On New Borns

Taking baby photos, let me rephrase that, taking new born photos is a huge challenge for me. I was excited to do it but I was not comfortable at all. I had the parents present and had them move the baby in different positions. I was afraid to move her.

I had so many ideas in my head but I failed to execute it. The baby either cried, needed feeding, pooped, needed changing, then our time was up!

Learnings from this shoot -

Timing is important. Talk to the parents, ask when scheduled feeding would be (as I assume the baby would sleep after that). Work with the baby's schedule not yours.

Just like on adults, if you're getting new clothes, make sure it fits. You don't want the baby swimming in the clothes. 

If you're DYI-ing your props, do it properly. I created a headband with little flowers. It was cute laid out on the bed but wrapped around the baby's head, the flowers were not properly placed! Thank you Photoshop, I cloned one of the flowers and I think it came out okay.

Keep your eyes open. There are moments, unposed that could be interesting. I took this photo while mom held the baby, trying to soothe her.

Use pop of colour. Step away from the usual black or white. Play with focus.

Don't leave out the big sister/brother.

The shoot was fun. Will I do it again? Yes, but only with people I know well, who will be patient with me.

Due

My dslr has been gathering dust (yet again).  I always knew that I'd pick it up again and take it out in due time.  That time came couple of weeks ago.  Off I went (with Alvin) and forayed into maternity photography. My sister-in-law was supposedly due in a week then. 

The shoot was fun and though a bit rusty, we managed to get some decent shots. The whole family was a good sport and we all had some fun.

Here are some of the photos.

The fun and wacky side of everyone was evident in some of the photos.

Big sister is very excited and has been patiently waiting for the baby.

She promised to take care of the baby and volunteered to change diapers.

Soon, there will be tres Marias.

The Reply

It was my niece's 6th birthday couple of weeks ago.
She had a fancy cake - purple with pink trimmings and a nice Pinkalicious topper.
It was cute! I wasn't at the celebration, hoping there'd be some left-over, I kept asking her, "Where's my cake?"

The present I gave her had a card with cake drawings and added, "Where's my cake?"
A week after, she gave me a thank you card.

Front of the card

She claims it was her idea to give me this.

She asked me the same question - where's the cake?!

I got my answer when I opened the card!

Pop up card

  
We had a good laugh.

C&T

My sister got married earlier this year, thankfully without the reality TV drama. 

I wish I had taken photos that day, but I was the gofer and the secondary videographer (and after, the editor). It was still a lot of fun! 

For the video, I picked Train's songs - "Marry Me", as I thought it suits the couple's personalities, and "Soul Sister", just because I like the song :)

Side Story:  Upon their engagement announcement, I made it clear that I didn't want to be the bridesmaid. Let me be clear, not because I was avoiding the potential horrible bridesmaid's dress but because I thought it would be best to be the gofer, to relieve the bride of some stress. For the first time, I'll be the "yes, ma'am" girl to my eldest sister. It was funny that for the entire time leading up to the big day, I was more stressed than her. She had everything in her head and I have to have the list. 

All That Jazz

You've got to love summer in Toronto. It continues to sizzle - with the rising temperature (up wards to 40C), the lakeside, the patio and weekly free events for families.

This weekend, Torontonians are once again treated to beautiful music at the Beaches Jazz Festival.  Here are some snapshots.


Lisa Haley and the Zydekats at the Kew Beach -

God Made Me Funky 

My favourite will be the big bands.

There are more happenings in Toronto. This weekend, Caribana. So get your flip flops, put on some sunblock, wear your sunglasses and hat! Step out and enjoy summer while it lasts.

Half Way To Hell

Was an awesome party!
Guests make a party real fun, but the entertainment definitely makes it a memorable one!

It helps to have a theme from the very start.  It made selecting the entertainment easier.

Stairway to hell (of a party) at the Bymark

Some decor details

Fortune Teller

       Take a glimpse into your future    

  Marilyn sings "happy birthday Mr. President

I am ready for my close-up

The little devil was cute! Everyone wants
to take home one.

The Snake charmer

To book entertainment for your parties, galas and other events, contact Sphere Entertainment.

Medicine, not a source of relief

In hopes of finding some relief from a really bad case of colds, I went to see a doctor to get a prescription for something that will suppress the coughing and help me sleep.  Well, the medicine didn't help.  Not because it wasn't effective but because I didn't take it!

I went to get the medicine at Shoppers Drug Mart on King and Blue Jays Way.  Before taking the medicine, I read the label, good thing I did, otherwise, I wouldn't have caught a hair floating inside the bottle!

Can you imagine my disgust? So, the coughing was not suppressed, and now annoyed, the more I didn't get a good night sleep either!

I encircled the hair.
You might have to squint a little to see it

It's disturbing that a pharmacist will let this happen. You would think that cleanliness is top priority.
It makes me wonder what other particles could be in my asthma medicines. (Scary thought)

I went back to Shoppers the following day, I asked for the manager/owner to file a complain. But she's not there. I asked for them to call me, three days later, nothing!  I just wanted to get reassurance from them that system will be put in place to make sure this won't happen again. And who's fault is it - the pharmacy or the drug manufacturer?

Shoppers charges one of the highest if not the highest dispensing fee but since it's convenient, I get my medicines there.  But after this incident, and the poor after service/complain, not anymore!

Last Party with a Click of a Mouse

My daily transit ride in general is very routinary.  But sometimes surreal - I was on a streetcar once and it felt like I was in the Tower of Babel listening to different conversations in different languages except English.  Sometimes (or most of the time) annoying, five street cars less than a minute apart from each other but none headed towards my destination. Sometimes interesting - the people, the surroundings, the ads.

This ad has been around for sometime now, an ad for funeral services.  Two key messages - it's affordable and it's convenient - you can do it online or through phone.  A little morbid, but hey, it's a service we might need at some point.  And just like other services, I think it's good that it's available online.  As the ad says: "Quick and easy. I didn't want to have to go to a funeral home when my family needed me..." Good point, you don't want to be pre-occupied with things when you should be consoling your family.

But then I thought, my funeral is my last party. I don't want it all done with a click of the mouse. I want the venue checked, the snacks discussed and the entertainment planned :) It is the last hooray, it should be good!

Winter is Here!

Well, it has been for a while.  It's just that all we have had are the freezing temperature and a little snow dusting, until today. Toronto had a good snow fall.  A lot went out to enjoy it including moi!

After a good walk, ' stopped for coffee at Sense Appeal.  It's a relatively new coffee place on Spadina.  Coffee looked and tasted good, pastries -- yummy. (In my haste to take the first sip, I forgot to take photos)  Similar to Starbucks, you can create your own coffee but thank goodness, it's simpler (and no gazillion choices).  The staff (who I believed are the owners/partners) were very nice.  They engaged the customers and were happy to explain the different coffees.  Customer service: two thumbs up.  The only downside is that the space is small.

Comfort before fashion, why? When you can have both. Stay warm and look good. Replace your toque with nice hats from Big It Up!

Out for a ride.

Enjoying the snow downtown before it turns to black.