The Rankin Photography BLOG has MOVED. So don't check here anylonger. Instead visit me here.....
Rankin Photography Blog. Don't forget to bookmark the new site. I am excited about the new look and feel. it is more interactive and I hope you like it as much. Come over and say hi.
My daughter is "Miss Crafty" and loves to create things each day. You can primarily find her at her "art table" every day drawing, and using her imagination. If she sees something like a box, a string, some buttons or ribbon or just a Kleenex box she will dash for it and ask if she can make something from it. It is endless and I to love to do crafts but there is no way I could manage to keep up with her in that department.
This morning she grabbed a Kleenex box and made this picture. He is a bunny that can stand and notice the arrows below the feet. So he can jump of course!
Happy Easter, and let's not forget the true meaning of the season amidst the chocolate bunnies, colored eggs and hopping rabbits. To be Christian means to reflect on what this holiday really means to our life and the sacrifice made.
A picture I took at Mill River Resort in PEI during our March break getaway with friends.
and a few uplifting, thoughtful quotes.
No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today- Brendan Francis
We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.- Joseph Campbell
Happiness is never stopping to think if you are. — Palmer Sondreal
There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.— Deepak Chopra
There is only one thing more painful than learning from experience, and that is not learning from experience. — Archibald MacLeish
With this job comes meeting some amazing people each and every time I hold a session with my clients. I swear I have not had one client I have not enjoyed my time with! I know, you think I am lying! But seriously, I have not had one client who I have not managed to connect with at some level. And it was no different with Krista and Mike. They are two wonderful people with one amazing new addition. Meet J.
I was suppose to photograph him within the first two weeks he was born (per my norm for newborns) but, as I mentioned, I hurt my ligament skiing. When I told Krista what I had done she was quick to realize, being a physiotherapist, how long it may take for me to get going again. But I bounced back well and we managed to photograph this little monkey around three weeks. He was a doll and even though he gave me a run for my money with not wanting to sleep for long we managed to get a few wonderful images I think!
Krista, thanks for the tea, chat and a great photoshoot. You are my kind of gal....relaxed, trusting and you have great decorating style!
A sneak peek for you both....
And I think this is one of my favorite. The lighting, angle and the intimacy between mom and baby!
So thought I would post some wedding pictures from Melanie and Chris's wedding. They will hopefully be a pick me up for you as that is what they seem to do for me during these winter days.
She timed it just right for the nice fall flowers and carried those colors into all of her decor and bouquets.
I am a sucker for detail shots in the weddings that I shoot. I truly believe it is part of capturing "everything" that makes this day special for the couple. The amount of detail, hard work, sweat and tears that go into planning each and every detail is so obvious and who doesn't want a memory of them? On her bouquet she had a locket of her grandmother and it was a gorgeous detail as you can see.
and a shot of the rings on the daily newspaper.
Of course the dress!
And a rosery. This was a tricky shot as it was swaying in a slight breeze off of the clothesline.
And one 
can't forget the groom!
Or all of the handsome guys!
Love this one of Melanie getting ready. She is beaming.
And Melanie opening a gift from Chris before the ceremony. 
and the girls.
A cool angle
the reception was at Kingswood golf course at around sunset and we couldn't have asked for better light. I love me some nice sun flare.
Oh what a gorgeous sky!
And the couple. Oh so happy!
Congratulations Melanie and Chris. You two are some of the coolest people I have had a chance to photograph!
Some new things to watch for. A new blog! If you have this bookmarked then you will want to watch for a link soon to an all new Rankin Photography blog and update your link. I will be announcing it soon.
Also an update on the Small Blessings project. I wanted to be able to do the first sesion in Feb. but as it turned out I have hurt my leg, looks like a ligament injury, during skiing. I am off the crutches but will be waiting until March at the earliest to do my first shoot. Thanks to all of you who submitted names. I am still taking names for it. You can find the details for the contest in this blog entry.
Also I am now booking into spring and summer. I still have some openings in April if you thought you may want to book. Email me at srphotos@nb.sympatico.ca.
