I am a wife, mom and passionate photographer. I enjoy music, wine, cooking, boating, hockey, being with my family and all are fabulous photo op’s! My photography ranges from newborn to weddings, however in 2012 Ive decided to limit the amount of sessions I do take on (as I am a fullt ime working wife & mom). After spending the weekend going through photos from our summer in July until the winter in December and realizing the amazing photos that I hadn’t yet even seen or processed, this reminded me my importance as a mother and wife, to my own family and our memories! Sessions will be available, however by appointment only and a limited amount of sessions. If I am not available I would be more than happy to recommend another photographer in the area! This photo is one I treasure, as Ive posted previously its rare I am in front of the camera – however thats going to change as well. My kids LOVE looking at photos, it reminds them of things that even I may have forgotten (for the moment). When I was uploading my photos (Flickr is another source of backing up for me) I realized just how many photos I still have left to process from 2011… photos we should have been enjoying and sending to family and friends. Sure something simple, sure its something I can always come back to, always puts a smile on my face, but something that in 2012 and for years to come is taking more priority in my life for OUR memories! Breaking into the photographer world and doing sessions for others, was and is amazing, however I did learn I have to limit myself if I want to continue enjoying photography as MY hobby and MY
Daddy + Daughter
This photo just warms my heart. She is so intent on learning how to fish from daddy and immediately what comes to mind is the song where he sings
Summer memories… blogging 52!
We had a very crazy fall and right into winter, which didn’t give me much opportunity to take some time for myself and edit our family photos (which was a lot of them!). Today while the entire family all took some alone quiet time I took to the computer to get some photos in order. Trust me if you could hear my kids talk about photos and how much they love looking back at them, you would MAKE this a priority too ;)
Every summer since hubby and I got married (except 1) we have spent a long weekend at my aunt and uncles cottage which is on a beautiful closed in lake a few hours from our house. The kids adore this family weekend and much like we do, look forward to it every year!
This photo below speaks to me and shows exactly why our kids love it there so much! They aren’t looking at me, yet I can hear and see exactly what they are saying and how excited they are (to catch fish!).
Our family loves being outdoors when its nice out, the weather these past few days has had the kids looking out the windows happily singing “its spring, its spring we can go in the boat soon!” haha yes we wish… until that time comes I will happily continue to photograph our life and catch up on 2011’s photos from June to December (with moving, putting our beloved family dog down, new puppy, back to school, surgery, Christmas we had a very busy 6mths)!.
I was contemplating doing a 365, but lets be real, me and photography and rules do not mix, so by setting up my own “rule” that I “have” to take a photo every day, just isn’t going to make me do it. Hubby suggested doing a 52 lol one for every week. I can most certainly do that. Most week’s Im sure I will do more than just one, but I will at least attempt to hold myself to blogging once – at least once – per week!
Which will mean using BOTH my blackberry for photos AND my Canon DSLR’s for photos. Memories are priceless and meant to be treasured forever – I LOVE hearing my kids talk about “remember when… hold on I’ll get the picture” awesome!
Pinterest love…
I finally caved a few weeks ago and took the plunge into Pinterest.
WOW… I am slightly addicted to the site merely because it is a fabulous resource to come back to – just like a bulletin board, but what is especially perfect for me (who doesnt like cut and paste) its digital!!!
So many fabulous things can be “pinned” – including my own photography (which is so cool!). Our future plans for a kitchen reno (when kids and pup get a bit older), our shop ideas for hubby, photography ideas or framing suggestions, my style for me and our house, the kids rooms, yummy food – such yummy food, great sayings and quotes. The possibilities are endless really.
Ive pinned some of the shots Ive taken for the shop (@jjmclellanHVAC) and have started a board for sports – to pin the Patriots – I have some images from Wednesday and Thursday evening I need to process – however if you were there at the game Thursday you would have saw me ever so graciously fall flat on my face (but saved my camera and lens) on the ice. Yes I am still quite sore. The funny thing is when mom & Erin went in to tell hubby about my fall (he is the team bartender) they immediately said its ok she saved the camera haha. Yes I can heal, my camera, not so much so I am glad its safe! Once I get these images edited I will get them up online. Im still quite stiff and sore, so sitting at the computer desk just isnt too comfy right now – Im sticking to the couch and lazy boy. Amazing how one fall can hurt SO much. And no, I hadnt even had a sip of my drink yet.
