I knew my Mother's Day mini session would be rewarding, but I didn't realize how much so. It was a day of warm fuzzies - and you know I can never get enough of those. Thank you all for sharing your stories with me and displaying your bond. Thank you sun for kissing us with your goodness. Here's a little sneak peak of what's to come.

 We have photographs when we are little, parents diligently mark the milestones and then, maybe it's because we become teens with attitude, the cameras go away. Sometimes people aren't professionally photographed again until their wedding day. Yet between those toddler years and the moment of "I Do" there are many monumental moments.

The ages between 10 and 18 are huge, that is where we really start getting to know ourselves - I think it a beautiful time of our life line, it is my hope that more people  have their children photographed during this time.

Each year as grad weekends come around we field endless calls with people wanting to book for grad weekend. Usually we are booked well in advance. The better way to approach it is to book a session in the weeks before or after to have your grad photographed.

For Courtenay's session we photographed her and had some of the family join her for a few images.
I loved her elegant dress, although she could probably wear a potato sack and look glamorous.

She is just beautiful and had the personality to match.

I was going to to avoid a mother's day post.   Because today I feel like I can't write about what it means to me to be a mother without crying, without my heart hurting - because the love and feelings are so intense.

I am a mom to one, a step mom to four and the daughter of the most inspiring woman I have ever met. I am a sister to an amazing mom who inspires my parenting. How do I sum up those feelings in an early morning blog post?

My daughter treats me like every day is mother's day, honestly, we are pretty sure she is Hallmark staff material. She loves her mama big-time, and is equally passionate about sharing her feelings,  in words, writing and art. So mother's day for her is just a reason to amp up the expression of her love. My work desk has more love notes on it than it does work. I am not complaining.

It's a beautiful thing.

My kid and I celebrated yesterday, we started with a visit with my mom, then she took me to the Courtenay Museum, Fish and Chips at Porches and then a bike ride. I could repeat the day each weekend, minus the fish and chips which were coma inducing.

She asks me, does everyone love their mama as much as I do? I know I do. I am starting to tear up just thinking about what my mom has taught me - so I am going to shut er' down.

I am off to photograph Mother's Day mini-sessions and getting emotional at each one might slow down the photographic process today.Today in my shooting I am going to concentrate on capturing the moment, the moment when the mom's and daughter's eyes sparkle as they think about each other. 

It is going to be a beautiful day.

Here is something for Jan and Jonathan, who welcomed the sweet and beautiful Raven Elizabeth (I have a name crush on her,) at the end of April.

You might know Jan as she is the owner of Dark Side Chocolates in Cumberland, I felt like I was with a celebrity when I was photographing her. If you have had her Salter Carmel Chocolates you will know why. They truly are the absolute, without a doubt best chocolates I have ever had - and I fancy myself a bit of a chocolate snob.

The look on Jan's face as we took the bottom photo was absolutely priceless.



 
 

Well, another dance recital year done. Bittersweet. I adore the whole experience, so I am kind of sad it is over. On the other hand, I am exhausted and I wasn't even a performer. Not sure how those kids who are in 8 dances do it.

Last week, before the crazy week started I had the pleasure, sincere pleasure of photographing Niamh and Saumya. Are you kidding me with this cuteness - I mean seriously?

I had a fabulous time (honestly, who doesn't like playing banana phone?) and was thrilled when their mom emailed me to tell me they said having their photograph taken was the best part of their day. That is really the way it should be!

Garnet is an performer, a star, an athlete, a sweetheart - her quiet side is hard to find, but it's there and is part of what makes her so beautiful and intriguing.

I have had the pure joy  of photographing her before (she is the gal in the Cinderella Dress hanging on the studio wall,) and the session was playful and silly.

I caught something a bit different this time ....