Thank You!

I'm thrilled to announce that Krista Jefferson Photography was nominated for Best New Business in the Hamilton Spectator's Reader's Choice Awards! Thank you for nominating me!!

The Hamilton Spectator has over 340,000 weekly readers, reaching approximately 2/3 of adults in the Hamilton area.

The voting starts September 6 - I will remind you then to vote and to ask others to as well!

Thank you all who took the time to nominate Krista Jefferson Photography!!

Jeremy & Becky

Yesterday was the wedding celebration of Jeremy & Becky in London. Even though it was a rainy day - we had breaks in the rain to slip outside. These two didn't mind squishy feet and getting a bit wet. Such troopers! It was a fun day! Becky is so detailed - from her lists to all the little things she thought of through the day. Platters (with special pens for people to sign with) for a guest book - they'll later bake the platter and it secures the penned greetings for years to come. The programs at church were fans for the hot church. There was a;so individually wrapped tissues in ribbon with labels "For Tears of Joy". And the list goes on for how she thought of everything! Here are a few images from the day...

First Dance

Last weekend I photographed Joel and Rachel's wedding - as I mentioned in my earlier post - they did the Dirty Dancing First Dance (THIS was their inspiration). It was amazing! Here is a slideshow of some of the images from it. Sorry I ran out of time to do it to the right song ("I Had the Time of My Life"). If anyone has a video - I'll gladly post it here!

KJP Party

This past Wed. I held our first party - a chance for KJP (Krista Jefferson Photography) to say "thanks" to everyone! It was a lot of fun - a great turnout for ice cream sundaes, live music, photos and fun.

A HUGE thank you to Kevin Coghill who (along with his brother AJ) provided music. Kevin is an amazing musician - and provides guitar lessons. If you are in the Fergus area and are interested in lessons - or are needing to book a great musician - let me recommend him! His contact info is cognackers@hotmail.com and 519.843.4534

Another BIG thanks to my team - Carolynn and my hubby Mark for helping prepare. Mark was also serving beverages and food all night. What a keeper.

Anyhow - I had a backdrop and lights set up and did photos of anyone interested - and they will have their choice of a free 5x7 from the photos taken.

It was great to connect with people and gab! I hope you all can make it to the next party!!

Here are some of the photos taken...



This is my fave pic from the night. These are my beautiful parents...



My daughter Madi insisted on bringing her own camera and taking a picture of me taking a picture of her....



And without further ado...

Laura & Alyssa

Had the pleasure of meeting Laura and her daughter Alyssa tonight. Laura really wanted to get photos done with her daughter before he daughter gets too into her teens and doesn't want to hangout with mom anymore! I loved watching these two interact - Alyssa is very dramatic and has a great outgoing personality. Laura just loves to laugh at her and beams with pride. A fun evening with two beautiful ladies!







I love how they do this "pinky" hold - rather than the very "uncool" holding hands. Very sweet.

Stitch

Last week I mentioned I did a photo shoot at this really quaint shop "Stitch". While there these balls of yarn caught my eye - the brand name was Eden! This is my youngest daughters name and it means "Delightful" - and if you know Eden at all she lives up to her name completely! I just stumbled across this pic tonight and it made me smile.

News & Musings

If you haven't seen or heard - I offer GraphiStudio digital albums - they are GORGEOUS! When I went to WPPI in Vegas I scoured the vendors and decided on this company for their exceptional products and service. Not sure what the heck I'm talking about? Digital albums are basically a bound coffee table book with your images. These are now included in my wedding packages and are offered in my baby packages - using images from maternity through the baby's first year. They also make great Christmas gifts filled with family images.

All this to say I just heard that the cut off date is October 1st for Christmas! If you are a recent client and are wanting a digital album - let me know soon so I can begin the design process for you and get you your books by Christmas. I got my Sears Wish Book today so Christmas is just around the corner!!
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Speaking of Christmas - I am now booking into October. If you are wanting Christmas cards or gifts - book your sitting now to avoid disappointment!

Likewise 2008 is quickly filling up for weddings - so if you are considering our services, please check if the date is still available! We are beginning to book for 2009 also.

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I read in the CAA Magazine I got today about "babymoons". Basically a "last hurrah" honeymoon of sorts for parents-to-be. Doesn't that sound great? Supposedly hotels and resorts now offer babymoon packages. Where was this idea 5 years ago when I had my first?

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I'm looking forward to Wednesday night's party - just a casual get together - chance to meet new faces (I only know by e-mail!) and get reacquainted with old friends. Hope to see some of you there!