Are you on Pinterest? Ive posted some of our Niagara Falls images… Once I have more time I will be updating more photos as well. Much like my blog, Pinterest is for not only my photography, but also for ideas for our life/family. The best part is you can pin any image online – SO cool!
Another reminder though to those of you who enjoy photography and sharing your images online – another reason to watermark your images… Yes I even watermark my own photos whether they are landscape, my kids/family, pets, and especially any clients. Photography is a huge part of my life and I would hate to have this passion ruined by images being stolen (which has happened to photographers I know).
If you are on pinterest follow us at http://pinterest.com/jpzmija01/ …
A Winter Getaway – relax & recharge!
Hubby and I were very lucky to have the opportunity to get away just the two of us – huge thanks to mom & dad who watched our kids and fur baby for us :)
Having young kids and having gone through years of heart ache, although we were each others biggest support, we also needed to make the time to get away just for us. Unfortunately almost since we met we have had various outside stressors/issues which have very much affected our daily life and family, from family illness, the loss of a parent, loss of family, infertility, more family illnesses & loss…
What better way to start the new year than with a long weekend away with zero responsibilities or worries! It was just what we needed and completely enjoyed every single second we had together. Of course we missed our lil’s – thats a given. But now that they are getting older and past the baby stage its going away more together and as a family so much easier! (Bring on summer so we can get out on our new boat!!!).
To view more photos from our weekend away in Niagara Falls check out – Niagara Falls 2012
They are our lil mini-me’s – technology and all
Our lil techie’s lol they love technology AND learning! When I saw these LeapPad’s come out just before Christmas I knew we had to get these for our wee babes! They love them :)
I love summer!
I love summer. We as a family love summer. In the dead of winter, even though we haven’t had much of winter – mother nature is very confused thse past few years – sure winter has been fun with skating and hockey but we are very ready for summer!
I finally went through photos of our kids and family to get more for the walls, these are some that got printed – I love love love these. At one of our favourite places ever – the family cottage !
We had our first camera club meeting of the year – I am SO pumped for photography, I want weather to get out shooting! One new member brought a GORGEOUS hard cover 365 scrap book – which also has me motivated to do more with the photos Ive taken every year.
Cheers to many more photos for this year ! <3
Do you love yourself?
One thing I adore about my passion for photography is taking a moment, a memory in time and freezing it forever – and those moments looking and feeling as natural as they truly are – afterall we do not live our life posing – that to me is not “true” memories. You have to feel comfortable and be happy, if you feel happy you will look AMAZING!
I read this article online a few days ago and LOVED it! I just didn’t have a chance to share it. This is the link… the title. ‘Most runway models meet the BMI criteria for anorexia’, claims plus-size magazine in powerful comment on body image in the fashion industry
This article is wonderful, not only writes about how a “plus” size model is now a size 12 and up, it gives a comparison of a very skinny model vs a “plus” size model. Who then whole heartly embraces her beautiful curves.
Why did I chose to post about this? I have heard so many moms comment about themselves negatively, we would get family photos buuuuut… I dont like that shot because…. We dont need many of us just the kids… I hate getting my photo taken…
The thing is ALL of thes women are beautiful! And not just on the outside. I myself am a curvy lady and sure everyone has their days of saying oh I wish this, I wish that, but really and truly when it all comes down… I love my body I have because its a reflection of who I truly am. My body changed when I became a mom, I embrace those motherly curves. Just as every mother should.
We are beautiful on the outside, but what truly counts is what is on the inside. Beauty truly comes from within, if you as a woman can truly say you are proud of yourself, your accomplishments, your family and you as a person – would you want to be friends with the “real” you. Not the “you” at times we can all pretend to be. Its your values, belief’s, your ethics and morals which truly make a person. Can you truly say you are happy?
I am very thankful that at this point in my life, I am beginning this new year 2012 with the ability to say Yes, I truly am happy. In all the areas of my life which truly matter, I am happy. With happiness comes confidence and with confidence comes power. A positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative. Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative and more happiness. It truly is a circle.
