Heather Rivlin Photography -

Copyright law...a la Disney

As a photographer, I often have to answer questions about, or deal with issues of copyright and the infringement of copyright.  As most artists do, it is important to educate those who commission us about copyrights and what they are, what they mean, and the law surrounding them where photographs are concerned.

Most of us know that copying a CD is breaking the law.  We know that photocopying from a book is breaking copyright unless you have received permission through an educational institution who has made prior arrangements with the publisher of that text.  But, what many of us don't know is that photographs are also protected by copyright.   Sure, the images from your session feature YOUR children, whom YOU created, but the resulting image is something that *I* created, and is protected by copyright, meaning that you cannot simply make a copy of it.  To do so would be illegal, and this is why I ask clients to review and sign the copyright agreement prior to their session.

Now, I've posted about copyrights before on the blog, so that is nothing new to those that subscribe to the blog and its articles, but, I just found a humorous film that was created using Disney film clips, all edited together to form a film about copyright, what it is, and how it works. 

Someone did a lot of work on this, so I thought I would share it LOL

http://www.youtube.com/v/CJn_jC4FNDo">

Enjoy, and may it not drive you crazy :)

It's a contest!

I sometimes feel like I am juggling too many balls at the same time....take pictures, maintain the website, fill orders, take bookings.....the website always comes last!

The website hadn't been updated with new images in over a YEAR!  Some of the images on the galleries were taken more than 2 years ago, and I needed to refresh the images, so I spent tonight updating the family and children's pages with new images from recent sessions!

So, here is the contest....go through the galleries on the website, and if you see yourself in an image that was updated tonight, email me, and you will get that image as an 8x10 print absolutely free!! 

What are you waiting for....go look for yourself!

:)

Pregnancy and counting those kicks

A colleague of mine, Blair Blanks, lost her son James tragically last year at birth due to a cord accident at 39 weeks.  The news shocked many of us who knew her, and who were anticipating the birth of her child, after a pregnancy that we had all followed with tremendous interest. 

The grief that Blair and her family felt compelled her to want to make a difference in the lives of expectant parents, hoping that she could prevent another loss for another family.  Blair learned about kick counting, and the benefit of monitoring intrauterine activity for sudden decreases in movements.  Blair will never know whether kick counting would have saved James' life, but she now dedicates herself to "The Baby James Project" to educate other parents expecting babies about the benefits of kick counting to prevent stillbirths due to cord accidents. 

If you are interested in learning more about kick counts, and how they can be used to prevent intrauterine deaths from cord accidents, please visit Blair's site at

The Baby James Project

My new best friend

J and his little sister C came to see me at the end of March.  J didn't know it, but I'd photographed him before, when he was just learning to sit, and it was now his turn to share the experience with his little sister, who was just the same age that he was when I saw him last.

J some of you may remember, used to be featured on an older version of my website, and was the little boy in overalls whose close up face shot with somewhat crossed eyes and loads of drool made everyone oooh and aaah about how cute he was.  Well, he still is, but he also shares the spotlight with his little sister, C, who is about as hammy as you can get.  Her personality is no doubt emerging, but mom and dad already know what is ahead - loads of fun and giggles with this little one!

After all, she POSES!!  This was completely not my doing, I swear!  She literally took this pose, and then mom and I cracked up that she was so dainty!!

She reminds me of the Gerber baby....such a  perfect little face.  She should be on jarred food!

It certainly doesn't hurt that mom and dad are just the most fun couple, and are lighthearted and treasure their family images.  Photography means a great deal to them, and capturing images of their children as they grow is a true treasure.

No doubt she is "daddy's little girl"...

We can't do a blog posting without posting J, can we???  Of course not!!  He is my new best friend!  Knowing his mom and dad were coming to order images today, he was upset that he wasn't invited...but I saw him later on when dad came to get their DVD slideshow that they ordered for themselves and Grandma, so I got a chance to spy my little bud ;)

What mom doesn't love an image of herself mothering...playing...loving, and being completely herself with her child.  This was shot without mom knowing, and the result is pure and magical.

It was my pleasure to document this time for you, Kim & Troy, and I am sure these images will represent treasured memories for a long time ahead.  I look forward to watching them grow up, and am lucky that you are also sorta neighbors, so I can still spy the kids in between sessions.  All the best and thank you for entrusting me with your memories!