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Today when it feels like Fall here - gets me in the mood for September. I am looking forward to routine but so sad to have Madi back in school again. I love having her home. She is starting french immersion this year in SK (or "French Emergency" as she likes to say) and I'm beginning to worry about that too. Mothers are blessed with guilt and worry. Speaking of worry... did I mention Mark picked up his motorcycle tonight? Eeeks!


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I send e-mail updates out about once every month or two - if you are not on the list but want to be.. pop an e-mail to: info@kristajefferson.com with the subject line "Sign Me Up!"

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As always - go out and celebrate life & love!

Fall Workshops Announced!

After much demand... the Fall workshops are now announced. Sign up today! So excited about these - they should be a lot of fun!

So long!

The joy of a Friday wedding for a wedding photographer is - I get to go camping with my family! So I am off for a bit to go enjoy the family. Good times.

The bad part is I got home last night after midnight - two photo shoots this morning (starting at 8:30am) so I was a bit groggy - somehow I managed to sit in grape jam or something on my tan pants. I found out AFTER the photo shoots. Nice.

Sleep and I need to get reacquainted!

Seriously - I'm having SO much fun this summer snapping photos. People are GREAT - so creative, enjoyable, and just a lot of fun to photograph. THANKS!!

Sadie, Lucy & Co.

After Byron & Erica I went and met up with Jesse, Heather and their girls Sadie and little Lucy. We met at Jesse's mother's house - which also is her ADORABLE store (www.stitchonline.ca). She has a store for knitting, quilting, etc. and it's so quaint - I don't knit but after being there I was tempted!! Here are just a few photos from our time together today...

Byron & Erica

This morning I had the pleasure of meeting Byron and Erica and doing their engagement photos. They are such a sweet couple - can't wait for their wedding in 4 weeks! We wandered around downtown Hamilton, Erica got her wish - an ice cream cone! and Byron got his wish - chasing pigeons! It was a fun morning!!

Joel & Rachel

Wow. What a night last night was - Joel & Rachel's wedding was so much fun! From the ceremony with vows including "If you wash, I'll dry...", to the First Dance - I was laughing and crying and having a blast! The first time Rachel saw Joel he was on stage in a play at the University of Waterloo - so we got permission for them to open the theatre to us and did photos there.

The real highlight was the first dance. When I met with Joel & Rachel two weeks before their wedding to go over details, I showed them the First Dance video I had posted awhile back (LINK) because I knew they are dancers. Well, folks, they did it! And WAY better! I mean - costume change, the lift... the works!! Check back for photos - I am just heading out the door for a few days so I can't take the time to post them all now - but what a riot!

A very fun night! Thank you! Here are just a few photos until Monday or Tuesday when I return.

Corrie and Nadine

Yesterday I traveled to Sarnia to do some formal headshots as well as some more "fun" business photos for Corrie and Nadine who are both involved in holistic medicine. HEre are a few from our time together...





Nadine does lots of work with crystals...

Baby Josiah

Tonight I got to meet sweet little Josiah. What a munchkin - so laid back and calm. He was born two days after I did Leanne's maternity photos at 4 weeks early! So even though he is 4 weeks old now, he is still so tiny. Here are a few photos form tonight of Dallas, Leanne and wee Josiah.

The adoring parents







Dallas did this really sweet thing where he'd say "Hi son, I'm your father." He is just loving being a dad!





Leanne's hand on Josiah wasn't planned - but I thought it was beautiful. Hands speak so much - the trust, the comfort, the trust...





Josiah's big brother in the background



And I love feet almost as much as hands...

Vissers Family

Bright and early I met up with the Vissers family this morning to get some photos of their beautiful family! Their kids are so cute! Brandon is a sweetheart - picking flowers for mom and his klittle sister and lots of hugs for everyone. And Paige is like a minitaure doll - too cute! It was a fun morning and great to get to meet this family finally! Tahnks for meeting so early on a weekend!

Mike & Vanessa

Yesterday I got to photograph one of the most fun weddings! Mike and Vanessa know how to have a blast and looked after the tiniest detail with care & thought. Such variety - where do I even begin to describe it? Here are a few highlights...

