Lost in Thought…

I love photography.  It’s part of who I am; my camera is another appendage (just ask my family). 

I’m a little lost however, when it comes to figuring out where I’m going with my journey in photography. 

Please bear with me… 

I found photography at a time in my life when I needed it most and when I needed to figure out who I was.  It’s intensely personal to me and when I look back at pictures I’ve taken for people or of my own children, I’m taken right back there again, emotions and all. 

 

Really, if I could afford to, I wouldn’t charge anyone for their pictures.  I love the gift I give families, couples, Mom’s, Dad’s, etc. through photography.  But life doesn’t work that way, and I often have to remind myself to leave the rose coloured glasses in the drawer.  I have to put a value on my time. 

I do know that the service I provide is an important one.  These little moments that pass us by every day won’t be remembered unless we capture them.  The pictures I have during my childhood are ones that I treasure, and I want to give my kids the same memories to look back on. 

Me and My Grandma Dicke in 1976

 

Not only do I want to capture those little moments that shape childhood, but I want to capture emotions and most importantly connection.  I want you to look back at your photos and FEEL the love, the happiness, and get lost in reverie.

My style is still evolving.  I’m still figuring out who I am as a photographer.  I don’t want to capture stiff family shots, I want you to be yourselves and show off who you are as a family.  I want you to laugh, hug, and play during your family session.  I want to capture the excitement and love parents have for their unborn baby.  I want to capture the sassy, confident and beautiful side found within every woman.  I want for you to be loved and cherished and I want to snap it all.  I want you to be comfortable enough to just hang out with me for a couple hours, and get pictures in the process. 

In order for all of this to happen, I need to slow down and focus a little more on each session.  Because of this, I am only going to book 2 to 4 sessions per month for this year.   I am going to take this year to learn, evolve, and develop my style a bit more in order to give you the photos and memories I want you to have.

My prices have also gone up this year as I am now charging for the high-resolution files.  I am giving the option to purchase the files by each individual file or as the entire edited set.  I am working on my website, which will have lots of information regarding session details, and pricing.  As always, I can be reached at cjhop [at] telus [dot] net   if you have questions.  Gift certificates that were purchased last year will be honoured at last year’s pricing and I will be sure to fit you in! 

I’ve been asked why I take so many pictures, and why I only give 30 some odd photos at the end of it all.  If I could get the best, most natural expressions in one click that would be grande, but it doesn’t work that way.  It’s a process, and the reason I take so many pictures is so you get the very best from your session.  It takes a little while for kids and hubby’s (women are usually comfortable from the get go) to get used to me and my camera, but rest assured we get there and have fun during the session.

So, please bear with me this year as I muddle through it all.  I am the mom to 3 spirited kids and I value my time with them before all 3 are in school full time.  I have lots of time to develop my career, but my kids are only little once.  Thank you for your continued support and love.  I’m very grateful for it and feel blessed for each and every experience I get to photograph life’s precious moments!

Christine