There really is nothing quite like those first magical (and tiring!) few weeks at home with a new baby, and it's always so special for me to be invited to capture that.
Read MoreLondon Ontario Family Photography | The Thompson Family
I know the blog has been a little quiet as of late - it's certainly not for lack of activity around here, but rather quite the opposite! Both my shooting calendar and editing queue are full (for this I am so, so thankful!) and I am working extra hard to make sure everyone gets their photos as quickly as possible in this very busy photography season! This sweet family session took place last month and was such a pleasure to photograph. The beautiful Thompson family is such a fun-loving bunch, and we had a blast exploring this wild field and being silly together. Here's a peek at their session! -xo
London Ontario Lifestyle Newborn Photographer | Baby Kessel
I often find myself explaining to friends and clients the difference between traditional posed studio newborn work (if you're looking for this, I have some wonderful photographers to refer you to!) and my approach, which is commonly referred to as "lifestyle newborn photography". While I still do capture baby on his/her own, I don't pose baby in any unnatural positions, and simply capture his/her delicious sleepy baby goodness with a more natural, organic approach. Much of the session aims to capture mom, dad and siblings at home with baby, going through the daily routines of feeding, changing, rocking and - the most important - snuggling. It's these natural moments, sweet kisses, tender strokes and sweet sibling interactions that I want to capture for you, so that when you look back, you not only have beautiful portraits of your sweet bundle alone, but you have the illustrations to accompany the story of those first few weeks at home with baby. This is how I approach newborn photography, and sweet baby Kessel's session was no exception. What a beautiful, sweet little man. And his vibrant and affectionate big sister was equally a pleasure to photograph. I just loved capturing some moments for this lovely family. Here is a peek at our session! -xo
London Ontario Family Photographer | Rory, Joslyn and Isla's Port Stanley Beach Session
Oh, how I loved this session! This was my third beach session this Summer, and thankfully each time I've been graced with beautiful evening sunlight! This little family is so adorable and sweet, and little Isla is so much fun. I love a family that isn't afraid to get a little dirty, and these guys were definitely up for the challenge! By the end of the session, we were all soaked and covered in sand - but the amazing, candid moments we captured throughout the evening were SO worth it. Rory, Joslyn and Isla - I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!! -xo p.s. I am always so honoured when another photographer asks me to document their special moments. Check out Joslyn's work here!
Project Ten | August (Dress)
This time of year is c.r.a.z.y. for me. Weddings, a ton of portrait sessions and little family holidays here and there. It's always a bit of a hustle to pull my Project Ten photos together, but this month I almost didn't make it. With a theme like "dress", the possibilities are endless. But I didn't have the time to really think out something wildly creative. At the last minute, I did what I had in the back of my mind all along - I took my girl to a field, wearing a dress. Groundbreaking, I know. But I'm so glad I did, because these are probably some of my all time favourite photos of Neve... ever. I love that this project forces me to shoot for myself every month, no matter how crazy things can get around here. Lately my daughter's daily life has been documented more faithfully through Instagram then through actual photos, so that makes this little session extra special to me. Be sure to click through the blog circle to see everyone's amazing interpretations of this month's theme! :)
Be sure to head over to Kelsie Taylor's blog to see her take! :)
The Mama Journal | Dear Neve
When I used to keep a personal blog, I published a series I called "Letters to Neve". It started when I wrote a letter to our "future bebe", before she had even been conceived, when we had decided to pull the goalie so to speak. ;) I continued writing letters to our "gender-neutral" bebe throughout my pregnancy, then monthly throughout the first year of her life. Between the hundreds (thousands) of photos I take of her and the baby book I regularly update, I decided I wanted to keep the letters going on a yearly basis. My plan is to eventually compile them all in a book to give her when she's older. Since this "mama journal" has sort of replaced my personal blog, I decided to continue publishing these yearly letters in this space.
Dear Neve,
This morning when I woke up, you had somehow made it into our bed (again), and were safely snuggled in your papa's arms. We serenaded you with a lively (though groggy) rendition of "bonne fete" and gave you lots of kisses. We've tried to explain that you turn 2 today, but I don't think you fully understand what's happening. I, on the other hand, have been so keenly aware lately of how quickly and beautifully you are growing up.
I've been crying on and off this morning. I reread your birth story, and then watched this little video a thousand times. We did our regular morning thing - coffee for me, water for you. Bananas for both of us. Sandbox. Sidewalk chalk. Bare feet in the grass. Sand in your hair (you've got some, now... and it's adorable). Giggles and hugs and power struggles and sillies and lots of "non aide maman, Neve fait toute seule". But somehow everything feels a little more grown up today. Because you're 2. You're not a baby, though you'll always be my baby. You're a two-year-old. A kid. A messy, hilarious, affectionate, intelligent, curious, stubborn, independent kid. And you're amazing.
You have an incredible grasp of both French and English, and you love to proudly exclaim "N-E-V-E!" when you see your name in print. Letters, numbers, shapes, colours... you soak it all in like a sponge. You are a smart, alert, brilliant child. And I'm not just saying that because you're mine. Your love of learning and exploring is a beautiful thing to watch, and I am always blown away by the sharpness of your mind and your enthusiasm for life. I love being able to have conversations with you. I love it that you make up jokes to make us laugh. I love your caring, affectionate spirit. Whether you're loving on your dolls, your friends or your dog, you have a nurturing heart. You're also a little monkey. Jumping, running, skipping, climbing, there are no limits. You are brave, a (calculated) risk taker on your own terms and at your own pace. You are strong, independent and determined. Sometimes this leads to tantrums and power struggles and all that fun toddler stuff. But these are qualities that I am thankful you have, because as you grow up, they will help you navigate this big, wild, often difficult world of ours.
