“A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.” Eda J. Le Shan

Today I had the joy of meeting a very new little person.  Baby “D” is only 8 days old and just the sweetest, most precious little boy ever!  He is blessed with the most loving mommy and daddy who are so in love with him, you can feel it as you are welcomed into their warm home.  Thanks D and M for entrusting me with the capture of these precious memories.

I can hardly wait to show you your sneak peek!  Amazing, simply amazing.

Congratulations, he indeed is wonder, hopes and a dream come true!

“It is the nature of babies to be in bliss.” — Deepak Chopra

Yesterday I met the most wonderful, happy, beautiful baby girl!  “B” is sunshine, rainbows, smiles and happiness!

A perfect little Princess, from her sweet fuzzy head to her twinklie little toes!

Thanks mom, for allowing me to capture these precious, wonderful moments.  I had a wonderful afternoon.

Here is your sneak peek:  (click on thumbnail for larger view)

Little Princess “A” ♥

Once upon a time, in a land not-so-far-away,  there lived a very beautiful little princess.  I’ll call her Princess “A”.  She loved to dance and romp  outside the royal castle  wearing her most favourite  pretty  ballerina outfits and sunny summer dresses.

Princess A was very happy, gentle and kind.  She loved to sing la la la la la all day long in the sunshine.  She loved to play peek a boo,  and “He loves me, He loves me not”  in the royal gardens.  Flowers were, after all, her most treasured possessions!   Her mommy and daddy loved her very much and watched in amazement  as their sweet little princess grew preciously  before their very eyes!

…..And they all lived happily ever after ♥

Thank you Princess A for spending the afternoon with me!  I am truly honoured!

This is what fairy tales are made of.

(please click on thumbnail for larger view)

“If I have a monument in this world, it is my son.” — Maya Angelou

Last evening I met the most amazing, beautiful,  gracious little family.  We had been trying to schedule a beach shoot for a few weeks, but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate.  Until yesterday.

I fell in love with little L. as soon as I saw him.  He is adorable, funny, and loves a good game of peek-a-boo.  His eyes are luminous and many times during the shoot, I actually had to catch my breath.  It was one of the best sessions ever, and it ended even more wonderfully than it had begun.  With two little arms outstretched to me asking for a hug.  Does life get any better than this?

Thank you M  family.  I had a fantastic time!  

“Gracefulness has been defined to be the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul”- William Hazlitt

There is a wonderful young family that I was blessed to meet last night.    Mom -  beautiful, kind and warm.  Dad – gentle, fun and loving.  And baby G. – beautiful, sweet, graceful, oh – so very graceful!

I had the pleasure of capturing some of the fleeting moments that pass all too quickly.  They are such a joy to be around and I truly loved spending time, snapping away in the early evening glow.  Thank you M family for allowing me to photograph this incredible time of your lives.  Baby G is simply gorgeous ♥  Enjoy enjoying her

“Babies touch the world with love.” — Author Unknown

This morning I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting a very adorable newborn and her sweet mommy and daddy.  Baby A is such a happy, content and easy-going little bundle of JOY!  I had a great  time getting to know her and all of her lovely little dimples and oh, those beautiful little fingers and toes!  I wanted to take her home with me ♥

I know mom and dad are anxious to see a few of the shots we captured, so here they are!  Thank you for welcoming me into your home and little family this morning!  It was incredible.  She is beautiful and I am privileged to have captured precious moments for you.

Protected: ♥ A Mother’s Joy ♥

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Why does Custom Photography Cost More?

This is a great  article about the costs and benefits of custom photography.

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Digital technology is brilliant. The digital revolution has brought amazing flexibility and amazing amounts of control for the photographer, the hobbyist, the professional, the amateur. With flexibility comes a price though. Camera equipment is still considerably more expensive when you factor in its lifespan, the need for additional resources for processing those images, the time it takes to get a usable image and the effort that goes into all of this.

Even though you pay $1.99 for a print at your local drugstore and paying for film is pretty much a thing of the past (although you still pay for memory) you may be wondering why you may pay upwards of $40, 50, 70, 90 for a custom photography print. Some photographers hear this statement every once in awhile:
“How in the world can you charge $60 for an 8×10 if it costs me less than $2 to print at the local drug store?”

The answer is multifaceted and has a lot to do with the time, aforementioned equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer, expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.

TIME of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Approaching it from a time standpoint, for instance let’s imagine if you will that you have hired a photographer who has work that you love and that is travelling an hour to/from  your on location session. TIme break down:

-session prep time (30 mins – 1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
-one half hour travel time TO session
-15-30 minutes prep time at client’s home
-90 minutes-2 hours with client photographing subject
-one half hour travel time FROM session
-30-45 minutes uploading time from digital cards from camera to computer
-30-45 minutes time spent backing up the original images
-2-5 hours editing time to present you with a diverse gallery of edited images
-1 hour prep time getting ready for ordering
-2-3 hours time with client for ordering images
-1 hour sorting through and checking order
-30 minutes-1 hour prep time for delivery
-30 minutes-1 hour getting order shipped
-any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

As you can see, average client time for a session ranges from just under 13 hours to 19 hours dependent on the photographer’s level of service. This is time dedicated only to your session. When the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 12-19 hours complete time for your session.

