Christine Denis Photography

My blog has moved!

2010-11-02T19:41:00.001-07:00

It's official!! Please visit me at my new blog at:

Christinedenis.com/blog

See you there!!

Their Little Fireman ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-10-04T17:21:00.001-07:00

Last week I was completely spoiled again by the best family every! You met Mom a few short weeks ago, and she finally gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! They were so fun, their baby slept like a charm and they brought me coffee!! Dad is an Ottawa fire fighter, so he brought along a special prop for us to play with! He's also a coffee roaster, so check his site out to order some pretty amazing coffee! www.firehauscoffee.com. Here's their sneak peek:

I'm here, with a Newborn Video to share!

2010-09-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a little swamped lately, this is why the blog is being a little neglected! I just wanted to share this cute little video of one of my last Newborn's Baby "A". A real cutie pie!! Enjoy Mom and Dad!

Newborn Baby "C" at 3 weeks ~ Ottawa Newborn Photography

2010-09-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure of having an old friend and her husband come by with their brand new baby girl, a mere 3 weeks old! Baby "C" was a beautiful girl, with perfect skin and a wonderfully sleepy disposition!! Mom is a quilter, so she brought along one of her latest creations, which was so much fun and added a splash of colour to the shoot. Here is her sneak peek, enjoy!

36 Weeks Maternity Photography ~ Ottawa Maternity Photographer

2010-09-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

This beautiful Mom of one handsome little guy already, is 36 weeks along, with only 4 short weeks to go before baby is due. Mom and Dad were so relaxed and fun to work with, I am very much looking forward to the arrival of the new baby! Here is her sneak peek:

Baby "K" and her smiling eyes ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-09-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to have Baby "K" come back to my studio last week and I have to say she has the happiest eyes every! She is absolutely gorgeous, and was a charm to photograph at 7 months! While she may not have been 100% cooperative to sit there and be a perfect little girl, it really didn't matter because her pure beauty does it all for her! I must say though, that her Mommy and Daddy, may have their hands full in the next few years!! :) Thanks for coming up guys!

Pretty little "N" 11 days old ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-08-28T05:10:00.001-07:00

It seemed that all the babies in August decided to make their appearance a little earlier than anticipated! Baby "N" arrived a couple weeks early, probably wanting to get in as much summer as possible in her first year. We did our session at day 11, and being a girl she fought us a little in the beginning, but gave in completely for a good hour or so. All I can say is cuteness all around!!

baby "A" at 3 weeks ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-08-28T04:56:00.000-07:00

Little Baby "A" decided to surprise his parents by arriving just a few weeks early! Due around the date of his photo shoot, he came 3 weeks early, catching Mom and Dad just a little off guard. However, being their second baby, they handled it perfectly and were the most relaxed parents ever! Here is a little sneak peek:

I'm Back... with a few updates!

2010-08-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful holiday with my family in August, now it's time to get back to work, get ready for school and get organized!! While my time off was wonderful it was tinged with some sadness with a passing of a great friend of mine, so I did a quick trip to Vancouver to be there for her family. It also brought home the need to hug your kids, hug your spouse and tell everyone how much you love them, and how much they mean to you.

Right after my holidays I was treated to the beauty of two newborn babies, a cute boy and a sweet little girl. I also had the opportunity to shoot an 7 month old baby girl I met as a tiny one week old back in February. Read on, as I will dedicate a post to each, because each deserve their moment to shine!

Finally, my Photographing Your Children Photography Workshop is coming up in just a few short weeks. I'm looking forward to another fun session with parents and grand-parents teaching them how to use their SLR the way it's meant to be used and to start capturing the essence of their kids in a more creative way. There are about 4 spots remaining, and if you pop on over to my Facebook Fan page at: Christine Denis Photography on Facebook and become a fan of mine, you will qualify for 15% off your registration fee totaling $57 off!! For those who can not attend, but would like to offer up your 3-10 year olds as models for the practical session on Saturday from 12-3, contact me at info [at] christinedenis.com.

For more information on this Ottawa Photography Workshop please visit: HarryNowell.com.

Now stay tuned for some newborn beauty!

Sleeping Prince ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-07-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

My last session before my summer holidays was amazing. I was lucky to have a local Chelsea family stop by with their new little guy, Baby "T". They brought along their first daughter, 2 1/2 year old "N", who was a real beauty, but not quite ready to sit holding her new little brother quite yet! Regardless, she was a real beauty and we'll give it another go with her soon! This little guy was actually not so little, weighing in at 9 lbs - two weeks early, and slept like a charm the entire session. Here are some of my favourite photographs to share with you all, enjoy!

Beautiful First Time Mother ~ Ottawa Maternity Photography

2010-07-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the most relaxed and beautiful parents came all the way from Montreal to see me. Well OK, they were visiting family, but did take some time out on Sunday for a maternity session at my place and I'm so glad they did!! Due in only 3 weeks, Mom looks amazing and ready to meet her new little girl, as am I. Here are a few favourites from the session:

7 Day Old Baby "M" Video ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-07-22T07:56:00.001-07:00

I just had to share this preview video of a few select favourites from my session last week with baby "M"... she was just so sweet!

Beautiful 7 Day Old Baby Girl ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-07-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I so happy to welcome back Mommy "J" and her new little Baby "M"! At only 7 days old, baby had the most beautiful little face and features, and beautiful skin ever! But will all that beauty comes a sparky little personality and a strong need to be wrapped up! Never the less, we managed to capture her in her "natural" element and all bundled up and happy... Thanks Mom and Dad for all your hard work and I hope you like your sneak peek!

Baby "R" at 6 months ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-07-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

We had little baby "R" come back for a visit last week. You may remember her from her first visit at 4 weeks old and now here she is, cuter than ever, at 6 months old! She was a determined little girl, who made us all work for that gorgeous smile, but definitely worth that work. The little dimple alone was worth the goofs we made of ourselves to smile!! :)

Teaching Mom ~ Ottawa Photography Workshop

2010-07-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last month, I put on my Photographing Your Children Workshop which was a great success and loads of fun, unfortunately this Mom was on vacation during the course, so I put on a private workshop just for her. On Saturday, we met at a park for the practical session, bringing our kids along as our models. It was HOT, but the kids didn't seem to notice and had a good time sliding swinging and jumping off of picnic tables! I find it amazing how two strangers, 3 and 5 years old, can just meet and then play together so well for 2 hours, I only wish adults were so accommodating! ;) Here is a peek at our time at the park learning about, Aperture, Shutter Speed, and photographing your children - in the heat!

My Baby Girl ~ Chelsea Baby Photographer

2010-06-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to shoot with studio lights this past weekend, so I decided to set them up at home and take a few photographs of my baby! She was an excellent model, considering she had just woken up from her nap! Here she is, my 10 month old baby girl, with her red hair and VERY fair skin.. I'll have to keep this one out of the sun for sure!

Fascination ~ Christine Denis Photography

2010-06-25T07:31:00.001-07:00

Fascination, originally uploaded by Christine ~ CDP♥~.

I take my camera with me all the time. Just in case. Just in case my speedy little girl decides to stop, investigate some roadside weeds, being perfectly back-lit by the warm afternoon sun, looking so cute with her puffy, messy hair and polka dot dress. And I'm so happy I do, because it's worth that one in a hundred shot that needs to be enlarged into a stunning piece of art.

Expecting! ~ Ottawa Maternity Photography

2010-06-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

I just love the glow of a new mom. The anticipation, the curiosity of the little person they are carrying, and the natural glow of pregnancy! This new Mom possessed all these characteristics! "J" was naturally a little uncomfortable at times, totally expected during the last 3 weeks, but such a trooper! I want to wish her all the luck over the next week or two, and I'm very much looking forward to meeting her little princess!

I also wanted to thank Melody for joining us and doing J's make-up just prior to the session! You are amazing!

Without further ado...

Sweet Princess at 6 Months Old ~ Chelsea Baby Photographer

2010-06-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

I love to photograph babies! 6 months old, able to sit, chubby, dimply little babies! I just wish people would do it more often!! Baby "M" had the most beautiful blue eyes, and the most adorable little top knot! While she was in the midst of teething and a wee bit tired, she was a great model! Here are her highlights.. a wee bit late, but none the less here!

Ottawa Photography Workshop ~ Mom's Mastering Their DSLRs

2010-06-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend was day two of the Photographing Your Children workshop held here in central Ottawa. First off, I must say that the moms attending my class are so fun! They are eager to master their DSLR's and get more creative when it comes to photographing their children or grand children!

