Thanks, I'm sorry. Now you know: Squamish Photographer Grinning Weasel

         It's been a roller-coaster of a year & I'm finally (fingers crossed) feeling kind of optimistic enough to share...or at the very least give you all a heads up.  

First let me start with some apologies. 

I've had to turn away quite a few clients this fall and I know it's been pretty disappointing for some.  Saying no doesn't come easily for me, but it has been very necessary.  I really appreciate the understanding I've received from both the clients I had to turn away, and the ones who had to wait too long to get their images.

This being my 3rd pregnancy in a year I have been very nervous from the beginning.  Having hit the 12 week mark we breathed a big sigh of relief thinking we were in the clear, 4 days later I started bleeding.  I have what's called a Subchorionic Hematoma.  ...I've never heard of it either.  Essentially there is a blood vessel that burst in my uterus which has now been bleeding for about 6 weeks.  Nothing can be done, it's just a wait and see type thing....waiting and seeing has never really been my forte.  If you're daring enough to Google it you'll find the overwhelming answer to be 50-50.... it'll either be totally fine, or you'll get a massive infection and miscarry....Good times. This poor child is going to be born with a full head of grey hair.

But so far so good.  Half way there!  

On to some shout-outs!

Thanks to my  husband for picking up the slack and saying, 'I told you so!' every time we go for an ultrasound and things look good.

Thanks to my mom & dad for coming to help take care of their little girl. I'm not good at asking for help and even worse at accepting it.

Thanks to my mother in law for being the most OCD retired nurse ever and cleaning every square inch of my cupboards, painting part of my house and holding back when your insides were freaking-out as my son was spilling his dinner all over the freshly cleaned floor. I promise it'll be filthy when you come back for Christmas and you can do it all again!

Thanks to the doctors and nurses and receptionists who greeted me with a smile even when I was there 3 days in a row asking to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Thanks to the lady in Pemberton who sold me the fetal doppler....I've only been mildly obsessed & checking it every 2-3 days.

Thanks to all the photographers who graciously accepted my referrals and squeezed in the people who I couldn't. 

Thanks to my co-workers and supervisor at the 'day job' for treating me like a big spoiled pregnant princess. Being offered pie and ice cream when you arrive at work should never go unappreciated. 

Thanks to all the friends who came to play with my son when I was feeling like a horrible parent not being able to run after him and keep up.  Also thanks for saying I looked great even though I was totally pale & iron deficient with giant bags under my eyes. 

Thanks again to everyone who was understanding when I turned them away, or made them wait longer than usual for the pictures they were dying to see.

As for the heads up: Assuming all goes well from here on out I will be taking time off starting in  April till the end of May? Mid June perhaps?  After that it'll be a slow return to full pace.  Family sessions will be limited as they require a lot more running around and jumping up and down than do newborns or maternity sessions.  I had way more inquires than I could possibly accommodate this year as it was, so I will be offering an 'early bird' special on family sessions towards the end of summer & fall to motivate clients to book early.  I will likely again have to cut-off any sessions who are hoping for images in time for Christmas by mid-November.

That's about it.... back to the babies and bellies on the blog.  Not mine, other people's...for now. 

Happiness Shot Out of Their Faces Like Lazer Beams: Squamish Family Photography

    Exuding the kind of bliss that would turn Scrooge into a caroling, ho ho ho-ing, ray of sunshine.  I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it and I've met a LOT of really wonderful, happy and loving families.  I've been mulling over this post for weeks and the title just kept running though my head....Happiness shot out of their faces like lazer beams, for real.  Big brother took a tiny bit of convincing, but a few seconds of booger talk & were fast friends! 

No Pressure: Squamish Maternity/Family Portraits

     This may come as a surprise to you.  Photography is not as glamorous and lucrative as most people are lead to believe.  Nowadays pretty much anyone and their iPhone is considered a photographer, and a whole session of digial files sells for the same or less than photographers would sell the negatives for in the 1980's. So despite being very busy and doing something I love I still have a 'real job'. A full time position that ensures I can put food on the table and pay the bills even when things get slow.

So no pressure at all when the lady that makes sure that cheque makes it to me every two weeks, and her husband who happens to be my boss' boss come all the way from New Westminster for some family/maternity photos.

Their daughter was actually one of the very first newborn sessions I ever did & she's as spunky as the first day I met her.    I am very much looking forward to meeting their new little one close to Christmas and maybe by then big sister will understand what I was talking about when I pointed out 'Mt' Crumpet and told her that's where the Grinch lives.

Half a World Away: North Vancouver Family Portraits

  Despite the miles and ocean between them it was as if his auntie's lived next door with the connection they shared.  A testament to technology today & social media.

  I have been lucky to have many clients travel from all over the lower mainland this year to see me.  Langley, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, and all parts of Vancouver.  These ladies take the prize for being the furthest I can add to my portfolio having come all the way from the UK...not really to see me of course, but to meet their new niece and visit with this little heart breaker of a nephew!

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