Great Wolf Lodge | Kitchener Family Photography

Flu be damned, we were going to enjoy our March Break.  With temperatures soaring into the mid-20s here in Ontario, we finally have spring breathing some life into our Vitamin D-deprived bodies. My parents had booked a family trip for us to Great Wolf Lodge, a family-friendly water park and theme "resort" in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  We headed down the highway, my brother and his girlfriend  and my parents accompanying us, for a weekend that was sure to be filled with fun.

Arriving Friday afternoon, we enjoyed a delicious supper, hit the water slides and then boogied to the tunes at the family dance.  Saturday (after a night filled with a chorus of flu-related coughing and snoring), we hit the water park after breakfast.  My hubby and brother, the biggest kids of all, went straight to the big water slides, me and my brother's girlfriend to entertain the kiddos.  We frolicked in the wave pool, enjoyed the smaller water slides and then called it quits for lunch.

After lunch, my brother volunteered to take the girls on a MagiQuest, a Harry Potter-inspired magic scavenger hunt that required a magic wand and a lot of patience.  My brother (and his girlfriend) helped them complete two quests while my Mom and I enjoyed a little people-watching in the grand lobby.

On Sunday, we hit the water park one more time before tackling the arcade.  And just when we thought we were done and cashed out our tickets, we realized that my brother's girlfriend had found the "special" silver token and she was awarded 100 bonus tokens.  Needless to say, the girls were thrilled!

Here are the compulsory snapshots of the girls in their wolf-ears and on the giant Adirondack chair.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Great Wolf Lodge, and I think we are going to make it a yearly family adventure. 

Thanks for looking and stay tuned for lots of spring sessions coming your way!

{M} xo

Calling All Families! | Kitchener Family Photographer

I am looking for families (maximum of six people) to participate in some FREE mini sessions!  See the dates below and contact me at info@mandyblakephotography.com if you are interested in taking part.  {M} xo

Thirty-Three | Kitchener Family Photographer

I turned thirty-three yesterday.  And I am totally fine with that fact.  I have a husband, two kids, a dog, a house and pay lots of taxes - thirty-three seems to fit this picture. I decided that I would spend the day recording a "Day in My Life" so that I could look back next year and see exactly how I spent my birthday.  I soon discovered that I am not nearly as interesting or busy as I think I am on a daily basis. I did, however, find out that I do spend a lot of time with my girls, I spend lots of time with my family and I am a dedicated student who goes to class even on her birthday.  All good things.

Here are some images from my day.  I chose to show them all in black and white, just for a bit of a change - hey, I'm thirty-three now, I am expanding my horizons!

I started my day dropping Emery off at Grandma"s house so that I could take Brielle to the doctor.  She has been sick for nearly a week, so it was time to get to the bottom of this mysterious illness.  Of course, before we left, the girls had to squeeze in a quick game of Go Fish, each taking a turn being Grandma's partner.

Brielle waiting to be examined at the doctor's office.  Turns out she has multiple viruses and all the doctor could prescribe was fluids and rest.  Which Brielle translated as Popsicles and Family Channel.  Oh boy.

After I got Brielle back to Grandma's to snuggle on the couch,  I drove Emery to the sitter's in the Vanicus Maximus (aka the Mom Taxi). I then went to work (as a massage therapist) and afterward came home to my lovely hubby making supper!  Emery helped to deliver my lovely card, signed by all my loves.And finally, I headed off to school to learn about the business of photography.  Interesting.

So that was my birthday.  No cake and candles, no big, flashy gifts (although a new lens wouldn't have been turned away).  Just another day in my life, full of love, family, friends and learning.  It was a beautiful day.

{M} xo

What Should My Family Wear For Our Photo Session? | Kitchener Family Photographer

What do I wear?    This is the question I am asked most often when a client is booking a session with MBP.  Sometimes, if I have enough time, I will put together a little "look book" for the client to get an idea of clothing selection, but as the busy spring and summer seasons approach, I know that time will be more precious and I won't be able to do this for everyone. So I decided to put together a little post showing MY idea of cute outfit choices for the whole family.  The most important thing I tell my clients is that their clothing should reflect their own style.  I mean, it is wonderful to look great but if the kids (or Dad!) look really uncomfortable in the clothes Mom chose (because let's face it, Mom is usually the family's stylist), it is hard for them to be relaxed and enjoy the session.  However, all the different styles need to find a way to work together.  Whether it is different styles with the same colour scheme, or similar styles with complimentary colours, it all has to look cohesive.  Gone are the days of jeans and a white polo shirt for the whole gang.  Boring. It's time to get some fun, colour and attitude back into clothing options!

