Category: Interesting Reads
{Niagara Newborn Baby Photographer} Lincoln Community Midwives
I will never, ever call myself a commercial photographer. Somehow, photographing static rooms with reflective glass frames just doesn’t evoke within me the same sense of excitement that I feel when a newborn baby comes into my studio. However, I’m sharing these images with you today because so many of you helped me to select which portraits to print, many of my lovely clients (and family) are featured in these images, and I’m so honored to have my work displayed at the Lincoln Community Midwives Office. These images will be featured throughout their offices for a while longer, and then some of them will be arranged in my studio. If you happen to be in their waiting room, take a moment to read the magazine, grab a business card, or send me an Email! Soft, pretty, intimate and organic maternity and newborn photography is my absolute favorite.
To schedule a session with me, email info@creativeclicksphotography.com
{Niagara Baby Photographer} Provincial Image Competition
For quite a few years now I have been a member of good standing with the PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) and it’s always been an important avenue for me to continue my growth as a photographer through the association. There are various ways we can submit our images for judging- Accreditation, Provincial Image Salon and National Image Salon being some of them. This year I submitted to Provincials and spent a day in Elmira along with fellow peers to watch the judging. It was definitely a very interesting experience and there was a lot to learn. Although I missed seeing my own images being judged, I was happy to hear that this beautiful portrait of my little niece Ezrah was accepted into the ranks of many other incredible images from my peers. I love this little girl and her baby blues.
{Niagara Newborn Photographer} Finding a deeper meaning
This past January marked 5 years in business for me, and I was feeling a little tired of my then-current branding. I’d outgrown what it was, and was ready to move into something a little more ‘me’. A brand that truly meant something to me, spoke to who I was and better represented my business. I was very fortunate to have an incredibly talented designer in my corner and we spent a lot of time talking about colors, meanings, fonts and web design. For the past three months or so, it has been an ongoing process to get this brand to what you now see today. And I couldn’t be more excited to unveil it to you!
When it came to my brand, I’ve always been hesitant to use something simple or obvious as an element in my logo. However, I did have a long checklist of likes and dislikes. I wanted a clean and classic look, but with a trendy feel. I absolutely didn’t want anything someone else might have… It had to be original. It had to have deep, significant meaning to me. I did not want anything obvious like a camera, baby, tree or heart. The very first concept presented to me absolutely took my breath away but it didn’t work for me as a very good friend already uses a similar symbol. And so a long and intense thought process began. What you now see as a crown emblem above my logo represents quite a few things to me. The crown represents my God, Father in heaven. He is the KING and the foundation of my life. The little ones I am blessed to photograph are each his children, princes and princesses. The 5 points represent my loves- Greg, Kyara, Eden, Kingston and Zion. The diamond shapes are an awesome graphic element, done in watercolor to create softness. But there is more meaning to this single element. The crown shape is also surprisingly similar to the shape of an opening magnolia bud. In our backyard we have a gorgeous magnolia tree that shows its incredible beauty to us each spring. And so this single shape also reminds me of our home, waking up to the blossoming tree covering our bedroom window and breathing in that fragrant scent through the windows. Each spring it blooms, bringing with it new life. And again, the circle closes, as it reminds me of the new life I am so fortunate to photograph.
The brand colors and the watercolor element are not just a happy coincidence. In everything brought to my branding, there HAD to be a meaning behind it. The colors are all found at the beach, in the water, the sand and the sunset. The gold of the crown reminds me of the glorious light I love to photograph in the few hours before sunset. As one of my favorite places to photograph and a reminder of my childhood growing up along the coast of Australia, this rounded out my overall brand. Coming to this conclusion was absolutely thrilling. It was perfect!
Many thanks to my wonderful, amazing, patient and hard working friend who tirelessly worked with me to create this brand and my web presence. Although we have never had the pleasure of meeting in person, you inspire me in so many ways. I’m forever indebted to you, not just for this, but for your wonderful friendship. XO
Excited. Honored. Humbled. Blessed. Those are some of the feelings I recently had upon learning of my image scores in the Provincial Image Salon. Photographers are allowed to submit up to 4 prints in the Provincial Image Salon and I am honored to have received an Accepted on one image (score = 80-89) and Merit on each of my three other entries (score = 90-94). It was my first time entering a competition on this level and I learned quite a bit from the judges notes on my images. Submitting images for assessment by your peers can be intimidating but it is also such an amazing opportunity for growth, for pushing yourself, continuously learning and refining your craft. Below are the four images I submitted this year. Many thanks to all of my wonderful clients who give me the opportunity to create this imagery. It is always my wish to create images that will provide you with joy, happiness and wonderful memories, but beyond that, also providing the highest standard of creativity and professionalism. Above all, praises to my Heavenly Father, who created within me a desire and a passion for this art form.
