A New Year

Sitting with my family, in a quiet cottage - fire roaring ... and thinking about the year past, and the year coming.

I am truly blessed with good friends, family, love, health and success .. so as I sit and think about what I 'wish' for in the year to come .. it is with gratitude for all I have.

I believe we are all in control of our own destinies and so my 'wishes' for 2014 are actually more characteristics and areas of focus. I have decided to build a list of words I can live by, and focus on each month of the year. Build my business around, live my life around.

1. Focus
2. Passion
3. Authenticity
4. Strength
5. Creativity
6. Family
7. Love
8. Friendship
9. Consistency
10. Leadership
11. Laughter
12. Reflection

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year .. and I wish all the best in 2014 !!

The Holidays

It's been a very busy holiday season .. I spent a lot of time photographing lots of wonderful families ... many friends and previous clients, and many new clients and people I can call friends.

After some wonderful days off the computer and out from behind the camera lens I got to spend some time with family and friends ... and truly cherish the season's gifts ...

Lots of memories and wonderful thanks for everything I have !!

I hope that all of my clients and followers were also as blessed during the holidays as I was was !!

Inspiration found in the SUN ;)

It was about 4 years ago, driving up to the cottage I saw the most beautiful fields of sunflowers I've ever seen !! For as far as the eye could see, just blankets of bright yellow flowers .... I think I went back to that field 4 or 5 times that year to take pictures and just walk and stare at the beauty. Every year since I've driven by and they haven't had sunflowers. I'm assuming the farmer rotates his crops .. but it had been 4 years .. and then my good friend Patti mentioned to me last night that the she saw these wonderful sunflowers ........ THEY'RE BACK !!!!

We packed you this morning and drove about 30 min east to get to the field .. flowers were a little wilted, probably about a week late from the best time to be there .. but BEAUTIFUL non the less !!!

Such a wonderful morning !!

Lots more photos to follow on my facebook page ;)

https://www.facebook.com/sostudiophoto

The Girls and the Barn

I KNOW .. I'm obsessed right now with the barn .. but it really brings me such joy to watch my daughter come alive around her new friends and these beautiful animals !! Hanging out at the barn, and in the fields .. they learn such independence and yet such caring and discipline at the same time ... I couldn't think of a place I'd rather be !!

The Beautiful Tucker

Another blog on the beauty of these creatures .... I've truly enjoyed watching m daughter start to experience the love for horses as I have always had. Spending time at the barn and just looking into these creatures eyes, you can see the gentlness in their soul.

This is Tucker .... What a beauty !!

Beautiful Creatures !!

Spending the last few weeks at the barn in Port Elgin, you can't help but be in awe of these beautiful animals. Strong, Majestic and yet so gentle. Each with their own personality. I love all animals, but can't help but fall more and more in loves with Horses the more I spend time with them ;)

Beach Fun and Photos

I think one of the things I love most about the summer is being able to combine my passion for photography with my love of the outdoors and the beach !!

Had the opportunity to do many family portraits this summer with some great people .. all enjoying themselves at the beach !!

Could my job get any better !!??

Gotta Love the BEACH !!

Summer is my favorite time of year !! Up here in Canada it seems short compared to the winters, so we savour every moment !! This Summer had been cooler than usual, BUT I DON'T CARE !!! I'm up north with my kids, and I'm near a beach .. there is something so calming and angelic about the beach .. the sound of the waves, the feel of the sand .. its awesome !!!

Have done a whole bunch of Family Portraits this year in this wonderful setting and with all the images I've taken, I think this is one of my FAV'S !!

Just shows how something as simple as sand and rocks can make an entire day wonderful for small hands !!!

Enjoy Your Summer !!

International Holiday

Well it has been a fun filled week of entertaining our guests from around the world. Visitors from Dubai and some from Paris all in little Southampton having a BALL !!

This is the whole gang .... Lots of fun was had by all .... and I managed to get inspired with some great images as well !!

THE GIRLS

Such a beautiful backdrop at Sandy Lane in Southampton .. and a beautiful set of girls .. Just a sneak peak .. you just wait!!

Watching the Weather

There's nothing like sitting on the lower deck in the sunshine and watching a storm and rain forming across the lake ...

Mother Nature is Awesome !1

FOCUS ....

Lazy morning at the cottage, and I'm just planning out a fantastic photo shoot I'm doing on Tuesday afternoon with a great group of girls and and spectacular location here in Southampton.

I was flipping through some of my old photos for inspiration and came across this one. 'FOCUSed' .... the determined look in someones eye when they are getting ready for something big ....

Getting focused !!

Cardboard Boat Race

Nothing like a little cardboard and some duct tape to inspire a photoshoot !! ;)

The Waterfront

Well the last few days I spent time wondering the streets of Southampton photographing spasms of colour. Tonight after the strong winds blew all our kayaks and boards all over, and my son and I had to collect them I got inspired by the colours "in my own backyard:)"
Inspiration can come from anywhere :)

A Boy and his Dog

Sunset cruise through the bay with his pup ... Easton somehow comes alive at dusk and always wants to go out and kayak, and there is no leaving the dog behind !!