Last year was the first year that I offered Milestones Sessions. And it was so much more fun than I could have ever imagined! But something I never thought of when I decided to do these sessions was how much I would fall in love with the families!! I can't describe how amazing it is to see these babies every three months, watching them grow, watching them warm up to me.
Read MoreI was so excited when Anne won 50% off a family session from me last winter. I got even more excited when I checked out her Facebook profile picture and there she was gorgeous as can be, and with a beautiful family to boot!
When she told me she lived in Calgary I was so happy to know that I could capture her family in one of the beautiful natural parks that are a part of Calgary's charm.
Read MoreThere is a lady named Sue Bryce, and she has taught me so much in the past few months... My whole life has been a question of whether I am good enough, and recently, whether I am worthy of this life I have stumbled upon creating for myself. I walked around for years with the attitude that I didn't care what others thought, but in reality I did. Oh boy I did...And that strangled me, and it weighed me down... But then I stumbled upon a talk this woman did, she is a photographer, and I mean come on... what has she got to say that hasn't been told to me countless times from people who love and care about me? A lot of what she said was stuff I had already heard, but the way she explained it just spoke to me. I like to say that she knows the words that just kick my butt, they tear me down and build me up all at the same dang time. And she isn't even Oprah, people!! But it is through her personal struggles and how eloquently and intelligently she explains them that just catches my attention.
I have now learned, that it has not been the people in my life that have gotten me through the toughest of times, it has been me. I carried myself through the pain and the struggles. I have this strength inside of me that carries me and the people I love. Wow. I am a pretty awesome person. 5 years ago if someone had told me that I was a strong, amazing and talented person, flawed, but with WORTH and a MEANINGFUL life, it would have just barely pierced my armour... I would have laughed and made a joke, deflecting that truth into the "yeah, right, ok, what do you want from me?" pile. But now I actually have the belief and strength to say it to myself. And it feels amazing. And I feel like I can do anything. Although this is another struggle I have carried myself through, and there are many more waiting, I can definitely say that Sue helped light the way for me. And I can only hope that I can pay that forward someday. Because my life has been completely changed for the better.
I can definitely say, that I love this person-that-is-me. I would be proud to call this person-that-is-me mine. I am dang proud of who I am, what I am, and where I am going. Through this past year of self reflection, and putting away old hurts, and building healthy relationships with myself and loved ones, I have found one thing that I can hold to be truth: I accept myself. Completely. This life of judgement and fear is done. I am not afraid. I am only excited for what is in store for the rest of my life.
But that is the INSIDE of me. There are struggles still with the OUTSIDE of me. Perfection is impossible, but this struggle is tied to my health and well being.
This struggle is accepting the outer shell I live in. In one of her talks Sue said that we tie our identity to what we want to change about ourselves. I want to lose weight to be accepted by society, to not be discriminated against and bullied. I want to lose weight to feel pretty again. I want to lose weight to be a better photographer. But losing weight doesn't guarantee this... so why do I keep thinking that it will? And we all have feelings like this, whether it is with weight or another flaw we want to change about ourselves but are struggling with. And oh the pressure that puts on us! Everyday that I am not losing a pound I am failing. Every day that I am not thinner I am not a better photographer, I am not pretty, I am not accepted, and I will be judged and bullied.
It is time I stop identifying with my weight. This weight is not me, and it has nothing to do with me.
So to try and disentangle myself with these notions I have decided that I will exist in photographs for myself. I will take a photo of myself each day, and then I will list what I am grateful for. I will use this medium, that has thus far healed me in so many ways, to heal me once again. These are not photos that I will post and share with you all... but it is time that I show MYSELF the kindness and compassion and acceptance I have shown many others in my life.
Comment below if you are thinking of doing a similar project to help stop identifying with your flaws.
And thank you Sue Bryce for being vulnerable; opening yourself up has caused me to open myself up.
And so far I like what I see.
I met these two last week :) We were supposed to go out to the park but there was a thunder storm in the middle of their session. I am actually glad, we had a blast, stayed warm and had a great time getting to know each other! I can't wait to meet the little one in that belly next month!!
This past weekend has not been a good one for many people in many areas of Alberta.
I can go into all of the statistics, but I am sure if you have a Facebook, twitter, Instagram account of even just a TV, you have heard it all.
And it is so sad, scary, and it definitely makes you feel helpless.
But we can help! And this is how I feel like I can help.
Only cash or email transfers will be accepted for these sessions.