I love spending my days with you, sweet girl. I love kissing those smushy cheeks and playing in your little blonde wisps. I love the way you always invite me to share in your snacks and activities, the way you crawl into my lap while I'm working and give me kisses and look at me with those giant blue eyes and say "hi maman!" with that smile of yours. I love your love of music and books and art and the great outdoors. I love watching you dance in the car and hearing you sing to yourself while you go about your day. I love it that you have inside jokes with your papa and that you won't go to sleep without saying a bedtime prayer to thank God for all the people in your life. I love it that you simply must jump in every puddle you see, and that it never gets old. I love you when you spin in your prettiest dress and pretend to brush your hair in the mirror. I love you when your feet are dirty and your fingers are sticky and your hair is crazy and you come flying through the room like a loud, wild whirlwind. I love you when you're sound asleep, curled up in your big bed, uncovered because you've kicked off your blankets, lips in a perfect little pout that I just can't help but kiss, even if I risk waking you. I just love everything about you.
Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed with work and chores and all the other responsibilities that can make life hectic at times, I think about how productive I was before you came along. Everything is slower now, messier, more complicated, more expensive. But at the same time, everything is more beautiful, more exciting, more meaningful, more memorable, more blessed. I can't imagine life without you. You have my whole heart, and I am crazy about you.
When you were still in my belly, your Grandmaman told me that children are like a gift that you unwrap a little bit more each day. And she was so right. Every day with you is a gift, and I look forward to unwrapping a little more of it everyday as you continue to grow.
Always know that I love you, more than anything, forever and ever. Je t'aime ma puce.
-Maman xoxo
Project Ten | July (Water)
This month's theme is water, and after taking a more posed, styled approach to last month's Hair theme (incidentally, my "hair" photos also took place in the water!), I really wanted to take a more candid, organic approach this month. We spent a week visiting some family in Northern Ontario, where I was born and raised, and enjoyed a beautiful mix of swimming, boating, fishing, woods walking, wildflower picking, campfire singing and late-night chatting. These photos were taken during a sunset lake swim with my sister and her beautiful family. It was so wonderful to watch Neve explore with her cousins. I love playing with my nieces and nephews (and rarely get to!) and had to pull myself away from the water to snap a few photos - but I'm so glad I did! Be sure to click through the blog circle to see everyone's interpretation of this month's theme, starting with the talented Kelsie Taylor Photography!
Port Stanley Ontario Engagement Photographer | Kristi and Grant
After being rained out twice, it was such a relief when this beautiful sunny evening finally presented itself for Kristi and Grant's Port Stanley Beach engagement session. This pair is so fun and adorable, and I just can't wait to photograph their wedding this Summer. Thanks guys for being such good sports and dancing away on the beach for me - I hope you'll love these photos as much as I do! xo
London Ontario Family Photographer | The Tabor Family
I loved this session so much. It threatened to rain all day, but the severe thunder storm warning that loomed over us proved to be wrong! What a charming, rustic location we had for this session, and what an adorable bunch this family is! Aneta is a photographer herself and it's always such a wonderful compliment when I get a fellow photographer in front of my lens. I just love all the candid moments we captured - and can we take a moment to appreciate their killer colour coordination? Hope you enjoy perusing the photos below! :)
The Mama Journal | stop. be. enjoy.
As I sit down to write this, my 22 month old daughter is sitting on my lap. Her curly wisps of honey blonde hair are ticking my lips (just begging for kisses!) and her little body is still in its warm and snuggly post-nap state. She is biting into an apple and the juice is running down her chin. Little moments like these make me pause and smile. We've had a tough couple of days, and it's nice to just sit together for a moment. We returned from a lovely little family holiday in Montreal (where David and I grew up and met) a couple of days ago, and while it was so wonderful to get away for a bit, my girl is now reeling from a disrupted sleep routine and a newly acquired cold. Which means this little ray of sunshine is tired and GRUMPY. And so is her mama. Add to that a pile of post-vacay laundry, incessant rain (read: cabin fever) and a few toddler tantrums for good measure, and you've got a pretty good picture of the last few days. I've always been one to look for the good, but in these less-than-perfect moments I inevitably start to see more good in others' lives than in my own. And my perfect idea of how things should be starts to cloud the beauty of right now, however messy it may be. And since comparison is the thief of joy, as they say, that's just not a mindset I want to have. So here's to simply stopping and being and enjoying real life - because even with its messes and struggles and exasperating moments, there is always beauty to be found in it.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving the laundry behind and headed to the park to enjoy this rain-free window (as per my grumpy bear's request!)
-xo
A note about these photos: taken in a friend's gorgeous Montreal apartment. I loved the pure, honest feel of this bright little corner and snapped a few frames of my girl playing by the window. Simple, no frills, no props. Just real, sweet childhood. I thought they were a good fit for this post! :)
