Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics

It's Time For a Change

2009-09-13T21:26:00.003-03:00

This little old blog served it's purpose over the past year but it is time for a change! Please visit the new blog at http://www.psphotoblog.ca. I hope to see you there!

Patricia

Little Miss "P"

2009-08-14T23:08:00.009-03:00

I have been photographing a ton of cute little girls lately! Little Miss "P" just recently turned one and her mom contacted me to set up a session to document this sweetie at this special time in her life. Miss "P" started out a little shy in front of the camera but she very quickly came around and had me running all over to keep up with her!

Help Miss "P's" mommy and daddy win an 8x10 print by leaving a comment on this blog post. If they receive 30 comments by August 29th they will get an 8x10 print of their choice of one of their images! So don't be shy, leave them a quick note to let them know just how cute little Miss "P" really is :)

Thanks for a fun filled session Miss "P"!

Love Patricia

Third Place

2009-08-14T12:07:00.005-03:00

I was very excited when I received an email a few days ago informing me that one of my images received the third place prize in the Start Shooter photography contest. Star Shooter is a non-profit organization whose mission is to equip underprivileged children with a tool for expression using photography. All proceeds from this contest will help purchase cameras for the kids...how awesome is that?!

My winning photograph is a shot that I captured earlier this year of my good friends daughter, Grace. Thank you Christina for having such a gorgeous kid and for letting me photograph her whenever I want :) You can see the original blog post of this image here.

Head on over to check out the winning images in this fabulous contest by clicking here. Once you are on the web page, click on the "third place" link at the bottom. Thank you so much for running such an amazing contest Johnna!!

If you would like to make a donation to Start Shooter to help equip children with a tool for expression using photography and allow them the opportunity to discover the star within themselves, please visit http://www.starshooter.org/ and click on donate.

xoxo

Love Patricia

Little Miss. M

2009-08-11T22:23:00.007-03:00

I first met Jen and Todd last year when they contacted me to book a maternity session. We hit it off right away and laughed our way through capturing some belly pics. A few weeks ago they contacted me to arrange a session to capture images of little Miss. M. I was so excited to finally meet and photograph her!

It was great to see Jen and Todd again. It felt like I shot their maternity photos just yesterday until I saw six month old Miss M. I am always amazed at how quickly children grow! I swear as I get older the months seem to fly by faster and faster! I remember when I was a kid and the summer days seemed to stretch on forever. I look back at the past few years and can't believe what a whirlwind my life has been. It is so easy to get caught up in our every day lives and let special little moments pass us by. I love being a photographer and being able to provide people with memories and documentation of themselves and their loved ones.

Jen and Todd - Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph such important milestones in your lives. I hope that you enjoy the images of little Miss M. I definitely enjoyed capturing them :)

AND...do you want to help Jen and Todd win a FREE 8x10 print?! If Jen and Todd's blog post receives 30 comments in the next two weeks (by August 26th 2009), they will receive a FREE 8x10 print of their choice! This is something new that I am going to do on the blog from now on :) So, show them some love and leave a comment below. Oh, and multiple comments from the same person will not count :)

Love Patricia

Erin & Trevor's Wedding & Day After Session

2009-07-27T18:41:00.013-03:00

I absolutely love it when a couple is as easy to photograph as Erin and Trevor. Not only were they lovey dovey with one another and very laid back in front of the camera but they were also a ton of fun! Ian and I had a wonderful time getting to know this awesome couple along with their friends and families.

I was lucky enough to spend a bit more time with Erin and Trevor for a "Day After" session. We walked around downtown Halifax for a few different shots and then ended the session off with a beer at the Keith's Brewery Market.

It is always so hard to narrow down which images to post! Here are a few of my faves from the "Day After" session.

Congratulations Erin and Trevor! It was truly a pleasure documenting your wedding. I wish you many years together filled with love.

Love Patricia

Holly's First Birthday!

2009-07-23T14:26:00.006-03:00

Little Miss Holly turned one in May and her parents threw a grand party for the occasion. There were games, food, gifts and good company. Holly's mom wanted a documentation of this milestone in her little girls life and images to capture who Holly is at this point in time. We decided to combine a portrait session of Holly with her family and coverage of the big birthday bash. Ian and I arrived to photograph a few portraits before the party guests arrived.

I LOVE the little tear in this next shot :)

And then it was time to party! There were so many photos from the party that I liked but I had to limit myself to the amount that I posted.

Happy first birthday Holly!!

Love Patricia

New Website!

2009-07-03T17:17:00.005-03:00

This has been in the works for quite a while and I am happy to announce that my brand spanking new website is up and running for your viewing pleasure! It is loaded with tons of never before shared images so take a few minutes and head on over to the new site at www.psphotographics.com. I would love to hear what you all think :)

Patricia

Introducing Tristan - Newborn Photo Session

2009-06-06T17:52:00.008-03:00

The following images are from the first official photo session with my little nephew, Tristan. He was a whole whopping three days old when I snapped these and he was a complete natural in front of the camera. I am pretty sure that by the time he is up and walking he will be so sick of seeing my camera in his face that he will start running in the other direction as I approach. I'll sneak in as many shots of him as I can while he is unable to protest :)

Congratulations Janine and Arthur on the newest addition to your family! And thank you for giving me such a cute nephew :)

Love Patricia xoxo

The Birth of Tristan (my nephew!) - Birth Photography Coverage

2009-05-28T19:28:00.007-03:00

My little sister is officially all grown up. A few weeks after my sister Janine got married last year (see pics here) I received a phone call from her. She told me that she had some big news and I was instantly curious. "You're going to be an aunt!" she said excitedly into the phone. To understand my response to this you must first understand that my sister and her husband have a little pomeranian dog, Odie, that literally goes everywhere with them and they have spoiled like a child since the day that they brought him home. When Janine informed me that I was going to be an aunt I automatically assumed that they were getting another dog because Odie is often referred to jokingly as my nephew. "Oh my god! Are you getting another puppy?!" was definitely not the reaction that my sister was expecting from me. Once she explained that she was pregnant I was flooded with emotions. The reality that my little sister was going to be a mother took a few days to sink in. The excitement that I was going to be a first time aunt hit me right away!

Tristan James Creelman was born at 6:35am on May 8th 2009. He weighed 6lbs 8oz and I fell in love with him as soon as I layed eyes on him (even though he was born with quite the cone head!). All joking aside, I absolutely love this little guy and look forward to watching him grow and spoiling him like crazy.

I wasn't lying! He really did have a big cone head!

Checking out his grammie.

My dad...such a proud grandpa. He can't wait until this kid is old enough to go for drives with him on the Harley Davidson!

The proud papa!

Winking at his mommy :)

The proud parents :)

I will be sharing photos from Janine's maternity session in the next few days and also a few newborn pics of Tristan that I took when he was three days old so stay tuned for more photos!

Love Patricia

So Far Behind & Photos of Baby "E"

2009-05-27T16:57:00.008-03:00

I am so far behind in posting images from sessions that it is not even funny! I have a folder of finished sessions from as far back as last year sitting on my desktop containing images that I have not yet blogged. Things have just been so crazy busy that my poor blog suffers the most neglect. I am going to try my best to upload and share images from all of the sessions that I have photographed over the past few months.

Here are a few images from a session with baby "E" and her family. I photographed baby "E" once before (check out those images here!) and she has grown so much since the last time that I saw her!

The Miracle of Life - Birth Photography Coverage

2009-04-16T00:10:00.007-03:00

"Do you have any children?" I am asked this question on a regular basis. My response is usually "No. But I have three fur babies (referring to my cats). Does that count?"

I am 30 years old and feel my maternal clock ticking, especially every time that I photograph an adorable child. I photograph newborns, toddlers, school aged children...I am basically surrounded by kids all the time. I love their innocence, their honesty and their energy. They are untouched by the harshness that the world can throw at us. There is such beauty in their purity and the way that they seem to view the world.

