One joy of the many joys of my job is to re-connect with old friends. Natalie and I were friends in high school and got hadn’t seen each other much over the last few years unfortunately. Finding each other on Facebook lead me to photographing her daughter’s first birthday a couple years ago – so fun! And this weekend I headed into Toronto to their beautiful home to meet the newest addition to their family – baby Max. SO sweet. Max was the best baby possible yesterday – awake and alert at first, then drifted into the most sound sleep possible. Love this little guy. As does his Big Sister Zadie!! She is so much like Eden in personality – a lot of fun! Zadie told me “she’s a little bit mysterious”. Too cute!

Meet 4 week old Max. Could he be any cuter? Answer – NO!

Zadie simply adores him.

And so do mom and dad.

This picture of dad touching Zadie’s cheek chokes me up a bit. Such a tender moment.

I always forget how small kids start out. I love when they just cuddle in to you!

Max fell asleep – so we decided where all we could put him in the house. ha ha.

And since mom and dad are avid readers and lover of books – thought this was a fitting pose!

Natalie – so good to reconnect! I love your family!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

The other day Eden and I went to the beach for the afternoon. We spent an hour throwing rocks into the water. I grabbed a big rock and said “do you think I can throw this one?” I loved her response….

“Yeah, I think you can. Besides, you’re my mom. You can do anything…. except fly. Only Peter Pan and fairies can fly.”

Conversation with Eden today. She was being a grouch and kept saying “no!” when I was trying to get her to eat her lunch.

Me… “Eden you can’t say that word anymore.”
Eden.. “What word? ‘No’?”
Me… “Yes, that word. “
Eden… “ha ha – I just said it”
Me… “Okay not again though”
Eden “So I can’t say ‘no’ anymore?”
Me… “That’s right”
Eden… “ha ha… I said it again!”

March Break is over. As much as I adored having my girlies home…. my patience is running out. Mark was away most of the week at a conference in Georgia and I never sleep as well when he’s not home. Lack of sleep = even less patience.

Most of March Break I was in love with having the girls to myself. By Saturday they started to get on each other’s nerves. By Sunday they were on my nerves.

Today Madi went back to school. (Eden goes every other day so she’s back tomorrow). Tonight Mark comes home. Yay!! Tomorrow I have the house to myself and plan to pump out albums!

And because every post needs a photo… here’s one of Mark and I in a few years. One can always dream….

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

One of my goals is to always be learning, stretching and staying creatively awake. I need to shoot for myself and my enjoyment in order to be the best photographer I can be for others.

Back in the Fall I bought a Holga camera to experiment with. I Was headed to Puerto Rico that week to shoot a wedding and thought I’d bring it along. I’m not use to film anymore… did you know you actually have to take it in and get it processed? Crazy but true. And did you know you can’t snap thousands of photos – my film roll was only 12 frames.

So, I just got my pictures back this week. The lady at the lab told me they didn’t really work out… which wasn’t too surprising to me as it was my first attempt. As I sat in the car and riped open the envelope I found a surprise.

In my early days of working, I had a boss who encouraged mistakes. Well, not mistakes… but his theory was if you’re not making the occasional mistake – you’re not taking risks, and not growing. That lesson has stuck with me.

So, I present to you my surprise I found… also known as my mistakes.

I found a few images that I liked – errors and all. When I look at them I’m reminded mistakes can be beautiful.

These are all straight from camera (mistakes and all!)

Celebrating life, love and mistakes,

Krista

A few years ago I read an article that has stuck with me. We celebrate so many firsts throughout our lives…

first steps
first laugh
first birthday
first day of school
first lost tooth
first baseball game
first date
first car
first kiss
first day of university
first job
first….
first….
first….

But we don’t celebrate the lasts because we simply don’t know when it will be our last. But often they are more of a milestone but go by unnoticed.

Last car ride with the entire family in the car
Last time a child holds their parents hand
Last day Eden wears a princess dress in public
Last night Madi asks for cuddles and a bedtime story
Last….
Last….

Today for some reason this whole idea was going through my mind. And it reminded me yet again, to celebrate each moment. To make a conscious decision to celebrate.

To celebrate when Eden wants to be near me all day long – even going as far as to bring her colouring onto the island while I cook supper. One day she will likely want to be as far from me as possible instead.

