Busy Week at Casa de la Caza

This week, I was challenged in several ways with two photoshoots that took me outside of my element.

The first was the photography of a dance production for a friend of mine, Jennifer Robichaud. Jen is the co-founder and artistic director of the Larchaud Dance Project. I'm afraid you've already missed the production I was shooting, which was showing for 3 days last week, but you can read about Jen and her company at www.larchaud.com.

This experience was different for me because not only was I not photographing kids; but I was photographing contemporary dance, which I know nothing about, and I was shooting in a very dark space with the help of one flash and theatre lighting.

My second challenge this week was a shoot for Today's Parent Toronto, the magazine within a magazine, created for torontonians. I never realized how creatively liberating my style of photography was until I lived within the guidelines of shooting for a magazine cover! I found trying to catch a child smiling into the camera naturally considerably difficult; especially when having to make sure that there were no flinging arms, nose-picking, hunched shoulders, funny faces, or fingers hiding faces.

I never realized how much I loved the quirky photographs I take of kids until I found myself sneaking some between "good" shots. I felt like a girl sneaking a bad pair of leggings on in a change room on TLC's "What Not to Wear"!

But! As challenging as these experiences were for me this week, they were rewarding; the photographs were fantastic, and I love them. I'm not able to share the Today's Parent Toronto shots until the November issue is published, but here are a few samples of the dance shots.

Josée

Shooting Moms!

Well there's something I don't get to do very often! Today I had a shoot with Laurie Gelman, host of The Mom Show, and her fellow co-host, Catherine Marion, came along for the ride... which added alot of fun to the mix!

When we were through with the formal headshots we needed for Laurie, I was able to capture both of the girls together. It was great to see that there are still things that are true on television today; the friendship between these two was tons of fun, and shooting them together made me feel like I was a photographer at a girls' day out!

I've been photographing families for so long that I've forgotten that they aren't the only treasure to capture in life; I think it's time I get together with my girlfriends to celebrate friendship!

Josée

Did you say 23 people? In two hours??

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the loveliest family. When Zainab first e-mailed me and inquired about portraits for a family of 23, my first thought was : « This is going to be a challenge! ». But after meeting everyone, I quickly realized that the only real challenge would be the ruthless sun that was beating down on all of us that Saturday afternoon.

This family was beautiful both esthetically and in spirit, and I felt honored to celebrate them with my work. Eighty-three year old Nana was one of the inspirations of the shoot, and she was such a sweet woman. One of my favorite shots includes her surrounded by her great-grandchildren.

I believe the most valuable riches in life are those we’ve created with love, and photographing the generations of this family was something that reaffirmed that for me. Here are a few portraits from that day.

Josée

Me, on TV!

Well, it's official! Last Tuesday, I was at the Alliance Atlantis studios in Toronto as a guest expert on The Mom Show! My goal was to give great tips to moms on how to take better pictures of their kids, and I think I succeeded... though I was so nervous, looking back on it now, the whole experience is a bit of a blur.

All I remember is waiting in the greenroom and feeling so anxious, that everytime I heard my name said on the TV set broadcasting the taping, I twitched a little. I was a little embarassed and self-conscious because it's not like me to lose my cool, but in the end, everyone was very pleased with what I had to say.

I was a little too busy to ask for a photograph of myself and Catherine or Laurie, but I'll see what I can do about getting a still-shot of the segment, and post it here if I do.

For all of you interested, the episode is set to air in the Fall, on Life Network. The show airs at 7:30am, at 11:00am and again at 2:00pm. There is no specific date planned yet, but the episode number will be 2097, the title of the episode being "Drifting Apart".

Josée

Little Beach Princess & The Anatomy of my Child Portrait Session

Today, I photographed Maria at the Beach. She was, as predicted, the perfect little beach princess, giving me a zillion and a half gorgeous photo-ops. I thought I'd use a few of my favorites to illustrate what I strive to achieve with every child photography session.

I want every angle!

Most of you are already acquainted with my candid style of photography. I believe I have a talent in deciphering beauty on many levels; in the features of your child, but also in the way your child relates to its environment, and in the shapes and lines created by their movements. You're hiring me if you want original work... so expect the direct opposite of the standard commercial shoot.

All work and no play make boring photos!

I'm very married to the idea of letting children be themselves; I try to get as far away as possible from the standard practice of sitting a child down on a platform where he/she is expected to perform for the camera. I *hate* posing. If there is no dangerous reason not to let a kid run, jump and be wild... I welcome it! This is the reason I don't charge extra for location shoots, and love shooting at the beach. The more room there is to play, the very merrier!

Smiles, schmiles!

The most difficult and important thing that I insist on doing during every photoshoot is capturing as many expressions as possible. This is mostly difficult because of the performance issue; very little children don't automatically respond to a camera pointed at them with smiles and giggles. It's also difficult because children are often coached by their parents to be happy during a photoshoot, and will accordingly try to make sure that they get as many smiles as possible during the time we spend together. When the years have passed and you sift through your collections of smiley photos and find these unique and touching expressions moreoften ignored, you'll be moved... I'm certain of it.