Newborn Safety {Niagara Newborn Baby Photographer}
Newborn photography has been a growing trend for a long time now, and with the beautiful images one can see online and on Pinterest, more and more people are joining in. I think it’s key to remember that these are BABIES, not little models used to create that new and amazing portrait. As we all know, each precious baby was carefully protected by their mother in the womb for 9 months, and both the mother and the photographer has a responsibility to ensure that this new life is just as safe during the newborn session as it was while in his/her mothers womb. Education is so important- both for the photographer and the client. No-one would allow an untrained, uneducated nurse to help deliver their baby, and so it follows that just 6 days later, they would not allow an untrained photographer handle their baby in a way that is less than safe. While new props and poses are fun and add a unique element to each session, it is so important that those images are created safely!
So, how can we learn? Please read this wonderful article on Niagara Newborn Photography. For photographers, we have also listed a number of professionals who teach newborn workshops, as well as reviews on a select few. You can find that article here.
Spreading awareness regarding newborn safety is important to me. You can read more on that here, and in this article by Tom Wilkinson of West Niagara News featured in November of 2012.
Why Choose a Custom Photographer?
When you buy a TV, you keep it for three years. When you purchase custom photography, you have it for at least three generations. What greater gift can you possibly give your child than beautiful imagery of their mommy and daddy awaiting their arrival? Or of their own very first days on earth? Images with his parents, siblings, of each sweet and perfect little detail that makes them who they are. Those are the things your child will grow up with. Those images will not be like toys that will be broken or discarded along the way, but cherished possessions.
Working with your custom photographer is akin to going out for the evening to one of the top restaurants in town.
Sure, you can eat at McDonalds or KFC, or you can cook at home–but when you want superb food and excellent service, when you crave a luxurious experience, that’s not where you head.
You could buy a cheap pair of scissors and cut your own hair, but would you? Most of us wouldn’t trust our hair to anyone but a professional stylist. So thinking along those lines, who would you trust to photograph your newborn baby? Your little bundle of joy, less than a week old, should be handled only by someone who is trained and experienced in the art of newborn photography. That is a custom photographer.
Now, in this digital age where even our small children have cameras, photography has been devalued. Some people wonder: Why do custom photographers charge so much?
When you hire a custom photographer you start with individualized attention, move through the process with someone who truly cares about you and your family, and end up with photographs that make you weep and gasp out loud. Why? Because they capture your newborn in the most beautiful, relaxed and safe environment. They are able to capture that sweet little face, those perfect moments in-between, the raw emotion of a parent with their child, the new and incredible love of a family .
And just as you aren’t paying just for the cost of ingredients when you go out to a fine restaurant, you aren’t paying for just a piece of photo paper when you purchase artwork from your custom photographer.
You are paying for everything that goes into getting you that piece of paper…all our education, our expertise, our experience and our equipment. You are paying for a license that allows you to display our stunning imagery in your home. You are paying for works that will be on your walls for decades to come, and become a treasured part of your family’s memories.
FYI, here’s how the timing breaks down for an average newborn session:
prepping gear/studio: 2 hours
shooting 1-4 hours; average 2 hours
downloading images: .5 hours
backing up images: .5 hours
processing your images: 3 hours
blog prep: 1 hour
communication with client (all): 3 hours
planning session: 1 hour
ordering session prep: 1 hour
ordering session: 2 hours
prepping order/retouching: 4-6 hours
ordering/packaging/quality checks: 2 hours
pickup meeting: .5 hours
TOTAL : 22.5 hours and up
As a photographer I can tell you that I will pour my heart and soul into each and every client, ensuring that they will receive the very best experience with Creative Clicks Photography. I want to make this event in their life memorable in the best way possible. I am thankful for each and every client who entrusts me with their photography needs- maternity, newborn or baby portraiture.
What makes a photographer a professional?
Many of my readers may know, I am a mother. When we were married, my husband and I knew that above all, I would always be a stay at home mom as long as it was financially doable. The Lord has blessed us with the ability to be at home with our littlest blessings, and this has brought so much happiness to our family. Adding photography to my job description was not planned. I loved photography and the more I learned, the more I enjoyed it. I wanted to take it a step farther by creating a business that would work well around our family life. But one thing I often struggled with was a feeling of being ‘real’. I did not attend college to study the art of photography. In fact, I learned everything I know between bedtime and feedings and diaper changes. I work from my home, with kids at my feet and on my lap and crayons scattered throughout my office. I took the necessary steps to ensure that I was running a legitimate business. I had a business license, paid taxes, took workshops and continually worked towards higher learning. But I wanted to feel like a professional. I wanted to believe that I was a professional! No matter how much someone would say they loved an image I had produced, I did not feel like it was anything more than high praise from a friend who didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
Enter the PPOC. “The Professional Photographers of Canada is a diversified group of creative artists dedicated to the highest standards in professional imaging” (taken from their website). I attended a few meetings locally before taking the plunge and joining the association. The other photographers in our chapter completely awed me- I couldn’t believe some of the people who I blog stalked and FB creeped were hanging out in the same room as me, learning together and sharing their knowledge as well. I loved every minute and knew right away that I wanted to become accredited within the association - to receive critique from some of the most professional photographers in Canada on my work was exactly what I was looking for. On November 13, 2011 I received my first accreditation for Infant and Child Portraiture. This was a wonderful feeling- to be acknowledged as a professional actually gave me a boost of confidence that I needed to take my business to the next level.
