Cohen

Meet wee Cohen. This is my nephew and such a doll! On my side of the family there has only been girls... until about 5 months ago when little Cohen broke onto the scene. He's a heart breaker with his smirk and baby blues. Tonight we did an early Easter dinner with my family and he just stole my heart - hope you can see why! (If you can't - you may need glasses. He's a muffin!)

New Friends

While at WPPI I was able to meet some of my friends from a photography forum I belong to. First I had the privilege of taking photos for James & Hope to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. Since they had been married at the Flamingo in Vegas - they had asked for some photos to be taken their to commemorate the big 5. HEre's one of the many (they have more up on their blog here).



Then, I finally got to meet Jasen! Jasen and I have been e-mailing for awhile and it has been great to have someone to ask questions to who is a great photographer. Jasen and his wife Jennifer joined us for supper and we all got along splendidly!

Home Sweet Home!

It feels so good to be home with Mark and the girls again!

Wed. night we had rented a car until 10pm Thursday night (our flight left at 11pm Thurs.). So, Wed. we woke up and checked out of Bally's around 9:30am and took off for the Valley of Fire. Wow! We spent the entire day until sunset playing on the red rocks, climbing, exploring, and taking heaps of photos! We came back to Vegas in time for supper and then catch our plane. Took the red eye to NYC, 5 hour layover and then on to Buffalo. I got in the door at my house at 5pm on Friday. We had checked out of our hotel at 9:30am Thursday - let's just say we're dirty and bushed! I fell asleep on the couch at home at 7:30pm and didn't wake up until this morning!

Anyhow, here's one photo from the Valley of Fire to tie you over until I get the rest ready to view...



And here's one Sandra took of me...

Snap Happy

It has been such a good week - but my head is full! Full of ideas mainly.

Our last seminar we went to was by Bambi Cantrell and she showed photos of us of how she finds "available light" - photos in bathrooms, elevators, etc. So we decided we'd go on a photo hunt tonight looking for the light. And we had the most fun at FAO Schwarz taking pictures! Here's a few...

First here's Melanie on the "Big" piano...



And this is Mel on the floor of the diner part in FAO...



This is Tracy at the bottom of the escalator against a great yellow wall (made a bit of a traffic jam though)



Sandra on the floor with a garbage can reflecting her


And Tracy in the diner part again


The girls just complained I wasn't being fair not posting pics of me. Here's one Tracy snapped of me the other day on the way to the Grand Canyon....

Mom's Time

Between the four of us here, we have left behind 4 husbands watching 14 kids! What good guys we have!

It has been a great time getting to know these other photographers and learning from them as well. On our trip to the Canyon we stopped and did a photo soot of each other - a great way to learn! Interesting to see each other's style of shooting photos. Here's a glimpse at my traveling companions...

This is Sandra. We met through a mutual friend of mine and she has been so great to know! We call each other and say "what do you think about this?" and share ideas and knowledge.




This is Melanie first and then Tracy below - they are sisters and business partners. I met them through my parents, and they are a lot of fun! They have a great eye for photography and enjoy learning.

Heroes

Today was another packed day at WPPI - although we did sneak in time to go swimming and lie by the pool! It was so hot and felt great!

This morning I listened to Lianna Lehman speak on doing photography for the love of it. If you're passion is not there - your photos will show it. I really appreciated how she encouraged us to give back - to help others, and use our photography as a gift. This helped me make two goals that had been rattling around in my head making noise. Time to make the goals more clear. They are this:

1) To sign up for "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" - this is an international organization that does infant bereavement photography. If someone has a child that is not going to live very long - days, or weeks - then a photographer would come and take portraits of them and their child as a way to remember this life. I had read about this a year ago but was not sure I could emotionally do it. But it is so important. I am fortunate to have two healthy girls - but that could have been me, and I would have wanted someone to offer their gift of photography to me. I went tonight and filled out an application!

2) Mission Photography - I would love to volunteer to World Vision or some mission organization to photograph for them. Missions has always been very dear to my heart - and again, when I am so fortunate to have so much - how can I not give back? This is a dream I hope to pursue in the next year or two.