For the little ladies, here are some some fun, colourful options.  I love the floral skirt - so summer-y!

For the women, there are options ranging from casual to flirty!  The purple top really pops!The little guys have some colour and some attitude!  Fashion isn't just for little sisters!

And for the men, some classic styles that combine comfort and style.  I gave Dad and son the same shirt (Black Military-style T) for those who just have to have some matching in the mix!  ;)

All clothing pictured can be found online or in store at Old Navy.

I hope this helps everyone out there get a few ideas of what you can wear for your session.  Happy shopping!

{M} xo

Strength in Numbers | Kitchener Family Photographer

Meet the Hamilton family.  They are a tight-knit group of siblings that  love to laugh together and tease one another, but most of all, clearly love one another very much. We met on a chilly Saturday afternoon to take some extended family portraits, and even though everyone was freezing, we toughed it out to get some great shots.

Thanks again to you all for coming out in the cold!  Enjoy the images everyone!

A special thanks to my friend Sandra of Sandra Medeiros | Photographer for helping me out on this shoot!  I owe you one!!

{M} xo

Chalk Art | Kitchener Children's Photography

I think it is amazing how kids are amused by the simplest things.  A mud puddle, a flowing fountain, putting stickers onto paper and colouring on anything!  They find joy, peace and fun in all the little things that we as adults forget to enjoy. When I got together with my good friends, Kate Emerson of Novella Photography and Martina Wendland of Martina Wendland Photography, we had every intention of photographing all of our girls in a little Easter-themed set-up that Kate had devised.  However, our little ladies were more interested in playing together than being photographed, and thus our carefully laid plans quickly went bust.  But then Kate had the genius idea to let the girls draw with chalk on the large piece of seamless paper we had tacked up on the wall as a backdrop.  All of a sudden, the girls were completely engaged and having a blast, drawing, smearing the lines, colouring on themselves and working together to create a large mural.  Fantastic!

I couldn't resist snapping a few shots as they worked, but I did do a bit of drawing as well!

At least little Miss A tried to cooperate with the Easter portion of the shoot!

Friends and chalk make for a wonderful afternoon!

Thanks again Kate and Martina for another great day of friendship.

{M) xo

Happy Family Day! : : Kitchener Family Photgrapher

It's Family Day weekend in Ontario, which means an extra day to hang out with my girls!  While I do  have some sessions this weekend, Monday is completely dedicated  to my wonderful family, to enjoy some snowboarding, a great meal and to make lots of new memories!  I personally think every day is family day, but if you're gonna give me a holiday, I'll take it! I leave you with this image of my Happy Meal pirates.  What a couple of characters.

Have a great weekend wherever you are in the world.  I am looking forward to showing you some new images in the coming week - check back often!

{M} xo

Every Day Life : : Kitchener Family Photographer

Swimming lessons.  I have spent more hours at a pool than I can count.  I took swimming lessons nearly every week from age 6 months to 16 years, when I received my National Lifeguard Service Certificate.  So don't be fooled by my not-so-lithe physique, I am a cracker-jack swimmer (and apparently given to using phrases from 1955). And now, I am at the pool again.  My girls have been in lessons since they were babes and while they absolutely LOVE to swim, I can understand that the routine is a  little grating on the nerves at times.  Each week, we schlep to the pool, bathing suits itching under clothes, then jam towels, shoes and coats into tiny lockers in the steamy change room and elbow our way through the bottle-neck at the deck entrance for them to jump, backstroke, and bob.  And after I try to avoid dozing in the warm, white-noise filled viewing area, we race to the showers to claim a spot, towel dry, wrestle dry jammies over wet feet and arms (which is always tricky) and try to dry hair without getting blown away by the hurricane-force dryers.

But sometimes, if we get there a bit early, there are a few minutes to enjoy the relative quiet of the change room, in the space between one session ending and the next one beginning.  It was in such a moment that I captured this image.  To me, it speaks volumes, the silent story of our many hours spent at the pool, and countless more to come.

On a side note, I realize that most of my recent posts have featured personal photos.  This year, I am making a huge effort to capture more images of my family at rest, play, work and love.  I was inspired by fellow photographer, Dana Pugh of Short and Sweet Photography, whose blog post featuring her favourite photos of her family from last year moved me to tears.  Her work is so beautiful and it truly celebrates the joy in the little moments.  That is what I want my work to accomplish,  for your family as well as my own.  Thank you all for looking, I promise some new (not of my kids) work will be coming soon!  :)

{M) xo

Hold you Tight : : Kitchener Family Photographer

Emery has always been a snuggler.  From the day she was born, she has been happiest curled up in my arms or sitting in Daddy's lap.  She is just that kind of kid. And I have to admit, I truly dread the day when she outgrows my arms and wants nothing to do with snuggling.  I love having her cuddled up  with me, her fine hair smelly sweetly of fresh air and her heavy weight warm and soft against me.  Sigh.  Pure bliss.

