Rae Clevett Photography

Saturday Morning | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-02-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

Bailey was heading out for the day with friends but before leaving I asked her to take a few photos of me so I could have a new avatar. Since I was checking exposure and lighting before handing over the camera, I snapped a few of her. She's always gorgeous but geez....at 10:00 am on a Saturday morning? My photos aren't quite so gorgeous LOL. Ah....to be a teen again!

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-02-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

The pickings are slim around here right now for any outdoor flowers or foliage. Most mornings we wake up to frost on the bushes or dreary rain. I'm really anxious for the buds to appear and the promise of spring. This bush in my garden retains a bit of color throughout the winter and is welcome site out my window. The thing that bothers me most about winter is not the cold or snow but the lack of color. I get kind of giddy when the colors start to emerge in spring..I know...that sounds kind of dorky doesn't it? LOL

At The Park | Port Moody Photographer

2012-02-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

I like to utilize off camera flash outdoors but there is also something to be said for plain old sunlight. In fact, it is anything but plain. It can be quite amazing! There is something magical about directional soft sunlight creating gorgeous catchlights and soft shadows.

Macro Monday | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-02-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

It's Macro Monday again. Although it hasn't rained in a few days and the sun is out, at this time of year it can be challenging to find something of interest to photograph. I looked at my fruit bowl for inspiration today. This is a shot of a small lime.

The H Family + LOVE | Port Moody Photographer

2012-02-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a group shot of the family. Aren't they adorable? They were such troopers, coming out for photos on such a cold, rainy day. Although we were under cover, it freezing out and, believe me, we got thru the session as quickly as possible. Young Mr. L agreed to hold the "LOVE" sign I brought. It was a pleasure to spend some time with them last wkend.

Valentine's Day Prop | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-31T10:13:00.000-08:00

The focus of this image is the xoxo pin on a stick. Such a simple prop yet so much fun to use for a Valentine's theme.

The H Family | Port Moody Photographer

2012-01-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the wind and rain, the H Family came out for a mini session today. I'm glad I was able to capture a sweet smile from young Mr. L b/c he soon became chilled and wasn't feeling very enthused about being outdoors for some photos. I can't say I blame him LOL. It was a quick session and soon we all went indoors to warm up before venturing out to our cars to head home. I won't post anymore images til later in the wk so I won't ruin the surprise of their group shots.

Sessions Tomorrow | Port Moody Photographer

2012-01-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is where the mini sessions will be held tomorrow. Rain or shine, we'll be under cover so the sessions will go as planned but I sure hope we get some breaks from the rain/snow. I think bringing some blankets for warmth during the session will be a good idea and some mitts/gloves too. It's such a gorgeous location no matter what the weather and I'm so thankful that I live in this beautiful area. Everyone walking by us commented on what an amazing dog my girl is, sitting and posing like she does for me LOL

Burrard Inlet | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

The snow is pretty much gone now. We're back to the wet, muddy Vancouver weather. It's going to be tricky finding interesting things to photograph but I'm up for the challenge! That's part of the fun, searching for beauty in what at first glance looks gloomy, dull and gray. Here's Sandy posing down at the waterfront at the Burrard Inlet. Even though the water was frigid, I had to keep a close eye on her b/c she kept inching towards the water, wanting to dive in.

Macro Monday | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

The snow is almost gone. With all the rain over the wkend most of it has washed away, leaving heavy, wet clumps of snow here and there. It was a magical week of snow and ice but I admit I'm ready for the temps to rise and not have to worry about ice on the roads. My Macro Monday image is a tree stump I discovered while out walking with my retriever and the contrast of the snow against the grainy wood caught my eye. This was up in the Westwood Plateau area.

It's Still Cold Out There | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

But the rain starts this afternoon and in a few days all this snow will start to become a distant memory.

It's Too Cold | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-19T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's too cold for my taste but my retriever doesn't seem to mind at all. I had frozen cold fingers b/c I had to wear my fingerless gloves so that I could work the buttons on the camera. I had to keep a close eye on Sandy b/c whenever she could sneak away, out of my line of vision, she would creep towards the shoreline, wanting to get into the water. At one point I had to hang her leash off a tree stump to prevent her from diving into the freezing cold water as I was focused on getting some shots of the shoreline. What a crazy girl she is. With her arthritic hips and legs you'd think the cold would aggravate her discomfort but if it does...she doesn't seem to care. The cold and snow seems to energize her!

