I know first hand the bond a mom shares with her children.  Not that we love them anymore than our boys, but the mother / daughter bond just seems so strong.  I could see it here with this beautiful woman and her gorgeous daughter.  This was a session that included so many different aspects.  Starting off a glamour session with mom (before the kids came home from school), then we captured the sweet innocence of her little girl as soon as she came home from school.  Then some of mom and her, and more glamour outside.

I can’t say it enough, how special it is to capture these moments.  They will now have these images to look back on, with fond memories as to what they looked like, what they felt like, just bringing them back to that connection… long after the little girl is grown and embarking on life adventures of her own.

These images are just a select few of all the shots we got, i really had a super hard time narrowing it down.  So this is what you get!  Enjoy!

xoxo

Such an amazing trip.  Words can’t even really describe it all, seriously.  Amazing women, super cool locations, incredible learning and close connections just made it all.  I have come away with so much, that will stay with me always.

Thanks Terri for hosting this in your home town (well, city), for all the hard work you did.  It turned out better than perfect.  Thanks Ali of Ali Hohn Photography for everything.  If you haven’t seen any of Ali’s work, click over there, she is amazing.  You will see why I couldn’t wait to soak up her knowledge and all that she has taught herself.

I haven’t laughed so hard in so long, it was so overdue!  Thanks ladies for the best time.

p.s. check out the moonrise hotel, where we stayed.  It was cooler than cool, in every detail.

Here are a few shots from the weekend.  Link over to my facebook page for more!

I had a hard time thinking of just the right word to use to describe this post… which tends to happen every now and then.  Other times it seems i just keep thinking of the same words, no originality.  So tonight, i went through the discussions i had with this gorgeous woman, thinking about just so much from the session… then i looked at my own wall, here in my office.  It just struck me as appropriate.  One of my best friends gave me a small wrapped canvas, with a bamboo print on it, with the words “Dare to believe in yourself”.  Perfect.  Perfect for so many reasons, for believing in yourself, your dedication, devotion, inner and outer beauty and for believing in me to capture them for you.

You can imagine how powerful this statement means to me.  This last year has been full of challenges, both personally and professionally. Because I keep photography so close to my heart, the struggles i faced with it, hit me personally as well.  My family and friends have kept encouraging me and loving me and always reminding me… so i keep that canvas right at eye level, beside my computer.  I can finally say that i believe it.  I believe in me.  It feels so good and liberating, like a weight lifted… I know there will still be struggles and ups and downs but i truly feel confident to face them and believe i am doing just what i am meant to be doing.

Whoa.  Deep, right. sorry!  On to the fun part, the photos!  I had so much fun, which i always do at these sessions.  You truly are a beautiful woman, thank you for allowing me to share…

Well, I’m off!  I have been anticipating this for actually just over a week!  It all just came together in one day and i am soooo excited.  I will be attending a workshop in St.Louis on the weekend.  There is just a never ending supply of knowledge in this field, and i am so pumped to learn more.  I can’t wait to come back rejuvenated, inspired and completely motivated to start off 2010’s photography season.  I’ll post some shots from the workshop, when I get back, once my head stops spinning from all the info i am sure will have me really thinking!

See ya Tuesday!

xoxo

Alli

This little man decided to surprise everyone with his arrival at 27 weeks.  Mom was sent to Edmonton, where his delivery was held off for a couple of days, but he really wanted to meet the world, and his loving mom and dad.  For almost 3 months he stayed in hospital, with mom by his side.  The community really came together with an outpouring of support.  The elementary school where mom works, got going on fundraising and the gathering of baby items, among other things.  The family was able to stay in a condo while baby was in hospital, money was raised to help support their stay there and get started on things for baby.  It just really goes to show the love and support of people.  Such a touching story, it made it to the local paper back in early November…

I was touched to be asked to do the photos when baby finally came home from the hospital.  So although he is 3 months old now, he weighs in at almost 9 lbs.

It was so wonderful to meet you, all of you.  Thank you so much.

OK, so their not an Oiler fan family... but really who can blame them?

Hi!  I just thought i would take a minute to pay some attention to the blog!  Not that i am ignoring it… just finishing up a couple sessions hoping to post those soon!  In the meantime, i thought it would be ok for me to just chat with you and keep in touch!

I’m not exactly sure what i wanted to talk about, i was hoping it would just come to me as i type… and re-type .

