Photographer Cousins

Last week my cousin, Ginger came over to the house and we had a great play date with our little people.  We got out on that rink and tested it's frozen condition (which wasn't totally frozen).  Everyone picked up a hockey stick and got into the fun of being outside in the winter.  So far we have been out on the ice everyday--skates or boots, it doesn't much matter so long as we are soaking in Vitamin D.

I treasure these days that our little people are all at home and we can spend time together as cousins with them.  And I feel lucky that my cousin Ginger is around and can capture the moments for us (when my camera is packed full of client photos).   Thanks for making memories with us on the rink and then getting some great shots too!

And this was the day we got some beautiful shots of little sister, Bronwyn in the studio at 3 months old.  (I'll attach a few).  I've also attached the blog post I wrote about our session in the studio with all the little ones running around.  Gracious. It's a miracle we got any photos.   Here is the link to the post about Bronwyn and the pictures from the session:

http://www.magnoliacoastsphotography.com/#!Toronto-West-Mississauga-East-Photographer-Three-Months-for-Baby-Bronwyn-Grow-with-Me/c2ju/56a1a7f20cf2009838b67451

Next time, we are planning on getting a little video of the session maybe when Bronwyn turns six months or a year!

Adventures of a Birth Photographer

Never in a million years did I think I would have the chance to photograph a birth.  Even when my friend, Sam asked me to photograph hers I couldn't believe it would actually happen.  Not only to be witness to such an incredible event, other than being at my own children's births, but also to document it for their family and for all posterity.  I have to admit I was a bit nervous of the whole thing. 

In the days leading up to baby Indi's birth, I felt sort of like a midwife myself, waiting for a call to run off into the night to deliver a baby.  There was an afternoon we were sure the baby would come.  My friend Lucy and I, having put our kiddies to nap under the same roof, sat having tea and felt a little like this is what neighbors used to do.  Where were our socks to darn and knitting to be done while we waited to hear of a baby's soon arrival?

Sure enough it was a false alarm and the baby arrived nearly a week later, with a phone call at 4:45 in the morning and a delivery a mere two hours later in a birthing pool in my friend's living room--a home birth, a water birth, a long-wished for fulfilled birthing dream for my friend, Sam. How amazing to bear witness to such a thing.

How can I explain in words what I witnessed that morning in the dim light of their living room, sun not yet up, candles lit and low lights?  The birth was calm, serene, albeit intense, to be sure.  As the moment drew near, I could hardly believe the baby was making his way out and to the surface of the water so quietly and unassumingly.  There was no panic, no urgency, just a beautiful work of a mother bringing new life into this world from the shallow depths of a birthing pool surrounded by the closest of family and friends.  It was simply the most beautiful thing I have ever seen unfold in front of my eyes and I am still in awe at the wonder, the rawness, the intensity, the beauty of birth.

Sam's experience certainly wasn't my own birthing experience, as unique as each woman, each child itself is.  But it was beautiful and complex and intense just the same.  Somehow in watching and documenting Sam's delivery, I feel like it became part of my own story.  Watching a birth changes you each time.  To echo the words of my birth doula, with whom I shared a short exchange last evening.  "It humbles you, grounds you" and allows you to stand still for just a moment, admire the strength and endurance the human body and take in the beauty of newborn life.

For more pictures, visit: http://www.magnoliacoastsphotography.com/#!birth-photography/c8qu.  All pictures are shared with the approval of the mother, Sam.

Little Artist.

The past couple of days have been really, really hard for me.  I think the long hours of parenting a toddler with a newborn, some hectic evenings and unpredictability are starting to wear on me.  I feel like I am probably not the best Stephanie right now.  And maybe it's because I am trying to do too much?  But honestly, I feel like getting out of the house keeps us sane these days and provides a good routine to the day.

Anyway, today we decided to stay home and just be ok with being in our house and not going anywhere in particular.  But it means that I had to get a little creative.  While the baby slept, I hauled out some big white sheets of paper and taped them to the bathtub walls and spread out some paints on a little make-shift easel and handed Gabriel some paint brushes.  I got this suggestion from my childhood friend, Dianne, who's husband is often away with the army leaving her as a solo parent for months on end.  She has to get creative too.  

