Christmas miniSession faves - Montreal's South Shore family photog de famille Rive Sud

Back in early autumn, it was Christmas miniSession time. For so many reasons.

1) It isn't stinking cold, so we can dress our kids as we like.
Of course, that day it decided to hit a balmy 30 degrees Celsius instead of the standard 20. Which is so typically Canadian. Since I remember booking early October sessions and fighting Mother Nature to keep it above freezing.

2) Loads of time to procrastinate for other things.
Raise your hand if you have not yet done Christmas photos that you'd sincerely intended on getting done this year. Yup. That looks about right.

There are more reasons. But I don't love long blog posts. So let me stop at two. ;)

Here are just some of the sweet moments caught this year...

L'heure est arrivée - Photographe Rive Sud de Montréal à Noël

Les détails de la promotion certificat cadeau de Noël sont là. Et cette année, un petit quelque chose de plus pour mes clients fidèles...

(For English, click here.)

Jusqu'au 23 décembre 2014 (ou jusqu'à épuisement des stocks), épargnez 10% sur l'achat de vos certificats cadeaux promotionels. Par exemple, vous désirez 100$ en certificats? Ne payez que 90$.

Ces certificats promotionels ne portent aucune date d'échéance, et sont échangeables contre tout achats à partir du 12 avril, 2015.

Vous pouvez éffectuer vos achats en me contactant par courriel. Les paiements peuvent se faire par chèque, en argent comptant ou, pour le service ultra rapide, par virement en-ligne Interac.

DE PLUS, pour me clients-photos du passé, référez un NOUVEAU client à l'achat de certificats au long de la période promotonelle (achat minimum de 200$) et obtenez pour vous un certificat  de 25$. Référez pour accumulez autant de certificats que vous le souhaitez.

It's that time again - Montreal's South Shore photographer Christmas

Get your gifting on. The gift certificate promo details are here. And the deal is even sweeter for my faithful clients. You know, because you're awesome.

(Pour le français, cliquez ici.)

Save 10% off the face value of promotional gift certificate purchases until December 23rd 2014 OR while supplies last. (Quantities are limited.) In other words, want $100 in gift certificates? Pay only $90. 

These promotional certificates do not expire and can be used as of April 12th, 2015 on any purchase.

Purchases can be made by contacting me via email. Payments can be made in cash or by cheque. But for the fastest sort of transaction, Interac E-transfers do the trick.

PLUS, for all my past photo-clients, refer a NEW client to purchase gift certificates from me during this promotional period (minimum $200 in certificates) and receive for yourself an extra $25 gift certificate. Refer as many as you like to collect for yourself as many certificates as your heart desires.

Philippines fundraiser efforts

You may remember this post about our combined efforts to extend help to the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan devastated them.

News on how much was raised, and a small peek into where your donations have started to go are the topics of this blog post.

Received recently by Destiny International Ministries was this email...

I am sending pictures taken from Bohol and Leyte Islands who had been victims of the latest tradgedy (sic). These two islands are in great need and badly afflicted. They live now without power ,not having enough food supply, no drinking water supply, live in very simple house and still experiencing after shocks. I am sending in separate email with more information [soon].

The Leyte Islands are about 80 km from Tacloban (the major city you would have heard mentioned so often on the news). It obviously would have suffered major devastation. Bohol, a little further out (300 km from Tacloban) was not only affected by the typhoon, but had also suffered a severe earthquake just a couple of weeks prior. (This is why the mention of after-shocks.)

Here are a few of the images sent our way...

For all my 2013 clients - Montreal's South Shore photographer

As you may all know, this happened:

This calendar is just one of three available for your donation of any amount to Destiny International Ministry's Philippines relief fund. More details by clicking here.

I am so grateful to all the moms and dads who replied so speedily when I sent out a request for rights to use their precious family moments. Included in this calendar are just some of my favorite moments of late 2012 and 2013.

I truly did have so many favorite moments, though! One from every session over the last year, for sure!

