This is proving to be difficult with how busy this year has been.

This is a good thing, of course, but it has meant temporarily putting the blog on the back burner until I can catch up.

~~~

I have been able to shoot some product shots of my very favourite products found within The Gold Collection.

With the way photography has changed, so has the products we have had to offer. At first, I hated the thought of giving my digital files away.

These are my little pieces of art, and I worried if put into the hands of my clients, they may alter my visions and/or  print in less than perfect photo labs;

then showing these to their friends and family, without the MellanieD approval I put into everything that is given to or shown to my clients.

That is my name that is being altered and printed through labs that may not care on quality.

Finally though,  I did have to break.

After being asked for the 100th time, I decided I did have to make changes to better cater to my client and so

My Digital Collections were born.

Each Digital Collection comes with the very minimum of a 5×7 proof.

WHY? You ask.

You go it! Because quality is *that* important to me.

I want you, the client, to know…should you print professionally through me, then this is how your little piece of art *should* look.

If you print your photos and it looks nothing like the Proof I have provided you with, then you know it is the lab you used.

I really mean it when I say: every detail matters.

….

Take a look for yourself ))

Have a happy weekend.

Thank you to all for  sending their thoughts and prayers our way, please continue to do so, my dad’s surgery will be done  this Thursday

and we are hoping and praying for a successful surgery and quick recovery.

xoxo

It made a change in me, that not only was obvious to myself, but also to those around me. I could literally feel it.

When I am working- when I am doing an actual photo shot,

I feel myself become completely aware of my surroundings, appreciating the moment, not worrying, being at peace and being one with myself and my art.

I hope you can also feel it, through my art, through my eyes.

A few favourite Eckhart quotes:

“All true artists, whether they know it or not, create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness.”

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”

“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”

“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose”

Eckhart Tolle

Enjoy your sneak Peek T & L. It was so wonderful working with you. I am so excited to meet your little one!

They are trusting me, they are allowing me into their homes. Into their safe haven.

So, I make it a point to reach out to every client, and capture not only their outer beauty but their inner beauty as well. To do this, and do it well, means putting down my guards, my reservations and allowing people see me. The real me. The one that used to be so shy and self conscious. The amazing thing about doing something you love, is that it gives you a confidence that was never there before. But having been that shy girl in school allows me to relate to my clients and how intimidating having a camera in your face can be. So I do everything I can to make them feel comfortable, to feel at ease, to feel good about themselves. I make it personal.

You know that feeling, the one where you feel you have known someone even before you meet. This happens more and more with the online social networks we have, some people are extremely cautious and worried about what they put out there, but overall I think it is an amazing tool we have. Even if we feel alone, people are listening, people are understanding, people are helpful and people do care. With having an audience there are more chances to be heard, for someone to relate and give a helping hand, or even just an ear to listen. There are endless possibilities to make a difference and I know this to be true with Cassie. She doesn’t just sit on the sidelines quietly, she supports, she encourages, she loves. She is a special human being, who in fact I never met until a week ago, but I have known for some time. Both Cassie and Chris have colourful souls, which shines through the beautiful children they created.

So, although Cassie and I have never actually met, I felt instantly connected to her beautiful family.

C- I had so much fun. I hope you  and your family did too!

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Rain date: October 2nd, 2011

 

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I just …

It was….

I am speechless.

I bet  you will be too.

Not only is pregnancy one of the most beautiful miracles a woman goes through.

But just look at how gorgeous my model was.

I.

LOVE.

MY.

JOB.

End of story.

I already have so many ideas floating around in my mind on what I want to do when your little princess arrives.

You guys were so much fun, I look forward to working with you again very soon.

xoxo

“What zodiac sign are you???”

and– as I thought…he responded: VIRGO.

Oh, the sweet, obsessive, crazy traits of a virgo only another virgo can recognize and appreciate. So I told B…. he was hired as my assistant.

But seriously, I loved this couple, they have the perfect combination of personalities. They just mesh into this perfect weave, complimenting one another so sweetly.

Can’t wait till we get together again!

I love watching a new mom become in tune with the growing baby inside of her.

During my sessions, especially with adults, I do instruct somewhat, since I know how I would feel in front of this huge camera…

and each time I ask a pregnant mommy to look down at their belly, at their growing baby….each and every time, I get the same serene, calm, loving expression that I love.

It *almost* makes me miss carrying a baby.

Can’t wait to meet your little man M.

xoxo

You’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast.

These are some good times, so take a good look around.

You may not know it now, but you’re gonna miss this.”

If anyone would have ever told me I would miss pregnancy, I would have told them they are crazy. Honestly, I love seeing pregnant woman, I think they emit beauty in a way nothing else does but ask me if I enjoy my pregnancies and I will tell you…no way! Yes, it is miraculous, yes it is amazing, but feeling sick, uncomfortable and huge for 9 months is not my cup of tea. So when I came across this little quote on pregnancy, and really took it in…now that I know we are completely done with babies, now that I know for sure we will never be pregnant again…I have to say…YES… I will miss it. When will my body ever do anything so amazing again. never. not ever. When will my body ever look like that again. When will I ever experience those first little signs of a baby growing inside of me. So trust me, if you have questioned doing a maternity session… feel you don’t look as cute as the pregnant woman next door…I can bet that you do, and I can bet that if you don’t capture this time, the way your body just amazingly makes room to grow an actual living being, you will regret it. You will indeed actually miss being pregnant!

To the beautiful couple in these images…I can’t wait to meet your baby, and how lucky the baby will be with so much love between her parents.

I am constantly stressing that I value giving my clients a personalized experience. That it is one of the most important aspects of my job and my creative mind, that it is what gives me the results that I strive to get. I live for it. Not only behind my camera but I try to keep it real in all aspects of my life.

Starting now and continuing once a week, I will share a little about me and my life, my thoughts, my feelings. What better way to personalize my services than sharing some personal stuff about myself. Even the not so great stuff. I just want to keep it real.

Since I know a big camera in your face can be intimidating, and if you value photos the way I do, then you will want to know a bit about the person behind the lens,  the one handling your days old baby, the one asking you if you want shots of your bare belly when you are carrying that beautiful baby.

So here goes.

My main issue is keeping up with all I have to do. Can you believe that! I swear I never have enough time to get all the things I need to get done, I do my best but sometimes(many times), yes, I feel like I am spread too thin. I am a real person, I am not a super woman. I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a business woman. I am expected to be so many things all at once it can get slightly overwhelming but you know what…I  am just me.

I am not perfect.

I cry,

I laugh,

I scream,

I sing off key,

I sometimes forget to brush my hair before running out to bring all 5 kids to school.

I am not perfect but I have finally learnt that perfect is unrealistic. I make mistakes.

One thing you can guarantee, and I hope most people who know me would agree is that I put my heart into everything I do. This got me thinking. Though everything appears to be so perfect on the outside, things on the inside were actually falling apart.

I decided very recently, that I need to learn to better balance my time. I have been working so hard at getting this business off the ground, having babies and raising  them … that somewhere along the way, the special time with my Carmine always seemed to get pushed to the back burner. I realized through our fighting, that he needs me too, and I need him. We are the foundation of our home. If we aren’t good, everyone feels it.

So this is for him. I had to share this photo of him with our youngest. As strong headed as he is, he has such a soft side and I captured it perfectly here. It is what I love so much about him.

I love you baby. xoox

A loving heart makes for a beautiful home for baby to grow. Keep loving one another,

keep smiling,

keep laughing,

and your beauty will constantly blossom.