Heather Rivlin Photography -

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!

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!

Double the sweetness

OK so those of you who saw E's maternity session below knew that she was expecting twins, and yet looked strikingly fabulous! 

Well, they arrived!  All combined 9.5 pounds of them!   Born on Friday, Feb 2nd, E and M were born into the world to the delight of their  big sister, Z, who is now a big sister twice over - that is one BIG adjustment little one!

When mom and dad mentioned they wanted to capture the twins' newborn period on camera, I was thrilled and jumped on  board with both feet.  Sure, some photographers may cringe at the idea of photographing one unpredictable newborn, let alone two, but I just *knew* they would be a lot of fun, and they were absolutely perfect!

The session was long, that is for sure, as it takes twice as long to do each combination, but there is no better satisfaction than capturing an image, like the one that follows that shows the true connection that exists between twins. These two know each other already so well....their habits, their touch, their smell - it is no wonder they are so comfortable just lying side by side.

I have wanted to use this bowl with a newborn for a long time, but it always seemed too roomy for one, and I wasn't sure how to use it with my typical nakey babies.  I thougt perhaps two inside would be better, and so I tried placing one of the twins in what I call "the wok" and she wanted no part of it....could you blame her?  It is hard and stiff, not the cozy warmth she is used to.  So....plan B:  I opt to go for the now infamous Rivlin swaddle and boy did they go for that!!  All happily cocooned, I then placed them side by side in my wok, and this image was born:

Upon sharing the image with a colleague of mine who was interested to see some newborn twins work of mine, she commented that they looked "just like little spring rolls", and it not only made me laugh out loud and smile, but the name has stuck with me, and I now refer to this image as "spring rolls"

I will have more to share from this session, since we had an enormous number of fabulous images, but that is for another day...

Natural beauty

E & K are repeat clients of mine, having had 6 sessions with me in the span of a year spanning their first session - a maternity session, followed by 5 equally spaces sessions for their daughter in the "Watch Me Grow" plan. 

E is naturally beautiful with an elegance and grace not easily matched.  She appears, on the surface, to be timid, and yet has this incredible comfort with herself, her body, and her pregnancies that is so refreshing.

E is what I call a "natural  beauty" in that there is not much that needs to be done to make her look beautiful on camera.  A little makeup, and she is ready to go and looks stunning every time.  E's images are seen throughout the website, especially in the maternity gallery, and prospective clients do take notice and ask whether their images will look like hers.  They notice her beauty, her poise, and the way she connects with the camera.  I've asked her more times than I can recall if she has ever modeled, and her answer is a shocking "no".  E, you should!  The camera loves you!

E returned this month for her second maternity session.  Her daughter is now 2 1/2 and they are now expecting twins in February!  I anticipate with great delight the opportunity to photograph her newborn twins.  I am beyond excited!

Here are a few images from our recent maternity session, about 10 days ago.  We wanted to create something different from her last session, and Ithink we did just that!

All the best for a wonderful birth experience.  Let me know if you would like the birth captured, and I will be there with bells on (and scrubs!)

Capturing Real Family Moments

In October I had the pleasure of welcoming Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player, Darcy Tucker, and his family into the studio for a session (images posted in October archives). Not only did we have a lot of laughs, fun, and chaos, but we got some fantastic images to boot.

As we prepared to say our goodbyes, mom casually mentions how she appreciates the real moments, and will be happy to see the ones where a child is crying, or what some other clients might refer to as "bloopers" or "outtakes".

Can I tell you how nice that was to hear?  Not because I had nothing to show but a bunch of outtakes (we had a massive amount of images to proof), but because I love to hear a mom who appreciates capturing reality!

So much of what I do (or try to do) is to capture the real moments for a family, as they are, right here, and right now.  We look back at our lives years later - at the moments gone by, and we try to remember how we were, how we appeared, how we interacted...and if all we have to go by is the perfect angelic cupid smiles (which are not realistic, are posed, contrived and fake) then we are remembering a false reality and our memories of our true selves are fake!

I aim, with each session, to have families interact with one another in ways that are honest, genuine, and not part of a "show" that they have put on for me.  I suggest that they try to ignore me, and laugh, tickle, make jokes and have fun with each other.  For some it is easier than others, but for kids it is EASY!  Kids are so genuine, and so unencumbered by their concern over their appearance that they are who they are.  When mom and dad step back, and don't correct awkward moments, kids are allowed to be kids, and I am able to capture a real moment.

For some parents, the image above would be "less than ideal".   For me, and for this Toronto Maple Leafs family, it is the perfect image of their kids being all they need to be - themselves.  I can't wait to see where you hang this in your home, and am so thankful that you appreciate an image like this enough to  hang it in your home and remember the moment.  After all, kids have the rest of their lives to learn to be fake, and put on airs of being something or someone that they are not.  We might as well remember those real moments - they are the ones that matter in the long run!

Thank you for being so "open" to the real moments, and for allowing me to capture them!

A question of the ages

The second most popular question I receive, right after "why are you always booked so far in advance" is "do you only photograph little children, or will you photograph older children as well?".  The answer is YES, I DO photograph older kids, and they are a refreshing change to the newborn or toddler sessions that I do too!

What's that???  Kids who listen to where you need them to sit??  I feel spoiled my my older subjects, but it also makes for more efficient sessions and more time to relax and play with new ideas.

This family was soooo much fun, and I found them so inspiring and refreshing.  Mom and Dad are obviously very well connected to their kids, and the kids in return.  How many parents do you know whose kids still talk to them at 16?  Who will actually attend a session for the family without dragging their heels and accepting bribes?  This family is tight...and mom and dad are obviously very well respected, loved and admired.  It was inspiring just to see the connection this family with THREE teenagers have, not only with mom and dad, but with each other - they actually TALK to each other!!  WOW guys!