So with Temper Trap playing (my go-to music for making my own art), we created a little masterpiece together.  Mostly Gabriel, but I started him off.  He painted a lot of "airplanes" and altogether had a lot of fun.  And the best thing about painting in the bathtub is that no matter where the paint goes, it can all wash off easily afterwards.

 Does this kid have killer eyelashes or what?  I have to admit I am a bit jealous!

 We finally found a good use for this 'bib' which apparently is not cool for eating but makes a great painting smock.

And afterwards, we had to clean up and so Gabriel got a bath out of the whole deal and I took out the bath crayons and let me go to it. 

I am pretty sure that all great artists would have had their start in a bathtub with bathtub crayons if they existed once upon a time.  There is just something to handing over some freedom and giving them an outlet for creativity, I think.

You might also like:

• A little Artist inspiration from the National Gallery of Art.
• Late Night Painting Sessions.
• Cottage Life Part 1 :)
• Poetry 
• Works of Art.

A little Artist inspiration from the National Gallery of Art

With all intentions of hitting up the Phillips Collection in Dupont today to see the largest Impressionist Exhibit outside of Europe, we found it closed.  But mom and I, equally infatuated with gorgeous art, veered instead to the National Art Gallery on Madison Ave with Gabriel in tow.   And we were impressed!  Even if we really only did justice of the top floor (of which there are three).

The gallery itself is beautifully constructed--skylit conservatories with adjoining galleries, a central rotunda held up by Grecian black pillars enclosing a fountain topped in a black cupid-like sculpture and surrounded by fragrant flowering azaleas.  Its galleries held such wonders as some of the most well-known (and lesser known) pieces of Rembrandt, Degas, Monet, Manet, Raphael, da Vinci...  It was inspiring just being in the presence of such renown artists.

After finding the "Archangel Gabriel" after whom Gabriel was named, Gabriel ran around flapping a map of the Gallery with his arms, the squeals of glee (and exhaustion) echoing in the cavernous galleries.  Unfortunately, Gabriel hit his limit just as we were starting "The Impressionists" (my personal favorite) and we had to take a long detour and revisit once he fell asleep.

I also struck up a conversation with a local artist there doing a replica of a famous painting and we talked technique, about self-portraits and writing.  He, along with the entire gallery of works, definitely inspired me to pull out the canvas and paints again.  Although, I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for the next installment.  They are slow starting, slow finishing and still "practice."

You might also like: 

• The boy who thought he was a Dupont bird
• Stroller pushing at the MNH
• It's a Date with Butterflies 
• Escaping Saturn for the American History Museum

Late Night Painting Sessions

It's one am.  And I am staring at the painting above the fireplace.  Correction.  My painting.  Not sure how I feel about this new adventure.  Highschool was a long time ago and I am feeling incredibly rusty.  A few sleepless nights filled with the exhilaration of inspiration, the afterglow of our visit to the Torpedo Factory, was followed up a trip to the arts supply store and the almost completing emptying of tubes of paint onto canvas.  It started out with an image in my head, but somehow this wasn't it.  But sometimes I think the process of making art isn't as selfish as emptying the beauty in your head as it is working with the canvas and allowing your brush to do what it wants to do.  That's what I discovered over the past couple of late night sessions.  Every time I tried to make it do what I wanted, I ended up having to paint over it.  Or maybe I was just too terrified to actually to really "let go."

Anyway, it's still not done.  But it sits there taunting me from its perch above the fireplace.  I think I have a lot to learn but it's a start and it's an outlet for the creativity....  Because obviously writing, blogging, gourmet cooking and photography aren't enough yet.  This is just a teaser....  Enjoy!

I promise the next post will be ALL about Gabriel and the wild things he is doing.  An update is long overdue.  This kid blows my mind!


See FINISHED PRODUCT.