Freezing Cold Hike Today | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-18T18:28:00.000-08:00

I bundled up as much as I could and Sandy and I set out for a hike along the top of Westwood Plateau this afternoon. Even with hat, scarf, mitts and a down filled jacket, it was still bitterly cold...but the scenery was so beautiful. Snow has a way of making everything look pretty.

It's Cold Out There | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

Holy smokes...it's cold outside! This morning I went out onto our back porch to get a shot of this icicle, because that's what you do when it is freezing out...right? You get outdoors to get some pics of the icy cold scenery.

Resting | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

My retriever loves the snow so much she just lays right down in it and has a rest LOL

Snow on Petal | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

The bush outside my front door remains a vibrant yellow throughout the winter. The snow clings to the curved leaves.

Crow | My Stock Images

2012-01-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of my hike, I spotted this crow sitting on the side of the tree trunk. He was peering around the side of the tree for quite some time; I don't know what he was looking at or waiting for...but he was sure patient. Eventually he gave up but not before I was able to get a few shots of him.

Macro Monday | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

For my image share today I'm using a few photos taken yesterday of a bush covered in snow.

A Quiet Spot | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-16T12:02:00.000-08:00

Snow Photos | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-15T21:42:00.000-08:00

We had a dusting of snow overnight so when I looked outside this morning everything had a new fresh layer of whiteness. It was too pretty to ignore. I had my toast and coffee, grabbed my camera, put the leash on Sandy and raced out to the car to head over to the park. It was such a glorious morning! There weren't many people around when I arrived. It was incredibly quiet and peaceful. I walked around for a few hrs, snapping photos and just gazing out at the beautiful scenery. The sky was blue, the snow glistened in the sunshine and there was a clean, crisp smell in the air. What a way to start my day! Both Sandy and I got a great morning workout! Here's a couple of shots I took.

Snow Day | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-14T22:10:00.001-08:00

As we shoveled the snow out of the driveway so I could get my car out to go scrapping with some friends, Sandy raced around the neighborhood, jumping and pouncing in the snow. At one point she lay down in the middle of the road in a blanket of soft snow for a rest. Once we finished clearing the driveway I had Darrell throw a few snowballs for Sandy to catch. She is such a playful girl, you'd never know she is going to be 12 this yr.

Brown Stalks | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

One of my bushes has dried up into brown stalks and I thought it would make an interesting image.

Floral Friday | Stock Images 4 Sale

2012-01-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

There aren't any colorful vibrant blooms around here these days. Although we don't have any snow (yet), it's been cold and wet so I really had to look hard to find anything of interest to photograph. I decided to look for color and texture rather than pretty blooms and this dried brown bush caught my eye. To spruce it up a bit I applied a bit of texture to it. There is always beauty around but sometimes you really have to search for it.

Frost | My Stock Images

2012-01-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a shot of the morning frost on my rhodie bush. I just love a dusting of frost on the greenery, it's so pretty and sparkly.

Photo Challenge | Stock Photography

2012-01-11T17:34:00.000-08:00

The challenge this month is "green". There's not a heck of a lot of green around here right now. Everything is kind of brown and drab looking. But...I saw the frosted grass this morning and thought there might be an opportunity there. I grabbed my camera, put on my 70-200 lens and headed out into our backyard. I got my nose down close to the ground and halfway across the lawn I saw this leaf lying in the frost.

My Girl | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

While I was out in the backyard getting a few shots of "green" for a photography challenge, Sandy stood at the top at the top of the stairs looking down but was afraid to attempt the climb down. My old girl's legs are not as sturdy and dependable as they used to be. I had to come back up the stairs and guide her down. Then to her delight, I opened the gate into the garden area and I let her run around and investigate (and pee) in the usually forbidden area while I took some photos with my 70-200. (I'll share later.)

Courtney & Mitchell | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-09T18:37:00.000-08:00

Here's a shot I got of Mitch & Courtney at Xmas time. The time seems to go by so quickly and they are both growing up in a blink of an eye.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

Throughout the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I put Macro Monday on hold for a bit. Now that we're in the second week of January, I feel like things are starting to get back to normal around here. I still need to put my tree away but the other decorations are stored away, presents have been organized and put away and Xmas 2011 is becoming a distant memory already. This image was taken just before midnight on New Years Eve. I had frozen grapes and chocolate to snack on, as we took a break from our Bunco game and watched the ball drop in Times Square for midnight. If you haven't ever tried frozen grapes...do so... I guarantee you'll like it. Freezing them brings out the sweetness in them and the texture is sort of like a frozen sorbet. Paired with the chocolate, it is just true yumminess!