Day one and the morning of day two covered the concepts of capturing their children and the "technical" aspects of their cameras - Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and more. The afternoon of Day two was the practical session, where I recruited a few "models", to come out to a local park and just play! We had 5 beautiful little girls, all under the age of 6, and they were all excellent subjects. They gave our attendees a wide variety of personalities, all being interested in different things at the park, some willing to pose, others not, representing the reality that is when it comes to photographing your children.

I'm so happy to report that they went from knowing nothing about how their camera worked, just sticking it on Auto or P mode, to shooting in full Manual Mode for the practical session. I even had one attendee say that she had a glimmer of light start and understanding the concepts start to form! I was very happy and excited to hear that!

The final Tuesday will be all about "after shooting", touching on downloading, backing up, cataloging and post processing. But for now, I wanted to share some of the images I captured from the practical session, some of the students in action and some of the models in action!

For those who missed out, don't worry!! I'm going to hold the workshop again in September, after the craziness of school is done, and just before the leaves change, giving you the opportunity to master your camera for those beautiful fall pictures of your family. The dates are: September 14, 18 and 21st. Visit HarryNowell.com for more info or contact me!

13 Days ~ Ottawa Newborn Photography

2010-06-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

Oh was I ever spoiled with this little guy!! Usually when client arrives and takes their little baby out of the car seat, they usually wake up immediately, but not this boy. If they aren't awake after that, then usually they wake up after taking their onesie off, but not this one. For sure the diaper does it, but no, this little guy just wanted to sleep! So I was spoiled! Here is a sneak peek at just some of the amazing photos I captured of this little newborn baby boy, and there will probably be more to come, I'm only 1/2 way through...

2 1/2 week old Baby Boy ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-06-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Who says you can't photograph a newborn older than 10 days?? While I'd admit that they are a little harder to get to sleep, I have lots of patience and Mom has lots of milk and eventually we will get them to sleep! This little guy was no exception, he was quite alert at first, but eventually gave into our charm and sleep wonderfully for us. Unfortunately he did wake up and we had to abandon mission on a specific pose, but overall I was super happy with the results! I hope Mom is too!

Model Casting Call ~ Ottawa Photography Workshop

2010-05-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Do you have children between the ages of 4-8 who LOVE to play at the park?? My photography workshop in Ottawa South and will need a few kids to come out and help us practice what we've learned on Saturday June 12th!! The workshop is taking place near St.Paul's University on Main Street and we will be heading over to a playground nearby at 12:00 noon to 3:00pm to practice photographing children in action!

As a "Thank You" for helping me out, you will receive a complimentary 8x10 image of your children taken during the workshop, AND You will be entered into a draw to receive a $100 print credit with me!

Contact me info[at]christinedenis.com for more information and details!

"J" The Adorable Little Runner ~ Ottawa Family Photography

2010-05-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

A week ago I was so excited to be able to wander around downtown Ottawa for a fun and FAST family session. We met on Sparks street, stopped in at Darcy McGees, visited the National War Memorial and ended at the Canal. Although, I'd have to admit that I'm lying when I say "wander", as little "J" was one fast and busy little toddler! Mom and Dad had him in his special Jackson Family tartan outfit, which was so darn cute, it was unbearable :) He had me running like a nut with a camera stuck to my face! It was tiring, but definitely worth it because I got my workout in an some adorable shots in the process! Thanks again for the fun evening!

Learn To Use Your DSLR Creatively And Capture Your Kids For Life ~ Ottawa Photography Workshop

2010-05-13T17:43:00.000-07:00

Are you frustrated with the images you are taking of your kids?? Are they blurry, often of the backs of their heads as they run away, cheesy and predictable? Do you own a nice Point and Shoot or a Digital SLR, but have no idea how to use it other than in the Auto Mode (green box)? Do you want to learn how to shoot like a pro? Then I am happy to tell you that I have a workshop for you!

I'm proud to announce my new workshop for Moms - Photographing Children!! (Actually, it's not only for Moms but for Dads, Grand-mas, Grand-pas, Sisters, Brothers, Aunts etc... you get my point!!)

The workshop is broken down into 3 parts. During the first part, I cover the basics of how a DSLR (or nice P.S.) works in everyday language, so it's easy to grasp the concepts of Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO (I promise NO MATH will be used during this entire workshop!!). I will go over basic composition, basic lighting, and explain the different types of lenses and how they work.

The second part of the workshop is using your camera creatively to capture the lives of your children, in every detail and emotion. The idea is to teach you how to use photography to tell stories by taking photos in a creative ways. The approach is to steer clear of predictable photos ("smile for the camera") and frustrating yourselves by "posing" active, and busy kids!

The third part of the workshop is reviewing the photos that were taken based on the "homework" I gave in the previous session; Teaching the basics of post processing images using Photoshop Elements or Lightroom. I will also go over storing/cataloging and backing up of your image files, and introduce digital scrapbooking or album design.

It's a 3 day workshop taking place on: Tuesday June 8th, 6-9 pm; Saturday June 12th, 9-3 (I will have "live" models here to apply all the skills you have learned); and Tuesday June 15th, 6-9. Location TBD, but it will take place in Central Ottawa.

Contact me, or visit the workshop website Harry Nowell.com to register! Space is limited!

7 Day Old Twins ~ Ottawa Gatineau Newborn Photographer

2010-05-08T15:32:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago a friend of a friend delivered two healthy and beautiful twin boys. Both parents looks AMAZING despite having just had twins, and an 18 month old running around at home. My two little models were so tiny, weighing a mere 5 lbs each, and completely identical. Mom and Dad hadn't even removed their hospital bracelets for fear of not knowing who was who. Worried that we'd all get them mixed up, we decided to put a tiny little dot on the bottom of one of the boy's foot, and made a note of who it was! But even twins are individuals and by the end of the session we all knew who was who, which was good because the dot had worn off! Here are some favs from our time together:

Newborn Baby "C" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-05-01T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm finally catching up on some posting! This cute little newborn from Ottawa came to visit me at the beginning of April. He was so good, sleepy, no big messes ;), and smiled like crazy!! It was a joy to photograph him and his beautiful Mommy! Here are some of my favourites:

Video Gallery Preview ~ Chelsea, Quebec Family Photography

2010-04-29T14:22:00.001-07:00

I just love putting these together! I feel that it just adds that much more to the whole overall experience of custom photography and one of the many reasons why you choose this route over the big chain photography shop. So here is the video gallery preview for the beautiful Chelsea family I photographed over the Easter weekend...

Baby "K" visits again ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-04-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

Way back in February I had the opportunity to do Baby "K"'s newborn session. Even though she was 17 days old back in Feb, she was a beauty to photograph - sleeping for us like a charm and cute as a button... or so I thought then. Well fast forward to last week and I had another opportunity to visit K again, and WOW is she ever cute now!!! I tell ya, she will keep her parents a hopping when she is older!! Again she was a charm to photograph, I could have stayed all day... but I think mom would have thought that was weird!! ;) Here are a few of the extra shots I went to get for her Mom and her beautiful little face! Enjoy:

Baby Madison's 8 Month Photo Sessions ~ Ottawa Baby Photography

2010-04-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

I'm desperately trying to catch up on proofing, ordering and blogging and it's tough with 3 little kids, a husband and a dog to take care of! Ok the husband can take care of himself, but the rest do need my full attention all the time! Of course, I did have to take time out this week for my baby's own photography session, and it lasted a whole 2 days!! She was subject to my set changes, outfit changes, tutus, and necklaces and was amazing about it!

On the first day I had a friend of mine, Danielle, come up and shoot with me, as I thought it would be fun to have company. On the second day, my eldest daughter helped me out by getting her to giggle and wipe her drool when needed (teething in full swing here!). Here is a little glimpse at some of what I captured:

Contest for a free session!! ~ Ottawa Family Photography

2010-04-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we all know the havoc that they Icelandic volcano is causing all over the world. I'm really glad I'm not trying to get to or from England right now, as I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be for people!! But, a volcano can result in some amazing images. One of the sites I love to surf is this one from the Boston Globe: the Big Picture. Each day features a major news story and tells it through some pretty amazing photographs!

I was taking a look at it today, and thought if anyone out there can call me and properly pronounce the name of the town mentioned in image #4, and I quote:

“A car is seen driving near Kirkjubaejarklaustur, Iceland, through the ash from the volcano eruption under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier on Thursday April 15, 2010.”