I wanted to love on all my clients from the last 13 months a little bit, as you love on the Philippines. Therefore, if an image from your session (yes, even if it was a miniSession) did not make the final, widely distributed calendar theme, I am happy to announce I can customize one page just for you.

If you had a session in the last 13 months (October 2012 until now) and you make a donation of any amount to our Philippines relief efforts (as little as $1) I will provide you with a calendar page header from your session. Makes this calendar a little special for you, doesn't it? (This image prepared for you will not be made available at large, but will be for use by you as you print off your own calendars or other photo-gifts).

So head over to the Philippines fundraiser blog post, and donate a little something!

Then email me and request your special custom page!

Thanks for your generosity. And thanks for trusting your family's faces to me.

Our hearts indeed are big enough - Real relief for the Philippines

We have seen the images. We have heard the news. We know that the Philippines, this country that's on the other side of the world, has been hit by tragedy. Typhoon Haiyan tore apart many of its regions a week ago.

I love the Filipino people. My best friend growing up was my window to these amazing people who are called Filipinos. Smiling. Laughing. Contented, Industrious. Generous. Hospitable. I thought perhaps it was just my bestie's mom who was like that. I figured it couldn't possibly be some sort of cultural norm. But, well, it is. And you don't need to look at many images of the devastation to spot people helping one another, smiling, and even laughing. ~Tanya Zaleski

We're going to help. Here's the long and the short of it.

teacher PROMO prof - Montreal's South Shore family photographer

I love teachers. There. I said it.

I do. I especially love all my daughter's teachers. Like, every one she's ever had.

And I'm sure you feel the same.

After all, you launch out into the world that most precious part of yourself -- your child -- and entrust them to a teacher. Lo and behold, they come back home wiser, smarter, and a little more ready for the great big world.

Could I do what teachers do? Well, sure, I guess. Would I do a great job? Um, I think so, maybe. But would I work longer hours than I should, think about my job all the time, lose sleep over it, cry, sweat, and maybe even bleed over it? Yep. Definitely. If I'm any kind of a teacher like the ones I love so much, I would do all those things. Cuz they sure do.

So here's some special love to honour those I think deserve it so, especially this time of year. The teacherPROMO.

(Détails du PROMOprof en français plus bas...)

Facebook Timeline Covers - Montreal's South Shore family photographer

This just in.

Book a session between now and November 1st, 2012 and get a free, customized Facebook timeline cover photo.  Sorta like this one.

So just one more reason, right?

{Credit for select digital elements used on timeline cover shown goes to Favreau Designs. Used with permission.}

L'été 20/20 summer - Montreal's South Shore children's photographer

Français à suivre...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

That's right. A 20 minute session for one: 20 bucks. Minimum image purchase of ONE photo. 20 bucks.

And what's so very special about these 20/20 sessions? Sunset. So, you guessed it, spaces are limited.

Contact me today to get on the waiting list...dates of sessions will be announced throughout the summer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Vous avez bien vu. Une session de 20 minutes pour un: 20 piastres. Achat minimum d'un SEUL image. 20 piastres.

Qu'y-a-t'il de si spéciale avec ses séances? Le couché du soleil. Alors, justement, espaces limités.

Contactez-moi dès aujourd'hui pour réserver votre place. Les dates de séances s'annoncerons au cours de l'été.

Loving the H&M collection - Montreal's South Shore children's photographer

Trending: ticking, navy, brights, and shabby chic floral prints. H&M hit it right on the money.

Big winner

results are in...

And the big winner is:

You just won a $50 gift certificate. For all the details and to claim your prize, please contact me by email. Congratulation! And thanks to all of you for playing along. (What fun!)

Share the love / Partageons l'amour

Valentine's day is here. And so is a surprise Valentine's Day giveaway.

Facebook Timeline Covers - Montreal's South Shore photographer

Facebook's what-now hoozits?