This afternoon I walked around the trade show - man! is it huge! So much to take in and absorb. Pretty overwhelming.

This evening I went to a seminar by Australian photographer Marcus Bell. His images are breathtaking! So inspiring...

Tonight I got to meet three of my all time photography heroes.

1) Yervant

Yervant is an Australian genius - and hilarious! So kind, down to earth and funny. He was throwing stuffed chickens that said "I love you" into the audience... just because. I love quirky people like that!

This is a picture of my good friend Maggie, Yervant and myself.



2) Bambi Cantrell

Bambi is a photographer that is in magazines, publishes books, DVDs - VERY well known. In one of her DVDs she shows how to stand properly - putting the weight on your back foot. So, all week when me and my friends here take pics of each other we say "do the Bambi" - and we strike the pose she demonstrates in her DVD. I told her this and she got a kick out of it.

I asked a man near us to take the picture - he didn't seem to have any idea what he was doing. I whispered to Bambi "do you think he has any clue what he's doing?"

She replied "I can absolutely guarantee you he doesn't. That's mu husband." (Whoops!)



3) Joe Buissink

Joe is a celebrity photographer - he has done many famous weddings. One of the pioneers to photojournalism. I watch his DVDs and feel inspired. I love watching him shoot pics in his DVDs - always on the move, looking, looking, looking.... and he captures those perfect moments!

Grand Day

Yesterday, we took the day off, rented a car and headed to the Grand Canyon for the day. A great way to relax and unwind after a busy, packed day on Saturday and before the craziness of the week.

We had to drive over Hoover Dam....



Then we drove to Route 66 towards the Canyon....



We met Carl and his family - a native Navahoe who lives on a horse ranch. He was great!



Then off to the Canyon. Mark and I had been there a few years back - but still, I was left breathless yet again. To come around the bend and see God's majesty in all it's glory - wow! Before we left, the four of us stood at the edge, looking out over the sunset and sang our hearts out (between tears) - completely moved by the beauty. A life moment.

Viva Las Vegas!

I am here in Las Vegas with three other photographers from Ontario learning lots to take home to better my business for you! It has been exciting (but long!) first day and a half.

Today we're off to site see in the Grand Canyon!

The Paris hotel (our conference is split between the Paris and Bally's hotels)


Three of after we finally arrived (around 3am our time!)

Clowning Around

This weekend I had the opportunity to fly up to Thunder Bay to photograph a group of clowns - doing their individual portraits for them to use in marketing. It was a lot of fun! Here is a quick peek at Yodels, Lulu, Piggles, Polly, Belle and Hugger.

Stevens Family

A year and a half ago I met Amy & Steve as they met with me to discuss their wedding photography. We had fun doing their engagement photos in the Fall, and then their beautiful wedding in April 2006. They have a really fun family - and on Wednesday I was able to see all the gang again as I did family photos as their gift for their mom's birthday. What a fun group! Here's one of the many shots....

Wedding Day Excitement

Lately I have been getting excited about the upcoming wedding season. Ready and excited to get going full speed ahead! I have been enjoying meeting with couples throughout the winter season preparing for their upcoming Spring-Summer weddings (and some for Fall and Winter too!).

I take weddings really seriously - as I often say: the dress will get boxed away, the flowers will die, and all that remains as a visible reminder of one of the Biggest Days of your life are your photos. It is such an honour to be a part of people's weddings and their lives.

Yesterday, after a particularly long day at my full time job (as mom to two young girls) I was thrilled to receive this unexpected e-mail in my inbox from a bride who's wedding I was a part of last August.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and talent! You helped to make the memory of our wedding picture perfect!

Ben & Kristina were so much fun to photograph - despite the rain! Their wedding was a real celebration of family - I even found myself crying during the speeches! It was beautiful.

I look forward to this summer ahead with gratefulness and being a part of so many weddings!

March is finally here!

March is going to be an exciting month! March 23 I fly out with three other photographer friends to Las Vegas for a week to attend one of the biggest and best photography conventions. Can't wait to go and learn! learn! learn! I'll need another vacation to process all I hear and see!!