Celebrate My Lucky Birthday With A Free Portrait Session!

Save 100% On Portrait Session Fees To Celebrate My Lucky Birthday!

Today I turn 29, my lucky number. I’ve always imagined that 29 will be the best year of my life. As a teen, I thought maybe I’d have a baby at 29. Or maybe I’d finally marry the love of my life. Or maybe, my photography career would grow exponentially and I’ll finally leave Ramen noodles behind forever. Amazingly, my boyfriend of almost 8 years proposed to me at sunrise on Christmas morning, so at least I get to be engaged at 29. That’s pretty exciting.

Regardless of what else the next year has in store for me, I want to take this opportunity to thank every one of you reading this blog post. Each one of you that’s selected me out of hundreds of photographers to capture your wedding day, or your baby’s newborn moments, and also those of you that never fail to click “like” on Facebook. I’m so grateful to have such a supportive group of family, friends, and regular clients cheering for my little photography business.

Because I’m so pleased to have your support on my lucky birthday, I want to offer you an insane one day bargain.

On March 3rd, 2014, you can save 100% on session fees for all a la carte portrait shoots.

That means you can try out my services absolutely risk free in a studio setting at your home or mine. I’ll cover the $200-$350 session fee that covers my time and talent, education, equipment, travel expenses, editing time, material costs for proofs, and all that jazz.

If you don’t love your portraits, and don’t want to keep any of your photos, you can walk away without paying a cent. If you happen to love your photos, I’ll help you get exactly what you want out of your photo shoot. A week or two after your shoot, I’ll return to show you your edited images and help you decide if you want to create an a la carte collection consisting of digital files, prints, or custom wall art with your new portraits. All digital files will cost $15 each to start. The more photographs you choose to purchase, the more the individual costs come down.

Scroll down for all the details on how to qualify for this sweet deal in under 60 seconds.

THE FINE PRINT:

*Use this free session for any type of portraits during March 2014. It could be family photos (up to 6 people), a couple’s shoot, pet portraits, boudoir photos, first birthday portraits, newborn photos, a cake smash session…

*To qualify for a free session, simply write at least one positive or constructive comment at the bottom of this post, or any other blog post on this site on March 3rd, 2014.

*This free session fee DOES NOT include free prints or digital files. You will get to see your edited photos for free, but must purchase prints or digital files ($15 per print quality digital photo) if you want to keep them. You can view a full a la carte price list here.

*100% discount on session fee applies to clients in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Clients that live outside of the Tri-City area in Ontario may be required to pay a mileage fee.

*100% discount applies to any a la carte session, but does not apply to custom photography collections. Confused about the difference? View EBI pricing details here.

*Once you’ve commented on a blog post and visited me on Facebook, e-mail emily@emilybeatty.com on March 3rd to request your free session. All you need to do is state the type of portrait session you want, and 2 or 3 possible shoot dates during March 2014. Make the subject of your message, “Free Shoot For Your Lucky Birthday” and I’ll get back to you within 48 hours to talk about your shoot and select a date. Inquiries after March 3rd at 11:59pm will not be considered for a 100% session fee discount.

*You can find samples of my work here on the blog, and in several galleries over on my website.

*Please “like” Emily Beatty Imagery and share this blog post on Facebook if you haven’t already. (Not required for a free session, but I’d be ever so happy if you did!)

Thanks for being here, and have a great day. I know I will!

Natalie’s Guelph Garden Fashion Photo Shoot

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My dear Aunt Natalie is the youngest of the seven children in my mom’s family. She has built a rewarding career for herself, found love, and pursued many creative endeavors, including writing several books, award winning poems, and teaching herself photography. As far back as I can remember, the two of us have had a special bond. We still really enjoy each other’s company, and she has even assisted me as a second shooter for two weddings.

When she undertook a substantial fitness goal about a year ago, the whole family wished her well. Now, having surpassed her weight loss goals, Natalie is thrilled with her new life and we’re all very proud of her. Although very competent behind a camera, she’s never really been in front of a lens. Back in September, she asked me to take some photos of “The New Natalie” to celebrate her hard work. We planned a full day of magazine style fashion shots so we could have fun with her new wardrobe. I’m very impressed with how she handled my instructions as a first time model. We had so many great shots to choose from. And the shoes! So many awesome heels. She was laughing at me by the end of the day because I had easily taken enough photos of her feet to put together a blog post consisting entirely of shoe shots. I’ll leave that for another day.

