Squamish's Best

  A huge thank-you to all who voted for me in the Reader's Choice awards for Squamish.  Not gonna lie, it's pretty cool, although I have to admit I did email an editor and ask that next year they have a few more categories.  There are a lot of phenomenal photographers in Squamish & it would be wonderful to see categories for families, newborns, weddings, commercial, sports, landscape....etc, etc.  "Best Photographer" is a little broad, but hey for now I'll take it.

  So here's my little contest to say thanks for all of you who not only voted, but have actually come to see me and sent your friends & gone on to say all sorts of nice things about my work & have helped me build this little dream into a reality.

  TO BE ELIGIBLE YOU MUST HAVE HAD A SESSION WITH  GRINNING WEASEL IN THE PAST 3 YEARS.

  To enter:  Send your friends and family to my facebook page & have them enter your name under the status that is highlighted and pinned to the top of my page.  Having them comment on your page will not work as I cannot see these due to privacy settings, so therefore I cannot count them! 

   Each person may only make ONE nomination! If you make more than one they will all be discounted.

   1st PLACE PRIZE:   A $500 gift certificate for Grinning Weasel Photography.  Must be used for a session & to order prints or digital files from that session.  NO CASH VALUE.  NO REFUNDS ON ANY UNUSED PORTION.  NON-TRANSFERABLE. Certificate will be valid until December 31 2014.  Once the session is booked you must give minimum 7 days notice to re-schedule.  Maximum ONE re-scheduling date.  Does not include travel fees outside of the Squamish area.

   2nd PLACE PRIZE:  50 custom made, professionally printed Christmas Cards.  Value of over $120!  Can be used for other greeting cards, birth announcements.  Cannot be used towards other print options or digital files. NO CASH VALUE.  NON-TRANSFERABLE.  MUST be Grinning Weasel Photography images. Certificate will be valid until December 31 2014.
 
    THIS CONTEST IS IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHIEF NEWSPAPER OR FACEBOOK.  IT IS SOLELY THAT OF GRINNING WEASEL PHOTOGRAPHY.
   
Contest ends November 15th 2013 5pm-Winner announced November 19th

  Thanks!  And good luck!!!

  -Cheryl Voigt

The Outdoor Recreation (Procreation) Capital of Canada: Squamish Maternity Photography

           The conversation flowed easily with our mutual love of the outdoors, hours felt like minutes out there in the crisp autumn air.  There was no doubt in our consult that we needed a location that summed up Squamish and it's natural beauty.  We chatted about everything that makes this 'The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada' with none of the ego that seems to overpower so much of these activities. These two are about as sweet and down to earth as you'll ever meet & I can guarantee their lucky little bean has an amazing adventurous life ahead of them.

   Grinning Weasel is Cheryl Voigt, a Squamish based photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and family portraits. 

All That and Make it a Double: Squamish family Photography

              He ran around the corner and she didn't even flinch.  There were masses of people, hot drinks, heavy equipment and an abundance of children.  She calmly waited as he re-appeared.  How did she do it?  All three of them not only fully dressed, but wearing matching shoes.  I was in awe the first time we met and she was able to not only keep the eyes in the back of her head on both boys at once, but actually maintain a conversation while doing it. 

       Prior to having a child I used to think how grand it would be to have twins. To only have to be pregnant once.  Go through labor once.  Now if I could go back in time I would say to myself, "HA!"  I'd have never have kept it together like she does. 


Grinning Weasel is Cheryl Voigt, a Squamish based photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and family portraits.

Credit:  Red Carpet Ready by Christina for hair and make-up 

Giving Thanks

     

             Thanksgiving.  One of a handful of special dates each year that we have a reason to put aside all the other distractions in life & get together to have a meal with family and appreciate all that we have.  It's nice to think about all the families who have chosen me to capture a glimpse of their lives and their love for each other.  From pregnancy to birth and onwards, continuing to watch these families grow.  

                       Thanks for inviting me into your home.  For letting me smile along with you and for supporting me as I grow as an artist.   

And while it's no reflection on this particular family, they are both lovely AND gorgeous & just happened to be next up on my blog. What I'm really thankful for is frustration.  For things not going as planned.  For failure.  For those who have doubted and chosen to not be supportive.  For my own two miscarriages this year. For illness and death.  For not having a 'typical' child. For being raised by two deaf parents.  For being short.  For all the things that have made me quirky and strange and have given me a perspective on life which will never allow me to take for granted even the smallest of things. 

         

Beth +1: Squamish Photographer Grinning Weasel

        I loved this session for a multitude of reasons.  First off Beth is the kind of gal who grabs life by the horns and makes it what she wants.  She has decided to brave the world of parenthood all on her own & for this I have great admiration.  I was truly honored and flattered that she chose me to capture this precious time in her life particularly as she's not a Squamish local, but was willing to make the trek just to see me.  I was also thrilled that she was not the standard size 2 gal, I can't count the number of times I've heard, "I'm not skinny enough to do a maternity session."  I think we can all agree from these photos that the beauty of pregnancy doesn't only come in small sizes.  Although I think even Beth would agree that she found a new respect for models after a couple hours of being forced into slightly awkward feeling poses ;) She also brought a friend (aka my new found assistant) who did an incredible job of keeping the mood light and fun with her traveling music box & always entertaining antics.  And finally, she requested to have photos taken with her beloved van, which for me was the highlight of the whole session.

Grinning Weasel is Cheryl Voigt, a Squamish based photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and family portraits. 

Three is the Magic Number

   You know how it is.... you're driving home one day and a random person you haven't thought of in a while pops into your head then within a day you run into that person.   Happens, right? 

    Well not too long ago I was driving home & this family popped into my head.  I had done family photos for them in the fall for the past two years & I got to hoping that I'd hear from them again this year.  Of course only to find out there was already a message in my inbox.  Yay!  I love those guys! 

     The session was booked well in advance and again a couple weeks before the session Emily popped into my head, only this time she was pregnant.  Well, sure enough in our next correspondence I came to find out she's 20 weeks along!  I was thrilled to find out that for our third year together they were expecting baby number 3! 

    It was wonderful this year to arrive at the session and have their girls remember me from previous years and immediately start hamming it up!  These two encompass everything that sisters should be, their bond is obvious not to mention adorable!  Getting to watch these families grow is really the best part of this job! 

Grinning Weasel is Cheryl Voigt.  A Squamish based photographer specializing in maternity, newborn & family portraits.  

Belly Laughs| Squamish Maternity Photography

     It was such an honor to have this happy expecting couple contact me for their maternity session.  They love spending time in Squamish kite surfing, and come nearly every weekend all the way from Langley.

      I don't know that I've ever had a couple laugh more in one session....or get more bug bites.  Nothing like pausing to smack each other in the head every so often to keep the laughs flowing!  Can't wait to meet your little one!  Hopefully he'll give me as many smiles as you two did! 

Grinning Weasel is Cheryl Voigt, a Squamish based photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and family portraits.