I've Moved My Blog!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed my blog. I've had over 7000 blog views in the last year and I really, really appreciate you following along and making comments.

That being said, I've moved my new blog over to my new website.

You can read, comment and share it all at http://www.sandrafinnerphotography.com/

So update your favorites and thanks again for following me in my journey!

Much Love,

Sandra

Eenie, Meenie, Miney...Mo

I've been going through a few of my more recent photos trying to determine my favorites. It's so fun to hear comments from people as to which ones they like. Sometime our picks are the same and sometime we are completely opposite in opinion.

This was one I liked and quite a few people agreed. I have more to post in the days to come. You know, when I get all that extra time I have coming to me.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Family Time.

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted to my blog. I've been somewhat on blog hold by all the newness around me and I needed to get some familiarity back. New camera. Loads of new software. Venturing into the abyss of website development.

That added with a much needed trip to the sunny south, planning a European vacation and my daughter's dance competition are just a couple things that have eaten up the time. Yup. Family Time. The best.

Today feels like a 'day one' again. I've given myself that time to sort through some of these aspects and although nothing ever happens as quickly as I'd like, it's back to work.

Oh! And Thank you tenacity... for your stranglehold.

Cuteness in Ribbons and Bows.

The bride and groom are certainly THE most photographed people at a wedding but who can resist the cuteness of the flower girl and ring bearer as they head down the aisle?

There is such randomness to their decent.  Zigging, zagging, stopping, running, on the verge of tears or acing their rehearsal moves.

The Forrest Gump anecdote on life 'you never know what you're gonna get' is an appropriate statement at a wedding and even more specifically with these little ones.  But one thing for sure is they're going to be a 10+ on the cute factor. 

Even funnier? The coaxing and coaching going on in the front of the ceremony by a couple people who have forgotten to exhale since the first note of the Wedding March. 

We're Growing!

Well Sandra Finner Photography is expanding...not me physically!  ( :

As some of you may know from following me on Facebook and Twitter, I bought some new gear lately and my website development is in the works so this blog will then become a section of that. I've also added new editing packages which are pretty fun to work on and produce even more artistic photo options. 

I also can't say [enough] how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE chatting with newly engaged couples that I've met and hear how excited they are for their big day. The excitement for me is also about getting to photograph those amazing wedding moments and I want those images to be perfect for the bride and groom. 

That's a little of what I've been up to lately. 

                          Stay tuned for the new company look coming soon. I hope you like it!

Immitation

                    There is something wondrous in the way a little girl looks at a bride.  

Right under my Nose

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with Roxanne Crain, Sales Executive at the Museum of Civilization, to check out the venue for prospective clients. I was so amazed  how fabulous this location is for a wedding. The walls of windows overlooking the Ottawa River and the Parliament Buildings, the incredible architecture and the displays of Canadiana scenery which would make a fantastic backdrop for any bride and groom's wedding photos. I actually came home and told Steve we should renew our vows so we can have a great big party there! He just LOVES my grand ideas. No seriously, he does.

There are so many beautiful venues in Ottawa that are unique for a wedding and this is definitely one of them. www.civilization.ca/facilityrentals

Have You Noticed?




Click on photo for larger view

 

4am and Staring at the Ceiling.

It's 4am. The house is black with the exception of the small yellow reflection on the ceiling from the bedside clock and a crack of moonlight peeking through the drapes. The sounds are typical. An ever so gentle snore.. no... breath beside me, the wind outside howling at the windows as if looking for a crack to get inside. And the odd clicks and clanks of our home that you seldom notice in daylight.

My eyes are open wide. Hyper caffinated wide open. Ideas are floating through my head like a ghost. Really awesome ideas that will help develop my brand, my website, my photography, my business. I was rockin'. "I should write some of this down RIGHT NOW" were the words that kept repeating in my head because when morning came I would have to update my to-do list and fill an already full schedule. But that warm and cozy comforter wrapped a little closer and my mind that was racing was now desperate to get some more sleep.

It's morning now. The house has new sounds. The coffee maker and the music on. The sounds of a keyboard clicking away. And a sigh from the person struggling to piece together those early morning thoughts.

