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I was so excited to meet this sweet little man and baby Beckham did not disappoint! From his full head of dark hair and to his sweet dark eyes I was in love the moment his Mom passed him to me. He is a lucky little boy to be brought into such a large and wonderful family. I have known his mother since she was a little girl and there is only one word to describe her, joy. When Karissa walks into a room everyone looks up and smiles because she has that special something about her and I know that he has inherited this quality from his mother! Even though he was a bit fussy we all kept smiling when we looked at him and when he finally drifted off to sleep, I know I was not the only one, who gasped at his perfection. I loved spending time with the large and busy family. I also enjoyed getting to know a few family members (I got to snuggle 4 month old Lincoln too!) and friends I had yet to meet:) Thank you for the gift of welcoming me into your home and allowing me to be his newborn photographer.  

I was so excited to meet this sweet little man and baby Beckham did not disappoint! From his full head of dark hair and to his sweet dark eyes I was in love the moment his Mom passed him to me. He is a lucky little boy to be brought into such a large and wonderful family. I have known his mother since she was a little girl and there is only one word to describe her, joy. When Karissa walks into a room everyone looks up and smiles because she has that special something about her and I know that he has inherited this quality from his mother! Even though he was a bit fussy we all kept smiling when we looked at him and when he finally drifted off to sleep, I know I was not the only one, who gasped at his perfection. I loved spending time with the large and busy family. I also enjoyed getting to know a few family members (I got to snuggle 4 month old Lincoln too!) and friends I had yet to meet:) Thank you for the gift of welcoming me into your home and allowing me to be his newborn photographer.  

(This blog post is part of a blog circle, after you are finished reading click the link at the bottom to read another ‘Letters to Our Daughters’)

Dear Cecilia,

You stopped sitting still. No longer do you want to sit and cuddle, you are too busy. The world is your playground, everyday you are discovering. Everything is new, everything must be touched, explored, tasted and stared at until it makes sense.

In some ways, I mourn my baby that is disappearing and morphing into a toddler. I also welcome this funny toddler, with a sense of humour, with a presence that can be heard throughout the household. You like your routines, you prefer your bed, to any other place to rest your head. You listen for the sound of your Daddy every afternoon.

As busy as you are you, you also take your time. There is no rush for you to walk, you are happy in your playpen with your pile of toys, that your brothers and sister give you. You seem to laugh at us when we ask if you are going to step on your own. Your big blue eyes tell us you are in no hurry. You will venture on those chubby legs when you feel the time is right.

When I photograph you, you like to remind me that you are no longer a little baby…you are my big girl who was just put on the floor…and you crawl away and laugh at your crazy mother! Taking pictures of you now requires skill and patience but I have so much practice from you brothers and sisters and you do not know all my tricks yet.

After bath time, in your fuzzy jammies, drinking your bottle of milk I find my baby again. Here, you cuddle close to me. Here, you you are still. In these quiet moments I stare at your capable little fingers. Chubby and soft as satin. Round with little dents and dimples. This evening those little fingers discovered with Daddy the wonders of a light switch. To us older folk the light switch is nothing to stare at but to you it was magic! You made light and took it away. As you finishes those last drops of milk, your eyelashes are fluttering because you are tired from todays adventures.

Our bedtime ritual is always the same, tucking the quilt around you, making sure Sock Monkey and Kitty are in either arm, a binkie in your mouth, the soft lulling sounds of the fan and the twinkling music from your mobile.

As you drift to sleep, and for a few short hours will be quiet and still. While the house is quiet I write this letter to you, my little daughter.  I know the silence  will not last long because tomorrow will bring another adventure.

.

To read another blog post from this series, click here to read Heather Meyer’s Letters to our Daughter.

(This blog post is part of a blog circle, after you are finished reading click the link at the bottom to read another ‘Letters to Our Daughters’)

Dear Cecilia,

You stopped sitting still. No longer do you want to sit and cuddle, you are too busy. The world is your playground, everyday you are discovering. Everything is new, everything must be touched, explored, tasted and stared at until it makes sense.

In some ways, I mourn my baby that is disappearing and morphing into a toddler. I also welcome this funny toddler, with a sense of humour, with a presence that can be heard throughout the household. You like your routines, you prefer your bed, to any other place to rest your head. You listen for the sound of your Daddy every afternoon.

As busy as you are you, you also take your time. There is no rush for you to walk, you are happy in your playpen with your pile of toys, that your brothers and sister give you. You seem to laugh at us when we ask if you are going to step on your own. Your big blue eyes tell us you are in no hurry. You will venture on those chubby legs when you feel the time is right.

