. I've said it once and I'll say it again; there's no better way to be overworked than to be swimming in a sea of baby faces! I didn't sleep much in December but when I was awake, I was smiling.

I'm looking forward to the New Year and to seeing these babies grow and these families evolve. I'm definitely looking forward to reuniting with the blog and getting back to writing about my experiences with families; it's always been a little something I really enjoy doing. There were so many stars that deserve an appearance on here; if I somehow catch up enough to scroll through the archives I'll definitely post a few up in the next weeks, along with those I meet in January.

Thank you all so much for your support and for the hand you play in assuring my success at capturing your children and families. My heart is truly full with the trust you instill in me in creating these timeless pieces that will be exchanged for generations. I'm honored to play that part in the history of your families.

Warmest wishes to all of you, and here's to hoping your holiday season was full of good cheer... Stay tuned, we'll chat in the New Year!

Meet me at The Baby & Toddler Show

I was there last year, and had such a good time I'm doing it again! Am I doing it for business or the baby parade? I can't decide anymore! I'll be at booth 548... here's what you need to know:

Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Friday November 9, 10am to 6pm
Saturday November 10, 10am to 6pm
Sunday November 11, 10am to 6pm

See you there!

Deadlines Looming

I know it's hard to think about it when we're walking around in sweaters out there, but the holidays are approaching and there are already deadlines to take into consideration.

If you're hoping to have prints, framed storyboards, canvasses and holiday cards on time for the holidays, please don't think twice about booking your session as soon as you can get your hands on that phone. I'm booking up quickly and I'll hate to have to turn anyone away, though eventually it's bound to happen. Here are some important dates to keep in mind when planning your holiday shopping with me.

First, please remember that it takes a minimum of 3 weeks to receive your album & prints from the date of your session. Keep that in mind when booking.

Here are the deadlines to follow in order to receive your prints & gifts before December 20th;

Prints & DVD's: December 10th
Holiday Cards: (take 10 days to be ready... if you want them in early December, plan ahead!)
Canvasses: December 5th
Framed Storyboards: December 1st

I've Been a Bad, Bad Blogger!

What can I possibly say to excuse myself? My non-blogging ways this past month have cast a giant cloud of guilt over my head. I've been terribly busy shooting, getting organized for the Fall (and pre-holiday) season, coming up with new ideas & lovely thingies to offer my clients and at the end of it all, trying to have a personal life. You know, I don't have kids yet, but I jumped into this business imagining that this would be a perfect way for me to be a stay-at-home mom while holding my own as a successful entrepreneur. I think I may have misconstrued how consuming my work would be! I can't complain, though; when I am up to my head in work, I'm still always smiling from ear to ear because I get to spend my days either with or looking at lovely little creatures that always keep life interesting.

With all that said, I do feel guilty for having been so quiet on the blogfront lately. I'm going to try to be better in the next weeks about keeping you all posted on what's going on at the studio. I unfortunately can't find the time to blog about every client I saw in the past month, but here are glimpses at some of my favorite moments (not to say they weren't all great experiences, of course).



Pugs have become a popular addition to family photos lately! I met this little one back at Natasha & Raffi's maternity shoot. She came back for a family photo when Anya was born but we were a little too afraid to take a chance and try our hand at photos of the newborn with the puppy. However, Leah decided to hop up on the futon to kiss little Anya's head in a split second and before Natasha had a chance to get her away, I got to snap this shot of the two together.



I met this little guy's parents when they were pregnant with him and it was lovely to meet him. I love this photo because the little fists just kill me... such a baby move to be boxing in their sleep!





I was really thrilled with the results of my session with Charleigh, not only because she's a gorgeous little girl that photographed beautifully, but because I was told that she was a very shy little cookie and is usually difficult to photograph. I find it so rewarding to be able to introduce a kinder & friendlier approach to portraiture to little children that can often be intimidated by the process.




My session with Regina's angels was a dream. Both of these kids had really sweet & quirky personalities that made them a joy to photograph. I got some of my favorite beach shots ever from this session, including what has to be my most favorite baby-drama shot EVER.



I never feel anything short of excitement when I get to photograph a brand new little baby; especially when I've already met the family during a maternity session. I was really happy to be able to capture Kate and the bonds that were growing in her family. Seeing toddlers with babies is always a weakness of mine!



Alright, that's it for now but I'll do my best to stay on the blog train to keep you posted on who's been in my viewfinder lately. I hope you're all well, swooshing through those Fall leaves and thinking about the holidays!