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Someday she will look back and hate these pictures.

I will look back and remember her rolls.

Someday she will look back and hate these pictures.

I will look back and remember her rolls.

After bathtime comes quiet reading time…reading with a flashlight just makes it better.

After bathtime comes quiet reading time…reading with a flashlight just makes it better.

St George, NB had a wind storm today that brought our kiddos home from school early, due to the power being out. No sooner did they arrive home (thanks Mom for going to get them again!!) that the power went out at our home.

They spent the next 20 minutes proving that they were spoiled children. Whining and wondering at the lack of lights, tv, wii, computer, movies…etc. They were not overly impressed at me emphasizing they were learning about the impact of electricity in their little lives (I just received eye rolls and blank stares). We tidied and cleaned because there was nothing else to do (I won’t admit how much cleaning we got done without the computer and tv for distraction) and finally they resigned to the fact there was nothing in my mommy powers that would bring back that power.

The next several hours were spent listening to me read, “Chester Runs Away” by LM Montgomery (same authoress of Anne of Green Gables). The short story is old, there were a few times I had to stop, explain situations (‘No, Charles. They only had one train, no cars.’, ‘Four dollars for 2 weeks work was good pay in 1850.’) or words (whilst, afar, fortnight, etc). The story fit the atmosphere of the day and for a while they were happy little ones.

Supper brought new panic of no hot supper! (Did I mentioned they were spoiled? lol) Dad arrived home and off we went to the Milk Mart for a ‘hot’ supper a bit of a treat eating out on a school night.

Over supper it was another realization of how nice it is was to be unplugged for a day. Yes, I have deadlines looming, editing to be finished, emails to answer, my normal stresses of being a working mother/business owner. But today I had no choice but to sit down with my little ones and just have a quiet slow day, reading, cuddling on the couch. I refused to stress out and decided to enjoy the lack of electrical hum and listen to thw wind and my kiddos.

Cecilia is 5 months old today and the time has flown by too fast. I feel sad thinking how she is now a chubby little baby and those newborn/infant days are over and we are now into baby days (which are fun:). She smiles and amuses herself and us in the jolly jumper. She is smart and has learned that being the youngest means a whimper guarantees being picked up and her ever need met within seconds. I have been taking baby pictures of her as often as I can so I won’t forget these little moments.

While waiting for supper I broke out the camera in public (something I rarely do because normally I am busy chasing little ones and mind is distracted!), the older three didn’t give me their usual funny faces or sibling photobombing. I blame it on the fact I haven’t taken any pictures of them over the past few weeks because I have been busy with doing hockey pictures.

While waiting for our food to arrive the sun broke through the clouds and we enjoyed a quiet supper bathed in pretty sunshine that would make us forget that snow is in the forecast.

Cecilia Turns 5 Months Old

St George, NB had a wind storm today that brought our kiddos home from school early, due to the power being out. No sooner did they arrive home (thanks Mom for going to get them again!!) that the power went out at our home.

They spent the next 20 minutes proving that they were spoiled children. Whining and wondering at the lack of lights, tv, wii, computer, movies…etc. They were not overly impressed at me emphasizing they were learning about the impact of electricity in their little lives (I just received eye rolls and blank stares). We tidied and cleaned because there was nothing else to do (I won’t admit how much cleaning we got done without the computer and tv for distraction) and finally they resigned to the fact there was nothing in my mommy powers that would bring back that power.

The next several hours were spent listening to me read, “Chester Runs Away” by LM Montgomery (same authoress of Anne of Green Gables). The short story is old, there were a few times I had to stop, explain situations (‘No, Charles. They only had one train, no cars.’, ‘Four dollars for 2 weeks work was good pay in 1850.’) or words (whilst, afar, fortnight, etc). The story fit the atmosphere of the day and for a while they were happy little ones.

Supper brought new panic of no hot supper! (Did I mentioned they were spoiled? lol) Dad arrived home and off we went to the Milk Mart for a ‘hot’ supper a bit of a treat eating out on a school night.

Over supper it was another realization of how nice it is was to be unplugged for a day. Yes, I have deadlines looming, editing to be finished, emails to answer, my normal stresses of being a working mother/business owner. But today I had no choice but to sit down with my little ones and just have a quiet slow day, reading, cuddling on the couch. I refused to stress out and decided to enjoy the lack of electrical hum and listen to thw wind and my kiddos.