The day that my good friend Christina found out that she was expecting her second child, she phoned me right away. Her excitement was contagious! She asked if I would photograph the birth of her baby. and without hesitation I said, "Yes. Definitely!" It was later that the realities of this request really started to sink in. I had never witnessed the actual birth of a child. I had watched TLC's "A Baby Story" with fascination from time to time, but that was the closest that I had ever come to witnessing the miracle of life. I knew that I was in for an experience that I would never forget.

In the months leading up to the due date, Christina and I discussed the logistics of my presence during the birth. We decided that during the birth I would position myself next to Christina and photograph everything from her bedside. We both agreed that I would document the moments and emotions surrounding the birth of her baby, not the "actual" birth.

On the big day, I received the call that I had been preparing for. It was go time! I met Christina and her husband, Tim, at the hospital and began to document the birth of their child. It took a little while for things to really get going but once everything was underway I was busy snapping away with my camera.

I feel like I do not have the right words to describe what it was like to be present for the birth of a child. Watching "A Baby Story" does not even begin to come close to the real thing. One minute there were six of us in the room and the next second there were seven. It was the most amazing thing that I have ever witnessed. The air in the room was thick with so many different emotions and everything seemed to be happening at warp speed. I had to remind myself a few times to keep shooting! I was in such awe of everything that was happening. I wiped tears away from behind my camera as I witnessed Tim's tears at the first sight of his new daughter. I smiled as I captured images of this brand new life with her parents.

I am so glad that I was able to document such an extraordinary event for Christina and Tim. I will never forget the moment that baby Clara came into this world. Being present for such an amazing moment has reminded me of the beauty that life has to offer.

Love Patricia

Winners of the 2009 Wedding Photography Giveaway!!

2009-04-01T20:28:00.003-03:00

First let me start by saying that I was thrilled with the response to our 2009 Wedding Photography Giveaway. This is the second year that we held this contest and I hope that it continues to grow each year. As an entrepreneur, I have watched my business grow with the help of so many individuals and I look forward to a future that allows me to continue to pursue my passions in life. It feels wonderful to be able to "pay it forward" and give a deserving couple the gift of wedding photography.

Thank you so much to everyone that sent in their stories and took part in this contest. Each story was touching and unique...which made our job choosing one lucky couple that much harder! Our panel of judges definitely had their work cut out for them :)

It gives me great pleasure to offer a big congratulations to Erin Smiley and Darrell Fardy! They are the lucky winners of the "Wedding Photography Giveaway"!

This is what Erin wrote:

" Dear Patricia,
 
I started to write you a letter to tell you about mine and Darrell’s modern romance, complete with how we met via computer and how we survived the loss of his job when the mill shut down in Miramichi, and how after a lot of stress and struggle and “what ifs?” we wound up engaged and happy, living back home in Nova Scotia. Instead, I decided to just tell you who we are:

We are Erin Smiley and Darrell Fardy.

We believe our surnames sound very silly together.

We believe, even when blindsided, that we are writing our own story.

We believe marriage still has a role in the modern world and that we would like to be role models.

We believe in being more silly than serious if it won’t cause trouble, and sometimes when it will.

We believe in unexpected angles; nothing is black and white.

We believe that weddings are an adventure, not a well-oiled machine.

We believe that friends are family.

We believe in getting married in a place that has wound itself around our lives like a vine-- or perhaps we have wound our lives around the place.

We believe we met for a reason and that, in ways both magnanimous and miniscule, we are better people because of each other.

We believe that we can’t afford our house, but that it is perfect for us.

We believe in sharing our home with at least one dog and two cats.

We believe in having children, even when the world seems precarious – because the future needs good people and we are up for the challenge.

We believe in the primal power of music and in drunkenly dancing on each other’s toes.

And finally,
We believe in having one wedding picture in which we are both smiling and no one has googley eyes or a crooked tie—one that we both agree is breathtaking and captures the excitement and emotion of the day—one that we can blow up and place over our sofa and stare at every day, sighing with happiness.

Patricia, we’ve seen your work and are both entranced by your eye for detail. Money is tight, as it is for us all, and we know we will not be able to afford the photography package of our dreams. If you would help us create a special heirloom for our future family, we will be over the moon.  

Yours Truly,
Erin Smiley and Darrell Fardy "

Erin and Darrell are getting married on August 15th in Wallace Bay, NS. They are renting a tent and having the reception and ceremony on the lawn of Erin's family's farmhouse, where she spent the majority of her childhood summers.

The photo that Erin sent to us was taken a year ago on the eve of her move to Nova Scotia and the end of 6 long months of living in separate provinces.

I am soooo looking forward to photographing Erin and Darrell's wedding!! They have also won an engagement photo session with yours truly, Erin's wedding day makeup will be provided by Lina Hussain of Lina Hussain Makeup Artistry and her hair will be styled by Christina Sands of Endless Beauty.

Congratulations guys and I can't wait to meet you!!!
Patricia

2009 Wedding Photography Giveaway!

2009-02-26T01:43:00.012-04:00

I have been busting to make this announcement! The success of 2008's contest convinced us to offer this great giveaway once again! One very lucky couple will win an engagement photo session and a full day of wedding photography coverage provided by Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics, the bride's "do" on her wedding day provided by Christina Garagan of Endless Beauty Hair Salon and the bride's makeup provided by Lina Hussain of Lina Hussain Makeup Artistry.

We are looking for a deserving couple to nominate themselves or to be nominated by someone else.

Rules

Deadline
Contest opens on February 25th, 2009 and closes on March 25th, 2009. Winners will be announced and contacted by phone on April 1st, 2009.

Requirements
This giveaway is open to anyone planning to be married between May 2009 and December 2009 (subject to Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics' availability) anywhere in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Anyone that is planning to be married outside of the HRM is also welcome to enter but will be required to pay for travel expenses.

We would love to honor a couple who deserves this amazing offer, so we are looking for couples with a great story. Do you know of a worthy couple? Others may enter this contest on behalf of a couple who they think are great and deserve to win!

How To Enter
Tell us your story and make us fall in love with you! Send the story to psphotographics@gmail.com with "Wedding Photography Giveaway" in the subject line. Stories should be no longer than 1500 words (well, unless it is such an amazing story and it couldn't possibly be told in less.) Also please include a photo of yourselves in JPG format, the wedding date, location, full names and contact information.

Just to clarify...couples do not have to have overcome great odds, we just want to hear your story and a little bit about you. Tell us how you met, how you fell in love, all about the proposal or all the details in between. A selected panel of judges will choose the winners.

What You Will Win

Wedding Photography
• Wedding consultation with Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics • Full day of wedding photography coverage provided by Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics (up to 8 hours)
• 8 hours of photo coverage on the wedding day by Patricia Sampson and an assistant second shooter
• Up to 100 fully edited high resolution digital files (Digital Negatives) of the best images from the wedding day (chosen and edited by Patricia Sampson) provided on DVD

Engagement Photography
• One hour outdoor engagement session provided by Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics
• 5 fully edited high resolution digital files (Digital Negatives) of the best images from the engagement session (chosen and edited by Patricia Sampson) provided on CD

Hair
• Bridal "do" provided by Christina Garagan of Endless Beauty Hair Salon

Makeup
• Bridal makeup provided by Lina Hussain of Lina Hussain Makeup Artistry 

Restrictions
Wedding must take place between May 2009 and December 2009. Individuals who have already signed a contract with Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics for 2009 wedding photography coverage are not eligible to enter.

** Forward this information along to anyone that you think may be interested!! If you are a business or individual who would like to donate something to the winners of this contest, please contact Patricia ASAP via e-mail at psphotographics@gmail.com. Anything that you can do to help make this contest even more fantastic will be greatly appreciated.

Good luck to all of the contestants!

Tiffany and George were the winners of the 2008 Win Your Wedding Photography Contest. We had such a blast getting to know them! Here are a few of our favorite shots from their engagement session and wedding day.