If you have switched over to the new Facebook Timeline (more deets here), you'll have noticed the fab place to show off a photo: the Cover.

Here's some exciting news for all my 2011 clients.

Custom Facebook Covers using pics from your session. Here's a peek...

Reruns - Some fave posts from 2011

Looking back on 2011 through the lens of my blog, I can attest to the following truth: Chronicling moments gives us the ability to freeze time. 2011 doesn't seem as though it flew by as with other years past. I cannot sincerely exclaim, "Where did the year go?"

Score one more point for the power of blogging.

And just in case you missed some of these, here are a collection of my favorite moments.

1) Sleepiest newborn session of 2011...

More highlights - Montreal's South Shore photographer

Remember the Holiday miniSessions? Well, here are some peeks...

Some fave fam fotos of 2011 - Montreal's South Shore family photographer

Holiday hullabaloo - Montreal's South Shore photographer

Okay, Okay. No actual hullabaloo. But I was desperate for a snappy post title in a hurry. (I write this between supper and homework with the kid-o.)

As promised, details on the Holiday Gift Certificate Promo. (Voir Français plus bas.)

Generosity

We all have the opportunity to be generous. These opportunities come to us now again. And in those moments, we have a choice.

We may view these fluttering opportunities as mosquitoes, come to take from us and leave behind their mark. We may have found our favorite method of swatting them away. We keep our composure about us while delicately waving a hand to shoo them off.

Or we may view these opportunities to give as butterflies. Butterflies are not intrusive. They are lovely, and always gone too soon. We stand still, unsure exactly how to behave. We wish we could hold them, enjoying the sweet feeling they give us forever, but they are usually beyond our grasp. Maybe next time...

I prefer to think of these fly-by opportunities as honey bees. Bees mean business. They are unwelcome by those who don't understand their purpose, as children who only know but one thing: Bees sting. But a farmer will welcome the bee. A gardener will take great joy in the visit of a bee. The bee comes to take nectar. In so doing, it creates a connection from flower to flower, multiplying them and making them fruitful.

Tanya Zaleski Photocreations has been raising funds for the Canadian MPS Society this past year. Through the sale of fine art prints and note-card sets, over $300 have been raised. It is now time to bring this fundraiser to a close, and I'd like to see all the note-cards sold.

I'm therefore conducting an auction on Facebook. With 5 sets left, it would be wonderful to reach the $400 mark. These cards were originally selling for $18. Starting tomorrow morning, you can exercise your generosity and bid on the remaining cards.

And I thank you in advance for taking this opportunity to be generous for what it really is.

Japan and the hope of Spring

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It's about that time of year again...

Spring.

Or the hope of spring, at least.

-->In Canada, our calendars declare spring has arrived. But the ground, the air -- they speak otherwise. The icy winds still nip at our ears. We can see our own breath. That's what we woke up to this spring morning.




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As unfair as it seems to see a snow-covered spring, it cannot compare -- it is not even in the same realm -- as what nature has thrust upon Japan. And with that perspective in mind, we turn our eyes from our petty Canadian March troubles and gaze in the face of true devastation.

And we understand: Japan needs our help.

One Savvy Photographer, now living in Japan, has showcased a collection of images of Japanese blossoms. This selection includes the one you see above and can be viewed here. She states:

I am now asking for your help. If you would like to donate , please consider donating to the site I have set up. The money will go directly to Shelter Boxes USA. They provide humanitarian relief and aid in the form of equipment and materials that provide shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural or other disasters. They are helping in Japan right now providing the much needed boxes of supplies to some of the over 130,00 families who have lost everything. I think if we can all donate a small amount, it will add up to a great amount. Any amount is appreciated. If you can’t help financially, then help us spread the word about the page.

On page 30-something

The October '09 edition of Coup de Pouce is on stands now. Awe, and look at the pic of that cute baby with his mommy! Hey...wait a sec! I took that shot.



(Babyburrito is that great line I've talked about before.)