I’ve really been enjoying putting together some album designs lately.  I know that sometimes clients have a hard time choosing which images to print because, let’s face it, there’s only so much space to put up framed photos!

Custom albums or hardbound coffee table books are a great solution.  They look gorgeous, and can tell a better story than any solitary print.  I’m putting together a few different samples to make it easier to order.  You’ll see them as I add them to my main website  galleries.  So far, I have two different albums posted, and more to come.  I’d love to know what you think!

Here’s a sample of the Zoe Album.  These are single 12×12 pages.

And here is a sample from the Vivian Album.  These are show in double layouts, so as if you’re looking at an open book.

And I think that’s so evident with my most recent family.  2 totally terrific tow-headed tots and their equally great parents, PLUS a hip aunt & uncle.  Now, the aunt and uncle were pretty camera shy, but I could tell they adored their niece and nephew.  Needless to say, by the end of our session, I was enamoured with them as well.  Full of the typical energy that comes with little kids, both little L and H were sweet, full of hugs, trust, and shining personalities.

This kind of session isn’t your usual sit-for-the-camera-and-force-a-smile family portrait.  It’s meant to show the energy of the family dynamic, the relationships and playfulness of a well-bonded family unit.  And I think this family displayed that quite beautifully.

To A, who gave this session to her sisters family for Christmas, I’m SO glad you booked me.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with everyone.

I consider this wee one an addition to my own family!  Darling Baby Girl E is the brand new daughter of my best friends.  Also little sister to their son, L, whom is also the bestest playmate of my little girl.  We are just so delighted to welcome E to the world.

She slept maybe 2 minutes while I photographed her at 10 days old.  The rest of the time I got to enjoy her sparkling blue eyes. 

I think that’s pretty close to a smile, don’t you?

Hehe, you’d think I’d given her a lemon!

It’s always so humbling to be asked back to take portraits of new siblings.  I photographed this little guys big brother at age 2 last year and learned that Mom was pregnant!  And as we all know, time slips away much too quickly these days.  So we finally did some portraits for little A at seven months old.  And I’m kinda glad we did!  He gave me some great faces and entertained me the whole time.

To Little A’s parents…what handsome little boys you have!  I am SO looking forward to your smash cake session in September!!

I’m so excited to have another baby take part in my Watch Me Grow package.  This little beauty not only has super nice parents, but the FRIENDS of the parents are ALSO super nice!  Both her Mom & Dad work at the same company, and their co-workers pitched in to get them a full year of photos.  That’s newborn, 6 months, and one year sessions, ending with my beloved smash cake element!  So faithful readers, you’ll get to watch Little Miss K grow throughout the year.  Can’t wait?  Neither can I!

We had such a relaxed session.  Just barely a week old, and so content. 

I’ve been itching to use this hat on a little one for ages!!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek, C & K.  Don’t forget to send your co-workers the link so they can see the results of their most generous gift.  I’ll have your full gallery and mini-site ready for you soon.  I can barely wait to see you again for our next session!!

You might remember a very recent maternity portrait post for my friend S. You can click here to see those images. I’m delighted to introduce the result of that pregnancy, Miss V. She has an elegant name, and the most wonderful squishy lips I’ve ever seen.  Just 7 days old in these portraits.

Her big brother, X, seems totally excited to have a wee sister, and wanted to hold her every 5 mintues.

So tiny, she fits right into Daddy’s hand.

And I think Daddy is already wrapped around her little finger.  I love seeing men show their tender side like this.

She slept well for me, but also made sure I got a good look at her big brown eyes.

See?  Big, kissable, squishy lips.  Just look at that mouth!!

And pretty, pretty eye lashes.

Thanks for having me come do these portraits for you, S & W.  The pleasure was all mine, and I am going to love watching this beauty grow up.  You have a couple of heartbreakers on your hands!

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks with lots of sessions happening. I’ve got a backlog of portraits to sort through, but it’s happening. If you’re waiting for your gallery, take heart…I hope to have your sneak peeks ready soon.

However, it’s not all work and no play for me. In fact, I took an evening and attended a play this past Tuesday night. It was produced by Theatre Archipelago, called Our Lady of Spills. A good friend of mine is on the board of directors, and we had bounced some ideas around about how to promote his event. I was delighted to be in the audience and even more, I was amazed at how convincingly this play was put on. A very simple set, and just 2 actors, and yet the range of emotion captivated me quite completely. The script was funny, dramatic, and painfully honest. Lots of universal themes I’m sure everyone in the audience had experienced themselves. And the 2 skilled actors had impeccable timing.

