Nominated! | Moncton Equine Photographer

Awhile back, right before Christmas, I posted a contest on my facebook group (which you should join, if you haven't already). I was working on Winter time promotions, and wanted to somehow give back, I wanted to set up a free photo shoot, but wanted to have more thought behind it than the regular, put your name in a hat gig.

So, I asked that people, not ask for themselves, but to nominate someone they felt was deserving, and to explain why they deserved it. I was overwhelmed by the response. It was incredible, the out pouring of emotion and the want to give, it was very touching. It took a while, but, I kept coming back to a letter that a Mom had sent about her daughter.

Today, after the show was over, we "cashed in" the shoot!

Here are just a few previews of Chelsea and Lewis for and from her Mom, Anne.

Enjoy!

If you ever wondered if a beautiful photo shoot was possible at the show grounds in Sussex... wonder no more!

of course, beautiful models help!

Monty | Moncton Portrait Photographer

I should be in bed. I have to be up in a few short hours to get to Sussex. I'm the official Photographer at the Maritime Quarter Horse Associations 4 Day Summer Sizzler Show. I should be asleep, but I just couldn't rest my head until I blogged this shoot.

I've known Kristen for more years than I haven't. We met in kindergarten, grew up through elementary, middle, and high school. There's something to be said about a friend who can just pop in and out of your life, and are able to catch up like you've never missed a beat. Kristen is one of those people. I think it's because we have known each other for so long, we know each other so well. Kristen is good people!

When she moved back to Moncton a few years ago, she brought her boy Monty along... we've been going to photo shoot for a long time, but finally picked a date stuck to it! Thanks, Kristen, for having me do your photos, it was a pleasure!

So here's Monty... careful, cuteness overload ahead.

That nose, it's irresistible!

That face, that nose, those eyes, those ears.

Monty does love his ball...

and his Mom!

Beautiful Baby Belly. | Moncton Baby Photographer

I must be honest. Pregnancy photos are something that challenge me. I'm an "in your element" type of photographer. I'm able to set up a posed shot when needed, but most happy when you are just being you. I've tried and succeeded at the totally posed & draped bare bellies paying homage to Demi Moore's famous pregnancy photo, that appeared in Vanity Fair so many years ago. I succeeded, but it never felt quite right.

When Beth asked me to "get some pics before she popped" I agreed, (did I have a choice? She's my sister) and told her they were not going to be my norm, we were going outside, so pick a nice night! And she did.

So neat to look back at these, after so many months now knowing and have met the little boy that was in these pictures. Will was born on April 29th... 8 days after we took these photos.

Anna loved hugging Mommas belly, and at just over a year old seemed to understand on her level that something big was to come from this belly.

The belly baby. Beautiful.

All of these photos were taken to take advantage of the beautiful sunset that was happening in the orchard that night. I didn't realize it at the time, but this was really my first session in my studio...

A natural beauty, the baby belly just bumped it up a little

.

There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you. ~Author Unknown

(mom and dad, I know you are reading.... stop crying!!)

Haven. | Moncton Photographer

Quite a spot we have here. My backyard offers interesting things that you would think you'd have to go to the deep woods to see. The Orchard, or my studio as I call it, is home to many animals, pheasants (to my sister and her gardens' dismay) and deer are among the most frequent visitors.

At this time of year Momma is traveling with her babies. It's fun to see her slink through the tall grass, on her way to the corn pile that my neighbors leave for them, and she leaves the kids in the safety of the orchard. We hadn't seen the family of 3 for a few days and started to worry that something may have happened to them. It's just a fact of life when living on a major road, with train tracks almost in the backyard, that not every set of babies is going to make it year over year.

Happily though this morning in the pouring rain, we saw momma walking through the grass, and the babies playing up in the orchard. It was pouring rain, but warm, so I snuck out with my camera, these visitors in my studio were pretty camera shy, but very curious.

This was before either of them spotted me. They were both very cautious, good training on momas' part!

The little fellow in behind left the worrying part up to his sibling, he continued to eat, while the other stood guard!

Momma wasn't long coming back though, the cautious baby stomped her front foot at me, deer language for, something isn't right here, an alert to the others. The cautious one here is cleaning momma up, she probably had corn remnants on her face... not for long! Momma sees me in this picture, but I was standing very still so she couldn't quite figure out what she was looking at

Babies are hidden behind the tree, she's investigating. Good Momma.

Alright, let's Go!

Then they stopped, they got to a distance where they felt safer and tried to investigate what I was doing, when they stopped running I turned and left. I didn't want to be the thing that pushed them out of the field, I want them to leave on their own watch. By the time I got back into the house and dried off, they were back in the orchard, grazing on the grasses. Until next time...

cousins, family, friends. | Moncton Portrait Photographer

At the end of June, I raced home from day one of the MQHA show to be home in time for a portrait shoot. I've known Patsy for a long time, and when we found out our common passion in a camera, it opened up a whole new line of communication! Her grandchildren were all going to be together for one weekend, and this was the only day we could fit in for a shoot, so we booked it and prayed for a sunny day! We couldn't have asked for more in the weather department, and I couldn't have asked for more in the cuteness department

So Patsy, or Mema, as the kids call her, brought Jack, Jude, Emma, Cait & Zach, along for the shoot.

I'm not gonna lie, I had my work cut out for me, but it was a blast!! Pictures too numerous to share them all, but wanted to share my favorites so far from their shoot!!

I Love that they will have this to look at 20 years from now!

Gorgeous little gal. I love the bokeh (technical term for the creamy backgroud) in this picture, it's all natural, no photoshop could ever replicate what can be created in the camera!

Sweet Sweet Summertime. | Moncton Portrait Photographer

Flip flop tan lines, strawberries, fresh garden veggies, bbq's, baseball, pool time. So far, summer has been pretty darn close to being perfect.

Being busy, is both a curse and a blessing! Let me explain, I feel a bit like a kid on summer vacation. You see, during the summer, I'm fortunate enough to take the summer off from my regular job. So although I step away from a set daily schedule... I step into the responsibility of setting and sticking to my own schedule. So impromptu trips to the camp, beach and pool are awesome, however, I often have to make up for my time off with late nights, or by sitting inside on a day I'd rather be anywhere else! But it's a hard ship that I'll live with! In fact I look forward to it!

I want to thank all my clients for their support this summer, for booking me to capture you, your horse, your friends, your family.

Earlier today I was looking at my calendar for the next few months. It's filling up... Fast! If you are looking to book any shoots this fall, please do so soon. My dates are filling up fast, August is super busy, September weekends are booked, I am still flexible for shoots during the week, and October is almost equally as busy... so please, if booking a shoot has crossed your mind. Please don't hesitate any longer!!

But enough of that... back to the pictures!

I blogged briefly about this set of pictures a while ago when I talked about my new studio. This was an engagement session turned into family adventure when I insisted on playing with the dandelions!

How magical are families and dandelion fluff?

Once again, thanks for looking!