It’s March. And yet its still well below freezing and there’s snow in the forecast for the next two weeks. Winter, I am over you. I need the flowers to grow back so we can take more pretty garden inspired photos like these.

Natalie, I can’t wait to have you there with me taking photos on my wedding day. Love you.

2014 KW Polar Plunge Fundraiser for KidsAbility

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It was a brave crowd that came out for the third annual KW Polar Plunge on Saturday February 22nd, 2014. This fun and dramatic community event is the pride and joy of founder Greg Lehman, who started it three years ago after losing a bet. Participants including Greg collect donations from sponsors, and then dress up and jump into freezing water to support KidsAbility.

This winter has been the coldest on record for many years, and those who took the plunge deserve a lot of credit for boldly jumping into a COLD kiddie pool on a day that hovered right around zero degrees. The rest of us were awfully grateful to be bundled up in boots, hats and jackets that were a bit more appropriate for the middle of winter in Canada. I think every one of us in Waterloo Town Square that day was glad that the event was rescheduled from the original January 25th date due to dangerously cold temperatures. Zero Celsius is pretty cold– but it could have been worse!

The jury is still out on the final total, but word has it that this year’s event raised over $7000, all of which will go directly to the KidsAbility facility in Waterloo. KidsAbility is a terrific organization that “empowers children & youth with special needs to realize their full potential through life-changing therapy and support services”.

As always, it is the volunteers and community sponsors that made this event such a success. Thanks to Nom Nom Treats, Hogg Heating and Air Conditioning, KFUN 99.5FM, Spike Creative Solutions, Bre Creative, Bright Water Services, Boston Pizza, Beertown, and everyone else that contributed to this year’s KW Polar Plunge.

Our fearless leader, KW Polar Plunge founder, Greg Lehman.

Thanks to Nom Nom treats and volunteers Keirra Reid and Charlotte Armstrong for the delicious custom cookies!

Bre Creative always makes time to volunteer for community events.

The delightful team that organized the 2014 KW Polar Plunge.

Fun Lister Family Photos on the Beach in Oliphant

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It feels appropriate to share these portraits with you today, on Family Day.

When Mr. and Mrs. Lister asked me to document all three of their sons and their families, I was pretty pumped. I was their grandson’s girlfriend, and we had gotten to know each other well in the seven years since Todd and I began dating. GGA and GGB, as they are known to the Listers are just lovely people, always smiling and optimistic. I wanted to create a fantastic series of photos that would capture the essence of their family throughout three generations.

The first Lister shoot was done early in the summer, and a few months later, we assembled the second family on the beach at their home for their first ever full family portrait session. We went with a red, white and blue theme, to celebrate both our Canadian and American ties, and also because there is a strong nautical tradition in the family.

The landscape you’ll see below is in beautiful Oliphant Ontario, just a few kilometers from Sauble Beach. Generations of the same families have grown up on these shores. Years ago, a boy named Gord fell in love with a Michigan beauty queen named Priscilla when she came to spend her summers just two cottages down from his. They were married, and eventually purchased a third lot just a few doors down from both of their parents. Over the years as their family grew, their cottage also expanded and about 10 years ago they sold their home so that they might enjoy Oliphant year round. Needless to say, this beach and this view has a huge place in the hearts of everybody in the family.

We took these photos on a hot and hazy day during Labour Day weekend of 2013, and a few months later at sunrise on Christmas morning, Todd asked me to marry him. That means that these people are officially going to be my family! I couldn’t be happier, because they have welcomed me with open arms from the very start and I already feel like part of the family. I love you guys, and I can’t wait to celebrate our wedding day with you and make it all official.

Happy Family Day!

Styled Portraits with Twin Two Year Old Ballerinas

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I’ve loved these two little girls since before they were born, and I think my heart grew three sizes the day they walked into my studio in their brand new ballet outfits.

This styled session began with a vague, vintage middle school dance kind of theme, but the tutus and L & M’s wonderfully unique personalities brought it to a whole new level. When their mom walked in she clapped her hands and said, “It looks like the prom!” I styled the set with authentic vintage gloves, oversize pink marshmallows, apothecary jars, my grandfather’s vintage camera, and homemade cupcakes. Our shoot was timed to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but I have a feeling some of these images will be on display year round!

