I am fortunate to have made some very good friends through the wedding industry. This photo session and the one coming up next are of two gals (and their families) who are amazingly talented at what they do and I love working with them… and hanging out with them! Christa started as a client – but quickly turned into a friend. Christa, Jocelyn (who I’m posting next!) and I love to get together and let our creative juices flow – you can see an example of that HERE, to discuss the wedding industry, trends and being small business owners. But we also love to gab about family, books and life in general. One thing I love about both of these gals is their desire to be their best – in business as well as in their marriages, parenting, friendships and general being. Love these two. I’ll blog Jocelyn soon – but here’s some I wanted to share of Christa!

Christa is the owner of the amazing Anista Designs! Her beautiful stationary is in demand worldwide – often when we chat she is sending items to Australia or throughout the United States. Christa’s work has also been featured in magazines and many websites – including Disney Baby and Glamour magazine. To say I’m proud is an understatement!

But back to photos and this great family… I first photographed Mike and Christa’s engagement, and then their gorgeous wedding, maternity, first child, Christmas photos, as they waited for their second child, and then baby Matthew. And now it was time for our annual photo session!

Christa besides being talented is also big hearted. Since her university days – 12 years in a row! – she has done a turkey dinner at Christmas for her friends. Instead of bringing items for dinner or money to cover the cost of dinner – Christa asks them to bring items to give to a family they “adopt” at Christmas. This year they chose Meera’s family – and Christa came with me to deliver their gifts! In her 12 years of doing this great tradition – this was her first time being able to meet the recipient!

By the time we got back to Christa’s home from visiting Meera, the sun had set (days are SOOO short!) and we wondered if we could do any photos that evening as hoped. I told her to dress the boys in their Dapper Lads suits and we would see what we could do. We took about half an hour, and using just the light of the Christmas lights… managed to capture some magical photographs that capture the feel of Christmas through a child’s eyes. And to capture Matthew’s knees. You’ll see what I mean. Prepare to swoon.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I’ve said it before – I love following the growth of a family through my lens. A few years ago I photographed SPencer and Caitlin’s engagement and wedding… and last weekend I got to document the next stage of their life… waiting for baby!

I commented in their wedding blog post about how I loved how these two look at each other. Still true! Spencer is always looking at his beautiful bride, and Caitlin and that mega-watt smile beams back at him. Can’t wait to see them as parents! Should be any day now – due at the start of January which I think is extra fun as it’s not only what day will the baby come… but also what year is in question!

We met at their home, and photographed in and around their house. I love photographing at people’s homes as it tells part of their story!

I always love seeing baby’s room… such a space of anticipation as new parents decorate and prepare for their newest addition. I just think of it as a room of dreams… I can remember carefully decorating and preparing for my babes, and sitting in their rooms and trying to imagine what my baby might look like or how it will feel to be a mother. As much as one prepares, you’re never prepared to love so deeply and to parent this new being.

Spencer and Caitlin – congratulations! Can’t wait for the notice when the wee one arrives!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

Cherie and I have been friends for over 20years and gone through so much together – the very good and the very bad. We have traveled together, spent time as families together, laughed, cried, fought and bonded over the years. Love this girl and her beautiful family! Always a treat to photograph friends – and it was fun to have Cherie’s family come over for an afternoon and to document them at our home.

Cherie and Pete….

Cherie’s stepdaughter Jodie – and my daughter’s inspiration for her new short hair cut!

Aliah – Eden and her use to fight so bad, but I’m thankful they’re finally friends!

Caden – the only boy on our group of friends who hang out

And I always love getting photos of the couple during a family session!

My beautiful friend!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

A few years ago, I met identical twin sisters when they were bridesmaids in a wedding I photographed. Then, last year I had the honour of documenting Martha’s wedding – with Monica as her maid of honour. These two sisters are so incredibly close! Imagine how thrilled I was to receive an email that they BOTH are expecting their first baby! It was so fun to meet up with Martha & Jared (due in November), and Monica & James (due in early January) and see their bellies! These two couples are so close – living within a block and often getting together for games and fun. And now sharing one of life’s biggest adventures together – parenthood!

I am not a studio photographer – but Monica is into photography and has a great home studio in her basement – so I had to try it out!

And then I got to see James’ man cave – wow! The room is every guy’s dream!

So excited to see the cousins who will no doubt be BFF’s for life!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

I love watching family’s grow… two years ago I photographed this family when Katie had her gorgeous baby bump. And what a fun session as they dragged a canoe out into my yard. And then last year we photographed their now family of five down at the beach – complete with a homemade tent and lantern. And books. Always books.

So, Katie and I started to chat about doing her photos this year. Katie is also a photographer and was doing the 365 project and I loved her photo from January 1st of all of them snuggling in bed. And then Katie’s creativity took off… next thing I know she had her husband drag a bed out to their field to assemble, and we were destroying her feather pillows.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Look how much these kids have grown! So sweet. And their outfits – come on. To answer the question I know you’re all asking – yes, they are seriously this cute.

Little Miss Aubrey….

The Adventurer Mr. Brant…

And the Dapper Mr. Gray

And I did mention a bed right? And books. Always books. (Katie is in my book club also and her and Blake’s love of books has definitely worn off on the kids!)

