Life after 40 and an Unofficial Announcement | Alliston Ontario Photographer

Life after 40 and an Unofficial Announcement | Alliston Ontario Photographer

For the first time since my twenties - easier to get in front of a camera!

I am still uncomfortable, still nervous, and still do not LOVE all the photos afterward - but for once, I LOVE most of them. And I have fun taking them!

Now I want YOU to feel the same! It has become my mission to get more women over 40 in front of MY camera! To feel liberated and empowered. To feel BEAUTIFUL. To have an experience like no other - getting pampered with hair and makeup and then to leave my studio and want to come back for more photos! And of course, to tell all your friends!

Appreciating the past so you can move into the future of your business

Appreciating the past so you can move into the future of your business

It’s that time of year when we usually set new goals and visions for the year ahead. But with most of us having to shift our business, or sadly, even close our businesses in 2020, that could be very hard to do.

but let me show you why it is still super important to look ahead with an heart in order to align your business for the next year.

Owning your own business means making mistakes

Owning your own business means making mistakes

Being the owner of your own business means making mistakes….and it sucks.

Small, big..doesn’t matter. They will happen. You will get unhappy customers by no fault of your own and have to smile and make it better. You will forget things, miss an appointment, be too slow at sending products or simply just have clients who do not appreciate you.

Black and Gold and Glam Halloween Wedding

Black and Gold and Glam Halloween Wedding

“I had a vision for an “outside the box” styled wedding shoot. I wanted to do something different than the usual – greenery, pretty, pastels and more. (Not that I don’t love those too!). Seeing as Halloween was just around the corner I contacted a group of local vendors about doing a dark and mysterious Halloween type wedding. The goal was to create a vision that could actually be a real wedding, so that if engaged couples were to view the styled shoot they could vision themselves having a Halloween wedding. The other goal was to keep it elegant, and not too “themey”.

Ruby | 50 Beautiful Children - Beauty Revived Magazine

Ruby | 50 Beautiful Children - Beauty Revived Magazine

I am so honoured to be chosen as 1 of 50 photographers across the land to select and photograph a child for the upcoming edition of Beauty Revived Magazine - 50 Beautiful Children.  The magazine can be ordered here and there will also be a blog post coming in October that I will link! 

I knew right away who I wanted to photograph and tell her story - Ruby. 

Falling In Love | Autumn Inspired Bridal Shoot

Falling In Love | Autumn Inspired Bridal Shoot

Autumn Inspired Bridal Shoot at Scotsdale Farm. Lots of inspiration for a fall wedding!

What's in a Name - Why I named my business Love Bee Photography

What's in a Name - Why I named my business Love Bee Photography

My name is Bobbi-Jo and I am the person behind Love Bee Photography. Many people ask "why Love Bee? What does that mean?" and many assume my business name has something to do with those black and yellow buzzing insects.  Well, no.  

Top 100 In Shoot and Share!

Im just taking a moment to toot my own horn as I found out this emotional images of my best friend and her daughter, Emme, finished in the Top 100 image for the 2017 Shoot and Share Photo Contest! Out of over 9000 images in the "Emotion and Excitement" category! Yay!

This is one of my favourite images. We were playing on the beach and Emme had a little girl moment and needed her Mama to console her. Who knew me snapping the camera at that moment would become one of my favourite images ever. 

Click here to see all the winners!

A Family Complete | Letters to Our Children | May 2016

A Family Complete | Letters to Our Children | May 2016

Dear my Littlest M

You are here! You are safe and sound and in my arms. Today you are 4 weeks old. Already. How does time go by so fast?

Kids, Winter and Film - A Letter to My Children April 2016 | Alliston Film Photographer

Kids, Winter and Film - A Letter to My Children April 2016 | Alliston Film Photographer

To my loves,

All 3 of you....this is a big month. Its the month our family of five becomes a family of six. In two days time your new baby sister will be born. Can you believe it? I cannot. :) 

You Make Being A Big Sister Seem Easy | Letters to My Children | February | Alliston Family Photographer

Dear M, 

I look at you and often have to close my eyes and do a double take.  I am not entirely sure when you grew up to be a little girl, and not my baby anymore.  Since you started Kindergarten last fall you have blossomed into this smarter, more beautiful, and calmer version of yourself.  But luckily for me, you still give Mommy cuddles and love and kisses, enough to make me still see that little babe inside of you. :) (and that makes me happy!) 