As a photographer, it is hard enough to find time to be in front of the camera, but particularly, to capture those everyday moments that you cherish for a lifetime.  The morning kisses, the midday snuggles and the bedtime stories.  Sometimes I wish I had my own personal photographer to follow me around to capture these memories, and show the world "I was there too!".  But for now, I have to settle for some stolen time, on a warm fall afternoon, to sneak out into the backyard, put Brielle on a stool, set the camera settings and hope for the best.  She took 64 frames and this one was the only one that was even remotely in focus or had our heads in it.  But one is all I needed.

Love you Em-er!

{M} xo

One More Frame : : Cambridge Children's Photography

I had to share just one more from the library.  I love how pensive she is in this moment.  It makes me wonder what she is thinking...

Thanks for looking.  Don't forget to leave some love in the comments section!

{M} xo

Birthday Portraits - Part Two : : Cambridge Children's Photographer

Okay, here is part two!  The location we chose for this part of the session was the Hespeler Library in Cambridge.  It is a gorgeous building with a glass exterior, lots of light, modern features and really friendly staff.  Redesigned in 2007, it wraps around and preserves the historic Carnegie Library, and it is an architectural wonder. We got there a little later than planned, after taking advantage of the gorgeous winter-afternoon light outdoors, and we arrived with around 45 minutes to shoot (including an outfit change!).  Brielle was a real trooper, and we moved quickly and quietly through the library, shooting right down to the wire!  Brielle did stop for a few minutes to read some pages from Charlotte's Web, the first novel she and I read together.  Even though the light was fading fast, I couldn't refuse her request to take a reading break.

Brielle has blossomed into a very confident and avid reader over the last few months, progressing quickly through the reading levels at school and becoming more interested in deeper stories.  This makes my heart so happy.  I am a MAJOR bibliophile, often reading three or four books at a time, getting lost in each story with equal intensity.  I am so glad that Brielle will have the ability to lose herself in the world of literature, to always have a way to fill the spare moments.

Here are a few images from our time at the library, a new entry on our list of favourite places to hang out.

Love you Lulu!

{M) xo

Daddy and his Girl : : Kitchener Family Photographer

I have an image on my wall that melts my heart every time I look at it.  My wonderful husband with Brielle in his lap, kissing her gently on the forehead.  She, with her hair slightly messy, a look of peace on her face and her hands around her Daddy's hands.  Sigh.  What a true moment of unconditional love. This is what drives me to be a family photographer.  To see the love, caring, tenderness, sweetness, laughter and joy that exists within every family.  It is what makes a family a family.  And that I was able to capture this moment for my own family to treasure is better than any gift I could ever receive.  That is what I hope to give to each and every family that I photograph - the gift of memories to cherish.

Remember to hug your kids tight and tell them you love them with your words and actions.  Kiss them while they are sleeping and watch them when they don't know you are looking.  That is joy.

Okay, I'm getting a little sappy and cheesy now. :)  Enjoy this image.  I do every day.

{M} xoxo

The Season : : Kitchener Photographer

This Christmas, for the first time, I decided not to work at all during the break so I could spend extra time with my family.  Usually I end up doing at least a few massage treatments and a couple of last minute shoots but I always wish that I had just stayed home with my girls and hubby.  This year I was all about watching movies with my girls, going to dinner with my hubby and just enjoying the peace and (relative) quiet of being at home with no plans. I took the pressure off even more by telling myself it was okay NOT to have perfect images from the season, but rather simple snapshots that were technically imperfect, but captured all the memories as they happened.  I have found that as a professional photographer, everyone expects that all of your pictures will be amazing all the time and expect you to always have your camera at the ready.  Ugh.  Sometimes I want to just enjoy the moment without worrying about if I have enough light or if I have a good angle.

So, here are some snaps from my holiday season.  The best one I have had in a really long time.

I was so proud of Brielle for writing the note to Santa all by herself this year.  Emery drew the picture (don't ask me what it is, it was a very long and complicated explanation)...

