Michele Dyson Photography » Blog

These have been a long time in coming, but better late than never, right?  At the end of summer I was watching Brooke’s kiddos and got the bright idea of sneaking my camera into her house and capturing pics of her kids. The plan was to frame a few up for her in time for Christmas. Well, it’s now almost 6 months later, it’s 2 a.m. and I’ve only just edited a few. Sorry Simon, the little lady beat you out in the pretty department…you’ll be featured next, I promise!  The reason I love these pics of Miss Isla is that the look so airy, romantic and carefree. And SO not how the session went. Whoa. It was a toughie. I dressed her up, stripped down Brooke’s bed and accessorized it with bits from around the house in order to look more “girlie”. I had also prepared for the worst….my pockets were full of lollipops, jewellery and mini  marshmallows ( they are perfect bribery as they don’t make a mess and you can hardly see them…..look closely)! It took a lot of me dancing around like a fool, hooting and hollering at the top of my lungs, but guess what?!  The Miss and I worked things out ( I think she sensed I was desperate)! and I seriously think these may be my new faves of her ( no offense B, they are just So Girly)!

And the reason I decided to get my butt in gear and post these?! Brooke was kind enough to drag her kids over to my place and help me get a logo done this afternoon. Not only is my name not anywhere to be found on my blog, I don’t even have business cards with the proper info….and we’re going to be at WPPI soon. I NEEDED to get it together!  A month of me going back and forth trying to figure it out, and she puts something together I’m crazy about in 2 hours. For real?! I knew there was a reason I kept you around !! It feels so ME….I really am drawn to anything girly and pink; can’t help myself. Don’t be fooled, though…..a fellow photog ( thank you, Rebecca) I met not too long ago said to me, ” Wow, I totally thought you’d be different after reading your blog.”  I said, ” Really? How’d you think I’d be?” She said….” Elegant and sophisticated.”  I said…..well, I don’t think I said anything because I was laughing too hard!  I’m definitely NOT elegant or sophisticated although I like the look of things that are. That’s allowed, right?!  So, these photos are a little thank-you to Brooke for being fab and helping me get my s*@# together…..I know you’re probably going to yell at me for posting it when you’re still playing, but I just couldn’t help it.

Love!

Now for the Miss…….really, could she be any more beautiful? I think not!

Can you see the marshmallows?  I’d stuck them in between her toes to gain a few extra seconds of her being still…..worked like a charm!

No words. I have a feeling Mama may tear up from this one. Gorgeous little lady.
And Brooke, if you ever want to get rid of those pillows you know when my birthday is! Anyone reading this who sees those floral beauties at Winners…..I will give out a free session in return for them. I don’t joke around when it comes to pillows.

So, it’s been quite a while of me thinking about taking some shots of the girls in the tub, and I finally got around to it. The way they interact with each other cracks me up! Of course bath nights are more work, especially with Eve’s age and Nevaeh’s….well, very particular ways:) But, it is always SO entertaining. And who doesn’t love free entertainment, right?! Eve isn’t yet walking…..standing quite well but doesn’t try to take steps on her own. Except in the bath. Don’t know what it is, but she goes a little wacky once she hits the water. Crazy splashing, wants to stand at all times, and literally climbs overtop of Nevaeh. I just wish I had audio to go along with these…..she sounds like such a little alley cat. Nevaeh, on the other hand, has always been pretty mellow, but now that she’s got a partner in crime I think we may be in for it. The peel n stick tiles have definitley got to be replaced with some real ones. haha!

Anyways, enjoy the pics…..I obviously have no idea how to use my flash, but in this instance I don’t really care!!!

In other news….make sure and keep checking in; there is BIG news coming in the near future and I can’t wait to share!!!

Now, is it just me, or does she look oh-so-grown up in this one?!  11 months old….CRAZY!!!!

Classic Nevaeh. She stole this one from her Mama!

Come ON – is she not a spitting image of Jack Nicholson in The Shining?! Gotta love her, crazy little lady!

