Meeting a Kindred Spirit (Ottawa Photographers)

Chinese Style Engagement Portrait Session (Ottawa Wedding Photographers)

I love Asia and when I say that, what I mean is that I REALLY LOVE Asia.  My Chinese friends (yes you, Ya-Wen and Amanda) joke and say that I am a wannabe Asian.  I think they’re right.  I mean, I’ve wanted to visit China and walk along the Great Wall of China since I was a kid (I got the chance back in 2005).  I lived in Asia for a year and a half (South Korea and Japan) and I’ve traveled all over Asia and Southeast Asia.  The theme for my own wedding was Chinese, with all of my bridesmaids wearing Chinese dresses and my going away outfit being a traditional red Choeongsam, tailor made in Beijing.

Liking all things Asian, brings me to write about this great couple who I will have the pleasure of photographing their farm wedding on June 1 of this year (Oh, how I love photographing on farms and in fields!).  I knew that it was going to be a good match between us when the bride wrote in her initial e-mail, “Seems like I’ve found a kindred spirit who loves Pinterest and has a passion for travel and photography.”  During our initial meeting, we were able to talk about a few of our own experiences in Mongolia.  Now really, it’s not every day that I find another person whom I can talk about mutual Mongolian experiences with, ya know?

Since their rustic wedding is taking place at Mariposa Farm, Eric and Betty-Ann decided to have an urban backdrop for their engagement session.   We decided on the Byward Market as well as Major’s Hill Park, which I was already looking forward to, but then when I found out that Betty-Ann was going to wear her red Chinese dress for the photo shoot, I was BEYOND excited.  I have wanted to do a photo session like this for a long time.  And what made this engagement session even more spectacular were the beautiful cherry and apple blossoms that were conveniently in bloom.  Not one to pass up an opportunity that really only comes once a year, we first took photos by the cherry and apple trees at the arboretum in order to get a gorgeous floral backdrop and later by the tulips in bloom for the Ottawa tulip festival.

The few days leading up to the photo shoot had me concerned because the weather forecast was cool and wet weather.  I even suggested that we change the date, but that was not possible for the couple, so we went ahead with the photo shoot.  It rained in the middle of the day and the clouds were gloomy and looming.  But as we began to shoot, the skies cleared, the sun came out and it warmed up a bit.  The end result was beautiful weather to help create beautiful engagement photos.  The e-session went very well.  Eric and Betty-Ann rocked it and I got some amazing shots.  I hope that you will enjoy the photos as much as I do.

Spring family portrait session

Experimental farm spring family portrait session (Ottawa Photographers)

Last weekend I was able to photograph some spring family photos of a great family that I have known for the past few years.  We took photos in various parts of the experimental farm’s ornamental gardens.  As luck would have it, the only large magnolia tree around was fully in bloom with its gorgeous pastel pink flowers everywhere.  I was thrilled to see it as I drove past a few days prior to scout out the location and I knew that I had to use that tree as a backdrop to my photos.  It ended up giving such a gorgeous pink backdrop to these lovely family photos.

Last summer I photographed their daughter’s cake smash photo session.  Since they now have a new addition to their little family, I had the pleasure of photographing their family portraits with the little guy.

I hope that you enjoy these spring portraits of a very cute and loving family that I have the privilege to know.  :)

Natural light photography (Ottawa baby photographers)

Natural light photography (Ottawa Gatineau baby photographers)

Last week I was out shopping and came across this metal tub.  As a photographer, I am always on the lookout for cool looking photography props to use in photos.  I get very excited when I find something unique that I can use–especially for baby and children’s portraits.  As soon as I saw this metal tub, the wheels began turning of the possibilities that  I could use it for in photos.

I live out in the country, so this tub went very well for an outdoor farm style photo shoot.  I just had to wait until the weather warmed up enough for me to take photos of my daughter in a bubble bath.

As I have written before, I do one or two photo shoots of my daughter in order to record the first two years of her life in professional photos.  Yes, I still take photos of her with a point and shoot camera, like everyone else.  I just prefer to have professional photos of her as well.

I hope that you enjoy these fun spring photos of my little girl.

Ottawa Cake Smash Portrait

One year cake smash with Baby “E” (Ottawa baby photographers)

I just did another cake smash photo session with a cute little boy this week.  I must say that I am really enjoying these baby cake smash photo sessions.  I love seeing these one year old babies having fun getting messy and trying out their sweet tooth (sometimes with a lack of teeth).  Even though baby “E” was not into the whole getting messy and eating his cake, he was all smiles during his cake smash.   And funny enough, he kept on trying to put his foot into the cake.

I must mention my thoughts about the cake.  I sent a photo to Baby “E’s” maman of the backdrop that I was going to use so that she could bring a couple of outfits that would match its colours.   This talented lady went above and beyond my expectations.  She made his GORGEOUS giant cupcake using the three background colours.  She even made the large cherry on top.  And if that wasn’t enough, she also made two very cute and colourful bow ties for the photo shoot.  I was so impressed.

I hope that you enjoy these photos of such a cute little boy with a very cute smile.

Spring Mini Sessions

Spring Mini Photo Sessions (Ottawa Photographer)

Since we still have snow on the ground, I have changed the date of the spring mini photo session to Saturday May 4 to ensure that it will be warmer and that the trees should have some leaves on them by then.  They will be held at the Ottawa Experimental Farm’s ornamental gardens.