-it was a trilingual wedding as the Bride is Spanish and the Groom is French
-the bride was walking to the church (she lives just around the corner) and the neighbour's daughter drew on chalk arrows for her to follow with notes like "This way to the church, Vanessa" and "Don't turn back now".
-as we walked to the church, neighbours sat on their lawns to watch
-Mike surprised Vanessa by not only singing her a favourite song ("Belief" by Gavin Degraw) but he learned piano to be able to sing it!
-the police showed up when we were at the park... and asked if they wanted to be handcuffed for some pictures! Random. Funny.
-Mike & Vanessa had met at Westdale high school, bumped into each other years later at the Snooty Fox and had their first date at the Second Cup... so this is where we did their photos!
-the entire wedding party took the city bus to the reception at the Art Gallery!! (And... the Hamilton Spectator reporter and photographer came along and are doing an article on them!) LINK
-I could go on and on about the details... the peacock theme and the meaning behind it, the parasols and fans the girls had, the wedding party playing football (Mike use to play at MacMaster), that both Mike and Vanessa are taking each other's last names and hyphenating it, and on and on....

The care they put into their day was incredible. But the real beauty was their absolute devotion and love to each other. Vanessa looked regal and stunning - breathtaking really. And Mike beamed! It was a fun day!!

Mike & Vanessa - thank you again for letting me be a part of your day! Enjoy your Hawaiian getaway now!

Tim, Trish & family

Last night we got rained out - but tonight was a perfect night for photos! It was so fun to hang out with Tim, Trish and their three gorgeous kids - Caitlin, Erin and Connor. So well behaved too! A fun night!

Pernell

Pernell is a good friend of mine, and my hubby's best friend. He married my college roommate. We've enjoyed many, many good (and not so good!) memories. He is also the pastor at our church and was recently one of Christian Week's "Top 35 under 35" Christian leaders in Canada and needed some photos for them to use in their article on him. We went out at 7am this morning (yawn!) to downtown Hamilton and snapped some photos. It was good to catch up and gab with my buddy and take some photos. As we walked we both kept saying how much we love downtown Hamilton. Such a sense of renewal - it is a downtown core that is in pretty sad shape - but you get this feeling that there is something happening. I think that there will be life again downtown. Awhile back I did a photo essay on the Beasley area of Hamilton - you can see those photos here. That was also where we walked today. Let me introduce you to Pernell....

Jarod & Erin

Today Jarod & Erin were blessed with a beautiful day for their wedding! These two were a lot of fun - willing to do anything! Erin waded right in the water (as you'll see below) and they drove themselves around in a gorgeous orange convertible! So, I had to climb in the back and snap some pics - standing up in the back while Jarod is driving snapping pics. Love my job! These two are so well suited for each other. It was a great day to spend with a beautiful couple! Thanks!

Party!

Hey gang!

As I have said over and over and over again - I am so thankful for such incredible support from so many in regards to Krista Jefferson Photography. I am thankful for my amazing clients, for friends who pass along my name, and for people who like to look at my photos and talk photography!

So, I think we should get together to celebrate. Some of you I have only met online - and would love to meet face to face!

I'm hosting just a casual party to get together, have fun and "celebrate life & love". A chance for me to say "thanks" for your support. A chance for you to meet me, my family and the support behind KJP.

I have rented the FRWY coffee house (they are on summer hours and closed weekday evenings) at 333 King St. E., in Hamilton. Right at the corner of King & Wellington under the "Downtown Hamilton" banner. Wednesday, August 22 at 7pm. Hope you can come! Please let me know if you are attending so I know how much food to have!

Jack Jack Attack

Last night I got to meet wee little Jack and his parents Jenn and Clayton. Jack is 5 weeks old and quite a little munchkin.... see for yourself!

Baby Blessing

On Sunday I had the joy of going and photographing the blessing of Mia Genereux. This was a beautiful family ceremony at her grandparents home with the minister Phil Edwards leading the service. It was a beautiful time together and as always, happy to be able to capture this growing family!

Excited!

Just coming off of holidays - I'm itching to get back at weddings! Well, the next 10 weeks I have 10 weddings... and I'm pumped! Tonight I met with 4 of the couples who will be getting married in the coming weeks and I just feel so blessed to have such great clients who are so cool. I can't wait for each wedding - fun! Praying that each of these couples enjoys the coming weeks with minimal stress! Thanks for letting me be a part of your day!

Workshop Update

At the request of so many people who really wanted to attend our workshops but are on vacation - we have postponed them until the Fall. If you are interested - drop us a line at workshops@kristajefferson.com.

I'm interested to know if you wold prefer a 4 week series instead of a one time workshop. Moving to 4 weeks would give us time to connect more and to have time to bring photos in to be critiqued and shared (a great learning experience).

I'm always open to ideas - the crazier the better! Let me know your thoughts!