[family portraits: The Rourke Family]

I've known these two for a long, long ... loooong time.  We've attended the same church, since "Adam was a cowboy" - as my mother would say - and we've seen each other basically grow from kids to teens to adults.

Treena's older sister is my age, and Lance's sister and I used to play in our church's orchestra for years and years.  So, it was a common thread ... sisters and friends, friends and sisters.

These two have quite the love story.  Treena remembers Lance all the way back to the age of two years old.  Can you believe that?  THAT is quite the memory she has ... and when the two started dating a few years back, it was like all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.  Everyone was, like, "Of COURSE!!!  Lance and Treena!!  Perfect!"

But like so many other couples, the dream of having children was one that didn't come as quickly as hoped.    In fact, they had their own difficult journey, which included looking into getting medical help.  And I never understand why this seems to be the reoccurring theme, but upon visiting the doctor for advice and possible treatment, the doctor discovered ... that's right ... she was four weeks pregnant.  

They chose to have their little one's gender a surprise, and only a few weeks ago, little Lochlan joined this incredible family.  And during this shoot, he was such a perfect little peanut ... not a squawk came out of him.  It was windy, cold, damp ... and he was just an angel.

This was more of a "mini" shoot ... we did the whole thing, from start to finish in about 25 minutes  in  There were no wardrobe changes, no inside shots, no travelling around town.  They wanted a simple family shoot that didn't disrupt Lochlan too much - and I definitely got some family shots.  180+, to be exact.

Lance and Treena, God continues to show you two such favour.  Your faithfulness to Him and to each other is so encouraging, so lovely to witness.  Your love for each other is the real thing ... you can see it in how you look at each other, hear it in how you speak to each other and now, with how you adore your son together.

Thank you so much for letting RedHanded Photography capture your little family ... I pray that these images will remind you in the years to come, of this very, very special time in your lives.

For all enquiries, please contact me through my RedHanded Photography website HERE and click "contact".  Thanks so much!

[contest: Loony Shoots]

Fellow bloggers, blog stalkers, photo grazers and the likes ... I'm having a contest.  And you are all invited to play along ... and if people get on board with the craziness of it - it's gonna be a hoot.  (hoot hoot).

Inspired by Ellen's "worse photo" segment that I've seen in the past, I've decided to host a contest called "Loony Shoots".  The idea is simple ... just enter your most ridiculous, silly, pathetic, painful or whatever other adjective you'd like to you use - family pic.  You can do this by emailing it to me at tania@redhandedphotography.com ... (Please note that any photo submitted will be viewed on this blog for the purpose of voting.)  All entries must be in by November 5th, 2010.

The runner-up (2nd place) will receive a Christmas Card designed by yours truly ... like some of these that I did last year ... 

And that was my own family's card ...

But the GRAND PRIZE - will be 50% off of a family photoshoot with RedHanded Photography.  It's a prize worth over $100.00 - and will be awarded to the family photo that receives the most votes from my readers.

Interested??  Leave a comment on this post - and let's get things started (yeah).

For all booking enquiries, please contact me through my RedHanded Photography site HERE and click "contact".  Thanks!

[maternity: Jeremy & Shari Pue]

I get calls from all kinds of wonderful people.  People who have clear ideas of what they want, people who have no clue where to even start.  I get contacts from traditional people who want the simple "stand beside a tree" pic, and from non-traditionals who prefer something more creative, more candid, more edgy ... 

If you've been following my blog here, you'll notice that my style changes from shoot to shoot.  There are BRILLIANT photographers out there, whom you can recognize their work a mile away because they have a style, a mark, a way that they do things ... I so admire that.

But.  That's not me.  

I like the challenge of a vast variety of clients ... and being forced to adapt to each situation.  Sometimes I am panicked about how to be original, and other times, I'm super relaxed with the standard-way the photoshoot goes.  

SO.

When Shari contacted me ... I won't lie.  I panicked.

Now, I don't know Jer and Shar super well.  I know their family, and LOVE their family.  But you know when you meet super cool people, and you're like, "hmmm ... I'm so not as cool as them - I hope I don't make a fool of myself ... ".  Well.  That's how I felt when I met them ... so when they chose me to take their pics, I started to ... well.  Panic.

I don't think they could tell though *grin* ... but I guess the secret's out now.

We chatted about the images they were hoping for, and I soon realized that this was going to be super relaxed, and super fun.  I literally plucked out 3 thorns from my fingers yesterday (yup, four days AFTER the shoot) that I got while whacking down some scary shrubs ... love my job *grin*.  

We met at their place, and they hopped in my van (yup.  a van.  leave it alone ...) and we headed just down the street where I thought we could snap a million pics.  And I was right.

Jer's the middle brother of the Pue boys.  He's talented.  Kind.  Three-quarters Irish.  And he LOVES his wife.  And she loves him ... like, REALLY loves ... not just the, "oh - he's super cute." kind of love.  I mean, LOVES him.

And Shari ... I don't think she even knows how cute she is.  She's stunning, and quick to smile ... and she traveled all the way to the other side of the planet with her hubby to support him as he helped minister down in Auz.  Not every woman would leave everything she knows to do something like that without a fight ... 

So.  Makes sense that they're having a baby ... I mean, with all that love to share - a wee one is the  obvious next step for them.

Jer and Shar ... you made my day by choosing RedHanded Photography for your pics.  I could've stayed with you both for hours - and happily snapped a million pics.  

Not only are you adorable on your own, you are perfection together.  This baby is going to be a part of an incredible family - from you as parents, to the aunts and uncles, and grandparents.  I'm so excited for you both ... the journey you are starting is the best part of life.

So.  Thank you ... for being a part of the worlds longest blogpost *grin*.

For all enquiries, please contact me at my RedHanded Photography site and click "contact", filling out the required info there.  Thanks! 

[family: The Ironmonger Family]

Ironmonger.  Isn't that a GREAT name??  

When Kim emailed me, I didn't realize the connection - but then found out that she is the SIL of some very lovely friends of ours ... and BANG.  I was so "in" for this photoshoot.

We met a a local park ... it was PERFECT weather for a shoot, and the colours ... oh, don't get me started on Octobers around here.  Stunning.  And this family fit right in ... just lovely.

I hadn't personally met them before, but I had heard such great things about them.  Clint and Kim began attending at our church a few months ago - and are already getting involved ... love that.  People who give back are just the greatest ... 

I hadn't done an "our kids are almost teenagesrs" shoot in a while.  Usually I'm running after toddlers *grin*.  But their kids were just fantastic.  Lexie was just the sweetest thing, and Dobson ... total character and the family loved his humour - as did I!  They were willing to go anywhere - try anything ... and smile smile smile.

My camera was on over-load ... I was snapping and snapping.  And they ended up with 175+ edited pics from this shoot.  It was tough just trying to figure out which ones to use on this site ... they were so much fun, so photogenic ... 

... and I have to mention this *grin*.  While I was taking this pic, wading in the water, I realized that my boot was filling up with water.  The back seam was totally split.  Oh MY.  We LAUGHED ... and I poured the water out.  But only after I took a few dozen shots ... 

Clint is a school teacher at the school that I actually graduated from ... we chatted about who's still there, how thing's are going ... I totally loved that school.  And Kim, so full of laughs and interacting with her kids ... this was SUCH a fun shoot.  

Thank you so much, Clint and Kim, for choosing RedHanded Photography.  Hanging with you all was not even close to being work ... such a pleasure.  And hey - see you Sunday *grin*.

For all enquiries, please go to my RedHanded Photography website and click "contact".  Thanks!