Sessions are wrapping up for the summer!

As many of you know, or are about to find out, I am expecting yet again in the fall, and have decided to devote the month of August to maternity sessions, newborn sessions, and in-person custom viewing/ordering sessions.  With each pregnancy, I have worked close to my due date, and it is always a mad rush to the finish.  I vow each time that I will do things differently *next time*.  While I am pretty certain, there won't be a "next time", I have decided that photographing children and toddlers in my 8th and 9th month of pregnancy is not only terribly difficult, but also does not provide the same image quality that I can get when I am able to better chase, bend, crawl, and move with more freedom and speed!

As a result, I have decided that children's portrait sittings will only happen until the end of July, and then August will be, as mentioned above, reserved for maternity sessions and newborns.  Let's face it....they  just don't move as much as the little ones do :)

If you are expecting a baby in August, book now to reserve your space knowing that you will have a lot of flexibility in scheduling! 

If you are expecting, and wish to have a maternity session, remember that maternity images are best captured between 32 and 36 weeks, so if you fall in that range in the month of August, come on in, and we can complain about our swollen feet together over a tall glass of lemonade and a maternity session!

As a reminder, I am back from maternity leave on April 1st, 2008, and session bookings will resume on March 1, 2008.

Couldn't have been more fun!

Sessions are often loud, chaotic, high energy events, with lots of giggles for kids, and mom, dad and myself trying to keep to the chartered course.  I always feel I should prepare parents for what they are about to embark upon because children's sessions which are not posed or formal are anything but relaxing!  We do lots of running, chasing, and sometimes a little convincing, but in the end, it is always worth it :)

These two came to me at the end of April, Miss A and her little brother S.  Both were ready for a fun time, and I think we gave them one!

These are some of my favorites from the session, and although there are too many to post, mom and dad have the complete album to reflect upon, and their DVD slideshow of the images to cherish.  It was such a pleasure working with these two, who are obviously so camera-happy, and not the least bit stranger-phobic.  We had a blast!

Does this little tongue sticking through his teeth not completely melt your heart??

Looks like he is also the *man* of the house, and enjoying being at the top of the heap

Of all of the siblings I have ever photographed, I don't think I have ever had such a high yield of images where both were as co-operative as these two.  I am not sure what was in their cheerios, but they worked it well!

Thanks for a wonderfully fun session, mom and dad! 

Wow, I have been busy!

OK, I admit it....2 months is a long time to go without an update, and thank you to those who reminded me that I have no added anything new here in a while!

Between double sessions, and working people into the schedule before I take my mat leave at the end of the summer, I have been crazy busy! 

I have promised so many of you that your sessions would come up on the blog, and I am holding to my word tonight!  I will try to add as many as I can over the next few days, and notify those of you whose images are here, so that you can show your friends and relatives!

This session was a session from  back in March (I know, I know, AGES AGO!) but I have to start at the beginning, right?

These three were an absolute pleasure to photograph. I knew when they walked in, that we would hit it off.  Most kids are shy at first, they look at me under the shade of their brow and slowly open up over time.  These three walked in, and the eldest, S, decided to tell me all about school and his teachers even before his shoes were off.  You know he is comfortable when!!  I was thrilled!

S is the eldest, and A is the "middle man".  They get along fabulously, being only about a year apart.  I loved the interaction they gave me.

Let's not forget, of course, that they also have a little sister...little M, who rounds out the bunch, and has the personality to handle these two for sure!  She is a little spitfire with the most adorable smile ever, and eyes to match.  While she only gave me 15 seconds to shoot, over about 4 opportunities, we captured lots of great expressions from her in the 60 seconds total that we had!

The three of them were told at the start of the session, that the studio is a "no cheese" zone.  I say this to older kids to let them know that we don't need fake smiles, in an attempt to recondition them to more natural looks and not posing for the camera.  At the end of the session, once we'd captured this group shot...

I let them "let loose" and scream "CHEEEEEESE!" for the camera.  The resulting outtakes are absolutely precious!

They were a treat to photograph, and I look forward to watching them grow!

The eldest, S, in his serious pose:

and our session "director" in his director's chair, making sure all is going as planned:

Thanks mom and dad, A & R, for such a fun session, and for allowing me a small glimpse into the lives of your beautiful kids!