I was going through some 2011 images last week and came across these which were taken last Summer. They immediately spoke to me when I looked at them because they brought up my memory of that day. So I decided to go through them again, this time with totally fresh set of eyes…no expectations…and I saw something different. I saw my kids having fun. I saw the chalk dust on my kids hands and faces. I saw my son Isaiah’s newly grown tooth and boy-ish scrapes and scars. I saw my daughter Zia’s mischievous grin and stare of concentration. I saw the portraits of our two dogs lovingly drawn on the pavement. I saw the shadows dancing. I saw tiny hands. I saw the scruffy winter boots Zia insisted on wearing. I saw the way Isaiah wrapped his arm around Zia in the loving way he always does. I saw love and connection and emotion and fun.

What would have been a throw-away set of images ended up with a new life today.

They aren’t perfect. But neither are we.

I find that one of my biggest personal struggles in my art is being able to let go. To let go of the ‘rules’, let go of what I think an image should look like and just let the moment just be what it is. That doesn’t mean ignore what makes a good image. It just means really learning to see and and document the perfectly imperfect beauty in my every day life. One of my many goals for 2012 is to capture more of this exact thing. Because photography isn’t about silly props or backdrops, or even equipment for me. THIS is what its about, and I’m on a mission to find more of it.

Chalk drawings inspired by some similar ones I saw on Pinterest several months back!

To book your very own Children’s or Family photography session with Ottawa’s Danielle Lynn Photography, please contact us today!

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Are you an Ottawa area small business owner, blogger, artist or professional in need of some modern professional headshots? Well the time has come! I’m pleased to share with you that for the month of February 2012 I am offering two headshot sessions for the price of one! A bit camera shy? Nervous? This is perfect for you. Team up with a friend/spouse/colleague/fellow small business owner who would also like their headshots done too and get both of your sessions at the same time, for one price!

All sessions will take place on-location within the city of Ottawa. Some possible locations include (but are not limited to):

* Your home

* Your office

* Indoors/Outdoors at your business (could be a great option if you own a local boutique, coffee shop, art studio etc.!)

* Outdoors (lots of areas downtown/Byward Market area are perfect!)

And I am, of course, open to any creative suggestions you may have!

Some very important things to note:

* This exciting promotion is ONLY for the month of February 2012. Sessions must be booked AND take place this month to be eligible.

* $175 session fee is due in full at time of booking to secure your session date.

* Available time slots are limited and booked based on my availability so its best to book early to avoid disappointment.

* Both sessions must take place in the same location, on the same day and will happen consecutively. No exceptions.

* Each of the two sessions taking place are meant for one different individual each. This promotion would not be suitable for anyone seeking large group headshots, or anyone wishing to combine both sessions into one..

* My style is very relaxed and modern and I work primarily with natural light. If you are looking for something more formal with a solid backdrop, this may not be the best option for you.

* To read more about what to expect at your headshots session, more info can be found here!

As always, I look forward to connecting with some new and lovely Ottawa people!

If you would like to book your Two for One Headshot session for the month of February, or if you have any questions, please contact me today!

 I would be ever so grateful if you would share this post using the social media icons below!

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The thing is, I think she rocked it! She was tons more natural in front of the camera than she gave herself credit for.

Thank you Martha, JP and Caroline for having me into your home last week! I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent photographing you!

And then we snuck in a family photo too. Just for good measure.

To book either a headshots session or a family portrait session with Ottawa’s Danielle Lynn Photography, please contact me today! Sessions are available in-home, outdoors/on-location or both! I look forward to meeting you!

:: Ottawa Professional Business Headshots, Ottawa Photographer, Ottawa Headshot Photographer, Ottawa Family Photographer ::

Pinterest is basically an online inspiration board. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll be able to create boards of different categories on which you “pin” things that you find around the web. You can also access boards of people whom you follow and “Re-pin” things that they may have pinned. Its popular with photographers, crafters and other artists because its so visual and allows us to share ideas, learn new things and be inspired. It also has a strong social networking component to it which allows you to comment on other people’s pins as well as tag people in pins, all in a very user-friendly way. It’s visual bookmarking at its best! At the moment, Pinterest is still by invitation only BUT, if you’d like an invite please leave a comment with your email address and I’d be happy to send you one!

What can YOU use Pinterest for if you aren’t a photographer or a creative at all? Well…pretty much anything! Use it as a place to visually organize some of your favorite online recipes (that part alone has made my life SO much easier!), use it to save articles or books you’d like to read, organize some home renovation project ideas, collect ideas for your wedding or new baby arrival, discover endless numbers of ideas of activities to to with your kids and even use it as a place to post all of your funny or swoon-worthy celeb photos. Wait…maybe that’s just me?

Here’s what a few of my boards look like (and once you join, you can follow me HERE!):

Yes, that’s correct. At the time of this post I have 33 boards and 3689 pins. Some might say I’m easily inspired. I call it ADDICTED. Down right, utterly, completely and totally addicted. So its also worth noting that once you start pinning you won’t be able to stop. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Now for the part I’m very excited about!!!

One of the most common questions I am asked from clients is ”What do we wear for our session?”. Most often I simply refer them to the page of my website where I indicate a few suggestions of what would work. The problem is, its not very visual. And if you are like me, visual is important. Its so much easier for me to see and understand something when its shown to me. So in an effort to make this easier for my clients to understand exactly what types of outfits photograph nicely, I created a board called “Client What to Wear Inspiration“. On this board I will be pinning anything and everything I can find that will help you determine what to wear for your session. If applicable I will also make note under each photo about what specifically works about the outfit(s) so that you as clients will see exactly what I think makes it awesome. And if you happen to be on Pinterest yourself, please feel free to ask questions or comment on any of the photos and I will happily respond!

I am thinking that over time, there is also the possibility that I could add additional boards for my clients too. Easy hairstyles, accessory ideas, helpful articles to read before your session, even local location possibilities! The ideas are endless! To find out about any of the new boards I create you can follow me on Pinterest or become a fan of my Facebook page, since I’ll likely announce it there too!

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If you are in need of a local real estate agent, I’m certain that Candace would be able to take great care of you! You can find her on the web HERE…and rumor has it that her website will be featuring some of these images soon when it receives an update!

Thanks so much for choosing me for your business portraits Candace! I sincerely hope we have the opportunity to work together again in the future!

If you are considering professional headshots from a photographer who specializes in natural, relaxed professional images, I’d love to hear from you! Not sure what to expect or how it all works? No problem! I’ve written this helpful article which provides a very detailed explanation on what you can expect from your photo session with Danielle Lynn Photography Ottawa Professional Headshot Photographer, as well as a few more examples of my past clients! As always, I’m looking forward to connecting with some awesome new business owners and professionals in 2012!