When I photograph you, you like to remind me that you are no longer a little baby…you are my big girl who was just put on the floor…and you crawl away and laugh at your crazy mother! Taking pictures of you now requires skill and patience but I have so much practice from you brothers and sisters and you do not know all my tricks yet.

After bath time, in your fuzzy jammies, drinking your bottle of milk I find my baby again. Here, you cuddle close to me. Here, you you are still. In these quiet moments I stare at your capable little fingers. Chubby and soft as satin. Round with little dents and dimples. This evening those little fingers discovered with Daddy the wonders of a light switch. To us older folk the light switch is nothing to stare at but to you it was magic! You made light and took it away. As you finishes those last drops of milk, your eyelashes are fluttering because you are tired from todays adventures.

Our bedtime ritual is always the same, tucking the quilt around you, making sure Sock Monkey and Kitty are in either arm, a binkie in your mouth, the soft lulling sounds of the fan and the twinkling music from your mobile.

As you drift to sleep, and for a few short hours will be quiet and still. While the house is quiet I write this letter to you, my little daughter.  I know the silence  will not last long because tomorrow will bring another adventure.

.

To read another blog post from this series, click here to read Heather Meyer’s Letters to our Daughter.

When I first began my journey with photography I was looking for FAST tips on how to get better. Clicking on Google for information was like opening a can of worms!! There was so much information in front of me! The problem was there was TOO much information, I couldn’t make heads or tails at all the terminology and the acronyms. I felt more confused and actually put my camera away for a few days. I had a free afternoon and started hunting for a place that understood that A) I was a beginner B) All I wanted to do was take nice pictures of my kids and C) I LOVE to learn! After many hours, and feeling like I may be too stupid to learn how to ever use this black shiny camera, I fell across the website Click It Up a Notch.

It was like hearing angels signing! This lovely website has wonderful articles that were just what I needed two years ago! They helped me understand in simpler terms (that my sleep deprived Mommy brain could understand) how to work my camera, how to take a nicer and better pictures. There were also blog posts from guest bloggers that added a different flavour and perspective.

Two years later I had the honour of being a guest blogger myself!! Just click here to read my business article for photographer’s! Seeing my images and my words there was like coming full circle and I was doing a little dance! No longer does photography feel like a scary and great unknown! No longer do a panic at the thought of trying to talk shop, now I am the biggest nerd! There is so much more to learn, there are so many genres I would love to dip my toes into and till then I cannot wait!

When I first began my journey with photography I was looking for FAST tips on how to get better. Clicking on Google for information was like opening a can of worms!! There was so much information in front of me! The problem was there was TOO much information, I couldn’t make heads or tails at all the terminology and the acronyms. I felt more confused and actually put my camera away for a few days. I had a free afternoon and started hunting for a place that understood that A) I was a beginner B) All I wanted to do was take nice pictures of my kids and C) I LOVE to learn! After many hours, and feeling like I may be too stupid to learn how to ever use this black shiny camera, I fell across the website Click It Up a Notch.

It was like hearing angels signing! This lovely website has wonderful articles that were just what I needed two years ago! They helped me understand in simpler terms (that my sleep deprived Mommy brain could understand) how to work my camera, how to take a nicer and better pictures. There were also blog posts from guest bloggers that added a different flavour and perspective.

Two years later I had the honour of being a guest blogger myself!! Just click here to read my business article for photographer’s! Seeing my images and my words there was like coming full circle and I was doing a little dance! No longer does photography feel like a scary and great unknown! No longer do a panic at the thought of trying to talk shop, now I am the biggest nerd! There is so much more to learn, there are so many genres I would love to dip my toes into and till then I cannot wait!

I shy away from the camera. I am not comfortable in front of the camera. Part of the reason is being self conscious and the other part it not being control. I know how to make nice images, I like being able to adjust the pose and positions. Being in front of the camera I have to relinquish some of that control and I need to let go of those self conscious thoughts. More importantly I feel a deep need to be in front of the camera. My children are growing too fast, like all children. I also need to face that there will be a day I will not longer be here (I personally hope not for many, many decades to come!) and that there are few pictures that include me.

This afternoon, I set up the camera, grabbed Cecilia and Peter, my (almost) 9 year old, was in control of the shutter button.

My kids don’t see how many pounds I am overweight, they don’t know or care that it was a bad hair day. They only see ME. Mommy. Mom.

My goal is to make sure I am in more pictures with my children, to make more of an effort. It isn’t about me, it is all about them.

I shy away from the camera. I am not comfortable in front of the camera. Part of the reason is being self conscious and the other part it not being control. I know how to make nice images, I like being able to adjust the pose and positions. Being in front of the camera I have to relinquish some of that control and I need to let go of those self conscious thoughts. More importantly I feel a deep need to be in front of the camera. My children are growing too fast, like all children. I also need to face that there will be a day I will not longer be here (I personally hope not for many, many decades to come!) and that there are few pictures that include me.

