gigiblog

Coming to a close ...

Summer, that is. It's bittersweet, isn't it? Already I had dreamt of Christmas this year - with our three little girls - and then snow falling all around, the warmth of a fire in the fireplace, Christmas music playing softly in the background ... Um, what's that you say? C'mon now ... winter isn't ALL THAT bad, is it? Hahah! Okay, okay. I'll stop writing about Christmas till at LEAST October.

I promise.   

Speaking of which, did you know that all Christmas orders for Gigi Photography have to be placed by November 1, 2008? I know. CRAZY! That means we only have two months left to get those photos you want for Christmas! I have already started booking fall sessions right now and will be taking bookings for Christmas, as well. If interested, e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com.

Oh, one more thing - Gigi Photography is in the spotlight at Design Aglow right now! Check it out!

They saw the recent Trash the Dress session Abby (hubby) and I shot together and e-mailed us to ask if we would be featured on their blog. Check it out! Here's the link ... Design Aglow. How fun is that!!?!?!? 

Okay, a QUICK sneak peek (because I haven't had time to start editing this session) of a CUTE, CUTE, CUTE boy from last week ... the last time I saw him, he was DAYS old! Wow. 

Isn't he fabulously gorgeous? Do you love his outfit or what? It was made for a wedding he was in. I loved it and I thought this old-school action suited it just fine. :)  He looks so Anne of Green Gableish - and you all know who much I LOVE Anne of Green Gables!

Okay, back to proofing I go. I have a whack load of sessions to proof so I better get going. 

Show Gigi Some LOVE!

Okay, here it is. What you've all been waiting for - Show Gigi Some LOVE contest! I will post the top photos, submitted randomly this week from clients or blog readers - and now you, the reader, will vote on the photo you think should win. The deal is the more votes you receive, the higher chance you have to win! The contest will close in ONE week. 

1st place prize is a FREE session with Gigi Photography, to be booked in the month of September 2008 

2nd place is a complimentary 11x14 image of your choice from your recent or upcoming session with Gigi Photography 

3rd place is a complimentary free sheet of wallets (eight wallets in one sheet) in an upcoming session with Gigi Photography 

There were SOOOO many wonderful submissions ... you guys are all so creative! Kudos to everyone for their fabulous, unique ideas! I did *sadly* have to narrow it down to the top FIVE, however. I know, I know, I'm a softie! I said three, but you guys were so cute and wonderful ... how could I resist? ... (thank you to everyone who submitted photos. You were all awesome!) so drumroll please!!! 

Photo A.  

Reason why they want photos with Gigi Photography: "Why I want photos with GiGi...We have not had any family photos done since our thrid arrived over a year ago, and now with three young kids we find it next to impossible to take any decent shots of all of them at once never mind trying to get us in the photos and well...Gillian is the BEST so I know she could handle our crazy crew."

Photo B. 

Reason why they photos with Gigi: 

I've been reading and looking at the pics on your blog for awhile, you take the most beautiful and touching photos! So I thought I would enter your contest in hopes of having one of those pictures be of my daughter Gracie. So why I should win this contest....well if met Gracie you'd understand my pain of actually getting a nice photo of her. You know the kind where she's smiling and looking at the camera. The only ones I get are of the back of her head or giving a bad impression of "cheese". To explain the picture, Grace can never seem to keep her sand in the sandbox, so what better why to show Grace being Grace; by back of her head...dumping out sand.

Photo C. 

Reason why they want Gigi to take their photos: 

"I was really excited when I read your blog because first I thought it was such a fun and creative idea and I knew right away what I wanted to do. Secondly because I have been admiring your photos for a while now and was dying to have some pictures done by you. So I'm really excited for this contest. So the reason I hope that I win is so that I get a some cute pictures of my boys together by you. I never got any professional photos done for Spencer so I feel kind of bad not having any, plus I wouldn't want anyone else to take them but you!"

   

Photo D.

Reason why they want Gigi to be their photographer: 

"We would LOVE the opportunity to have our photos done by Gigi Photography! We are so desperate to live, enjoy and remember the everyday moments that pass us by while our family grows in the timeless images that photography can capture. Past portraits with Gigi Photography adorn our walls as artwork - the artwork of our family and our lives and remind us of how quickly our girls are growing up and to slow down and enjoy life as it happens now."

Photo E. 

Reason why they want Gigi to be their photographer: 

"I would love to win this fantastic contest in order to have maternity photographs taken by you (including ones with Addie and my belly!!!!). I would love to be able to capture this pregnancy in photographs!" 

Okay! 

LET THE VOTING BEGIN! Get your friends and family to vote ... send them the link to this post and vote, vote, vote!!! Have funnnn!

~ Lady of Shalott ~

"Lying, robed in snowy white That loosely flew to left and right -- 

The leaves upon her falling light -- Thro' the noises of the night, She floated down to Camelot: 

And as the boat-head wound along The willowy hills and fields among, 

They heard her singing her last song, 

The Lady of Shalott."