A year in review. Wow….time really does fly by, doesn’t it?!  The past year has definitely been one of the best I’ve had.  Mistakes were made, the learning is ongoing, and I’m still dreaming. Big. There have been times I’ve questioned what I’m doing, if I’m doing the right thing…but the fact that I actually enjoy working away at 2 a.m. must mean something, right?! There’s a quote I read on Tara Whitney’s blog a few days ago, which was so fitting ….” If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders”. Well, my mind is always a wandering – all over the bloody place. That’s the problem with being Gemini – I can’t stay focused long enough to finish a thought. Luckily for me I have great friends and fam who (try) to keep me on track( you know who you are)!

This past year or so has brought so many changes…..a new home, new jobs and of course our new baby girl Eve. Lucky for us, big sis Nevaeh thinks she’s just as sweet as we do and we haven’t had to deal with jealous fits of rage, pulling hair or eye poking. Well, yet anyway. Eve’s personality is really becoming apparent, and I’m pretty sure she isn’t going to be the quiet, mellow timid little thing we’d first thought. She may just follow in her “big sissies” footsteps and have a very outgoing “look at me world” kind of outlook.  As long as they can pause for a moment once in a while for me to snap a few shots of their cute little faces, I don’t mind.

Be forewarned, this post is ridiculously long…..I never realized just how many photos we really do have. And to think that the majority of these are the “portraits”.  I’ve been working on a coffee table album for my blogover the past year, so had to include these faves for the end of it. Wondering who I’m doing it through? Blurb. They will actually “slurp” your blog and print it up all fancy for you to hold onto. Something to show for all our late nights, right?! A big thank you to my hubby for never complaining about how much I work in the evenings( well, rarely complaining)! I promise that 2010 will include me coming to bed at least a few hours earlier each night. And of course I couldn’t possibly post with saying thankyouthankyouthankyou to Brooke for capturing all the pics of our fam , as well as a bunch more in this post; love each and every one of them and feel insanely lucky to have you around.

So, here it is. The biggest post ever. And just so you know, it was never intended to be so lengthy….I just started to get all mushy and sentimental and, well…they’re just so darned cute!  I suppose this post was kind of for me to look back at ( perhaps when I’m having a “yuck” day and wish I could have an on call nanny to deal with not-so-fun Mum stuff)! These are pretty much guaranteed to make me smile:)

Enjoy…..

These were taken a few months before Eve arrived :: thanks Brooke!

I think this is a contender for one of the warm-fuzziest belly pics EVER!
33.5 weeks ( yup-I’m counting the .5) It was -14 degrees outside and Brooke still managed to make me laugh!February 22nd, 2009 at 3:30 she arrived. Eight pounds one ounce and easy-peasy. I guess it was a hint of how she was going to be as a baby…..we couldn’t have asked for a sweeter little thing.Eve was under 5 days old in the pics above, and just a few weeks here. What I can’t believe is how much Nevaeh has grown up since then…she still looked so wee here!

Possibly the best little ballerina pic EVER….look at all those hungry bums!Father’s Day. Love these.This image needed a LOT of editing to salvage it; bad lighting and a lot of noise to start with, but it is one of my absolute faves….Eve was just 12 weeks here and looks like such a little doll..

These were taken by Brooke on her daughter’s 1st birthday… I’d photographed Miss Isla and Brooke decided to grab a few of us. So glad you did.

Nevaeh at almost 4 years old and Eve at 6 months. I could just squeeze them in these pics…..Our biggest girly-girl. Love you Miss.
Okay, come ON! If this pic doesn’t make you have baby fever I don’t know what will. Absolutely my favourite shot of her. Mmmm. Thanks again Brooke, man I adore this image.
Baby Miss. 
These don’t really fit, I know….but here are some summertime pics of B and I. Thank you thank you to Andrea Blair for the images us together – so much fun!