This afternoon, I set up the camera, grabbed Cecilia and Peter, my (almost) 9 year old, was in control of the shutter button.

My kids don’t see how many pounds I am overweight, they don’t know or care that it was a bad hair day. They only see ME. Mommy. Mom.

My goal is to make sure I am in more pictures with my children, to make more of an effort. It isn’t about me, it is all about them.

While browsing one of my favourite photography forums, I read a heated conversation regarding newborn safety. It was heated because of a photographer bragging about not using any Photoshop in an image. Why the drama? Well this baby was placed on a surfboard in the water. As a mother my heart dropped and I gasped. The image was gorgeous and artistic but 100% unsafe. All my mind kept asking was, ‘What if?’ What if a wave came? What if the baby kicked? Rolled? The photographer claimed the father was nearby but what if he couldn’t reach in time?

My prayer is that no photographer ever has to learn the hard way. Newborn photography is incredibly popular. There is no question why, newborns are beautiful and gorgeous in their perfect newness. As photographer’s we are pushing our art to be more incredible and sweet. From different poses to different props, we have learned how to tug at our client’s heartstrings with beautiful art created around their children. But at what risk? Babies in glass bowls full of candy, head over to Pinterest and you can find numerous examples. What if that glass bowl broke? Common sense will tell you that glass bowls may not handle more than candy and adding a seven pound weight would possible cause it to break. Babies suspended in slings  hanging from a branch risk a serious injury of the baby falling.  Babies placed in mailboxes, the idea is cute but there is risk.

Those sweet posed babies with their chins propped on their hands and arms? Have you ever seen a seven day old baby do this and hold that pose? No. They cannot naturally, they do not have the muscle strength and there is a risk of injury by straining their little muscles.

So, why are we seeing this in photography? Magic? Well sort of! It is COMPOSITES. Using the magic of photoshop, we photographers take two images and overlap them, erase half the picture so it looks like there  were no helping hands.

This is the same for babies suspended over any amount of space/height, babies in props like baskets. Where ever there is the slightest possibility of the baby moving, there should always be a hand on the baby. I have had sessions with babies that are easily startled. In those instances I have Mom or Dad sit next to the baby and one hand on the baby, they lift their hand 3-5 inches off of the baby and I snap my picture. If  the baby moves there is no risk.

If a prop or scene has a slight risk even with composites I will refuse to do that scene. I don’t care how much a parent wants that image. If I feel it is risky I would rather lose a client than risk their child. I also feel it is my responsibility as a professional photographer to KNOW the risks. Going back to the image of that baby on a surfboard, it could have been done in the name of safety. Take an image of the surfboard in the water. Take an image of the baby on a surfboard on the beach in the same lighting situation. Photoshop and voila! More work for the photographer but no risk to that infant and the end result is a beautiful picture.

When hiring a photographer for your newborn portraits, ask questions! How much education do they have? What courses have they taken?  What steps do they take for safety? Do they use composites?

Below are a few examples of the behind the scenes and reality of my newborn poses. You will see how Mom and Dad hold their son’s head safely in place for the ‘Froggy Pose’, this was a little baby who was in a DEEP sleep (for certain poses they need to be sleeping very deep). He was also a baby that in the womb he had his little feet up around his head. When I was posing him I found he was SUPER comfortable in the position compared to having his legs stretched out. Many babies will not pose like this, it all depends on the individual baby. The second image is him with his head propped on his folded arms. Newborns do not have the neck strength to hold this position without risk to their necks and spines. With a gentle finger on his head (not on his temple!) Mom is holding the weight of his head on her finger tip.

During editing these helping hands are erased to create the newborn art that will adorn their walls.

While browsing one of my favourite photography forums, I read a heated conversation regarding newborn safety. It was heated because of a photographer bragging about not using any Photoshop in an image. Why the drama? Well this baby was placed on a surfboard in the water. As a mother my heart dropped and I gasped. The image was gorgeous and artistic but 100% unsafe. All my mind kept asking was, ‘What if?’ What if a wave came? What if the baby kicked? Rolled? The photographer claimed the father was nearby but what if he couldn’t reach in time?

My prayer is that no photographer ever has to learn the hard way. Newborn photography is incredibly popular. There is no question why, newborns are beautiful and gorgeous in their perfect newness. As photographer’s we are pushing our art to be more incredible and sweet. From different poses to different props, we have learned how to tug at our client’s heartstrings with beautiful art created around their children. But at what risk? Babies in glass bowls full of candy, head over to Pinterest and you can find numerous examples. What if that glass bowl broke? Common sense will tell you that glass bowls may not handle more than candy and adding a seven pound weight would possible cause it to break. Babies suspended in slings  hanging from a branch risk a serious injury of the baby falling.  Babies placed in mailboxes, the idea is cute but there is risk.

