The McGregor’s

I had the opportunity to take family photos of my family’s long time friend Karen.

Karen, her husband Aaron and their boys Nolan & Chase are from Toronto. They travelled to Nova Scotia for vacation and wanted to capture some of the beauty here in their family photos. We incorporated the boys love for hockey into their photos, they are HABS fans…but I didn’t hold that against them.

The photos were taken at Sir Sandford Fleming Park (The Dingle). I love to photograph families, especially when they are not from the East Coast. Last year I got the chance to photograph a family from Alberta, originally from here; they were travelling back for vacation with their 6 month old baby boy. They wanted to get family shots of his first time at the beach and the first time his toes hit the ocean. It makes for great memories.

Karen and her family love the east coast. The boys love the ocean. We chose the Dingle because it has a great mixture of having the water, boats and sand in the background along with the Dingle tower. I captured some memories for them that they can hang on their wall, and always have a piece of the East Coast with them.

It’s a BOY!

Oliver Cole Mackenzie Keirstead was born June 11 at 5: 23am, 6lbs 12ozs and almost 20 inches long. He is perfect. Oliver is Jason and Lindsay’s rainbow baby.

I met Lindsay and Jason when they booked my Rainbow Package which is:

“Rainbow Baby” is a baby who is welcomed into a family after there has been a loss experienced due to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth. A Rainbow baby is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravage of the storm.

Newborn Session (within first 10 days is ideal)
First Birthday/Cake Smash Session **They Chose to change to Fresh 48**
Special Rainbow Birth Announcement Template
Each session will be up to 2 hours
all photos available in a private online gallery to download in full resolution

We hit it off right away, clients really do become friends and you start to feel like part of the family when you get to capture all those important moments in their lives. They were over the moon happy with their maternity photos which made us very happy. We chatted back and forth after that, patiently waiting for their baby boy to make his grand entrance into the world. They wanted a Fresh 48 Session, which is when we go to the hospital within the first 48 hours after giving birth to capture those first precious moments of their baby’s life.

Oliver was born on June 11th, the following day I went in to meet him. He was perfect, I captured him, bonding moments with mommy, daddy and his grandmother it was beautiful. About a week later we did his newborn session. Oliver rocked his session with us, he was such a great baby, no fuss at all.

Newborn sessions are special. We always suggest to get the session done within the first 10 days, a session can take up to 2 hours maybe more depending on the baby. We want to ensure the baby is happy and content to get those amazing shots you will hold onto forever.

To see photos of the sessions check out the links below:

https://tailgatephotography45.pixieset.com/oliver/

https://tailgatephotography45.pixieset.com/olivercole/

Family is Everything

This is my first kind of personal blog. Photos have always been a big thing in my family, any gathering we had there were always 3-4 cameras around, every Christmas Eve we did family photos before everyone parted ways for the night. I have always had a camera in my hand since I was little with my ninja turtle camera, snapping photos of everything and everyone. I know on more than one occasion I have driven someone in my family crazy taking photos of them but a photo is a memory you get to keep forever.

I always knew how important it was to have your photos taken, one of the reason I became a photographer was to be able to capture all those important moments in people’s lives. Weddings, newborns, graduation, all those important events along with capturing family sessions. This year has made all of this even more important to me. I look at everything differently, I cherish the moments I get to capture for people, it warms my heart to see the love between parents and their newborn; kids getting photos done with grandma before she leaves; a bride getting ready to marry the love of her life. I’ve always loved capturing that but now I appreciate every single client more, I am blessed to be their family photographer, honored to be part of their wedding and all around lucky to snuggle all of the babies.

My husband and I got married December 31st, 2016; during our honeymoon we got a call from my aunt to tell me my stepdad fell and broke his neck. Instantly I wanted to come home, but he and my mom said no there was nothing we could do. Fast forward 3 months in the Halifax hospital on April 6th, I lost my stepdad. The man that raised me the last 26 years, who couldn’t have been a better dad to me and husband to my mother.

My Nan Diane had COPD for awhile, she has been on oxygen for a couple years but nothing stopped her from attending our wedding. One month and 2 days after the loss of my stepdad, my Nan passed away May 8th. I lived with my Nan for 20 years, we did everything together. I was always Nan’s girl and that will never change.

I wanted to share my personal struggle I went through this year because it makes you realize how short life is. It makes you realize you should cherish every moment with your loved ones, you can never give too many hugs, always tell them you love them and you can NEVER take too many photos.

One of my favorite quotes is from the famous Dr. Seuss “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”.

That is the truth. I was very blessed to be able to have my stepdad and Nan attend my wedding, we had family photos taken not knowing those are the last memories we would have captured. I am blessed to have got to say my goodbyes and hold their hand.

If you can take anything from this blog, remember to capture those special moments and cherish every day with those you love.