My besties of the girls together. An impromptu session at home while Nanny was in town for a visit. Homemade tutus +cardboard crowns = adorable! Miss Nevaeh + her 4th Birthday Party :: Alice in Wonderland Style Perhaps the best “real” moment I’ve captured of them…..I can only imagine what Eve was thinking here!Christmas-time pics…..At last a family pic…..this really truly was the 1st taken of the 4 of us; not even a snap before this one. I dragged B out in the cold and had her shoot us for 10 minutes before she met another fam. Couldn’t have been more thrilled. Love you so, SO much !!!! Mwah! xoxox

So, it took awhile to get things in order, but I pulled together my favourite images of 2009 to share with all of my wonderful clients, friends and blog followers ( that still seems hilarious to me – strangers coming to my lil ol blog to check things out…seriously?  SO appreciated)!!!  Anyways, here are the fab couples. They really, truly were. I’m pretty sure I laughed my a** off , and made a fool of myself with every single one of you. So much fun…..thank you thank you a million times over for choosing me to document such an important day in your lives. I am so thrilled to be doing this, and can’t wait for what 2010 brings. I’d also like to say a very special “thank you” to Brooke for being my partner in crime….it seriously is double the fun having you to work with – I don’t know if anyone else could deal with my bossiness/quirkiness/flightiness as well as you do ! Stay tuned to us both as we put some amazing plans into action in the coming year……

Happy 2010!

A bunch of my faves from the year…..there were so many images I adored it was tough to choose, but these were some that made me smile the biggest. Thank you all for workin’ it in front of my lens, and for having me be the one who got to capture all these wonderful little moments.

Michele

What a wonderful year 2009 has been. Lots of learning, meeting new people, making new friends ( I know, you’re thinking I’m a sap but it’s TRUE)!  I still have so much to learn, but going back through the last 12 months has made me realize that I am moving forward…constantly striving to be better and learning from my mistakes ( and trust me, I make a LOT of them)!  Thank you, thank you, thank you to each of my gorgeous Mum’s to be and their new bundles for choosing me to document these moments….. I really am so lucky.

My most “overworked” model and fab hairstylist Linds of Heiress Salon and Boutique…..could she BE any more beautiful?!
Just as pretty as her Mum…..And now a bigger girl of 6 months; yup,  she is definitely the daughter of a stylist!
Gorgeous baby Sophie at 3 months old…
Great friend Candice and her hubby Chris  pre-baby……And post belly…..isn’t Miss B a doll?!Love them. 
A gorgeous little man to mix things up…..


Oh yeah….twin girls! They couldn’t be sweeter if they’d tried. Thanks to Brooke for bringing me along, it was an experience!Another beauty visiting all the way from England…..
I know what you’re thinking…how did I get so lucky to have such good-looking models?! Honestly? I don’t know. This was such a great session…
And their new addition; Dex. Handsomest little man I’ve seen…..He really does make me want a little man of my own…..uh-oh!This one melts me…I wish I had one just like it hanging on my wall.

You may remember a previous post from back in November when I decided to find a family who would benefit from a family session free of charge. Although I received quite a few heartwrenching and heartwarming stories, I decided to choose a family close to home here in Penticton. Thank you so much to Lisa Halquist for nominating the family. Her and her colleagues at Summerland Physio were sponsoring this family through the Food Bank, and they sounded like the perfect recipients. A Mum, a Dad and two girls aged 8 and 18. Your typical family except that Mum is very ill and Dad is out of work. I can’t think of anything better than being able to take them out and document their love as a family, their relationships with each other and just, well…..them enjoying being able to document their family at this stage in life.  I don’t know their names due to confidentiality reasons, but am looking forward to photographing and meeting them in the Spring.

Thank you so much to each and every person who participated, and to Lisa and Summerland Physio for the winning nomination…..see you in the warmer weather!!

You guys tired of us yet??!  My girls and I, that is. I know, it seems like I’ve been doing nothing but shooting these two…but really, I HAVE! It’s almost as though this blog of mine has turned into the ramblings of our little fam and that’s IT!   I’m still staying up late at night- not AS late, usually in bed by 1a.m. instead of 3. It’s progress, right?  Mainly I’ve been working on weddings…..luckily I have a better system in place for 2010. This year, I’m embarassed to say, I had clients choose their images for editing and it didn’t work out in my favour. Of course orders trickle in slowly, and then…WHAM!  11 orders just in December. That’s about 700 images to edit ( I need to learn batching)! and 11 coffee table albums. I WILL be done all by March. I will. I was saying to Brooke last night that luckily for me, I a excited about editing each and every wedding….some are even from 2008! That’s a definite upside, as there’s not much worse in post-processing than working on something you’re not into. Okay, enough babble for now, just thought I’d send out an update!   Onto the newest post of the girls…..yet again!

