Sophia

This is a tough blog post to write. I am resisting the urge to gush too much about how much I love this kid! She is so smart and sweet and animated. Makes for a fun morning of taking pictures.

I broke my own rule and showed too many proofs to mom and dad. It's tough when every picture had a different expression. In the end their favorites were my favorites so it all worked out. Since I have another rule about blogging too many from the same session I'll really reign it in here and only show a few.

How to choose? I have no idea. Random favorites will have to do.








(click to enlarge)

Baby Boy

Sweet little baby boy with his parents.

As is typical for me my favorite image is the one taken on break. One of these days I'll be doing a blog post on those photos taken while on break. They are always my best shots. There is a lesson in that for me, a lesson to relaaaaaax. I tend to be hyper but I let my guard down during break and then - BAM - great shot. Must reflect on that idea.

Anyhoo, here he is. :)

New (old) cameras

So I had an epiphany. I decided that with the way I shoot 35mm I need a rangefinder. I like the look of photos taken with a rangefinder. I like the history of rangefinders.

I also wanted a small camera I could just throw in my purse and have whenever I needed it. 35mm SLR is just too darned bulky for that. I want no big lenses, no battery packs . . . just easy. I have small hands and really like the size of rangefinders.

Although I'd like to go out and get a new Leica m7 on a whim, I thought some research was my best bet.

Step one? Find out if I even liked using a rangefinder! So different than SLR and I had never used one in my life. So I bought a Canonet GIII from a guy locally . . . nothing fancy but a reported sharp lens and decent meter.

Long story short . . . I LOVE it! 1st roll was 36 frames, all in focus. Camera itself is so small and cute and easy to use. It has found a home in my purse and I vow here and now to take more snapshots of the kids.

Next step? Find a rangefinder with removable lenses and build a system that will allow me to get rid of 35mm SLRs completely. Do all 35mm work with a rangefinder.

Two Leica bodies and some lenses . . . we are looking at 20+ grand. I'll need to do a leica promotion. A fundraising benefit concert. Something. Anything other than saving and patience!!

Anyway . . . here are a few snapshots from that test roll.

Dirty mirrors add character to self portraits.



Husband with a handy beard for lens sharpness test.



Snapshot! Kid doing homework! Easy!



My boy jumping on his great grandfather. Moving(ish) subject focus test.



The same guy that sold me the Canonet had a Yashica Mat for sale so I bought that too. I have had TLRs in the past, but they have never worked. I ran a roll of film through this but did something wrong, not sure, but only 1/2 the frames fired. I'll need to sit down and see if it is my error or another broken camera. Either way, here is my boy and his Great Grandfather again, TLR style. Oh yes, this is also some Tmax 400 film that expired 12 years ago!! Wow.

Maternity

This is a mama to be . . . any day now . . . stay tuned!

Tina-Tina Bo-Bina and a new box of Delta 3200

I got a new shipment of delta 3200 in 120. In 35mm format it is not my favorite, but in 120 it scrumptious. I used to use it all the time but for some reason had not used any in over a year. I smartened up and ordered a batch. Glad I did. It is just as scrumptious as I remember. Delicious grain in the 120.

I had a new batch of film and had to use some right away so took it to Mother Goose.

This is Tina. My mother Goose co-teacher. Playgroup facilitator extraordinaire. My friend who won't let me take pictures of her but I did anyway. Tina.






It was her birthday. Cake!!

The Birth Book

I am very excited to finally officially offer . . . Birth Photography!!

I have always been a bit of a birth junkie. In fact it states in my high school yearbook caption that I had planned to go to medical school to be an obgyn. While I never carried through on that plan I did continue to be utter captivated by birth.

I am a trained Doula. What is a Doula? A doula is a woman who offers various forms of non-medical support (physical and emotional) to a woman in labour.

I have finally merged all of these things with my photography to offer an amazing product . . . The Birth Book!!

The Birth Book is the story of your baby's birth. It has three main parts: A maternity session prior to the birth, the birth session itself, and a family session about a week after the birth. I then take all these images and create (layout and design) a beautiful leather bound art book. The books are assembled by an outside company that caters only to professional photographers. They are top quality books that will last a lifetime.

I have attended a good number of births both as a doula and as a photographer. I am committed to being as discreet and as respectful as possible. I consider it a great honour to be there when a new baby is born.

Yay!

Two siblings and the photographer who jumped on the bed.

These were really great kids. Sweet and well behaved. I think we were all friends at the end.

What's this about jumping on the bed you ask? You can see the kids on the bed . . where am I? Jumping on the bed! We need a pull back shot on that one. Maybe next time.

Boy



Girl



Siblings



Holga shot for good measure!!