gigiblog

Christmas time's a'comin ...

You may *think* it's early ... but it's not. So, here it is. The information you have all asked/e-mailed/called about. 

Limited Edition Holiday Portraits ... 

Read below for details.

And I have some CUTE Christmas cards this year ... here are some samples:

Spots will fill up quickly so e-mail me if you are interested in reserving your session time. 

Angels come to visit us ...

The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, 

and we only know them when they are gone. 

 ~George Elliot

This weekend was a very emotional weekend. I may not find the proper words for this post as the emotions weigh heavy on my heart.

On Saturday, I had the honour of meeting a sweet angel.

Many of you who read this blog may have heard me mention an organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a charity organization that offers bereavement photography for families who have a terminally ill baby. As a photographer, I volunteer with the organization, offering the photography services and prints for such families. I received a call earlier this week about a local family who have been given the awful, heart-wrenching news that their son would not live much longer. After five long months of battling for his life, Baby K. strength and health has begun to slowly fade ...

When I made the call to the family to arrange a time to come to their home, I suddenly realized I *knew* this family ... I had photographed their first baby over two years ago. Never in a million years would I think that I would be returning to offer the services of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep to this family. 

I have to be honest, this particular family's situation has really broken me up inside. When I think of Baby K. and the grim outlook on his tiny little life, I cry. I cried all Saturday morning before going to his home to meet him and document his story. I cried when I held him after his session was through. I cried when I proofed his images upon returning to the studio. And I cried when I prayed for this family before falling asleep last night. 

Even now I cry. My heart especially breaks for the mother.

How can she hold her baby close to her heart, knowing he only has days to live ...? From where does she draw her strength? Can she sleep at night, or does she stay awake every hour of the day, staring at her baby's face, stroking his hair and holding his tiny hand ... for only a short time is life where such a privilege will be granted. 

My heart breaks for this family. 

They have been given no hope for their baby to survive. Their once normal world has been turned upside down and they have been given the news every parents fears inside their heart.

I have met a little sister who is struggling to understand why her mommy cannot make her baby brother better ... why she will never be able to play with him as a regular brother and sister would.

This is an image of Baby K's bravery beads - which he received each time he underwent a major procedure or surgery while at Sick Kids Hospital since his birth. 

Please pray for this family. Pray for Baby K ...

Pray that his parents will find peace in their hearts and support in their family and loved ones.

Pray for strength.

Water, water everywhere.

Well, there is only 10 minutes left to this week's Friday but I still made it on the blog! Phew! What a week! Did you guys have a crazy week, as well? Sometimes, when it rains, it pours! 

Speaking of rain... speaking of water.. (ahhh, smooth transition, eh? Hahah! Hardly! I'm tired - cut me some slack!) ... I wanted to share some pictures from this family session in the river. I've shared one image earlier but just had to share a few more. 

First - where it all began ... with two people in love ...

and then comes the family ... and the FUN!

... hugs for daddy ...

and kisses for mommy ...

Wahooooo!!!

and we found an itty-bitty little froggie - how much more fun could a little boy's session be?!

And like a cherry on the top of an already delicious ice-cream sundae ... a bit of brotherly love to make it all the more sweeter!

Ahhhh, I love my job!

________________________

And because it's Friday - I get to announce the winner of this week's giveaway - hosted by Artful Life.

Delightful and full of Autumn charm, this week's giveaway is a beautiful, handmade artwork: P is for Pumpkin:

This week's winner - using random.org - is 

#14 - Elizabeth M. who wrote: "Everyone and everything on this post is just brimming over with cuteness!"

Elizabeth, congratulations! Just e-mail me and I will hook you up with your beautiful artwork! Enjoy! It will look so lovely displayed in your home during this autumn season! :)  

Check back soon for more updates, sneak peeks and moooooorrree giveaways! :D

Flower fancies and a few ideas ...

I've had quite a few e-mails regarding my macro photography and whether or not the images are for sale. I'm in the process of having them displayed in a local store, but for those not lucky or blessed enough to live in the Orangeville and Dufferin Country area - you can check out the macro work here ...

  Online Gallery for Macro Photos

If you are already a Gigi client online, you just have to enter this code:

 29b74fa8

If not, you just need to register and then type in the access code.

I think these image types would look reallly cooool in square crops or canvases ... what do you think? 

