Family Swayer - Toronto Lifestyle Photography

On a perfect Saturday afternoon after a drive in from Ottawa, I met this beautiful family at the popular Riverdale Park that over looks the city scape of downtown Toronto. They were full of warm, positive and joyful energy, our time together was a such a fun experience. They even showed me a gem location that allows for a stunning rooftop capture- if you are a photographer in Toronto, Bridgepoint Health allows access to their patient rooftop patio. There is a beautiful garden and plenty of seating to take in the surrounding vibe of the city. Bonus, there is glowing sunset light all around to make your images pop ;) Just have a peak of their gallery! I will be back here no doubt!

If you are interested in a session in Toronto, feel free to get in touch with me here! xo

Film Gallery: Ilford HP5 shot on Nikon F100

One Diaper Canada - Partnership

Did You Know ... It costs over $3,000 to diaper a single child in disposable diapers in North America. For families who can’t afford these expenses, they may reuse dirty diapers, causing grave implications to a child’s health. This issue has been labelled “diaper need” and One Diaper Canada is at the forefront of tackling this concern. (source: http://onediaper.org/)

When I first read this simple statistic and began my research into the mission of the One Diaper Canada Organization, I knew I had to find away to help their vision. I've been fortunate enough to never worry in diapering my own children but it doesn't take away from parents who struggle with this basic necessity. We are currently in the works to host a fundraising event in October where 100% of proceeds will go directly towards closing the cloth diaper gap. Today, I wanted to introduce Cassandra and Lisa, the founders of One Diaper, below are their personal stories on being a mom and their advice to any new mom who may need a bit of inspiration today.

Founder Lisa - shares her view on parenting and life with little people

If I had any advice to give a fellow mom it would be to do whatever you feel is best for your family and don't judge others for doing the same. There aren't many "right" or "wrong" ways of doing things when it comes to parenting and you just do what works for you. When my son was very young, my husband and I both worked until late evening. We had a great schedule worked out but it meant that his bedtime wasn't until midnight. He slept until about 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning so he was getting very good sleep for a toddler but the amount of judgemental looks and questions we got about our schedule made us feel like we were doing something wrong. Because of that schedule, both my husband and I were able to spend time with our son before we went to work and still put him to bed at night which was a very important time for us as a family. 

If there is one thing I wish to remember about my children today it is my son's thirst for knowledge and his curiosity about everything. He wants to know the "who, what, where, when, why and how" about absolutely everything and he can never know too much about something. My daughter, I wish to remember how loving and cuddly she is. When she just leans over and gives me a kiss on the forehead or literally picks up my arm and puts it around her I can't help but be proud of the affection she shows the people she loves.

Founder Cassandra - shares her views on motherhood

If you have any advise to give a fellow mom, what would it be?  
I am a relatively new mom, so I certainly do not have everything figured out yet!  One thing that makes a big difference in my confidence as a mom and the relationship that I have with my kids is to intentionally spend a chunk (some days short, some days longer) of time sitting on the floor with my kids and playing with them or reading to them without any other distractions.  It is especially hard on busy days but it introduces a calmness and time of connection that we might not get a chance to have otherwise.

If there was one thing you wished to remember about your children today, what would it be? and why?!
Their little voices and their sweet smell!  They grow so fast, I know that's one thing I'll miss as they get older. 

Thank you Cassandra and Lisa for sharing a slice of your motherhood ! xo

Why Newborn Portraits are important - Toronto and Ottawa Lifestyle Photographer

Let's be honest, the first weeks of bringing a new baby home are stressful and the adjustment of around the clock care can leave you feeling exhausted. The simple thought of leaving your house, showering and getting dressed makes the heads of most new parents spin. So why in the world would you want to remember such a low point in your parenting life? Here is what I've discovered about the families who decide to welcome a photographer during the early weeks with baby.

The special bond formulating in the hours and days following the birth of your child cannot be described into words but we witness it beautifully in images (see image gallery below!). This new person you've waited so many months for has finally arrived and your heart is bursting, or better put, your heart is now walking outside your body. This new found love is growing with each passing hour but also something else is happening.... your little one is rapidly loosing their "fresh baby" look. The technical term is called the awakening period, you will notice your little one becoming more and more alert with each passing day. It is truly the most amazing and fulfilling thing to watch as a parent! Before you know it they've learned to roll, giggle, and in some cases walk before their first birthday! Making those 'fresh baby' days history!

Parents are often shocked at how quickly the first days pass and although they are exhausted they know that one day soon, they will want to remember the moments that bring them a sense of accomplishment in raising their child. To see a child grow and develop is an extremely rewarding experience. The endless effort and daily care to ensure a child is happy and healthy is very sentimental for moms and dads. To celebrate this journey, families choose to see the progress in photos and feel gratitude towards watching their family grow.

Below is the lovely Nikki and Reid with their sweet baby girl Quinn and sidekick Yoda. They will soon be welcoming baby number two and Nikki shares with us her experience in having images done in those first days! Thank you Nikki xo

You can learn more on how a newborn lifestyle session is captured by clicking here.

In Mom's words ...

We are very happy to do newborn photos again the second time around as we really loved our session with our daughter when she was born. Being able to look back on that time and see the bond she was already creating with not only us (her parents), but also our dog Yoda has been priceless. We were able to make a book of the photos and share them with her grandparents as well as keep a copy for ourselves to show to family/friends when they visit. Our daughter has started to enjoy looking at photos of herself as well and I can only imagine that this fascination will grow as she grows. Along with making the book, we also printed several of our favourites and hung them as decor in her bedroom. I believe photographs make beautiful artwork and love to see our memories hung around our home! The first few weeks with a newborn are such a whirlwind that we are very happy that we chose to capture it, even if only a brief moment in time. Our daughter has changed so much over the past year and it is wonderful to be able to remember just how small she was when she first came into our lives.