Hey, it's Christmas....

I know, I post a lot of photos of Cooper. But can you blame me? He's so cute. And, hey, it's Christmas, so it's all about family.

In honour of Cooper's three month birthday (yes, I do a photo shoot every month...you would too), we took our socks off, put on white t-shirts and jeans and took our photos. Very cliche, but that's how we roll sometimes.

My little guy is definitely turning into a little ham in front of the camera. He definitely knows how to turn it on.

From our family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday week. Hope you get to take your socks off, enjoy some great food and drink and wonderful company with family and friends. We are very fortunate to have the best of those worlds with fantastic family and friends and a new little one who's about to experience his first Christmas...even though he won't remember any of it. But we will!

I absolutely love this shot.

Tis the Season for Awareness

This is a cause that is really close to my heart. For two years I've been on the committee for the local Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, and I know how much all the fundraising events and efforts mean to those who have or who are still battling breast cancer.

You may remember a shoot I did with my cousin Brittany to highlight the vulnerability of Breast Cancer. Well, to make a bigger impact, and raise some money for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers, she asked me to take photos for a calendar she and her teammates are creating. I loved it!

With Brittany's Oma taking part (a four time breast cancer survivor), it was such fun to see the ideas come into fruition and to feel like we were really getting the message across. Everyone got involved. Britt's Mom, sister, daughter, niece, uncle and even her boyfriend.

Out of the 16 photos, here are some of my favourites. Details are to follow, and I really encourage you to purchase the calendar to help with such a worthy cause.



Probably my favourite shot of the day.

Followed very closely by this one.

Recognize those adorable feet? That's Cooper! My little model and do-gooder at 3 months.






















Gorgeous Brooklyn

Help Portrait Barrie

Have you ever been a part of something that brings so much joy to a person that it actually makes you choke up? The simplest thing like doing someone's make up and putting them in front of a camera is what I, and a whole slew of photographers in Barrie did today as part of Help Portrait.

It's an international initiative to take portraits for free for those who would otherwise not afford it. I couldn't believe how excited these people were to have their photos taken by some of the area's top photographers.

While I didn't take any portraits, I was there to apply make-up (years in front of a tv camera helped out big time), and I took some candid, behind the scenes shots.

This is such a worthy cause, and I can't wait to do again. I loved the comaraderie between all the photogs and meeting some community members who were just so cute! This is the Christmas Spirit for sure.



Erika of Rowell Photography being interviewed.

The amazing lighting set ups

The cutest couple and Ryan of Rowell Photography

Help Portrait Barrie

I am so excited to be taking part in this amazing event. Help portrait Barrie is a group of photographers who are offering their services to those are less fortunate. It's an opportunity to be glammed up and have your photo taken for Christmas gifts, or just because.

Make-up and hair is provided, as well as 16 of the best photographers in the business taking your picture. Many of whom have been major mentors to me as I continue to grow as a photogapher. Some of the amazing photographers: Rowell Photography, Locke Photography, Nightingail Photography and so many others!

Come out to the Collier United Church to see me, or go to the other locations: Mapleview Community Church, Bayfield Mall or St. Peter's High School.

Please come out!

Challenging Myself

It really hit me. It knocked me over like a ton of bricks. And I vowed I'd do something about it.

I was at a friend's house last weekend taking some family photos, when she pulled a gorgeous picture frame off the fireplace mantel. It was filled with photos of her little boy as a baby. These photos were beautiful! They were of him sleeping, with a blanket over his head, all kinds of candid, beautiful moments. I asked Jen, "did you have these taken?" To my surprise she said, no, I took them.

That's when it hit me. I don't have ANY pictures of Cooper just doing regular, everyday things. The things he's going to want to see when he looks back at photos of when he was a baby. Instead, all I have are the posed shots. Cooper in a pumpkin. Cooper in a Santa hat. What kind of mother am I? Jen pointed it out: not all shots have to be perfect. They just have to be of your child.

I'm challenging myself both as a new parent and as a photographer. These days I don't leave the house without my point and shoot. And I challenged myself tonight to capture my little guy as he slept. I didn't worry about perfection, creativity or even that much about lighting. I just wanted to capture him.

Jen, I owe you one! Maybe when Cooper is older, he won't hate me for putting him in the most embarrassing positions for the sake of a photo.

So, here's to imperfect photos, but perfect moments.

First, the photos that will be the reason for my kid needing therapy when he's older.

Precious moments that I finally captured.

The McCabe Family

I love families. I especially love it when a family invites me back every year to take the annual photo...you can see how much the little ones have changed!

Kennedy is now an energetic 15 month old, and Luke is now the mature big brother at 4. So much has changed in just one year. But they are still sooooo adorable!

We had beautiful warm weather, unusual for November so we took advantage of it and headed outdoors. I had to be quick with Kennedy, she's so fast!

Can't wait to see them again next year! But I hope they don't grow too fast.

Kennedy getting ready for the take off! She's so cute.

Candice and Brad are Engaged!

I know I say this a lot, but I LOVE people who are both best friends and completely in love with each other. That's Candice and Brad. They totally click, they can read each other and you can feel how comfortable they are with each other.

We took advantage of the only sunny day in weeks and went to Brad's family farm near Alliston for the official engagement photos. We walked in fields and around the barns with a few adorable kitties following us.

Brad has this sort of protective way with Candice that I'm not entirely sure he's aware of, and Candice seems to come alive when she's around him. These two are a dream to shoot! I can't wait for the wedding.

Kimberlee and Nick are Engaged!

Kimberlee and Nick are the type of people who you just click with. I love people who love to have fun, and who love to laugh. I don't think these two ever stop laughing. That was the case as we spent the day shooting their engagement photos. I think my stomach was hurting from laughing!

Kimberlee and Nick's enthusiasm for all things fun is not only contagious, but it's also their theme for their wedding! This couple has some great ideas including a photo booth (Kimberlee told me she hopes someone moons the camera!), and they're hoping to serve street meat for their midnight spread! I love it!

As you can tell from these photos, they had fun, but they also adore each other. As a result of their incredible awesomeness, it was hard to choose just a few to post on the blog.

Enjoy!



Sometimes there is a photo in the bunch that makes my heart pound with excitement. This is one of those photos. I love the look Kimberlee is giving the camera and you can just feel the love! Rock it Kim!

Jenelle and Brandon are Engaged!

When it comes to photos and the fall colours...timing is everything. Jenelle and Brandon picked the perfect day to have their engagement photos taken at Sunnidale Park. The colours were vibrant and there was the perfect amount of leaves both on the trees and on the ground. A few days later all the leaves were off the trees after a huge storm.

Jenelle and Brandon are getting married next summer and they have the sweetest little boy who just turned one! Brandon was such a ham, something I love in people! He was game for anything and even volunteered to climb a tree.

Jenelle and Brandon, your wedding is going to be a blast!

Little Kaden, such a sweetie!

Ashley and Shawn are Engaged!

Ashley and Shawn are your lovable country folk who wanted a farm feel for their engagement photos. I couldn't resist going back to the abandoned, falling down barn I used for my sister's engagement session. True, the barn is pretty disgusting with dead birds, raccoon poop and what looks like 50 year old manure on the bottom floor, but beyond that the place is amazing to shoot in.

Next October Ashley and Shawn will be Mr. and Mrs.! You can tell the bond these two have. They are both quiet, a little shy, but definitely in love. Shy as he is, Shawn didn't shy away from kissing his Bride-to-Be anytime I asked him to.

We had some fun in the old barn....and I know these two warm country people will have a warm and lasting marriage!

They matched their outfits too! Love the boots.