renee oakenfull photography

Julie Metcalf ROCKS!!!

I've always known that she's a superstar but now you get to know it too...

betterphoto.com runs a monthly contest. The talent there is freakin' amazing! It's damn cool to be able to call yourself a finalist but better then that is to be able to say that you placed second.

And that's just what my girl did!

Oooooooh yeah baby!!!

Check the photo out {here}.
Check Julie's blog out {here}.
Tell her I sent you - ha!

I'm swearing off posting photos for the next week or so. I finally got around to calibrating my monitor and everything seems crazy. I don't know if it's the old calibration, the new calibration, my eyes, my printer... ugh. So, while I'm running test prints through the lab, I'll be holding off on editing...
I know... you're all so sad and crying now. I promise to not leave you rocking in the corner for too long :)

For my clients - don't forget.... book your session in before 31 August and receive 25% off print and collection prices. You need to hold your session before the end of September 2007 to qualify.

And now... for your regular viewing... in honour of Julie
(I wish I hadn't have already played Cover Girl... it would be perfect here)
Baby I Believe In You - New Kids on the Block

After you watch this clip, you'll need to know that yes... I am now hiding behind my computer chair in shame. Omgosh... what the HECK was he thinking? He's channelling Michael Jackson and Elvis for sure. Lord knows how many others... and the wind machine? turn. it. down. Do you think he's going to need a hip replacement in later life???

Julie - it was a choice between this one and "You're My Favourite Girl". I almost couldn't decide but I really, really believe in YOU!

makin' a splash and hangin' tough

Thought I'd share a little teaser with you. This is one of the storyboards included in the package being launched on 1 September. Old photos but I thought I'd pull them out for this one.

You know you're all going to be sad when the New Kids on the Block revival is over, don't you?

And yes, I know you're all laughing... but I also know there are secret NKOTB lovers... thanks for the emails ;)

Lunar Eclipse

Tuesdays are always crazy here. Everything has to be timed perfectly... Jess comes over on Tuesdays, stays for tea and goes home at 7pm. So... the kids come running inside at about 6:30 to tell me there's going to be a lunar eclipse.

Hmm... "surely not", think I. If there was, I would have heard about it, right? Well... no.

Google is my friend and Google tells me there'll be an eclipse.

I grab camera, change lenses and run outside to play. Damn... trees are blocking the view, need to walk down the street. I had to wait while Danny took Jess home because the younger kids were just going to bed. Argh... I was freaking out that I would miss it.

I didn't... they last longer then 5 minutes you know.

Here it is as the shadow starts to creep over it...

and with the help of my not-such-a-friend tripod I was able to capture this gorgeous red glow.

It really was stunning to watch.

and now for your daily dose of New Kids on the Block:

For Tam...

My friend is going through a tough time at the moment. There's not much I can do for her when I live so far away. Hopefully this song will let her know that I'm thinking of her...

(and I promise to post more photos tomorrow)

Step by Step

I have some exciting news. Something that's going to change the whole look of Renee Oakenfull Photography. Just getting all the details sorted out and then I can't wait to share it with you all.

Here's what my little superhero was doing today... I'm always in awe of children's imaginations.

In case you can't tell... that's his sister's Barbie car he's decided to drive around in...

Now... for the New Kids on the Block fix...
Was it the haircuts that made us love them?

I don't know if I'll ever live this down

but I just have to say... I love New Kids on the Block.

There... I said it.

I'm going to go one step further and declare this week:

New Kids on the Block revival!

Every day, for the next 7 days I'm going to post a youTube. (You know you love it). If I miss a day... I owe you! If you email me anytime up until midnight the next day, you will get a free 10x8 print at your next session. For my photog buddies, you can go shopping on my {extras} site.

And here's the first song... gotta say, this was definitely a favourite!

Lotsa stuff

Hmm... well you're all too clever!

I knew it wouldn't be hard to guess who Jadzia was... doesn't she make the perfect Hermione?

I thought Bailey would be harder and was surprised Piper wasn't easy. You just never know, do you.

Emily was the first to post and the first to guess them all correctly. Belle {Beauty and the Beast}, Hermione and Hagrid {Harry Potter}. Check the link to her blog... she's got some gorgeous bubs over there. Soon she'll be showing off some rockin' storyboards! Emily... you'll be getting the new storyboard collection in your inbox 31 August!

Time for my big ego boosting news... I'm famous! Well, for a day or 2 anyway... check out the Pay It Forward blog for photographers. Just scroll down a little...

I've been tagged by Jennifer. I have to list 8 interesting things about me (ha!) and tag 8 more photographers to do the same (yippee!)

I prefer the left side of my body.

I sing... I love to sing... I'm a TERRIBLE HORRIBLE singer!

I was born 30 years too late... I would have rocked the 60s and 70s.

I'm a walking contradiction... seriously.

I find it hard to find anything about myself interesting?? That counts as one, doesn't it?

My husband says I should have been Canadian...
because I'm half American and half French (okay, no hate mail for that one please).

I hate mother's day and father's day. Shh... it's terrible I know.
I don't tell my children. They think I love those days of course.

Ha! Here's a good one... I wanted to marry Axl Rose when I was 15yo. His girlfriend's name was Renee Seymour and I used to say that he was only dating her so he could say my name :o

Now... I'm tagging Julie, Stephanie, Meagan, Lyndsay, Kelly, Amanda, Kate and Laureen.
Be sure to check them out... they're great ladies and a constant source of inspiration to me, both personally and professionally.

{I'll be back later with links to their blogs and I'll pop in on each to let them know.}

Book Week at school...

The kids had their dress up day for book week at school today. They had to go dressed as their favourite character from a book. I was actually surprised by how many children there were dressed as characters from a movie. I think it's great they turned up in costume and fun is fun right? I just think it's a little sad that there are so many children who don't read for pleasure anymore. I'm so glad that all of my children have a love of books, of reading, of being transported into another time, another reality... for fun.

Guess who?

There's a prize for the first correct guess! First person who identifies each of the characters will win:

If you're a client
$25 print credit to put towards your next session.
If you're a photographer
My new storyboard collection to be launched on 1 September.
If you're a friend
my love.
If you're my sister
a phonecall ;)

And another one of Jadzia... I just loved this conversion on it:

This is Vintage Kiss Me Hard

For Ava.....

Happy Birthday

My thoughts and heart are with Sheye and her family today.

My Angel

You've got to click on this one to make it bigger... she's so funny!

If you're a photographer wanting to take your photography to the next level, I highly recommend taking Wendy Schulz's class. I'm 2/3 of the way through... and am loving it.

btw - new storyboards coming soon ;)