PHOTO OF THE WEEK #21: My Favourite {Non-Alcoholic} Beverage

So I've been a bit uninspired lately. Perhaps it's the huge list of projects I need to complete, knowing that I don't have enough time to get them all done. I know if I take new photos, then it adds to my list of to do's! haha :)

I was drinking my favourite {non-alcoholic} beverage, and decided to see if I could take a picture of the can without it reflecting all over the place. I was in a fairly dark room, with my SB600 and my SB900 flashes, Gary Fong Lightsphere for one and some tissue for the other. I didn't really have a decent back drop in the room so I used a chair (my office is always a huge mess!)

This is something I definitely want to play around more with down in the studio once I have more time. I have some ideas that I want to try out. :)

So not the most interesting photo, but it's the only thing I took pictures of last week and it did make me think a bit about lighting. It has inspired me to fix the things about it that I don't like so much, once things settle down and I can spend the time I want to in the studio. Of course, waiting until then will drive me crazy, but I must finish my projects first!!!!! ;)

I LOVE Iced Tea, especially Green Tea Iced Tea!! :))

Thanks for looking!!

-- Lisa P.

MY COMMUNITY: Procyon Wildlife Web Site Is Live!

If you've been following along for a while now, you may remember that I decided to do some volunteering in my area eariler this year. The original post can be found by clicking here.

I didn't get out to the facility as much as I had hoped this past year. Boy did the time fly by. Hopefully next season I'll be able to get out and take more photographs for them.

What I was able to do, though, was work on their web site. There's still content to be added, but most of that will be done over time. Cynthia and the Board are coming up with all kinds of new programs and exciting things for 2010. I can't wait to see them unfold.

I think it will be a continually evolving site. In addition to updating content on a regular basis, I can already see ways that I want to change/improve the look and flow of the site itself. It was definitely fun to work on :)

So here's a screen shot of the main page of the site.



Procyon is always looking for volunteers and donations, especially when the busy season starts up again in the Spring of 2010.

If wildlife rehabilitation interests you, go check it out! Procyon Wildlife Web Site

Thanks for looking. :)

-- Lisa P.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK #20: One of my biggest fans & assistants

This week, those of you who know my family will recognize the 'model' in the week's Photo of the Week. He sometimes helps when I need to test lighting, etc. This time I was setting up for the toddler shoot so he had to really get down low. He's always a good sport about it. :)

It's Hubby!! :))

Thanks for looking!

-- Lisa P.

WEEKEND COMICS: What The Duck

OK, so reverse the genders in this one and remove the profanity and you kind of have my life! HAHAHA ;)




"What the Duck" is an online comic strip by Aaron Johnson. Viewers are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Go check it out! :)

CLIENT SHOOTS: It's not only the girls who are cute!

I had a last minute photo session this morning with an adorable little fella. He has the greatest smile. :)

The tongue only came out once

He looked so handsome

Ready for Santa

Thanks for looking :)

-- Lisa P.

LIMITED TIME OFFERING: 1st Anniversary Print Promotion

To celebrate my 1st Anniversary, the prints and canvas items in the Sunrises & Sunsets gallery have been reduced up to 25%.

25% off regular price of PRINTS in this gallery (excludes Giclee product)
5-10% off Giclee Watercolour Prints and Canvas in this gallery

These prices will be available until December 13, 2009 and then they will go back to their regular price.

So if you're looking for a print to give someone for Christmas, check it out :)

Click the photo to go straight to the gallery

Thanks for looking! :)

-- Lisa P.

CLIENT SHOOTS: 3 cute little girls (oh, and their parents too!) ;)

I had the opportunity to photograph my favourite 3 little girls again this year. Last year we had some issues with the wee one as she was not very cooperative. This year she stole the photo shoot! :)

Look Who's A Big Girl Now!

But she wasn't the only one who grew up this past year.

Sisterly Cuteness :)

What a gorgeous and fun family. Daddy is definitely out numbered in this family! (But I don't think he minds) :)

And I can't resist posting just one more with the wee one ;)

I can't wait to see which one they decide to use for the Christmas Cards.

Thanks for looking :)

-- Lisa P.

ON THE BUSINESS SIDE: A Milestone :)

long post warning......)

So today is Friday the 13th. Unlucky? Just a regular day? Maybe both, depending on who you are and if you're supersticious. For me, it represents a milestone.

Although I've been doing photography work more seriously for a few years now, it was November 13, 2008 that I officially started 'Picture Your Life Photography' and registered my business after probably about 6 months of trying to come up with a name.

So today is the 1st Anniversary of 'Picture Your Life Photography'!! woohoo :))

What a year it's been. The part I'm most amazed about is how quickly it has gone by. There are so many things I've done, yet my white board is full of projects that I have on the go that I have to complete before Christmas.

I think the biggest challenge for me this first year has been managing my time between my full time 'day job', my part time Photography business and my family. I think my life has been managing me vs. me managing my life. So change in that area is definitely high on the priority list for 2010. :)

The most exciting thing for this first year has been developing the business and defining what 'Picture Your Life Photography' is all about, as well as developing my own preferences and style. There are so many photographers who inspire me in one way or another, and the world of Photography will continually be a learning ground for me. Having said that, though, I was actually pleased (and maybe a bit surprised) on a few occassions where I was actually inspired by my own work and the progress that I did make in the past 12 months (well....really in the past few years, but the progress was more aggressive in the past 12 months). And it's that, along with clients who are happy when they see themselves in a photograph that I've taken for them, that make me sure that I'm heading down the right road.

