A Storybook Photoshoot

 

 I've always had stories running around in my head.

They never get out though.
They just lurk and then, every so often, demand to be brought to life.

That's easier said than done though, right? How many of us share the dream of writing a book one day? But where to start?

 What makes me think I could even write one?? I mean, my spelling is atrocious, my grasp of grammar is worse and . . . well, I didn't even finish high school . . .

Here's the thing. My parents separated when I was 11. (And then divorced a few years later.)

There were several turbulent years after that. Lots of moving, lots of new schools. Pretty tough stuff for a shy introvert. I moved here just before I turned 16 and finished grade 10 in our little private school. I would have had to finish high school in a huge public school. One known to be rather rough at the time.

 I couldn't do it. My mom promised I wouldn't have to go back if  and only if, I found myself a job. Not long after, while out for breakfast one day, I applied for a job and got it! That, for the most part, was the end of formal schooling for me. (Poor mom. I found out years later that she'd figured I wouldn't have the courage to get a job. She'd thought it was a safe promise to make. . .)

So. Stories in my head, and a story I kept telling myself about why I couldn't write them down.

Stories want to be told. My stories found another way. They snuck up on me through my photography. The Photoshop Artistry course and then the more advanced Awake class I'm taking, began to show me another way to tell a story, one told with digital artistry.

But it didn't stop there. Stories still nagged me to write them down.

So now I am.

I'm combining photography, digital art and words into an 'illustrated' short children's story and Nelena and her girls agreed to be my models for the project.

I hope it will be a good story but, even if it isn't, at least I won't have to regret not trying . . .  (If there are any English teachers out there interested in editing an amateur's work . . . drop me a line. I'll need all the help I can get! ;) )

The first 'illustration' is at the top of this post. I'm also sharing other images taken during our storybook photoshoot. It took the whole day, with Holly doing hair and makeup for these three lovely ladies (the girls got blush and lip gloss!), but my, was it ever fun!

This is the  above image before I worked some digital magic on it . . .

The day began with hair and makeup.

It's not all glamour as this girl can tell you . . .

But she soon got into the swing of things.

Her big sister hung out with me while I created the wreaths for their hair.

Once we got to our beautiful garden, (not mine, this one belongs to my dear friend Nicole) it was time to get into character.

How exactly do fairies act??

Let's think about it with tea and cookies . . . or in this case, apple juice and cookies.

 

 

No photoshoots are problem free.

"You're worried about my wreath when there are wasps flying around my head?!!"

The girls were game to climb a ladder in hopes of seeing themselves fly in their story. Of course there's always a spotter close at hand!

Then it's time for a little fun!

 

We got many, many beautiful images, ones I hope will make lovely illustrations for my story one day.

Until then I'll leave you with these . . .

 

 

A big thank you to Holly, Nelena and the girls for helping me with this dream!

Why I'm so Excited. (Kim's Maternity Shoot)

I love kids. I always have. I 'get' kids in a way I often don't with adults.

I'm not only an introvert, I'm also quite shy and find myself tongue tied and fumbling for things to say when I'm around people I don't know really well. I am not good at casual conversation!

I don't generally have that problem with kids. Of course, it still takes time for them to get comfortable with me, and to feel safe enough to be themselves, but the thing with most kids is, they want you to see them for who they are.

I love how they can be wildly funny one minute and then turn around and be endearingly earnest and concerned about the serious things going on around them. When you really and truly connect with children you can forget, sometimes, how young they are.

For years I had my own kids and then, as they grew older, a parade of kids who rode my school bus. Most of them will never know how deeply I cared about them. How much I celebrated their joys and had my heart broken as I saw them struggle with difficulties through the years. How often I prayed for them. I loved the kids who would sit at the front of my bus chatting about their lives, stuff going on in school, kids who bothered them, best friends they delighted in and, of course, stuff their moms and dads did and said at home. (Not to worry though . . . those kinds of things I kept to myself. ;D)

I've missed having kids in my daily life since I've retired. I've borrowed my sisters' grandkids when I visited, arranged the occasional playtime with younger nieces and nephews and even sent out calls on Facebook for kids (and their moms) to come and craft, bake, or dress up and pose for the camera with me. (Most kids still love to get in front of a camera and play pretend games.)

But now, (*D.V.) a new stage of life is about to begin. In no time at all I hope to be a grandma and to once again have a small child around regularly. (Don't worry Kim, I won't drop by everyday, I promise!)

The things we are going to do, the pictures I'm going to take . . .

My sister Tamara's favourite hashtag says it all . . . #blessingsabound

I'm still going to be borrowing other peoples kids once in a while though, I won't be able to help myself! ;D

I'll leave you with the rest of Kim's maternity images. How lucky am I that she still loves to dress up, pretend and is willing to do it in front of my camera?

Hair and makeup Holly Anne

(*deo volente)

Val and Doug. A Couples Portrait Session

A while back, during an unusual mild spell, I had the chance to visit Doug and Val at their beautiful acreage for a couple's portrait session.

I had done Laura and Anthony's anniversary portraits there, late last summer, so I knew I would have some amazing locations to work with.

I wasn't quite sure how this portrait session would go though. Doug's always struck me as a real 'man's man', and I wasn't sure how he'd react to my somewhat whimsical approach to portrait sessions. After all, blowing bubbles and 'a man's man' are not two things that you naturally think of as going together . . .

He was such a good sport though! We tried out an assortment of locations on their property, each one lovelier than the last.

Doug and Val got a little snuggling in (while being closely observed by one of their boys hiding behind the wood pile! There is no privacy when you're a parent . . .)

Not only did Doug take all the bubble blowing in stride he even allowed me to post the pictures on the blog! Now that's a sweet husband. :D


I love couples portraits. So often, once you have kids and are in the midst of the demanding busy-ness that brings, you put your identity as a couple on the back burner, telling yourself you'll pick it back up when the kids get older. Taking time out for the two of you as a couple and then printing your favorite photo from the session is a great way to reconnect and remind yourself that you are more than just 'mom and dad'.

Here are some of my favorites from Doug and Val's session:

Thanks for playing with me you guys!