Summer Bookings

It seems like a long way away, but before we know it - it really will be summer. I am surprised how many inquiries I have had for sessions this summer and I thought I better get myself organized. I will be spending the majority of my summer up at our cabin in Asessippi so I will be booking the majority of my sessions on location in that area. If any of you are interested in booking family, children, engagement or special event photography in the Roblin/Grandview/Russell area, please email me at jodilee@memoriesbyme.ca I am booking up quite quickly and will be taking limited sessions this summer as I want to make the most of my boys' summer holidays.

PS - this picture is of my sister & nephew at Asessippi Beach.....this is a great place for portraits....hope to do many more there this summer! :)

JL

Archives

I was in the process of organizing my photos and came across some pictures that I haven't looked at in awhile. I forgot all about this photo session I did when I first started my business. These twin girls were a riot and so much fun to photograph. I just love this picture of the two of them.

Snowed In!

As I mentioned below, we were storm-stayed at our cabin last weekend. Here are just a few pictures I took over the weekend.

My "Real" Job

Well, I've had a busy week! Last weekend we decided to head up to our cabin and enjoy a weekend of skiing and hanging out as a family. We ended up getting storm-stayed there in the blizzard. (not a bad place to be storm-stayed though!). I was in a bit of a panic because my middle son Dylan was scheduled for surgery at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday and when the blizzard hit again on Monday I was afraid we wouldn't get back in time for it. We did though! We braved the roads on Tuesday and "turtled" our way back to our home in Oakville. Thank you to the Blight's (our wonderful neighbours) for plowing out our yard and making it possible for us to get home.

Dylan and I went into the Portage General Hospital on Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. and he successfully had his tonsils, adenoids and even a front tooth (it as very loose) removed. Thank you to Dr. Thess & his wonderful nurses (especially one named Bev) who gave him such excellent care. I am very fortunate that my kids have always been healthy. I have to say, I give immense credit to those parents who have had to deal with serious illnesses with their children. Watching your child being wheeled into an operating room and unable to be there holding his hand is a very scary thing. Of course, I cried.....and so did he....which made the ordeal even more scary. I stayed with Dylan for the entire time he was hospitalized. I slept in his little (and I mean little) bed with him and just took care of him as he recovered. We were in the hospital for 36 hours, which is a long time when you are away from your other children. Thank you to my amazing Mom who came and made sure all was well at the homefront. What would I do without her? You are always there when I need you. I am so lucky.

Dylan and I are home, and he is doing well. I am so grateful that I have a job (photography) that allows me to do my real job (being a Mom) well. Photography allows me to be there for my kids 100% when I am needed most. I'm grateful to my clients who are patient with me when I have to reschedule a sitting because my kids need me more. So, thank you to my current & future clients....I love my job and I love even more that it gives me the opportunity to be a full-time Mom!

I've attached a picture of Dylan and I that was taken prior to his surgery.....he wasn't smiling like this afterwards....but he is now....toothless grin & all!

Happy 4th Birthday

Well, he got his early birthday present - new pj's! He normally wouldn't be thrilled by "clothes", but they were Disney Cars Jammies.....

Just took a couple pictures of him fresh out of the tub sportin' his new jammies. And no, don't adjust your screen....he's standing on his head in the one picture!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Where has the Time Gone?

Well, my baby turns four tomorrow - I guess I need to stop calling him a baby and refer to him as my youngest son now right?

It seems like only yesterday that my older brother Lance called me to tell me his wife had given birth to a baby boy at 3:30 a.m. (Kael Richard Maxwell)! At the end of the phone call he apologized for calling so late....I said..."no problem, I'm up having contractions anyway". Sure enough, I had a baby boy that same day at 10:00 p.m. It is pretty amazing that both my brother and I would have sons born on the exact same day - January 20, 2006. We get together often and Kael and Jackson are best buds!

I spent the day scrambling to get ready for Jackson's birthday party tomorrow. It was one of those days where I had a thousand things to do (get passports, groceries, hockey practice for the boys, etc. - but I managed) Jackson is pretty excited about his big day tomorrow.....and so am I! I won't lie though, I'm a little sad that my "little guy" is growing up so quickly....but I'm also very grateful that I have three healthy boys who are given the opportunity to "grow". I will never take their health for granted and am clearly aware that I am very fortunate to have three healthy sons!