To celebrate when Madi offers a song and dance performance. Who knows when her last impromptu performance she offers me will be.

To celebrate when Eden colours the frog peeing… no, it’s not male anatomy. She already did that earier in the day. Got to love 5 year old humour.

To celebrate when Madi sneaks inside to surprise me with setting the table – complete with wine glasses, kleenex box, pussy willows and a card.

To celebrate when Madi’s imagination includes a winter coat, scarf, boots, hat, lantern, flower…. instead of instantly hollering at her to put things away.

May you find reasons in the mundane today to celebrate – the firsts and the lasts and everything in between!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Three years ago I photographed adorable Lukas and his family out at his family’s Greenhouse business. At that time he was an only child….

Fast forward three years and Lukas is now a big brother to baby sister Gina!

Gina’s mom contacted me while still in the hospital… she was a tad excited I think! So, I headed out to meet 6 day old Gina… what a sweetheart! With her full head of gorgeous, black hair and great disposition… I can see why the family is so smitten!

We started off at the family home….

Since their parents own Greenhouses, there were fresh flowers everywhere – beautiful!

Gina’s mom made this gorgeous quilt!

Big brother Lukas is so sweet with her…

I took this photo of Gina, and afterwards noticed Lukas in the background. Love the protective big brother!

Gina needed to relax after all that posing – and so she just chilled in her bedroom…

Gina is destined to have a love affair with shoes….

As we headed out to the car, we popped over to the orchard to take some more photos.

We then headed to Stitch - an amazing store where Gina’s mom works and loves to be at. The store is called “A Sanctuary for Knitters, Quilters, & Needle Artists”…. I haven’t ever knitted or crocheted or anything and it’s been 15 years since I made my one and only quilt… but you step foot in here and you want to create. You imagine all that you could make and you start drooling over wool and needles and material that you have no idea how to use. I could visualize the book “The Friday Night Knitting Club” after being in this new location. Joslyn, the owner, is a calming presence… I think being around her I could just learn to knit through osmosis. A few years ago I was able to photograph her own family at her previous store location – seriously, I’m in love with this woman’s decorating taste.

Gina was suppose to be a planned c-section for St. Patrick’s Day so she had a green dress all ready… but Gina had other plans and came 5 days early. But we still had to honour the green!

This photo was actually an accident – I was getting ready to snap as soon as Gina was calmed by dad’s hand… so I snapped while he soothed her to make sure everything was ready to go. But when I looked through the photos I was drawn to this “accident”. I don’t generally name my images but for me this one is called “Time Flies”

Since Gina’s mom is a quilter, we had to add some photos of Gina in the quilt material…

She was loving the camera! She was fussy, and then as soon as I would click – she’d stop and visibly calm down. I think we have a future model on our hands.

Thank you for the honour of photographing your new daughter… she is beautiful! I love looking at the meanings if names, and I looked up “Gina” and see it means “Queen”. Perfect name for this little regal beauty!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I realize I haven’t blogged since Vegas… so I thought I’d show you what I’ve been up to….

I went from enjoying the lights of Vegas….

To the lights of home….

The strip of Vegas…

To the strip at home…

Walking nightly with friends….

To walking nightly with my family…

I’m always amazed how at one moment I can be surrounded by the buzz of the city and lights of Vegas…. and a few hours later I can be sitting in my hammock in the middle of no where. As much as I adore travelling, coming home is always the best feeling!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

The second night we were here we went to the Hard Rock cafe for a nice quiet dinner… it didn’t happen. Instead we fell in love with the staff as they had us laughing until we cried and our stomachs hurt. So we went back the next night … and the next night….

In that time we met Marie. She is the sweetest person!! In one of our chats we heard a bit of her story – she had a rough couple of months. And you know what – you have a decision when bad things happen. You can get bitter or you can get stronger and move on changed. Marie cut her hair, started working out and has an awesome attitude on life. We had to wait until Tuesday afternoon to photograph her and her daughters because she was building a house with Habitat for Humanity. You know – what most single moms who is actively involved in her daughters’ lives while working a full time job does. I love Marie.

So, we wanted to give her something. And the best thing we can offer her was some memories of this time in her life – where she could choose bitterness or love… and she chose to love. Just look at how her entire face beams. Love.

