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Photography is a constant learning curve.  That’s what’s so great about it.  I don’t think I will ever get to the “finish line”.  I think if I ever believe that I’ve reached it, then it’s time for a new challenge!

I was thinking today about some of the things that I’ve come to realize over these past few months.  Here are my two bits…

To me, photography is all about connection.  You should FEEL something when you look at a photo.  You should also FEEL something when you take the photo.  

It’s important to remember in portrait photography that people are not props to pose in a beautiful setting.  Having a great eye for lines, colour, and composition is very important, but remember that the people in the photo are the most important part.  Capturing connection and emotion is key.  You can feel when there is real emotion in a photo and where there isn’t.

How do you connect with your subjects?  Talk to them, ask questions, laugh, share, and get close.  It’s the only way you are going to translate emotion in the photos.  If you are photographing a couple: find out where they met, what they love about each other, their favourite places to go together, etc.   If you are photographing children: laugh, run, play, jump, roll on the ground, and pick flowers together. Get down to their level.  You can’t expect them to automatically produce a winning smile.  They need to forget that you are taking their picture.  Instead, be their playmate for the time you have together.  You may feel foolish at first, but let go of your inhibitions and be a kid again.

Focus on what it is you love about photography.  Find your style.  Take tons of photos of everything and anything.  Pay attention to what draws you into your favourite photos.  Is it the lines, the colours, the emotions?  Find that special something that makes you feel and apply it to your photos.  Always be aware of what you feel is beautiful, or funny, or interesting.  Pay attention to it.  Apply it.

Keep…it…simple.  You don’t need a lot going on in a photo.  Remove distracting elements…ask yourself if it lends itself to the story in the photo.  If not, remove it or find another angle. Seek out great light.  I love shooting in the evening when that yummy light comes out and casts a dreamy glow on everything.

Get low or find higher ground.  Lay on your back and shoot up or get on a ladder and shoot down. Find an angle that is out of the norm.  The eye is drawn into a view that you don’t often see. 

Realize that where you are in your journey in photography is where you are supposed to be…because it’s a journey.  There is no “the end” to your photography story.

Honour your values.  My kids are young, so photography is a side-venture for me.  That is my personal choice.  I have lots of time to develop my career when they get a little older and depend on me a little less.  It’s easy to get trapped into photographer-envy when you watch another photographer you respect do their thing.  It’s their thing.  Not yours.  Follow your heart and your passion.

Wait for it.  That moment that will come during a session if you are patient and have your trigger finger ready to snap.  This is especially true when photographing children.  It takes patience and time, but if you wait for it and engage your subject, the moment will come.

Honour who you are as a photographer.  Not every job may be right for you.  You owe it to the people you are taking photos of as well.  If you can’t connect with them, it’s tough to get a good photo.  It’s OK to realize that you may not be a good fit for one another.   Plus, if you take a job that isn’t a good fit you may be taking away an opportunity the client could have to connect with a photographer that is right for them.

Enough rambling, I had to get it out there!  I’m glad I have so very much to learn in photography.  I’m enjoying the ride.

Good night!

Christine

I got my baby fix tonight!  Little K. came over for coffee.  She is so beautiful and I just had to get some photos of her little digits.  Pure sweetness…

I have had the honour and privilege of photographing some of K. and R’s most important steps in life together.   I shot their engagement, their wedding, and now the next step is here…

K. also happens to be my beautiful cousin.

She crinkles her nose up when she laughs.  I think it’s cute (her hubby thinks so too).

Congrats you two, I can’t wait for the next step in your life together.

We spent a week at Ministikewan Lake, SK with my in-laws (love you!) and I was blown away by all the beautiful flowers planted around the cabins there.   Here are a few blooms I loved while visiting. 

I’ll take you on the tour…starting with my mother-in-law’s beautiful place…

Next stop…Stan’s place…

Final stop…Glen and Leanne’s place…

My little girl got a hair cut today.

Last September, I decided to grow out her bangs. 

Taken September, 2008.

Her hair has grown so fast over these past few months, her bangs are passed her chin now.  But doing her hair has been a source of tears at times as it’s gotten so long and unruly!  It was time for a hair cut!

I told her that she would get a “Dora the Explorer” hair cut and she was all for it.  When we got to the salon, I had changed my mind to giving her a shoulder length bob.  I asked my fabulous hairdresser Julie how long her hair had to be to donate it to cancer.  She measured her hair and said it was long enough if we gave her a nice little bob. 

It was tough watching as the scissors cut through her long beautiful 9 inches of braided hair, but we were so happy that her hair will be going to someone else now. 

Here is my little Miss T. with her new hair do.  She looks so grown up.  My baby is growing up.

As for little Miss T., she didn’t mind getting her hair cut as long as she got a sucker at the end of it.  She likes her Dora Hair.

I will be off this week for holidays!  I’ll be back, answering e-mails and phone calls on July the 6th. 

On Friday we started our holiday off by checking into a hotel in Calgary and hitting the indoor water park. I brought my underwater housing for my G10 camera.  Here’s all of us, except for my oldest son who was taking this picture.  My youngest could only offer up her arm. She’s not at the diving-under-water stage yet.

Yesterday, we visited the Calgary Zoo.  It was our first time there. The kids had a blast (so did we!)  I can’t believe I’ve never visited the Calgary Zoo before.  It’s such an incredible place to go as a family and it’s only 2 hours from our home.

our attempt at a timer family picture on the suspension bridge

Good-bye Calgary Zoo, we will be back next year

See you all in a week!

Christine

I have dreamed about doing these Connection Sessions for a long time.  The focus is all about your love and who you are as a couple.   

You get married.  You have kids.  You forget about celebrating and remembering that special something that exists just between the two of you.  It’s yours.  

This is S & D’s Connection…

Happy Father’s Day to the wonderful men in our life.  We love you!

My funny Dad….

My devoted hubby…

My kind father-in-law…

Meet Maya.

You may remember her since I just posted about her a few minutes ago lovin’ the swing set. 

Maya is sweet, sensitive, and full of smiles.  Most importantly, today she turns 1!!! 

Meet Maya’s lovely parents.

They can’t get enough of Maya.

Now, onto the cake smashing.  Thank you once again to Penny Zulke for making another fabulous cake!

The session started with a Naked baby, and ended with a naked baby. 

Time to get the tutu on, and let her loose!

Off with the tutu and time to really dig in…

Not only did she eat her 1 year cake, she also sat on it…

Happy Birthday pretty girl!