short and sweet photography

Last Post

2008-03-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is just to say that I will no longer be posting on this blog. Please visit my fantabulous new blog here www.shortandsweetphotography.ca/blog Thanks for visiting!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-03-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. Today is my birthday. This year it was a day to celebrate my many not so secret vices. My gifts were as follows:

*starbucks giftcard(for my not so secret coffee addiction)
*a box of Bernard Callebaut(for my not so secret chocolate addiction--if you are not from Calgary you won't understand)
*a lensbaby BABY!!!!(ummm...if you haven't figured this out yet, you haven't really read my blog, but I have a photography addiction....yep...the first step is admitting it. The second step is buying many toys)
*and a BRAND SPANKING NEW BLOG!!!! You read right!!! I have a blogging addiction. I have tried to walk away from the blog, but I can't...I just can't. So, I've pimped mine up! Well, the truth is I didn't do it so much as a beautiful woman named Theresa did. And, it is still in the works a bit so some things might still change(like one day I might figure out how to use my fancy MP3 player), but I have always been like a kid when it comes to new things--I just can't wait to try them on!!!! So, I didn't want to post here any more. It is time to bid farewell. Change your bookmarks and check out the slick new me ;)

www.shortandsweetphotography.ca/blog

Leave a comment because the comment box is the coolest!!! Seriously. (the previous two sentences said with my best '80's teenage girl from the valley accent). And--you can subsribe! Do this because I can also email you secret blog stalker stuff!!! Yay!!!!!

PS--Bob would want me to mention the jewellry he bought me. There I did it! I love it, of course...because those who truly know me know that I have a major jewellry addiction!!!!

Billy Elliott

2008-03-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm calling these photos the Billy Elliott series. Don't know Billy Elliott? It is only one of the best movies of all time. Seriously. Somehow these images remind me of it. I had to share.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, jelly beans, all things sweet and wonderful to you today! Happy Easter....

2008-03-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

I love this shot of Georgia laughing...nothing special--just her having a laughing fit in our hotel room in Banff. I thought I'd share a couple of her from that weekend. And, a fun craft to do with your little girls. I LOVE to do crafts with my kids so when I saw this on Tara Whitney's site, I had to post the link here as well:

http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/nesting/2008/02/diy-dollhouse.html

It's a DIY dollhouse. LOVE IT!!!

So--I am away this weekend as well to do some fun and fab shoots in Edmonton. One is for a 50th wedding anniversary!!! 50 years!!! How is that possible?! I wanted to say that I am booked for March, but I have posted my availability for April and May on my website. May is more booked than April...hmmm...might have something to do with the warmer weather being anticipated!!!! I can't wait for the green grass!!! I still have some decisions to make about June, so I haven't posted that availability yet. One of those is whether I should do some family shoots in Edmonton and what weekend I should do that on...hmmm...any thoughts? Oh...and my new blog is almost ready to be revealed!!! Wait until you see it! I can't wait to share it with you all!

Happy Easter...don't eat too many jelly beans! Who am I kidding? Eat lots!!!!

Chateau Lake Louise

2008-03-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

I got to spend the morning there with this lovely family...okay, so this lovely family is a family that I have known for many moons. So, I might be a little biased, but aren't they gorgeous? I actually had a hard time choosing which images to put up in their sneak peek...finally, I have narrowed it down.

I told you...moody black and whites...I am totally into them and this image screamed to be converted into one.

I put this family image up in the post because this family laughs nonstop. That is the best way to be...always taking deep breaths between the laughter. Thanks guys.

Fred and Benjamin

2008-03-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is is not Fred and Benjamin. Obviously. This is a picture of the people who care for Fred and Benjamin. You know...we often hear stories of animals being treated poorly. This is not one of those stories. Fred and Benjamin are two of the luckiest dogs I have ever met. We hung out at Cascade Ponds on Saturday.

This is Benjamin.