All the Grandkids | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

This was my last session before Xmas. I didn't want to share any images b/c some of the photos were Xmas gifts and didn't want to take away from the surprise if any of the family saw my site. This was literally right down to the wire, getting the images shot, editing and sending this one off for a canvas enlargement. I was told that it might be shipped in time and might not. Mrs. G elected to take the chance and go for it. We kept our fingers crossed and sure enough, it came in on the last working day before Xmas...whew! That was close. This image was enlarged to a 16x24 canvas for the grandparents. I'll share a few of the group shots later too. Aren't they just an adorable group of kids?

Off To A Good Start | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

A few of us went for a 5 k hike this morning to get the New Year off to a good start. Thx Crystal for inviting me; it was an awesome hike in such pretty surroundings. I can't wait to do it again. I'm making a black eyed peas/chickpeas/ham casserole in the crockpot for dinner tonight and supposedly having black eyed peas is good luck for the new yr. I'm all for that! We've got some leftover dips and nachos from last night's Bunco party so I'm looking forward to sitting back tonight with some nibblies and watch some shows. I've still not seen "Inception" with L. DiCaprio so think I'll finally see that tonight. Here's a few shots of us on our hike today. I brought my Canon G12 along which was so compact and light, I didn't even feel it slung over my shoulder. It was fun to grab some shots of us and Justin was kind enough to take some pics of us girls together. I just love my Weight Watcher buddies, they inspire me and we have so much fun exercising together!

New Year's Eve Outtakes | Coquitlam Photographer

2012-01-01T03:54:00.000-08:00

When we get together we just can't seem to get a normal, everyone smiling, everyone looking at the camera kind of shot LOL. Silly grins, me with the remote in my hand, hubs with his tongue sticking out...silly photos but they make me smile and laugh. We always have fun when we get together and tonight was no exception. We played Bunco and Yatzee, had some wine and then coffee with Baileys and way too much food. At midnight we saw fireworks from our back porch where we could look up into the sky and see the amazing display the neighborhood put on at the school, truly spectacular. Then we sat back and relaxed with some frozen grapes and chocolate, chatted for a bit and called it a night at about 1:30. What a fun night with friends and family.

Happy New Year Everyone | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-12-29T22:22:00.000-08:00

As one year draws closer to ending and another one about to begin, I reflect on all that has happened in this year, the good and the bad. It was definitely an eventful year and there were lots of tears but also lots of laughter and joy. I'm hoping that 2012 brings our family more laughter and joy and less tears. It was a difficult year with us losing our little dog Euker and my mom, within a few wks of each other. With the support and love of my hubs, children and grandchildren, I got thru those difficult months and now am looking forward to starting a fresh year with new goals and plans, some personal and some biz related. I need to work on my new website and want to develop some new packages. I'll still be offering digital files but will also branch off into other formats like canvases and metallic prints. My new studio will hopefully be finished in the upcoming months and I can't wait to offer family and newborn sessions in the bigger space. I have a lot of plans for 2012 and can't wait to get started. I would like to thank all my clients who made this year so special for me. I truly love what I do and the bond we develop as my camera tells your story warms my heart. Thank you all for allowing me into your lives and to share time with your family.

Happy New Years to you all and wishing you joy and happiness in 2012.

The Torbica Family | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

We had fun getting some shots against the Xmas backdrop.

Used Christmas Backdrop | Coquitlam Family Photographer

2011-12-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

When I heard that they hadn't been able to a family Xmas portrait done I said lets head down into my studio and get a quick image done. Ella was getting tired and was feeling a bit sick so her energy was starting to wind down a bit and her cheeks were getting flushed so I'm glad we were able to get a few shots before she just konked out for the night, all her energy just deflated.

Christmas | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-12-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas has come and gone. At moments it was peaceful, at moments it was like a whirlwind of activity, but always there was laughter, fun and love. There were lots of gifts, lots of food and lots of family visiting. I hope you all had a wonderful Xmas. I'm heading out in a few minutes to partake in some Boxing Day shopping. Enjoy your day, however you are spending the last holiday before we all return to work tomorrow.

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-12-02T10:54:00.001-08:00

This bush was in the shade, just beside a pathway and the vibrant green of the buds caught my eye. I discovered this while walking along a path at Granville Island. I added a bit of texture to enhance the background.

Recent Mini Session | Family Photographer | Port Coquitlam

2011-11-30T12:50:00.001-08:00

Recently I had a mini session with Bailey for some head shots. I used two lights with umbrellas in my living room rather than in my studio. I like the wooden blinds as a backdrop.

