Elmira Children's Photographer. Mommy boost

I've seen a lot of posts on social media which are meant to boost moms up and I kinda like it.  And I think that if more people share, the more moms will feel ok with stuff like this. 

I don't know where it comes from, exactly, but sometimes we feel self conscious, uncomfortable or downright ugly.  We all feel it sometimes.  But I think it is important that we don't pass that on to our kids.  It is important that they don't see the anxiety about wearing a bathing suit, or the way we describe that photo of ourselves.  We can stop the cycle if we just stop. 

So if you are in for a few moments of mommy boosting - check out these articles here:

Moms- Put on the swimsuit
The Mom Stays in the Picture

Feel free to add more of your favourite articles in the comments below.

Elmira Children's Photographer. NAPCP Challenge

The warm weather has finally arrived and I'm happy to say I've been busy behind (and a little in front of the camera) lately. 

Leading up to Mother's Day NAPCP (National Association of Professional Child Photographers) posted a challenge to its members and beyond about putting ourselves in front of the camera with our kids...I put the challenge out too and the results were beautiful.  But don't stop now - put yourself in the images with your cute kiddos....and selfies count!!  If you are using social media, post them with #mompluscamera and we can all share!

Here is one of my fave recent shots with the Charlie.

Also - side note - I'm now a proud member of NAPCP!  Yay!

Elmira Children's Photographer. Instagram

I joined instragram when I bought my new phone - It has a much better camera and I can actually download the app for instagram (tells you how old my last phone was).  Anyway, thought I would share a little preview of what I've been snapping lately.  Enjoy.  And if you wish to follow me, you can find me here: http://instagram.com/karen_meissner#

Summer. Elmira Children's Photographer. Summer?!?!

Yesterday I wore flip flops to drop the kids off at school and today the kids had to wear their full snow garb!  I won't get into how this crazy weather is likely a symptom of global warming (but I think it is), however I feel I need to say this: I really missed flip flops.  I miss sunscreen and warmth on my face.  I miss sun-kissed noses and big sun hats.  I dream about my feet in warm sand and long walks after dinner (where the walk is longer than the getting ready).  I'm so excited for summer that I went out and got the kids summer hats and sandals and T-shirts yesterday.  And I guessed on shoe sizes because they weren't with me and I'm quite proud to say I chose the right size (until they grow out of them).  So what is your favourite summer footwear for kids?  what lasts, what looks cute, but I don't have to worry if they get too dirty? What do you love on their cute little feet?

Elmira Children's Photographer

Today is my birthday.  My 33rd birthday to be exact.  Do I feel older?  Sort of.  Do I look older? If you look closely (and please don't).  Does it matter?  Not really. You see, my life is full of wonderful people that make it amazing in a way I can't really describe.  I love my job/business/career/whatever you want to call it.  And life is actually pretty sweet.

In honour of my 33rd, I will be gifting my basic package ($395 value)  to 3 very worthy families  So who will these people be?  That's up to you.  Send me the story of a family that needs a little lift, can't afford professional photos or who would love a family photograph hung on the wall.

Stories must be submitted by email to info@greenapplephotography.ca by Friday January 24th.  The winners will be chosen by my team at Green Apple Photography and announced on or before February 1st, 2014.  Feel free to contact me about what is included in the package.

You must include the family's name, location, their story and why a portrait session would make a difference to them.

Please also include your name and contact information.

Stories will only be published with the winning family's permission.

I hope to give some wonderful photographs to some amazing people this year!

Karen


Here is my 4 year old playing with his 5 month old cousin - see life is pretty good!

Kitchener newborn photography - Adorable fireman

Little J was born early and I was excited to meet this little fireman.  Since he was early and had to spend a little time in the NICU, he was past my usual 5-9 day rule.  In order to get the curly, sleepy poses with a baby, you have to photograph them within the first 9 or so days of life.  After that they are more alert and their muscles start to stretch out and they don't like being curled up as much. But Jacob was supposed to be inside his mama's tummy for another week or so, and I was glad to break my rule for this cutie.

Sarah and Shawn,  your little man is absolutely adorable and it was my honour to photograph him!  I loved learning more about you both and I can't wait to see him grow up!  Hope he is sleeping for you!  Please enjoy a few of my faves from our session.

Please click here to see a slideshow with  more of my favourites from this session: Kitchener Newborn Photography

Elmira Children's Photographer. My kids on the wall

As a children's photographer, my walls should be filled with images of my kids, but the truth is I'm really busy taking care of my business, my clients and my family.  And I'm missing that.  I'm missing seeing their beautiful faces on my walls.  I'm missing showing off their connection to one another and to Joe and I.  And I'm missing showing off their cuteness. 

So as I've made it my mission to ensure my clients images end up on their walls, I've started to do the same in my house.  I recently purchased 3 canvases to display on my livingroom wall; one of each of their beautiful faces.  I love it, I love it, I love it!

These are, by far, the best canvas products I've seen.  Local, lovely and so beautifully created by the talented folks at Photo Media Decor.  I recently took a tour of their work space and true care is taken when creating these beautiful pieces of art.