And, this is Fred. Fred and his owner, Lyle, spent a month in Washington state around Christmas...why? Because Fred was sick and his owners are so in love with him that they took him there to receive treatment for cancer. He lost a fair bit of weight in the process, but is now on the mend. How lucky is he to have owners who care that much for him? I mean, it's hard not to love him...he is pretty darn cute. Drooly, but cute.

I have often heard it said that families come in all shapes and sizes. Isn't this a wonderful example of that?

I've Been A Lazy Blogger Lately

2008-03-16T18:24:00.001-07:00

I feel badly for my loyal blog readers who followed me through my San Francisco images only to hit a dead end! Fear not! I have not forgot you! I may have been a lazy blogger but that is only because I have been a busy photographer! This is a new favorite and a sneak peek of a sneak peek to come later in the week. The card is uploading as we speak--so this is truly hot off the presses! A little treat to keep you all in the loop! I only wish you could see it bigger as I added a beautiful and subtle texture which is lost on the internet. Alas...

And, expect more black and whites from me as I have been on a black and white spree lately.

Bye, bye mountains...hello reality...stay tuned...

Georgia

2008-03-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

My little sweetheart had dental surgery yesterday. Yes...she is just three years old and she had dental surgery. What is with that? Well, I wanted to let those in the know know that she came through it okay. So did we. She had a rough night last night(a little bit of pain from the two root canals--yes root canals) so we could both use a nap right about now. So a couple of pictures of Georgia dressed up to go to a birthday party this weekend. I thought she looked so cute in her new cute little skirt and her hand me down spring coat(LOVE handmedowns). And...spring is coming! Yay!

And there will be some exciting changes happening to my beloved blog. I am so totally excited I can hardly keep it a secret, but you will have to wait!!!!

Random San Francisco Bits

2008-03-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

So I think I should put this top one in my header ;) I don't know what it is, but I have a thing for signs lately. Of all sorts. So, as it turns out, some of the images that are my favorite from my trip are of signs. Is that a sign? hmmmm....

Ahhh..the magnolias were in bloom there. Gorgeous compared to the brown landscape of home.

And, another spinny one because I am digging them lately as well...and I thought it worked well with this sign. Sigh. That is it folks. That's all she wrote. Goodbye San Francisco...hello spring? That would be nice.

The Bridge...

2008-03-09T08:47:00.000-07:00

I think everyone must be looking at my San Francisco pictures and wondering where the heck the Golden Gate Bridge is? Well...I did go there. On the last day. For like 20 minutes. First the 'traditional' bridge photos...

Now my favorite not so traditional pictures.

And, just cause I posted the above pic...my favorite shot from the 20 minutes. No bridge in sight. I'm so weird.

I promise that I am going to wrap up my San Francisco trip real soon. Hope you are all still hanging in there with my slide show. Maybe get a coffee to keep you awake! One final post of my favorite random shots...tomorrow, kay?

The Kids From The Workshop!

2008-03-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Okay...so here's the thing. I am a children's photographer. I mean--I like doing family shoots, but I LOVE and I mean big passion, giddy stomach love taking pictures of kids. I love connecting with them and figuring them out. Kids are so amazing. I think it is the whole no filter thing. If they like something they will tell you with such enthusiasm--ditto if they don't like it. I'm kind of like that, too ;) The workshop was a little different. 10 people at a time trying to get 'the shot'...you know the one. It was totally exhuasting, but these kids were great. They hung in there, man. So, some more shots of the kids....

This guy's mom is a photographer and, if you are a photographer, you know how difficult it is to get good shots of your own kids. She was all telling us horror stories about how badly he behaves for her. I gotta say 'What?!!' Thanks for all the training Pam because it was like he was competing on America's next top model. I mean, he looked every single one of us right in the lens. With every pose!!! He is living proof that EVERYONE should hire people to take pictures of their kids. Even those of us who take like 10,000 of them a year(I know you think I am exaggerating...I think I have a problem).