Let’s start with some thoughts, mine first.  Then i would love to hear from you.  I have exciting thoughts, looking forward to the months ahead, the sessions booked, the photography workshops (which is always fun, i think photography is something a person could learn about forever, there can be just sooooo much to it!), i am actually excited for all opportunities.  When you find something you love for yourself, the drive to improve and keep learning is so profound.  It’s just so challenging and fun!  I mean, i never felt this way throughout school.  I just did it, the best i could and graduated.  But now, holy, if i only had the money, i would be investing in so much photography gear, traveling, meeting new people and mentors!  I am excited this year to be learning and creating through the weddings, engagement, family and glamour shoots i have booked.  When i say this i mean learning both creatively and about the people i photograph.  I love the connection i feel with the people in front of the camera.  So one of my goals is to keep in touch, with all those who touch me.  I really want to encourage people to keep in touch with me too and ask questions about anything!

Also, i am excited about our trip to Mexico with the kids and our best friends in May , and the camping-evey-weekend summer!  (I leave from the camp site to go to weddings, almost always!)

I’m excited about the goals i have set out for myself personally and professionally…

So, what about you?  You can always connect with me on facebook too, the link to my facebook page for Moments Photography by Allison is the little button at the top.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  It’s not too often i take the time to reflect personally on the blog.  I have always thought of this blog as a place for my business, but i think every now and then people want to know the real person behind the client posts…  I think i will try and take more time to do just that…

Ok.  Seriously, people like this make my job pretty much as easy as it gets… the only problem is, I just get so carried away, that i end up with a million shots, that i really have the WORST time weeding out.  In other words, we shot for just over something like 2 hours, I shot about 420 pictures and after going through them, i still ended up with 114.  I couldn’t help it.  Look at her.  Well, she does have fun in front of the camera!

Her sister bought her a gift certificate for a session as she had just opened a brand new hair salon in Killam, she figured it would be a perfect gift to congratulate her!  The name of the salon… Underground Hair.

Congrats on your new venture, all the best, always.  Thanks so much for the fun AND the great shots!!

p.s. sorry for the long post of pictures.  Really.  It was hard.

Guys, remember that gift certificates are available!

I just wanted to take this time to wish all of you all the best for 2010.  I love this time, a chance to look forward, a time to remember, to get excited for all that the new year has to hold, even if we don’t exactly know.  I’m excited for all this year has to bring!  When i look ahead, i am already starting to account for the weekends that aren’t already booked, and plan all of our family things, including home projects, camping and get-a-ways!  I can’t wait for the weddings this year and the other sessions that are scheduled!  Thank you so much to you, those who keep me clicking away, doing something that i just can’t get enough of, you make this possible!  I look forward to your life events, that you invite me to be a part of!

I wanted to sum up 2009… CHEERS!

I just want to thank all those who participated in the comments for Christmas cans, as previously posted.  In the end, I decided to just use all the comments on the blog, since i started it… then rounded up !  So, i bought over 50 non perishable items for our local food bank.  It was a wonderful experience, and something that i would like to keep up.

Originally the comments were supposed to go through to the 22nd of December.  However, i read in the paper that the food bank would be delivering the hampers to those in need for Christmas, then be closed as of the 18th.  So when i took my daughter to gymnastics, we went grocery shopping after together (that’s why she has on the red suit under her shirt ).  She had fun picking out food she thought would be super appreciated, especially for Christmas (hence all the cookies).  I took the opportunity to really talk to her about the importance of giving and how this is the spirit of the season.  Even though it was something she knows, it’s hard to truly “get” it, unless you see it.  We are just so fortunate and so blessed, that it is hard to explain it just the right way to our children.  A few days later, Madison had the chance to wrap presents for Santa’s anonymous with the fire department, thanks to her friend.  But still, I’m not quite sure the true comprehension is really there.

The next day when i went to the food bank to deliver my seemingly small contribution, i was able to meet the staff, see the operation and was explained how it is run.  For Christmas, they were doing well.  Had much food and necessity’s donated… then comes January.  When this stock is depleted and people go back to their every day busy lives, forgetting that even though the holidays are over, there are still those in need.  Then with speaking with the good people there, i have decided that this is something that needs more awareness, so through my small space on the web, i would like to speak periodically about the food bank and just send small reminders throughout the year.  Also, Wednesdays are the soup kitchen.  When they open up to offer a nice hot lunch for anyone needing it.  Volunteers are so appreciated for this too.

I guess this kind of fits into the new years resolution category.  I would like to volunteer more and bring awareness to the fact that we live among people who do need these basic necessities and we don’t even recognize them.  I want to bring my kids in to help out with this… what an appreciation and life experience.

So, thank you all again. Not only for the comments, but for helping the realization and bringing awareness.

I pray you all had a blessed Christmas and from my home to yours, i wish you a wonderful new year, full of love, family and all the blessings of a beautiful life.

xoxo

This list taped to the post is what is needed to be put into the hampers which are delivered at Christmas.  So, in the end, it had to be more than cans…