Cecilia is 5 months old today and the time has flown by too fast. I feel sad thinking how she is now a chubby little baby and those newborn/infant days are over and we are now into baby days (which are fun:). She smiles and amuses herself and us in the jolly jumper. She is smart and has learned that being the youngest means a whimper guarantees being picked up and her ever need met within seconds. I have been taking baby pictures of her as often as I can so I won’t forget these little moments.

While waiting for supper I broke out the camera in public (something I rarely do because normally I am busy chasing little ones and mind is distracted!), the older three didn’t give me their usual funny faces or sibling photobombing. I blame it on the fact I haven’t taken any pictures of them over the past few weeks because I have been busy with doing hockey pictures.

While waiting for our food to arrive the sun broke through the clouds and we enjoyed a quiet supper bathed in pretty sunshine that would make us forget that snow is in the forecast.

Cecilia Turns 5 Months Old

One of my clients told me how she was not looking forward to picture day, they have a young family with busy little toddlers. To them, picture day is stressful and involves tears and is as popular as a root canal.

As a Mom of 4 small kids, I can completely empathize! Formally posed pictures and little kids do not always go hand in hand but there are some tips and tricks I can share with you to get those family photos you desire.

First, lower all expectations! Getting everyone looking at the camera and smiling may NOT happen. But I aim to get everyone looking at the camera. With adults and older children I ask them to at all times look at the camera and let me work on coaching a smile or even the attention of the littler ones.

Sometimes little ones just need to get up and run around a little bit, no problem! Allow them get those wiggles out and act silly with them and MAKE IT FUN! As a photographer, I always have my camera ready and I am just waiting for those little moments to happen. They may not be perfectly posed and smiling but they are authentic, real and they are 99% of the time my clients FAVORITE pictures.  I snapped this picture of these two sisters, it was so sweet and cute, it is one of my favorites.

 Second, make sure everyone arrives with full bellies. Hungry children and adults can cause everyone to get a little cranky. I also suggest brining a snack, something that is not messy, and then give me that snack to me to use as bribery. Let’s face it, kids are SMART! They can sense the desperation in their parent’s voices. They know you are begging them to be good, they sense you are not just going to walk away from this  and this can lead to some naughtiness. However, when I hold that elusive treat, they don’t know me. They don’t know how far to push me…it often can be very effective.

Try to schedule the session for a time that works for your little ones. If they normally nap in the morning, don’t schedule a session for that time. 

Bring a spare outfit just in case, bring something to wipe their faces with…little ones have a knack for getting dirty:) And dress for the weather. Cute outfits are nice but the focus is on your faces, and warm and dry little ones (and adults) make sessions so much easier.

And third, be prepare to act very, very silly!!  Nothing makes a 15 month old laugh harder then seeing Mommy doing jumping jacks behind the photographer’s head;) For older kids I may break out the very cool phone app with fart noises. Gross? You betcha! But it will make 12 year old boys give those genuine smiles that you see so rarely! Let me know what your kids love, what makes them laugh.

Working together, we can make well prepared sessions fun. I want you walking away realizing that if your kids were wiggly, or making face that is honestly does not faze me one bit. They are just being kids and sitting down and smiling is a little bit boring.

So, don’t stress, my kids are much worse then yours:) I literally have to chase them down with the camera. With Mom as a photographer, they are a little too used to a camera in their face. When I decided to do our Christmas card, not one of the pictures was ‘perfect’ but looking at the numerous tries was more fun then the final result. This shows truly who my kids are at this time and I managed to capture a memory.

One of my clients told me how she was not looking forward to picture day, they have a young family with busy little toddlers. To them, picture day is stressful and involves tears and is as popular as a root canal.

As a Mom of 4 small kids, I can completely empathize! Formally posed pictures and little kids do not always go hand in hand but there are some tips and tricks I can share with you to get those family photos you desire.

First, lower all expectations! Getting everyone looking at the camera and smiling may NOT happen. But I aim to get everyone looking at the camera. With adults and older children I ask them to at all times look at the camera and let me work on coaching a smile or even the attention of the littler ones.

