gigiblog

Sniff, sniff ...

Can I cry today?

Ohhh .... I hate things like this - last night, my online ordering program zonked out on me. The programmer who designed and made it has literally vanished and I cannot get a hold of him to help me out ... so I am stuck finding a new online ordering program and I need to do it fast! I have a ton of galleries that need uploading and a ton of clients who will be needing to order! Eeeeek! I was working on my website from about 8 p.m. till 4 a.m. this morning ... and I'm *exhausted*. I literally feel sick ... probably over-tired! I know it will all work out (it always does), it just adds more stress and more work and more complications in a time period when I'm pretty much already too busy (fall is my busiest season). This is when I would love to have an assistant hired to help me out!

So, ...... wish me luck.

Oh yeah, and it's our five year wedding anniversary today. I would LOVE to go out and do something like dinner and movie - but I know I would fall asleep with my face planted straight on my fancy dinner plate! Best to stay home and rest tonight (and proof!).

To cheer me up, I'm posting these photos - Lacey and I made candy apples last night. They are so pretty in real life that I just HAD to take a picture! I haven't even let Lacey eat her apple yet because they look so pretty sitting on the table in the kitchen! I guess I'll have to let her eat it eventually ... hahaha!

Off to prop open my eyes with toothpicks ...

Autumn on York Street.

"Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns." 
~George Eliot

my poor girls ... I dragged them out yesterday ... it's actually REALLY hot lately and it's hard to layer up on the fall clothes like I wanted them to do so that's why you see bare feet poking out! I'm sure my neighbours think I'm nuts ... lying on the sidewalk, squishing my six-month baby bump and running after Lyla (she's QUICK!) and Daisy at the same time!

It was worth it, though. :)

Lacey is a good big sister ...

Miss Lacey ...

Miss Lyla ...

and, of course, Miss Daisy.

Walking Miss Daisy ...

and lovin' Miss Daisy. :)

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Don't forget to bring in your food donations when you come to the studio or meet me for a session - all food will be donated to the Orangeville Food Bank this fall. :) Thanks, everyone!

*squish*

Aren't these lips just so beautiful and lovely? This is baby Emma ... she visited my studio a bit ago and I'm sure her mommy has been waiting for a sneak peek - well, it's here! Enjoy!

P.S. Don't forget - bring a food donation in to the studio when you pick up your order or come for your session! All the donations will be given to the food bank this Thanksgiving!!! :)

Sunny Monday.

Okay, I know it's silly to talk about the weather but ... how GORGEOUS is it outside?!?!? I'm loving it! I think God knew I needed the fall leaves early and so He provided them! Yeah!! Anyone who has booked their session for early October must be happy, looking up and seeing these gorgeous colours in the treetops ...

I have some pictures of the colours but I haven't downloaded the card yet... I have a rule. I can't download my last session until my LAST session is proofed ... *sigh* And I have a TON of sessions to proof so I can't even think about downloading my latest just yet.

I know one client in particular has been checking the blog for a sneak peek of her session and I'm so sorry for the wait! I hope you think it was worth it! ;)

Here's a picture of her girls ... I have the treat of seeing these girls about once a year for photos - it's a lovely ritual and I look forward to it every year! We always have tons of fun! :D

and their gorgeous mom! 

Enjoy your Monday!

Keep your head up and give a hand out.

September and October are my buuuuusssy times in the studio (and outside the studio, for that matter!). Everyone wants to capture autumn's gorgeous colours and I don't blame them! So I'm sorry that my blogging has lagged a little - just trying to keep my head above water right now.

But all is good - and I'm enjoying meeting new families and new clients. It's always a joy!

Here's a storyboard I made up for some friends that had their photos taken together - I thought they were too cute ... I would've LOVED to have photos of me and my best friend at this age. What a keepsake!

And ahhh ... just a shot of the pumpkins on my front porch. I love fall - so gorgeous ... crisp, fresh mornings ... which *sigh* yes, I am experiencing QUITE early in the day since my puppy, Daisy, has her morning 'calls' to make at 6 a.m. UUGHHHH!

And since this is the season of plenty, I'm asking all my clients to bring a donation to the food bank when they come for their session. I'm hoping to collect quite a basket full of food for the local food bank so please, please help us out this year! Even if you're coming to pick up an order, bring in a canned good or two - or a gift certificate for a local grocery store - and let's make someone's Thanksgiving a little brighter this year.

Lovely ...

"When I wake up in the morning
love
and the sun light hurts my eyes

And something without warning
love
bears heavy on my mind.
Then I look at you and the world's alright with me

Just one look at you and I know it's gonna be -

A lovely day - lovely day
lovely day
lovely day
lovely day

Lovely day
lovely day
lovely day
lovely day.
A lovely day - lovely day ..."