At The Water's Edge | New West Photographer

2011-11-29T19:21:00.001-08:00

I processed this image in color and B/W but wanted to try out a few warm textures on the background. It produced more vibrant, deeper, warmer colors. I love to play with texture and color in Photoshop; it's my creative outlet. I get so engrossed in applying layers of texture that hrs can go by LOL

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-28T17:06:00.001-08:00

For MM this wk I had to choose my new favorite thing (actually two favorite things) to photograph. I bought orange mugs at Kohl's this summer and I absolutely adore the color, size and how they feel in my hands. I also bought the same mugs in a dark yellow. These are my kitchen decor colors. So they have been my favorite new thing for a few months now. Yesterday I picked up a Keurig coffee system and steamer and after the first cup I was in love. My hubs had a medium roast coffee, I had a vanilla latte and Bailey had hot chocolate with steamed milk; each took only 90 seconds to brew. This afternoon I made a raspberry chocolate truffle latte with steamed milk and cinnamon. All I can say is...hmm....good!

A Boy & A Dog | Family Photographer | New West

2011-11-23T13:19:00.001-08:00

I promised in an earlier post that I would share this photo, so here is the last shot of the session, of young Mr. L and my sweet, wonderful dog, Sandy, who I've trained to sit whenever I need her to pose for me. She kept the kids entertained at the end of the session and they all got some exercise, running around for a few minutes. This photo is a freebie in their pkg, as I'm sure Mr. L will enjoy having this image.

Macro Monday | Nature | Port Coquitlam

2011-11-21T10:30:00.001-08:00

I've had a busy wk so didn't have much time to search out interesting macro images. But I did get this shot of a leaf on a bush in my backyard covered with a bit of snow from our first snowfall this season.

The Kids | Family Photographer | New West

2011-11-21T08:51:00.001-08:00

Kids always seem to like posing against the trees and rocks. For these shots, the fall colors with a bit of sun poking thru the foliage made a gorgeous backdrop.

Mr & Mrs T | Family Photographer | New West

2011-11-20T20:27:00.001-08:00

At the end of the session, I brought out my secret weapon...my retriever, Sandy. The kids were getting restless and tired. Photography sessions often aren't their favorite thing to do and eventually they lose interest so I try to use that time to fit in some couple's photos of the adults. So, the kids were quite happy to run back and forth with Sandy who loved the attention. Every now and then I had to pause while shooting b/c there would be a blur of yellow racing by in the background as the kids and Sandy ran past. Young Mr. L posed for a cute shot of him and Sandy at the end so I'll include that shot as a freebie for them in their pkg. I'll post that photo later, it is soooo cute!

The T Family | Family Photographer | New West

2011-11-20T02:02:00.001-08:00

Their session was booked for next wkend but Mrs. T called this morning and asked if we could get outdoors today for their session. The sun was shining and I agreed that we might not have too many more days like this over the next couple of wks so we met at the park this afternoon for a couple of hrs. We did a number of staged poses but also some fun, spontaneous interactive shots. Here's one of them crossing over the pond.

First Snowfall | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

As I was torturing myself...er...dancing...in zumba class last night I saw the big flakes coming down. It seemed so strange to come out of class and step into the snow. My car seemed to take forever to defrost. It sure looked pretty, everything blanketed in a layer of white. As the night progressed it turned into a slushy, snowy rain and this morning the snow/rain had stopped with the warmer temperature melting the snow away. I got a few shots outside in the backyard to document our first snow here in Coquitlam. It really is starting to feel like winter now. Just last wkend I was still doing fall sessions with the beautiful fall colors. I'm officially closed for fall sessions now. It's time to get into the winter mode with outdoor sessions of snow and bare trees, bundled up in warm winter woolies.

Attitude | Family Photographer| Port Moody

2011-11-15T20:58:00.001-08:00

Young Mr. L was full of impish grins and was making faces at me throughout the whole session. He sure had me laughing (and running).

Macro Monday | Macro Photography | Coquitlam

2011-11-15T09:26:00.001-08:00

I'm late getting the Macro Monday post up, I know. I had a busy day yesterday and the time just slipped away from me. At this time of year I love to be outdoors in the crisp cool weather, surrounded by glorious fall colors everywhere. This year has been especially beautiful. The reds and golds are just stunning and seem to be everywhere you look.

Playing In the Leaves | Child Photographer | Port Moody

2011-11-13T17:13:00.001-08:00

Young Mr. L and Sandy got along great and had a blast playing in the leaves together.

