The session will take place in my home studio in January (the exact date hasn’t be chosen yet)

I have just finished a workshop and would love the oportunity to practice what I learnt.

In exchange for you helping me you will get at least three digital files to use on your facebook, blog, twitter, dating site- really wherever you choose.

There will also be some snacks and drinks.

The more I type the more this is sounding like a party.

For the record- men and woman can apply.

Please fill out the form below and I will let you know what the exact date will be soon.

This is where I need your help……..

I am looking for 5 words that either describe me – Cherie-Lynn Buchanan.

OK go………..

Shoot almost forgot- Please use the comment box and not the Facebook one. OK thanks again bye for now but don’t forget to come back every once in a while

The showcase was held at Greenfields in Barrhaven and the bands played in front of a packed house. It was a great atmosphere to hang out in. All the guys were having a great time and it was easy to tell that they were so proud of everything they had accomplished.

Over the course of the ten weeks I got to meet some pretty cool music guys. To name a few Dick and Brian Cooper from The Cooper Brothers (they just released a new cd that is great. the song Hard Luck Girl features Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo), Peter Fredette from The Kim Mitchel Band, Les Emmerson from The Five Man Electrical Band, and Graham Greer from The Graham Greer Band.

The one thing I will say is that if you have a child (over 18), parent, or spouse that plays an instrument or sings The League Of Rock would make a great Christmas present.

If you’d like to see more of what League Of Rock is all about……………

Ottawa League OF Rock

for the record this is a finalist in the BetterPhoto.com photo contest.

Here is a great post written by Take Off Your Mommy Googles about Glass Babies and it is very much worth the read.

Accidents do happen.

Most experiences photographers know that there are certain ways to photograph these babies. Did you know that a lot of the baby picturess you see are photographed in parts so the baby isn’t in any danger…..

For example this photo was phone in 3 separate pictures and then pasted together in photoshop.

Ok here’s another one

The hands never come off the baby.

Again this kind of picture is taken in a number of shots. Revealing how these poses are done is kinda like a magician spilling the beans on the magic trick. More and more it needs to be explained because frankly people search the internet, see these poses and think “oh I can do that”. The need to stop because nine times out of ten they are trying to get a newborn baby to hold their head up- people it’s a newborn they don’t do that.

If you’d like to see some other safe ways to photography babies, that you probably didn’t realize that photographers did, head over to my Pinterest Safe Newborn Posing board.

*** As you can see by the watermarks on these images I did not take these images and take no credit for anything to do with them (there’s a reason I don’t do newborn photography).***

I made these up tonight thinking that I would print them in a 5X7 print and than mat and frame them in an 8X10 frame. Most people don’t change their art work up with the seasons so for me this is my new challenge. With every season comes new wall art. Now you could do this with lines from favourite Christmas movies as well. But like I mentioned about I love the music!

If you’d like a chance to win these six 5X7 digital files Here’s what you need to do- Follow CL Buchanan Photography on facebook, Tweet the following on Twitter  - “The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud For All To Hear #CLGiveaway @CLBuchananan http://wp.me/p20ZWx-jJ ” finally leave me a comment below telling me what your favourite Christmas carol is. 

I will be selecting the winner through Random.org on Sunday December 11th

each tweet (once a day) counts as one entry, one facebook like counts as one entry (if you already like my facebook page just let me know), one comment counts as two entries, and if you subscribe to my blog you get 5 bonus entries

And who knows I may even add the Elf quote just for fun to the prize pack.

Good Luck.

]]> http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/12/05/whats-your-favourite-christmas-carol/feed/ 0 http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/11/28/home-for-thanksgiving/ http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/11/28/home-for-thanksgiving/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:08:09 +0000 CL http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/?p=1214
I’ve know Angela for some time now. Our husbands were moved from Belleville to Montreal together and the rest was history.

Recently they moved to the US for Steve’s job and seeing that it was Thanksgiving they decided to head home to Canada for a visit. I’m just thankful that I was included in that visit. in addition to photographing Angela, Steve and their three boys (who I couldn’t get over how much had grown and changed).  I was also capturing some pictures of Angela’s Mom And Dad and Steve’s Brother, Wife and Son. Let’s just say there was defiantly fun all around. So much fun in fact that I stayed for a while and was able to catch up with everybody.