They will win a free family session and digital images. Honestly. Free session and digital images. And, yes, I know 'exactly' how it should be pronounced so just try me... :)

Reminder of my Spring Special ~ Ottawa Family, Newborn and Baby Photography

2010-04-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

There are only 17 Days left for my spring special!! 15% off everything at Christine Denis Photography and add an additional 10% if you join me on my Facebook Page or Twitter!! You can use this opportunity to book a session for a later date, and if you book by th 30th of April, the discount will still apply when you purchase your prints after your session, no matter when you have it!! E-mail me for more info: info [at] christinedenis.com

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Sweet Newborn Girl 7 Days Old ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-04-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

This sweet little newborn baby girl was well worth the wait! I was so happy to be able to photograph her as her parents are old friends of mine, and they worked so hard to get her!! Their persistence was well worth it, she was beautiful. However, I think she'll give them a run for their money, she's a determined little girl, but it's all part of the fun!! She LOVED to be awake and watch the world go by, but we managed to convince her that sleep was much better... and finally she agreed! Here are a select sample of what we captured last week, enjoy!

I'm Back and Jumping for Joy! Chelsea Family Photographer

2010-04-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my two week un-planned vacation due to a hard drive failure and I couldn't be happier! I kind of missed being “connected” and felt a little like I was missing out on things, but honestly I managed to get a lot of things done around the house that needed to be done, and I can’t say enough about the weather we had, so really the timing was perfect! In the end my hard drive was totally dead, and as a result I purchased a new computer.

During that time, I shot one family and two newborns, so I have a little catching up to do! I will start with the awesome Chelsea family I had the pleasure of shooting over the weekend. It was the perfect time for them as they had their family visiting from out of town, and they wanted to take advantage of this to capture some memories of 3 generations of women! The weather was perfect, they were great sports and here is their sneak peek!

Temporarily Off-line

2010-04-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

So if you've noticed a short absence in my blogging lately, it's because my computer's hard drive crashed on me, and what I mean by crash I mean totally died!! I'm not sure why this happened, I guess it had had enough and decided to just quit! So I'm waiting for a new computer to come, one that have a new hard drive, faster and more processing speed, which will be nice for working faster and more efficiently!

So in the mean time, I'm shooting and having to download my images at my parents place, I'm so thankful they are so close and willing to help!! And hopefully I will be back to posting pictures sooner than later!!

I think I'll now prepare a post about backing up data and the importance of it!! ;)

Great Canadian Photographer #3 ~ Christine Melenhorst

2010-03-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to present to you my March Great Canadian Photographer: Christine Melenhorst, the founder and owner of Love Bunny Photography right here in Ottawa! Not only is Christine an accomplished photographer of weddings, maternity, babies and families, she is an amazing knitter of the cutest baby hats you have ever seen, check out her store here! Now, I proudly introduce to you, Christine!

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Where are you from? Where do you live?

I am originally from Ottawa, but I lived in Victoria, B.C for a couple of years during high school. Currently I live in Metcalfe - south of Ottawa.

How long have you owned an operated Love Bunny Photography? And how did it all begin?

I am going into my fourth year of business. I started LOVE BUNNY Photography while I was still working full-time for a local home builder. I have an eclectic education background which includes interior design, and I have found that both photography and design have many elements in common, so it was an easy transition. Also, after I had my first son, I wanted to capture every moment, so my love for photography became more dominant!

Who has been your biggest influence in your photography?

My biggest influence in photography has been my grandfather. He passed away when I was 18, but left us with so many wonderful photographs. He was an avid amateur photographer and took some of the best photographs. I love sitting and looking through the albums of photographs and the moments he took the time to capture.

How do you describe your style?

My style is just that - my style! I feel like there are so many overused words to describe peoples photographic styles. I donʼt feel my work is so unique compared to others, but I think itʼs me and my personality that makes the difference. I just love what I do, and I hope that comes across in my work.

Do you have a studio? Do you every work with strobes?

I donʼt have a studio and choose not to work with strobes or studio lighting. All of my sessions are done on location using the available light. I do own an SB600 flash that I use for wedding work when the interior locations are dark.

What has been the best workshop, book, course you have ever taken, that you can say vastly improved you and got you where you are today?

I have taken few workshops, but I do own numerous photography books. Last summer I had the opportunity to attend the Red Leaf Workshop and it was wonderful. It can be re-energizing to sit with contemporaryʼs and hear their thoughts on photography. It helped me to see that there is no big “secret” to photography, itʼs about how we see situations and to capture them creatively.

When did you start kitting those beautiful and cute little baby hats?

The hats!! I actually started knitting to save myself a bit of money on props and to keep my hands busy at night so I wouldnʼt snack! Itʼs turned into a bit of a side business, but I really enjoy it.

Do you blog stalk? If so who is your favourite to read?

I am a blog stalker - I can admit it! I have tried to be selective about who I stalk, or else I could be on the computer all day. My current favorites are:

Carrie Sandoval - http://capturedbycarrie.com/blog/
Elizabeth Messinaʼs Kiss the Groom - http://www.kissthegroom.com/
Simply Bloom Photography - http://simplybloomphotography.com/blog/
Lori Dorman Photography - http://loridorman.com/blog/

What is in your camera bag? Nikon or Canon or other? Of what is in that bad, what is your favourite item?

I shoot with a Nikon D3 and love my prime lenses. I have the 50mm f1.4, 35mm f2, 105mm f2.8, 24-70mm f2.8, and 70-200 f2.8. Of all of them, I use the 50mm the most especially with the newborns, but I definitely love the 35mm when I am working with couples.

What is the most popular item you sell to your clients? What is your favourite item for yourself?

The most popular products I sell to my clients are prints and coffee table albums. The albums are a great way to showcase photos from both a, maternity session and newborn session, or to showcase a variety of photos from a family session. My favorite products are canvasʼs that I had done of my boys - the one indulgence Iʼve made for myself!

Are you married? Kids? Pets?

I am married to a wonderful man, that has supported my change in career, and also takes care of all of my business accounting! We have been married for 9 years and we have two boys, aged 4 and 6. Currently, we have 3 fish!

What is your ideal “date night”?

Date night - whatʼs that again?!! An ideal date night for me would be going to a great restaurant and being able to talk without being interrupted every two minutes!

If you had a free day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

If I had a free day to do whatever I wanted, I would probably snuggle up with a good book and some good movies and just relax.

Are you working on a personal photography project right now? If so, what is it?

My personal photography project is just remembering to capture my own family! For the last two years, Iʼve been trying to have a family session of my own, but it just never happens! So hopefully this year weʼll be able to get it done!

What is your favourite drink? Food? Restaurant?

My favorite restaurant is Flying Piggyʼs on Bank St. I enjoy all food really - Iʼm not too picky! And and good glass of white wine is always nice.

And in closing, here are some of Christine's favourite images she wanted to share:

Thanks so much for the interview Christine! Happy knitting :)

For more on Love Bunny Photography visit:

Facebook Page
Love Bunny Blog
Love Bunny Photography Website

13 Days and so cute and tiny! ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-03-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

I had a tiny little beauty stop by for a visit this week! She was a mere 5 lbs and change, and actually fit my smaller hats and peanut, it was so fun!! For being so small, she was quite feisty and made us work, but it was totally worth it in the end, she performed brilliantly! Thanks little "C" for a fun day and hope your mom and dad like their sneak peek!

Spring is here, at least to me it is! ~ Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-03-14T08:19:00.001-07:00

Spring is finally here!! Ok, ok, maybe not according to the calendar, but to me when we reset our clocks, the snow is melting and the crocuses are starting to break through the ground - that signifies spring to me! Spring, summer and fall are the best times to capture your families memories because we can all get outside and PLAY!!

In order to celebrate the changing of the seasons, I'm offering 15% off of everything I offer - session fees, prints, digital images - EVERYTHING!! That is not all, join my Facebook Page and/or follow me on Twitter and receive an additional 10% off!

Christine Denis Photography | Facebook

www.twitter.com/ChristineDenis

Pink and the will of a 2 year old Girl

2010-03-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

My daughter is 2 1/2 and is fully into her "Pink" phase. Everything she wears has to be pink, and she has to put it on herself. So I let her dress herself, because I love to see how proud she is when she comes to show us her outfit. Backwards socks and underwear aside, she is pretty good at it. The other day we went for a little adventure - I was just checking out some locations for summer shoots and they were just exploring, and here she is in all her pink glory! (BTW - this is the Wakefield Bridge.)

Spring is in the air!!

2010-03-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

Just a little something to brighten up your day!! (I know, I know - it's a fall blooming flower, but the colours are just so bright and fun I had to post!!)

Beautiful Baby "A" continued! ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-03-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

I meant to post more photos from our session with Baby Ava from back in January, but was swamped with work and life time got away from me!! Now that things have quieted down a little, I'm able to go back and catch up on all that I've missed! You may remember little Ava, at 10 months, she had the most beautiful skin and eyes, and giggled at everything - she was truly a pleasure to shoot!