Also, I did this up for a client last night. Do you ever look at your Gigi images, look at your wall, and then look back at your images and realize you are STUMPED and do not know how to display them on the walls? 

Don't stress!

I will help! Tell me your favourite images and I will do a mockup gallery/wall template for you ...

Like this. 

Ahhh. So fun. I love it. 

The middle image is a 16x20 and is surrounded by 11x14s, 8x10s and 5x7s. There is also a 10x20 featured along the bottom. 

I have the LOVEL pleasure of meeting a newborn tonight ... so looking forward to it ... 

And I just wanted to thank all you lovely Gigi blog readers who send me e-mails, note and facebook messages to encourage me in my work and life. You have NO idea how fabulous it is to open up your inbox and read such encouraging and wonderful words. It's amazing ... and such a blessing! Sometimes I find this business a challenge - as I struggle to put my family, my marriage and my three little girls first in my life - and that may seem odd to some ("Why don't you take your business to the next level?") but nothing can take the place and prority of my family. So while it may take me a bit to e-mail you back or return your phone cal, please know that I am encouraged by your words of love and am working fast and furious and late into the night to get all my proofing, orders and work done! ;) 

If you are ARE epexcting proofs soon, they will be posted this week. I promise. :D 

Have a great day, everyone! Be encouraged!

Childhood...

I uncovered these delightful images of Miss Lyla yesterday ...

This little kiddo of mine is such a bundle of craziness - joy - laughter - love - silliness ... all balled up in a very, tiny, short little three foot person.

Everyone should have a kid like Lyla. 

"Pleasant, sweet and sunny is childhood

Resembling the verdant, tangled wild wood

Uncaring with its free thoughtless air

Demanding lovingly a training hand of care

Energetically tender twigs are bent and folded

Nurtured carefully, childhood is easily moulded

Carefree is art, to nature it beauty lends

Empowered by manhood, it seldom ..."

She can make you laugh when she talks in her "monster voice" or makes her ghost face (something you gotta see to believe ...) She can make you frustrated by taking out alllll your makeup and smearing it all over the closest baby toy (ie. Super Saucer - yikes!). She can make you sigh with contentment when she lifts her arms up to you and asks to be held ... and when Lyla plays, she plays hard.

 And dirty. 

By 5 p.m. I have to hide her if someone comes to the door or else they would be shocked ... she looks like this.

She is learning how to become a fantastic big sister to Baby Lucia  ... it's been a learning curve, that's for sure ... but she *is* catching on ...

Grab your wool sweater.

Fall is here. Can you feel it?  The crispy leaves ... the chill in the air in the early mornings ... the warm wooly sweaters and the excuse to snuggle down under a warm fleece blanket at night in front of a soothing fire. Pumpkin carving with the girls is the next thing on my to-do list!

Last week, excited with the change of season, we lit a fire in our fireplace and much to our surprise, completely smoked out our entire main floor! Note to self - find chimney sweeper. If that's what they are even called.

Speaking of chilly weather ...

Did you know that there is only 92 days, 10 hours and 11 minutes left until CHRISTMAS DAY??!?!

(Wait, before you think I'm insane to be counting down the hours... click here. Now you know my secret!)

Yes, you heard me.

  Christmas. 

Is it on your mind yet? It's on MY mind! All Christmas orders must be placed by Nov. 4th  to be received in time for Christmas. The studio will be closed from December 1-January 2nd for regular sessions. HOWEVER - if you are pregnant or looking for a newborn shoot, I will accomodate and open the studio for such time sensitive appointments. I always make sure there is room in the calendar for such sessions! 

However, this means ...  if you are looking to book with Gigi Photography before then, you MUST hurry! I will not be taking sessions in November that require prints returned for Christmas. Currently, all weekend dates in October are filled. If you would like to reserve a spot and time, e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com

Please mention if you would like a Christmas theme (ie. Santa) and I will see how many requests there are and will put together a Christmas themed package. 

In the meantime - enjoy this absolutely ADORABLE set of twins! They come to visit and get some Gigi snuggles every three months ... aren't I LUCKY?! They were super duper cute this session, all snuggled up in homemade sweaters and matching toques (we shot the session in the morning so it was quite chilly out to start). I love it!

There will be more pictures from this session but this is a pre-sneak-peak for now!

Look at those eyes! Beautiful!

And his brother was just oh-so-content to cuddle his mommy ...

And to celebrate this new season of Autumn, let's have an Autumn themed giveaway, shall we?

