Family

I was sick in bed. I had been for 3 days. We usually don’t celebrate ‘holidays’ such as Valentines anyway, so I never suspected it would be a big deal. Little did I know, my illness almost ruined John’s special surprise.
He had arranged for flowers to be sent to my office weeks in advance of v-day, but I wasn’t going to be there. He ended up having to call my office and asked a coworker to receive them. On his lunch hour, he went to get them, and brought them home to me. It was adorable, and made it even more special to receive them from him personally.

Being sick on Valentines’ day made for a funny story.
In the end of course, I still ended up spoiled. Maybe even moreso than normal.

 xox,
Jennifer

Week 7
52/50 Project

A Sneak Peek usually only has a select few pictures in it, and posted the day of, or the day after the shoot happens.
As a follow up to the Sneak Peek of Baby Grayson that  I posted in the blog a few weeks ago, I wanted to post more from the other images that were delivered to Crystal and Rick after a week after the session took place. Photographing an infant has it’s difficulties, but it is so worth it!
There were so many adorable images that it was hard choosing what to post in that last entry!

As beautiful as the pictures are, and as happy I am to have created them, the personal satisfaction I feel is only trumped by this message:

“The pictures are absolutely beautiful!!! I cried just looking at them. “  – Crystal

xox,

Jennifer

Amelia changed so much in just 2 weeks! She has a new tooth, and I even noticed a height difference! It all goes to prove that images of your child in the first year are so important – they change so rapidly.

Being a child photographer in Newfoundland, there are always fun locations to go – we took Amelia to  the park the last time we saw her.
But sometimes there’s nothing sweeter than a simple studio shoot!

She did NOT want anything in her hair. The look she gave her mother!! I couldn’t help but laugh.


Pretending to be shy.

Don’t believe it for a second!

Silly girl!

Too much fun!
I can’t wait to see how much she changes between now and the next time I see her!

xo!
Jennifer

 You may remember this blog entry, when Carmen purchased a gift certificate to be sent to her friend, mother-to-be Crystal.
I was so very happy when Crystal contacted me this past week to inform me that her baby had arrived, healthy, happy, and safe!

Baby Grayson is 9 days old, and just precious. He was so bright and alert, yet quiet and peaceful. Too sweet for words!

I  had forgotten how soft and downy newborn hair is!

I love the story behind this puppy. This was Crystal’s pound puppy when she was a little girl. During a visit, she left it at her Aunt’s home. Her aunt told her that she could have it back when she had a baby of her own. After all these years, she never forgot, and she gave it back to Crystal last week.

Another family member crocheted this sweet little set for him. This little boy is surrounded in nothing but pure love!

These are just a handful of images from today. There are so many more to come!
Thank you to Crystal and Rick for having us over this afternoon, I hope we created some beautiful memories for you!

xox!

Jennifer

Pregnancy and childbirth is a beautiful, miraculous time for a family. It is filled with excitement and anticipation. It is a time of celebration.

But there are times where things do not go exactly as expected and a newborn won’t be coming home from the hospital. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. That’s where NILMDTS offers their support.

The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep mission statement is to introduce remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of an infant with the gift of professional portraiture. The foundation, in cooperation with the health care team, connects the bereaved family with a local professional photographer. Once contacted, a photographer visits the family at the hospital or hospice, and conducts a personal private portrait session. The images are then retouched, and gifted to the family in the form of digital files, which can be shared amongst extended family and friends, and produced into prints.

While taken in the saddest of circumstances, these images will become a part of the healing process. The child was here. They were beautiful. And they were loved. The child has changed the lives of their family, although they may not have been here long. They have left a legacy, and will be part of their family’s history forever.

This remembrance photography is done purely on a volunteer basis. Over 12,000 photographers in over 40 countries donate their talents and their time at no cost to the family. I am extremely proud to have been accepted into this network of affiliated photographers, and will be providing this very worthwhile service as the only volunteer in the Newfoundland region.

There is no doubt in my mind that this will be an unspeakably difficult thing to do. But I am also very conscious of the fact that these will likely be the most powerful images I ever create. The significance of these images is not lost on me. While I am not looking forward to receiving that first phone call, I am honoured to have an ability to help a family in their darkest hour.

NBC’s Today Show featured a segment a few years ago, that followed a family and their photographer through this very difficult journey. It is heartbreaking, but incredibly touching.

NILMDTS does take charitable donations to assist with their mission. Donations provide the organization the ability to ensure public awareness of the service, training and education of its volunteer photographers, a wonderful office staff that answers the phones all day and are a support line for those volunteer photographers when they need any sort of information and assistance, and also provides possibly the largest supportive community for grieving parents through discussion forums on their website.