But what kids really want to do on a bed is JUMP!

Break to snuggle with mom….

And somehow when dads join in, cuddles always turn into wrestles.

But then the real fun began… pillow fight!

Once the kids went back in the house – we had some fun capturing images of Blake and Katie on their own. After 9 years of marriage they still look totally smitten!

And then it was time for their own pillow fight!

And I’ll sign off with the last photo I took… so sweet of Aubrey with Gray.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

A little while back, I got the extreme honour of documenting Desmond’s arrival into the world. It was such a beautiful experience to document his home birth – you can see those images HERE. And so much fun to come back and document Desmond as a newborn now! We met at their family home again, and it was so fun to see how Bella interacts as a big sister and how the family is adjusting to being a family of four.

These next couple photos if I was to give them a title would be “I adore Sarah”. Look at her big laugh and sheer joy. Love her.

This is the look of a baby who is thrilled to discover his parents are so amazing.

Such a gorgeous day!

Love this little series of big sister Bella with her baby brother…

And you know it’s time to go when the baby gives you the finger.

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

If you have been following my Meera posts, you’ll recognize this cutie. Little Miss Ameena.

Ameena turned one recently – sadly the same week they found that her big sister Meera’s cancer was back. Ameena is such a doll. You could not ask for a more relaxed, cuddly little girl – and adorable as well! She has spent much of her first year in and out of hospitals – as Meera was diagnosed with cancer just weeks before Ameena was born. These two girls are so close and have such a special bond. I think these girls will both grow up with an incredible sense of compassion and empathy – can’t wait to see where life leads them.

My friend Jocelyn from Sugarbelle Cakes sent two cakes for Meera with me on my last visit. A gorgeous one for the family to enjoy, and one for a cake smash. I wasn’t planning to do a cake smash portrait session with Ameena but when she was getting a bit restless after a long day, she and I went for a walk and found a nice patch of gardens… right at the hospital ER outside Sick Kids! We got some strange looks – but we didn’t care! Ameena had her cake and I was celebrating one incredible young lady.

Happy birthday, Ameena!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

It is always so much fun to see a family grow through photos. It had been about a year since I had documented this sweet family at their farm – and it was great to go back and see how they had grown and changed. They are such a sweet family – made documenting them fun! The older two kids had so many ideas for poses and locations – I could easily do a blog post on each of them individually! But instead let’s see how cute this entire gang is!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

A couple years ago, I was to document Cynthia’s pregnancy – but then Miss Maia decided to come several weeks early and interrupt all plans! That’s okay though – she’s such a doll, and a healthy, happy girl now! It was so good to see her now running around, laughing and playing with her mom and dad. Just adorable!

We met on a day that had called for rain – t urned out to be a perfect evening to enjoy playing at the Hamilton waterfront!

Celebrating life and love,

Krista

As I mentioned when I posted Kris and Sarah’s maternity photos, last week I had the honour of documenting the birth of their son.

Now, I have never photographed a birth and the only two births I’ve witnessed – I’ve been the one giving birth. I didn’t know what to expect. And it was a home birth – again, something I had never experienced. But I love photographing life moments and new experiences. I was honoured when tehy asked me.

Not knowing when the baby would decide to come I was worried that perhaps the arrival would happen and then I’d be scrambling for child care (as it’s summer holidays and my girls are home) or that I’d be out at a wedding or something and unable to go to the birth. It couldn’t have worked out better on my end! My kids were at a sleepover when I got the text – and Mark and I had a chance to have a nice dinner the two of us and enjoy a movie together before I headed over.

If you don’t know Kris and Sarah – you’re really missing out. They are two of the most genuine, loving people. When Sarah would have a contraction, Kris was right there to hold her tight. As the contractions started to finish Sarah would often grab Kris and kiss his face saying “I love you so much!” Not the screaming, crazy woman you stereotypically hear of (although that’d be fun to document too – ha ha). And when the contraction was done, Sarah would turn to us – her mom, her doula Teri, the two midwives and myself, and ask if we needed any refreshments or coffee or…. seriously? You’re having a baby! Let us wait on you!

I loved this moment below. SOmeone said to Sarah something along the lines of “you’re baby is coming tonight”. And she started to bawl. “I get to meet my baby! I get to hold them! I can’t wait to meet my baby….” Beautiful.

Sarah went up to the tub to help her body relax. (I should mention their 17month old daughter slept through the entire birth!) I stayed back to give her privacy – but suddenly we heard “it’s coming” and me and her mom ran upstairs! ABout two minutes later this beautiful baby boy arrived on the scene.

As soon as Sarah saw the baby, her reaction moved us all to tears. Between kissing Kris and the baby she was crying “I love you so much! Desmond William you’re here! I love you! I love you!”

And Kris was in his glory just beaming at his son.

What a perfect boy – weighing in at 7lb 12oz and so gorgeous!

One of the best jobs is given to the dad – calling family to share the news!

Sarah’s mom is smitten too I think!

This is going to be one adored little boy!

Desmond – you are loved!

Celebrating LIFE and love,

Krista