Check out this adorable artwork -  P is for Pumpkin

P is for Pumpkin"is an original handmade one of a kind paper illustration, created by Summer Sloan of Artful Life.  

These illustrations are cut by hand using various acid free scrap booking papers and stitch the details by hand with embroidery thread. The size of the image is 5"x7" and comes in a plastic frame.  *Please note each artwork is unique and the final product may differ slightly from the one pictured above.*

You can also follow Summer's creative thoughts on her blog. Summer is a mom of three girls and has some serious talent on her hands! I love her work - check out this cute piece ... wouldn't it look FABULOUS in a nursery? 

And how ADORABLE is this sweet creation?!

Okay, to enter this week's draw, all you have to do leave a comment on this post and will draw a winner on Friday. A big thank you to Artful Life for hosting this week's giveaway! :) 

First day of Autumn

“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

William Cullen Bryant

Happy First Day of Fall! 

And what a beautiful day it is, too! I am currently blogging from inside Rose Cottage - how fun is that? The girls are playing and I'm "working." 

Hmmm. Multi-tasking, indeed. 

Despite some serious technology problems going on (it's always something, isn't it?) things are going pretty wonderful in my Gigi world. I have been shooting a ton of sessions and quite a few sneak peeks are overdue - so bear with me this week as I try to catch up. 

Here is one little sneak peek for today ... baby Wesley was a dream - such a cute, little newborn! Just fresh from the womb - only one week old - he could give anyone baby fever, for sure!

Check back tomorrow for the next giveaway! 

Beauty in liquid form.

“In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans” 

It's Saturday and my husband brought me flowers. :) Now I remember why I married him ... hahaha!  (JOKING, of course.)

I am trying to figure a *smoothly-operated* way to sell these images. For now, if you would like to purchase the above prints, e-mail me at gillian@gigiphotography.com

Prices as follows:

5x7 - $32

8x10 - $42

10x10 - $42

It's Friday! Yahoo!

"All seasons are beautiful for the person 

who carries happiness within."

Today's going to be a GREAT day ... I'm shooting a newborn session this morning - and I just ADORE newborns! - and then I'm taking the girls apple picking. Yeehawww! I love apple picking! And you know what comes after the lovely fall outing? 

APPLE PIE. 

Mmmmm. Yes, go on, be jealous. There's nothing better than a home baked apple pie. 

But wait. Who is going to bake it, you say? Ahhh, well, no worries. It won't be me ... but the pie will be amazing, I can tell you that much! And TRUST me - there will be photos to prove it! ;) 

Anyway - just a quick sneakie peakie for Amanda today - some more Trash the Dress photos for her ... man, we had fun! The Trash the Dress idea really went over well this summer. If you have a wedding dress that you still would like to try on before packaging it away for the next 25 years ... consider a TTD session with Gigi Photography! You won't regret it!

Amanda, you are STUNNING!!! 

my new header ... ;) ....

a little vintagey-feel for ya ...

And because it's Friday, I get to announce this week's giveaway winner! This giveaway, hosted by Oliver's Labels, is fantastic! 

If you have kids, you KNOW how great labels are for their items that seem to go missing at school, daycare, church, summer camp - you name it!

Slap on an Oliver's Label and you're set! 

I love these large bag tags ... which is one of the prizes in this week's giveaway ...

And check out their cute designs!

(You know, with Christmas JUST around the corner, try doing some of your shopping online at Oliver's Labels - it could work for cousins, nieces, nephews or your own kids! The labels would make great stocking stuffers!)

Okay, so this week's winner, using www.random.org is ....

#3 - Catherine

Catherine, I KNOW you will love these labels! E-mail me and I will hook you up with your prize! 

Check back on Monday for more giveaways and sneak peeks! Have a great Friday! 

Have you been Gigi'd?

“The fall of a leaf is a whisper to the living”

~ Russian Proverb

Autumn is one of my *FAVOURITE* times for outdoor portraits. 

How can you go wrong with those INCREDIBLE vivid, fall colours as your backdrop? I have very few sessions available for October as they book up so very quickly. If you are thinking about a session before the snow falls, e-mail me TODAY and we'll squeeze you in (weekday only as all weekends are booked). After this week, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to take any more bookings for the fall season. 

Here's a cutie I photographed a while ago - two falls ago! But I just had to feature her because she's too cue to pass up!