Ayla Turns One

If you’ve followed me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have seen me bragging about “my” baby niece, Ayla. I’ve known Ayla since she was in her mom’s growing belly, and I’ve been photographing her for just as long. 

Jen (Jennie), Ayla's mom, should be an owner of an event planning firm.  Ayla has become my non-biological niece, and I’m pretty sure that everyone that meets this smiling, silly baby girl feels exactly the same!  

Ayla is a baby plan client.  Her older brother Cameron, has taken on the role too, with Corcoran Photography.  I have been fortunate, to see the two of them many times throughout their childhood, years.  Such a cool thing!  I have been able to photograph their gorgeous mama's maternity photos too.  

Jennie, is a Pinterest and Etsy fanatic – and hand-designed every detail from Ayla's party, just like she did for her son, Cameron, the last five years!

There were so many details for Ayla’s 1st birthday party!! To start with we were greeted at the door by Cameron himself, he was celebrating his sixth birthday the same day too.  Once you stepped inside you were delighted to see a beautiful colour scheme of purples and blues. 

To start with, there were black cutouts that hung on the wall and kitchen window in the Tully's house, that were covered in either purple or blue, for Alya and Cameron's birthday, swagged with handmade photos of each of them and adorned with a number for either the years or months, for each child.

Handmade cake tower/server with three tiers and different sizes, was the backdrop to the dessert table, which was also lined with purple and blue ribbon. On each tier, were homemade cupcakes, by Jennie's sister Pam, whom might I add, is an amazing baker and Pinterest lover too!

The dessert table was also accompanied by three different flavours of squares, homemade cookies, and a massive tray of fruit and watermelon too.  No one left hungry from this party!

Jennie, also added heart felt touches around their house. Including a collage of Ayla's pictures from each month of her first year. There was also a handmade photograph, with a pop out frame including three purple balloons that Ayla was holding from her hand. 

“No one else will ever know the strength of my LOVE for you! After all you're one of the few, who know what my heart sounds like from the inside.” 

I have posted just a few little photos from Ayla's One Year Birthday Session.  

Enjoy!!

A New Change Is Coming

Sometimes, I find myself often gazing into the stars and thinking about all the pictures that I should be taking right now! Asking myself why I am not out there? Thinking, why am I not writing more posts on my blog? Trying to get more people to read it? How to get more people to read it? Wondering why I can't get more readers? Well, maybe it's time to write a blog once a week. Stop being so tardy. Promote from within. Even though there is only one of me, maybe I can start. 

I have been recently asked to be a co-writer/author on another Tumblr blog for photographers - So that's something, right? I just need to keep up my blog too; make it better, more efficient, more appealing. But I have been struggling with how? I have posted many things on Facebook, which I have noticed an increase in viewers and also members, but to me, the one I want more people on is here, reading what I would like to say. 

Recently I have posted on Facebook that I am accepting people for Prom and Graduation bookings. For mini sessions; groups of 1-3 or more, but that pricing is subject to the number of people. Anyways..... I booked a pretty big graduation shoot for June of this year. Not big as in a big group, even though it's a group of seven, but big as in I am so happy and beyond ecstatic, that I have even been asked to capture this persons big Grade 8 graduation. 

My boyfriends oldest niece, (so I guess kind of my niece.. one day;)) is graduating from Grade 8. Her mother (my boyfriends sister and also a really good friend of mine) asked me to capture the day by taking pictures prior to the graduation at the school happening. She wants to take pictures by the lake with six of her friends. First, I am truly honoured that they would even consider me as the photographer for this! I have watched her (we shall refer to her as 'A') grow up over the last few years and I have watched her change into an amazing young lady. At that age (13), do you refer to her as a young lady, girl, woman? It doesn't matter, because she is transforming before my eyes! I can't even imagine how her parents feel. When I first met her, we would have little chats about games on her iPod or what she was doing in school for a play. Things like that. But now, we talk about makeup and nails and clothes and when her parents aren't listening boys. It actually makes me so happy with a grin from ear to ear that she lets me into her life like that. Like an Aunt. I am very proud to be able to say she is a part of my Family! 'A,' has shown me a picture of her gorgeous dress she is planning on wearing and we have been on the search for the perfect pair of shoes! I even remember what my Grade 8 dress looked like, don't we all? :) I am really excited for that day, when I get to see her in her dress, the cutest little silver shoes, her hair done with curls and makeup done. I feel like even though it's grade 8 it is still a big deal. 