But getting to where I am now after the first year was achieved with the help of a huge team of people, some who have been involved for much longer than this past year. If I tried to name them all, I would miss some for sure, so I'm not going to attempt that, but there are a few who would be on my staff if I could only afford staff. LOL :)

My Uncle Pete, who passed away this past September, and my Aunt Phyllis were often my reality check and helped scrutinize my business plan as I was developing it, to help ensure that I always consider all of the key areas.

My awesome critics and providers of feedback, whether I asked for it or not (just kidding!! haha), Jane C, Al McP., Chris B, are always there to provide me with a different perspective than I might have.

My patient friends Aimee, Debbie & Renee, who agreed to be guinea pigs for me as I tried out new lighting, photography and post processing techniques, as well as my family guinea pigs Matt & Robyn who helped me try out new locations. I promise I haven't forgotten about the proofs I still haven't finished editing for you and I'm still plugging away at them.

My online Photographer friend Sheba, from Denver, whom I've never yet had the opportunity to meet in person, provided me with more guidance and inspiration than she probably realizes, as I've watched her travel down a very similar road to the one I'm taking.

And there are tons of my family members and friends who have helped in each of the above areas who I also can't thank enough. :)) They have all been very patient as so many of my personal photography has had to take a back burner this year. But I hope to catch up with things in the next few months.

Last but not least, I can't forget my hubby Paul and my sweet peanut Ben who put up with my craziness and lack of attention on a regular basis. I am so lucky that Ben likes to be in front of the camera (most of the time) and that he also seems to be showing a small interest in photography as well. How cool is that?! :D

One of the things that was on my list of things to do for year 1 was to sort out my Branding. So I'm working on that with Graphic Designer Lara Vujanic. I'm so excited to launch my new logo today for Picture Your Life Photography......................

This is the main version

This is the reversed version that I'd use on a black background

Thank you everyone who gave me feedback on the various logo options. Even if the one you liked best wasn't the one I ended up chosing in the end, your input was very helpful and I can't thank you enough for taking the time to give it. <3

I wanted something fun, fresh and not traditional and I think Lara has helped me do that. She's also working on some other Branding components for me, so stay tuned for some changes between now and 2010. I'm soooo excited about it :)

So thank you for reading this and all of the other posts you read and comment on, both here and on my facebook business page. I hope to be able to see more of you through the lens in 2010 (I'm all booked up for 2009 now...).

I can't wait to work on all of the new projects I have planned for year 2!!

-- Lisa P. :)

(PS, if anyone notices that I've forgotten to thank someone, please let me know. I don't want to miss any of you but I'm getting old and my memory sucks when time is travelling at the speed of light! LOL)

PHOTO OF THE WEEK #19: A Father/Daughter Moment

I had the opportunity to do a session again this year with 3 of my favourite little girls. Last year they ordered this Christmas card:



This year they are getting Christmas cards again with the 3 girls. My photo of the week isn't of the girls though. It's a shot I took that actually wasn't really part of the photo session. It was taken before we got started.

Daddy's Girl

If you follow along on my facebook page, you'll have seen some shots from the photos session under 'Client Sneak Peaks'. If you aren't following along on facebook, what are you waiting for?!?! ;)

Facebook Page

Thanks for looking. :)

-- Lisa P.

WEEKEND COMICS: What The Duck

Of course I laughed. But I probably would have laughed harder if it wasn't so true!! ;)



"What the Duck" is an online comic strip by Aaron Johnson. Viewers are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Go check it out! :)

PHOTO OF THE WEEK #18: Crazy Pumpkin Faces

I thought I had already posted my Photo of the Week, but this morning I realized I'm behind!

So for week #18 I didn't take very many pictures. The ones I did take were Halloween related and most had to do with pumpkin carving. I think most of you have seen this one already, but now it's my Photo of the Week.

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween. :)

Pumpkin Faces

Thanks for looking.

-- Lisa P.

MY COMMUNITY: Southern Ontario Aussie Rescue

Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to accompany a colleague of mine to an 'Aussie Bounce' in Stevensville, Ontario. Jane Steeves is the Rescue Representative for the Southern Ontario branch of Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline, Inc. She organized the 'Bounce', which is basically a get together for the dogs where they can run around and blow off some energy with other dogs. A special thank you to Sally and Allan who hosted the event at their property.

What a fun day! :) I grew up on a farm and we had usually 2-3 dogs at any given time. It was nice to be around so many of them.

Fabulous space for running

There were about 21 or so dogs and they seemed to be VERY excited to be outside in such a large space where they could run and run and run and run.

Lots of doggies and their people

I tried to get a picture of every dog there, but I think I missed some :( They move so quickly it was hard to tell who I might have missed at that time!

This cute one is Carly. She is about 6 months old and has severe cataracts, requiring surgery. Currently, she is in a foster home. The Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline will be doing fundraising to help pay for her surgery.

Meet Carly

The rest of these photos are just some random shots from the day. I found it challenging to get any intimate shots of the dogs that would really show off their individual personalities, mainly because of how many there were. But I think I did get a few good shots and I hope their people will be happy with them. :)

Off to seek adventure

If you click on any of the pictures you'll go to the blog photo gallery that is hosting these ones. There are a couple more there that I didn't post in this entry.

For the people who participated in the bounce I posted about 100 photos from that day. Thank you for the opportunity to photograph your beautiful dogs. You will be contacted by e-mail soon with a link to your gallery.

Also, stay tuned for a little project I'll be working on to hopefully help raise some money for Carly's surgery.

Thanks for looking and to learn more about the Southern Ontario Aussie Rescue group, visit their web site.

If you are interested in purchasing dog prints, you can find some here and a portion of the proceeds will be donated towards Carly's eye surgery.

-- Lisa P.