Age limit is the child must be over 6 months, but this is negotiable.
You can either buy a session for yourself or donate money to a session for a flood victim.
$50 payment needs to be made at time of booking.
Email or comment below to book a time slot or nominate a family for a session.
Time slots are first come first serve so book quickly!!
Saturday July 13, 2013
10AM - BOOKED
10:45AM - BOOKED
11:30AM - BOOKED
12:15AM - BOOKED
1PM - BOOKED
1:45PM - BOOKED
2:30PM - BOOKED
3:00PM - BOOKED
3:30PM - BOOKED
4PM - BOOKED
4:45PM - BOOKED
5:15PM - BOOKED
5:45PM - BOOKED
6:15PM - BOOKED
7PM - BOOKED
7:30PM - DONATED TO FLOOD VICTIM - BOOKED
8:00PM - DONATED TO FLOOD VICTIM - BOOKED
8:30PM - DONATED TO FLOOD VICTIM - BOOKED
Donations of locations (a farm or acreage with trees, fields of flowers where I can set up in the shade) or anyone who wants to come help assist me during these sessions for part of the day are also welcome! Please email me with pictures of locations or your interest in assisting me at reinaproceephoto@gmail.com
I can't wait to send $650 to the Red Cross!
Also if demand is super high I may have to do this a second day, but only if time allows and demand is high
We can't do anything about mother nature, but we can definitely help out each other!
What is a Fresh 48 session?
It is a session where I come to the hospital or your home within the first 24-48 hours of your new child's life. It is a great time to capture first meetings between siblings, pictures with grandparents, baby's first bath, as well as beautiful casual lifestyle photography capturing the buzz of excitement and awe with this huge change in your life.
I was invited by this gorgeous family yesterday to come and capture their little girls first few hours at home, we captured her first manicure, her first check up and a whole lotta snugglin with her family. I cannot wait till Saturday when I get to see her again for her newborn session!
If you would like to book a Fresh 48 session email me at reinaproceephoto@gmail.com
I had so much fun with this family during all sessions! Little Emma wasn't really interested in modelling her first session, but her family was so kind to bring her back for a take 2, and that is when the magic happened! Such a little beauty!! Congrats Miranda, Dave and big sister Zoey!
I debated about continuing my personal note blog from last week, there was more I wanted to say on it, but I kept it business. Because I have seen those comments other photographers get when people say, you should just keep it business, we don't want to hear you talk about your weight loss or your personal life, etc.
Then I realized that this is my world that I create to welcome you in. My manifesto (which is still in the works but I will let you all know it as soon as I word it fully and properly) has a lot to do with how I want for you to think about a session with me as a different world. A world where it doesn't matter if your kids are not cooperating and smiling for the camera, because you can trust me to capture moments of them being themselves, where you don't need to worry about your newborn crying (again, lol, always again) because I am there to soothe her and snuggle her, and you can take that moment, that time out you are normally unable to take. I want sessions with me to be a world that isn't real in the sense of all the worry and stress, but a world celebrating your real love, your beautiful creation, your mark on this world, your children.
And because I create this world, I am the boss LOL and I say personal is not off the table. At least when it comes to me, and only when it is in a way that I can grow, but also maybe you can grow from it too.
So here it is.
So today was a day of waaaaay too much procrastination. And honestly I can't tell you a day when I am not procrastinating lol, I do love to distract myself with pretty shiny things, and Chuck (husband/rationality expert/second shooter) noticed that about me, I think, on our second date. But sometimes procrastination is good!! HAHA because sometimes I am lucky and I stumble on to something like this:
This is Sue Bryce, and honestly, I don't know very much about her, she is a creative live teacher, a very talented photographer, but most importantly (at least to ME, today) she is an amazing speaker.
This video is an hour long.
I have watched it twice.
She has literally changed my life.
When I spoke in my last blog I mentioned how 2013 was a year that represented CHANGE for me. I spoke of how that drove me to take my business seriously. But it also was a time for me to look at myself, my life, and protect my dream career that has given me so much. Because I am really good at screwing up a good thing for myself, and I needed to figure out why and fast, so I can realize this dream career I have been given.
Lately FEAR has really been getting to me. I mean, moving to another province, leaving all of my business I am generating here, actually having to WORK at finding clients, where as here I have been lucky to have majority of my clients be word of mouth referred.
WHAT AM I DOING???