She's leaving elementary school and embarking on a new chapter of her life, into high school. I know that not only will her family be a little misty eyed, but I will be too. Even just thinking about it right now, I get a little sappy. The fact that she is growing up so fast. I know all parents say that about their children, but I think about it too. Her and I even have our own little inside jokes. That makes me the happiest 'kind of aunt' ever. To know that I have a little sidekick when we are together. Thank you 'A,' for accepting me into your life as not only a friend. but a family member too. 

I am looking forward to capturing all her friends together that day. The giggles that I am sure will happen, the tears I know will too. But together the 7 of them have formed a bond that will never be broken and I get to show that in my pictures. They might not all stay in contact for a lifetime, but you always have that special bond. Especially with the way of social media these days, they will always get to be friends on some level or another. I want to make their photo session as memorable as I can. I am already working on cute little props for that day. 

I have a few ideas in my head on what pictures to take and I can't wait for the day to just get here so I can make them happen. 

I would personally like to take time to thank my boyfriends sister for asking me to take the pictures. For including me as one of her 'go-too's,' for taking them. I am not a person that expresses all that much, but I would love for her and 'A' to know how much this means to me. It doesn't matter how many kids end up in the photos, what matters is that I get to share in the special day. Congratulations to you 'A,' on a a huge accomplishment. For taking life as it comes to you and making the best with everything it has to offer you. I love you more than you will know and I am beyond happy to be there along side with you and my trusty camera. xoxo

Just a quick little note….

How It All Began

I have not been posting for a while.  I was on a course for the last month and needed to focus on that.  Unfortunately, photography had to take a break just for that little moment.  Now I am back and trying to get involved with many new things, relating to photography.  Trying to get involved with new galleries and and stores/restaurants that are looking for new pieces of art.

I was reading another blog today.  It's actually a photography group that I belong to on my Etsy site.  They post wonderful things all the time; but for some reason I clicked on the Canada tab.  I had not read the article they had on Canada yet and it was an interesting read.  It was about how a photographer from Winnipeg, Manitoba got involved in photography.  He just kind of fell into it.  It got me thinking....  Probably something I do best LOL.  How did I get involved with photography.

I really have always liked taking pictures.  Never have invested anytime into it.  I knew I had a good point and shoot camera, from which I was told had a great zoom lense.  But that's all I really knew.  I loved taking pictures, pretty much of anything.  Flowers, birds, our dog Dexter, anyone that would smile.  That was the extent of it.  

My boyfriends Father always said to me I should really get into it more; see what's out there.  I always thought that he was just being nice to me.  But he was being serious.  So I did....  I took the plunge.  I had no idea what I was doing or where to even start.  I Googled every place I could for juried art shows, because in my eyes (and that's just me personally) I wanted to be in juried shows as apposed to an all entry kind of show.  It felt more personal to know that if I made it through a jury with my photography then I might have done it:)  YEAH!!!!

I worked on a company name and worked on logos and met some very great people along the way that were by far great people to work with, when starting up a new business.  I still, to this day though don't consider it a business I just consider it a hobby.  But a hobby that brings in a few dollars to buy coffees every once in a while;) LOL

I have since felt pretty accomplished with what I have completed in just over a year.  I have been published in a few local newspapers and also accepted into 2 juried art shows.  I now sell my photography on Etsy and I am currently in a gallery in Uxbridge, Ontario; with an art show coming up April 26th and 27th, 2014.  

I plan on learning a few things every so often; while time permits.  I love seeing the final product and that's just really why I do it.  Thank you Brian, for pushing me into the right steps of getting my photography business of the ground and running.  He always tells me "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Guest Writers Wanted

Are you interested, or know someone who is interested in being a guest author on my blog?  Write me an email at corcoranphotographycanada@gmail.com or message me at 7053051748.  There is a wonderful gift for the guest writers.