Paetyn & Mykael | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

Read why this page is covered with pics of "the Hoff" here

I finally met a newborn who doesn't want to fold up, does not like to be swaddled, but is still cute as a button. The only thing that she wanted touching her was her Mom's scarf.  Didn't get any "classic shots" - she was certainly my biggest challenge to date.  I actually thought it was going to be a wash and we'd have to reshoot.  Mom was happy with the few that worked and we'll try it again at three months.

Meet Paetyn and her brother Mykael.

Let the rush begin | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

Don't you just love it when things run hot and cold?  That's the only way I appear to know how to do it. 

One of my newborns was born yesterday morning - just waiting for mom to be home and rested up before I go over.  I have a six month old booked for this weekend and her three year old brother coming up soon after.

Oddly enough, I've been hired to take some pictures of a horse so, in turn, the owner can get a painting done.  All this in the next three weeks.  Doesn't sound too bad until you factor in that I work from 11am-9pm Mon-Thurs at my office job and have a week long vacation coming up in San Francisco.  Now it's starting to sound busy.. I love it :)

The Postman Always Rings Twice... | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

TWO deliveries today!!
The pink iron doll canopy bed arrived.  Even more fantastic in person than it was in the auction pictures. Now I'll be busy making bedding for it for the next while :)

The Postman Arrives! | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

My new flooring is here!!  It's actually bullitin board paper but I've seen great shots with it.
Can't wait to try it out

Bought it here for folks who are interested:  http://www.mardel.com/weathered-wood-fadeless-paper-roll-pacon.aspx

Prop photos are up | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

Some quick and dirty photos of the most popular props are up on their own page now

Check them out at http://jillheritage.blogspot.com/p/props.html

Today's my day off | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

I awoke to found that my 18 year old was late for school so took my car (he left a note, and a plethora of "sorry I didn't ask in advance!" lines) so I was stuck home for the day. Kind of happily; I'm the only one here and it's so quiet

So what do I find myself doing right now?  Taking photos of my most popular props trying to get a visual aid for what parents would like me to bring instead of hauling everything but only using two or three.

I'm just hitting up the most popular first.  That'll be enough for now!  I also think this will require its own page.

Back to work for me, just came down because I heard my cell phone ding.

eBay finds | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

I've started to narrow down eBay search terms to start to find what I want. Let me tell you, if you just put "photography props" into eBay be ready to wade through pages and pages of stuff you may or may not be interested in.

This week alone I was the successful bidder in three auctions - one for an old wicker doll bassinet, one for a very old iron dolls canopy bed, and a final for a doll sized Radio Flyer wagon complete with wooden sides.

Below is the wicker - it was the only one that was from Canada so I got it really fast. Still waiting for the others to crawl across the border from the States.  Best part of this one? It was a mere 99 cents :)

Oh no, I'm one of *those* people | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

Yes, I spent a few days taking pictures of my cats. I can, with hesitation, admit to that.  I don't need releases for them ;)

Here's my scenario - My kids are 18, 20, and 22. Not so happy to sit around while I take pictures anymore and really not happy to wear goofy hats and sit in baskets.  ha ha.

When trying new things for lighting and shadow - I use my cats.  I am not a crazy cat lady... yet... I swear.

New props from Jysk | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

I went on a new basket hut with my Mom a few weeks back. I'd gotten suckered in by a "Dollar Store" for a nice enough basket but they got $19 out of me for it.  Mom and I discovered how many awesome baskets they have at Jysk and I was in heaven.  This one with a washable, removeable denim liner was $6 - just one of many I found there.

Always a safe bet for props - Michael's | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

So here's a gem I found at Michael's the other day.  They've got all these storage boxes and they were on sale at some crazy percent off. I ended up paying $9 each for the books and $14 for this with straps and a metal latch. I adore it.  The books below are fantastic - I have three of them now.  Excuse the silly still life (of my first camera, no less) it was part of a lesson in using reflectors to fill shadows.

I'm just sitting here talking to myself.. | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

Pardon me as I work through figuring this out.

Note to other photographers out there - get a model release. Even if you don't think you need one; you probably do.

I'm going through looking at infant photos that I could add here but none had releases. They were all done specifically for the families and I never assumed that I'd require them for anything else. I was wrong. I now have a photograpy blog with no photos.

I've been doing practice shots on some props to get some lighting ideas, and sometimes my cats feel the need to join in on these shots, maybe I'll just break down and add these photographs. I can always remove them later, right?

Going forward, all new clients will sign a release so I can use the photos for promotional materials.

I finally broke down and did it | Jill Heritage Child & Baby Photographer Calgary

I've always been a word of mouth photographer and never figured I'd have a website, among the sea of websites, for my craft.  Everyone's first question, however, is "do you have a website?"

I've given in and will start with this Blogger page - if the need is there, I'll migrate to a real website/domain later.