Career Class @ CSS

`What have I just gotten myself into` was the question I asked myself not 2 minutes after saying Ì`ld love too` when Abi Arnold asked me if I would consider speaking to her Careers Class. I mean I love photography and talk about it all the time (according to my hubby) but seriously to talk to a bunch of 17 year olds...who may or may not be even interested in my profession....UGH! So I prepared a powerpoint presentation packed my camera bag and headed off Cayuga Secondary School...

As I waited for Abi and Katrina in the lobby I was drawn to all the inspirational sayings surrounding me...

While I was taking photo`s of random things I was approached by a teacher inquiring why I was there (whoops should have announced myself at the office) Once I explained he then informed me that I was not to take any pictures of the kids in the school....now I was intending on shooting a few in the classroom so that I could put together this blog and that put a bit of a damper on my plans but I can handle glitch`s :).......

Abi (pictured above with her mom`s permission) and Katrina (as long as their faces are obscured or not visible I`m ok) met me in the lobby we headed up to the classroom to set up and get the show on the road. Once I met their teacher Mrs Hoecht and she explained how the presentation would go I was ready....while Abi set up the equipment I took that time to take a few pictures of the class...

 then it was all said and done....I enjoyed my time with the class who where all attentive and polite PLUS I received t a Timmies card as a thank you from the class...WOO HOO....love my Timmies...I want to thank Abi & Katrina for having me at their class and Mrs Hoecht for allowing me to come.....

Brandon & Kayla Engaged

What a BEAUTIFUL January day we had for Brandon & Kayla's engagement session. They wanted their pictures done right away but where not sure where to have them done, my first suggestion was an abandoned house and they both agreed it would be a fun place!

It was such a beautiful day that we had to take advantage of it so we headed outside to continue the session and even ventured into the abandoned barn....

I had such a great time getting to know Brandon & Kayla and I look forward to spending August 25th with you!!

A Lesson Learned

A couple of weeks ago now I was on my way into Hamilton for our second field trip for my Landscape Photography course. Now the title of this blog may be deceiving from the first sentence here, as you will see this has nothing to do with lessons learned in the classroom.

I headed into Hamilton early in the morning and River Road was beautiful, if I had more time I would have gotten out of the car to take some pictures along the river but since I did not I did the next best thing and stopped my car in the middle of the road and took the picture through my windshield :).....

Our class met at York and James, where we had a short briefing by our teacher Terry McDonald from "luxBorealis fine art photography" on what to look for in shooting cityscapes, the picture of the market being one of his examples on how to create an interesting shot.....so off we went to find some cool cityscapes...

Ok so as you can see I am not really taking pictures of "cityscapes" more like "city things", and this I can't help, it's how I see things through the lens left to my own will....but that's not to say I can not do a proper city scape....

Although I must admit the reason I was excited about being downtown with my camera is the people....let's face it I am a wedding/lifestyle photographer so my main attraction is people and downtown has a lot of interesting possibility's

As I am leaning against Jackson Square across from the Lister Block I had decided to take some "people pictures", my aim was to be as unobtrusive as possible and to get the shots with a candid type of feel. As I am doing this a man about my age pass's by....I had not taken his picture because he didn't look the part, which is to say he looked "normal" like some guy from suburbia just hitting downtown on a Saturday morning for the market or whatever....he stops and very politely asks me if he could inquire as to what I was taking pictures of, to which I replied without a second thought, "homeless people". He then asked me how I knew the people I was taking the picture of where in fact homeless, I kind of shrugged and replied it was because they looked it. After a second or two he then pointed out a young couple walking towards us and asked "Are they homeless?"....and although they where in track pants and older jackets I assumed in that quick second that they where not homeless probably just poor, so I replied simply "no". He then asked me "So, am I homeless?".....this struck me as weird but again I humored him and told him simply, no, to which he said as he turned and walked away...."well I am". I was kind of dumbstruck as I realized that I had insulted this fellow by my assumptions as I stood there in my leather jacket, ripped jeans (but bought that way), hair makeup & nails done in my kick ass shoes (as always) and my very expensive camera equipment......Now with that said and telling you honestly that I felt bad.....for a second or two.....that was my lesson in humility for the day. I will still take pictures of people downtown, but apparently they don't have to be homeless because who can really tell, crazy or with character works for me :)....BUT I will not hurt anyone's feelings or lead anyone to believe that I am better than they are again and if asked I will simply reply that I am taking pictures of people of "interest"......Now I leave you with one last picture that sums up downtown in a nutshell..... :)

~~Kyle & Colleen Married~~

Colleen's wedding day started with beautiful weather and many heartfelt texts from Kyle, the one above is my favorite sent to her best friend as they where getting ready....


The Singletons graciously hosted the "morning of", and when I arrived everything was in full swing and Colleen looked stunning....

...and then I noticed her shoes...can we all say KICK ASS!!

The bridal partys ride for the day!

After a beautiful ceremony we where off to Lorne Park in Brantford for formal shots....although it was hard to get Kyle to crack a smile his family was quite the opposite :)

Kyle and Colleens wedding party where amazing and a lot of fun....

Reception time!!!

The best man is Kyles brother and his speech was the best I have ever heard, if you get a minute check it out on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTm9-WV7CjE&feature=share&noredirect=1

Kyle and Colleen I wish you years of happiness and love, it was a pleasure to be part of your special day