Meet 9 year old Brianna – she loves to read fantasy books. She is a helper – getting up early to help make breakfast and school lunches. She loves her sister – even when she’s a brat. She is poised and confident – at supper someone came over to our table, and Brianna held out her hand to shake and said “Hello. I’m Brianna.” with so much confidence – you would think she was 25. Brianna also loves fashion and modeling. Watch out world!

And meet 7 year old MacKenzie. Like my 7 year old Madison she fell in love at SeaWorld and wants to be a dolphin trainer. She’s a little munchkin who probably did 100 cartwheels in our time together. She giggles easily. She doesn’t sit still because there is a run, cartwheel or spin just waiting to bust out.

Sisters – one minute loving… the next fighting. Got to love it.

Marie, Brianna and MacKenzie – it has been an honour getting to know your family. Thank you for supper and for many laughs.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

This is my fourth year coming down to WPPI. Every year Sunday is my favourite. Usually there are not as many classes or activities on Sundays – and so we take the day off, rent a car and go exploring!! It’s become a tradition that I love.

I’m not much of a city gal – so I love to get away from the glitz, lights and noise (and smoke! Is this the last place on earth you can smoke in a building?) and just re-focus. When Mark and I travel – we’re the same. I remember when we were in Europe – our highlights definitely were when we rented a car and just explored the countryside and small unknown towns.

In past years at WPPI we’ve gone to the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Ghost Towns… but every year I return to my favourite place. Valley of Fire.

So this year we took a minivan AND a car of all of us Canadian gals (where are all the guys this year? The women are representing!) and off we went…

We shoot each other as models each year – great practice for photographers to be shot and be reminded what it’s like to be on the other side of the lens. Look how ridiculously excited we get…. ha ha.

Kathy just wanting to snap!

The other constant in my WPPI travels is Sandra… every year she and I have made this trek together!

And the last two years Nataschia has joined our travels

Finally we keep going and get to the Valley of Fire. It’s an hours drive at most out of Vegas – and so gorgeous!

Oh! And look who else is at the Valley today…

ANd then the fun begins. Oh – did I mention it was RAINING all day? Raining in the desert. Strange.

Funniest moment ever… Nataschia spinning, spinning… and crashing into the bushes!! Feet right up in the air!

Look! A smiling elephant!

The one thing I always feel when I go to somewhere like here or Grand Canyon – is how small I am. A reminder that as huge as my problems may seem – in perspective… they’re a drop in the big wide ocean.

Then we drove home a different way along Lake MEad – stunningly beautiful. But a visual reminder to drive safe – eeks!

One of my favourite places here I haven’t visited since my first year here – love it!

Self-Timer photos never grow old….

The drive home – every corner was more beautiful than the last.

Then all of a sudden we saw a glow… Vegas!

A great day!!!

So much more to blog – stay tuned!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I’ve been coming to WPPI for 4 years… and every year I say I’m going to enter the print competition. Every year I procrastinate or chicken out. This year I missed the cutoff. But… then they extended the deadline and I decided I HAVE to do this!! So, I decided I only had time to get one photo ready, printed, matted and shipped.

Entering the room for print competition I felt ill. Nauseous. These are international print judges from the UK, Australia and across the US. Multi-award winning judges looking at my photo? It seemed Like two separate worlds of mine colliding. The world where I read magazines and blogs of these award-winning photographers and drool over their images. And me sitting at home in Ontario at my computer editing, sending emails, ordering prints and working away. We spent a couple hours of watching the print competition – learning so much from their critiques. SO much.

Well, when my two worlds collided these are the words I heard….

“Photography standard”

“It’s art I would hang in my home”

“Great black and white”

“Beautiful, timeless pose”

“Breathtaking”

“it looks real and not over photoshopped”

It was a great experience and now I’m eager to up my game and enter more next year.

And then I logged on to Facebook, and found this new review on the edison page from Angela (the bride in this image):

“The depth of a beautiful photo is just a reflection of the depth of the artist behind the camera. I don’t know how she does it, but when you look at Krista’s photos you recall what you were thinking in the moment. She will bring out things you thought were only knowable from the inside. Her photos aren’t simply pictures, they’re diary entries.”

Celebrating life and love,

Krista