Grace and Innocence

2009-02-13T11:01:00.003-04:00

Every now and then when I am photographing a child I will witness through my lens a transformation that will happen in mere seconds. The child that I am working with will stop running, jumping, laughing (and sometimes screaming) and will become quiet and still. It is in that moment that I am reminded there is true innocence in the world. This image is one of those moments that I was lucky enough to catch with Grace.

Patricia

Karen and Marty's Day After Session

2009-01-27T19:58:00.007-04:00

Due to the fact that it rained pretty much the whole day of Karen and Marty's wedding we decided to do a "day after" session and get a few shots at the location where their reception was held. The staff at the Halifax Citadel were fabulous and gave us free reign to wander around after it was closed to the public to take all the photos that we wanted! Once again, we had a ton of fun and a session filled with lots of laughs :) Thanks again Karen and Marty!!

Love Patricia

Karen & Marty's Wedding

2009-01-27T17:48:00.010-04:00

Karen and Marty hired me to photograph their wedding after they won a free engagement photo session in my "Win Your Wedding Photography" contest in 2008. It was a very typical rainy Nova Scotia type of day but they didn't let that dampen their spirits. It was a beautiful wedding and they spent the day surrounded with their closest friends and family.

Thank you so much Karen and Marty for allowing me to spend such a special day with you. The love that you have for one another and the friendship that you share is amazing. I hope to see more of you in the future!

Love Patricia

Karen & Marty's Engagement Photo Session

2009-01-27T17:33:00.006-04:00

Karen and Marty were the second place winners of my "Win Your Wedding Photography" contest in 2008. They won a free on-location engagement photo session and we decided that the beach would be the best place to capture their images. Simon, their cute little yorkshire terrier came along with them for the session and I totally wanted to stick him in my bag and take him home with me :) We had a lot of fun taking photos at Rainbow Haven beach but I don't think any of us had as much fun as Simon!

Karen, Marty and Simon...it was so great getting to know you! I am really glad that I was able to document your relationship through photographs for you. Thank you for being so much fun!

Love Patricia

Introducing Baby Brooklyn

2009-01-23T17:55:00.003-04:00

Nancy and I went to high school together and were able to reconnect through the wonders of facebook. I did a maternity session with Nancy and still have those photos to share but I just couldn't wait to introduce everyone to Brooklyn! She was just under three weeks old when this shot and I will be posting more images from this session soon.

Thank you Nancy for allowing me to photograph your little cutie. It has been great reconnecting with you and I hope to be seeing more of you and your family in the future.

Love Patricia

Madden

2009-01-23T17:32:00.006-04:00

I always have a blast photographing kids but I have never laughed so much before during a session as I did while I was photographing Madden! He is such a little ham in front of the camera and not shy at all :) As soon as I arrived to photograph him he was showing me his toys, checking out my camera equipment and trying on my shoes.

Thank you so much for a full filled session Lisa, Shane and Madden! I hope to see more of you guys in the future :)

Love Patricia

Julia & Neil's Wedding

2008-11-08T15:49:00.011-04:00

I had a really hard time narrowing down which photos to post from Julia and Neil's wedding...there were so many great moments that took place on their special day! The wedding just happened to fall on the same day as the Gay Pride Parade which meant that certain city streets were blocked off, traffic was insane and getting to and from the church was not a picnic. Oh, did I mention that the ceremony took place at Saint Mary's Basilica which is located on Spring Garden Road which just happened to be one of the streets closed for the parade?! I have to admit that the police escort out of the city after the ceremony was pretty cool though :)

So lets start with a few getting ready photos.

And then it was time to get married!

Waving to everyone passing by in the parade!

Being interviewed by local radio and television! They asked Julia and Neil what it was like to get married on the same day and smack dab in the middle of the Gay Pride Parade.

And then it was time for a few portraits.

Party time!

Thank you Julia and Neil for allowing me to be a part of your day. It was so great getting to know you, your families and your dear friends.

Love Patricia

Update and Photos!

2008-11-08T13:36:00.008-04:00

My poor little blog has been neglected long enough! I have just been soooo busy over the past few months and updating my blog always seems to get pushed to my "to do" list for tomorrow. It's been quite a while since I have shared new photos and stories detailing my exciting photo sessions. My friend Jennifer has been on my case for not updating my blog often enough so I'm going to try my hardest to keep her happy :) Over the next few days I will be sharing a ton of new images so be sure to check back often :) You may be wondering exactly what I have been up to since my last post. I have been working, working and working! I have had some amazing sessions that I can't wait to share and I am currently drowning in a sea of digital photo files to be edited. So lets start this frenzy of blogging off with a few photos of a sweet little cutie pie.

I love being able to document children as they change and grow. These are a few images from a mini session that I did with Ryan just before his first birthday. The first time that I photographed Ryan was last year and he has grown so much since then! It always amazes me how much kids change in the first few years of their lives.

Here's an image of Ryan from our first session:

And here he is seven months later:

I'm pretty sure that this little guy is going to break more than a few hearts when he grows up :) What do you think?

Love Patricia

Tanya's Maternity Session

2008-10-04T00:19:00.005-03:00

I love photographing maternity sessions. There is so much excitement involved in the anticipation of a new little life on the way. After speaking with Tanya about the type of images that she wanted from her maternity session I couldn't wait to take her baby belly pics! We were totally on the same page and we instantly clicked. Throughout the session we chatted, laughed and had a great time together. Tanya's eyes lit up when I asked her about the baby's nursery which she told me she had been working on. She informed me all about her plans to display a few of her maternity pics in the baby's nursery :)

I can't wait to meet and photograph Tanya's little one! A newborn session is on the way soon after the arrival and I'll be sure to post some baby pics soon.

Thank you so much Tanya for allowing me to document your pregnancy. I can't wait for your phone call informing me that the baby is here!

Love Patricia

Ryan's First Birthday!!

2008-10-03T21:37:00.006-03:00

A child's first birthday is such a special milestone to parents and being asked to photograph such a wonderful occasion is always a great honor. Family and friends gather to celebrate the first year of this little ones life and shower them with love and tons of presents!

Ryan's birthday celebration took place on a gorgeous sunny day. Everyone celebrated in the backyard while basking in the sun. The kids splashed water in the pool and blew bubbles in the wind while the adults enjoyed a BBQ. Fun was had by all and I needed a nap by the end of the festivities :)

Thank you Sara for allowing me to document such an important milestone in Ryan's life. I look forward to being able to witness his continuous growth. Happy Birthday Ryan!!

Love Patricia

Azure & Phoenix

2008-09-29T16:00:00.005-03:00

Friends from Montreal came to visit Halifax this summer and have two of the most adorable girls that I have ever seen. Seriously...as soon as I laid eyes on them I knew that I HAD to photograph them! I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with them around the downtown Halifax area and snapped the day away with Azure and Phoenix in front of my lens. It was an awesome day that ended with ice cream, sticky fingers and everyone exhausted except for the kids. Where do they get all of their energy?!

Thank you so much Ilana, Fred, Azure and Phoenix for a fun filled day in the city. I hope that you enjoyed Halifax and that we get to see you again soon :)

Love Patricia

Kris & Gillian's Wedding

2008-09-29T15:27:00.007-03:00

The first time that I met Gillian I knew that I would really enjoy photographing her wedding. We connected right away and I could tell that she had been planning her wedding since she was a little girl playing with barbie dolls.

I am so glad that I was able to be a part of such a special day for Gillian and Kris. Surrounded by all of their family and friends, they made a vow to love one another for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do them part. This was one of those weddings that I found myself caught up in the emotions of the day and became a little bit teary eyed more than once :)

I just had to post this pic of Gillian's dog! Coco was absolutely adorable and Gill had asked me to make sure that I got a few shots of her. I love the expression that I just happened to capture :)

The flower girl and ring bearer were so cute!

Getting a little bit of help with the veil from her sister.

The happy mother of the bride.

It's time to get married!

The church was absolutely beautiful.

The following shot is one of my personal faves from the day.