My Baby Girl is Growing!!

2010-02-25T19:11:00.001-08:00

Madison is already 6 months. Time if flying by and I can't see to keep up! She's growing out of her clothes, talking to me now in her little babbling way, smiling more and more and almost ready to sit on her own. I so wish I could stop time, but until I figure out how to do that, taking her picture is the best I can do!

More of Baby "L" my last Newborn Beauty! ~ Chelsea Newborn Photographer

2010-02-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

A quick post before I go to bed, I just had to share more from little baby "L"'s session last week - she was so precious!

I Heart Faces ~ Hands

2010-02-21T12:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted for the I Heart Faces blog. This week was a good topic for me because I had my little girls home with me last week and we did some painting! I LOVE to capture the little details and stuff like their hands, because the are so small, pudgy and cute the way the hold the brush!

Visit I Heart Faces for more HANDS!!

Channelling Stephanie Robin ~ Chelsea Newborn Photographer

2010-02-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of attending a mentoring session with Stephanie Robin a couple weeks ago and I was eager to practice what I learned! Luckily a friend just had a baby so she came by with beautiful little Lola and of the many fun and cute shots, I got this one!

How Stephanie helped me on this one was teaching me how the pose was executed, the set up and most importantly post processing - for you photogs out there - check out her mentoring sessions, they are well worth the trip to Burlington!!

Great Canadian Photographer #2 ~ Angela Hubbard

2010-02-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

It's already mid-February and time for my second feature of a Great Canadian Photographer!! I'm was so excited about having the opportunity to meet (in cyber-space) the very talented and cool "Fotochick" - Angela Hubbard. And, what better month than February to feature Angela, because she is all about LOVE, and capturing LOVE in every image.

You can find Angela here:

http://www.hubbardphotography.com/Template.html

http://www.hubbardphotography.com/blog/

Here is our interview:

Can you give me a brief intro on who you are – where you grew up, where you live and what kind of photo business you run and how long you’ve been in the photography business.

Well…I like any type of chocolate, love the ocean, shoes, Lululemon apparel and my dog Whiskey.
I was born in Ottawa, Canada, grew up in Los Angeles, CA and currently live in Vancouver, Canada.
I first picked up my camera as a young girl and never put it down. In high school you could find me in the darkroom nightly afterschool til midnight or in the yearbook office putting together our yearly annual. I guess not much has changed in my life - except now I document a lot more white dresses by documenting weddings and creating wedding albums
I started photographing musicians in my teen years, and was very blessed to take my art to a new level when I started freelancing for various magazines such as Rolling Stone in 1998.

Can you describe your style?

PASSIONATE - lol - most use words like candid or photojournalistic.., but I LOVE and try to capture LOVE . I aim to capture the essence and feeling and the real love story of your day. laughter, tears and emotions the way it actually happened.

I see you have two studios, the main one in Vancouver, and one in Ottawa. How did that come about and how does it work?

I opened the studio in Ottawa in 2008 as I wanted to be closer to family but find myself back full time in Vancouver and have an associate photographer in Ottawa who documents all my assignments out there. I can’t be that far away from the ocean and it proved to me my life and loves are on the Westcoast.

What’s in your camera bag? Anything unexpected in there?

Well, you can find the usual suspects, Canon 5DMarkII which is my main camera as well as my backup my Canon 1DMarkII (I ALWAYS have a back up on me)
Lenses: you could find both a Canon 85m f/1.2L, as well as a 50m f/1.2L – these are the money lenses! LOVES em! Canon 24-70 f/2.8L – Another fabulous and versatile lens. but my baby is the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens (I love this lens not only for concerts and to document ceremonies in a church as well as candid special moments from a far) Canon100mm f/2.8 macro (great for ring shots and details) as well, I would never leave home without my flash, pocket wizards and an extra flash – I don’t usually like flash but have these on me for an extra pop of light in the dark reception areas.

What is your favourite thing to shoot? (doesn’t necessarily have to be business related, but if you had a day to yourself to do whatever you wanted, what would you shoot)

People. I LOVE people! Or my dog, Whiskey – sometimes I think he’s human.

Do you have a most memorable moment while shooting a wedding (be it a happy or not so happy moment)?

Every wedding, like every rock show I document is unique and different to me. That’s what I thrive on - the excitement.

When it comes to clients ordering images, what is your most requested pose they order?

I provide a high rez DVD to all my clients, so they can choose what they like to print. Every wedding is different so I don’t really know if I have a ‘most requested pose.

Of all that you offer your clients to purchase, what is your most popular item?

Again. My clients get the DVD and they can pick and choose what they like.

What has been your best marketing idea? And you’re worst?

Social networking, referrals, other photographers and word of mouth is how I get the majority of my clients.. worst, I don’t really know as I don’t really advertise much.

Can you tell us your proudest moment of you career?

I can tell you some of the most excited day in my career. I remember sitting in my kitchen, picked up the phone and it was the photo editor at Rolling Stone asking me to document No Doubt in Vancouver. I screamed and was beyond excited! I never took anything for granted after that and felt so blessed to be chosen to do this.

What was the best book/workshop/course you have taken, that really helped move you forward in your business?

I haven’t really attended workshops, but in 2010 I plan on having that change. There are so many wonderful photographers out there that I admire and I can’t wait to learn from them and getting to know them. My first one is the Becker workshop next week in Vancouver, BC.

Favourite Drink?

Water

Married? Kids? Pets?

In love, no kids (yet) my dog Whiskey!

And here are some of Angela's favourite photos she wanted to share with us:

Thanks so much Angela!

7 Month Old Baby "K" ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-02-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

Last week little baby "K" came to visit and she was all smiles and giggles! Her big sister had a lot to do with it! She did a great job being my assistant and making her little sister laugh! Thanks for coming along for the session! Here is Mommy's sneak peek:

Thumbs up to a great session!

17 Days Baby "K" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-02-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

Just before heading off to Burlington, I had the pleasure of photographing beautiful baby "K"! She was so good for me and so beautiful - the shoot just flew by! Here is the sneak peek for her mom and dad. Enjoy!

Baby "N" was in the house!! ~ Ottawa Children Photographer

2010-02-06T06:37:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to shoot stunning Nalina! She was so adorable, cute, and BUSY!! :) At 10 months old, she was a mover and we were pulling out all the stops to get her to sit still :) Dad singing songs, Mom swinging her purse around and me acting like a silly good as I usually do for my baby and children sessions!! Right after the shoot they were off to Thailand to enjoy time with their family, yummy food, warmth! Here are some highlights!

Newborn Photography Mentoring ~ Chelsea Newborn Photographer

2010-02-05T18:18:00.001-08:00

On Wednesday, I spent a full day learning and talking "shop" with the amazingly talented photographer Stephanie Robin. The focus was on newborn baby handling and posing, working with different props and setups. We also touched on tips for running a photography business, editing techniques and more! My brain was so full of great stuff at the end of the day, I couldn't wait to put it to practice! Stephanie is so talented, confident and creates such beautiful images, I can only hope to be half the talent that she is!! Check out her blog (above), and her site and be inspired!

Here are a couple of my shots from the day. Stephanie did all the hard part for these - the setup and posing, and I got to do the snapping!

Baby "A" Preview Video ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-02-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

I completed my gallery for the wonderful parents of Baby "A" and I had so many favourite images, I felt it deserved a preview video!! Enjoy:

I'm off to Burlington tomorrow for a mentoring session with the fabulous Stephanie Robin. I'm excited to learn some new techniques, be inspired and re-energized for some upcoming sessions. Even though I have 3 of my own children, newborn photography is a unique art, and I want to improve, learn and master what I'm doing. I'm very comfortable with babies and handling them, so I hope to learn some techniques to incorporate different poses into my sessions... Hopefully I'll have a ton of images to share! Take care, be back Thursday!

Sweet Baby "A" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-01-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

Little Baby "A" took is time joining us in the real world. He was due at Christmas, but waited until the New Year to arrive! He had the sweetest little face, and was a perfect model for me, sleeping on cue and allowing us to do so many different things! His parents were so nice and so relaxed, we had fun chatting while shooting and the time just flew by! I was a little late getting these out (trip to CHEO put a little bump in my deadlines!!), thanks for being so patient, ENJOY!

Some Tips for Getting a Sharper Image ~ Ottawa Children Photographer

2010-01-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

I love learning and I also love to teach people. I learned a lot about photography and Photoshop on my own, taking workshops, but mainly from seeing an image that inspired me and trying to figure out what technique was used to get it. Sun flairs, bokeh, back lighting, and sharp images are some of my favourite things about photos and I am constantly trying to master the techniques to capturing these things in my photography.