I have to touch on how amazing you are with your little brother lately. The two of you are peas in a pod, always hanging out and running around and playing dress up and having a good time.  You teach him right from wrong, and are always by his side ready to help him if he gets stuck or needs something or has a boo-boo.  You have become a natural mother-figure to him and that makes me so reassured knowing I can trust you with him at anytime.  

In less than 2 months you will be a double big sis as your new sister will be arriving. You already call her "my baby" which sometimes confuses me as I think you are talking about your toy doll! But nope, you are talking about that little one living in my belly as if she is already here.  About how you will dress her, and change her, and read to her and teach her everything. It warms my heart and I cannot wait to see the two of you grow up together.  

Until then, lets enjoy the last 2 months of you being my baby girl, and please know that you will always be my first baby girl which holds a special spot in my heart. 

xoxox Sweet Girl, 

Love Mama

Head over to Sonia's page to read her letter and see her beautiful photography! 

Favourite Film Images 2015 | Alliston Film Photographer

film. My first love. 

A nice mix of client and personal photos for this new favourites post :)  

What did I learn? I need to shoot more film and not be afraid to use it, especially at sessions! They always turn out! 

Mix of Portra 400, Portra 800, Fuji 400h, Tri-x


Letters to My Children | The Master Builder | Alliston Family Photographer

I am SO excited to take part in a "Letters to our Children" blog circle featuring many other amazing photographers again! I took a break last year and really missed this special project. It let me take time each month to write each of my kids a little note, and feature them in a few photos. 

This year we have a lot of new photographer faces, many who shoot ONLY film, some hybrid (meaning they shoot both film and digital) and some digital. Its really cool to see all the different styles of photography and even more, to read their special letters! 

Once you finish up with my post, click over to Connecticut and  Elizabeth's blog to read her letter and view her beautiful children's photography.  


Now for my letter ....

To my "big" O, 

you are seven. I cannot believe it actually. I look at you (I mean, stare at you) sometimes and just cannot comprehend that you are the tiny peanut that I gave birth to so few years ago.  You spend hours a night reading in your bed, you love fact books about dinosaurs or animals (dangerous ones!), sharks, space and anything army related, just like your dad.  Lego is a go-to activity as well as colouring with your sister and a ton of creative play.

I am not sure when you turned into this little man. Not so much a child anymore, but a young boy.  BUT you are still my little guy, my snuggle-bum, my sweet as pie, tender hearted gentle soul. You take things to heart and often get upset by little things, which I love about you. I know that no matter what you do in life, you will do it with good intentions and kindness. 

XOXO

Love Mommy

Cherish Workshop Toronto at Graydon Hall Manor | Toronto Wedding Photographer

I had the privilege of attending an amazing wedding workshop back in May, hosted by Laura Olsen Events.  The two days were full of amazing inspiration from so many vendors, fun little workshops on styling (which is something I know little about!), and a gazillion opportunities for photographing beautiful people and things!  The best part was meeting so many wonderful people, especially Laura, she is full of sunshine and creativity and I am so happy she put this course together for us stylists and photographers!  I also got to listen to the AMAZING and colourful Tiffany Pratt.  My mind left her talk full and ready to change my whole mindset on my business and photography style.  She also inspired me to go home and add a whole crapload of colour to my house and life! Let`s brighten the day, and give no care to what people think. (i had already painted my dining room turquoise a month previous, so I think I may have already been on the right track as to where I wanted to go with my style).  Another gem in the mix - the talented and knowledgeable brain behind The Wedding Sparrow, Sara. She is super sweet and helpful and very encouraging.  One day I will get featured on her site...its a goal!  There are really way too many awesome people I met to list them all, but I will list them all at the bottom of the post!

Overall, the biggest thing I learned is how valuable a wedding planner/stylist is and I will be suggesting to all my new couples they look into hiring one!

I am sharing my film images from the workshop as part of my Film Blog Circle for this month! I was shooting with my Pentax 645n MF film camera, on Portra 400, Portra 800 and also Fuji 400h. It was a good day to shoot all three stocks and compare which I like best. Conclusion - I still do not know! I love how all of them turned out! (Thanks Caribou Lab!)

NOW! MOre filmy eye -candy...pop over to see Erica's blog of summer images! Beeee-utiful!

Styling and Planning: Laura Olsen Events

Florals: Blush and Bloom
Veil: Posh Veils 

Dresses: Catharine Langois

Suits GoTSYLE

Jewelry Hattitude Jewellery
Film Scan Lab: Caribou Labs
Venue: Graydon Hall Manor