Jessica Blaine Smith Photography | Blog

Man alive, I love this family. Gillian is one of my most dearest friends. We have been close since the high school days of playing first alto saxophone together. You probably recognise her daughter Clara who just turned three years old. I have been documenting her since she was two weeks old. Her brother Oliver was born in July and I have to admit, we have been slacking in the photo department with him – having only photographed him when he was just born. I have been feeling very guilty about this so when I was recently given an editorial assignment in Peterborough, near where this family lives, I told them I would stop by afterwards with camera in hand. This family is all about nature. They spend more time outdoors than inside so it was only right to photograph them out in a field of grass. And yes, Oliver is chewing on a stick in the image below. The little man is teething and that’s just how he rolls.

CONTEST:
1) Help this family get an 8×10 print of their favourite photo from the session. It’s easy – they just need to receive fifteen individual comments on this blog post.

2) But wait… you comment on your friend’s blog post and what do you get from it?! For every month in 2013, I am going to do a draw for one free studio portrait session! Everyone who comments on my blog in that month will be put into the draw. On the last day of the month, I will randomly pull one name and that person will receive an in-studio portrait session!*

I have a folder saved on my harddrive called “Kids will be kids”. In it I save images that I have taken that would be considered more outtakes then perfect images. I also like to think of them as photos that show real life as opposed to the always smiley photos of kids that we are used to. The above image is now in that folder: Oliver munching on a leaf while Clara tries to poke him with a stick. Hello nature!
*Session must take place at my studio in Toronto and must be redeemed by the last day of the following month of draw. You will receive a portrait session plus $100 print credit to be used toward photographic prints. You may win only one session within the year.