Gillian and Kris - As you begin this new chapter in your lives together I wish you both nothing but the best. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your day!

Love Patricia

My Little Sister is All Grown Up

2008-09-13T01:07:00.006-03:00

My childhood is littered with memories of growing up with my sister. Sharing a bedroom until I was 13 in which we would talk and giggle into the late hours of the night, sleeping out in the tent together on summer nights in the field next to our house, watching the Smurfs every Saturday morning, riding our bikes, days spent at the beach...everything that I can remember about my childhood includes my sister. As a big sister I learned so much from her. She taught me how to be patient, how to forgive, how to share and how important it is to have a really good hiding place for anything that you don't want your sister to find and show to your parents :)

My little sister, Janine, got married this summer and I was lucky enough to be able to capture the day for her with my camera. Janine and Arthur had a very small and intimate wedding with only immediate family present for the ceremony. They exchanged vows in the very same church that my parents were wed in 30 years ago by the very same justice of the peace. Janine looked beautiful in her wedding dress and as I was snapping away with my camera I was hit with the realization that my sister is all grown up. She has a husband, a house, a dog...all the things that as a little girl you dream about having in your future. To me, Janine will always be my little sister, sitting next to me on the sofa wearing fleece Smurf pajama's that matched mine.

Congratulations on your wedding Janine. I wish you nothing but the best in the future. You are now a wife and all grown up, but to me you'll always be my little sister.

Love Patricia

Chantal & Mike's Engagement Session

2008-09-02T15:44:00.006-03:00

I first met Chantal and Mike last year when they hired me to photograph them with their new puppy. This is now the second time that I have photographed them and both times have been filled with lots of laughs and loads of fun.

Congrats on your engagement guys! You make a great couple and are so obviously meant to be together :)

Patricia

Melissa & Blake's Engagement Session

2008-08-18T16:38:00.005-03:00

I first met Melissa a few years ago when we were both paying our dues working in the world of retail. I remember thinking that she was such a sweet girl with a heart of gold. She would always talk about her boyfriend Blake and I knew even back then that they were going to get married someday and live happily ever after.

I received a message from Melissa last year informing me that she and Blake had gotten engaged and were looking for a wedding photographer. I was so excited for her and totally jumped at the chance to be their photographer! They are such a sweet couple and all you have to do is spend a few minutes with them to know that they are completely in love with one another.

If the amount of fun that we had during the engagement session is any indication of how much fun the wedding day is going to be then I'm really looking forward to it!!!!

Patricia

All images © Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics 2007/2008

Sarah and Eric's Wedding Celebration

2008-08-15T23:32:00.008-03:00

Sarah and Eric were married in Jamaica a few months ago. Before you ask...no they did not take me with them :(. I tried to convince them that I could easily fit into their luggage but they didn't go for it!

As with many destination weddings some friends and family were unable to share the special day with this amazing couple so Sarah and Eric planned a party to take place here in N.S. a few weeks after their official wedding ceremony in Jamaica. What a great idea! Sarah got all dolled up in her wedding dress for the event and a few formal pictures with those who missed out on the trip to Jamaica. It was a fabulous party and definitely a night to remember.

I wish you all the best Sarah and Eric! Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your wedding celebration :)

Much Love,
Patricia

All images © Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics 2007/2008

Julia & Neil's Engagement Sneak Peek

2008-07-29T16:37:00.002-03:00

Julia and Neil were married this past weekend and while I do not have their wedding images ready to share yet I am just now sharing a few images from their engagement session! I can't wait to share their wedding images as it was a gorgeous day with a beautiful bride and handsome groom. For their engagement session we went to Rainbow Haven Beach and it ended up being such a bright sunny day that it was hard to shoot without getting horrible shadows and squinting. Instead of giving up we decided to head to the boardwalk in Dartmouth and found a bit of shade to shoot in and had a ton of fun!

Julia and Neil are parents to one of the cutest little boys that I have ever laid eyes on! Not only is he adorable but he is always smiling :) They decided that they wanted a few of their engagement pics to include their son because he is such a huge part of their lives and relationship. Standing back and watching this family interact together I just couldn't help but smile myself. The way these parents look at their son with so much love and adoration just gave me goose bumps.

Congratulations guys! You seem to have found what so many of us are out their looking for in a relationship. I have no doubt that amazing things are waiting for your family in the years to come.

Patricia

CEED Networking and SEB Graduation

2008-07-29T15:27:00.009-03:00

I have been so busy over the past few weeks that I have not found the time to update my blog! I was hired last month by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development (CEED) to photograph a networking event and Self Employment Benefits Program (SEB) graduation. I am an SEB participant and have received an immense amount of help with my own business startup through this program which is affiliated with CEED here in Halifax. If anyone is looking to start their own business I would highly recommend the assistance of the amazing individuals at CEED! Opening a business can be a very overwhelming experience but with the help of everyone at CEED and their offered programs and workshops you can take an idea and quickly turn it into a reality!

The SEB participants that graduated from the program on this particular evening were some of the first graduates here in Halifax to finish this amazing program consisting of workshops, guidance and a lot of motivation from the folks at CEED.

The event was catered by the talented Jennifer Spalding of Culinary Inspiration. The food was mouth watering and absolutely delicious! If you're looking to hire a personal chef or someone to cater an event I would totally recommend hiring Jennifer. Not only was the food to die for but it was also very creative and different from anything else that I have had the pleasure of being served at a networking event.

So what makes a good business networking event? Well, great food and drinks of course and lots of entrepreneurs looking to make contacts, trade business cards and possibly drum up some business for themselves! Oh, and lots of laughs are very important as well.

Patricia

All images are copyright Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics 2007-2008

Alison + Mike = True Love

2008-07-10T16:17:00.005-03:00

Alison and Mike are just one of those couples that you spend less than a minute with and know that they are perfect for each other. They both have such a great sense of humor and totally understand my sarcastic nature! I never know how some clients will react when I suggest trying something a little "out there" for a photo op but Alison and Mike were up for anything and made my job super easy :) They didn't even complain when I made them roll around in the grass which in turn aggravated about a million black flies which then attempted to eat us all alive.

Thanks for an awesome session Alison and Mike!! You guys were real troopers!! I hope that you like your sneak peek and that you think that being eaten alive by all of the flies was worth it :)

Patricia

Christina is Having a Baby Girl!

2008-07-01T01:03:00.005-03:00

Christina is a dear friend of mine whom I love to bits! She's one of those people that can always make me laugh and I absolutely love spending time with her. Christina is expecting her second child (a girl!) in August and if this little bundle is half as cute as her first baby girl I'm sure she will be gorgeous.

A few weeks ago we had a gorgeous day and decided to head out to Rainbow Haven beach just before sunset to capture a few pics of her and her baby belly. We are planning a few more maternity sessions before August so I'm sure I'll be posting more images to share in the near future.

Thanks for a great evening of picture taking Christina! I'm looking forward to our upcoming sessions and I hope you like the sneak peek :)

Patricia

Gillian & Kris Engagement Photo Session

2008-06-26T16:14:00.004-03:00

Gillian and Kris are getting married next month and if their engagement session is any indication of how much fun their wedding is going to be I can't wait!! They were a lot of fun to photograph and up for anything:) Gill and Kris informed me before their session that they may look a little stiff in front of the camera and were not very photogenic... I think that they were lying to me and have done this before. What do you think?

Thanks for a great session guys! It is obvious that you are perfect for each other and completely in love :) I'm really looking forward to your wedding!!

Patricia

Baby "A" is One Year Old!

2008-06-22T23:14:00.007-03:00

I hope that you're ready for a ton of photos! I had the pleasure of photographing little baby "A" on the exact day that she turned one year old. She was so much fun to photograph and definitely kept me on my toes following her around throughout the whole session :) She is completely adorable and I couldn't think of a better way to spend an afternoon than with a little one full of energy in front of my camera. Have I mentioned before that I LOVE my job?

Patricia

Happy Birthday To Me!