Then there is the whole weight thing... oi vey. I am in serious need of a healthy make over. And it's not for lack of trying people, I sit there and try and think about how to tackle this, I know I want a healthy happy lifestyle so bad, I miss dance, I miss yoga.
But what is holding me back?
That question has been tormenting me for months, how can I want something so bad, but not have the motivation, to get up and get it. And its not motivation that I am lacking, I feel paralyzed. Unable to move. What is holding me back?
I have found out what has been holding me back. If you are in the same boat or ever have been. If you have insecurities, unhappiness with your place in life, career, or love. If you are scared of failure, or of rejection or anything that might be standing in your way of realizing your amazing life and true potential:
Trust me.
Watch this video.
I hope it changes your perspective on life, like it has for me.
Much love,
Reina
It is such a great honor to be given the chance to truly impact people's lives in such difficult times in their lives. Both of these families have children who are palliative and I truly believe that these children taught me more and impacted me so. I have never been so emotional while editing, but I know that my life is somehow richer by getting to know these families every month.
Meeting this sweet couple for their consultation got me so excited to capture this beautiful moment in their lives, and can you blame me? They are gorgeous! Inside and out! So I literally did a happy dance when I got the email from Sharlene that she wanted to hire me. I had a wonderful time at both of their sessions, and meeting Gia I was blown away at how beautiful she was! Poor Chad, he is going to have to get himself a shotgun or bazooka or something, because she is going to be a heartbreaker!
I met Jessica in French class in my first semester of university and was ecstatic to hear that she and her man Paul were expecting! Now they are engaged!! I wish this beautiful family with their sweet little daughter all the best and I cannot wait to see Pyper grow. She is just beautiful!
So it really made my heart overflow to do these sessions, I mean I am not thinking that it is the MOST important thing they probably have experienced in that beautiful house, the Ronald McDonald House, but it was the most important thing I could do for them. For me photos with your family are not just hey lets sit in front of the camera and smile so we can document what we looked like in 2013 LOL, no for me family photos is a part of your story, I want you to feel like when you look at these photos you remember your experience in getting them done! And because a visit to the Ronald McDonald House is a pretty significant part of your family's story I want to help these beautiful families to capture this time!
I almost cannot express in words just how amazing it feels to hang out at this house, I know that people visiting here are going through very profound and extraordinary times. But you don't really feel that there. You feel at home. Unbelievable. Amazing. People were so friendly, (everyone knew who I was lol, that was pretty cool) but there was a feeling of family and coziness and warmth. Seriously being in that house was like a recharge for my soul, the people who run this place know what they are doing, they are so fiercely protective of their families and they are amazing, beautiful (inside and out) people!
Thank you Ronald McDonald House and these lovely families for letting me into their lives for an hour, It was my pleasure!
Update: Session number 2 doesn't want their photos on this blog, this is completely understandable and any client of mine can ask for any photos to be removed (: I always put my respect for your family's privacy above everything else!
Family #1 - this was a family of three girls, one being a TWO day old baby, can we all take a minute to just gush at how amazing Mom looked!!! Like seriously, I would not have looked that good only FIFTY hours after, you know, GIVING BIRTH!! But what can you expect? The ENTIRE family was gorgeous!!
Family #3 - AGAIN! Another gorgeous family, I am not just saying this here people, you can see it in the photos, I was just bombarded with gorgeous people and their children this month!! So this last family was such a great bunch, totally laid back and obviously madly in love with their little guy. Dad was back home takin care of business, so Grandma stepped in to help with the session and got some great pictures with her favourite little guy. Mama was beautiful, baby was beautiful. Sigh. I really do love doing what I do! Check back next month for my next visit to Ronald McDonald House!!
Had a total blast with these guys doing their engagement session! I cannot wait till Chuck and I get to shoot their Kananaskis wedding!! It is going to be so BEAUTIFUL!!
This is a new product I will be offering soon. So super excited about this (: its an electronic birth announcement! We have entered the computer age (:
I had a wonderful afternoon with these two : ) as you can see with their huge smiles they were a blast and completely in love : ) I can't wait to see pictures from their GLAMOROUS Vegas Wedding : ) Congratulations again Mallory & Kyle!
Click here to contact me for Engagement and Wedding Package pricing
Don't forget to book your mama & me session, it's a great present for the mamas in your life contact me for availability
Affordable, Fine Art Photography of your pregnancy, newborn and baby. Let me help you capture your child's entrance into the world, for the first year of their life, while they grow and change so incredibly fast.