After every storm…there is a rainbow

My husband and I love spending our time photographing newborns, we love being part of fresh 48 sessions capturing those first moments with your baby. Whether it is your first child or 6th child, all those first moments are precious. Within the last few months I’ve been hearing more about people have rainbow babies, I looked up what exactly that meant. A rainbow baby is a baby who is welcomed into a family after there has been a loss experienced due to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth. I’ve know many people including family that have suffered miscarriages which brought me to create our “Rainbow Baby Package”. It is close to my heart and absolutely fills my heart with joy to capture those moments with your newborn rainbow baby.

I met Lindsay and her husband Jason a couple weeks ago. Lindsay booked the package the same day I advertised it. She told me her story, we started bonding through messages leading up to her maternity session. The excitement she had for her upcoming session was amazing, she told me she couldn’t believe she just booked her maternity session. They are expecting their baby boy June 17th and I can’t wait. I have two upcoming sessions with them, a fresh 48 and newborn session. I honestly can’t wait to meet their baby boy! I’m anxiously awaiting for the text to tell me he has arrived.

Our Rainbow Baby Package includes the following:

Newborn Session (within the first 10 days is best)
First Birthday/Cake Smash Session
Each session will be up to 2 hours
Special Rainbow Birth Announcement
Full resolution photos available in an online gallery

Check out Lindsay & Jason’s full maternity session at the link below:

https://tailgatephotography45.pixieset.com/lindsayandjasonmaternitysession/

A Rainbow baby is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravage of the storm.

Our New Adventure…The Daily Musician

James and I have started a new adventure. We have purchased The Daily Musician. We are in the transition stage of takeover, the owner is silent partner until the transition is complete. We are very excited to share this with all of you.

The Daily Musician is a media publication.

We also combined it into our Tailgate Photography business. We now offer Artist Promo Sessions. That includes promo photos for tour posters, websites, merchandise, social media etc. You can also add on live concert photography to get some shots of live performances to use as well.

We are very excited about this venture. We hope you will check out our website and social media listed below and follow our adventures. I have attached a few photos from Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame Gala and a couple live performance shots.

www.thedailymusician.com

Facebook: /Dailymusician

Twitter: @daily_musician

Instagram: the_daily_musician

5 years & counting…..

This year marked the 5th year photographing the MacIntyre’s. My first session with them, Daniel was just over a year old.

Every year after that, they would come down from Halifax to Guysborough County for a session with me when I was living down there. The past two years have been here in Halifax.

To see the growth in Daniel from year to year is special, he was so shy the first few years, then once Katie came along, and he got to know me better he opened up and helps me now.

He helps make mommy, daddy and Katie smile, he suggests spots to take his picture taken and loves to talk up a storm.

Katie has the bluest eyes, wildly curly hair and a smile that will brighten anyone’s day! She was shy the first few sessions I had with them. Last year she would only look at my co- photographer James, so he had to stand over me the whole time!

This year she was fantastic. Mostly all sessions end with everyone throwing rocks into the water. This is an amazing family, they are full of love for each other and their children.

I look forward to continuing to be apart of their lives as their photographer in the years to come 🙂

Joey melted my heart <3

A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to photograph this beautiful little family!

I was having fall mini sessions at Shubie Park in Dartmouth, Candace contacted me for a family session. After figuring out work schedules, and weather, we finally met, took a chance on a cloudy day and the results will speak for themselves…. Beautiful.

We arrived, waiting by the stairs I see them approach with the cutest blue eyed boy in her arms. She puts him down, he walks over to me and puts his arms in the air wanting me to pick him up! He snuggles in my arms, then back to mommy! He completed melted my heart.

His facial expressions, smiles for mommy & daddy and his interest in the ducks were all priceless. I am happy to have met this great family and look forward to working with them again in the future.

A little bit of the East Coast

Sarah contacted me for a family session during her trip back home. Her and her husband Matt have a 5 1/2 month old baby Logan. This was Logan’s first trip to the east coast. She wanted to capture his first time at the beach, first time having his toes in the ocean!

He loved the beach. He loved the sand, and the ocean. Getting to capture his expressions as plays in the sand…. as his toes hit the cool ocean was touching! I love getting to capture firsts for parents to be able to keep forever!

Here are a few shots from their session at Crystal Crescent Beach. To view full gallery check out : Sarah, Matt & Logan

Beachin’ it

I just finished another session with the beautiful Miss Lux Alexandra. I couldn’t believe how much she has grown in the last year!

Mallori & Ian became my clients when I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding in November 2010. Since then I have captured maternity photos, their baby’s first year and now I continue to photograph Lux as she grows!

This is the biggest benefit to being a photographer, meeting clients that you develop lasting relationships with. You become their family photographer, and get to capture all the big moments in their lives.

Below is a little look at some moments captured yesterday at Torbay Beach! Will be posting full session once I’m finished editing.

Meet Lux Alexandra and her puppy Marleau.

“And though she may be but little, she is fierce” ~Shakespeare~