Here are a few shots of these awesome pieces.

Elmira Children's Photographer: Life as a mom

I rolled over as I was tapped on the shoulder early this morning.  My 3 year old little guy had woken me up and I felt like I was being ripped from my warm, cozy bed.  I kept my eyes closed and he crawled in beside me.  I may have dozed off again, but I honestly don't remember.  The next thing I knew he was chanting, "Look! Look! Look!"  I pried my eyes open and quickly retreated to my duvet cave.  I felt like a vampire seeing the light of day for the first time.  "It's so beautiful", he said.  I nodded and curled up again.  Then I processed what he said to me, and looked out the windows again.  I saw a beautiful blue and pink sunrise.  The clouds quietly melting together.  Then I looked at my son.  Yes, it is beautiful.

Elmira Children's Photographer. What I want to be when I grow up

I never really knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I never felt like I had a "calling" in life.  I knew I wanted to have kids, but never gave much thought to a career.  Not to say I hadn't experienced something I felt I could do forever, but that feeling past and I grew out of it.  At one point I wanted to be a doctor.  I liked music, but wasn't that good any instrument and you don't even want to hear me sing.  I loved sports, but didn't think that could be a career. 

In highschool, I really liked science and decided to major in biology in university.  After several months, it just didn't feel right.  I was bored, not interested and thus not meeting my potential.  I didn't feel good about it any more and so I passed on that too.  It was my mom that sat down with me and looked at all the things I loved to do.  Photography stood out. She went so far to call her wedding photographer - from 25 years ago - to see what my direction should be.  He recommended Fanshawe College in London - which has an amazing photography program.  I also took several evening courses that Conestoga College offered.

And all these years later, I have my mom to thank for directing me down that path. For getting on the phone and helping me find my way. 

First day of school. Elmira Children's Photography

My oldest set off for her first day of school this week.  She picked out her new dress, pulled on her backpack - even though it weighed more than her, and I grabbed my camera.  When I was young, we always got our picture taken on the first day of school.  And usually in front of the family car.  I decided to continue the tradition, but added a few little fun facts about my monkey.  After highschool, she will have a collection!

And her poor brother just wanted to be included - dress and all!

Elmira Children's Photograher. 8 steps to taking pictures of your own kids.

Taking pictures of your own children can be very difficult.  Especially when they are young.  Here are a few tips I have for all the mama paparazzi out there.

1.  You child should be in a relatively good mood, fed, and clean(optional...lol).  Nothing worse then trying to keep them happy AND get great shots of them. 

2.You should be in a good mood, fed, and clean...joking - but I was serious about the good mood.  Cranky mom with a camera = cranky child

3. Let your child play and have fun.  If taking pictures of you kids is something you want to do on a regular basis, then it has to be a fun experience for them.  When you let them play and have fun, you get natural joyous expressions.  If you are forcing them into a specific pose or asking them to smile, you are going to get the "scary smile".  The squished up face, squinty eyes smile!  Tell them jokes, have them tell you jokes, tickle them or laugh with them.

4. Lighting. In my opinion it is the most important part of photography.  After all photography means Light Painting.  Overhead light and on-camera flash can be harsh and create bad shadows.  Put your kids in front of a big window (not direct sun) and use that lovely diffused light for your images.   

5. Focus.  make sure your little cutie is in focus.  Nothing worse then having expression, lighting and your kid cooperating and having a blurry image. Make sure your monkeys eyes are in focus and that's all that matters.

6. Composition. Once you get comfortable you can start to work on different ways to improve the composition of your images - more on that soon.

7. Print your good and great shots.  Hang them on your walls. Display them in your home.  What good are amazing shots, if you aren't going to show them off.

8. Practice.  The more you shoot, the better you will get and more comfortable you will be.  That's when it gets fun. 

I will be posting more about making and taking great shots.  If there's a subject you'd like more information on, let me know.  Just post a questions in the comments below.

Here are some shots I took of my kids!  Enjoy!

“If there's something that you're dreaming of then may it all come true, because you deserve it all...HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

The kids and I tried to be sneaky, but with 2  and 4 year old voices, nothing is a secret in our house.  We snuck out to the grocery store to pick up everything we needed for celebrating.  We got out mixing bowls and large spoons and I preheated the oven.  Together we baked.  We licked fingers and "cleaned" out bowls of cake batter.  Charlie sat in his highchair eating cookies and singing while Maria, William and I stirred and mixed.  Today is Joe's birthday and half the fun was making his cake and decorating his gift (with an idea I saw on pinterest)

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful man, father and husband I know! 

Elmira Photographer. Glamour Photography

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~Confucius

 
She'd been at home with her baby for the past year.  night feeds, diaper changes and nap schedules.  She had worked hard.  Very hard.  It isn't bon bons and soap operas when you are at home for your baby's first year. She deserved some time.  An afternoon to herself to get pampered and treated like a woman again.  Not just a mom.  So I decided to surprise my sister.  A make-over and glamour photo shoot.  I told her I had a portrait session (not a lie) and that I needed her to baby-sit my 3 kiddos (a complete lie - in fact, my husband was watching her little one for the afternoon)  She came over and kept asking about my session.  Who was it for? Where was it? What time did I have to leave?  I carefully dodged her questions until her friend and hairstylist showed up.  That's when we revealed the big secret. "Surprise, you are my photo shoot!"