Chinatown and Kristen

2008-03-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

I should also say 'and Kim' but here's the thing. I don't so much take photos of people when I am doing touristy things. Interesting...in fact, my friend, Kristen was there from New York and I didn't even get a photo of the two of us. Hmmm...mostly that has to do with my hesitancy to step in front of the camera. I DID however get a picture of Jinky and I. That will be framed and up in my office as soon as the person who took it sends it to me. It will not however be on my blog. Ah the joy of being the all powerful goddess of the blog. I get to post only the pictures where I look amazing ;) So, the three of us gals spent the day in China town and stuff. We all took a tonne of photos...we all looked like a crazy gaggle of girls with our giant camera bags. Taking pictures of gutters, and old signs, and weird stuff like that. That is totally my idea of a good time. Seriously. I am thrilled with the pictures. There are so many I love, that I am not sure I can share them all. Because at what point do you all say--enough with the touristy pictures!!! Not yet I hope.

This old sign is my favorite shot of my whole trip I think...I think I shall print it for my living room.

Okay...love this t-shirt...mostly because I am a TOTAL political junky. Go Obama go...

Here is a shot of Kristen hanging out of a trolley to take a shot. While it is going. Above her head is a big sign that says 'no leaning out'. hmmm. she is just that kind of gal really--crossing the street against the light and so on. Me...I'm not so much like that. In fact, her nickname for me is Safety Spice...as in 'the spice girls'...ya...I'm not so much leaning out of a moving trolley!!! She did convince me to walk across the street against the light. The policemen on the other side of the street gave me heck instead of her. See why I don't do these things?

AIDS Memorial Grove

2008-03-06T09:55:00.001-08:00

I took a lot of touristy type photos in San Francisco...today is the first day of a string of those images. I visited the Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation area and spent some time in amongst the National AIDS Memorial Grove. It is stunning and beautiful in there. Images don't do it justice really. I have to say that I was drawn to it, in part I think because I came of age in the late 80's. AIDS was such a huge part of our lives then. And, for me, I think the first step in my own social consciousness being raised. I was raised by my wonderful parents to believe that we are all equal. In watching the world deal with this extremely polarized issue, it struck me hard for the very first time that we are not. Sad but true. These people were sick and the rest of us spent so much time talking about how who they were might have or might not have leant itself to causing this illness. I listened and watched in utter disbelief...because, at the end of the day, who cares? They were sick and they needed us to help them get better. That's it. The end....or rather the beginning really.

I got a little choked up upon reading this rock--what a beautiful thing to have met for the first time when people were walking on the moon for the first time. Beautiful.

Just be free. One thing is for certain...we are all just a bunch of humans walking the earth doing the best that we can with what we have.

Channelling My Inner Jinky

2008-03-05T11:25:00.000-08:00

I think everyone should channel their inner Jinky sometimes. I did...results below...but first, a shot of this little cutie pie who just wouldn't give me any love. Which made me love her even more...what a fabulous pout? When does that stop working? Do you think I am too old to get away with that?

And, my favorite shot shooting Jinky...well...not like 'shooting her', but shooting like her...KWIM?

Here I am shooting her...I mean with my camera. She's shooting someone else ;) Argh...there has to be a better way to say it!!!!

More to come...I promise ;)

Thank You Kate Spade

2008-03-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

I got me some new shoes in San Francisco...Kate Spade flip flops in a gorgeous apple green...LOVE THEM!!! A song to celebrate!

I'm Back!!!

2008-03-04T13:01:00.001-08:00

San Francisco was so awesome! Not only did I learn so much from the incredibly beautiful Cheryl Muhr, but I also got to meet a true rockstar!!! Jinky...a total rockstar in the children's photography world. I was in heaven. Sometimes it feels like I speak a different language and it was awesome to be in a room full of women who didn't need me to constantly translate. I am so inspired and can't wait to get to Banff and do my shoots there! Yay!