2008-06-20T23:50:00.006-03:00

My birthday will officially be over in a few minutes as I write this post. I turned the big 30 today and honestly don't feel any different than I did yesterday. I remember when I was a kid I thought that 30 was so old, but now that the big milestone is here I find it really hard to believe that I'm actually 30. I still feel like such a kid at times! I will say that I have learned a lot in my short 30 years. There have been plenty of ups and downs in my life so far that I feel have prepared me for whatever is to come.

I had a great day today. The sun was shining as I drove to a friends house to take some pics of her little boy (such a cutie!) and to hang out for a bit. I received a ton of birthday wishes from friends and family...thank you! For the most part I had a pretty relaxed and low-key day.

Ian surprised me with an iPod as my birthday gift!

I have been wanting one for a while and quickly filled it up with music from my iTunes library. I draw a lot of inspiration from music. Aside from photography, music has been a huge love in my life ever since I was a kid. I love to sing at the top of my lungs in my car on warm Summer days with the windows rolled down. At home I attempt to play the guitar but I prefer to have someone else play while I sing:) I even did the whole Canadian Idol thing a few years ago and made it quite far (but I'll save that story for another post). I love how certain music can take you back to a specific time or place. I love that music has the ability to stir emotions. I just plain old love music and can't imagine it not being a part of my every day life.

What have I been listening to lately? A better question would be "What don't I listen to?" For those of you interested, the following are a few songs already loaded on my new iPod and in my "favorites" list.

KT Tunstall - Black Horse and the Cherry Tree

Fisher - I Will Love You

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly (from the awesome movie "Once")

Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

Modest Mouse - Float On

Stereophonics - Dakota

Aqualung _ Something to Believe In

Keane - Everybody's Changing

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)

Sarah McLachlan - Fallen

I have been shooting a lot lately and will have tons of photos to share soon! I apologize for being such a bad blogger and hope to post more often in the future. For now, I invite you to check out some of my favorite music from which I draw inspiration daily. I would love to hear what you are all listening to! I am always interested in checking out new music so share some of your faves in the comments!!

Patricia

Anjuli Patil Portrait Photo Session

2008-05-30T23:46:00.006-03:00

Have I mentioned before that I love my job? Well I do! Not just because I love photography or that I love being my own boss....I love my job because I have clients like Anjuli. Anjuli is a return client and I haven't seen her since last year. It was so great to be able to reconnect with her and spend some time taking her picture, laughing with her and having a great time. Anjuli is so full of energy and is such a sweetheart. Her smile is absolutely infectious! Being an actress, Anjuli is completely comfortable in front of the camera and such a joy to photograph.

Thank you so much for a fun filled morning Anjuli! I'm looking forward to photographing you again in the future :)

Patricia

Laurence Dewolfe Portrait Photography Session

2008-05-26T21:57:00.007-03:00

I was contacted by Laurence a few weeks ago and he informed me that he was looking at having a few photos taken of himself. Laurence required a head shot for his employer and he wanted something a little bit different than a standard head shot. As soon as I read that he wanted something different I knew that this session would be right up my alley. We met and discussed session options and decided pretty much right away that the session should take place outdoors. I absolutely love doing portrait sessions outdoors in natural light! Laurence also informed me during our meeting that this would be a good time for him to have some natural photos taken of himself at this point in time. He has been making a lot of changes in his life (getting in shape, going to the gym etc.) and what better way to document this than with a few photos!

We met early one chilly morning at the park and I started firing off frames of Laurence just being himself in various environments. The lighting was perfect and we shared a few good laughs during our time together.

I always suggest to clients that they should bring a few changes of clothes to their session to add a variety of looks to their images. Laurence chose his wardrobe selections perfectly! Starting out in a dressier outfit for the portrait for his employer, Laurence changed his outfit a few times as we worked and he ended up with a good variety of images to choose from in the end. These images are a good example of the amount of different looks that are possible in one session.

Thank you for a wonderful portrait session Laurence!
Patricia

Trash the Dress and Portrait Photography Session

2008-05-06T21:44:00.004-03:00

I do not normally enjoy crawling out of bed at 5:30am to start my day. But when I'm getting up that early to head out for a photo session it's different. My assistant (Ian Young), makeup artist (Lina Hussein) and I drove to Kingston, Nova Scotia for a photo session with the beautiful Kristina Kozera. We planned on doing some "trash the dress" wedding images and standard portraits of Kristina with a few different makeup looks and wardrobe changes. The hours passed quickly and we ran out of time to do some of the shots that we had planned, but we ended up with some great images that I really like. I only have a few edited images to share so far but there will be more soon! I also snapped a lot of behind the scenes images which I will be sharing soon. We are planning a second shoot for the near future to try out some of the other ideas that we had and I'm really looking forward to it. Kingston is absolutely beautiful and we found so many locations to work with during this session for our next one.

Thank you Ian, Lina and Kristina for all of your hard work on these images. It was such a pleasure to work with all of you and I'm really looking forward to our next session. Also, a big thanks to Debbie for all of the jewelry that Kristina is wearing in the images. Debbie's beautiful handmade beaded jewelry really finished off the outfits and the look that we were striving for. As soon as Debbie has a website up and running I will post a link. I'm sure that you'll all want to buy some of her jewelry!

Patricia

My E-Mail Account Has Been Hacked.

2008-05-02T02:12:00.002-03:00

You never think that something like this will happen to you. If you're like me, you believe that people are basically good and would never do something like this. Perhaps I have gone through life completely naive, but I now have personal proof that there are really malicious and mean people out there.

My hotmail account was recently hacked by an individual that is obviously out to ruin my photography business and give me a bad name. After receiving a message this afternoon informing me that I did not show up for a planned meeting and that the same thing apparently happened to other individuals over the past few weeks, I began searching through my e-mail sent messages and was shocked to find that there were messages in the sent folder apparently written and sent by myself that I did not write or send. I receive and respond to a large number of messages on a regular basis so it is not uncommon for me to have a large number of received and sent messages in my account. Over the past few weeks I have apparently missed a number of scheduled consultations and meetings that I DID NOT set up. Someone posing as me has been setting up these meetings (which I would obviously not show up for due to the fact that I was completely unaware of them being scheduled). This same individual would then pose as me and send messages of apology to these individuals and sometimes set up a second meeting that I would attend. By this time, my reputation has been tainted in the potential clients' eyes and trust has been broken. I am afraid that due to this unfortunate violation of privacy, I have potentially lost clients and that word of mouth will spread that I am an unreliable individual. I believe that the individual that hacked into my account has also deleted numerous messages before I would read them and then empty the trash folder to erase any trace of the messages. I believe that there were also messages sent by them that were then trashed and completely deleted out of the trash folder. I have no idea how many messages this individual sent posing as me. I also have no idea how many messages were erased without any response from me whatsoever.

I'm not sure if this note will make sense as I am furiously writing and probably babbling due to the fact that I am so upset at the moment. As a new business owner this is one of the worst things that could have possibly happened. The only individual that would do such a thing obviously wants my business to fail for one reason or another. Through research, I have discovered that my e-mail account was hacked possibly as far back as three months ago. If you or someone you know may have sent me a message during that time, it is possible that I did not receive it due to the fact that it may have been deleted by this individual or you may have received a response that was not actually written or sent by me.

I believe that it is most likely an individual that knows me personally as crimes like this are very personal. Through reading some of the messages sent by this individual posing as me, they obviously know a lot of my personal information and day to day activities. It does not look as though this individual actually attended meetings posing as me or taken money from anyone as deposits for weddings or portraits, but if you have any concerns that you met with someone who may not have actually been me, please contact me as soon as possible. If anyone has met with this individual you may be able to provide a description which will help the authorities.

My hotmail account will be deleted as soon as all necessary information has been looked into by the authorities. From now on, I will be using a Gmail account and ask that all future messages be sent to psphotographics@gmail.com. I ask that you please inform me if you have had a scheduled appointment with me over the past few weeks that I did not attend. I am doing everything that I can to rectify all of the damage that this individual has caused to my business and reputation. If you receive any further messages from my hotmail address, it is not me writing or sending the message and I would appreciate it if you could let me know that you have received a message from that account.