As a woman I do not focus on the size of my body, nor have I made that a focus for my children or my husband to focus on their’s. I focus on health and happiness. If you are healthy, be happy with who YOU really are, how your body was made.
However… Happiness comes from deep within… happiness has many factors which includes all areas of our lives. If you aren’t truly happy with yourself as a person you can never truly share yourself as a mother with your children. See your children do not care how big you are, your children love you for you. God forbid something happen to you… your kids WILL want those photos.
Many years of my own photos its rare to see me in any, however as the kids are getting older I am making a point to not only capture them in their life growing and their memories but also to ensure I capture our memories, me with the kids, my husband with the kids and us as a family.
So to all the mom’s out there… you ARE beautiful! If you dont feel beautiful, if you dont feel happy, honestly ask yourself why? While I was off healing from my surgery I was catching up on Ellen and watched the episode where Lady Gaga was on… who explained the meaning behind “Marry the Night”, its about embracing the darkness in your life, accepting it and moving forward. How many of you moms out there focus on the negative, rather than the positive. I’ll admit I can be guilty of it.
BUT everytime I look at our beautiful children, hear them laugh, see them smile, see the happiness in their eyes (yes they are not always cute and happy ;) ) how could I waste life focusing on the negatives. Think positive, if your life isn’t happy make it happy and truly love yourself! Capture those amazing memories your family is right now making and they will forever be there to treasure!
Now I challenge all you moms out there… when was the last time you got in a photo with your kids… go and do it! Put aside your own personal negatives, fears, self consciousness and be YOU.
A few appropriate quotes …
Of all the judgments you make in life, none is as important as the one you make about yourself. The difference between low self-esteem and high self-esteem is the difference between passivity and action, between failure and success.
Nathaniel Branden
The strongest single factor in prosperity consciousness is self-esteem. Believing you can do it, believing you deserve it, believing you will get it.
Jerry Gillies
We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other people’s models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open.
Shakti Gawain
I of course have to post a photo… this is one of my fav’s from the fall, we had just gotten our new family pup and were out on our boat. Nope not looking perfect by any means, but I love it for the memories it holds <3
Winter Family Photography
I had the pleasure of photographing this family in November, however held off posting their blog peek until after Christmas, knowing some images would be used for gifts! Photography is amazing for that :)
Enjoy ;)
New Years Resolution!?
It was back in October my hubby and I began talking about what we were looking forward to in the new year. We both felt excitement of being in a home we both, no all love (kids of course) and having no pressing renovations which need to be done!
We were sitting out on our deck, enjoying the back yard while having a glass of wine and everything just felt right… It was then that we declared 2012 to be the year for our family to simply have fun and enjoy being together! We are still early into the year, but we have certainly made every moment count!
Looking back through photos from the year, even from past years (which is something I love doing) I have countless photos of the kids, each of them and hubby with them, but not as many of me with them or of me and hubb’s. One way I am going honor my resolution, is to be in more photos with my kids and husband. Our little man is quite talented and seems to be following in his mommy’s foot steps when he is handed my camera :) I love capturing memories of our fun time together as a family and each of our kids as individuals, however I must remember not only my, but my and my husband’s importance in their lives which must also be captured for them to treasure!
Its already been a very fun year for us and to begin the year our lil puppy Becker turned 6 months old! He is such a little sweetie and is the perfect addition to our family.
For me as a photographer, a full time working wife + mom. Photography is an amazing gift that I have been so very blessed to have. My resolution for my photography venture is to quite honestly not grow my business, rather continue to have the enjoyment I felt and had in my previous year. Quality is very important to me and I feel if I attempted to grow my business I would not only not be able to provide the quality I stand behind in my photography but also not have the quality life with my family, and that is important!
If you are interested in booking a session with me I will (as I did in 2011) have limited sessions available each month. Please contact me for a custom quote if you desire. If you would like a standard session (which includes ALL edited digital images) just let me know the time, place and what you would like to achieve… Im ready to rock 2012!
So here is to 2012… its going to be one heck of an amazing year!!!
As a reminder I am not booking any sessions until into February ;)