Afternoon Session with G Family | Child Photographer | Port Moody

2011-11-13T16:33:00.001-08:00

The rain held off so young Mr. L was able to run around outside and play while I got some photos of him. He is such an imp, always running, laughing and jumping around. It was really difficult to get him to stay still for more than a few seconds and then he'd be off and running again LOL He's so darn cute and that smile is just amazing! It was a very quick session so there was time at the end before they had to leave the park for him and Sandy (my retriever) to run around together amongst the leaves. My retriever had a blast being chased and she was so tired out after their playtime together that she came home and went to sleep. Here's a rare quiet moment with young Mr. L.

G Family Outtakes | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-10T08:23:00.001-08:00

You might ask, what is an outtake? It's an image that didn't make it into the photographic package. It might not be technically perfect or it might not be composed just perfectly or maybe it's an unguarded moment where the posture or movement isn't perfect but what it is....is a real moment with the subject(s) that makes it wonderful and priceless! I try to include a few outtake images for free into my packages b/c they are often the shots that will touch your heart, make you smile or laugh and are often a great memory of your session with me. Here are two outtakes from the G Family that make me smile because these "real" moments sum up how our session went. There were a lot of smiles and easy laughter.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

We were out yesterday at the river, bear watching...but no bears showed up while we were there so Bailey and I took a walk down one of the country roads. The sun was just starting to set and was a beautiful blue so I turned my camera up towards the sky and about 30 feet up I saw this leaf blowing in the wind against the blue sky. So, right away I thought...Macro Monday!

Siblings | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

I'm finishing up the editing for the G family. They wanted mostly group shots of all of them together but did get a few of the kids alone. This is my third yr photographing this family and it's fun to see how much the kids have grown each time I see them. They're a wonderful family and I'm glad the weather cooperated so we could get outdoors and take advantage of the fall colors.

One More Share of the M Family | Coquitlam Photography

2011-11-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've finished the editing and they have seen their gallery so now can share a few more of their images. Aside from the sneak peak, I don't like to share session images until after the clients see their gallery, so it stays exciting and fresh for them. I really enjoyed my afternoon with them and little Mr. J and Bear captured my heart.Thx S & M for a great session!

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

It's Floral Friday...yay! I love flower photography. Fall is such a lovely time of year with the deeper, warmer shades of reds and yellows. These flowers were just starting to wilt but the rich colors of the foliage was so pretty.

Little Mr. M | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

I am having so much fun editing this session from last wkend. Mr & Mrs M were so friendly, easy going and fun to photograph. They are such a sweet family and little baby M is such a cutie! His eyes, his hair, his little puckered mouth....just absolute baby adorableness!

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-11-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late but I had a busy day yesterday, working and then going out for Halloween night. Today's Macro Monday image is a shot I got last wk of one of the salmon as she was swimming upstream.

Halloween Night | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

We went to Jen's place after dinner and took turns handing out the candy. There were quite a few kids coming by. Poor Sandy (our retriever), she gets pretty freaked out by the firecracker noise and alternated between hyperventilating and shaking to burroughing under the furniture and scratching at the floor. She must have worn herself out b/c we're home now and she's passed out on the floor beside me, sound asleep now. I walked around the neighborhood and took some photos of the decorations. I'll post a collage of images tomorrow. It's almost 9:30 so I'm going to get my jammies on, get a snack (didn't eat too much candy tonight...woohoo for me) and get comfy to watch "Castle" at 10:00. Hope you all had a fun night!

Happy Halloween Everyone | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hope you all have a fun, safe, laughter-filled Halloween evening! I'll be visiting with family and handing out candy but will get out for a bit to capture some Halloween images of the neighborhood sights and displays. Thx Heather for allowing me to get this shot of your pumpkin...it's so adorable! Love the troll doll-inspired hairstyle!

The G Family | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

This morning the weather wasn't looking good for an afternoon session. Heavy rain, gray skies and flooded sidewalks had me wondering how I was going to make this work but after checking a local spot and finding some covered dry areas I knew we could make this work. So I contacted the G family and confirmed our afternoon session. But much to my surprise, the moment I stepped outside my door with my gear...the rain stopped! We started the session close to the covered area to make sure we could run for cover if the rain started up but it never did. So then we ventured further away and got some photos amongst the colorful trees across the street. It turned out to be a bit cool and damp out but the rain stayed away. Here one of the first images I shot. I may tweak this a bit (adding a vignette and eye brightening) but I wanted to get a sneak peak up for them to see. We just got back from a birthday party for myself and Boris. I only had time for a quick edit before the "Good Wife" starts which I never miss an episode of and look forward to getting a few hrs to relax before bed. I'll get a few more images posted later this wk.