I hope you all had a safe trip home and I look forward to seeing you the next time you’re up north.

And as always ……. Remember …… Don’t Let Your Kids Grow Up To BE JPegs

]]> http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/11/28/home-for-thanksgiving/feed/ 1 http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/11/18/so-much-fun/ http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/2011/11/18/so-much-fun/#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:11:56 +0000 CL http://www.clbuchanan.com/blog/?p=1178 So last weekend I got to photograph one of my most favourite families. Don’t get me wrong I love working with all the families that I photograph but this family has truly become my friends and I’m not just talking about Kelli & Lino. These four kids are awesome in every sense of the word. They are just pure fun to be around. They are also pretty easy to photograph as they are all gorgeous.

When I arrived they were all just finishing getting their sweaters that their Nona had bought for them on. We all know that Nona sweaters are the best sweaters. Anyway while the girls finished the boys and I headed out side. They were very excited to show me the big rock out back and I was excited to see it- we had all ready talked about it a lot and it sounded HUGE! Well I was pretty surprised when I seen it because it was huge. We took some pictures on the rock as well as on the edge of the field the rock was sitting in. I got to see some great ninja posing, some dance moves that were out of this world, and a beautiful girl grow up in front of my camera lens. Kelli and Lino I’ll be honest I’m really not enveying you much. Between your daughter and sons you are going to be busy shooing boys and girls away.

Thank you so much for having me capture these amazing family moments I truly do love photographing your family.

We all know that everything is better with pictures……

Ohhh the dance moves!

Candace (if you haven’t checked out Life In Pleasantville yet you really should)  and I have been friends for a while and although I photographed her a few times now I’ve never had the pleasure of photographing her family. Well that all changed in October. Let me just say we had so much fun. Her kids made me laugh so hard. Seeing A with M & A was amazing. A is older and the patience he showed with his sisters was really incredible. Bill (Candace’s husband) is just one of those guys that the pride in his family is written all over his face. In my books mens like that are pretty awesome. The more time I spend around this family the more I fall in love with them and the cake they served me afterwards does not make me biased at all!

Candace and Bill thank you so much for having me into your home to photograph your family I had a great time.

And because everything is better with pictures……..

and remember… Don’t Let Your Kids Grow Up To Be Jpegs!

Photographing BlissDom last year and again this year has been a blast. The one thing that is different from those attending is that I see most of the conference through the lens of my camera and  I don’t sit and take in full sessions. Therefore, I’m only picking up bits and pieces. When photographing the sessions I see faces deep in thought, smiling, laughing, and sometimes even crying. The thing that I see most that I truly love is the fact that everywhere you turn there are people supporting people and that is what I love. I love that the message is to be yourself and nobody else. As hard as things seem sometimes never wish it it away.

I know I said I had no words to add but I do have pictures- lots and lots of pictures, some that I couldn’t even post- you know who you are To see the photos please head over to my Flickr as well as the BlissDom Canada Flickr Group

I also have a little video you might like to take a look at.

I also want to give a huge thank you to Anna from Anna Epp Photography for working alongside me again this year. As well thank you to Casey Mullins  as it was great to work with you once again this year.

So on the 5th of October Jacob turned 16. I know I know I look pretty awesome for having a 16 year old- I had him when I was 12! All kidding aside I really have no idea where the time has gone. It doesn’t seem like that long ago we were bringing him home from the hospital. The last 16 years have been a roller coaster for us. Lots of ups down,and unforeseen turns. However, as anybody that rides roller coasters knows it’s the giggles and laughter that is remembered and told to all those that will listen afterwards. For anybody that knows Jacob you can attest to the fact that we laugh a lot, the kid is funny. We are looking so forward to what that future holds for him because we know that what ever it is those around him will be smiling. Not just the little polite smile but that one that makes for face hurt. As we  all know if Jacob’s doing something there’s no holding back. Go big or go home seems to be his motto and we are so ok with that.