New Orleans 2008

I'm back from an incredible trip to New Orleans.

I am bushed though - and am heading out this weekend for a retreat.. but for now I'll leave you with a quick website I did up that I will be adding to soon:

LINK

You like?

A friend suggested I change my blog to one entry per page for faster loading. Do you like? Please make sure to check out the "older posts" as I just posted a bunch of entries from this weekend! You can click "older posts" at the bottom of the entry or on the right hand side there are links to "previous posts".

Tell me if you like it / don't like it and when I get back I can change it if necessary. Where am I going you ask? You'll have to click on the previous post to find out!!

Have an awesome day!

I'm leaving on a jet plane....

Well, Monday I am heading out for a few days to New Orleans! This is a really spur of the moment trip and I'm so excited. Although I am feeling sooo guilty for leaving my girls and Marky Mark. I have a friend going to New Orleans on business and she said "why don't you come?" and well.... I do love to travel!

So, at first I said "no" - I need to be a responsible mom. Then my amazing hubby said "well, I'm happy to have you home - but I think a break would be nice for you. Why not go and enjoy yourself." Seriously. I love this guy!

With the help of friends and family filling in for child care - I'm off tomorrow morning and back on Thursday!! Can't wait!! Watch for the pics when I return....

Mark & Amanda Engagement

Today I had the fun of photographing Mark & Amanda's engagement photos. It was a chilly morning - so we were happy the sun was fighting to come out and warm us up! They were real troopers as we slipped and slid all over the ice and snow. They were so sweet together - can't wait for their wedding in June!! Thanks for a fun morning!

Newborn Beauty

Saturday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting this mom and daughter who are new to Canada and such beauties! The daughter is only 8 weeks old and such a sweetheart! Imagine being new to canada and having to experience this brutal winter we've had? Brrr...... Here's a few photos of our time together...

Chris & Aidan Engagement

Yesterday morning bright and early I had the fun off snapping photos of my sister-in-law Aidan and her wonderful fiancee Chris. I remember Aidan as a little girl when I started dating Mark - and now she's a french immersion teacher, amazing woman and getting married! Wow.

Here's a few shots from the morning...

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday we went up to the big town of Clifford to visit my in-laws for my father-in-laws birthday (Happy Birthday!). Here are a few shots I took around the farm - it was such a gorgeous day!!

Yesterday a few of my photography friends got together for a play date! We all met at the FRWY cafe downtown Hamilton and along with our three models we had a photo party! Beth (on the other side of the camera for once!), Sarah and Monica were super brave models as it was FRIGID outside! Brrrr..... It was so interesting to see how everyone looks at the same person, same location and sees an entirely different photo to create. A great morning - thanks to the photographers (Bryan, Jayme, Amanda, and Carolynn) for coming to spend a morning in my beautiful city!

Here's some from the day....






















I had originally edited this one in colour - but then I went back to it and changed it to black and white - seems to be a much better fit!












and if you wonder why I love Beth so much - here is why:






And this is why I stay behind the camera (me showing off Jayme's cute baby bump)




And a group shot (minus Carolynn & Monica who sadly we lost!)

Kris & Martha waiting

Today I got to meet the wonderful Kris & Martha as they wait for their first child. They are a great couple who are so full of love - this kid will be spoiled with affection! Here are a few photos from the day...

Recently, I had a great time meeting with Nicole - going shopping for outfits at Sherway Gardens (we had a great day in T.O) and then doing a photoshoot a few days later! Nicole was one of the most excited girls I had ever worked with. She wants to get into modeling and thought this would be good practise - and also she could use these shots for her portfolio! So with the help of my new amazing makeup artist Chelsee Blanchard, who will be working with me from now on as an amazing add on (which i highly suggest, shes great!) we glammed up the already gorgeous Nicole. Here are some of the photos from the shoot!

celebrating Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I'm thinking of all the people I love so much and how blessed I am to have them in my life!

Last night, while I was at Book Club, Mark took the girls on a "Daddy Date". It was a bit more formal than the daddy dates he usually does - and the girls LOVED it! He just took them out to eat and to the pet store - but he made them feel like princesses. And isn't that what every little girl (and Big girls too) wants? Here's a few snaps from last night....

The girls waiting dad's arrival...



Showing me their moves...





Dad is home (after he changed into a tie for the girls) and they're showing him how gorgeous they are!