Have you ever heard of Trash the Dress? If not, you have to check out www.trashthedress.com

Trash the Dress sessions (TTD) are for brides who would like to have some edgy, non-traditional photos of them in their wedding gown ... unlike you would have for your wedding day. For example, on your wedding day, you wouldn't want to get your gown dirty at all - however, in a TTD session, you don't have to worry about that at all! You don't have to actually TRASH the dress - you simply have some creative, unique, out-of-the-box photos done in your dress!

Make sense? 

Sometimes it helps to have a visual, so ....

My husband, Abby, and I went out last night to do some sample TTD shots and to scope out some new locations. He shot and I wore my wedding dress. It was an interesting experience, let me tell ya! I'm not really used to be on the OTHER side of the camera, but Abby did a FANTASTIC job and we worked really well together ... 

Please note: no wedding dress was actually trashed in the making of this session! It's just reeeeally wet and dirty!

*And a big thank you to Randy, who let me borrow his couch! LOL!*

I stumbled upon this little sweet location yesterday and I will definitely be using it again! 

(Can I just say that this water was FREEEEEZING cold ... I don't think I've ever been this cold before!)

I have a some TTD session bookings for the next while (before it gets any colder) ... if you're interested, e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com for more details or to book your appointment!

P.S. I am POSTING THE TOP PICTURES tonight from the Show Gigi Some Love contest! Waoooooo!

Throw out that Welcome matt.

I had the fantastic opportunity to do a newborn session in my client's home and I gotta say, it was so much fun! I encourage clients to think outside the box- if you think you would rather have your newborn session done in your own home, I'm open to that idea! One thing is you MUST keep your home warm the day of the session (to ensure baby sleeps) and also know that I will NOT be bringing all my backdrops/lights and such to your home - instead, the session would be much more journalistci/lifestyle-ish.  Also, I need to have some decent lighting in your home as I will be shooting natural light ... 

Like wee Bode's session. Just lost his belly button stub before I arrived. He was that new.

Talk about decent lighting ... 

their home was an old 1900's schoolhouse in the country... I LOVED it! I absolutely adored their home...

His big sister was just darling and oh-so-cute ... I've photographed her before so it was awesome seeing her again. My, they grow up fast! (sniff, sniff)

She loooooves her baby brother and was so gentle with him!

Even their sweet dog, Chase, was in love with the new little guy in the family. (Seriously ... how cute is this?!?)

There was the original chalkboard still on the walls in the kitchen - the blackboard wrapped around one side of the kitchen walls  ... it was awesome ...!

with daddy ... who, from what I gathered, is pretttty thrilled he got a little boy in this deal!

Mom looked absolutely-fabulous ... and she was just soaking up her new baby sweetness. 

We even carted him out to the wheat field for a few minutes ... shot just before a cricket jumped on him! Yikes!

So, I could go on posting his pictures all day but I have to keep SOME a surprise for when his gallery is unveiled! ;)

Oh and hey, don't forget today is the LAST day to submit your photo for this week's giveaway: a complimentary session with Gigi Photography! Details are HERE!!!

This moment.

"We have only this moment, 

sparkling like a star in our hand - 

and melting like a snowflake ..."

It's always a nice change of pace to photograph seniors (yes, in the photography world, teenagers are called seniors ... don't be confused!) and Lindsay's session was no exception. 

We didn't have a lot of time because it POURED rain about an hour into our shoot but we still got "it" - what she came for ... and then some.

Enjoy the sneak peek, girl!

____________ 

And just a NOTE out to all of you who have entered this week's contest!! I have received some AWESEOME submissions! I can't wait to post the photos!!! Keep checking the blog as I will post this week. I think I will give it 24 more hours as some clients e-mailed to say their photos were commmminnnng ...... 

Thanks again for all your love and support!

Speaking of support - how much does THIS rock?!?! The owners of Orangeville Flowers found it online and bought it for me! Hahahaha! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!! Think I can carry it around in m truck and use it to get wicked parking spaces wherever I go?!

The prettiest baby in the world.

Okay ... believe it or not, my internet has been down for three days! Oh my gosh, I nearly died. Seriously. I can't do business, update my blog, upload photos, answer e-mails, with no internet! So I am VERY sorry if you felt neglected these past few days. Trust me, I was in pain, knowing my internet was being unfaithful to me - but in any case, it's working now (for now?) so I am updating and answering e-mails quickly (in case it quits on me again - and I have no idea why it's doing that ...)

I have had soooo many WONDERFUL sessions this past week! And this week is going to be awesome as well! I can't wait for Tuesday's session - but you'll have to check the blog for WHY! :D 

Also, I am starting to get the submissions for the Show-Gigi-Some-Love contest posted earlier. And can I just say you guys are THE BEST! I LOVE the photos being submitted! If you haven't submitted your photo yet, there is still time. I will leave the contest open until later this week and then will be posting the top three photos on the blog for your friends and family members to vote on! How fun!

Anyway - yes. I photographed the MOST beautiful baby this past week. When his parents walked into the studio and introduced wee baby Luke to me, I couldn't stop gushing over him! He truly was a BEAUTIFUL baby ... his skin, his hair ... his sweet nature ... all wonderful. And his parents were awesome to work with! 