For more information, you can visit NILMDTS by following:
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

It’s no secret that I’m primarily a wedding photographer. It is such a wonderful treat to do LifeArt sessions. To meet up with people and have all the time in the world to photograph them is a complete 180 to what I normally do. I always find it takes me a few minutes to switch into ‘chill’ mode in these relaxed circumstances. I have to take a deep breath, and consciously remind myself – there is no schedule, no timeline — just incredible images to create. It’s extremely liberating, and inspiring!
This past Sunday I was given the opportunity to do just that, twice!
(See the SneakPeek from the first session of the day here!)

When Jenna and Laura asked for me to meet them at Middle Cove Beach, I was excited!
I couldn’t believe it, but I actually have not done a shoot at Middle Cove since photography school. I jumped at the opportunity – and I know you’ll see how incredible it was for me to go back there! Just 15 minutes out of town, Middle Cove  is a prime example of the incredible rugged beauty that is only found here in Newfoundland.

Jenna is MADE for the camera! She is funny, and sweet. Laura is radiant, and so proud of her little girl. We had so much fun. We laughed, we giggled, and we got REALLY wet! The girls were full of personality, and it shows!

Jenna and Laura are the best of friends. Jenna’s favorite thing to do with her mommy?
“Snuggle.”
Yes. Seriously. She really did say that!
Heart = Melted

Just simply gorgeous!

xox!

Jennifer

Amelia’s Mommy searched for a family photographer in St John’s that fit exactly what she was looking for.
She wanted natural, bright photos to look back on the special time when Amelia turned one.
I couldn’t be happier that she found me!
This beautiful baby was so pleasant to work with!
She’ll be a tough one to keep up with when she starts walking!

  
This girl is already more fashionable than I am.. at age one!

Such a loving family. So sweet!
Mommy and Daddy are actually celebrating their anniversary this week!

Doesn’t she have the most gorgeous eyes in all the world??

Happy birthday Amelia!
Thank you so much for giving me your sunny Sunday afternoon!

xox!

Jennifer

The Royal Wedding

It called for rain,  but we lucked out with overcast skies.
The bride was calm and ethereal, the groom was the happiest he has ever been. With their closest friends as their bridal party, they enjoyed every moment of their day.
The boys laughed and sang, had beers, and played guitar.
The girls giggled and reminisced about how long they had been friends, and how much had changed.
The bride and groom were always looking at each other and smiling.
The groom kept telling his beautiful bride how incredible she looked.
The new Royals danced the night away.
Robbie and Niki’s day was perfect.

This is a long blogpost. It might be the longest so far!
There are over 125 images here. It’s a great example of what you receive from us.
This will also really give you an idea of the benefit of having 2 photographers.
Click ‘more’ to see it all!

(more…)

Just a few images from the gorgeous wedding we are so thankful we were a part of!

Evan and Gillian — these were so hard to choose! We have so many incredible images from yesterday, and these are just a handful. Stay tuned!

WHAT a first dance! Breathtaking!

So much more to come!

xox!

Jennifer

Crystal is originally from Newfoundland, but was brought to Calgary by her fiancee Rick. Here, she met Carmen. Sharing a love of children, they became the best of friends while working together in a daycare center.
Crystal has now moved back to St John’s, but they are still inseparable. Although there have been visits between them, it’s completely clear to me that it’s not enough for either of them.With the right employment opportunity, Carmen expressed that she would love to move here, both because of the beauty that is Newfoundland, but also so she could be closer to her best friend.

Crystal and Rick are expecting their first child in August. Carmen decided to do something sweet, personal, and perfect for her.

I could have printed out something quick and easy. Heck, Staples carries little booklets of  ’Gift Certificates,’ that you just fill out with a regular old ballpoint.
This friendship, and this new-mother-to-be, deserved something much more personal.
So I (and John when I got frustrated and teary when it wasn’t turning out the way I wanted!) crafted this over a few hours on Sunday evening.

(I actually stuck my fingers together while gluing on the flags. Totally worth EVERY effort!)

I can’t imagine a more perfect gift for a new mother. A baby can only wear so many clothes, play with so many toys. But they don’t stay babies very long. Infants grow so quickly. Having beautiful images to reflect on later are priceless. Carmen knows how fast children grow, so she started searching for maternity and baby photographers in Newfoundland. I am so honoured she chose me.

John is too wonderful to me – he helped me with the printer settings, with the glue, with the string, and with the address stickers sticking. (Dear Scrapbookers, you have my utmost respect!) He is so crafty. I can set things up to look incredible in an image – but for the life of me, I can’t cut, glue, tape, or fold. But he could see how important this was for me, and knew exactly how to interpret what I was saying, and brought it to life! I am thrilled and so proud of how the gift certificate came out.

When it’s redeemed, I’ll simply write on the back of it, and then Crystal can keep it for a special memento if she’d like. It’s perfect.

What a beautiful surprise this will be. I only wish I could see Crystal’s face when she opens the envelope.
I know this is only one small memory from the long and solid friendship you both share, but I am so touched to be a part of it.

Rick, Crystal, I can’t wait to meet you both, and your new baby boy, in August!

xoxo!

Jennifer