Newborn Photography Mentoring ~ Chelsea Newborn Photographer

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!

Sweet Baby "A" ~ Ottawa Newborn Photographer

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!

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!!

I Heart Faces ~ We ♥ Tooshies!

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!