Those sweet posed babies with their chins propped on their hands and arms? Have you ever seen a seven day old baby do this and hold that pose? No. They cannot naturally, they do not have the muscle strength and there is a risk of injury by straining their little muscles.

So, why are we seeing this in photography? Magic? Well sort of! It is COMPOSITES. Using the magic of photoshop, we photographers take two images and overlap them, erase half the picture so it looks like there  were no helping hands.

This is the same for babies suspended over any amount of space/height, babies in props like baskets. Where ever there is the slightest possibility of the baby moving, there should always be a hand on the baby. I have had sessions with babies that are easily startled. In those instances I have Mom or Dad sit next to the baby and one hand on the baby, they lift their hand 3-5 inches off of the baby and I snap my picture. If  the baby moves there is no risk.

If a prop or scene has a slight risk even with composites I will refuse to do that scene. I don’t care how much a parent wants that image. If I feel it is risky I would rather lose a client than risk their child. I also feel it is my responsibility as a professional photographer to KNOW the risks. Going back to the image of that baby on a surfboard, it could have been done in the name of safety. Take an image of the surfboard in the water. Take an image of the baby on a surfboard on the beach in the same lighting situation. Photoshop and voila! More work for the photographer but no risk to that infant and the end result is a beautiful picture.

When hiring a photographer for your newborn portraits, ask questions! How much education do they have? What courses have they taken?  What steps do they take for safety? Do they use composites?

Below are a few examples of the behind the scenes and reality of my newborn poses. You will see how Mom and Dad hold their son’s head safely in place for the ‘Froggy Pose’, this was a little baby who was in a DEEP sleep (for certain poses they need to be sleeping very deep). He was also a baby that in the womb he had his little feet up around his head. When I was posing him I found he was SUPER comfortable in the position compared to having his legs stretched out. Many babies will not pose like this, it all depends on the individual baby. The second image is him with his head propped on his folded arms. Newborns do not have the neck strength to hold this position without risk to their necks and spines. With a gentle finger on his head (not on his temple!) Mom is holding the weight of his head on her finger tip.

During editing these helping hands are erased to create the newborn art that will adorn their walls.

A few weeks ago the entire family headed to Deer Island for an engagement session. I have never taken the rest of my crew with me to any of my sessions (and doubt I would again) however, this was a bit of a different circumstance. My husband grew up and played hockey with Zack. Carol I had only met a few months before but Carol is a bubbly, lovable person who you immediately like and know you will be friends with. Our first conversation was around our children and motherhood and her upcoming wedding plans.

My children were thrilled with the ferry ride and Carol and her boys were waiting for us on the other side. We headed to the campground and we had the run of the grounds which was perfect for busy little boys! The family session went quickly and then my husband took Carol’s two boys and my four children to play on the playground while Carol, Zack and I did their engagement session.

I normally do not provide babysitting services but could I say this worked out perfectly!  Carol and Zack could relax and have a little fun, with no worries about the boys and the six kids wore each other out (what more could a parent ask for!).

Deer Island is beautiful and my couple were more the willing to climb down on some rocks for a gorgeous shot! While editing I gushed and gushed about Carol’s gorgeous hair!

I cannot wait for their St Andrew’s wedding this weekend!

Here is their slideshow of their full gallery, please note there is music! (Mindy Gledhill from Triple Scoop Music)

A few weeks ago the entire family headed to Deer Island for an engagement session. I have never taken the rest of my crew with me to any of my sessions (and doubt I would again) however, this was a bit of a different circumstance. My husband grew up and played hockey with Zack. Carol I had only met a few months before but Carol is a bubbly, lovable person who you immediately like and know you will be friends with. Our first conversation was around our children and motherhood and her upcoming wedding plans.

My children were thrilled with the ferry ride and Carol and her boys were waiting for us on the other side. We headed to the campground and we had the run of the grounds which was perfect for busy little boys! The family session went quickly and then my husband took Carol’s two boys and my four children to play on the playground while Carol, Zack and I did their engagement session.

I normally do not provide babysitting services but could I say this worked out perfectly!  Carol and Zack could relax and have a little fun, with no worries about the boys and the six kids wore each other out (what more could a parent ask for!).

Deer Island is beautiful and my couple were more the willing to climb down on some rocks for a gorgeous shot! While editing I gushed and gushed about Carol’s gorgeous hair!

I cannot wait for their St Andrew’s wedding this weekend!

Here is their slideshow of their full gallery, please note there is music! (Mindy Gledhill from Triple Scoop Music)