And now to lay out some challenges for myself for 2012!  Last year, I promised to complete a 52 weeks project (I got to week 36 or so and it kind of tapered off), to photograph 32 strangers (never happened) and maybe one other thing that I totally forget.  This year, I am trying to set challenges that are a little less ambitious.  And I expect you all to hold me to them, so don't be shy about reminding me on Facebook, by blog comment or in person!

1. 24 Frames - Essentially, I want to practice and refine the skill of getting everything right IN CAMERA.  Back in the film days, your couldn't just shoot to your heart's content and do the fixes in post, you had to nail it the first time, every time.  I have gotten much better at this, but it is always important to keep working on it.  So I will be posting, throughout the year, images that have come straight out of camera (SOOC) with just a bit of sharpening for web.  Phew, wish me luck!
2. Monthly Portraits - I want to do monthly portraits of my girls, just to see them grow and change throughout the year.  I haven't told them yet, so it will be a surprise (or ambush, call it what you will.)
3. Workshops - I want to attend at least two workshops this year, so I better start saving my pennies (or whole paycheques).  I love learning new skills and meeting other photographers and workshops let me do both at the same time!

Okay, that seems like more than enough.  Hopefully at this time next year I will be able to say that I completed all of my challenges (don't hold your breath, people).  Thanks again for all the love and support this past year.  Look out 2012, here I come!

{M} xo

Chasing and Playing : : Exeter Children's Photographer

You win some, you lose some.  Such is the life of a children's photographer.  Sometimes, everything clicks, the kids are really into getting their photo taken and you breeze right through (this happens VERY rarely, don't get excited.)  Other times, it takes a little more work.  More chasing, more begging, more bribing, more playing and more sweating.  Toddlers, in particular, often fall into the latter scenario.  Any of you who have tried to get a toddler to sit still will know what I mean. These two little lovelies were really fun to work with.  Not so still, but fun nonetheless! ;)  They shared their morning with me to capture some images for my final portfolio for college.  The session involved two different dancing Elmos, a ball, the Goldilicious book, some Christmas ornaments and one singing birthday card, so you can imagine how much I was workin' for it!  And all that patience I have lost with my own kids magically reappeared when I needed it.  I knew I put it somewhere...

After pulling out all the stops, I managed to get a few images that I love, so it was well worth every Elmo chicken dance and Bibbedy-bobbedy-boo I had to endure.

Thanks Ava, Lyla and Lesley for being so kind and sharing your day with me!

{M} xoxo

Eric + Family : : Kitchener Family Photography

This family is one that is particularly special for me to photograph, because they are a part of my own family.  Corey and I met when she came to live with my family during her last year of high school, since she lived in a small town and her school didn't offer all of the courses she needed to follow her chosen career path.  We became like sisters and have remained close through the years as we have both grown and made our own lives. She and her husband Chris (who attended the same high school as I did, small world), and daughter Ruthie recently welcome baby Eric to their family.  I was excited to meet and snuggle my new little "nephew" and capture some images for this wonderful family.

I should point out that newborns are definitely NOT my specialty and I say a big "Holy smokes, you are crazy good" to  those photographers that do newborn photography well.  Imagine trying to pose a ragdoll with a keen startle reflex, who stretches luxuriously just as you are about to snap the shutter, undoing all of your tricky arm and leg folding , and you will have an idea of how difficult photographing a newborn can be.  I DO want to improve my skills in this department, so all of you out there get busy making babies for me to practice with! ;)

I did enjoy working with this family in their home, taking images of them in their own "element", relaxed and just living life.  In the long winter months ahead, with the bitter temperatures and early dark, this is a great way to work a session into your schedule without freezing your tush off (or mine, for that matter).  I think there is definitely something special about capturing memories in the place where most of them are created.

Enjoy the images everyone!

xoxo {M}

I'm Getting Old : : London Family Photographer

Do you remember when you were a kid and you would visit with adults you hadn't seen for awhile and they always said, "I remember when you were born!  I can't believe how big you are now! I feel so old!" ?  And while you smiled politely on the outside, you cringed on the inside, thinking  "Why do they always act like I would stay small forever?", and you swore you would never say those things  when you grew up?   And the next thing you know, you have reached adulthood and you are saying those dreaded words, and realizing exactly why they need to be said.  No? Really?  Happens to me all the time. I recently celebrated my eight year anniversary with my hubby, and we planned a night away, including a peaceful, delicious dinner and, of course,  the other thing you do when the kids aren't around, which starts with an "S"....  Get your minds out of the gutter, people!  I mean SLEEP!  Ah, the blissful, sound sleep of parents who know there are no middle of the night pee breaks or demands for water-cup refills.  Beautiful.