Cindy, I had so much fun with your shoot...you looked amazing!  Hope you enjoyed your time!

Amazing hair by Andrea Potvin and beautiful makeup by Jenn Eades.  Thanks girls for helping pull off this surprise.

Elmira Children's Photography -“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr. Seuss,

Last Saturday Joe and I added three more kids to the craziness when we babysat our friends' little ones.  They kids are amazing: fun, pleasant and pretty much the same age as our kids.  So I didn't even hesitate when Melissa asked me to watch them. 

Not only are these kids all fantastic and stuff, but they are super duper smart.  They can identify several different countries on a map (it's a fun party game!), and they all read.  Even Thomas, who just turned 3, can show you letters in a book. So I had a minor heart attack and slight stress headache when I discovered this.  See Maria, who is 4 doesn't know all her letters yet.  She's smart as a whip, but it isn't' something we practice regularly.  So this week I started "Letter of the Day"

Here's how it goes.  Each day, pick a letter - I have cards with all the letters on them.  Discuss the sounds, it's shape and a few words that start with this letter.  Then go on a letter hunt.  Send the kids around the house, looking for the letter of the day.  You can even tidy the kitchen, or maybe go to the bathroom in peace, while they do this.  Go for a walk and look on signs or license plates for the letter of the day.  Shape their food like the letter of the day.  Make a meal or snack with things that start with the letter.  Practice writing the letter.  Throughout the day remind them of the sounds and also look for a few letters from the previous days. 

My kids are loving this game.  And the best part, they are learning from it.  Yay for the letter of the day!

Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining? ~Robert Brault

Mother's day was approaching and for some reason I tend to give photography as gifts.  This year was no different.  I contacted my sister-in-law and made arrangements to get the kiddos together for a grandchildren picture for Joe's mom.  I got each of the kids a T-shirt which wasn't too matchy-matchy, but coordinating at the same time.  Photos of the kids can be difficult.  There are 5 of them under the age of 5 and as you can imagine, they get distracted very easily.  With the help of Jeremy and Kelly, we got some amazing and adorable shots.  Here are a few of my faves.

"I wonder if you smile at my texts, like I smile at yours." ~ Unknown

I recently looked back at a text message I had sent Joe and was a little ashamed.  Since I've been writing the Green Apple Photography blog and now the point.click.change blog, my writing has improved a lot and I'm actually quite proud of it.  So when I read the text, I thought who writes like that?  It doesn't even make sense.  And the worst part is that Joe actually knew what I meant.  I actually send messages like that a lot.  It's faster, easier and well, you know what I mean!

"oh. ok.np.k"

"Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact." — Robert McKee

Recently my 4 year old, Maria, wanted to write a story.  It was a princess story (of course) about her and Ariel.  But the story took a turn and got deep.  As she was dictating, I began to laugh.  I couldn't stop.  I was giggling and crying and trying not to drool.  Seriously, I was laughing that hard.   I felt wonderful and horrible at the same time. 

Here are a few lines:  ...Fun was nothing.  The days were over.  Next page: now it was so much fun. The days were not over...

Am I mean for laughing?

 

If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle

I stared longingly at my bed.  The pile of blankets.  The soft mattress.  The cozy pillow.  I had just put all 3 kids down for a nap, and my bed was calling me.  But I knew I wouldn't sleep.  I had too much to do.  The house resembled a line drawing made by my 2 year old son.  My to-do list was a scroll of book-keeping, editing and writing to complete.  I knew that whatever I chose to do with my only free time of the day, I would feel like I should be doing something else. I am constantly pulled in 6 thousand different directions at the same time  By little hands and voices, by the hum of the computer, by a pile of blankets and pillows, by the mess in the kitchen, by the dog at the door, by my husbands arms, by life.  Life has a way of feeling like a tornado most all a lot of the time. I have to remind myself that I'm so lucky that these are the problems of my day and that I have the choice to jump into bed and cover myself with the blanket.

Here are a few shots of my little hands and little voices!

"I'm totally cool with being weird. Weirdos become leaders."

My children are often described as "crazy". What can I say, they like to have fun. And that's exactly what it is..plain old fun! But sometimes I find myself defending them - you know, to clarify. They aren't actually crazy or really weird, they just like to run around naked with rubber boots and a winter hat on...or maybe just put on their dad's clothes.

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons. ~Author Unknown

Every once in a while I forget to enjoy my children. I forget that they will grow up and I won't have these moments. I forget when they ask to be carried, that soon I won't be able to because they've gotten so big. I forget that piggy back rides and playing dress up will become things of the past. I forget that soon I will forget.

I found this on a friend's facebook page...it helped me remember.