Sometimes little ones just need to get up and run around a little bit, no problem! Allow them get those wiggles out and act silly with them and MAKE IT FUN! As a photographer, I always have my camera ready and I am just waiting for those little moments to happen. They may not be perfectly posed and smiling but they are authentic, real and they are 99% of the time my clients FAVORITE pictures.  I snapped this picture of these two sisters, it was so sweet and cute, it is one of my favorites.

 Second, make sure everyone arrives with full bellies. Hungry children and adults can cause everyone to get a little cranky. I also suggest brining a snack, something that is not messy, and then give me that snack to me to use as bribery. Let’s face it, kids are SMART! They can sense the desperation in their parent’s voices. They know you are begging them to be good, they sense you are not just going to walk away from this  and this can lead to some naughtiness. However, when I hold that elusive treat, they don’t know me. They don’t know how far to push me…it often can be very effective.

Try to schedule the session for a time that works for your little ones. If they normally nap in the morning, don’t schedule a session for that time. 

Bring a spare outfit just in case, bring something to wipe their faces with…little ones have a knack for getting dirty:) And dress for the weather. Cute outfits are nice but the focus is on your faces, and warm and dry little ones (and adults) make sessions so much easier.

And third, be prepare to act very, very silly!!  Nothing makes a 15 month old laugh harder then seeing Mommy doing jumping jacks behind the photographer’s head;) For older kids I may break out the very cool phone app with fart noises. Gross? You betcha! But it will make 12 year old boys give those genuine smiles that you see so rarely! Let me know what your kids love, what makes them laugh.

Working together, we can make well prepared sessions fun. I want you walking away realizing that if your kids were wiggly, or making face that is honestly does not faze me one bit. They are just being kids and sitting down and smiling is a little bit boring.

So, don’t stress, my kids are much worse then yours:) I literally have to chase them down with the camera. With Mom as a photographer, they are a little too used to a camera in their face. When I decided to do our Christmas card, not one of the pictures was ‘perfect’ but looking at the numerous tries was more fun then the final result. This shows truly who my kids are at this time and I managed to capture a memory.

I finally did my children’s…it was something like lion taming and an endurance race.

For my own children I usually shy away from formally posed portraits but I know how many family members do love these pictures. So, I broke all the rules and bought matchy-matchy outfits, dog the fake fur rug, the backdrop…and voila! Three smiling kids and one slightly cranky infant…this was the best out of 200 pictures:)

I finally did my children’s…it was something like lion taming and an endurance race.

For my own children I usually shy away from formally posed portraits but I know how many family members do love these pictures. So, I broke all the rules and bought matchy-matchy outfits, dog the fake fur rug, the backdrop…and voila! Three smiling kids and one slightly cranky infant…this was the best out of 200 pictures:)

I hear over and over how everyone wants fall pictures and why wouldn’t they? Here in New Brunswick fall means crisp fall air, the smell of wood stoves and bright gorgeous colours that bring a smile to our faces! We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful province and fall reminds us of this privilege every year:)

Sadly those pretty leaves do not last long enough…one storm brings them to the ground too soon. I have had fun with my fall session families this year and have had a few people say they wished they had booked sooner…BUT…that doesn’t have to be the case!

I took two of my kiddos out this afternoon…not the ideal day for pictures…it had just sprinkled, the sky was overcast and every leaf is on the ground but there are still some gorgeous colours in the bushes and trees.

Here is Charlie standing next to the now dead hydrangea bush…and NO editing on that bush!

So, when you think the time has passed for fall pictures…rethink that thought:)

I hear over and over how everyone wants fall pictures and why wouldn’t they? Here in New Brunswick fall means crisp fall air, the smell of wood stoves and bright gorgeous colours that bring a smile to our faces! We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful province and fall reminds us of this privilege every year:)

Sadly those pretty leaves do not last long enough…one storm brings them to the ground too soon. I have had fun with my fall session families this year and have had a few people say they wished they had booked sooner…BUT…that doesn’t have to be the case!

I took two of my kiddos out this afternoon…not the ideal day for pictures…it had just sprinkled, the sky was overcast and every leaf is on the ground but there are still some gorgeous colours in the bushes and trees.

Here is Charlie standing next to the now dead hydrangea bush…and NO editing on that bush!

So, when you think the time has passed for fall pictures…rethink that thought:)