The first big dump of 2010, and Eve’s first time playing in the white stuff. I was prepared for the whimpering and her quiet little cries, but I wasn’t prepared for her actual response to the wet stuff. And ohhhhhh, was it wet! Just like the good ol days playing in the West Coast slush. I dressed her up in the coziest things I could find; they weren’t actually waterproof, but it was the best I could do. Let’s be honest….I figured she’d hate it and we’d be inside after 2 minutes. I set her down. Waited. She rolled into crawl mode – and totally face washed herself!  I of course grabbed her by the tail to save her….she did it again. Loved it. I clicked off what I could, but it was coming down so fast and wet I was worried about the camera….at least I was using the old one:)  

Nevaeh liked it as well, but I think she’s more of a fair weather girl like her Mama…..10 minutes and she was asking for hot chocolate. I’m hoping she’ll like the fluffier snow up at the Mountain better! Tubing and skating…..I’m not ready for her to try boarding for another couple years. Yup, I’m a bit paranoid, what can I say?! 

Thanks for dropping by….hope your New Year is off to a great start!!!

And for any photogs reading this……WHOA! Can I ever tell the difference in the these pics and how much I had to tweak them compared to my other camera. I usually shoot with the Canon 5D Mark 2, and these were with the Canon 30D. Both great cameras, but what a difference! My point – if you’re on the fence about upgrading and can swing it – WELL worth it!!!

Christmas morning, 7:30 a.m. We woke up to two sniffly girls, the littlest with an ear infection who had barely cracked a smile in the past few days…but once they got up and saw the twinkly lights and prezzies, they were both grinning ear to ear .  Even Eve, at 10 months old was seriously into tearing into her biggest box. And Nevaeh didn’t surprise me, she was thrilled with every little thing right down to the packs of undies, if not a tad overwhelmed with everything ! We had a great day, a little crazy…..Aunty A even got Nevaeh dolled up in a dog collar choker- I think she really thought she looked cool. Great. Thanks Andrea!   And a big thanks to all the family for spoiling the girls ( really, Nanny……STOP it)!  and more importantly, for all making it to the same spot this year; maybe next time we won’t be feeling like sickos and I’ll be able to kick you -know-what at the beer-pong table.  Look out people…….

And enjoy the pics!

 
The four grandgirlies hanging proudly on Nanny’s tree…..We decided to abandon the actual “Christmas jammies” on Christmas Eve and replace them with the cutest jams EVER….they say ” bear hug” on them; I seriously could have squeezed them both alllll day…I swear the excitement of the toys was a better cure for her than the prescriptions……Eve’s big prezzie….she adores it!
The card was written by Nevaeh for Mummy’s gift……A post-present story break with Papa. I believe she was enjoying her snuggle time, and was very unimpressed with me for interrupting yet again…they’ll love me for it later, right?!
Oh yeah, it’s a dog collar. Thing that bothers me the most is she looks freakin’ cute in it! ( If not mildly crazy in that first one)!
Hope everyone had a wonderful time celebrating ‘09…..and thank you ALL for stopping by!

Christmas baking with Nanny. What could possibly be more fun for two 4 year olds?!  Nevaeh and her cousin Ellie, who are 7 weeks apart ( oh yeah, Nevaeh lost out in the height department)! spent the morning with my Mum baking away. Sugar cookies, lots of icing and decorating and birds nest cookies filled with jam. Yumma-yumma! We were quite impressed at the job they did, and I’m pretty sure they were as well, judging by the amount of cookies they ate!  Anyways, thank you Nanny, and enjoy the pics!

Michele

Batch 1….finger lickin’ good, apparently! Taking a break for a Christmas show….Nevaeh didn’t like the bad guy at ALL!They’re pretty darned cute, aren’t they?!Batch #2 Something about this one just makes me smile:) Didn’t they do a fabulous job?!

Cookie “cheers” !