The M Family | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-29T22:34:00.000-07:00

Although the ground was still wet, the skies were clear and we were able to get outdoors for a session today. It was a pleasure to meet The M Family and little Mr. Jordan was too cute for words. Don't even get me started on that gorgeous dark curly hair of his, or his big beautiful eyes...oh my! He was so incredibly good natured with only a few fussy moments and he slept quite a bit so mom and dad could get some couple shots together. Their dog "Bear" was such a charmer, very well behaved and he posed in quite a few of the family photos. We had a great time at the park today! Here's a few sneak peaks from their session.

Colors of Fall | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite time of the year to be outdoors. If the weather is nice and I haven't got a session booked that day, I am often out wandering around with my camera, a coffee and my retriever, enjoying the gorgeous colors of fall. The spectacular color of these trees caught my attention as I strolled along the pathway at a nearby park. I haven't got any available spots open for this wkend but am booking now for the following wkend (Nov 5-6). I hope the weather will be clear and the winds mild so there will still be some colorful leaves left on the trees to provide a beautiful backdrop for your photos.

Lafarge Lake | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Just as the sun was starting to set I got this shot. It's such a peaceful location. I really enjoy walking around the pathway with my retriever. It's been a great location for client sessions too.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Ya, I know it's Wednesday, not Monday...but I missed loading a photo for this wk's Macro Monday post b/c my computer was being rebuilt and I just got it up and running last night. All my photos are stored away on an external drive and I will have to reload them all into lightroom so that chore will be saved for the wkend when I have more time. For today, I chose the only macro image I took this wk while I was out photographing the bears and salmon. This was taken with a long range zoom so I had to stand back quite a ways to get this shot and then zoom in. I was leaning against the cement wall and this little fellow kept crawling back and forth the wall.

Salmon | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-25T21:26:00.001-07:00

This is what I was getting photos of just before I saw the bear in the water upstream. The salmon are making their journey upstream, laying their eggs.

My First Time | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

This guy was crossing the river just upstream from where I was standing. The sun was setting and he was in the shade so visibility was dim. I was so excited to see him and I think my hands were shaking from excitement LOL

Golden Hour at RockyPt | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

We went to Rocky Point yesterday so that I could capture some images during the "golden hour". This soft golden light is so flattering, enhancing Bailey's beauty even more so.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Just as we returned to the car, after spending the afternoon down at Rocky Point, Bailey spotted this bloom in the little garden patch in the parking lot beside the car. I grabbed a shot of it for today's post.

New West Quay | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-15T21:53:00.000-07:00

Boris and I spent the afternoon at the New West Quay today. It was a beautiful fall day. I took these photos later in the afternoon, during the "golden hour" when the sun is starting to set and everything is bathed in a golden glow. It's not often we get a fall wkend with no rain so I plan to take full advantage of the great weather and get outdoors again tomorrow. Bailey & I will be heading to Rocky Point Park.

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

My garden is pretty much done for the season. All the blooms have wilted and its just about time to prune everything back for the winter. To find some colorful blooms I had to go indoors at the market. The cheery yellow of this bouquet caught my eye.

Our Anniversary | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

On the way to Applebees for dinner, we stopped out a nearby park for a few photos. We each took a couple of shots of each other with our retriever, Sandy. There wasn't anyone around to take a photo of both of us though. We didn't stay long as the sun was starting to set and it was getting a bit chilly out, also I was starving b/c it was Weight Watcher weigh-in day for me which meant I didn't have much lunch beforehand. I had the quesadilla burger with guacamole and salsa...in one word...heaven! My hubs had steak and garlic potatoes. No dessert for us, we were both too full. It was a quiet relaxing anniversary dinner.

Family Session | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Because of the heavy rain, yesterday morning I packed up my gear and equipment, all ready to do an indoor session for this family. To my delight, by mid afternoon, the sun came out. For the next few hrs, until our session time, I had fingers crossed that the weather would hold...and it did! We were able to head out to a neighborhood park where I got some wonderful photos and the kids got a chance to play a bit too. Both boys have such personality and expressions, they had me laughing quite a bit. Poor Andrew, although he tried to be such a trooper, he wasn't feeling well. He tried to cooperate and join in on the fun but he soon became too ill and tired to want to participate. Luckily, I was able to get some images as soon as we arrived at the park while he still had a bit of energy.It was wonderful to see John again (the youngest) as I hadn't seen him since his newborn session just over a yr ago. He's just the cutest little guy!

