Tot Shots Photography » Family

Wonderland | Calgary Family Photographer

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:05:01 +0000

I have had the pleasure of shooting these children on a number of occasions. The focus was on the daughter this time but we also got a couple of family shots as they are nice to have. I absolutely loved her imagination and following her on her adventure. She found a parting in the bushes and headed through just like Alice in Wonderland. As you will see these images have a bit more of a whimsical feeling to them (as I thought that it really worked for these). It was a lot of fun and she was a great model:)

We took full advantage…|Calgary Family Photographer

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:06:17 +0000

of the gorgeous weather we had this past weekend in Calgary. It was beautiful and it was so nice to be out. This is a client that you have seen a few times. We did a couple of shots in the studio but then decided to move outside this time. I am so glad that we did as this family has awesome energy and amazing love for each other – it was a great way to capture it. It was amazing how much the little one, in particular, had changed – the gorgeous blond curls! Mom even mentioned to me on the way back to the studio that she wished she had done a shoot in between this one and the last – life does get busy, doesn’t it? R and S it was so fun to get outside and play…and to take advantage of the gorgeous green grass that I knew was coming;)

Social Series #4 – Photography Basics

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:47:42 +0000

So last year I began hosting a series of evenings highlighting other local entrepreneurs who were discussing topics that I found interesting and I thought that my clients would also find interesting. I knew when I started this that I would probably have to turn the tables and speak on the topic that I love at some point. Now talking about some thing that I am totally passionate about is not a problem…speaking to a group of people on the other hand is. I have a HUGE fear of public speaking regardless of the number of times that I have done it. I have done ENDLESS presentations through my CMA and MBA. But there happened to be the one time at the beginning of my MBA studies that I fainted during a presentation…yep, fainted! So for the remainder of my studies, I was known as “the girl that fainted”. This label does not make it easier to get up in almost every course to speak to a bunch of people that are essentially “competing” with you. Competing may not be the right word but you know there is always the person in the class that wants to ask the question to “one up” you or at least that is how it feels when you have gone through what I felt was a traumatic event. THANKFULLY, last night was not like that at all…it helps to be surrounded by people who support you and love what you do. It does not hurt to adore the topic that you are speaking about too!

So, why did I choose to talk about photography (beyond the obvious)…I have had a ton of client requests to do classes over the last couple of years. So many of my clients own DSLRs and take a lot of pictures of their children. One common problem though is that they are still using these fancy cameras like a point and shoot – switching to auto. You will not be able to tell the stories that you want without being able to manipulate the features of your camera to make a picture! So this is where I began! Last night we only dove into a few points because the last thing that I wanted to do was throw a TON of information at you and then scare you into setting it back to auto. Clients took away a few things to work on. This also leaves room for sequels;)

Now due to the overwhelming response to this seminar (and the fact that I did not faint last night), I will be offering another session in the near future. For the clients that are interested, please let me know if a daytime or nighttime session works better.

I, SERIOUSLY, appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and support. Not only does it inflate my ego but it helps me face and hopefully finally conquer one of my greatest fears.

Here is one of the pictures of my little one that I took yesterday morning that was used in the presentation (her bedhead was too awesome not to capture). You can’t do this in AUTO!

Tricks | Calgary Baby Photographer

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:34:55 +0000

Wow, this year has flown! Remember these pictures from last year. Here they are now performing all of their new tricks for me. We had a fantastic session and got to capture all of the milestones of this age. J&T lots more to come;)

Booking form | Calgary Child Photographer

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:33:52 +0000

I just wanted to mention that I have added an online booking form to the main website – you can click HERE to see. The form should help improve the booking process and alleviate some of the back and forth emails as I know you are busy enough already. There will continue to be a few more changes over the next little while as I continue to streamline everything to make it more efficient for everyone.

And since I need a picture…here is a quick picture of my daughter and I from last week. I wish I had the focus on the other side;) I stink at self-portraits (well, and being in front of the camera at all).

The newborn frenzy continues | Calgary Newborn Photography

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:20:09 +0000

So this is the second shoot in Watch Me Grow number 2 for this family. The maternity pictures are here. As I mention every time they have hit my blog in the last couple of years, they are a ton of fun to shoot so I get a little out of control. My new tool is making it a little too easy to show that I overshoot. I admit it…I overshoot and I am okay with that! There are a couple of reason for this…first, I think that a session should tell a story so I include enough to do this. Secondly, we need to ensure that we cover each of the combinations. Thirdly, and in this case in particular, there are images that we are mimicking from the first session with their first son that will be coordinated on the wall. Oh, and then there is the fact that I had a new 105mm that I needed to use and the Olympics in on so we need to document this, oh and then there is I LOVE my job…I could go on and on to try to justify overshooting. So the big question that I get is, how do I choose? Well, I narrow down to my favourites for you as well.

K&N, it is ALWAYS a pleasure and I am looking forward to the rest of the year.

Best for last | Calgary Children Photographer

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:04:33 +0000

This post will finish up my “blogging spree” and I have saved very good friends for last! These are the children of very good friends of ours. My husband and their father attended Royal Roads (military college) together and based on the stories…this will bond you forever. Stories that we have to hear EVERY time that we are together!

Growing up| Calgary Family Photographer

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:04:23 +0000

I have said it before but I will say it again. It is so amazing to see my clients again and again. This family first came to me the first year I was in business and I have had the opportunity to work with them a few times. It is amazing to watch the children change and become all grown up! It is hard to believe that the eldest is going to graduate soon! And we can look back on this when he becomes a famous chef;)

things happen for a reason |Calgary Photographer

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:53:46 +0000

I truly believe this but still struggle to find the sense some days. This is one of those days. Today I am sad and missing my mum! Of course, this is something that I think about a ton however today I am finding it particularly difficult. Maybe it is because this week marks the 3rd anniversary of her passing, maybe it is because the little one is sick and neither of us slept enough last night, maybe it has just been a few weeks of a lot of projects/discussions/reminders of cancer,… Many of the latter are things that bring me back to “things happen for a reason” and in the end are very healing.

The little one was hanging out in the studio with me last week when she was not feeling well…I just downloaded these as I was downloading the weekend sessions’ images…She looks like I feel today…although my eyes might be a little more red. The scruffy looking pink thing is her sleep bag that my mum made when her when she was born…and I am still surprised that it is still the thing that she carts around everywhere.

Introducing a couple of additions…|Calgary Children’s Photographer

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:12:58 +0000

I have added a couple of pieces of equipment to the Tot Shots family. I am so excited!! It has been awhile since I upgraded my camera and there are a ton of amazing camera bodies out there that I have been drooling over. Well the time finally came!!! So here is an introduction to the D700 and a new fixed 105mm! My little one helped me test it out today so that I could be ready for this weekend. One of the reasons that wanted this model in particular was its ability at higher ISOs. I had to shoot a few natural light images at an ISO of 800. It is amazing…and I know that it can to better based on the reviews. I am so looking forward to getting outside with it this weekend!

The detail that the new lens can pick up is amazing. I can’t even wait to capture some newborn details over the next little while!

Have a great weekend!

It is more difficult to get shots of my son with him in school full days but here is one from a few evenings ago.