A lot of my clients are new moms, so I thought I’d share a little healthy tidbit here. You may have read the article on the Life section of the Globe and Mail, but if not, I want to share with you my new find - Curbside Cycle. They also have a website at www.curbside.on.ca - check them out! Their website/blog is quite fabulous.

Anyway, Curbside Cycle specializes in commuter bikes. Usually, when I walk into a bike store, I see a line up of sleek racing bikes - you know, a la Lance Armstrong type bikes. Thin frames, thin tires, all sorts of ultra sophisticated technology such as carbon fiber and even titanium frames. The lighter the bike, the more expensive it is, and presumably the faster you can ride it. Commuter bikes are at the other end of the spectrum - the heavy duty ones are often made of steel, the bikes are made to carry loads, and thus often have rear racks, panniers, and front baskets. Fenders are typical as well (you would never see fenders on a racing bike since they add, heaven forbid, extra weight!).

With the price of gas being what it is, increasingly more people are turning to bicycles for their commute. It takes a little bit of practice to feel comfortable sharing a lane with cars, but as long as you ride defensively, wear a helmet, and practice during non-rush hour traffic at first, it won’t be long before you feel comfortable. The added bonus is of course the health benefits. This week, I’ve been cycling to do my groceries as opposed to driving, and I have to say that I feel so much better - not just health-wise but also the fact that I am using a sustainable mode of transport.

It helps that I am loving my ride - the Princess Sovereign made by Pashley, a company in England that has been making bicycles since the 1920’s. If I may say so myself, it is a beauty of a bike!

Make sure you check out the bicycles at Curbside Cycle if you decide this may be something you would like to pursue! Ask for Eric - not only is he sweet as pie but he is also super helpful and knows what he’s talking about. (I am not affiliated with them - I’m only a happy and satisfied customer)

Have fun and stay healthy!

One of the main reasons that I love what I do (other than the fact that I get to photograph brand new babies and children, who are always so honest!), is that I meet tremendously wonderful people. Like the mom and dad of baby R. They are so in love - not just with their brand new baby R but also with each other. It was so heartwarming to witness! Thank you, J, for choosing me. If it wasn’t for J, I may not have had the opportunity to photograph baby R and her family. As promised, here are some sneak previews for you all! Hope you love them as much as I do - baby R was such a dream to photograph.

Baby R saying “Enough already!!”

Cute cute cute! I just love this age. I find it awesome how expressive babies can be - whether they are sad or happy - you will know right away. Babies are so honest eh? 

I really enjoyed baby W’s photography session. She was spunky and so much fun. But we will remember that she doesn’t like lying on fuzzy things……(sorry, inside joke!).

And I couldn’t resist this one - I love mom’s expression - so natural and loving.

I had the honour of photographing little newborn A when she was mere days old. She has grown up a little bit since then! It is always so much fun photographing baby A and her mom and dad…just really cool, fun, kind people. You guys rock! I am glad you replanted yourselves in Toronto.

These photographs of baby A will give you a little taste of what you can expect. They’re all wonderful!

And finally, here is baby A ready to nap after being a model for an hour!

No words can describe how gorgeous baby G is. So new! Mom brought newborn G for his first ever photography session last week, when he was just 11 days old. Baby G was exceptionally calm, and loved snuggling in my blankets. I don’t want to go on too much here, as I will let the photographs speak for themselves.

There must be something in the water! I was away for a week, but I came back to Toronto to a slew of newborn and baby photography sessions. (The portrait sessions did, however, take my mind off that horrid flight home - imagine your flight being cancelled after you, your husband, your 9 month old, and your 3 year old have all boarded the plane.)

Anyhow, I am not complaining about the baby boom! I had a fantastic week. I got to make photographs of two teeny tiny sweet newborn babies, plus two cute-as-pie 8 month olds.

Having said that, I am a little bit more behind than usual (if you can imagine that). I know you are all waiting for your sneak previews. I promise I will have them up for you before the weekend is over. It will be worth the wait!

Precious precious precious!

This family means so much to me - I photographed their daughter, M, (as you can see) when she was a newborn, when she was around 6 months, and then when she was just over a year. Now, M has two new siblings - a brother and a sister all at once:

Babies L and L are the most content set of twins I’ve photographed yet.

You can see that baby L (on the right) is smiling if you look carefully. Obviously she likes that her brother is hugging her!

Finally, I love this feet photo - the feet almost look like they belong to only one baby, but actually, the top foot belongs to one, and the bottom belongs to the other!!

Can’t wait to present the rest! They’re stunning!

I took my kiddos out to Centreville yesterday (what a gorgeous day), and decided to load one of my cameras with infrared film. Well, not true IR film, but Ilford’s SFX, which gives a similar look when used with a deep red filter.

Centreville is a great place for photographs because it is such a beautiful setting. I was quite happy with my results.

Here is one of my sons (on the left) with his two friends. I love this photo because I feel that it really captures the essence of that moment - the two kids looking out the window, anticipating what is to come.

What’s an amusement park without a ferris wheel?

My son driving for the first time! (by himself, no less!)

Last one - my son playing “Frog Hopper.” He’s the one in the middle (because he was the biggest!).

There are simply no words. That is, no words that I can use to describe how precious and beautiful this little newborn is. She slept for most of the session, but when she was awake, she was calm, which really is quite unusual for newborns. (I find that newborns are usually hungry when they are awake, and when they’re hungry they cry!) It was such a pleasure and an honour to have the opportunity to make photographs of Baby E. Sessions like these make my job the best job in the world. And by the way mom, you are so loving, warm and fun!

I am so privileged to have the opportunity to photograph M again. He definitely was (and still is) one of the most agreeable, camera-loving (I must say the camera loves him too), and CUTE baby boy I’ve photographed. He was six months old when I first met him:

Look at him now!

He hasn’t changed that much, just grew a crop of gorgeous, curly hair and gotten taller!!

I should add that these portraits were made with one of my film cameras, and obviously, were also made on-location (as opposed to in-studio). I must say that I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed the challenge of finding the right light, of being in an environment where little M was clearly comfortable (his home), and simply just shooting film again. There really is something magical about film. Any photograph chosen by M’s mom will be hand-made - printed on fiber base paper in a traditional wet darkroom by one of the finest darkroom artists in North America, if not the finest.

I know that by looking at the photographs above, one cannot tell the difference between a digital file (the first one of M up top) and the film scans (M older). In fact, the digital file probably looks cleaner. But unless one has an expensive drum scanner, it would be very difficult to make a scan from a film negative look as “perfect” and smooth as one that came straight out of the camera. Just remember that ultimately it is the look of the print that is the most important, and I would argue that it is hard to beat a true fiber base silver gelatin print that has been hand-made in a wet darkroom. My humble opinion anyway.