The spirit of giving....

A few months ago, I was featured in a contest for the TTMAC (Twins, Triplets & More Assoc. of Calgary). I was flattered to hear that it was one of the most popular contests they have run with many entries. Most members entered by sending in a photo to the TTMAC but a few wrote stories telling why they would like to win. Once some entries were narrowed down, the winner was chosen by a draw.

I received an email mid November informing me of the winner. The fact that the winner is a single mother (widowed) to a 5 year old and newborn twins says enough in itself. I am very excited to do a shoot for her, which she says she otherwise can't afford.

The newsletter editor also wanted to share 2 other stories that stood out to her. I am also going to copy and paste the stories that were shared with me so you get the full impact of how I felt when reading them....(names have been removed from the stories)

Story #1:

Why would I love this prize? Please allow me a few reasons for you:

1) I never got one maternity picture... my boys were born at 23.4 weeks, just as I was showing.

2) (the twins) spent over 4 months in the NICU and came home on oxygen therapy until June/ August... so wanted to wait until they were no longer sporting tape and tubing on their faces and were picture-perfect cherubs... because that's what we want to look back on years from now.

3) Just didn't have the time, especially with all those doctors appointments every week!

4) We can't easily afford a professional photo session with the cost of extra medical expenses like high calorie formula, O2 equipment and glasses/contact lenses on top of having twins... so unfortunately it's not high enough on the priority list to make it in the budget.

5) It has been nearly a year since my twin boys have been born and still we have no photo of us.

6) We need a great shot for our first family Christmas card.

7) My walls are bare!

8) I would be ecstatic and relieved of the pressure (because my mother-in-law has been hounding me for months now).

9) Before conceiving, I had admired beautiful family photographs that were not Walmart-type portraiture and dreamed that one day I would have something really special to display in our home ... therefore, I need a professional photographer with creativity and vision!

Thank you and please consider this my entry.

Story #2:

Dear TTMAC staff,
I'd like to put my name in for this photo prize. We all know how challenging it is to take photos of babies, and when there is more than one, boy how to get them to look the same direction or have one not complaining!

For me, it's a busy busy time. I just had my two boys discharged from a four month stay at the Foothills NICU. It 's been a long and difficult time being in there and clinging to every bit of good news. As of last week they are home with me and I'm spending nearly every waking minute with them. Since birth the boys have required oxygen. It was several months before I even got to see their faces without all the gear on. Now they are home on oxygen complete with nasal prongs and cheek/nose patches to hold the tubing in place. It is not at all what one expects when pregnant.

The reason I would love this prize is that it is very difficult for me to take a photo of them together. Firstly because I'm a single parent and "prepping" them for a photo is quite a task (especially together). Secondly and more importantly, having infants in the NICU disrupts the "dream" of having the baby and taking it home. All my photos are more documentation of growth and I don't have that mom and babies photos that many others get after birth. I don't want the hospital photos on my living room wall. I would love a "normal" photo of them and of the three of us, but I'll never get this alone. With someone's help, I think it would be possible to prep everything, then quickly slide off the tubing for 5 minutes (before they flail) and try for that lovely family photo I so crave.
This is why I'd LOVE the use of this generous offer.

Thank you for your consideration.


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I emailed the editor back to let her know that I received her email. I also explained that after reading the other 2 stories that she shared with me, that I wanted to do a session with these families as well. To hear someone consider this a dream...and to think that I can fulfill that dream...I wanted to do whatever I could.

I already met with the family that you read about in story #2. I respect the fact that she is not comfortable with posting photos on Facebook however she is ok with a few on my website. 

I hope you enjoy them and thank you for taking the time to read this :)

I want to edit but....

So...I am doing something a little different. After about 2 hours of trying to get my son to sleep, I definitely didn't want to go to sleep and didn't want to plop down in front of the tv...so I am in the mood to edit some photos. Things have been a bit slow so I don't have anything to work on! lol. I was going to play with some personal favorites that I have taken over the past month (which I still may do depending on how long I can go and bore you for). I am usually short about things on my Facebook page...I rather let my photos just speak for themself.

The decision to even start up a Facebook page for my photography took a bit of thought. I don't know if I am humble or just a bit underconfident (is that even a word?) of my capabilities as a "photographer". I often have trouble with referring to myself as a photographer hence the quotations in the previous sentence....did you notice that? So, it's not like me to write something so extensive and for anyone to see. I wondered if people would see this as unprofessional...then on the other hand,  others may appreciate to learn about me on a personal level. But then again, I don't even verbalise my feelings about photography to the very closest people in my life....so this is for you too ;)

After my sessions, I look forward to seeing what I came up with on my beautiful 27" iMac....it's large enough to open up a few windows along side my editing programs so I can catch up with my "trash tv" while I work.  But tonight, some online radio is keeping me company.

I am okay with the fact that I haven't had to spend the past few weeks editing while my son naps...I don't feel guilty when I fall asleep with him! I don't advertise as much as I should. I actually just got my first business cards in the mail the other day (and now wished that I spent some more $ on them to make them nicer...**sigh**...anyways).  But I chose to do photography because I love it...not for the money. Or I would be charging more LOL. I love capturing moments that people will cherish forever. To see my work displayed on clients walls & tables flatters me. To hear the happiness in their voices when they view their photos for the first time. To have my clients refer their friends and family....and to book with me again. These are the biggest reasons why I am a photographer.....second to being a stay at home mom to my beautiful son, Rylan. Being a mom is and hopefully will always be, my most important and primary job. Yet the two go hand in hand. My son is my favorite subject and I can't tell you how many pictures I have of him. My skills have developed over the years so the most recent are obviously nicer and I can't help to post them especially when I haven't given my Facebook friends any recent posts. I know...it must be getting boring. So, this is a treat for you. Who knows if I will continue to blog after this...I am far from being a good writer.

So....the point of this was....I am in the mood to edit and ok with the fact that I have nothing on the go....it's time for bed now anyways ;)