I see a great deal of dance parties in our future! Happy Love Day! xoxox

Summertime Photography at Steckle Heritage Farm

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As the official site photographer at Steckle Heritage Farm, I’m lucky to have had many opportunities to explore “your farm in the city” during each season, but summer is undoubtedly my favourite. Whether its strolling through the apple orchard, visiting the animals or picking fresh produce from the gardens, you’re sure to encounter something unique and beautiful each time you visit this Kitchener heritage property.

Steckle also happens to be the new home of Two Crows Growery, a business that specializes in urban farming, restoration agriculture, and providing KW restaurants with fresh, local food. You can read a recent Rare Republic interview with the Two Crows here.

These first months of 2014 have been the most frigid that most of us can remember. Lately, the farm staff have been battling 16 foot snow drifts just to make it to the barn! I think we’ve all just about had it when it comes to shoveling, icy road conditions, and hibernating. Maybe what we need is a reminder of good things to come, like summertime at Steckle. It’s coming. Patience grasshopper.

Best of 2013 Valentine’s Sweetie Portraits

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Babies and Candies and Cupcakes, Oh My!

I recall telling my friend Jared that I wanted to do something “disgustingly cute” leading up to Valentine’s Day last year. I envisioned a set that would be so adorable that even if the babies weren’t in the mood for a photo shoot, we’d still end up with super cute images. (And cupcakes.) It turned out to be a good strategy, as only about half of these little ones were feeling cooperative that day.

The 2013 shoot also gave me the incentive to learn how to make French macarons, a difficult recipe that I am proud to have (almost) mastered in the past year. Want to try your own macarons? Here’s an excellent tutorial.

Did I succeed? Are these disgustingly cute? I need your feedback! Which elements do you want to see again this year? What can I change or add to make it better? Round two of Valentine’s Sweetie Shoots are coming up fast, so please give me some feedback in the comments below!

I’m very excited to be welcoming several of these sweeties back again for 2014 styled shoots on February 1st and 2nd, so stay tuned for more cuteness in the coming weeks!

Sending you warm fuzzies during this record setting cold spell. Go snuggle somebody you love!

Family Photobombing in Oliphant

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And the prize for most photobombs in one session goes to…

The family I’m going to marry into! Meet the Listers. I took these photos of my future husband’s family on Labour Day weekend, 2013 but it took me until 2014 to notice that the Listers have 8 separate instances of spontaneous photobombing occuring throughout the course of this shoot.

By the way, the verb “photobomb” is defined by urbandictionary.com as “to drop in a photo unexpectedly…to hop in a picture right before it is taken.”

Normally, over the course of a family portrait session I’ll end up with 10-20 pretty funny outtakes- and maybe a photobomb or two. Clients frequently receive a few of these as bonus files with their order. Its often those unexpected, silly moments that reveal my subject’s most genuine personalities. These photobombs are no exception. You can probably tell more about the fam from the following 8 shots than you can from the other 80 “nice” portraits that I edited from our session.

Without further ado, here are the unintentional magic moments I captured back in September.

Kitchener Waterloo Portrait Photography Prices

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Back in March, I did something called the “Lucky Birthday Sale”. I was able to meet and photograph nearly 20 new families in a short period of time, and using their feedback, I’m currently developing my new portrait packages. (Don’t worry, prices aren’t going up!) Need a quote right now? Sure! Just e-mail emily@emilybeatty.com, let me know what you’re looking for, and I’ll write back with a custom quote, usually within 48 hours.

Looking for information on wedding photography? I accept contracts for just a handful of special weddings each year so that I can pour my heart and soul into each one. Download this e-zine with all the details about EBI wedding photography or visit the website pricing page for more downloadable price sheets and details about the collections I offer.

Looking for more sample portraits before proceeding? Visit the portrait galleries on my website.

Want to talk to a real human before you invest in custom photo art? Call 519 568 9819 to make an inquiry or to book a date for your photo session. Don’t worry, I’m not one of those pushy sales people that will try to give you some long winded sales pitch over the phone, but I will happily answer any questions you may have, make suggestions for your shoot, or give you an on the spot estimate for a shoot.