Halifax is a very small city so my business thrives on word of mouth referrals. I have received unkind messages and comments from individuals that believe I have been not showing up for scheduled appointments. I can only ask that people try to understand my frustration at the moment due to this violation and I am doing everything in my power to rectify all of the damage that has been caused. If you are frustrated due to a missed scheduled appointment with me, imagine how I feel right now. These appointments were not set up by me and I am now suffering the consequences. Identity theft such as this is very personal. This individual was not out to steal my money, but to ruin my reputation as a business owner and an individual.

The success of my business is my number one priority. I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of all the damage that this individual has caused. This is such an unbelievable nightmare for me. Everything is being done to find out who would commit such an awful crime. Legal action will be taken, but I am afraid that my reputation has already been ruined.

Patricia

Child Portrait Photography Session

2008-04-24T16:14:00.006-03:00

I absolutely LOVE the many expressions of kids! These are a few images from my session with Grace that I did not share in my last post. I was saving them for a rainy day (like today!) to hopefully make you all smile :)

Patricia

Afternoon Delight

2008-04-10T21:40:00.007-03:00

Ok. So I have a lot of images to share of this little cutie :) These were all taken one afternoon in the studio with the beautiful Grace. She has to be one of the most adorable two year olds that I know! The constantly changing expressions, the eyes, the smile and those little toes! I love photographing children but I just have to ask....where in the world do two year olds get all of that energy from?! After our play date/photo session, I was completely exhausted and found myself taking a nap promptly after returning home :)

Patricia

Kathleen: Graduation & Fun Portraits

2008-04-10T21:30:00.005-03:00

I just wanted to share a few more images from Kathleen's graduation session. She was so much fun to photograph!!! After doing a few standard grad images, she changed her wardrobe a few times for some fun portraits to document this time in her life. This girl had me laughing the whole time that I was photographing her.....her smile is contagious :)

Patricia

Best Friends Forever

2008-04-10T20:58:00.006-03:00

Kathleen came into the studio a few weeks ago for some graduation photos. Her best friend Jess accompanied her (for moral support of course!) and I absolutely loved the connection between these two girls! The jokes, the teasing, the giggling and laughing....it all made for a great session. At one point I asked Kathleen if she'd like a few pics taken with her friend Jess. Of course the answer was "Sure!!". These girls seem to have such a wonderful relationship and I think that it really shows in the few images that I captured of them.

I am so happy to be able to provide the girls with these images. Friendship is such an amazing relationship to have with someone, and to have images that document this type of friendship is priceless. One of the reasons that I became a photographer was to be able to document moments in time and the relationships that we share with one another....as friends, lovers, parents and siblings.

These images of Kathleen and Jess make me so happy, but a little sad at the same time. My best friend of 22 years passed away three years ago and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her and miss her. Losing her was my wake up call as to how incredibly short life can be. Paula and I were like sisters. We met when we were five years old and grew together as little girls into women. We had a sisterly love....we fought over silly things just as often as we'd buy new shoes! But we would call each other the next day and it was just like we had never argued about anything in the first place :) After Paula's accident I realized just how much I wanted to live my life to the fullest and do the things that truly made me happy. I always regret that Paula and I did not have any recent photos taken together before she passed away, but I will never forget her smile, her laugh, her hugs and our friendship. I feel so blessed to have had her as my best friend for all the years that I did. Thank you P....for always being my biggest fan, always giving me a kick in the butt when I needed it and for just being you. I love and miss you every day.

Thank you so much Kathleen and Jess for a fun filled afternoon of picture taking. My time spent with you reminded me that I am truly doing what I am meant to be doing with my life.
Patricia

Steven & Andy Engagement Photography Session

2008-04-07T16:24:00.022-03:00

Steven and Andy are getting married in August and I'm really looking forward to photographing their wedding. They are such a fun couple and their love for one another is so obvious when you meet them. Andy wanted something a little different for their engagement pics (as in without flowers and green tress in the background like there most likely will be in the Summer). So, we went out on a brisk Sunday morning after a snow fall the night before to take some fun pics in the snow. It was definitely a bit chilly, but the snow ball fight and watching Steven laughing at Andy as she fell in a snow bank due to wearing high heeled boots (what us women won't do for the sake of fashion!) was totally worth the freezing finger tips :) Thanks for a great session guys and for a fun filled Sunday morning!

Patricia

Winners of the "Win Your Wedding Photography Contest".

2008-04-01T17:05:00.013-03:00

I am very pleased to announce that the following winners have been chosen by our panel of judges for the "Win Your Wedding Photography Contest"! The following are the winners and their stories.

1st Place Wedding Couple
Tiffany Cottrell & George Clarke

"Our love is connected to grocery stores and the mall.

We met when I worked at a local mall, and he was friends with my boss. It wasn’t the safest mall, so he would often walk her to her car at nighttime. One night he just randomly blurted out to her that he was asking me out. Her response was “When you two break up, and she starts crying, you won’t be able to come into my store anymore!” Of course he asked me to go see a movie, regardless of her threat of being banned from the store, and the rest is history.

On our first date, we arrived much too early to go the movie. We ended up killing time for an hour in the grocery store nearby. Both nervous as heck, and the only thing to break the ice were bread and the produce section. I kept telling myself that if he commented about coffee being on sale one more time, I was leaving. I mean, I love coffee as much as the next person, but he was bringing it up every five minutes and acting so jittery.

Two years later, we were still together and money was tight. After a stressful day of studying and working, the last thing I wanted to do was go get groceries. I snapped and said that he didn't love me, even though I knew this wasn’t true. He then proposed to me with a ring he quickly made out of twist-ties in the produce section, saying it would have to do until we could afford the real thing, and I still have it in my jewelry box to this day.

Flash forward to this past Christmas Eve, four years later- my youngest sister is working in the clothing section of a local grocery store, and we're rushing to grab milk before its all gone. She guesses that he has purchased me an engagement ring (of the non-twist-tie variety) for Christmas, and starts sobbing, while I look through the socks and tomatoes oblivious.

The next morning, he’s sick as can be, both with the flu and nerves. We start opening the presents, and in the excitement, I gave him his “big” gift (a video card) half way through, even though we had agreed to save the big presents until very last. He nervously says that I shouldn’t have to wait for my big gift, and pulls a medium-sized box out from the tree.

I was ecstatic when I opened the lid, and found a huge pair of fluffy blue slippers with a polka-dot ribbon. I love slippers, and honestly look forward to getting a funky pair each year for Christmas. He kneels on the floor, and offers to help me put them on. The right slipper slides on perfectly, no problem. When attempting to put on the left one, I pulled my foot back, and yelped “Ouch! Something bit me!” He tells me to see what it is, and I pull out a tiny ring box. Not being a genius first thing in the morning, I think I am getting a new pair of earrings, since I had been dropping hints for a new pair.

He takes the box from my hands, and I notice him down on one knee. I was able to actually say yes for quite some time, but I shook my head and cried so hard, he knew what the answer was, and he started to cry too.
I’ll never ever get rid of those slippers, no matter how shabby they become.
Although we have no way of knowing what life will bring for us once we are married, we know it will be filled with trust, happiness, and coffee always being on sale in Aisle 5."

2nd Place Wedding Couple
Karen Endres & Marty Greenwood
(submitted by Madeline Endres - mother of the bride)

PICTURE PERFECT

My daughter’s getting married, in August, on Natal Day
I wish her all things wonderful, special in every way
Christ Church, Public Gardens, Fortress Halifax, Fireworks
………all will play a small part
BUT the photos by Patricia Sampson forever will be engraved
………in our hearts

When Karen first introduced Marty, her new beau
My “mum alert” kicked in; be he friend or foe?
You see, my daughter was just fifteen in grade ten
While Marty, grade twelve, was in the class of “older men”

Ah, there were times I did little but fret
Their trip ALONE to Toronto caused me some sweat
Then, later on, many a time my head did shake
Weren’t they too young to just each other date?

