Hello!  I hope everyone is having a great ‘back to school’ week!  Our house seems to be on track to be back into routine although who ever REALLY wants summer to end? Just prior to our Ireland trip, I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favourite families ever.  This special family has been like family to us over the last 20+ years.  We met at university, were a part of each other’s weddings and now, our kids our friends as well.  When they asked me to photograph their lives right now, I jumped at the chance.  We used a very special location and had a blast.  The girls are SO easy to photograph!  May I present, the Neufeld family.    Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful session!

Hello!!! Or should I say “Top of the morning to you!”  I have just come back from an amazing trip to Ireland with my family and I’m surprised that my family got me back on the plane to come home!  We had a WONDERFUL holiday thanks in huge part due to some family that live there.  It was like having an insta-family!  They fed us, lined up tourist items to see and do and treated us like royalty.  I told them that a girl could get used to this!   To top it off, I was able to capture my boys at a wonderful location called “The Dark Hedges”.  If you are headed to Ireland, I highly recommend you check them out.  They are 300 year old beech trees that were originally planted along a laneway to an estate, however through the years, the laneway became a road that is pretty much in the middle of the country.  The estate can still be seen at the end, but it has a much shorter driveway now.  Anyways, these are my boys walking down the road. We all agreed that it felt a bit like being in Narnia, walking there.  I have so much to share with you!  Be on the lookout for some exciting news for Fleuri in the coming week! Until then, take care!

Hello all! If you’re looking for more beautiful real women, I am pleased to direct you to my new Fleuri site!!!  You can now find all sorts of beauty at the Fleuri site along with

lots of information about what a session looks like, what the experience is all about and information about me as well!

And don’t be shy, please leave a message and make my day!

Please check out:

http://www.fleuriphotography.com

Happy Monday everyone!   I hope everyone had a great weekend! It’s been super busy here – so much to tell!  If you noticed the image of my boys and their friends below (a couple of posts down), it was entered into a contest last week and I won!   Out of over 450 entries, my image won the “All Boy” contest over at www.iheartfaces.com  I am very honoured and still excited that I won!

Next up, I’d like you to meet Kathleen.  This gorgeous girl came a little while ago for her very own Fleuri session   I met her at a recent VIP event that Dr. Takhar’s Cosmetic Clinic was having (http://www.drtakhar.com) and Kathleen is the company’s director.    This was my first time touring the clinic and while I haven’t as of yet had any experience as a client there, I can say that I was thoroughly impressed with the open house and tour of the facility.  Kathleen was definitely nervous coming for her session, but as you can see she is simply stunning!  We had SUCH fun at her session.  I could have photographed her all day!  The neat thing too is that she is hoping to move to Ayr in the near future.  Such a small world!  Thank you again Kathleen for coming in.  It was an honour photographing you!

I’ve had many women who are in the empty nest stage of life ask me if Fleuri photography is right for them.  Most are quite hesitant to take the leap and give it a try.   For those that do take the leap, they have all told me what a wonderful experience the Fleuri session was for them.  They all have been thrilled with the results and on a side note, LOVE their false eyelashes!!   This gorgeous lady is no exception.  She e-mailed me later to thank my team for making her feel beautiful.   She already was beautiful and her images prove it!   Thank you Vicki for coming to our Fleuri Affair.  It was our pleasure!!

Pulling out an old favourite that is displayed in my mudroom. I think you can see why! Putting it here for a contest. Will let you know if I win!

Today’s blog post is FULL of  images, thanks to three beautiful women who came for a Fleuri session together not long ago.  This dynamic trio are a Mum and her daughters whom gave this to Mum for Mother’s Day.  How sweet is that!  I’ve known Sandra (the Mum)  for a few years now and was so excited to be able to work with them!  We had a fantastic day together that I know will be a great memory for them, especially looking back on these photos.  I’ve been asked if they are all models!  They aren’t but they easily could be!  Thanks again for a wonderful time girls!

