Meet Peyton. I first met Peyton when I photographed her at Children's hospital. When most parents are at home celebrating their new arrival and picturing their hopes for the future Peyton's mom Nicole spent five months visiting her daughter, living day to day, praying her new daughter would make it.

Now Payton is a happy 21 month year old beauty. She is full of personality and strength. She still faces many challenges and her family is doing everything possible to give her all she needs.

Her family just found out about a Therapy called CME Therapy. CME, the acronym for Cuevas Medek Exercise, is a physical therapy approach for infants suffering abnormal developmental motor evolution caused by a known or unknown non-degenerative syndrome affecting the Central Nervous System.CME Therapy has a very high success rate in helping children with low muscle tone learn to walk.

The family would have to go to Toronto to get treatment for Payton as there is no one else in Canada with the qualifications.

Her family is having a garage sale this weekend to raise funds:

587 Powerhouse Road Saturday and Sunday 9am-3pm

Pop by, do some shopping and help the family feel supported. I will keep you posted on any other events to raise money in the valley. 

Here is Payton just a few weeks ago playing in the studio.



She is a beautiful inspiring girl, and they can use all the support they can get

Our fall newsletter will be coming out shortly so if you are not receiving it please make sure to sign up HERE

and

There is a lot of action on our facebook page, so if you aren't following us, you can check it out HERE   right now there is fierce thread about legwarmers and parachute pants - where do you sit on this topic?


This is the first day this summer I have worked 9 to 5, and I am pumped - nerdy right? I have been putting in the hours this summer, but mostly on the weekends and evenings.

Today I am heading out the door, lunchbox in hand, with a spring in my step.

But first..  the Bolton's!

The Bolton's booked their session to coincide with their oldest heading off to university. We do many sessions marking this time in the life of a family and it is an ideal time to have images created.

The Bolton's are totally hooked up. Mom and Dad are stunning, laid back and lovely people. I am pretty sure their kids never fight with them, always do what they say , and prefer to be with their ultra-hip and wise parents their friends. Right?

Thank you Bolton's for coming out in what was questionable weather and for reminding me of why I love my job.  

Typically, this blog is all rosy and sunny. Generally, that's who I am. I have actually been told it can be a weakness of mine, seeing the world through rainbow colored glasses.

So, someone asked me the other day to blog about a bad day.

My bad days tend to go like this - I eat, I call my friend Lisa and have a cry and I tell John all the things we need to do to make it all better( this is done irrationally and by blowing things way out of proportion) - John listens.

Then, I either go to the gym, or if I don't, I eat more. Then, I move on.

When something challenging happens, particularly in my personal life, I start trying to control things by making backup plan after backup plan in my head. Plan A, B and C are ready for action and I prep my super-hero cape.

I am however, getting better, at letting it go and realizing that if I roll with the tide, most likely I won't crash into a rock.

A few weeks ago, I hurt my ankle. John was away at work and the kids were all at their other parents. After an emotional call to my pal Corrie for medical advice, and an incoherent call to Lisa, I sat and stewed then went to emergency for some help. They told me I needed three weeks to heal. You can imagine my anxiety as I tried to figure out what I would do. I sat in bed stressing and stewing - people were counting on me. I got up and ate out of the tub of ice cream - so cliche.
I have covered for other photographers who have had emergencies, but never need to call in backup myself.
I made a plan. I rested, rested, and rested. When the next wedding came I didn't think once about the ankle. I think it actually made me a better photographer that day, because there was no flippin way my stubborn self was going to let it impact my work. Then I came home and rested, until the next wedding came.

All good right?

Not so much. In the meantime, my office work fell behind, just a bit, and mainly just the blogging and other goals I had set for August. Yet it seemed huge in my mind. 

Seems like no big deal right?

But.... but... but.. I am never behind. Truth be told, I am usually way ahead of the game. With a family the size of ours, and the nature of our busy life, it is the only way for me to work. If I fall behind I fall apart. 

On top of it  I haven't been able to go to exercise (which is like therapy for me,) I have eaten way too much ice cream and I have a pair of tight pants to prove it.

The blessings have been the amazing sessions I have. Putting my camera up to my eye and having fabulous people in front of it, is just like putting on rainbow colored glasses. For me, while shooting, everything else drops away and the moment overtakes me.
I also realize I have gotten better at letting things go, and reminding myself, my best is all I can do.

I am behind in blog posts, and album creation and thank those of you that are waiting patiently. 

This week feels like things are getting back on track and I am hopeful that I can kick the ice-cream to the curb and head to the gym instead.

This rainbow greeted me as I drove home from a wedding on Saturday.


 
Thank you.
 
 

Each time I run into someone they say, wow, "you sure are having a busy summer" - well yes we are, work has been busy, but this is the best summer I have ever had as far as life/work balance.

Work:

This summer has brought some amazing connections, I have been photographing the kindest, funnest, most amazing people. I have had two new assistants join our crew, and they have blown me away with their dedication and commitment to my clients and their own photography growth.

More so then ever things are running smooth as butter in the office. Part of that has to do with experience, but a huge part of it I owe to Christine. She keeps things on track so that when I pop in for my office hours I can get right to it. Working hand-in-hand with Christine to keep things ticking, is my I-Phone. I debated it for months, do I want to be always plugged in? I talked it over with the family, and we realized if it would give me freedom it was a go. Not to sound like a commercial, but the I-Phone, and a re-jig of our calendar system (thanks to Matt at Covaltek Computers) has changed my life.  

disclaimer to Christine : You are so much more important than my i-phone, but please don't ever make me choose

What is really keeping us hopping here in the office is the jigsaw puzzle known as the fall calendar. We work very hard to accommodate our clients availability and balance it with my important role as "mom". We are currently booking well into fall for weekends. If you are available weekdays we may be able to accommodate you earlier and we always leave room for maternity sessions and newborns.

The other part of my life:

This summer has brought so much down time with the kids, that I am mourning the onset of school. Although I pictured a summer filled with days at the lake, what we found that our family needed most was home time - waking up late, going with the flow, and staying as unscheduled as possible.  I fought it at first, because I wanted to be supermom, but I gave in to the title of chilled out mom and it has been beyond sweet.

We have also had wonderful visitors - my sister, cousins, the in-laws and our friends Jen and Kevin.  Really and honestly, my in-laws are wonderful
 
Last month my partner John finished school (yay John) and is now working away. He is here for five days, gone for seven. As far as I was concerned, he couldn't leave quick enough (John please read on.. I really do love you.) Although we miss him, this works very well for our family, as having him 150% available to us for five days is a total treat. I also am a loner. No really ... I am. I need my time alone, or else I turn really nasty ... suddenly. So, now when the kids are in bed, I have nights where I don't have to talk to anyone. It's like a mini-spa retreat - complete with True Blood episodes and complete control over any music choices.
After seven day, I am jumping up and down to see John.


As for blog posts, there are many to come in the next few days - and I know there are some very anxious clients, stay tuned 
 

I have a group of pals, that I value SO strongly, they are the book club gals, every woman should have a book club crew - I guarantee they will quickly start holding a place of deep honor in your life.

We just welcomed a new one into the book club family, little Myla. I have photographed her brother before and he is full of personality and an absolute stunner, and when I look at Myla I see a mini version of her big brother. She is beyond adorable!

Bevin, Reza, you make beautiful babies and I am so glad I am the lucky one who gets to photograph them. I am looking forward to seeing the personality this beauty brings into your wonderful family.