I still have a few spots left.  I hope that you will join me.  Please click on the attached poster for details.

Baby cake smash

Cake Smash Photo Session of Baby “A” (Ottawa Photographers)

Baby “A’s” giant cupcake style cake was made by her talented mommy.  It’s amazing what a parent will do to ensure that their child gets great photos.  I loved it.  The cake turned out beautifully.  I couldn’t have asked for a prettier cake.

Unlike most babies that I have photographed during a cake smash photo session, baby “A” was thrilled to try out a sugary dessert for the first time.  She took her time to check out the cake, to touch it and then try it out.  And then after that she couldn’t help herself to the yummy dessert.

She didn’t end up crying until the very end and then it was a wrap up.   Thanks to her mommy and daddy for singing Mexican nursery rhymes to her during the shoot to keep in a good mood. 

I hope that you will all enjoy these cute photos of a cute little girl.

Cake Smash Portrait Session

Cake Smash Portrait Photo Special (Ottawa Baby Photographers)

I wanted to let you know that I am currently offering a photography special for my baby birthday cake smash photo sessions.  This is a fantastic opportunity to have fun photos taken of your one or two year old child.  Please click on the actual photo to enlarge so that you can read the details of the photography package special.

You bring the cake* and I provide the backdrop and fun photos of your little one eating cake.

*I do not provide a cake or cupcake for my cake smash photo sessions for liability reasons, which can include allergy restrictions.

One year cake smash with Baby L

Baby Cake Smash (Ottawa Baby Photographers)

A few weeks ago I photographed a baby cake smash of baby ”L”, who is five days older than my own little girl.  His mother and I have known each other for five years as we used to work together.

Baby L’s mom is a very crafty lady and she honed in on her crafty skills to make his amazing looking cake!  I was so impressed.  My only request was that the icing had to be blue because I had already figured out what the prop colours would be, so I wanted everything to match.  I e-mailed her a photo of a large cupcake style cake with blue icing and to my pleasant surprise, she made it pretty similar.  Fantastic!  It made for even better photos for little L.

Not all babies are into the whole cake smash thing.  Some love the fact that they can finally sink their little teeth (or lack therof) into some sugary goodness.  There are other babies who do not like the feeling of getting gooey butter cream icing all over them.  Baby L was the latter kind of baby, but I was still able to get some really fun cake smash photos.  I hope that you enjoy the photos of this cute little baby.

Spring Mini Portrait Sessions on April 13th (Ottawa Portrait Photographers)

Hi everyone!  I am pleased to offer spring mini portrait sessions on Saturday April 13, 2013.  This is a great opportunity to have family portraits taken or to have portraits of your kids taken.  I will be announcing the Ottawa location in the next few weeks.  If you are interested in booking a mini session, please contact me asap as the spots are booking up fast!   Please check the info on the posted mini session poster below (click on the photo to make it larger):

Happy birthday baby girl! (Ottawa Photographer)

Baby Cake Smash Photo Shoot (Ottawa Baby Photographers)

One year ago today at 5:17am on a cold, snowy winter day my little angel was born.  The past year has been a real roller coaster ride of emotions, but I am so thankful that I am a mother to this precious little girl.  I always wanted a daughter.  I wanted to be able to help shape her mind to know who she really is, her true worth as well as know that she can do whatever she sets her mind to do.  I wanted to share with her my love for writing, travelling, Broadway shows, ballets, the smell of books while reading and, of course, photography.  And also, who else am I going to give my Barbie collection and 30+ journals to other than an heiress?

For me, Lily will make every future New Year’s Eve extra special.  It’s ironic that before she was born I was actually thinking to call her Eve instead of Lily.  However, her papa’s name is Yves, so that would make it hard with two people in the house with the same sounding name.

My daughter fills my heart and life with so much more joy than I could have ever hoped for.  She is not only the answer to my many prayers, hopes and dreams, but she is also a wonderful mixture of her papa and myself.  I enjoy her smiles, her laughs.  She is the sunshine in my life—even when she cries.  I always knew that I would love my baby whenever I had one, but I never realized how much she would fill my heart like no one else ever could.  Of course I love my husband and my family dearly, but this is a different kind of love.  I carried such precious cargo for a long nine months, but when we met face to face for the first time 12 months ago, it was instant magic.  Instant love.  I don’t even know if I could adequately express how much love I have for my precious baby girl.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I call many things by what they actually are.  Every car that I have owned has been called “Car”, our cat that we had a few years ago was called “Kitty Kat” and every baby that I see I call “Baby”.  Lily is no exception to my rule.  Besides calling her “Baby”, my other knick names for her are: “Little Girl”, “Smiley” and my little puppy.  Of course I also call her Lily too.  She responds equally to any of them.

Lily is also my little poupée.  She is a real sport about letting me dress her up and take photos for our monthly photo shoots.  I wanted to document her first year as much as possible since there are so many fleeting changes in the first year of a child’s life.  Our bare living room walls are now starting to get covered with family photos, which include little Lily.  And I was able to give each set of grandparents a photo album for Christmas filled with many of the photos of Lily from our monthly photo shoots.

And with that, I will include some of the photos that I took of little Lily over this past year.  I hope that you will enjoy these photos of my favourite little girl in the whole, wide world.