From Jessica & Jason’s wedding on September 19th.
(I seriously love this new lens!)
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One afternoon in August I was invited to attend an annual barbecue with Christian Horizons of Southwestern Ontario. Let me start at the beginning: I had first entertained the idea of using my camera as volunteer work in December last year. I have had so many opportunities with photography and I have been so blessed. It has truly expanded my horizons and opened so many doors to meeting new people., and during a conversation at a Christmas dinner I learned of an opportunity with Christian Horizons. A few short weeks later I had a meeting with one of the volunteer organizers. There was a bit of a break in communication over the spring and summer, but we finally sat down and finished all the necessary paperwork! To maintain the privacy of certain individuals, I’m not able to share the photos I took that day. Thankfully, I can share my personal experience with this fantastic group! The diversity of everyone in attendance, the variety of personalities was unique to see. The overall impression I had of this group was their passion for helping others. They have hearts of true volunteers. It was amazing and inspiring to witness.
I look forward to continue my volunteer work with Christian Horizons, as well as a few other not-for-profit groups I have applied at. Last time I checked, gifts were for sharing and not for keeping to ourselves. That’s why they’re called “gifts”. In 2007 & 2008, I was invited as a photographer to join the Waterloo Horiticultural Society along on their “Tour a Garden” tour. Visiting gardens of four-five Waterloo residents each year, I had great joy capturing a few images of their hard work! I’m not much of a green thumb (don’t ask me what flower it is – I’ll tell you it’s a yellow one) but I love plants and flowers! The planning and execution of these private gardens is just amazing, and in every inch of each garden the artistry of the flora & fauna seems endless and seamless. I highly recommend the tour to anyone, and not just gardeners or photographers! Unfortunately, there wasn’t a Tour in 2009, but I have high hopes that a team will pull together for 2010 :) Please enjoy a few select images from the 2007 & 2008 Tours below!
September is here, and we’re already nine days in. Man OH man! This month I have only one scheduled portrait session and one wedding booked, but as always, that could change. I enjoy spontaneous, last minute photoshoots! It seems to be my signature style. So, a few times this month I’m going to post some of my old work in between the new photos… I was going through my calendar of the past three years and started to link blog entries with past events and I couldn’t believe how many events I haven’t shared about! :)
I did get to enjoy a bit of a vacation this summer. During the first week of August I was back up in the Northern Bruce Peninsula with my husband & other families for a week at camp (same camp we always go to). We had a great time! The only downer – the vile mosquitoes! I could not believe how many bites I became victim to, or how itchy they were. Yikes!
The weather wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t terrible! Lots of rain with sunshine, and it wasn’t hot and humid like it was in Kitchener. What a nice relief it was!
A few days before we left, a new travelling buddy arrived: Walter T. Ducket, and he spent the week with us, showing up in a few photos! (Click here to check out What the Duck – the best comic strip for photographers!)
Over the weekend I had a chance to finally meet one of my longtime online-only friends! It just so happened (and I’m not kidding, it really did just “happen”!) that she won my first ever portrait session giveaway! I made the hour-long drive to meet with Kathleen and her daughters… and despite the down pour of rain, I think we had a pretty good time out there! How adorable are they?!
One of my oldest friends met me for an evening shoot. I love summerfall evenings :)
More to come. Admittedly, this was my first all-RAW wedding, so it’ll take a bit longer to finish up the images captured that day. What a beautiful couple, and what a beautiful location they chose to celebrate their marriage! I’ll gush more on that later… :-)
A good friend of mine whom I met in college, invited me out to her house in Guelph, ON to snap some portraits of her and her son… whom I haven’t seen since he was just a few months old! Hard to believe how fast time flies.
We met up and headed out to Riverside Park where there are giant trees along the Speed River. Absolutely gorgeous and peaceful parkland! Little guy Ty decided to beeline straight for the river’s edge a few time, which kept both of us on our toes! It only takes a split second for a two-and-a-half year old to get into something he shouldn’t – seriously! Thankfully, we made it through the day without injury :-) After the park, and after picking up a couple iced cappucinos from Tim Horton’s, we were off to the courthouse courtyard. such.a.beautiful.place!! I haven’t been to the courthouse since I worked in Guelph… and I remember clearly that there was a bunny sitting in the grass just munching away, and there were birds singing… ahhh Today was no different, four years later. While composing a few shots of the lovely Randi, I couldn’t help but notice a chipmunk run by. Hehe :-) All in all, we had a great day! The weather was cooperative and not as stifling hot as it had been in the days before. Thanks Randi & Ty for the opportunity for me to capture memories for you! A month ago I was back up north in the Bruce Peninsula. It’s truly a beautiful place at any time of year! Last time you’ll remember I was there in February for the family day long weekend. Everything was covered in ice and snow. In May, everything has grown and is so fresh. I think Spring is my favourite season of them all. Especially in May, when the Provincial flower of Ontario, the trillium, is in full bloom. They only last a couple weeks and it’s always in May.
Last June I spent some time in a beautiful garden maintained by a friend. I had to hurry though, because the rain was coming and I could smell it in the air. Thankfully because of the rain clouds, the sun light was diffused and it gave the photos a beautiful soft glow. I was also invited to be a photographer for Tour A Garden, a public tour of three to five residential gardens in the City of Waterloo. The annual event happens in June and any one can purchase a ticket to visit the selected gardens. When I get more information for this year’s Tour, I’ll be sure to post about it here. You can click here to view the rest of my favourites from Frida’s Garden on Flickr!
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