Book Fall Session Now | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out this afternoon for a family session and look forward to capturing some of nature's fall colors in the background. The forecast is clear skies for the next 5-6 days so this is the perfect wkend to book a morning or afternoon outdoor session while the weather is dry, or late afternoon next week if your wkend is already full of family activities. How glorious the fall colors look as a backdrop for your family photos. The vibrant, earthy colors of fall make this time of yr my favorite!

Interesting Wall | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

When I saw this wall I knew it would be a fun background to use for some photos. I had the girls do a variety of poses up against this wall. I would have liked to have pulled them away from the wall a bit but since this was a walkway we didn't want to impede the traffic of people going by so I kept them close to the wall to allow people to easily walk by.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late getting my Macro Monday image up b/c I was busy editing images from my day at Granville Island. This flower was in the market. I have no idea what it is but it looked interesting.

First Photowalk Photo | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

Although it started out a bit chilly, the day turned out to be perfect! We spent hrs wandering around, finding so many interesting areas to explore and take photos. Here's one of the girls down at the wharf.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

I know, it's Thursday not Monday but honestly, this wk has been crazy. The time has just been flying by. When I realized that I hadn't done Macro Monday this wk I was going to just let it go and resume next Monday but then I looked down at my keyboard and saw this little chocolate chip on my keyboard, which must have fallen off the protein bar I had eaten. Well, I took that as a sign that I should be getting an image for Macro Monday, regardless of how late I am LOL. So I grabbed my camera, 100 mm lens and extension tubes and brought the chocolate chip out to the porch railing.

Textured Buds | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-10-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

I pulled up this image I took at Granville Island a few weeks ago so I could play with texture layers. I applied a couple of purple/rose textures, blurring and erasing off areas. The SOOC image was very dark, shadowed and dull. The texture layers added back in some color and textural interest to an otherwise drab photo.

Happy Birthday Bailey | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Bailey! Wow, 14th birthday, it's hard to believe! Time really does fly. She's growing up to be an amazingly gorgeous and intelligent girl with more compassion and caring than anyone I know. She is so crazy smart, it's ridiculous! She figured out how to work my strobe lights before I could, she works on crossword puzzles with her grandpa and reads anything she can get her hands on. She's a little mini-me as far as makeup and fashion goes (tee-hee...everyone knows I'm a shop-a-holic and Sephora staff know me by name) so we have tons of fun shopping together. I'm crazy for this girl...she makes me proud!

Tonight we'll head out for a family dinner and then back to the house for cake and gift opening. I'm skipping lunch (except for a piece of fruit) so I can order a yummy dinner and still keep within my daily Weight Watcher points allotment. I'll have cake of course....but a small piece. Today's going to be a great day!

From Granville Island | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-28T15:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of Bailey at Granville Island. As much as I love this image, I can't wait to go back next wkend for the Photowalk and get a redo of this shot. I would like a similar image minus the dabbled sunlight through the trees and want to use my speedlite which I didn't have with me the day I got this shot.

Cool Toned Black/White Image | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

This shot of Bailey was taken a few wks ago when we were out at Granville Island. It was quick shot to give myself a quick visual of the location when I went to map out the area for our photowalk on Oct 8th. Once I opened up the image in PS, I decided that I liked it and although not a well thought out image as far as composition goes, it is a cute shot of her so wanted to keep it...but not in color. I didn't feel the image was strong enough composition-wise and lighting-wise to want to spend much time editing so instead I just took it SOOC and converted it into a gradient b/w image and increased the contrast a bit. I then added a purple/gray tone to it...and then called it "done".

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

This image was one of my shots from Granville Island a few wks ago. I am so excited to be going back on October 8th for our photowalk (sponsored by ClickinMoms). If you would like to join us, click the above "register" link to sign in and get the info on where we'll meet on the Saturday morning. It's open to all ages and skill levels and you'll have an opportunity to upload your photos if you wish, to be eligible to win prizes. We'll stroll around the island, taking photos and chatting with other photo enthusiasts and then have lunch out back on the wharf.

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy week and I didn't get much opportunity to search for flowers for Floral Friday. I did go outside my door and snap a pic of this bloom that is trying to bud but is withering before it can get to the blooming stage. My garden is withering and soon it will be time to prune back a bit and prepare for winter. Soon the fall colors will start to emerge but for now, it's that in-between stage, the end of summer but not quite fall stage, so finding interesting flowers becomes more challenging.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

Found this interesting bloom. The spikey center caught my eye so stopped to get a shot of it. I know that all too soon the blooms will wither away and the rainy/snowy winter months will be upon us, so for now...I'm enjoying being out and about with my camera, seeing what I can capture.

