Ottawa Photographer - Family, Children and Engagement by Danielle Lynn Photography » kids

Ottawa Children’s Photographer ~ A New Life

daniellelynnphotography — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:13:23 +0000

I remember the day very well. I had set out to capture some very specific moments with my kids but came away frustrated that I hadn’t. The kids weren’t cooperating, the sun was too harsh, it was hot outside and when it was all said and done I actually felt a bit like crap. Not only did I not get the images I had hoped to, but I probably got a bit more frustrated with the kids than I should have.

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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Ottawa Photographers :: Halloween 2011!

daniellelynnphotography — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:26 +0000

This Halloween my kiddos have two of (what I think) are their best costumes yet!! A Bumblebee Princess and a Motorcycle Rider! Both such random choices really. But when setting out to look for costumes this year neither us or the kids went with anything specific in mind for them. I think it was MUCH more fun this way because in the end, both kids LOVE what they are dressing up as, and neither were disappointed that they didn’t find a specific costume. I fully realize we won’t have it this easy in the coming years though. I’m thankful that for now, just the idea of dressing up as anything is good enough!

Halloween seems to happen at the perfect time of year because as my busy season is winding down a bit, it gives me a bit more time to spend focusing on some of the fun things we do with the kids and as a family. This year I actually purchased Halloween decorations for the front of our house. ALERT THE MEDIA! I never do this. Call me a stick-in-the-mud but I’ve never been one for seasonal decorations of any kind (mostly because I can’t be bothered taking them down! HA!). But this year in addition to our normal pumpkin carving, I also bought a few other things to put up at the kid’s request…and I’m glad I did. Turns out, being in the spirit isn’t nearly as bad as I thought.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!! I’d loooove if you’d head on over to the Danielle Lynn Photography Facebook page and tell me what YOU and/or your kids are dressing up as this year!!

Oh and in case you are wondering…the faces he is making in these photos are his tough Biker faces! When I asked him to show me what a tough guy face looks like, this was what I got. And I couldn’t stop laughing so I just HAD to post them.

P.S. When I took these photos we were on our way to the kids Halloween party at the Museum of Civilization and were in a bit of a hurry. This means I unfortunately didn’t get a photo of the two kids together! If I’m able to get one some time today I’ll be sure to come back and update this post!

P.P.S. This past weekend we FINALLY had the opportunity to take a few family photos! Hoping to share them all soon!

First Day of School! ~ Ottawa Childrens Photographer

daniellelynnphotography — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:05:23 +0000

Its 5:50am and as usual I am awoken by the sound of two chubby little feet running down the hall to our room. My eyes are barely open when I see her mass of tangled ponytail land on the pillow next to me. “Baby girl, today is your first day of school…” and her eyes light up. She really has been looking forward to this for a long time. There were no arguments getting her dressed this morning, no troubles getting her to sit and eat her breakfast either. Today she was a big girl. And Mama was just going to have to face the fact that her baby really is.

We walked into the class room and she hung her bag up on her assigned hook. She took out her lunch bag, her indoor shoes and proceeded to put them on. Her smile was one of the biggest I had ever seen. She was so proud. And I was proud of her. As I got ready to leave the classroom she pulled me down and whispered softly “Its okay Mama, you’ll always be my Mama“. I fought back tears, just as I am fighting them back typing this. I’m not sure where she found it in her to say that to me. But that’s one of the things I admire about her. She often knows the right things to say at the right times. Somewhere inside of me I do think there is a fear that my influence as her Mama will be replaced by that of her teachers and school mates. I’ve never shared this fear with her for obvious reasons. I think she must have sensed it anyway.

My sweet baby girl. You have so many people in this world who know that there are big, BIG things in store for you. Every single day I am grateful and proud to be Mama to such a smart, funny, caring, confident and beautiful little princess. Today you get to share these wonderful qualities with the rest of the world. For that I am so happy. I can’t wait to see your heart sing.

Four in a Row! ~ Gatineau Family Photographer

daniellelynnphotography — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 22:50:16 +0000

I know I’ve said this before but I am always so, so, SO grateful when I have the opportunity to photograph a client more than once. To me its really the equivalent of them saying “We believe in you and what you can create for us” and for someone who creates art for a living, there’s nothing more fulfilling or rewarding than to know that someone values what you do. So far I have had the wonderful opportunity to photograph this gorgeous family four times now, including this session blogged today!

We met down in Chelsea, Quebec (just outside of Gatineau) for the session at a beautiful little spot that a friend and fellow photographer who lives near by told me about. (Ironically, I also photographed this photographer’s family in early July at the same location seen here!) This time I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful wooden bridge that covers the near-by creek though – it’s so rustic and lovely with such wonderful light. And I was so grateful for it on a day as bright and sunny as the one we had! I will say, we had a challenge on our hands though! A technical difficulty put us back a bit of time which ended up making the kids a bit restless for their nap. I’m super happy with how the pictures came out though!! Oh, and the tricycle helped. What child doesn’t loooove a tricycle?! That was definitely worth some smiles.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Dan, Renee, Zachary and Mia for choosing me once again to capture your family’s memories. I have SO enjoyed watching your family grow and change and I hope that I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity again in the future! Save travels back home!

To book your very own Family photography session with Ottawa’s Danielle Lynn Photography contact us today!! Don’t miss out! Spaces are booking up quickly for Fall 2011 and available dates are limited!

Ottawa Family Photographers ~ The B Family!

daniellelynnphotography — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:00:50 +0000

Paul, Meredith, Owen, Ruby and Quin were the second family that I had the pleasure to photograph last weekend for the Graffiti Wall Mini Sessions! This gorgeous family traveled all the way from Renfew, Ontario to come see me! We had previously met in 2009 when Meredith and Paul were attending an adoption course that my husband and had been asked to speak at. Thankfully (and excitingly) I was able to meet with this family again and was introduced to sweet little Quin who joined their family from China! As a 2x adoptive Mom myself, there is nothing that warms my heart more than to see a family formed by adoption. And I am honored that Meredith contacted me about a session for their beautiful family!

Thank you so much guys! I had lots of fun and I hope we can do it again next year! Enjoy your sneak peek!

To book your very own custom photography session with Ottawa’s Danielle Lynn Photography, please contact us today!! Spaces for summer are filling up quickly and I’d love to work with you!!