Category Archives: personal

June 22, 2010

What’s been happening?

Posted in Tips, WPPI, Weddings, couples portrait, model shoot, personal, photography tips

So you probably already know that last September, Bryan and I were blessed with our little guy – Nate. Things were quite hectic so I definitely got behind on blogging but the clients who I shot during that time still deserve to have their images and stories told. I am going to work harder at being better at every aspect of my business this year – especially blogging. On that note – on to the images!

The first story, would be a wedding from last November – Kristina and Alain. When they both came into my office to meet me I think the first thing I noticed was Kristina’s eyes – she has these gorgeous blue eyes that are peircing and yet soft. I always get excited when I sit down with a couple who are visibly in love but with whom I also share a connection. The two were so relaxed and friendly and told me that they just wanted to celebrate each other and have a small intimate wedding. So off Bryan and I went on a chilly November day to be a part of their day. Thankfully, due to the time of the year and the time of their ceremony – Kristina and Alain opted for a first look. I am so lucky to have been included and am super happy with the images from the day . . .

The next photos I have are from a workshop I attended in February – this part will just be the images as the couples were just models but the workshop was awesome!

The workshop was a great way to learn and practice some new techniques and I look forward to finding room for them in my wedding day approach.

In March I went to WPPI with a photographer friend of mine, Mandie from Shutterbrugs photography and Mandie brought a gorgeous dress from the designer Lesley Giles as she was personally asked to photograph it by Lesley herself. Mandie graciously allowed me to come along and I love the look of these photos. Most of the time my portraits tend to be on the more romantic and natural side but every once and awhile I get a sassy bride who wants to show off some attitude. It was great to see the model for the shoot, Isabelle pose as she was amazing and gave me some great ideas for direction with future clients.

and this last one is my all time favorite image from the shoot :)

That brings us pretty up to date for what happened over the winter now for updates on what I’ve been shooting since the beginning of the season!

Wishing you friendship and love,

Amanda

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Posted in Tips, WPPI, Weddings, couples portrait, model shoot, personal, photography tips Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 17, 2010

I love 2010

Posted in Weddings, couples portrait, engagement, personal

Seriously, this year has been nuts! Every time I get together with a new couple and do an engagement session or talk about their wedding I get super excited. My first wedding of the season was Suzanne and Jeremy on May 1st and I can’t wait to show you some of the images! I just want to say thank you to everyone who honoured me by hiring me to document their day. 2010 has brought so many new friends and awesome opportunities. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!

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Posted in Weddings, couples portrait, engagement, personal Tags: , , , ,
May 9, 2010

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted in personal

I remember tossing and turning – falling in and out of sleep; Bryan’s snoring was guaranteeing that I would be pretty bleary eyed for my first mother’s day traditional breakfast in bed. As I rolled over one more time I heard a little cry, it would seem my little teething Nator Gator was up, again. Although I was tired, the part of me that was so excited for this first mother’s day wanted to see his little face and cuddle him tight. Quietly, I crept in and sure enough he was wide awake and the moment he saw my face he broke into the biggest smile that would melt any one’s heart. I scooped him up, changed him, applied some anbesol to his teeth and began feeding him his bottle. Hungrily, I feasted on his content little face as he drank away; growing sleepier and sleepier. Once finished he cuddled in next to me and finished falling asleep in my arms. I just sat there rocking him for just a few more minutes relishing this little angel that was sent to us. As I got up and started to settle him into the crib, his eyes opened sleepily and he looked up at me and smiled. Happy, I turned away so that I didn’t encourage him to stay awake and I heard him say the most beautiful word – Mama. He rolled over and cuddled into his blanket and began to snore lightly and I went back to bed with a smile on my face. He has been talking for awhile – going back and forth between Mama and Dada with a few other words thrown in but this Mama was sweet and special to me. I know there are going to be all kinds of moments that come with being a Mom; moments of pain, of pride, of disappointment and definitely moments of happiness. I want to store the sweet moments away and remember them during the rough times so that I always cherish my son and our family. Being a mom makes me so much more thankful for my Mother and makes me remember some of the things we did together that will always be special to me. As photographers, we always talk about how photos are important because they help us remember and they freeze moments in time but photographs are just one part of it. Stopping and taking the time to record things in our own words and creating a catalog of all of life’s miracles is just as important. I don’t want to just remember the frames that Nate and Bryan painted for me that were my gift – I want to remember my baby contentedly saying my name and making me feel so full of joy and love that I thought I would burst.

As a way to finish this post and give thanks to my son – here is a photo from one of Nate’s recent sessions with a photographer friend of mine – Nataschia during her all about boys limited edition sessions. This is my little smoosh – serious and silly all at the same time

Happy Mother’s day to every mom out there . . .

Wishing you friendship and love,

Amanda

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Posted in personal Tags: , , , , ,
November 30, 2009

Update on the progress of the list!

Posted in 101 things, personal

Looking back over this list I can’t believe how many things I have accomplished since the last time I updated it :) Still waiting on that Thai though Jayme lol :) Almost halfway done!

