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I received the phone call several months ago asking if I was available for a session on Camp Gagetown, Fredericton.  I suggested someone closer till they explain they wanted ME…lil’ol small town me, to photograph an amazing group of people for the February issue of Canadian Living Magazine. Yup, a national magazine. I nearly swooned, thought I was being pranked and then the crinkly, crawly, unreal, might-be-Christmas feeling spread through my body. Yup, this was really happening.

I had a great time, only managed to get lost once but arrived in time to capture the great achievements of this group of people. I was wowed by the talent of Debbie Clements the makeup artist from Moncton. I don’t think I ever laughed so hard at a session as I did. They were that much fun.

Then I waited…for many, many weeks for the February issue to arrive. Last week, I was at the checkouts at Walmart and saw it has arrived…it was crazy busy in there but told the cashier WHY I was so excited and she said, ‘OPEN IT!!!’ and did the little dance, I was feeling inside! Together we found the article and I think a little squeal of excitement escaped me. She said she never met anyone who did work for magazines before. I had a good laugh and explained, neither did I.  Opportunities like this for newer photographer, like myself, are a bit like fairy tales come true. This came out of the blue, I honestly had no idea how photographers were ever chosen to do work for magazines. For what ever reason they chose me a big thank you:)

I received the phone call several months ago asking if I was available for a session on Camp Gagetown, Fredericton.  I suggested someone closer till they explain they wanted ME…lil’ol small town me, to photograph an amazing group of people for the February issue of Canadian Living Magazine. Yup, a national magazine. I nearly swooned, thought I was being pranked and then the crinkly, crawly, unreal, might-be-Christmas feeling spread through my body. Yup, this was really happening.

I had a great time, only managed to get lost once but arrived in time to capture the great achievements of this group of people. I was wowed by the talent of Debbie Clements the makeup artist from Moncton. I don’t think I ever laughed so hard at a session as I did. They were that much fun.

Then I waited…for many, many weeks for the February issue to arrive. Last week, I was at the checkouts at Walmart and saw it has arrived…it was crazy busy in there but told the cashier WHY I was so excited and she said, ‘OPEN IT!!!’ and did the little dance, I was feeling inside! Together we found the article and I think a little squeal of excitement escaped me. She said she never met anyone who did work for magazines before. I had a good laugh and explained, neither did I.  Opportunities like this for newer photographer, like myself, are a bit like fairy tales come true. This came out of the blue, I honestly had no idea how photographers were ever chosen to do work for magazines. For what ever reason they chose me a big thank you:)

(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!

Last night there was very little sleep happening in the Bagley household (and that is not exactly a new phenomena), Kathleen was sick the flu and was miserable. I have always taught my children that they need to share (and this rarely if ever, happens) and Kathleen remembered this lesson. She rembered well  by wailing during the middle of the night and sharing her misery with us.

Our house was a bit reminiscent of a zombie movie as we were all kind of like zombies from so few hours of sleep.

This afternoon the lack of sleep caught up with Kathleen. She finally needed to crash after a morning full of temper tantrums and more wailing. She grabbed her brother’s infamous Brown Bear and curled on the couch. This is the child who stopped napping at 2 years old (and how I mourned the loss of these naps! She gathered her Care Bear quilt, took her glasses off and declared she would have a ‘little’ sleep. Within minutes silence enveloped the house and all I could hear was the quiet and even breathes from her her tired and sick little body. Watching her sleep made me a little sad. This tiny girl was growing up fast. Days of naps were well behind us and this was a rare day. For a few minutes I could stare openly at her, and I took advantage of her stillness by snapping a few images. Because goodness knows when this moment will happen again.

Last night there was very little sleep happening in the Bagley household (and that is not exactly a new phenomena), Kathleen was sick the flu and was miserable. I have always taught my children that they need to share (and this rarely if ever, happens) and Kathleen remembered this lesson. She rembered well  by wailing during the middle of the night and sharing her misery with us.

Our house was a bit reminiscent of a zombie movie as we were all kind of like zombies from so few hours of sleep.

This afternoon the lack of sleep caught up with Kathleen. She finally needed to crash after a morning full of temper tantrums and more wailing. She grabbed her brother’s infamous Brown Bear and curled on the couch. This is the child who stopped napping at 2 years old (and how I mourned the loss of these naps! She gathered her Care Bear quilt, took her glasses off and declared she would have a ‘little’ sleep. Within minutes silence enveloped the house and all I could hear was the quiet and even breathes from her her tired and sick little body. Watching her sleep made me a little sad. This tiny girl was growing up fast. Days of naps were well behind us and this was a rare day. For a few minutes I could stare openly at her, and I took advantage of her stillness by snapping a few images. Because goodness knows when this moment will happen again.