I do encourage anyone within the Greater Toronto Area to see Our Lady of Spills. It runs until May 10, at the Papermill Theatre, Todmorden Mills.

Recently, I got to photograph this lovely family.  I’ve known S for about 5 years now, back from when we were planning our weddings at the same time.  We’ve watched each others families grow, and now hers is about to grow again!….actually, it already has.  I’ll be taking some newborn portraits this weekend!!!  

I won’t reveal the surprise…what do you think she had?  A Boy?  or A Girl?

I loved working with S and her husband, but her son X often stole the show.  SUCH  a sweet boy, full of hugs and smiles.  I think he’ll make a fabulous big brother!

 S said the only thing she ever really craved with this pregnancy was red grapefuit juice.  And sure enough, she had these 3 cartons in her fridge!

 See what I mean?  Big smiles, and sweet natured.

Every woman should feel glamourous and gorgeous, especially while pregnant.

 Thanks for inviting me into your home, S & W.  Can’t wait to see you again!

I’ve been taking photos of this little guy since he was 6 months old. I first met him when he was all dressed up in his baptism outfit…you’ve probably seen him on my website. I thought he had the most classic baby face ever, so he carved a spot in my heart as a Gerber baby. I’ve since done a smash cake session with Mr. M, and most recently, we did a session to celebrate turning TWO! We splashed in puddles, explored the woods, and enjoyed a red lollipop for all our efforts.

Pretty snazzy rain coat and boots, eh? Mom has great taste in fun clothes!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

With Irish ancestry, I’ve always enjoyed exploring Celtic culture.  I was an Irish Dancer as a child (2 time Canadian champion, doncha know), and I play & teach Celtic fiddle.  My wedding included many Irish traditions mixed with Scottish to reflect my husbands ancestry.  We even have an Irish Terrior as a pet.

A few years ago, our best friends gave us a recipe book for Christmas called The Irish Pub Cookbook.  It’s a fabulous book and we’ve enjoyed a number of dishes from it.  One that fascinates yet stumps us remains Banoffe Pie.  It’s a toffee-banana pie with really simple ingredients.  Pie crust, bananas, and sweetened condensed milk.  Easy right?

Well, the first time I made this dessert using the microwave method of making toffee witht condensed milk created a toffee so strong it rivaled Crazy Glue.  We took it to my friend Michelle’s house who invited us for dinner.  Our host had to get out a chefs knife and a cutting board and broke quite a sweat just slicing this dessert.  I’m really surprised I didn’t get any bills for dental work after that night. We’re even still friends!

The second time I made the pie, I tried a different microwave method. This time I served it to my friends who gave us the cookbook. When we cut into the pie, instead of holding it’s shape, it was liquid sugar. It was so liquidy, that after I took out the first piece, alllll the rest of the filling oozed around and I couldn’t even tell where the piece was taken from. Our friend Andrew said he liked it…that the gritty sugar texture was refreshing. Uh huh.

So we’ve been scared to try again, but I refuse to be defeated by inanimate objects. So, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2009, we tried again. I called my Mom to get a better method for making the condensed milk into toffee. She instructed me to put the can in simmering water for 4 hours. My husband and I watched this pot obsessively the whole time. We could imagine what an exploded can of toffee might look like in our kitchen. Our Irish Terrier would LOVE it!

Anyway, after 4 hours, we cracked open the can and glopped it out onto my nicely sliced bananas. It didn’t ooze. It didn’t spread. It sorta looked like leftover gravy, 3 days after Thanksgiving. Persevering, I mushed it around as best I could and popped it in the fridge to cool.  It looked like a dog’s dinner.

You might not believe me, but it actually tasted terrific! We still don’t think we’ve made it just right. But at least it’s palatable.

And just in case it didn’t work out, I had a backup plan.  White cupcakes, with white icing laced with a hint of peppermint.  I pipped the green chocolate into 4 leaf clover shapes.  THESE were simple and delicious.

I’d be glad to hear if anyone has a great method for Banoffe Pie.  And I do recommend the Irish Pub cookbook for other Irish Enthusiasts, even if you’re only green for one day of the year.