During these thirteen years they have not rushed
Life, step by step, a progressive must
They’ve attended many important things in life
Before, now, merging as husband and wife

Their focus on education pleased Dad and Mum
This they balanced with a measure of good fun
After academic labor each has a respectable job
Recently a house to live in, and, oh my god, a DOG!

In July 2006 from Calgary a call came to the house
Suddenly, Karen’s Dad went still as a mouse
With flowing waters and mountains behind
Romantic Marty had one thing in mind
To propose to his sweetheart, but not before
Karen’s Dad and Mum opened the “welcome son” door

Now the time is here to plan this special day
With your help, Patricia, it will be memorable in such a fine way
These young lovers, together since 1994
Deserve a wedding captured by your photos for sure
They have proved their love is on firm ground
These caring citizens of Dartmouth town.
Madeline (Mum) Endres

3rd Place Wedding Couple
Amanda Angowski & Stephen Gaudet

Hello Patricia! How are you? Umm well my name is Amanda Angowski, I am 21 years old. I live with my high school sweetheart Stephen Gaudet, he is 24 years old. We have a little girl who will be 18 months old this month and her name is Sierra.

Stephen and I met when I was in High School and I had no idea he lived about 5 minutes down the road from me. I had just started talking to a girl months before that and we were going out for coffee one weekend. Savanna, my friend and I, were sitting in the Tim Hortons parking lot and this little red hatch back Civic drove up and I saw the most handsome looking guy that I had ever seen. I looked at Savanna and said "Who is that?" Savanna lived beside him and the weekend after that, Savanna had set it up with him for us to meet at Tim Hortons the following weekend. That was 5 years ago. 3 years ago, Stephen proposed to me and told me that I meant everything in the world to him and that he would like to spend the rest of his life with me if i thought that was okay. Of course I said yes!! 2 years ago, Stephen and I bought a little house in Enfield, Nova Scotia, yes very young but very much in love. Now we have Sierra and she is the most important thing in the world to Stephen and I. Now we are planning our wedding for September 6th 2008, and we are on a very tight budget. Stephen is going to school for 8 weeks for his 2nd year apprenticeship in electrical and I am a full time toddler teacher at a daycare in Hammonds Plains. We have my dress, the bridesmaids dresses, and a couple of other things for our wedding, but the photography part is where we are very much stuck. We want to have pictures to show off our special day, and to have memories for the rest of our lives, but every place we talk to is way out of our price range and we cannot afford the prices we are getting. Im just hoping that you will choose us as your special couple that you would like to help out. I'm hoping that we get a phone call. Thank you for your time!!!

I'd like to thank everyone for their submissions and for sharing their stories with us. It was a really tough decision as all of the stories were beautiful! If I could, I would photograph all of your weddings for free :) I'm really looking forward to meeting all of the winners and getting you in front of my camera!

I'd also like to thank Christina Sands Garragan at Endless Beauty Hair Salon (website) for donating hair services to the winners, and to Brian Larter (website) for volunteering his time as an assistant/second shooter on the day of Tiffany & George's wedding.

Patricia

New Photoshop Techniques

2008-03-31T23:15:00.005-03:00

I've neglected my blog for the past few days....ooops! But I've been really busy with sessions, post production work, finalizing my business plan and my dog ate my homework...really!! Ok, so I'm just kidding about my dog eating my homework but the rest is all true:) I know, I know. That's no excuse. I'm blogging tonight to share an image that I took the other day of Ian Young. Some of you may recognize Ian because he assists me with my photo shoots whenever possible (he gets to carry all of the heavy stuff). Not only is Ian great with keeping the kids entertained (he's a kid in a big person body) but he also makes a pretty good model. What do you think? I also wanted to share this image because I've been playing around in photoshop with cross processing techniques and adding textures to images. I wasn't sure if I loved this image after trying out the new techniques because it's so different from how I normally process my images, but I stepped away from it for a few days before viewing it again and I'm actually really happy with how it turned out. I'd love to hear your opinions :)

Patricia

Baby E. and Family

2008-03-27T18:54:00.004-03:00

I have been on quite the run of baby sessions lately! It seems that a lot of people want photos of their little bundles of joy...and I'm pretty happy with that. I LOVE photographing babies and their families! All the little baby body parts, the look of love in mommy's and daddy's eyes, the family interaction, the sweetness of their tiny sleeping faces...it doesn't get any better than that.

Baby E. was such a joy to photograph! She has the most observant blue eyes and was up for anything that we did to her to get some good pics :) I love being able to offer my photography services in my clients' home. There's usually so much to work with and everyone is much more relaxed in their own environment (especially baby). It's so great to be bale to spend time with families and incorporate personal objects and environment in their photos. There is a Radio Flyer wagon that was used in one of the following photos. When I arrived at E's home for her photo session, I noticed this little wagon and commented on it. Mommy informed me that the wagon was used in their wedding. Their ring bearer took the rings up the aisle in this wagon (squeaky wheels the whole way as explained by daddy!). After hearing the story of the wagon I knew that we had to try a few shots of baby E. in it :)

Thanks again baby E. and family for a wonderful afternoon of picture taking!

Patricia

Sweet Baby J [Sneak Peek]

2008-03-23T01:39:00.004-03:00

This little sweetie was so much fun to photograph! It took quite a while to get her to fall asleep but once she did, it was totally worth it. I was able to try out a few shots that I have been wanting to do for a while :) I am truly loving photographing babies and children....much more than I ever thought I would. If someone would have told me how much I would enjoy working with children a year ago, I wouldn't have believed them. Children have got to be one of the hardest subjects to photograph, but I'd have to say that it is the most rewarding. I love being able to provide parents with images of their little tots!

On a different note, it is Easter weekend and I have been sitting at my computer all day editing photos and playing catch up. I'm looking forward to taking the day off tomorrow to visit my parents and do the whole turkey dinner thing. It's crazy that my parents only live a mere 25 minute drive away and I haven't been to visit them since Christmas. I know, I know.....I'm a terrible daughter! I've been so caught up in getting my business up and going that I've been spending all of my time working. I need to remember to take time for myself and to spend more time with my family. Life is far too short to continually put things off until tomorrow.

I hope that everyone has a great Easter weekend and takes some time for themselves and their families. That's what I'm going to do :)

- Patricia

Tired of This Weather!!

2008-03-20T21:18:00.006-03:00

Today is supposed to be the first of Spring. Waking up to freezing rain this morning did not feel like Spring to me! I am so tired of this weather and can't wait for this damp cold weather to go away. I am itching to get outside and take some photos! I love doing outdoor on-location sessions and feel like I have been stuck indoors forever :(

Todays posted images are some of my fave outdoor photographs taken last year. Can you tell that I'm dreaming of Summer nights, crickets, warm Summer days at the beach and freshly grown flowers? If you're tired of this weather and ready for Summer, drop me a line. I'd love to have someone to complain with :)

Patricia

Madison Sneak Peek

2008-02-28T16:05:00.009-04:00

All that I can say about this little cutie is that I have never seen such a cooperative baby!! Madison was a complete joy to photograph and she only peed on my blanket twice :) I think that she was just trying to get back at me for sticking my camera in her face while she was trying to watch soap operas on the television.

Oh, and be sure to check out the angry cat, Max, in one of the pics. Max was angry that I was not paying enough attention to him so he decided to make sure that he ended up in one of the shots. I had to share it because I think that his little death glare through the door is too funny! I have other shots of Max's tail, from when he would slowly walk back and forth in front of my camera lens while I was trying to photograph Madison, but the tail just looks like a big blur in the image. Really, Max was hilarious at trying to get my attention :)

Thanks again Sarah for giving me the opportunity to photograph Madison and for allowing me to take over your home for a few hours.