Before I go into my photography tip, if anyone ever has a question regarding anything, and you can ask them anonymously, visit me here on this cool question answer site:

http://www.formspring.me/christinedenis

First off, what is a sharp image? For me, being a children photographer, it's that image that has the eyes 100% in focus, even when you zoom in to 100% in Photoshop.

My baby looking less than impressed to model for me!!
Recipie: 50mm 1.4, ISO 200, 1/160th

Here is the "before shot", not the best image, but the eyes were in focus SOOC (straight out of camera) - which is the most important thing!

Can you "fix" it in Photoshop to make them sharper if you didn't get them sharp in camera, unfortunately NO!!

Is it hard to get perfectly sharp images? YES, it's the most difficult technique to master because there is a lot at play to affect the sharpness of your image. I can admit, that of the hundreds of images I take maybe 10% are in focus. I'm constantly trying to improve that percentage, but it's hard!!!

So what are the tips for getting a sharper image in camera? (note that doing all this is going to help you get a sharper image, do you HAVE to do them all - no, but it's fun to practice!!)

1. Focus on the eyes, specifically the iris of the eye - or at least the thing that is most important for you to have sharp!

2. Use a fixed lens. Fixed lenses are always going to be sharper than zoom lenses by nature.

3. You need good glass!! the higher quality glass the lens has will give you a sharper image, and will, of course, cost more!! Luminous-Landscape gives a good overview of the different types of lenses for Canon users.

4. Light - in order to get those sharp images, you need great catchlights in your subjects eyes, so position them properly to maximize the catchlights giving great depth and sharpness in the eyes.

5. Shoot at the "sweet spot" for your lens. Generally two stops up from the bottom. So for my 50mm 1.4, I always start shooting at 2.8 then move down from there. For zoom lenses it's a bit different, so experiment with where the sweet spot is on your lens. For my 24-70 mm 2.8L, I've found that I get the best results at 50mm 5.6.

6. Don't shoot wide open, anything below 1.8 makes it super hard to nail that focus. When I shoot at 1.4 to get that nice blurry background, often one eye is in focus and the other is not, that is how shallow the D.O.F is.

7. When shooting wide open, toggle your focus points as opposed to locking your focus and recomposing. Toogle to the focus point that falls right on the eye and shoot. Repositioning can cause a slight change in the distance between your subject and the camera, and will throw the locked in focus.

8. ISO matters. It's hard for us shooting up here in Canada, when we only have "good" natural light for maybe 3-4 hours in the day. And even still, I am often forced to bump my ISO up to 400, which causes noise in my Canon 50D (unacceptable noise in my books, but I'm not able to do #9 yet!!). You want to minimize the noise as much as possible, this means shooting as low as you can, meaning 100 ISO when you can.

9. Invest in a better camera. Higher quality cameras will give you higher quality images. Even when you've got everything above bang on, and you compared two images side by side, one from a top of the line camera and another from an entry level SLR - you will see the difference!

10. Sharpen things up in Photoshop. While you can't "fix" an out of focus picture, you can enhance one that is bang on sharp in the camera, with the Unsharp mask or High Pass Sharpening.

11. Avoid camera shake and motion blur when shooting. Ensure your speed is at least 160th or 250th for this, light permitting!! Oh and don't drink copious amounts of coffee before a shoot - like I do!! :) A killer for those macro shots!

12. Practice, patience, and more practice! Trying to remember everything all at once is really hard, so work on a couple of these techniques over and over, until they have become second nature to you, then learn some more!!

Again, I'm happy to answer any questions I can, and I'll sometime post the detailed answers on my blog, just visit me at:

http://www.formspring.me/christinedenis

Good luck!

Kids + Winter = Colds + CHEO

2010-01-27T05:35:00.000-08:00

I must say that before kids I loved winters. The more snow the better. The skiing, the skating, the beautiful crisp days were the best. Now with 3 little kids, the struggles of putting on winter clothes (especially for a defiant 2 1/2 year old), the whining once we are out that they each want the blue sled and the ultimate weeks of colds is really wearing us down! The girls caught a cold and the daycare last week and had to stay home, and ultimately passed it onto the baby, and now she has developed Bronchiolitis from RSV, and resulted in an 18 hour visit to the Dr. and CHEO. Apparently there was an outbreak of RSV over the weekend and as a result the Emerg. was filled to the capacity with babies who couldn't breath and kids with the Norovirus flu that is going around! After we checked in, they were quick to move us to the RSV room and so began the 14 hour ordeal for Madison of an oxygen mask with adrenaline medicine every 2 hours, 2 suctions and Tylenol. Unfortunately it's basically a cold that enters there tiny little lungs, so nothing can really be done.

So I apologize for my absence - I am here, just so tired so not really here!! I have more pictures to post from two session I did before this hit us, a Valentines day special and more but I may not get to it until tomorrow! In the mean time, stay healthy and winter will be over before we know it! :)

Christine

Newborn Baby "R" at 4 weeks old ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-01-18T11:47:00.000-08:00

The cutest little bundle came by for her first photo shoot last week! She was 4 weeks old and was so adorable you could just hug her all day!! She is the new proud baby of the HUSH girls and I'm sure she will be as stylish and beautiful as her mom when she grows up! Here is the much anticipated sneak peek for all you HUSH fans out there!

Baby "Q" and His Big Brown Eyes ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2010-01-16T18:32:00.001-08:00

Not only did we have the pleasure of having Baby "A" from my last post, who had the big blue eyes, but we also were spoiled with Baby "Q", with the big brown eyes and priceless dimples! They were both model babies for a baby shoot, where I had an aspiring photographer shadowing me for the day - Nathalie Madore. Check out Nathalie's blog for some me in action shots and a few more of the babies form the shoot!

I will post more photos of baby "A", but for now, little "Q" gets the spotlight! Oh and you may remember this little cutie from his newborn session - back in July....

I'll have more of Baby "A" later on! Off to bed now...

Gorgeous Baby "A" ~ Ottawa Baby Photography

2010-01-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

I found myself in baby heaven on Wednesday. I had my dear little Madison with me, and had the pleasure of two more babies come over for shoots! It was fun! We giggled and laughed listening to the "ABC song" and then laughed even harder when the Mommy forgot the words!! But most importantly, I captured some stunning images, and while I would love to post them all now, I only have one for a teaser (I need to sleep!). Here she is, gorgeous Baby "A" at 10 months old!

Meet and Greet Our Great Canadian Photogs #1 - Julie C Butler ~ Ottawa Photography

2010-01-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

Whether working in a creative field or having a passion for a creative hobby, I believe the way we all grow, develop our style and improve is through inspiration from others. We may see something in the world that will spark our creative juices, excite the passion to try something different or break down the walls of creative block. For me, I derive my inspiration from other photographers and LOVE to follow their work by reading their blogs. One day, I thought it would be fun to find out who these talented individuals were, and what they were like in their business and in life, as I feel a certain connection to them. Being inspired by a certain blog I follow, I decided to adopt their idea of “interviewing” inspirational photographers and sharing it with you and their clients on my blog; and hopefully inspire some of you out there to try something new and learn along the way! I only had one rule regarding these posts and that was that the photographer had to be Canadian!

I’m so very honoured to introduce to you my very first “Great Canadian Photographer”:

Julie C Butler

Julie is an amazingly talented photographer specializing in wedding photography, and also loves to photograph maternity, newborn, children of all ages and their families. She grew up in the small town of Small town of St-Pascal de Baylon, ON, but now lives in Ottawa. She discovered her passion for photography when her first son was born 4 years ago. Then it grew into photographing other people’s children, and eventually a friends weddings, which she never thought she’d get into. Now weddings are her favourite thing to photograph.

Her work can be found on her website http://www.juliecbutlerphotography.com/ and her blog http://www.juliecbutlerphotography.com/blog/

Can you describe your style?
I will have to say that my style is candid .. simple!! I LOVE capturing moments. I LOVE capturing people/children for who they really are.
At weddings I want to capture every couple’s story. Each and every story is different, and special in their own way!!

How long have you been in business? And how did you start?
I have been in business for about 2.5 years. I started when some of my friends kept insisting I should photograph other people’s children.

What's in your camera bag? What is your favourite item in that bag?
First of all .. My bag is a Shootsac (Love my Shootsac). I shoot with a 5D Mark II. My 2 favorite lenses are the Canon 24-70mm L, which I use indoors mostly, and the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 which I use for weddings, and most anything outdoors!!
These 2 lenses are the only 2 lenses in my bag and I seem to be content with those!! Yes, I have a few lenses on my wish list including a macro lens for those wedding details, and I would also love to try the 85 1.2 ;-)
I also have a Canon 580 EX II flash.