Shooting Grown-ups (aka: Headshots)

This week, I got together with an actor/designer friend of mine for some headshots.

I've always felt that adults were more difficult to shoot than kids... but there is always the exception of actors. I love shooting actors because they're way past the intimidation of a camera, and are always interested in exploring different expressions. And of course there's always the fact that they sit still alot more than the youngens!

My shots of Jason turned out great. Have a look!

Josée

And why stop at Weddings?

This weekend, I photographed the baptism of Nicole and Dimitri-Alexander. It was an interesting experience for me since I hadn't attended a baptism since my own, back in 1980!

Nikki was three months old, and Dimitri four years... so you can imagine how unnerved the little guy was during the experience. Being stripped down to his birthday suit and lathered in oil wasn't his cup of tea; so the best captures of him were before & after the holy happenings. But Nikki was a quiet angel throughout, and made for some gorgeous photographs of the baptism.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day. Enjoy!

Josée

I (heart) Joshua!

Today, I had a family shoot with Lisa and her little soon-to-be-not-so-little family.

Joshua quickly became my new favorite little boy subject. I usually try to get as many smiles as I can out of the kids I photograph, but I was just as fascinated with Joshua's quiet and more serious expressions. He had these deep brown eyes I just fell in love with!

Although the little guy had things in mind other than to hang out with this photo-chick, I still managed to get many gorgeous shots of this lovely family.

Enjoy the sneak peek, Lisa!

Josée

Introducing Weddings by Josée!

Hello all!

I'm happy (or more like ecstatic) to introduce Weddings by Josée! To view my new wedding photography website, you can log on to www.joseecaza.com/weddings.

As a young photographer that's been specializing in child and maternity portraiture for the past few years, I don't have a wide range of experience with weddings. I do have fantastic work that I've done working as an assistant photographer that can't be displayed online. So if you're curious and would like to see more of my work, don't hesitate to call and book your complimentary appointment.

Cheers!

Josée

Congratulations, Mike & Connie!

This past weekend, I was a guest at Mike and Connie's wedding. Mike is a good friend of my boyfriend's, Nelson, and made him his best man. I agreed to tag along, and since they'd already hired a photographer, I stayed on the sidelines and captured a few moments here and there.



It was a lovely wedding between two families that really know how to have a good time! I now wonder what I'd be like, had I been born in the Maritimes. Here are a few shots from that day and evening.



I met alot of people that night since Nelson was the best man (I couldn't very well crash the guest of honor table). Among the people I got to know was Althea, a lovely girl who claimed she didn't photograph well. I thought I'd post this one then, to prove her very, very wrong.



Cheers!

Josée

The more, the merrier!

Georgia, a regular client of mine, has just had her fourth (yes, count 'em! Fourth!) child; an adorable baby boy. He hasn't a name yet because it's a secret until his baptism... but I smell a Steve coming on.

Ligeri, Georgie and Maria have been some of my favorite little kids to photograph over the past two years. When Georgia called me to have her new baby photographed, I told her to bring the whole gang! It was delightful to watch all of them bond with this new addition to the family. My favorite moment was watching Maria, the last baby, lay with her new sister and exclaim that the new baby liked her.

Congratulations, Georgia, and here's a sneak peak at a new series of photographs....

Josée

I'm never alone!

No matter what time of day or night it is, when I'm working (or shopping!) at my computer, I've always got a little company!

I miss it!

Maternity portraiture has always been one of my favorite things to do. But for some reason, I've been getting much more commissions for child portraiture than for yummy mummies, and I miss it so much!

So for those mummies to be that are shy, or worried about belly marks or other concerns... there are oodles of flattering angles, there is digital retouching, there are more good reasons than there are excuses; don't let anything get in the way of having some very special portraits taken. Pregnancy is the closest bond you'll ever share with your little one, and it would be a shame to let that time go uncaptured.

If you have any questions about maternity sessions, or would like to discuss your concerns with me, I'm always available for consultations at no charge, and with no commitment to book a session.

Take a look at these... does it get any more precious than that?

Josée

Happy near-anniversary, Roxanne & Michael!

Roxanne is my only sister, my baby sister, although we're only a year apart in age and she hates me calling her that now that she's a grown woman.

While trying to put together a wedding portfolio, I've been going through the photographs that I took at their wedding last June, and realized that their first wedding anniversary is coming up soon!

When I look at their photographs, I can't help but re-live that day as if it was yesterday. As soon as I look at the photographs of their first dance, I inevitably start humming "La vie en rose". They really had the sweetest afternoon of a wedding. It was really more than I could have ever hoped for my sister, and I'm so glad that I refused to have anyone else capture that day so that I could have all of these photographs to look at whenever my little heart pleases!

Take a look at these... what a perfect couple they are!

Josée