So as another busy day comes to an end, I'm relieved to say I'm ready for the big birthday tomorrow.....house is decorated, cake is made (thanks to my little helper Jack) and presents are wrapped. I'm going to enjoy celebrating "my baby's" 4th birthday tomorrow. Watch my blog for pictures of the big 4th birthday party!

Happy Birthday Jackson John! I love you so much!

Mom

Miss. Marae - Almost Two!

I have been taking this little girl's picture since she was a newborn baby.....and she has completely stolen my heart. Not only is she adorable, but she is the happiest little thing you will come across. Here are a few pictures of Marae that I took today while I kept her for her Mom.

Manitoba Moose

Well, it was certainly a "sporty" week for our family. On Thursday we
welcomed the Olympic Torch to our town. Then on Saturday, my six-year old
son's hockey team was invited to play at the MTS Centre at the Manitoba
Moose game. This was certainly an incredible opportunity for this little
Squirt team from Oakville. They were treated (and felt like) big-time
hockey stars. Unfortunately most of the play took place at the opposite end
of the arena and I had to take pictures through the glass so I wasn't able
to capture the pictures I hoped. I did capture lots of memorable shots
though. I loved how it showed them playing on the jumbotron - too cute.
Thank you Manitoba Moose for making this happen!

Winter Fun!

Finally the weather warmed up today and we were able to go outside and enjoy
some fun in the snow! Because of the time of the year I'm able to spend
more time capturing memories of my own children than working on other
people's photos. It's so much fun just to have this time to spend with the
kids and experiment with my camera and lenses. The kids have gotten so used
to me always having a camera in hand that they don't shy away from my
camera, they are just "themselves". Here are some of my favourites from
this afternoon. Enjoy this warm weather everyone!

Olympic Pride

Our little town of Oakville was buzzing with excitement on Thursday, January
7, 2010 when the Olympic Torch came through our town. Even though it was
very, very cold out; the streets were lined with people to cheer on the
torch bearers who made their way through our community. A HUGE THANKS to
Oakville School and their staff who lit the Olympic Spirit in our kids.
They basically cancelled classes for the day and hosted Festival Du'Oakville
and it was awesome. The students were put into teams and spent the day
going from one event to another and learning all about the Olympics along
the way. The Parent Council even set up an event afterwards so that the
kids were able to go to the Community Hall and continue on with the
celebration. It was an awesome day, full of community pride and Olympic
spirit. Here are a few pictures of this memorable day. PS - my oldest two
boys were lucky enough to actually get to hold the flame! What a
memory.....

Changes....

After much thought I have decided to only offer family portraits exclusively outdoors. I will still do the odd indoor portrait session for newborns and small children, but would like the majority of my business to be outdoor, offering natural light and natural backdrops.  There are several reasons for this decision.  One is that I don’t have the space to accommodate larger groups or families indoors without dismantling my living room.  As well, you simply cannot beat natural light.  I have tried to set up lighting to best accommodate family portraits, but my favourite always remain outdoor, natural light photos.  And to be completely honest, I am just not a fan of indoor, posed photographs, especially family portraits.  The style I strive to achieve is the candid, spontaneous pictures that evoke the true ‘picture’ of what a family is. I realize this may eliminate some future bookings coming my way, but I am at a point in my business where I only want to do the types of pictures that I feel I’m best at – and thus – my decision to be exclusively outdoor.

 

 

A New Year

Well, 2010 is upon us and we’ve all bid farewell to 2009.  Memories by Me Photography had a great year thanks to all my clients and friends who trusted me to take their family portraits.  I have already started taking bookings for the 2010 year and am surprised at how fast my weekends in the Summer & Fall are booking up.  I am cutting back this year and will no longer be doing multiple photo shoots in one weekend.  While last year was great fun, it was also way too hectic doing five or six photo shoots in one weekend PLUS keeping up with the demands of my three growing boys.  I will be limiting my bookings to only two per weekend.  There is an abundance of awesome photographers in the Oakville/Portage/High Bluff area and if I’m unavailable to you; I will be more than happy to recommend a fellow photographer to you. 

 

For those of you interested in summer photography; I will be in the Russell/Roblin/Grandview area for the months of July & August if you are interested in an on-location shoot in this area. 

 

If you are interested in Memories by Me Photography (AKA – ME!) capturing some memories for you, please contact me via email at jodilee@memoriesbyme.ca.  I will be taking bookings right through until next Christmas and the sooner that you book, the better chance you have of me fitting you in!

 

Happy New Year one and all!

 

Jodi