COSTS of the CUSTOM PHOTOGRAPHER:
Regarding equipment costs, a good quality professional camera with a selection of good optical quality lenses and digital storage mediums and computer set up can run from $10,000-$30,000 costs dependent on the photographer. Even though you can purchase a really good quality digital SLR for about $2100 there are still other costs related to photography. A good lens for portrait photography can run up $900 to $2500. A dependable computer system/monitor  with software loaded for business and creative usage can run $2500 to $8000 dependent on the photographer.

Then come lab costs for specialty products. A good photographer knows the lab is integral to their success. Photography labs dedicated to the professional photographer often cost more and offer a range of products that allows the custom photographer to continually offer new, innovative products for you, the discerning client.

Discussion of other costs of running a photography business could take awhile so we’ll skip the intricate details. There is of course much more: including costs of running the business, taxes, studio rental/mortgage if the photographer has ownership of a dedicated studio, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces that the photographer will likely bring to your session, etc.

APPLES to ORANGES:
Often times clients will mention to their photographer that X studio in the mall/department store only charges $25 for an 8×10 or they may mention other things related to discount photography chains. The fact is those discount chains make their money on volume, not on customized 1:1 service. According to several articles at the time, did you know that in February 2007 a rather well known discount department store that started in Arkansas closed down 500 of their portrait studios across the nation? The reason is simple, you cannot make money on 99¢ “professional” prints if you do not sell enough of them. Interestingly enough – those same studios that offer the loss leader packages often charge much much more for their a la carte pricing (as high as $40-50 for an 8×10). The whole reason the big department stores began offering portrait studios in the first place was to get you, the savvy consumer, in through their door so that you could spend more money with them in other departments. Your “PORTRAITS” are considered the true “loss leader”.

Going to a chain studio, as a consumer, you don’t have the benefit of 1:1 attention for 2 hours at your home where your child is allowed to explore, play and be comfortable in their home environment, nor do you get the experience that many custom photographers are known for or the lovely captures of natural expressions. You simply get a bare bones, “SAY CHEESE” experience. Keep this in mind when selecting a photographer.

REPUTATION/EXPERTISE of the PHOTOGRAPHER:
Being in demand, being well known for quality work, having a good reputation often costs time on the photographer’s part. Their expertise comes at a cost, their time learning their craft and learning the intricacies of lighting and the commitment put forth on their end to create a persona about their business that oozes professionalism. A great number of photographers go a very long time from the time that they purchase their first good camera to making money at the business of photography. Many photographers, when first starting out, rush in thinking that the business will be easily profitable in no time, how expensive could it be to get a camera and use it to create their dream? They often neglect to factor in the cost of business, the cost of equipment, software, back ups, etc..

Being of sound reputation, a better professional photographer knows that they must always reinvest in their business to create the reputation of being top notch. To create good work good equipment, reliable equipment, back up equipment is a necessity. The photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalelled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. This is how reputations get built. Good work often is a wonderful side product of building that good reputation.

I hope this (lengthy) article helps shed some light on WHY a custom photographer is a better choice for your family’s memories. The photographs that are produced as a result of the professionalism and dedication that your photographer has will be cherished for a lifetime (or more) and great thought and consideration should be placed into hiring who is right for your family’s most precious investment.

♥ Precious in Polka Dots! ♥

It was a gorgeous spring-like day…..perfect weather, perfect little baby!     I  met the  sweetest  little cutie today!

“W” is almost 11 months old and is simply adorable!  She has such a beautiful little face and wonderful personality!  And she is sooooooo bright!

I had so much fun!  We played peek-a-boo, sang all about Old MacDonald’s farm and If you’re Happy and You know it!  Thanks so much V, for inviting and welcoming me into your lives for the afternoon.  I could have stayed all day

And thanks “W” for the  Valentine!  I have it on my desk, so I can think of you as I work on your great shots!  Isn’t she the sweetest???  You are one very special little Valentine!  I am totally convinced…..I’m the luckiest person in the world to be following my BLISS!! ♥

Babycakes and Cutie-Patootie!

This morning I had the absolute pleasure of meeting a beautiful couple and their adorable children.

T and K are the cutest little munchkins!  “T” (Cutie-Patootie) has the most incredible eyes, and I am sure he will steal a few hearts away!  And “K”  (Babycakes)  is the sweetest, most precious happy  baby!  Even with a cold, she was smiley!  She looked amazing in this pretty pink tutu!  Both were so patient and mom and dad were so kind.  Thanks for inviting me into your lives today!  It was wonderful to meet you all!

Here is your sneak preview:  Wow those eyes!!!