Without further ado - here is the sneak peek for Baby Luke (don't you love his name? It was on my boy-name list for Ls!).

I LOVE this shot! His mommy just GLOWED with love and adoration for her baby boy.

Do you think daddy and Luke look alike or what? ;)

See. I told you he was gorgeous. 

His little life is already surrounded by complete love. 

Such sweetness ... 

It was awesome meeting baby Luke and his parents! I hope you guys enjoyed the sneak peek. :) 

You know you wanna .....

It's been prettttty busy in the Gigi world lately ... and this week is flying by .... and yeah, I forgot to do this week's giveaway! So to make it up to you all (because I know you ALL LOOOVE those giveaways!) I'm going to host a fantastically-wonderfully-super-duper-lovely-groovy giveaway this week ... 

This week's giveaway is a COMPLIMENTARY session with Gigi Photography! It can be photos of you, your child, your baby, maternity photos, photos of your parents, you and your fiance - whoever you want photographed and it's yours!

Okay, listen up. This is how you could possibly win it ...  

1) Grab your camera and take a picture of you or your kiddos and send it to me! ONE CATCH - the photo has to have the name GIGI in it somewhere! Be creative. It can have it written on a card, on your kid's forehead ;), on your foot, on the window in the background ... but the photo MUST have Gigi in words somewhere in the image.

2) E-mail it to gillian@gigiphotography.com

3) Tell me WHY you should win (it doesn't have to be a long - just a sentence or two) - why you want your photos taken by Gigi

4) Tell all your friends and family and everyone you meet to visit the Gigi blog to vote for you!

I will pick the top three photos - and post them here on the blog. And quite simply, the more votes you receive, the higher you will rank. I will have prizes for the top three (to be announced!) ... 

BUT - the NUMBER ONE PHOTO will receive a complimentary awesome-rockin' session from Gigi Photography. *Please note: the session will be shot in the month of September.*

So, go ahead - find that darling photo you love so much and e-mail me straight away!

Oh, and because NO post is complete without an image ... here is one I shot of my parents on the weekend. I *puffy heart* it ... I love it. I truly do. They celebrated their 33rd anniversary this past weekend. My parents are such awesome people ... they are very special to me and have blessed me and shown me love, grace, support and all things mushy. And I appreciate that. 

I can't wait to hang this image on my wall. 

The Rest of Rachel.

It seems like things are just heating up in the Gigi Photography world! I don't think I've ever been this busy during the summer months with bookings ... appointments are filling fast and sessions are being shot one after another! It's good times - but it means I really have to keep up with my proofing ... ! It's been a challenge, let me tell you, with three little ones underfoot. ;) And when two decide to sleep, one decides to party. Hmmm ... I have to figure out a better system ... so far, it's been some late, late, late almost-all-nighters to get all the proofing done. 

Anyway ... enough babbling ... more pictures! This is to complete the sneak peek of Cute Rachel from last week. Her parents were such a joy to work with and Rachel was so beautiful and fun to capture on film ... well, let's just let the pictures speak for themselves. After all, isn't a picture worth a thousand words?

She is just starting to explore the world of walking ...

... with her adoring mommy and daddy ...

... :) As a mom, I love to be able to take photos of moms and their children ... it's so special!

... having some fun with her daddy-o ...

Can't help but love this photo!

She had *amazingly-sparkly-eyes!*

Guys, thanks for your patience - your proofs are now ONLINE!! Yeah!

ENJOY!!! :D

___________

Quick Note: October bookings are filling fast! If you are interested in booking a session, please e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com to ensure a session spot in time for those GORGEOUS fall leaves!

The Next Chapter.

"Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened?

 A miracle. 

You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything."

- William MacNeille Dixon

Many of you will remember my original post, introducing my readers to wee baby Story - who was born at 25 weeks gestation, weighing only a mere 1 lb 12 oz. Her early arrival frightened us all - hundreds of people - from grandparents to complete strangers - began praying for Baby Story, praying that her little body would have enough strength to keep her healthy, that she would grow, grow, grow, and that she would be fully healthy enough to come home to her parents. Her parents have been keeping a blog so we can stay updated with Story's growth and start of life.

Well, story is now 174 days old and is a BEAUTIFUL healthy baby girl ... rolly, chubby, smiling, all-together-wonderful little baby. She is not out of the woods yet, so to speak, however, she is doing so well and her parents are just overjoyed with their little baby girl! Please continue to pray for Baby Story - that she will remain strong, that she will get through these next two years healthy and well ... 

For now, we are thanking God for such a wonderful miracle!

Because, truly Story is a miracle.

I had the INCREDIBLE honour of taking her pictures this weekend. I loved every minute of it  ...

I think she did, too! Look at that smile!

with her gorgeous momma ...

Daddy is already wrapped around her little finger, I can tell! 

We tuckered her out ... I adore sleeping baby shots, so I'm pleased she fell asleep for us. :) 

Do you remember how small and tiny her little feet were in the photos I posted earlier? 

Story has grown so much!

Laurel and Mat, thank you so much for making the long drive to my studio to have Story's photos done! It was awesome seeing you again and I just adore your baby girl! I can't wait to take her six month photos! ;)