I should be sleeping as I have problems sleeping in beds that are not my own so I am completely exhausted, but I am processing away. Here are some images from the workshop. What beautiful children they had there...

This little guy was my favorite...and not just because his mom got me a tylenol when I needed it most! Is he not the cutest? Seriously...check back lots because I am bound to be a blogging fool over the next little while.

I'm Off!

2008-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

To San Francisco...the first time I will be without my husband or without my babes on a trip since I had babes. Actually, since I had Bob...oh wait..no, when I was pregnant with Jack I flew to Vancouver a couple of days ahead of Bob--does that count? Anyhoo, I can't wait. But, I can't figure out my email notification so that you can see that I am out of the office. Soooo...if you email me, I will not be able to answer it until Tuesday.

And, no, I didn't get to blog all the things I wanted to blog. Oh well. When I get back, I'll have so many exciting things to blog I don't think I'll be able to contain myself.

And--one more spot left for Banff. Any takers?

As Seen On Oprah

2008-02-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

So...in preparation for launching my 'life is sweet' line of products, I ordered myself a canvas. It is 20x24(and, now that I have it, I secretly wish it was bigger) and DIVINE!! That Nate Berkus...he knows what he is talking about. The clean lines and the big impact is fabulous. It is my favorite image of my favorite people printed on museum-quality canvas and hand stretched onto a custom built, 1.5" thick wooden frame. If there is enough room on the image, the image itself can wrap around the frame, but that wasn't the case with this one, so I chose a black edge. You can choose any custom color of edging you like! It is printed with the highest quality, archival inks that will never fade or discolor and then sprayed with a UV coating for added protection. I had no idea I would love it this much! I can't wait to get my next one!!!

Here it is hanging in my upstairs hallway:

And, here is a shot of the beautiful texture you get.

Everybody who sees it stops in their tracks! What size do you need?

Circa 1972

2008-02-25T09:32:00.001-08:00

The term 'vintage' is a tricky thing. For some people, it conjures up images of colors so muted they are almost black and white....for me, it means more nostalgic and, thus, something more like the images that came out of the old instamatic cameras--grainy, dark, blurry...strange color casts...love it all! So...inspired by my youth and by one of my fave photographers, the ever fabulous--Sheye Rosemeyer--I have been attempting to capture that feeling in some of my own images. Here are the results:

I was supposed to be blogging about my fabulous new canvas that I received last week...perhaps today there will be two blog entries today...

Stolen Lens

2008-02-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I really just borrowed it. From my dad. So, that makes it okay, right? When I was home, one morning I woke up to find the most incredible hoar frost. When the sky opened up to clear blue, I grabbed my dad's macro lens and headed outside. These are my first attempts at macro photography. The first set are the 'realistic' set.

And, now I am going to demonstrate my fine photoshoping abilities...

So, something a little different from me. You know...to show you all that I am not just a one trick pony show. Ha! I've got at least two tricks! Oh, and I already gave my dad his lens back...I guess that Bob has one at his work. Perhaps another covert operation is in order!

Because I Like to Laugh

2008-02-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

I am sharing these photos with you because I like to laugh. Alot. So, this past weekend when all my friends were in Mexico, my family took a trip to Edmonton. Lucky us, eh? It was family day after all and we decided to spend family day with my brother and sister-in-law making a snowman with our kids. Sounds pleasant enough, doesn't it? I mean this is the picturesque Canadian winter thing to do, isn't it?

Our snowfella and the kids who 'helped' make it. Well, at least they put the buttons and stuff on it ;) And, a note, that it was incredibly warm that is why Georgia is not wearing a hat.

Then, it started out innocently enough...look at her sweet, innocent face...

Then the snowman became useful. I mean, one could take cover behind it in case of incoming snowballs, right?

This is where things went awry...see this fella? He is known to all of you as my husband, but really he is the biggest kid of them all...an action series:

Little did Grandma know when she gave the girl's their playhouses that the boys would use them as bunkers. Summertime waterfights...wintertime...well, you get the picture!