You can also e-mail emily@emilybeatty.com with your inquiry, or just to say hi. It’s pretty common to e-mail back and forth a few times before actually booking a shoot. With all the other options out there these days, I completely understand if you want to shop around and check out other photographers before committing to a session date. Not everybody enjoys my bold portrait style- but if you have been hunting for unique and eye catching photography and you’re drawn to bright colours like a bee is drawn to honey, than this could be the beginning of something beautiful. Clients with unusual tastes, and alternative lifestyles welcome!

Want to see more samples before committing to a shoot? Click here to visit sample galleries.

If you’re ready to book a session, e-mail emily@emilybeatty.com or call 519 568 9819 to set up a photo shoot at my home studio or another location of your choice.

Winter Graffiti Art Photography in Kitchener

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“We are currently under a blizzard warning.” said the man on the radio as I gathered my gear. Perfect. I’ve been visiting the same hidden graffiti wall near the train tracks in Kitchener for over 5 years now, but this was the first time I’d ventured out in an actual blizzard. I figured it would add some interesting texture and sense of atmosphere to my photos. I didn’t imagine I’d have to bust my way through a snow bank nearly as tall as myself to access the hidden wall.

I think it was worth the effort, because once I’ve got a particular photographic scene in my head, I can’t rest until I see it it physically emerging from my printer. Translating an image from a dream to a reality is an incredibly rewarding way to make a living, and trudging through knee high snow drifts with five bags of equipment and props in -40 degree weather on a hunt for the perfect setting for my surreal clothesline image reminded me of what it was like to be a college student, just excited to be out the world with a camera.Over the recent holiday season, Todd gave me 5 pairs of alarmingly bright two tone knee socks– because as I’m fond of saying, “I love a good gradient.” I so admired the socks that I envisioned a scene where they hung on a line in front of some fresh and colourful graffiti before they went through the wash a bunch of times and started to lose their vibrance. I hadn’t visited my usual wall for a few months, and expected some new artwork. Surprisingly, there was just one new piece since my last visit, so it was the one I chose to highlight with my crazy bright clothesline.

The wall in March of 2013, about 10 months before the clothesline shots.

Jo Gnome, AKA F that S returns to his old stomping grounds for this photo series.

Chris Austin graffiti photos by Emily Beatty.

One more 2013 shot, featuring a super sweet shark by Chris Austin.

Taken using a special Lensbaby lens called The Composer.

In addition to wanting to document my socks, I also wanted at least one good shot of my newly blue hair. In 2013 when my stylist and I spent 13 hours creating “peacock hair” using bleach, 5 shades of hair colour and about 25 foils, we only ever took one photo of the end result. (Which was pretty spectacular, I have to say.) While the blue took a mere 6 hours to create, I still figured it deserved at least one decent shot for the record books. Consequently, this was the first time I took a tripod to the wall with the intention of creating a self portrait. I took about 5 snaps, then gave up because I was beginning to worry that my fingers were literally freezing, and maybe I should have paid more attention to that weather dude that told me to stay indoors.

In my experience, the images I create for my own satisfaction are the ones that people respond to with the most enthusiasm when viewing my portfolio. This is why it is so vitally important for photographers that consider themselves artists to continuously pursue personal work and creative projects, just for the fun of it. Its easy to fall out of love with photography once it becomes your day to day reality and a means to an end.

My business philosophy involves the mantra, “do something you love long enough, and eventually someone will pay you to do it.” Here’s hoping! These photos may not make it onto anybody’s wall. They probably won’t inspire a bride to hire me for a wedding, or convince a new mother to choose me to document her brand new bundle of joy. Its unlikely that I’ll ever make any money off of them, and yet they are deeply satisfying to me. I’m using my camera to follow my heart… and so far it’s been a colourful quest!

If you enjoyed this post, kindly like it, share it, or leave a comment below. It is always much appreciated when you help me share my work, and bring new visitors to this blog. Have a most excellent day!

Emily Beatty Imagery – The Blog

EXPERIENCED KITCHENER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER

Celebrate My Lucky Birthday With A Free Portrait Session!

Natalie’s Guelph Garden Fashion Photo Shoot

2014 KW Polar Plunge Fundraiser for KidsAbility

Fun Lister Family Photos on the Beach in Oliphant

Styled Portraits with Twin Two Year Old Ballerinas

Summertime Photography at Steckle Heritage Farm

Best of 2013 Valentine’s Sweetie Portraits

Family Photobombing in Oliphant

Kitchener Waterloo Portrait Photography Prices

Winter Graffiti Art Photography in Kitchener