Can you describe your PERFECT (imaginary) wedding to shoot?
Hmmmm … WOW!! Good question!!
I think that if I could photograph any kind of wedding it would have to be an eighteenth century wedding. It would happen in the gardens of a castle far, far away, on a beautiful sunny day. The grand ball room would be filled with hundreds of people, having a wonderful joyous time. And at the end of the night the bride and groom would take off in a beautiful white carousel.
I guess you can tell from this that I love fairytales!!

What is your favourite product that you offer your clients? What do you sell the most of?
I think I’m going to have to say my albums … and canvases!!

Are there any books or workshops that you have attended that have inspired you and helped you along the way of starting a new business in photography?
Book: “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson

Workshops:
1- Wendy Shulz (beginner class) http://www.wendyschulzphotography.com/
Wendy is a great teacher and she is always looking for ways to go above and beyond what is expected of her as teacher!! I love Wendy’s classes. I am actually signed up for Wendy’s “continuing education” class due to start in January!!

2- Audrey Woulard http://www.alwphotography.com/
Audrey’s workshop schedule changes all the time. I’m not sure if she still hosts workshops, although she should!! Audrey is amazing!!

3- Learnfest ’09 http://www.thelearnfest.com/
I am not sure if there will be more of these workshops, but it was hands down the best money spent on a workshop of this kind!! I left Learnfest with a gold mine. My mind was spinning with all of the information covered in this workshop, it was AMAZING!!!

What has been your best marketing idea?
Well, probably, like most photographers out there, word of mouth has been the best deal for me!!

What was your worst marketing idea?
Magazine ad, unfortunately I didn’t really benefit from it.

Who in the world of photography inspires you?
There are so many, but if I had to pick one I would have to say Jasmine Star. She is so true, simple, and genuine!!

Do you Facebook? Twitter?
Facebook yes .. http://www.facebook.com/juliecbutler
Twitter?? No .. I just can’t get into it.. I’ve tried a few times!!

Favourite Drink? Strawberry Zinfandel.
Favourite Restaurant? Milestones.
Married? Kids? Pets? Married 7.5 years. Two boys 16 months and 4 years.
Favourite thing to do on a Friday night? Have a nice diner and movie with a friend (or hubby when he is not working)

And in closing I want to give a huge thanks to Julie for playing along with me on this and before I sign off, I asked her to share a few of her favourite images. Here they are:

Our first baby ~ Chelsea Family Photography

2010-01-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

About 6 years ago we got out first baby. We took him for walks, we played with him, brushed his teeth even. Today, 3 kids later... we're not sure if he is fed. But he remains to be the cute soccer ball dribbling lab we will always love, and remains faithful by our side in all the chaos! Meet Bender:

(anyone looking for a nice walk in the Chelsea backwoods, Bender makes for a great hiking partner... just contact me!)

Why invest in newborn photography and what to think about when considering it ~ Ottawa Newborn Photography

2010-01-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

Recently I had these questions jumping around in my head because I’m often asked about newborn photography and why it’s such a big deal.

Basically, for me, it’s capturing a very sentimental event in parents’ and children’s lives; and it captures a period of our children’s lives that really only lasts for a few short weeks. Newborns are unique because they possess the characteristics of how they were while in their mother’s womb, but they only possess these for about 10 days. The “curl” and the ability to fold them up into a tiny ball, the purity of their skin, the sleepiness, and the tiny size are what we want to remember forever, because it really is a fleeting moment in terms of the life of a child.

When we seek out and choose a wedding photographer, we want to find the best fit possible to be present and capture the best images possible on one of the most important days of our lives. It only happens once, so you want to choose well. I would argue that the similar is true when choosing a newborn photographer, because your baby will only be like that for a short time, so you want to choose well.

So what should you consider, when thinking about investing in newborn photography?

1. First thing to consider is likely going to be your budget. There are options our there for everyone’s budget, from the $30 package at Loblaws to the $3000 package with the most talented high end pro photographer. So start with a ball park of what you are willing to spend for the whole thing – from session to prints.

2. Next thing to consider is style. What style of images are you looking to capture? Natural, posed, with props, textured, black and white, colour etc. There are a variety of different styles out there, so think about what you envision hanging on the walls in your nursery after your prints arrive.

3. Personal fit of the photographer, many photographers have blogs and you can get a sense of who they are by reading their blog posts. But the most important way to get an idea of how a photographer relates to their clients is to ask for references, or ask around to friends. Many of them have probably invested in a professional photo shoot in the past and may have someone to recommend.

4. Your willingness to travel mere days after giving birth. Find out if the photographer you are considering will do on-location sessions or only studio sessions.

5. Print products offered. Some photographers and studios, such as Loblaws and Walmart will only offer a few print size options; custom photographers can provide designed products such as storyboards, custom album designs and image boxes. It is also important to find out if the photographer will sell their digital images, and at what price.

In closing, regardless of what you decide, whether you hire a custom professional photographer, bring your baby to a studio, or just take the photos yourself, remember to take many photos in those first few weeks, because before you know it, they are all grown up and you’ll have those images to look back on and cherish!

International Model Search - Ottawa's Cutest Family ~ Ottawa Family Photography

2010-01-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to official kick off my participation in Sandy Puc's International Charity Model Search to find North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones Ottawa's and North America’s Cutest Family? This model search will give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded on April 8th, and the grand prize winner receives a new car!

Model Search Special:

$125 session fee includes a 60-minute on-location model session and one image submitted to the national gallery. Special model search print packages are also available after our session, the prices ranging from $99 to $899.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Contace me info [at] christinedenis.com now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

My work at HUSH ~ Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-01-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

A while back while I was still pregnant with my baby girl, I walked into a very cool fashion boutique in Ottawa called HUSH. I was immediately attracted to the style of clothing they offered, the AMAZING locally made jewelery they offered and their wonderful (and very stylish) staff. I also noticed that their walls were a little bare and inquired about hanging some of my work and not only were they open to that, they suggested having a photographer come in and do "mini-shoots" one day for a special event. And, alas, the Halloween Mini-Sessions were born. Now, I'm proud to announce that my work is officially up on their walls, beautifying their children's clothing section!! Thanks so much to Angie and Alison for trusting me and valuing my work; and thanks to my little models for being so cute!! :)

Happy New Year

2010-01-05T04:23:00.001-08:00

The new year is already a whole 5 days old and it's been a fantastic 5 days. I had the opportunity to strap on the hockey skates again and participate in the inaugural Chelsea Pond Hockey Tournament. The pond is the perfect setting for holding such an event, as it's big and picturesque. However I can't claim to have taken any photos, because I was busy holding a hockey stick instead of holding a camera! Luckily, my friend and mentor, Harry, came down and shot some amazing photos of all the action going on, even some pretty nice hockey hair - courtesy of moi! In the end we pretty much placed last in our division, the competition was pretty fierce, but I had a great time playing again after more than a year off! Mind you my knees don't agree with that...

Thank You

2009-12-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

A special Christmas ornament from my parents

We had another wonderful Christmas here in Chelsea, surrounded by family and holiday cheer! I definitely ate too much for Christmas, but I like to use the excuse that I'm allowed because I'm still nursing! It seems to work and my conscience doesn't question me :)

I wanted to thank all those who supported me though my first 6 months of following my dream. I learned A LOT from each and every one of you, I gained invaluable knowledge from each and every shoot, and met a lot of really amazing and fun people! Every time I'd return home from a shoot, two things would go through my mind - 1. Can't wait to download the images and see what I got, and 2. I really wish I could have spent more time chatting and learning about your lives, because the time we spent together just wasn't enough! (although, I'm sure all you new moms out there couldn't wait to get rid of me so you could sleep - I understand!!)

I'm looking forward to 2010 , excited about the opportunities and possibilities to grow in my photography and in business. Keep a keen eye on my blog as I have some pretty sweet deals in the schedule. A few hints are:

Launching of my Facebook Fan Page where I'll be posting specials for various shoots or products.
Model Searchs for portfolio building and mentoring (AKA - free sessions and images!!)
An amazing Mother's Day Promotion that includes a complimentary pass for the Nordic Spa here in Chelsea! (honestly heaven on earth!).
Monthly contests
Photography Workshop for Moms!
Fall "Early Bird" booking deal - fall is the busiest time of year, so there will be an incentive to book your spot early!
Second Annual Halloween Minis

And much more!