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy Floral Friday as much as I do. If you want to play along and add a link to your blog so we can see your Floral Friday image, please leave a link for us to visit you.

Mom & Daughter | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite images from the wedding, a fun shot of Jen & Ella together.

3 Guys | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

I thought this stone facade on the side of the house would be a great background for a few photos. I had the guys pose for me. They stood a little too close to the stone which caused a bit of shadowing but still made for a nice shot.

Mom & Daughters | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Before the ceremony, I got a shot of Jen with her mom and sister.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I found this bush while strolling along the walkway at Granville Island. I have no idea what is is but it sure is interesting looking. The purple color caught my eye as I walked by. It was a gorgeous day to be out wandering around with my camera. Bailey and I spent about three hrs there, enjoying the sunshine with a breeze coming off the water.

Beautiful Bride | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

This image was taken in the Bride's dressing room before the ceremony. She looks so beautiful.

Wedding Day | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Congrats Rob & Jen on your wedding today. You both looked stunning and the ceremony was wonderful. I'll share more photos later in the wk as I edit. I'm tired now and heading off to bed soon.

Toneguzzo Family | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

I just finished editing their session and thought I'd share a black/white image of the family. I need to charge up the batteries and pack my gear tonight. It'll be a fun wkend, I'm going to a wedding tomorrow and then scouting out the Granville Island location on Sunday morning for a photowalk in Oct that I'm co-leading for Clickin Moms Forum (watch for more deets soon about it and your chance to participate and win prizes). I haven't gotten photos down at the island in ages so will be sure to snap some pics while I'm there.

Quiet Moment | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

The session was fast-paced and busy but there were a few quiet moments.

Toneguzzo Family Sneak Peak | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr & Mrs T this afternoon and their 3 precious little guys. They are such a gorgeous family and I swear I've never seen such amazing eyes before. It was hot and very sunny so we took some shots indoors before heading out into their spacious backyard. Here's a shot of them indoors. I'll post a few more over the next few days.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Since it feels like Monday to me, after having a 10 day holiday away at the ranch, and just getting back last night...I thought I'd post my Macro Monday shot. This image was shot mid day out at the ranch. The background was a white building and I metered for the foreground so the background just turned all white which made a nice backdrop for this shot.

Back From Holidays | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-09-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic holilday but the time went by too quickly. This past wkend was the gala celebration at the ranch and Bailey and her friend tried their luck at a number of games and won a bunch of stuffed animals. The hubs liked the whale and B also gave him a cute frog to hang off his truck mirror. It was hot and sunny so I finally got to wear one of my new sundresses (no pics tho b/c I had the camera so I'm not in any shots LOL). This image was shot in mid day harsh sun so the facial shadow is horrible but I love this shot anyway b/c of the memory....and that's an important thing to remember. The weather, location and time of day doesn't always present the best photog opportunity but hey...the memory is the most important thing so by all means...snap away and get those photos.

Floral Friday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-08-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Last wkend I got down on bended knee for some closeup shots of the flowers outside the rec ctr at the ranch. This will be my last post til after Labor Day wkend b/c we'll be back at the ranch for another wk of holidays. Looking forward to some relaxation time with the hubs and our retriever. I'll be shopping, swimming, playing slot machines, reading books, watching dvd's and maybe getting in a nap or two. I'll post some photos when I get back. Hope you all are enjoying the summer and taking lots of photos.

More From The Ranch | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-08-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more of Bailey at the ranch. I'm heading back up there this wkend so hope to get some landscape photos if the weather is good.

At Black Mountain Ranch | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-08-23T21:53:00.000-07:00

Bailey & I each brought a camera with us for our wkend at the ranch. We had a lot of fun taking photos of each other at this log pile. It was mid day, the harsh sun was creating lots of harsh shadow and haze but we stayed in the shade.

Storyboard for Aiden | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-08-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

After finishing up the editing on their session, I put together a storyboard in black/white of Aiden and his family. This was truly a special session and will hold a place in my heart always.

Macro Monday | Coquitlam Photographer

2011-08-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

It's time for Macro Monday. While at the ranch yesterday, Bailey and I wandered around with our cameras to see what we could find. It was scorching hot, the harsh mid day sun was beating down on us and sweat was dripping off our faces but that didn't stop us. We stopped to snap some pics of the flower beds along the side of the rec centre and to our delight...there were lots of bees buzzing around. You all know I love flower images, but even more, I love flowers and bees together, so I got down on bended knees, handheld as still as I could and snapped away.