I’ve been asked by a few people what first  interested me  in women’s glamour photography (still don’t really like the word glamour, but it gets the point across!).  It’s an easy question to answer really.  You see, I’m one of those women that Sue Bryce spoke of at the workshop I attended in Seattle recently.  A woman who has looked in the mirror and hasn’t always felt great about herself.  I truly believe it’s not about self esteem entirely either.  I know I’m a good Mom (or hope so!), I am good with children,  loved teaching kindergarten, and photograph families well.  I’m a loyal friend and someone I believe has definite worth and value as a child of God.  But have I liked what I SEE on the OUTSIDE?  Not always.  I have struggled with my weight since I was 16ish.   When I was encouraged to start dieting by family members at  18 years old (and 135 pounds), my roller coaster ride began.  Through the years I’ve been up and down with the scale, self loathed several body parts and tried many, many times to be a size 6.  One perk was that through it all I’ve learned the value of daily exercise (don’t always like it, but have learned it’s value!).  Despite not being a size 6, I am now much fitter than I have been in a long time.   I’ve even attempted a triathlon!!!  But had all of this changed my opinion of myself?  Nope, I still saw myself as less attractive because of my weight.    I listened when someone in my life told me I wasn’t the ideal weight (even when I was not), both from well meaning family AND the media of our culture.  Fast forward to this past February, I was given the opportunity as many of you know, to attend a workshop by the amazing women’s glamour photographer, Sue Bryce.  With this came the opportunity to also be phtoographed by her.    Seeing her images of me, I was finally able to see past the inner criticisms, quiet the negative voice in my head and actually see real beauty.  No kidding, I really, honestly did.  THAT’S why I want to do this for other women.  It HAD to be photographs for me to see past the inner critic in me.  I can see myself in the mirror, but not through another set of eyes.  Having these images reach a deeper part of me, I now know that I am beautiful even when I don’t always feel like it.  I honestly hold my head higher than I did before ALL BECAUSE OF A PHOTO.  I want every woman to have this experience.   Sue said she wanted to photograph every woman who has ever looked at herself in the mirror and not felt good enough about herself at one time or another.  SO. DO. I.  It might not be your weight, it might be a birth mark, or your arms, or your nose, or whatever you define as less than the perfect you want it to be.

I want to help YOU see YOUR  beauty, and change YOUR life.  I’m not kidding when I say you won’t ever look at yourself the same way again…

Happy Saturday all!

If I had to describe my dear friend Jody’s personality, it would be to say she sparkles!  Having completed a Fleuri session for her, I can also say she also sparkles in photos.  Jody came recently for a Fleuri session to celebrate a large weight loss.  I am beyond proud of her.  She has become my running partner and keeps me going when I don’t think I can.  I call her the energizer bunny!  Once again, my clients say it best when they e-mail me so I’ll let Jody tell you in her own words what this session did for her (excerpt from her e-mail to me after the session):

“Hi Sandra,
Wowsers!!   I still can’t believe that’s me – i look so sophisticated
Thank you, thank you, thank you for such an empowering experience,  and the opportunity to feel how models feel,  it’s not as easy as it looks!
You are such a blessing in my life!
Jody”

Have a great week all, and please give some serious thought to capturing your beauty too!

Happy Monday all!  I hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend!! I did eventually (was sick for a bit), and it was just gorgeous outside!  I had the opportunity recently to photograph Rhonda and as you can see, the camera just loves her.  Rhonda is a highly respected photographer out of Woodstock, Ontario and recently she came both to be photographed but also as my assistant at my latest “Fleuri Affair” day.  Rhonda is one of those people who had the best smile and is so easy to photograph.  She also knows how to put people at ease which was evident as my assistant.  I have to tell you a funny little story as well:  At the end of the session, this  image below was taken and I wanted to tell Rhonda that she reminded me of a famous actress who played the character “Pamela Ewing” (Victoria Principal) but what I said instead was that she reminded me of  “Pamela Anderson”!!!!!   Thankfully, I realized who I had said and  was able to redirect to who I really meant!  I’m sure Rhonda had a good laugh over it!  Rhonda you have a classic beauty that Pamela Anderson couldn’t hold a candle to!  Thanks again Rhonda for the opportunity to photograph you!  It was an absolute pleasure!