We took daddy lunch today (we can walk to his work) and then walked up to the public library with our puppy, Daisy, and signed up the girls for library cards, bringing home loads of fun books and movies. There's homemade chicken vegetable soup simmering away for dinner.
It's such a gorgeous fall day outside - and all is right with the world.

Enjoy your lovely day.

Think Christmas.

Well, since fall is upon us (yayy! I love this time of year!), it's time to think CHRISTMAS ... and for those very prepared people, I'm offering one last opportunity to book your Santa session with Gigi Photography! If you love Christmas like I do, you are probably already thinking of the upcoming holiday season (or dreading it, depending on how busy you get?!) ...

This year, we're hosting these *very* special santa sessions in my home -  when we recently moved into a century old home, I knew the living room - complete with fireplace and Christmas tree and sparkle lights - would make a perfect setting for a morning with Santa! I have few available spots left - mostly on Wednesdays in October - but space is limited so if you are interested in spending some time with Santa in a historic, gorgeous setting and creating a delightful Christmas memory for your little one, please e-mail gillian@gigphotography.com right away to reserve your spot!

Take a look at how authentic and wonderful this Santa is! He's fabulous! Trust me, you won't be disapointed.

 

 

The session details will be $150 for half an hour with Santa (this allows us time to have your child become adjusted and comfortable with Kris Kringle) - this will include an 8x10 print of your choice, an online gallery with your proofs and of course, Mr. Santa Claus himself (his travelling fee from the North Pole, of course!).

I'm also going to be offering some adorable Christmas ornaments to showcase your holiday photos on your decorated tree ... will post pictures of the ornament soon!

Again, please e-mail if you're interested as sessions are limited ... thanks, everyone!!

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Perks.

One of the *thousands* of perks of my job is meeting fantastic families! I first met this family when they contacted me for family photos - unfortunately ,with all available sessions booked for quite a while, I had to put them on a waiting list. Well, there was a cancellation for this past Monday night so I called them up and they quickly filled the available appointment - we had a great time out in the country until, sadly, the heavens opened up on us and started raining just 30 minutes into our session. :(

Thankfully, the four kids were so great and so well behaved and the family just clicked so well that I didn't have to worry about the images - I knew I captured what I was looking for. Of course, with a family this beautiful, I could've shot them all day long - so maybe this was God's way of telling me to not overdo it with the session! LOL!

My family how now become great friends with this special family and have been blessed by them a million times over! I hope these portraits will bless this family for years to come in return.

Bri, here is your sneak peek ...

the two sisters - such sweeties they are!

   and the brothers ...

I *love* this little guy ... isn't he the cutest?!

Today, don't miss the opportunity to make new friends -  you could be missing out on a new lifelong friendship!

               "Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends,
              never lose a chance to make them.  ~Francesco Guicciardini

Daisy, Daisy, Daisy ...

Okay ... my darling hubby caved! Yupppp! He let us get a puppy!! All of us girls (Lacey, Lyla and I!) love our new pup so much! We picked her up last night from two hours away so we didn't get home till nearly midnight - everyone was pretty much zonked. But I was impressed that Daisy, our new cockapoo, didn't cry once during the night, which I thought all puppies do? And this morning, she's done her duties outside, as requested by ME (please, keep me sane! LOL!) ... so yay! I've heard cockapoos, which only grow to be about 15 lbs or so, are quick to train. Let's hope so!

Here are some pictures of our new baby girl. Man, we have a busy household, eh?

snuggling together on the bed ...

and the girls with Daisy ...

and kisses ...

"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands.  When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat.  For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. "
    ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

Be creative!

If there's one thing that I just love, it's meeting other moms who have turned their passion into a business of some kind.

One of my dear clients has a fabulous business that I just adore- www.potterypartiesinthehills.com - it's a place where you and your children - or even just adults! - can go and create their own pottery masterpiece. I have taken my girls several times now and each time, we love it more and more. We make the cutest presents for grandparents (mugs with the kids' handprints) and gifts for those special loved ones. It's a great place to get some Christmas shopping done! (Yes, I did mention CHRISTMAS - and I'll have you know that I've already started my shopping! I'm nuts, I know!!)

Well, we did a session with the owner of Pottery Parties in the Hills and with her cutie little son (who was already featured here on the blog) - I just wanted to share this little storyboard I made up for them. And Tanya, I'm uploading your images right now!

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Also, I need everyone to send me good vibes because I think I've finally convinced my hubby to let us get a doggy! Yayyyyyyy! I'm so excited! (And yet, I do know how hard it's going to be over the next six months, trying to train this puppy. Yikes.) I'm just trying to arrange a time to go get her ... but look - isn't she priceless? I know my relatives will think I'm nuts for wanting a dog (especially with two little kids and one on the way already), but I am an animal lover and I'm all for children learning how to live with and love animals, respect them and treat them right.