All images © Patricia Sampson Photo Graphics 2008

Newborn and Baby Portrait Session Tips

2008-02-19T20:58:00.007-04:00

As a photographer, there are plenty of things that I have to do in preparation for photo sessions. Most people booking sessions do not realize that there are also things that they can and should do in preparation for their upcoming shoot. Whenever someone books a photo session with me, I like to provide them with tips that will help them get the most out of their shoot. I have different tips written up for different types of portrait sessions that I offer. I thought that I would start sharing these tips with everyone here on my blog. Hopefully they'll help anyone who is planning on booking a session and maybe a few other photographers will find these tips useful to share with their clients :)

I thought that I'd start with "Newborn and Baby Portrait Sessions Tips" and over the next few days I will post tips for other types of sessions. If this helps you out in any way or if you have any suggestions please let me know. I always enjoy feedback!!

Milestones to Capture

Newborn - Newborn sessions are typically best when your baby is a few days old right up to 4-6 weeks old. Up to 2 weeks old is the best time to capture those precious sleeping moments, yawning and curled up in the fetal position. This is what they do best at this age! Waiting until your baby is 4-6 weeks of age may give the infant's head time to shapen, and for any bruising from the use of forceps during delivery to go away. Also, some infants have rashy, dry skin that will clear up in the first few weeks.

3 Months - While babies are not sitting up on their own yet this is the perfect opportunity for those "bare bottom" portraits. Expressions are coming out at this age and things are really starting to get fun!

6 Months - Schedule this session when your baby is sitting up well on their own. Most babies are beginning to become more active and moving around at this age. The smiles and laughs are fantastic. Close-ups are great!

9 Months - Schedule this session when your baby is pulling his/her self up. They are generally not quite walking yet but able to stand for short periods of time if holding onto something.

12 Months - Happy Birthday baby! Now that they are starting to walk the options are endless. We can even schedule an outdoor session - weather permitting of course!

24 Months - Sessions at this age really depend on what you want. Whether in the studio, outdoors or in your home you will love the results!

Preparation Tips

• Before your session, be sure to give your baby a bath and bring extra wipes for a last minute nose cleaning. Keep a small towel handy for any burps and the inevitable tears. A touch of Vaseline should also be on hand to moisten dry lips. Be sure to bring a bib or two and a few changes of clothes with you to your session just incase your little one gets messy.

• If your infant has a significant amount of hair, a moist towel can be used to smooth the hair into place. Never make your infant wear an elastic headband. If it shifts or isn't worn throughout the entire session, you will see markings on the infant's head. If you wish to decorate their hair, use tiny clips or tie-in bows.

• Dress your baby in loose fitting clothing for the ride to the studio or up to an hour before your session. If possible, loosen the diaper and remove socks 15-20 minutes before the session. Doing all of this helps reduce or eliminate red marks on the baby’s body.

• Be sure to pick clothes for the session that fit your baby without sagging around the diaper or squeezing the baby too snug around the neck or tummy. Dressing the baby in plain onesies or a diaper cover are the best options.

• For sessions at any age it is recommended to keep clothing simple. Avoid patterns and logos. Neutral, solid colors work best for keeping all the attention on your child and not the clothing.

• Newborns should ideally be photographed in very little or no clothing as this is the most natural. Newborns are sensitive to temperature so a nice warm room temperature is taken into consideration and planned in advance for the comfort of your little baby. Please bring or have available diapers, wipes, and receiving blankets to be prepared for any little "accidents" that your newborn may have.

• Please allow up to 2 hours for newborn sessions. This will allow for feedings, breaks, and sleeping. All the little details of newborn life can be documented if you wish and can include feeding, sleeping, and cuddling along with classic newborn posing.

• Sessions can include the parents as well, so be sure to wear or bring neutral clothing such as black, white or off white. Black clothing works well for black backdrops (although not necessary) and white and other neutral colors look best for styling against a lighter background. Solid monochromatic colours are easiest to coordinate but primary or complementary colours also look great and can bring energy to the photograph. Avoid wearing patterns, prints, stripes and clothing bearing logos. Fine stripes and checks can cause distortion to digital photographs. Dark pants or jeans with dark shoes give texture and visually anchor a portrait. When choosing colour schemes, consider not only what looks best on your family, but also what colours will look best in wall portraits and complement your home’s décor.

• Minor props can add some interest to your infants first portraits. An embroidered blanket, a stuffed teddy bear, oversized gift tags reading "Gift from God" or items of sentimental value can make for cute additions to your portraits. If you have something that you would like included in your images, bring it along and we can discuss it before we start shooting.

• Following the steps above will help ensure that you will enjoy your session by getting off to a good start. The more you are prepared for your session the more you will enjoy the photo shoot process.

What to Expect

• Remember that your baby may not be themselves under bright studio lights. With most infant sessions, the window of opportunity for great moments happens in the first 10-15 minutes. After that they may get nervous about the lights, being away from their parents and aren't sure of what to do with all the attention. Then again, I have photographed some babies that have not been nervous at all, loved all of the attention and were fascinated with the camera and flashing lights! Just remember to give your infant lots of cuddles and reassurance throughout the process and you're bound to have a memorable portrait experience.

• Don't worry if your baby becomes sleepy and falls asleep. This can make for some of the best images from your session! I love it when little ones fall asleep and are oblivious to everything that is going on around them.

• Lots of images of your infants tiny fingers and toes with close-ups of the individual body parts will be taken to document their size in an artistic manner. I even recommend doing a shot of their little toes with your wedding bands or their tiny fingers grasping yours. Having several close-ups of individual areas lends itself to making a fun collage style portrait of your baby!

• The most precious images show the intimacy between parent and newborn. For this reason, and to make the photo session most comfortable for your baby, please come prepared to have your picture taken while holding your baby in some of the shots.

• Since your infant is a new member of the family, I recommend doing some family poses. Traditional full family shots are fine, but at this age, the creative images seem more compelling. One of my favorite poses is having the parent's hands cradle the newborn, showing the sizes of the adult hands against the tiny new baby. This close-up portrait is a fun use of scale to show how small your baby really is, and shows a family connection while giving your baby some posture. I can also do shots of mom and dad individually with baby and recommend having some of these images taken.

• Pictures of mom and baby can be very compelling. I think that mom's delicate hands caressing the tiny infant's hands or feet are adorable! An emotional pose that you can ask for is having the infant sleep on the mothers chest, nuzzling at her neck. The close bond of mother and child is always a touching moment that should be documented.

• Fun poses with dad can include a close-up of the infant grabbing one of dad's big fingers. Or ask to do one of dad's big foot with the infants tiny foot sitting on top. The scale between the two is always dramatic.

• I will work with you to ensure that you receive the best images possible from your session. Before picture taking begins, I will discuss image options and ideas with you. If you have any specific ideas of what you want, bring clipped pictures from magazines or print images from the web. If you don't have specific ideas, don't worry, it is fun to improvise as we go and I always have tons of ideas floating around in my head!

• Most importantly, in this busy time of your life I want you to slow down and relax! For this reason, I do not rush portrait sessions. My goal is to make you as comfortable as possible. Only then will I be able to capture the moments you will fall in love with.

And now, here are a few of my favorite newborn and baby pics taken over the past few months. Enjoy!!

Patricia

Recent Maternity Session

2008-02-15T22:24:00.008-04:00

I absolutely LOVE doing maternity sessions!!! I love the excitement that the parents have about bringing a little bundle of joy into the world and the excitement is totally contagious :) I will admit that I get a bit of baby fever whenever I do a maternity, new born or child session. When I do decide to have my own, it will be the most photographed child ever! For now, I'll just have to settle for living vicariously through my friend Christina who has a two year old and another on the way....her poor little Grace must be tired of my camera in her face, and I can't wait to photograph Christina's baby belly.

I had a great maternity session the other day with Dixie and Shane. I even got to feel the little one kicking during this session! Here are a few images from the session for your viewing pleasure....I hope that you like them :)

Patricia