Social Networking

This weekend I attended a seminar for Wedding Event Suppliers of Ottawa about social networking. There are so many ways to grow your business and your online presence with Facebook, Twitter, About.Me and LinkedIn to name a few and the list is growing quickly. The key note speakers were fabulous! Michael Hughes of http://www.networkingforresults.com/, Carlo Lombard of www.progressiveshift.com and Lisa Larter of www.parlezwireless.com all demonstrated the power of growing your business online. 

                                        So that will be my focus this week. Build! Build! Build!

Just a Couple More...

I attended a Pro Program social this week where fellow photogs from http://www.harrynowell.com/  showcased some of our more recent work. I had a couple additional photos from this weeks photo shoot at At The School House that I included in my presentation and I thought I'd post them on my blog. I have no idea why it pops into my head but as I'm posting them I imagine my son's Nonna saying [in the most adorable broken Englitalian possible!!] "You likey?"

If You Build It...

Earlier this week I had a wonderful opportunity to work with some local wedding professionals on a promo project. With my friend Lou Truss of Lou Truss Photography and Chrystal Geoffroi of Chrystal's Cupcakes and together with Creative Bloom, Eternity Bridal, Karen Bennett, Charlene Bside, we spent the afternoon working on a wedding promo at At the School House in Munster. It was a great experience that we all benefited from and we were able to get some great promo shots for each of the ladies and for my website too... which is under construction and should be rolling out this spring. Here are a few shots from the day. Thanks to all the ladies for a really great day!!

Calm.

Testing some 'Easy-To-Do' Photoshop techniques. I have a couple more that I'll post later in the week. It's so fun to play with this stuff! Stay tuned!

Not enough Hours

 With everything that needs to get done I would need at least a 30 hour day. My resolution to eat better this year is about the only thing that's remotely on track. January was going to be spent getting into a routine and from my vantage point, it's looking pretty dicey. I so wish that I could have gone to www.WPPIonline.com this year but given that I have more travel plans than money, that couldn't possibly happen. Next year I'm going for sure [she says in her somewhat unconvincing voice] if anyone else is interested in joining the fun. That should be a cakewalk to convince the Mr.  ....it is Vegas by the way!! But for now I have to try to get used to all sorts of new software. That should be easy right?

Trees + Fences

Simple. Understated. Lovely. 

What to do? What to do?

It's snowing outside. Super pretty but I don't want to go out. We're all just hanging around doing our own thang so I decided to try editing some pictures I took at Christmas while listening to music and thought this looked kind of Roxy Music-esque. People are digging this HDR effect lately.

Romancing Landscapes

It's true that some of the worst weather conditions produces some of the best photography. When it's freezing cold outside there is a crispness to the landscape that I love to take photos of. Most people are heading inside and I'm bundling up my gear and heading out. It's not for everyone but if you like to explore and wander you can get pretty photos. The drawback is that you can't stay out too long - it's not good for your camera so it can be a real challenge.

I was out this past week when temperature hovered around -25 C and although I didn't see many people it was evident they had been there. I decided to forgo the tripod - a decision I sometimes regret after the fact.. but in the moment it seems right when my fingers start to freeze.

Sunday Morning

The business of art is to reveal the relation between man and his environment.
D.H Lawrence
 

And They Lived Happily Ever After....

Way-y-y-y back in the early 80's I moved to Ottawa, Canada. When I left my small New Brunswick town I said good-bye to my friends and family and took one last trip to see my expecting sister in law. I couldn't wait another day for my nephew to be born and the next day hopped a train to my future. Two days later Michael arrived in the world. His life began just as I set out to start my new life...Phase 2 we'll call it?

On New Year's Eve I was back in New Brunswick to be with Michael and Andrea as they celebrated the beginning of their life together as husband & wife. His Phase 2 perhaps? They're so cute and their love is beyond palpable.  We had such a great night...lots of laughs and an awesome time with our families. I didn't want the night to end. Now I'm back home and going through my pictures and I can't stop smiling and feeling so happy for them as they begin their married life together. Wishing you both all the happiness in the world. Hugs from Auntie. xx.