And, now...there is so much wrong with this picture. Technically not perfect. And...well...that is my brother in law aiming a giant snowball at his unwitting wife. I laughed so hard at this picture! I guess she is deserving as she is firing one at her kids in the playhouse, but...payback is a b____!

Thought we could all use a laugh this morning! Happy Birthday to our nephew in Edmonton! We love ya!

Baby Jack

2008-02-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

So, a couple of things...I had to turn on comment moderation on my blog. I sincerely hope this does not deter people from commenting as I LOVE getting comments, but, yesterday, I got a spam comment. And, just like spam that comes unwanted into your inbox, the content of said spam was not really suitable for younger audiences...so I added comment moderation. So, if you are a real person and you leave a comment on my blog, I promise to post it. If you are trying to sell me something to enhance any part of my body...forget about it!

So, these pictures are from a little guy we affectionately call 'Baby Jack' in our house. His mom and I have been friends for way longer than I like to admit is even possible. Recently, I started helping her in her own photographic journey. It's been fun to have someone to chat shop with. This past weekend she watched me 'shoot'...and how I love to 'shoot' babies. No matter what sort of punctuation I put around that word it just doesn't sound right :) She is lucky to have some great looking models! Even though one of them was playing Wii with my Jack in the basement. Here are some of the pictures from that brief little 'shoot'...

And...a new storyboard I'm going to carry...my life is sweet line ;) Because, well...life is sweet when you have a sugar like this to cuddle with everyday!

So, like I said...lots to share before I leave for San Francisco! My Jack wants me to tell everyone that he is possibly the world Wii boxing champion. It's a little frightening actually. Watching him scream at the screen things like 'You're going down!' What happened to my sweet baby Jack?

Flipping Over These

2008-02-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

So, I know that regular visitors to my blog have been wondering where I've been...I took a short break and came home to lots of new stuff to announce. Not to mention new photos to share. I just hope that I get it all in before I leave in a week for San Francisco! Because I know there will be tonnes to share from my trip!

I've been re-examining things as of late. Mostly, I have decided that I need to look at this as less of a hobby and more of a business. What does that mean? Well...a few things. I'll be trickling them out slowly over the next month or so. But, today, I want to share one of the awesome things I am going to be offering my clients! It is a 40 page soft cover flip book. I am sooooo excited about this I can hardly contain myself! The possibilities! One side maternity...the other side newborn pictures. One side one child...the other side another child. One side engagement photos...the other side wedding images. Yay! I don't have a hard copy in my hand, but hope to have one before April. My sample book will be images of my own kids--that's how badly I want one of these! Here is a sneak peek...

I just wanted to say hi...I've missed you guys ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

Okay...I gotta tell ya, I am not a huge fan of this holiday. I mean I love Christmas and I have a crazy kind of giddy love for Halloween...but Valentine's day? I mean, I love a romantic comedy as much as the next gal, but a whole day devoted to matters of the heart? I dunno. So, I can appreciate where Jack is coming from. Did he want to do this shoot? Does he ever want to do a shoot? But, he needs Valentine's day cards for his class...so, this is a sample of how it went. The backdrop is the giant chalkboard wall in our playroom...and, ladies and gentlemen, I used my flash...

This one should have a series of numbers across his chest...can you say mugshot?

Oh yes...my sweet little boy...

Typical...

Ahhh...finally one I can live with. He is such a ham. I'm fearful that he has too much of me in him as he has taken to telling a long series of one-liners--usually something to do with underwear or his...ahem...weinie...and, then, when my laughter has turned to anger and I am completely fed up with him. He stops. Then, he asks me what was my favorite one? Then, he asks Georgia. Hmmm...SNL watch out ;)

His card...suckers attached to the back :) I have left overs. If you feel like a sucker this Valentine's day--just say so ;)