Now many would say that being accredited is something that means nothing to our clients, they might argue that we are professionals with or without that piece of paper, or they might ask why I didn’t feel that confidence within myself. I can’t speak for my clients, but one thing I do know is that photography is becoming a VERY saturated market. Anyone can fall in love with the beautiful imagery we are now able to produce with affordable DSLR equipment and they might decide to up and start their own business as well. And they have the freedom and the right to do so. But just because they own a nice camera or great lens, does not mean that they are able to consistently produce high quality work for their clients. So what makes a photographer a professional? Well, in my opinion, having this accreditation from the PPOC proves to discerning clients that I have taken the necessary steps, the training and the education to learn all that I need to produce the work they see on my website under any given circumstance. Finally I was able to feel like I could legitimately call myself a professional in this field.
This year, the PPOC also created a new category, one that I was able to have a small hand in creating. Newborn photography is a booming market, and there was a need for a separate category within the Accreditation program. I am thankful to the many people who also spoke up and encouraged the board to create a category that speaks directly to this market. I submitted my images and received my accreditation for Newborn Portraits on October 27, 2012.
I am so proud to display the PPOC logo on my website and I’m honored to be considered a peer among the incredibly talented photographers in Canada. The creativity and joy I receive from photography has greatly enriched my life~ thank you to my wonderful clients who have enabled me to grow and learn, to my family who has always supported me and loved me and above all, to my Lord who has given me this gift.
Where do you keep your memories? {Niagara Newborn Photography}
We are so incredibly blessed in this day and age to be able to take pictures of anything, anytime. Almost everyone has a camera on them at all times, whether it be on their cell phone, their iPad, their video cameras or computers. Photos are snapped at school, work, on trips, in the car, at the park and in the home. Often those photos find their way onto Facebook or they are shared via Twitter and other media sites. These are priceless memories. But where do these images go after that?
Unfortunately not too many people are printing their images anymore. Instead, they are stored on computers, or maybe moved onto an External Hard Drive. Rarely are they being put lovingly into an album or finding their way onto the walls of homes. The sad thing about all this is that it leaves nothing behind for the future generations! Computers and EHD’s (External Hard Drives) cannot be completely relied on- they can fail at any given moment and your images could be lost forever! I often find it so incredibly ironic that our generation is plagued by the need to capture every.single.moment in life, whether it be with video or images. Advertising companies do a wonderful job of convincing us it is our job to capture these moments for our children. And really it is. But if we are going to be taking all of these images, we should also be responsible for preserving those memories. How can we do that? Here are a few tips:
1| Backup those images! Don’t store all of them in one place. Be sure to back them up on an EHD, use an on-line system such as Mozy or BackBlaze, and also burn the images to DVD. I store all my images on DVD at my own house as well as at another location to be sure that they are safe in case of fire.
2| Print those images! Put them up in your home so that you can enjoy them every day. There are so many wonderful ways to decorate with your prints, even on a budget. All the inspiration images below show you how to display a variety of your favorite images, and they’re easy to change out when you like.
1. Framed collage in a bedroom 2. Wallpaper with personal pictures attached inside the frames 3. 9 square prints in clear frames
4. Collage frames 5. Prints hung on wire with bulldog clips 5. Prints hung in a heart shape
3| Create albums. It’s a lot of work, I know it! I have found it’s a lot easier to do it in sections. I have created an album for each of my kids in a Costco account. Every couple of months I upload all their recent pictures and order them. One of the benefits of using Costco is that your images will ALWAYS remain stored- if you do lose your images you can always go back in and order those prints again. Also, Costco often has sales on their 4×6 prints for 10 cents each! When ordering, I always select the matte paper and turn OFF the color correct option. (note that I don’t recommend this for wall portraits! Costco is a great economical option for small prints BUT they are not a professional lab and will not print properly calibrated images) Whenever I have a spare moment, I fill in their albums. It gives me peace of mind knowing that their albums are always up to date and they LOVE looking through the albums. Their excitement in that alone makes it all worth it to me.
Another option for albums would be to completely skip the printing process altogether and create digital albums. I have used Shutterfly in the past and I was pleased with them. They have a large variety of templates for the albums (I chose a plain white template so the images would stand out).
So, won’t you join me in making the effort to get your photos off your digital devices? Do it for the future generations! I have my parents albums at my house and still love looking through them at time gone by. I hope one day my kids will enjoy their albums just as much!
p.s. I’d love if you shared how YOU preserve your memories! I am always looking for cool ideas to hang pictures around the home!