The next morning, I awoke, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and headed out to meet my cousin and her two teenage boys for a shoot.  And this is what brings me back to my original point.  Eight years ago, these two guys were the ring bearers in our wedding.  They were then five and six years old, respectively, and absolutely adorable!  And while I have seen them occasionally over the intervening years, I was still dumbstruck when they stepped out of the car and were no longer those sweet little boys!  They are nearly men!  After taking a few moments to make the cringe-worthy proclamations in regards to their growth and maturity, we got down to the business of capturing some images.

The boys were such good sports, freezing in the bitter wind, one crouching with sore legs from a championship football game the previous day (they won!) and generally dealing with my odd requests and overzealous desire to see them in a dark, dirty alley.  They are both such respectful, kind young men, and I feel fortunate to call them my family.

First up is Cam, the older brother and Denver Broncos fan.  He has an easy smile that just lights up the room.

Next is Josh, the younger brother and a Patriots die-hard.  He is more serious than his older brother, but no less happy-go-lucky!

And here is one of them both.  Brothers and best friends.

Thanks Cameron, Josh, Kevin and Kelly for just being awesome!  Love you.

{M}

All you need is LOVE : : Kitchener Family Photographer

This family is one of those families where you can just FEEL the love.  It is in the little things; the laughter, the smiles, the hugs.  They are just really connected. I feel so fortunate to be able to work with such lovely families, and to see them grow and love each year.  This is my second time photographing this family and I can tell you, I enjoy it more every time.

We met on a lovely almost-fall day, taking advantage of the unseasonably warm tempertatures to capture some images.  We had to work fairly quickly, since those of you with toddlers know how tough it is to get them to stay in one spot for more than a millisecond.  However, we did manage to get a few beautiful images, which I know they will cherish forever (or at least until next year when we do it all again!).

Thanks Jen, Ben, Sarah and Molly for being such a wonderful family and great friends.

I had to include this one of Sarah, since it is one of my favourite images from the past year.  The missing tooth, the big grin and the sparkling eyes are just so adorable!

Mr. Roan is Growing!

I first met this adorable little man back in the spring when he was only three weeks old!  So when his Mom contacted me to set up a family session, I was so excited to see how much he had grown!  Here is one from that session.

What an expression!

Fall around here has been pretty wet and gross, but we managed to find a day that was dry, if not too sunny.  It was a tad cool but Ro was such a trooper, even though he is cutting teeth right now.  We kept the session short but sweet and got some great images.  They are a family that is so full of joy and laughter that is hard not to capture beautiful images of them.  You can always tell when a family has love that is real and not "for the camera", and the love here is 100% genuine.  I adore how in all the images Mom and Dad are looking with pride at their little man.  Makes my heart melt!

Roan and Mommy.

Daddy's boy.

Can't wait for the next session with this family in the spring!

~M

My Girls : : Kitchener Children's Photographer

Last fall, I headed out to take a few images of my girls to add to the calendar that I make for my parents, in-laws and grandma every year for Christmas.  My mother liked them so much that she chose one to print and sent copies to all of our friends and family in her Christmas card. So this year, when she casually asked if I was going to have an updated photo to send out, I said "Sure, no problem!".  So of course, I went out and spent a small fortune on matching outfits (since I know my mom loves when I dress them alike) and set a date for the shoot.  I made props and chose accessories, explained the bribes carefully and away we went.  I was so excited that I even invited a couple of my photographer friends with kids to come and shoot their children as well.  Let's just say I was confident that we were going to have a terrific time playing in the leaves, posing playfully and feeling the love.  So wrong.

I will not recount the gory details, but let's just say there were tears, tantrums, kicking and screaming and I won't even tell you how my girls behaved! ;)  However, I did manage to get some shots that I love (one is already at the lab being printed as a huge canvas) and  everyone made it out of the woods alive (barely), so I will put it in the books as a successful day.

My mom hasn't chosen her favourite yet, so some of you may see one of these in your mailbox soon!

This next one is my absolute FAVOURITE!

Love you girls.  You are my everything.

~M

T and Q : : Kitchener Children's Photographer

I met these two handsome little men on a gorgeous Sunday evening, with the sun shining and the breeze blowing.  Perfect weather for early fall. With their blond hair and blue eyes, these two are sure to be charmers when they get older.  I know both their mom and dad, and there is no shortage of beauty genes in this family!  I had a great time chasing them around and playing magic chair and king.  They kept me on my toes, that's for sure!

I'm already looking forward to next September for round two!

~ M