I was told at the outset that dad is in the design field.  While that might intimidate some artists, I was enthusiastic to get his input, ideas, and talk shop!  T, I hope I did you proud :)

As a woman, I was also inspired by the mother-daughter connection with these two.  Mom had expressed at the outset that she wanted a bare-shoulders image with her and her daughter, N, and so this was what inspired this image, which I adore.  We have lots of them together, but this one stands out for me for some reason.

A mother and daughter who can be quiet together, and silly and fun too - what more is there?

And let's not forget that an eye for design runs in the family with N taking photography classes right now, and who found her session very timely for her course.  See the basic compositional rule of thirds here, N?  wink wink

Snuggle bug

Two years ago, I had the pleasure of photographing this little one, M, who later became the famous "Heather Rivlin business card baby".  I can't tell you how many comments I get on my business card because of this image.  Most people ask if the baby is my own, and of course, I tell them no "she is a client!".

To have a newborn staring intently, eyes perfectly in focus, and maintain eye contact, is quite rare, and so the image being as special as it is to me, became my business card, and one that many people "know me for".  Thank you Miss M!

Here is the image from October 2004

 

Well two years later, here is little miss M, all grown up, and well practiced for my camera!

Does she look like she is keeping a big secret?  Well she has news...she just became a big sister!  Her brother, E was born into the world on Monday, October 16th, and is an absolute doll, just like his sister.

and with a shot like this next one, he may be following in his sisters' footsteps and become the inspiration for another business card design!

I don't know about you, but I can't sleep with my feet tucked up under my head - can you?  There is a reason I call this position "The taco".  Those of you who have brought your newborns to me to photograph will know it all too well, but each taco is different, and unique!  Thanks Dad and E for making this your own taco!

E is a little sensitive to cold, so we kept the studio extra hot, and put some extra warming heaters nearby.  We finally resorted to the "Rivlin swaddle" which you may have seen in a post below to keep him cuddled, warm and confined, and BINGO! he fell asleep for the long haul.

You gotta love a sleeping baby....

 

Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful session today, for your patience, and for your willingness to wait for the miracle of sleep with your littlest one.  Sometimes a little patience goes a long way, and I look forward to sharing the rest with you in the weeks to come!

Thank you for allowing me to watch your children grow!

Go Leafs Go!

Fall has arrived, and with the cooler weather, and the falling leaves comes the fun and the warmth of a Fall family session. 

Today's session was no exception as we took a few hours out of the chilly air to capture some memories for this Toronto family of 5.  We had a lot of laughs today with this bunch, thanks to some great attention getting toys, and the antics of one nutty dad who loved playing the clown as much as the kids, and got great reactions from the bunch!  Thanks dad!

O is the eldest child, and she and her mom have a bond that is palpable.  The way they look at one another, the way they talk, the way they touch, all speaks to the comfort that this little girl finds in her mom.  It was beautiful to see them together, knowing how special a mother-daughter image will be to both of them.

The same goes for big C and his dad, who is obviously his hero.  The laughter that emanates from that child when playing with daddy is musical, and that is one tight pair.  The strength of dad's hands on the shoulders of his eldest son - what a nice story that tells!

We can't forget little C, who although in a bit of a cranky place with what could be some teething, blessed me with a little grin at the very end of the session.  I really wanted to capture something individual of little C, since he is the youngest and there aren't as many images of him compared to the older two.

Thanks guys for such a wonderful session this afternoon, for your fun, your laughter, and your willingness to get a little goofy.  Something tells me dad didn't have to stretch outside of his normal every-day self to pull of some of today's stunts :)  You made it fun for me too, and I hope the kids enjoyed their time in the spotlight too!

Jumpstart the day with hot chocolate!

I had the pleasure of working with a lovely family this morning!  Mondays are always hard - hard to get moving, hard to get motivated into the week, hard to get inspired.  But, I learned today from my newest little friend E that a day can be drastically enhanced by starting the day off with a hot chocolate!  Not only did E have a Starbucks hot chocolate before our session, he also topped it off with chocolate sauce and chocolate dusting powder!  Now THAT is a chocoholic after my heart!  (Pssst...try it with the caramel sauce too, my son swears by it!)

E and T were a lot of fun today.  E is the big brother, and adores his sister to pieces.  He does a great job of holding her, clobbering her, and offering kisses too - all the things a big brother is expected to do.  Kudos to T for tolerating such "brotherly affection", and putting up with it so well - she is a trooper!

Family images are always challenging.  Trying to get families to sit naturally, interact together or with me in a natural way AND all look at the camera at the same time...it is always a juggling act, and most families leave wondering if I caught ANYTHING at all from that chaos.  I always do - I wouldn't let you leave if I didn't! 

I love this image, because both children are looking at the camera, and I love the natural way the family is sitting.  There is nothing "posed" or artificial about this image.  Sure, E got a little too enthusiastic a moment later and tried jumping on mom and dad from behind but we caught this first.  I hope you guys like it!

And then there is E....there is a soft spot in my heart for E...he is the same age as my son, and equally as mischevious.  He and I got along just fine - we understand each other ;)  He will one day woo the ladies, I am sure.  We actually got him to abandon the "say cheese" philosophy which is rule number ONE in my studio - THERE WILL BE NO CHEESE!

Getting a natural expression is always my goal, and luckily E gave me lots of opportunities to capture his spirit.  I hope I did!

Thank you for a fun morning you  guys!  It was fun to spend Monday morning hyped up on caffeine along with you E! (I had stopped at Starbucks too, and got my own special concoction)