Have a super week and sorry for the lag in posting. It has been a rough few weeks! :)
Amazing the change in photography over time. With the digital age often comes higher expectations of photography clients. As photographers, being asked to change a picture is common now with such programs as photoshop, and I am always blown away at how much of a picture can actually be changed. It doesn't mean I am a huge advocate of alot of Photoshop work. It just doesn't lend itself well to my "natural, real life" style of photography. Can I make a frown into a smile? Yes, can I make you look thinner? Yes. Would it be easier if you went on a diet, booked me and then smiled the entire time? YES! :) I am totally kidding. But this still made me smile!
My little one is sick yet again. She was back yesterday to the doctor for a second round of antibiotics. The second bout of bronchitis in one month!!! She missed school all last week! Can you say, no work time for mom. Poor thing. She barely has a voice from all the coughing she is doing. Must get her better for downhill skiing this weekend. I know! Bad mom.
And here are a few of my little girl. She isn't looking too sick here. We were just hanging out in her bedroom this past Saturday. I love to just hang out with her, camera close by and hope to get a few pictures. My kids are the worse in terms of smiles. They really have a hard time naturally smiling at the camera as I rarely ask them to. She did well. My little model. Can you believe she is only FIVE!!!!!!
Even during the cloudiest days there is new life. There is new hope, and new love. There is happiness and a future to look forward to. You can see it all around, and there is nothing like photographing newborns to bring these thoughts and feelings to life. It is one of my favorite things to do. It makes me feel more alive, more joyful and hopeful about the future. How can one not feel that way when you look upon a sleeping newborn. They are our hope for the future.
Welcome to the world little one!
Thank you Kathy and Steve. I will be done with your gallery very soon. A sneak peak.
(click on image to see larger)
He was born on December 21st, just in time for Christmas. What an amazing Christmas gift!
I love that I get to do maternity and newborn because these are some of the fun images we can plan and execute .
and two very happy parents.
Globe and Mail article, 8 killed
My heart is full of sorrow and pain for these families. After my conversation with my sister last night who first told me of the accident, I could not stop the tears. Reading more about it today only deepens my sadness and brings more tears. As so many in our Province, my heart can not begin to make sense of what has happened. A parents worse nightmare, something we just could not begin to imagine. My prayers are with each of you during these days of grief. May you find peace in the memories of each of their lives.
a few quotes:
Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. ln those transparent moments we know other people's joys and sorrows, and we care about their concerns as if they were our own.- Fritz Williams
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. --Clyde Campbell
Death is a Dialogue between
The Spirit and the Dust.
"Dissolve" says Death—The Spirit "Sir
I have another Trust"—
Death doubts it—Argues from the Ground—
The Spirit turns away
Just laying off for evidence
An Overcoat of Clay.
-Emily Dickinson
We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival...Sir Winston Churchill
Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die.- Amelia Burr
Is it so small a thing
To have enjoy'd the sun,
To have lived light in the spring,
To have loved, to have thought, to have done... Matthew Arnold
For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastics
play song:
I wanted to create a 2007 show for all my clients to thank you for a wonderful year!
I believe that ordinary miracles happen each day. Since starting my business I have been so incredibly fortunate to have met some amazing people and to have captured some wonderful images. In my own life I try to look at each day as a gift, given to me when I wake up and crawl out of bed. A precious life that is to be cherished, nurtured and valued above all things. Because of this I try and remind myself to always look for the small, ordinary miracles that are before me each and every day. Maybe being a photographer who is all about capturing memories and moments, it helps me to be more focused on this visual process each day, I'm not sure. Do I lose sight of it? Of course, I'm a MOM! There are days I have to look harder then others for those small ordinary miracles, especially when I am tired or have had a bad day. But there they remain, each day, if I just stop and take a moment to look around me. And when I actually happen to capture one of those moments in time with my camera.... well it is just an added bonus to the stockpile of memories and images I am able to carry with me through life.
I hope, that you, my clients have enjoyed the process of getting to know me as much as I have in getting to know you and your family. I can say that I have truly enjoyed each and every minute I have spent getting to know you. I feel truly blessed for being able to do this job, as it is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had.
Thank you for letting me into your life, to share your world, and to capture some special memories that I hope you will hold close for a lifetime. Watching this show made me cry! Thank you!