Happy New Year to you all, stay safe and sleep well (that's for the babies!) and see you in the next decade!

Love
Christine

Newborn Baby "D" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-12-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

Check out the hair on this little guy! Baby D was so cute and so cooperative, it capped of an amazing week of shoots! Here are my faves from the shoot. You may be wondering why the Santa hat wasn't used in the shoot two days before, it's because I only got it the day after (bummer!). Take care and Merry Christmas!

Newborn Baby "M" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-12-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

I had the two fantastic sessions this week. Two beautiful newborn babies who both slept for me! On Wednesday, I had the treat of meeting baby "M". She was only two weeks old and so beautiful! I was very excited to photograph a girl again, since it's been a while since I've had a girl to shoot. Here is a quick peek at some of my favourites from the shoot, I do have more to share, but for now I'll only post these for a little teaser!

I'm off to bed now, so I'll have to post more later this weekend! Take care :)

Busy Week!

2009-12-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

I had a busy week this week, with two sessions (which I told myself I wouldn't do!! - it's just so hard to say no to beautiful little babies!), order deliveries, and a Broomball game :), so I've been a little off the blogging radar! I will have a few sneak peeks coming up, but in the meantime I wanted to do a few shout-outs to some fellow photographers I have had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few months.

Harry Nowell: a fellow Chelseaite, photographer and a pro-broomballer. Harry specializes in stock photography, public speaking, but most importantly photo education. Visit his site and check out some of his workshops, and sign up for his newsletter Exposed!

Jen Prescott: While I've known Jen for 16 years (Yes, 16 years since highschool!!), we've grown much closer over the past few months building and growing our photography businesses together. The only thing is that she lives in Pemberton, BC and I'm here in Ottawa! Skype has kept us connected, but with the 3 hour time difference we find it hard to connect as much as we'd like. Take a peek at the gorgeous kids and babies out west and if you're ever in Whistler and need some shots, give her a call!

Coming soon: Starting in January I will be launching "The Great Canadian Photographer". This monthly piece will feature an interview with my favourite Canadian Photographers, people who's images inspire me, spark my drive to be a better photographer and people I'd love to meet in person!

And finally... can't leave without a couple shots! My baby girl, helping me set up for a shoot:

Beautiful Baby "A" Preview Video ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a more in depth sneak peek into my last baby shoot with little Ava - but this time it's in video style! Enjoy, because she is an angel!

While not shooting... ~ Chelsea Photography

2009-12-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I'm on maternity leave this year "hanging" out with my beautiful girls. So while I am not shooting other beauties, I'm shooting mine (and boy are they a handful!!)

My daughters take their face painting very seriously!

Beautiful Baby "A" at 7 weeks ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-12-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

I had the most beautiful little baby girl come by for a shoot on Tuesday. She was 7 weeks old and already had so much light in her eyes and her expression, it was amazing. It was also so adorable how she would close her eyes and her mouth would open and when her mouth was closed her eyes would open, priceless!!

Babies ~ in HD

2009-12-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

I saw this and just had to post it. The opening is priceless! Babies is directed by Thomas Balmes and follows the story of four newborns from totally different corners of the globe: Namibia, Mongolia, Japan and the United States. Release date is April 16, 2010.

I Heart Faces ~ We ♥ Tooshies!

2009-11-30T11:22:00.000-08:00

This week's challenge is all about the tooshie! I instantly thought of this photo I took two summers ago of my two girls on our deck:

Priceless! Check out more tooshie images at I ♥ Faces, they are bound to make you smile!

Baby "O" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-11-25T10:11:00.001-08:00

Little Baby "O" was born a strong little guy, at almost 10 lbs. At 10 days, he was already able to lift up his head, it was amazing! This cute little guy also wanted nothing to do with sleeping, so gave us a run for our money - but it was all worth it in the end, because I managed to capture some of my favourite images!

Don't you just love little baby toes!

I also got to try out my new boy elfin hat!

Give the Gift of Photography ~ Ottawa Family Photographer

2009-11-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

Contact me at info at christinedenis.com

November Mini ~ Chelsea Children Photographer

2009-11-24T09:04:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, I was treated to a fun little mini session with two awesome little guys! The sun wasn't shining, but regardless it was warm and just perfect for the shoot and for little "B" to get in some Bender time.

My Session and Print Prices ~ Ottawa Chelsea Children Photographer

2009-11-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am often asked what my session rates are and what they include. I thought I should summarize it on my blog to make the information more accessible to those who are curious! If you would like to find out more information on the sessions and print products e-mail me at info at christinedenis.com

Standard Creative Session
Cost: $150 + tax

This session begins with a telephone or in-studio consultation to discuss your vision and how we will work together to create images that will represent that vision. We will discuss the shoot, how to prepare for it, clothing suggestions and ideas that you may have and how to incorporate them into the experience.

Once your date is set, your session will last a maximum of 3 hours at my home, or in my natural light studio in beautiful Chelsea, Quebec (about 15 min from downtown Ottawa).

Approximately 2 weeks after your session, you will be presented with 25 to 40 images in a private on-line gallery, this will allow you to preview your images and make some preliminary selections prior to the ordering session.

At your earliest convenience, we will book a private ordering session at my home where we will review the images together, discuss print and product options and select the images you wish to display in your home or album.

Precious Newborn Session
Cost: $175 + tax

This session also begins with a telephone or in-studio consultation to discuss the concept of newborn photography, the creative vision you have for your photographs and what particular details are important for you to capture during our session. If you choose to order my custom designed birth announcements, details of the announcement will also be discussed at this time, this way the announcement will be ready for order right after our session.

Once the date is set, your session will last a maximum of 4 hours at my home, in my natural light studio in beautiful Chelsea, Quebec (about 15 min from downtown Ottawa).

Approximately 2 weeks after your session, you will be presented with 25 to 40 images in a private on-line gallery, this will allow you to preview your images and make some preliminary selections prior to the ordering session.

At your earliest convenience, we will book a private ordering session at my home where we will review the images together, discuss print and product options and select the images you wish to display in your home or album.

Maternity and Newborn Combination
Cost: $250 + tax
This combined session includes your maternity shoot plus your newborn session.

If you prefer, shooting on location at your home or on weekends can be arranged for an additional $75.

Please note that session fees are due, in full, upon booking and are non-refundable. Session fees can be paid by cash, e-mail transfer or PayPal. Please contact me for further details.

Prints
Gift Prints: 8 x 10 and smaller $40.00

Collections
start at $540.00

I Heart Faces ~ Autumn Beautiful

2009-11-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Before I post my latest entry to I Heart Faces, I wanted to explain why I've been MIA for the past week or so. My computer's motherboard decided it had had enough, and crashed on me! It could have been the hours upon hours spend working, or just a lemon or a glitch, which ever, I'm happy to report that I'm back up and running and nothing was lost. My hard drive was not affected so that was good, and I also have multiple backups to everything, so all my photos were very safe!

Thanks so much to Francois at Komodo Komputer for helping me out so quickly!! You are the best computer guy in the Hills!

On to my I Heart Faces. This week was "Autumn Beauty". Autumn is long gone here in the Gatineau Hills, but the season was as beautifully colourful as always - the highlight of the year is the fall season!

Halloween Mini-Sessions, The Highlights ~ Ottawa Children's Photographer

2009-11-03T06:52:00.000-08:00

The Halloween Minis were a huge success! The afternoon at HUSH Clothes shooting the cutest little kids all dressed up in their Halloween costumes was really fun! Each session was a quick 30 min and with little kids, that can be pretty risky. However, I can honestly say each and every little tiger, piglet, pumpkin, princess , dog and Dorothy were amazing! I had a blast! Here is the preview video and images, Enjoy!

And a closer look at the images featured in the video:

Thanks to everyone who came and Angie and Allison for letting me move in for the afternoon! Off to work on your galleries!

Adorable 8 Month Old Baby Boy ~ Gatineau Baby Photographer

2009-10-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

I had little Olivier visit me with his parents yesterday, and what a cute little guy he was! He had a gorgeous smile that lit up the room, however he was quite mesmerized by my toys, so it took some dancing by Daddy to get him to laugh! Well done Dad!

2 Months ~ Ottawa Baby Photographer

2009-10-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

My beautiful little Madison is 2 months old! How time is flying by the third time around, and I'm loving every minute of it! (of course it helps that she is a good sleeper and cute as a button!!)

Maternity. Simply Beautiful ~ Ottawa Maternity Photographer

2009-10-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

I had a fantastic maternity session with the cutest couple and I can't wait to meet their new little baby in a couple of weeks! Here is a tiny peek at this beautiful new mom to be!

