Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

Let the Christmas Season begin! | 2014

To truly kick off the Christmas Season we began with a photo for my parents of them with all their grandchildren. As mom told the children (while we were getting them coordinated) this was the only thing Grama wanted for Christmas – and does it ever warm our hearts! I so love this image and each of the people in it so incredibly much XOXO.

Its very real, completely “them” in each of their own ways. Which is exactly why I love photography. To capture real life as art!

Yesterday our Christmas Season “officially” began with the Malenfant family Christmas on my hubby’s side and then today for the Water’s Christmas on my side. Fabulous time was had by all – its always so much fun to get together and watch the family grow! This year at hubby’s side we had 3 brand new babies!!! The season certainly is made all that much more memorable with little ones, for a while our littles were the only ones until a few years later and the other cousins began arriving – they had a blast!!!

If there is one thing we have learned on both sides of our family, its that life is short and you’ve gotta live each day full of love and happiness. I love capturing our family moments, not just to share with our family and friends but for our kids and our kids, kids. One day these all these moments truly will be mere memories!

My crew before we headed out yesterday… Love them to bits. Each and every piece and part of them, even the parts that totally push my buttons (hey lets keep this real) there is nothing in this world better than the love between a family. I am so thankful everyday for them.

My hubby and I.
We’ve been through a lot in these years together – what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. Its our strength and love as a couple that I truly love. We’re not perfect, he nor I, but together we do make a pretty perfect team – for us, for our family. I tend to get all sappy at the end of the year with a new year on the way – one of those “look how far we’ve come moment”. We’ve had our ups, downs, in-between and a mixture of all at once.
“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living” Gail Sheehy

Our kiddos got to meet a few of their brand new cousins!

The Christmas tree excitement!

Santa stopped in for a visit!

Today, even after an eventful night the kids were ready to go again this morning off to Grama and Granpa’s for the Water’s Christmas.

The Santa Gift Grab is always so much fun – its really not so much about the gifts, its all about the stealing LOL!

At the end of the night my aunt had a wonderful suggestion… pictures of the “old ones”. I am so very glad we did. It ended up in more than just the old ones and images we will forever treasure! XOXO

Its a shame dad never smiles in photos ;)

I especially love this one <3

Looking forward to a few more days of family events and of course more photos ! Family and friends truly are the reason for the season – a lot of love and fun! After a very busy couple of days Im off to bed with my diffuser and oils ;)

The beautiful thing about photography is capturing a moment in time to create a forever memory!

Holstein Christmas Parade | 2014

Santa arrived in Holstein this chilly, foggy afternoon!

A brand new winter day!

A brand new day…

Mount Forest Christmas Parade | 2014

Santa arrived in Mount Forest last night!!!

As always, our tradition is to put the tree up this weekend – I am looking forward to doing that this weekend with my family.

Here are some of the awesome floats in the parade last night!

Here comes the big man!!!

I just LOVE the magic of Christmas!

This is their life… Kids Life

They were just simply being kids. We are having a lazy evening at home. They were playing downstairs and I knew they were making a mess. As I was sitting in the dining room listening it hit me…

That IS their life. That’s exactly what I did. I LOVED making forts with our blankets and rearranging my room. I regularly had things all over and couldn’t wait to jump on the bed.

So I grabbed my camera and headed downstairs. They weren’t sure what mommy was going to say and so they were quiet.

I then told them ‘Go, I want to get a picture of you flipping on your bed’.

My son looked at me and then his sister and said OK.

We had a blast. They were jumping and flipping on the bed … just as I used to – except I always used my parents bed :) They were proud of their rooms, their space and how comfy it is.

I totally filled up their love banks.

Including mine. My heart is still over flowing with ooey, gooey warm love!

How do I know her heart was full… she was playing waitress to serve me. While the chef (daddy) made us dinner.

It was all so real. Crazy messy rooms, beds not made, toys everywhere. It was REAL LIFE.

So laid back and lazy – comfortable and fun!

Yum dinner was fantastic and we are all going to kick back and enjoy the evening.

Hockey Is Back In Season! | 2014-2015

A sure sign winter is on its way is when hockey season begins!

The little man had their first game a couple weeks ago so I captured a few shots on the ice.

His first game of the season and he gets his first break away! For a defense man this is pretty awesome – even if he did miss – super exciting!

He loved dodging mommy’s lens in between the play’s. I love this shot of him I managed to capture before he closed his eyes ;)

Although I am sad to see the fall colours dulling, the leaves all falling off the trees – watching my kids on the ice is my winter favourite!

Next up … the little lady and her figure skating! Yup she went back… to dance on the ice!

Happy Thanksgiving | 2014

“Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Worldwide Photowalk 2014 | Elora & Farm Land Wellington North

Today is the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk and I attended the walk in Elora with some other camera club members and then had a blast touring home capturing some of this gorgeous fall weather we are having! There really should be a warning sign like there is on garbage trucks for photographers… “Makes frequent sudden stops” hahaha.

This was on my way to Elora, shortly after 8am and the sun was so high and bright in the sky and mist hovering over the fields.

We couldn’t have asked for a better day for our Photowalk in Elora!

Same little guys were out on my way home.

Fall Colour Love | Appreciate where you’ve come from, for it will shape you for where you are going.

I always feel so much more inspired when we have Camera Club. I was leaving work last night and after a very dark dreary day, the sun found its way through the clouds. It was a very soft light, but with the fall colours and almost mist like look it was beautiful! As I was driving it felt like everything was catching my eye, from the beautiful colours on the trees to the cows in the field with the sunlight softly flowing over top of them from the barn.

This is what happens when a photographer leaves her camera at home – it never fails! However knowing rain was on the way for the next few days, I made the most of the little light we had left and grabbed my camera for a quick fall colours tour.

First stop… was to let the kids play in the leaves.

My window of opportunity for a good shot like this… I didn’t think I got one LOL! But I did get one – and I LOVE it!

This shot totally warms my heart. This is THEM. They are best buds and rarely fight. When they do fight, one of them can’t stand the silence or arguing and will begin joking around. I am so very thankful for them. They have made me who I am today and each day only gets better. I cherish every moment we have, for we do not know what tomorrow may bring. <3

I got to go by myself on a quick photo tour to take in the early evening fall colours. When taking in all this fall beauty I did something I have truly never did before. I took a photo one direction, turned 180 degrees and took a photo behind me. It was so amazing to see the difference, not only the beauty but the road, the path. Much like the road of life. As an artist, with the inspiration of our upcoming camera club meeting that evening, I pushed myself to think outside of the box. To just look. When you stop to look, there is so much to see, so much to appreciate.

There is just something about this shot that after I took the one above, I turned and saw this. This was the exact lighting, very soft almost dreary looking as the sun was behind a cloud. With cows and a barn in the distance. So peaceful, so real – small town living!

When it comes to photography – always turn around, look the other direction, you will be amazed at what you see!

Appreciate where you’ve come from for it will shape you for where you are going.

Enjoy this wonderful season and all the beauty it brings to us !
Appreciate where you’ve come from, for it will shape you for where you are going.

Gorgeous Fall Colours | Wellington North

Today I had the opportunity to take photos within our community for Doors Open Wellington North.

While out on our tour – I had my daughter Madison as my assistant with me – we enjoyed touring the back roads and enjoying the warm, fresh fall breeze and the gorgeous fall colours!

I love fall and everything about it. Warm sunny days, cool fresh evenings and some amazing colours!

Enjoy the rest of this weekend!