Here is to the next wonderful year....or moment!
turn up the music.
(turn off your blockers)
I truly believe that we are all blessed in life, even when misfortune is near or we suffer from hard times, we can still look around and find blessings that are bestowed on us and unique to our own lives. It is simply a matter of looking for them, not ignoring them when they are right in front of us. It can be as simple as the sunrise in the morning, or your child's clothes you have to pick up off of the floor that day, a reminder of the healthy, active child who in her haste, left them there for you to pick up. For me, it was five minutes ago, when I had to go into my sleeping child's room to give her cough medicine so she could have a peaceful rest this evening. How fortunate am I to have enough money and access to medicine for my children?? That I live in a country with pharmacies located on every corner when I need them. And most especially that she only has to deal with the discomforts of a common cold, easily made comfortable with basic medicines and care verses so many worse scenarios. It is easy to feel blessed when you think of all those children who, tonight, will not be able to experience the same comfort as my own child. Who will need a much stronger medication in order to bring relief to their discomfort and pain. Who live with serious condition and are reminded of it hourly and daily. How hard it must be for those mothers this evening who know they can not provide the same relief to their own child. As a mother I can't imagine.
I don't know what it must be like to see your children suffer, or struggle with life daily. My own children are amazingly healthy and it is truly a blessing . Yet, each day you don't have to look far to see and hear about amazing stories of people who triumph in the face of diversity. And I know there are those same types of people here in our own city. Perhaps friends of yours, who you are amazed with each day and what they do in the face of that diversity. They are here, near us. It can quickly put into perspective our own lives and blessings.
So when I get frustrated with all the small tasks I have to do each day, begrudging the tasks of preparing meals three times a day, the clothes I have to clean, beds I have to make, I try and stop and remind myself that these "tasks" need to be viewed as blessings rather then "chores" in which to begrudge. Rather they represent the wonderful things I have in my life. My children which I am able to feed healthy meals to each day, and a beautiful house in which I am fortunate enough to have, and yes, to clean and tidy each day! Would I rather not have these things in my life? Of course not. They are my life, my small blessings.
So, why you ask do I mention small blessings? Well, it is likely a result of the pending holidays and the typical "reflection" I tend to do on my own life this time of year. More importantly it is the basis for a new project that I want to undertake for the upcoming year, 2008. A project that I plan to call "Small Blessings". I am hoping that people who read this, past clients and future clients will learn about it and nominate a person, child, or family that they know or feel would benefit from a session with me. Do you know someone who has faced diversity and has beat it against all odds, or someone who is struggling now and really needs to have some memories captured. I know that we all know someone who touches our lives, and who is an inspiration to us and to others. I want to hear their stories and I will select one person, family or child every second month to give a session to. It will include a two hour session with me, in their home or location of their choice and a CD of images from the session to have for themselves.
So if you know of someone who you feel needs and could benefit from a photography session then send me their story for consideration. My first session I plan on doing will be in February 2008. All entries should be sent to srphotos@nb.sympatico.ca
I truly feel that there is more to life then just making money or working at a job. That perhaps each of us has something to offer someone else that can truly make a difference in their lives. It is my hope with this new venture that it will do just that for someone.
I hope you will pass the word on to people who you feel would be a good candidate for such a session.
Speaking of small blessings. My most recent maternity session. I love this shot of the quilt that she made for her new bundle of joy (she had his name stitched in the middle block but I wanted to remove it for privacy issues). And why are pregnant women so gorgeous! Truly they are.
I can't wait to meet him in January. Thanks Kathy! You are getting one of the best "Small Blessings" you could ask for during this magical season.
This is too funny not to share. The kids and I had a blast creating it to send to hubby who was out of town for a few days. I saw it on a fellow photographer friends website and had to check it out.
If you create one yourself then post the link to me here in your comments.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1169214655
Kids are back to school after our big snow storm. They had a ball yesterday playing in it and my neighbor took pitty on me without a husband to shovel and came to the rescue with her snow blower. I love it that we have snow now for Christmas. It really gets me in the spirit.
Hope this does to! :)
Happy Holidays!