1. Go on a Wednesday afternoon picnic with my husband and my dog Two wednesdays ago by the canal :)

2. Teach Freddie (my dog) to roll over

3. Go on a trip to Europe

4. Shoot a destination wedding

5. Go on a roadtrip – destination unknown

6. Have lunch or a real conversation with a photographer I admire

7. Make my mind up about having children

8. Buy a new house

9. Set up a home studio in said house

10. Smile more Smooshie makes me smile :)

11. Get my photo taken at least once a month for the next six months ( I never take photos of myself as it’s something I hate) – 5 months in a row! soooo close!

12. Do a portrait session with my family Completed April 13th – To be displayed in a blog post shortly

13. Do a portrait session with my husband :) (We don’t have any formal photos since Christmas 2003 unless you count our wedding photos) Thanks Sam!

14. Participate in a workshop

15. Attend WPPI again but do the Business Institute and Master classes as well :)
16. Get my business to go in the direction that I want it to with the clients that I want

17. Make sure that this time when I attend WPPI – I go a few days early so I can photograph all the landscapes I want

18. Do at least 5 seniors sessions

19. Donate my time to a local cause using my photography skills Donating prizes to Mainstream Golf Charity

20. Tell my husband one thing that I love about him (that’s different from the day before) every day for a month :)
21. Be a second shooter for a photographer I admire

22. Plan something great for our wedding anniversary

23. Spend more time with my mother

24. Take my little brother back to Canada’s Wonderland

25. Take my 19 year old brother out to a bar for drinks just the two of us

26. Give everyone of my bride’s a little gift to thank them for the gift they have bestowed upon me

27. Join the chamber of commerce Joined April 24th

28. Donate more money to charities or donate more time

29. Buy lens, end and body caps for all my gear and actually keep them without losing them for an entire wedding season

30. Lose 20 pounds before the end of the year – Completed 2009 – lost 24 pounds so far (not the way I would have wanted to though)

31. Go out dancing with my best friend Stella’s – April 25th

32. Have a get together with all my brides for the upcoming season

33. Get a few new backdrops for the studio

34. Create a really great mother’s day and father’s day gifts

35. Recover the panels in the office

36. Participate as a vendor in a local bridal show

37. Try thai food

38. Get together with some friends from out of town and catch up

39. Photograph a “first peek” session before the ceremony

40. Become a member of “Now I lay me down to sleep”

41. Deliver all of my brides and grooms their photos online within two weeks of the wedding

42. Quit pop – for good this time (don’t laugh it’s a serious addiction)

43. Swim in the ocean Did this with Bryan when we went to California :) such an amazing trip

44. Go fishing (haven’t done this in a long long time)

45. Add 10$ to a savings account every time I complete something on this list

46. Get my full G

47. Take a photo that represents each of the words in the 100 snapshots challenge ( http://thaumaturgise.wordpress.com/101-things/pictures/)

48. Go camping at BYNG

49. Go camping in Algonquin

50. Print some of our wedding photos to hang in our living room

51. Learn conversational Spanish

52. Learn conversational Italian – bought the book and CD and I am working on it !!!!

53. Take Freddie to puppy obedience classes

54. Take a tropical vacation

55. Learn how to snorkel or scuba dive

56. Take photos from the top of a mountain

57. Ride in a helicopter

58. At least three times in this period – push past my fear about something – and climb over the wall to do it anyway (ask me more if you’d like to understand this)

59. Research one new thing I’d like to learn a month – whether photography related or not (and blog about it) for six months

60. Go kayaking again – somewhere picturesque

61. Be a little more risky

62. Get regular pedicures this summer

63. Get regular massages this summer

64. Get signs made for the office

65. Install the fixed phone in the office so that when I lose power on the portable I can still answer calls!

66. Prepare flyers and promotional items for the bridal show

67. Plant the garden in the backyard

68. Dress Freddie (my dog) up for Halloween in a doggie Halloween costume

69. Change phone companies

70. Launch portrait site

71. Blog a video once every two weeks

72. Create an official charging station in the studio

73. Enter 5 photography contests

74. Shoot a “wear the dress” session in my favourite place in Ontario

75. Create a standardized logo file with my logo made to fit samples, envelopes, letterhead etc…

76. Get my hard drives under control

77. Finish MD photo book

78. Delete old and unecessary facebook messages

79. Order new business cards

80. Book a wedding out of province

81. Teach a basics course on how to take better photos

82. Finish office reno

83. Finish this list

84. Get glare free glass for all of my frames

85. Clean out my car – top to bottom and then get a car wash that includes the inside of my car

86. Order sample prints for comparison

87. Create supplier pricing binder & customer pricing binder Completed!! This past week thanks in help by Brianne!

88. Order new batteries and charger

89. Go to bed on time more

90. Read more Bukowski

91. Take a cooking class

92. Drink more water

93. Switch around the den and the dining room

94. Have a garage sale

95. Organize my entire house

96. Read the 57 other books on the BBC’s top 100

97. Reconnect with some friends who have fallen by the wayside

98. Be a “doer”

99. Clean out my closet

100. Take Freddie for more walks

101. Get up in time for Sunday breakfast with the in-laws again

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Posted in 101 things, personal Tags: , ,
November 25, 2009

I might be biased but . . .

Posted in family portraits, personal

I’m pretty sure my son is gorgeous :)

Here’s a few snaps of him at one week~

Nathaniel (6 of 7)

His cute little feet :)

Nathaniel (1 of 7)

Nathaniel (3 of 7)Love his little face :)

Wishing you friendship and love,

Amanda

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Posted in family portraits, personal Tags: , ,

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