Category Archives: Events

Ottawa Photographer :: EMKE 2013!

It’s hard to believe that this is the third year in a row I’ve had the opportunity to photograph Ottawa’s Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition with this group of very talented Interior Designers! It seems like it was only yesterday that we all gathered together for their makeover of the Good Companions Centre (2011) and the Foster Family Farm Homework Club (2012)!

Like the previous two years, this year most definitely did not disappoint! For 2013 the designers made over a space at the Youville Centre here in Ottawa. To read more about the Youville Centre and the incredible service they provide to young women in the community, click here.

The words ‘incredible transformation’ would not be enough to accurately describe the work these ladies accomplished this year. In such a short time they were able to raise funds and furniture donations within the community and pull together a space that is not only incredibly beautiful, but also a functional, comfortable place for the young moms at the Youville Centre to unwind while not attending their classes. By the end of it, I was a wee bit jealous that *I* couldn’t just come and hang out there!

What I think is the most touching part of this entire project is that the recipients were so genuinely excited about it. Their screams of shock and the physical excitement was tangible that day. They SO deserved this. For me personally, it’s just such a wonderful feeling to be a part of it. To capture their reactions and to know that I’m helping document a day that I’m sure the girls and the designers will never forget.

For before pictures as well as a full list of contributors to EMKE 2013, please visit the TBB’s blog and Sonya Kinkade (the lead designer)’s blog! Also be sure to become a fan of Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition on Facebook to be kept in the loop when these ladies tackle a new charity project in 2014!

Thank you again ladies for the honour of being a part of such a special project! I look forward to working with you again in 2014!

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Ottawa Photographer :: Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition 2012!

Phew! Firstly I want to apologize for my lack of blogging this week and last week! I have found in past years that winters tend to be slow for me…but this winter has been anything but! TONS of headshot sessions happening, and what seems like a continually growing back-log of posts I hope to get up here in the coming days. Please bare with me!

As I mentioned a few times on my Facebook page, I am SO pleased to share with you all that I was asked to be the official photographer for the Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition once again this year. For those who are reading that aren’t familiar with this event, the way it works is that this fantastic team of Interior Designers donates their time, work and skills to make a space better for an organization in need during Kindness Week in Ottawa. Last year these ladies worked hard to re-decorate the Good Companions Centre, and this year they re-decorated the Foster Farm Family Homework Club. This small homework club located in Ottawa’s west end is a vital part of this small community within our city. It services many of the local children and teens who come here for help with their homework and to use the internet after school. When these ladies told me that this year they would be working with this club I was super excited. The kids and this community SO deserve this. And any opportunity I have to be a part of something good for Ottawa’s children and teens is extra special for me.

Although I think it goes without saying, these ladies rocked it out once again. Since this project started several days/weeks before I was able to come to the club I was not able to see what it was like before, but I have seen photos and let me tell you without exaggeration – it’s like night and day. You wouldn’t even believe it was the same place. Some incredibly kind donations were made by several Ottawa businesses and individuals for everything from school supplies to flooring to cabinetry to paint. And without these donations, this project simply wouldn’t have even been possible. Once again, I am in awe of the kind, good people of this city and the way they’ve come together to support this wonderful initiative. And to these Designers, I don’t even think I have the right words to describe their talent, hard work and dedication to making such a difference. They truly are an inspiration to me, and to many others I’m sure. Please take a moment to visit their websites and admire the fantastic work they do!

Sonya Kinkade Design

Lisa Goulet Design

JAX Decor and Design (Kelly James)

DH Design (Donna Hargrove)

Solace Interiors (Nicole Duguay)

Otta Decorate (Mary Anne van Gaal)

MODECOR (Maureen Coates)

Sarah Kidder Design

Thank you all so much again for having me out this year ladies! I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to work with you all again next year when you will be no doubt making a difference in the lives of people in our community for Kindness Week!

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:: Ottawa Photographer, Ottawa Charity Photographer, Kindness Week Ottawa, Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition ::

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Ottawa Photographer :: Shopping and Sweets 2011 photos!

As many of you already know, I was happy to be included once again in the fabulous Shopping and Sweets event held at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans on Saturday December 3rd. I’m pleased to say that the event was a huge success in many ways! It was announced not too long after the event that $1566 was raised for two Ottawa charities: The Christmas Exchange and The Caring and Sharing Exchange! You can read more about the the charities here.