Mark brought home chocolate roses for the girls





And just lots of love!!!





This morning Mark left before I was up - but he had a little scavenger hunt to find our cards and chocolates - and a note in the bathroom (on the scavenger hunt) instructing us "girls" to tell each other we're beautiful on the inside and out.

How could I not adore this guy??

New Friends

On Tuesday, I was suppose to go to a meeting for Pictage users but because of the snow it got canceled. Chris & Bryan were coming in from Niagara and had already hit Hamilton when it got canceled - so we decided to still meet. Carolynn and I met these guys for the first time and just gabbed and gabbed about photography - well, until the restaurant closed. It was a lot of fun to meet others so passionate about great photos, good business practices - and life. Photographers are use to being behind the camera - not in front - remember! Bryan snapped these...





Our attempts at a self-timed group shot...

Happy Valentines Day!

I know I'm a couple days early for Valentines but wanted to wish all of you a happy one! Hope you spend the day celebrating love - be it with your significant other, family or friends.

Here are a couple photos from my girl's Valentines cards this year....





And this wasn't from their cards - but is still fun...

Studio Stunners

Tonight I tried using studio lighting for the first time and had a GREAT time doing it. I've always wanted to try it out so I thought I would play around by taking photos of my sisters. My twin sister Sarah was up for doing the photos (just for fun) but my older sister Allison actually needed shots to be taken for her University Graduation Recital posters - which is at the end of the month so it was a great opportunity for both of us!
Take a look at what we came up with!

Here is my older sister Allison,









And here is my twin sister Sarah,






The end! :)

I Had the Time of My LIfe....

My birthday is on Boxing Day (Dec. 26 for our American friends) - honestly, that can suck sometimes. But this year my sister gave me a great gift! She gave me tickets to Dirty Dancing (the Musical) which we went to today. I love going to the theatre - but it doesn't happen often enough anymore sadly. Think I need to change that!

Anywho... the show was in the Royal Alexander Theatre which is gorgeous. Today is the coldest day ever anywhere in the world - felt like 50 below!! Needless to say we didn't stroll around Toronto today. I am kind of partial to having feeling in my hands and feet.

Back to the show - it was amazing! GREAT set, good cast. Way better Johnny than Patrick Swayze. And Canadian Idol winner Melissa O'Neill sand, along with another guy (trying to figure out which actor it was because he was AMAZING) did most of the singing and they were phenomenal! What incredible voices!

It was a great day. Fun to hang out with my sister. We are so opposite it's hilarious. She takes good care of me and my scatterbrained ways. For example, I'm always late. She's always early. Today I Was running late, I threw my jacket on, ran out the door and went. Not realizing I now live in the Arctic I forgot mitts and scarf. When I meet up with Marcie - she has a mitt and scarf for me "just in case" I forgot mine. Shes so good.

We didn't take many photos as it was SO cold (speaking of cold - I heard that we have had more snow this year at this point than in the last two winters combined! I'm done, Jack Frost. Thank you very much and good riddance!).

Here is my favourite pic of the day....

Patricia's Urban Shoot

Yesterday I had a great time shooting Patricia's photos for her acting portfolio! She was such a natural - even had a makeup artist on hand for in between shot touch ups! We all felt like pros being around each other - 3 different talents. Even Patricia was laughing at the fact she was being pampered by us both and felt like a celebrity. It was a great morning shoot and fun! (Did i mention morning and fun in the same sentence????)

Here are some of the photos from the shoot!

Girls Getaway

This weekend started with a bang with Friday's big snow storm! By evening the roads were cleared and I was still able to go on our girl's getaway! A group of 11 of us went to Niagara - just to hang out, dream, laugh, eat, interpretive dance, laugh some more, and gab. It was a mix of people - some old friends, some new faces - and a great time away! Here are each of us individually against a yellow wall I got very excited about in a parking lot...



I laughed more this weekend than I have in a long time. Laughing until you're crying. I needed that - thanks girls!! After the time at teh hotel a few of us (along with my hubby) played a new board game "Quelf". Unbelievably hilarious and random.



And Carolynn also was on this getaway - I always refer to her as my sanity here at Krista Jefferson Photography - but she is also one of my best friends. If you get us talking about how much we love each other we usually start bawling. I love this gal.



I am thankful for good friends today. It does the soul good!! Thanks!