The rest of the images are for mom and dad's eyes only ;)

Halloween Dress-Up ~ Ottawa Children Photographer

2009-10-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

This week at I Heart Faces is all about Halloween Dress-Up! How fun! Here is my entry:

Head on over to their site for more Halloween Dress-Up fun!

You can't get these at Walmart.... ~ Chelsea Photographer

2009-10-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Custom made 20 x 10 inch storyboards are now available from Christine Denis Photography. Contact me for details!

The Zeds Part 2

2009-10-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of the past couple of weeks nursing our very sick girls back to health; croup, strep throat and fevers for 5 days took time away from my photo editing. But alas, everyone is healthy again, except for some runny noses, so I had the opportunity to complete a couple of galleries!

When I finished I realized that I had missed posting some real gems from my last shoot. How could I have miss these beautiful faces:

The Z Factor ~ Ottawa Family Photographer

2009-10-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, I was treated to a fabulous shoot with two adorable kids! (and their equally adorable parents :) ) We decided to bump up the shoot by a few days so that we could take advantage of the "warmer" weather and beautiful leaves. I say "warmer" with a little bit of a smirk, because it was quite chilly and the wind was blowing quite a bit. But in the end we did managed to stay warm and keep smiling for some great shots at the Museum:

Maia and Ella Continued ~ Ottawa Chelsea Children Photographer

2009-10-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Finally I get to continue on from last post! My girls fell sick this weekend, so with that and Thanksgiving festivities, I fell a little behind! Ella was joined by her little friend Maia, who gave us some very funny moments and exclamations of joy during our shoot! Lots of laughing and giggling during this one :)

Beautiful Ella ~ Ottawa Children Photographer

2009-10-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Just a super quick and short post today! I'm heading out for another session at the Museum, but I wanted to post this one really quickly. I'm working a little backwards here this week, and with the kids getting Croup, I'm falling a tiny bit behind!

I had the pleasure to photograph this beauty, and her friend Maia (coming up next!) in Chelsea on Tuesday. She was just so naturally beautiful and easy going, I had a great time!

Up next will be spunky little Maia!

Simply Gorgeous! ~ Ottawa Chelsea Family Photography

2009-10-10T18:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, it couldn't have been a more perfect day for a shoot in the Gatineau Hills! The weather was beautiful for once (and I mean that literally, the sun shone for one day this week, the rest was gray and rainy!) and the trees were at their peak. Then to top that all off, the family I was shooting was amazing! The Mom has a special place in my heart, as she was the person who delivered my first baby 4 years ago. It wasn't the plan at the time, but my daughter had other plans and didn't want to wait! Thanks so much for trusting in me to capture these precious memories of your little ones Heather! I truly had a blast and I hope you like your sneak peek!

Favourite Things ~ Chelsea Quebec Children Photographer

2009-10-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

This week on I Heart Faces, the subject is Favourite Things. And while we can post more than one photo, I thought I would just stick to one, because right now (apart from my family of course!!) this is my favourite thing. It's the view from my studio, living room, office, bedroom and deck, can't beat that!

Visit their site for many more photos of people's favourite things!

Photographic Art ~ Ottawa Child Photographer

2009-10-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

I truly believe that photography and the print we create is art. It should be proudly displayed in our homes along side all other pieces of art. I love to take a standard photograph and create an artistic vision, by adding texture and colour and some unique visual elements to make it stand out as a wall print. This is what I love to see and love to create for people.

Now all I need is a title for this one. Any suggestions?

I LOVE kids ~ Ottawa Child Photographer

2009-10-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

I love the energy they have, I love their ability to giggle all of the time (well OK, most of the time...), and I love their beautiful little faces! I had a fun shoot, on a very cool and rain threatening evening at the Museum of Civilization on Friday night. Check out a few of the highlights!

Both were just so darn cute and photogenic!

Caught this one just before we got caught for standing on the edge of the fountain...

I'm really looking forward to the shoot on Tuesday with more kids! Yeah!! Let's hope for some sunshine this time...

Halloween Mini-Sessions ~ Ottawa Child Photographer

2009-09-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce a new partnership with HUSH Clothes!!! On October 31st, I will have my studio set up inside their store for 20-30 minute Halloween Mini-Sessions. I only have 10 slots available so contact me ASAP and book your slot info at christinedenis.com, or drop in any time between 12 pm and 5 pm to have a professional photograph taken of your little one dressed and ready for Trick-or-Treating!!

Who knew blue could be so cute!! ~ Ottawa Newborn Photography

2009-09-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

I Heart Faces

When I saw the challenge for i heart faces this week was "blue", I knew I just had to re-post this one from my shoot last week!

I bought the hat from the fantastic Three Fish Shop on Etsy - check it out, she has fabulous stuff for sale!

Baby M at 9 days old ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-09-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Wow did I have fun on Tuesday!! Little baby Maxime sure made me work, by staying awake for the first half of the shoot, but when he finally did give into the 28 degree heat and womb machine, he was AMAZING!! I was having so much fun, that I had to tell myself to stop and head home before I was too late to pick up my girls! Rose and Stephan - you are amazing first time parents (very relaxed) and were super easy to hang out with for the day!! Thanks again for your patience and I hope you enjoy this sneak peek:

Now, I have have some work ahead of me, I must narrow down the almost 400 images I took to a more manageable number... yes, I did go a little nuts! But it was fun!

If you were thinking of booking....

2009-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let all those out there who were thinking of booking a session with me that as of October 1st, I will be introducing a new pricing structure. I have recognized the need to bring myself in-line with the industry standard and particularly with the Ottawa market for custom photography. I feel that my new pricing is reflective of my quality of work, my attention to detail and most importantly customer service, while still being competitive in the Ottawa market for custom photographers. I encourage you to visit other Ottawa area photographers and carefully select them based on their quality of work and style.

Since the new pricing structure will be begin on October 1st, I will honour the current prices displayed on my website for all those who book with me before October 1st.

For those interested in learning more about custom photography, and the work involved, please visit this site: Why Custom Photography? She offers a great consumers guide for custom photography.

A couple family shots ~ Ottawa Child Photographer

2009-09-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend, taking lots of photos of my girls. Madison is now one month old, I can't believe how fast it goes!

Gillian ~ two years old (baby #2)

I'm looking forward to a couple weeks of fun shoots coming up - a newborn and a couple of children! Stay tuned for the sneak peeks!

Handsome Newborn Boy ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-09-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to meet little baby Hogan as he was only 5 days younger than my little Madison! I had the pleasure of photographing his mommy when she was 8 months pregnant and I must say they both made for perfect models - like mother like son! Here is a peek at my favourites from the session:

Don't forget about my latest promotion which will only be on until the end of the month!! There is nothing more stunning than Fine Art Canvas Gallery wraps for your babies room or family room!

Official Opening and Celebration Deal!

2009-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Even though I've been working and doing shoots over the past 5 months, I never had an official Grand Opening for Christine Denis Photography! I decided to wait until I had my baby in August and since September tends to be a time of fresh starts and renewal, September was to be the official opening of my business. I'm so excited to get started on this venture and wanted to thank all of my friends and family for all the support they've given me over the past few months. I especially wanted to thank all of my little models and their families for volunteering their time and smiles to helping me build my portfolio that you see today!

Now what better way to celebrate than to have a grand opening special! This is a big one, so it will only be on for a couple of weeks ~ September 14th to September 30th to be specific.

Book and pay for any session with me between September 14th to September 30th, and with a minimum print and/or image purchase of $250. receive a free 11 x 14 (or smaller if you wish) Fine Art Canvas Gallery Wrap ~ (value of $150!!). Note that you just need to book and pay for the session between those date, and the session can take place anytime in the next year. Pass the word around as well, because the referral program will give you an additional $75 print credit!

Contact me at info@christinedenis.com for more details or to book!

My Beautiful Daughter ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-08-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Our third daughter was born on Thursday August 20th. She weighed a healthy 8 lbs 3 oz, and measured 20 2/3 in. We are all doing well and happy to have her with us, and is turning out to be a great model!

In order to properly celebrate this wonderful event, I'm offering one free 20 page ~ 5 x 7 Baby Brag Book (look here for a sample) for all those who book with me over the next month (offer expires 2009~09~26, a value of $40)!! Contact Me for details!

Maternity Shoot 8 months ~ Ottawa Maternity Photographer

2009-08-11T12:49:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of squeezing in one more shoot before my official due date (tomorrow!!). My model was the beautiful Jem, who was a super model and had the perfect little bump to show off! Here is a quick preview of a few of my favourites.

Thanks Jem, and can't wait to meet your new little bundle in a few weeks!