On a more personal note, what a great experience this event has been for me! I’ve met lots of fantastic Ottawa business owners, lots of lovely potential clients and of course, indulged in the delicious (and gorgeous!) cupcakes. I also managed to snap a few photos of the event and I’ve blogged the majority of them here. For those of you who’s photos I was able to take, I’m hoping to contact you by email at some point over the next little while to send them to you (likely after the holidays). If you don’t hear from me, feel free to send me a quick email. I may not have your contact info! info@daniellelynnphotography.com

Thanks again to the fantastic organizers Becky and Gwen, and huge congrats on all of the money you guys raised for some much deserving local charities!

If you would like to keep up to date on when next year’s Shopping and Sweets event is, they have a Facebook page setup with all of the details! https://www.facebook.com/shoppingandsweets

Between the chaos that the holidays bring, finishing up client work as well as having had a few visitors and family events these past few weeks I’ve been SUPER busy and kinda slacking in the blog department! Hoping to have a few more blog posts up soon including a year end/year beginning post!

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Kindness Week’s Extreme Makeover! ~ Ottawa Photography

As you may already know if you live here in Ottawa, last week was Kindness Week. From the website: “Kindness Week Ottawa is a city-wide initiative that encourages community members to choose to be kind and recognizes those who engage in everyday acts of kindness.”. How awesome is that?! Of course, I think we should always strive to be kind, but I do love that our city sets aside a special week every year to really focus on making a difference in our communities!

Rewind a couple of months. I received an email from the talented Sonya of Sonya Kinkade Design. She had asked me if I would like to be part of a very special project involving herself and several other talented interior decorators from here in Ottawa. They called it ‘Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition’. She along with Lisa Goulet (Lisa Goulet Design), Kelly James (JAX Decor and Design), Donna Hargrove (DH Designs), Nicole Duguay (Solace Interiors), Mary Anne van Gaal (Otta Decorate!) and Maureen Coates (MODECOR) had decided to take on a project for Kindness Week which involved completely re-decorating the front entrance and reception area of The Good Companions Centre. From the website: “The Good Companions is a not-for-profit organization that offers programs and services in partnership with volunteers to promote, enhance and support the well-being, independence and zest for living of both seniors and adults with physical disabilities in the Ottawa area”. They needed a photographer to to help document some of the transformation as it was happening, as well as some photos of the finished space and the official reveal. Now I don’t typically photograph a lot of events since Families and Children are my primary focus, but it was all for such a wonderful cause, how could I not volunteer my time and skills!? I jumped at the chance!

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I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of my time photographing this event. The staff at The Good Companions were incredibly sweet, welcoming and very appreciative of this entire project. And the designers themselves were all genuinely kind and motivated to make a difference as well. Oh, and funny! Seriously, they had me laughing many, MANY times! I really could not have asked for better people to work with. If anyone is looking for interior design services, ANY one of these ladies will knock your socks off with their talent and professionalism, I promise!

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Drumroll please….Here’s the finished space!

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The Store Area (Good Companions has a small consignment shop for their members)

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Small seating area.

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Another small seating area and a display case (display case holds various arts and handicrafts made by Good Companions members!)

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Main seating area.

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At the ‘Big Reveal’. I SO enjoyed the surprise on some people’s faces!

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There we also a number of other generous Ottawa businesses who donated their time, skills or who donated furniture or other supplies to help out. And without them, Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition simply could not have happened!

D.E. Kinkade Konstruction ~ Donation of ALL labor and materials.

Permanent Petals (Michelle VandenBosch) ~ Donation of floral arrangements.

Matt LeBlanc Art ~ Custom Art Piece.

The Upper Room ~ Donation of Furniture.

Ottawa International Airport Authority ~ Donation of Furniture.

Floor Coverings International ~ Donation of area carpet for entrance area.

Kravet Fabrics ~ Donation of Fabrics.

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Ottawa ~ Donation of Furniture.

Premier Executive Suites Ottawa ~ Donation of Furniture.

Rockland Textiles ~ Donation of foam for bench seating.

Tamarack Developments ~ Donation of all paints.

Brent Kelly Painting (613-229-8665) ~ Donation of all labor for painting entire space.