renee oakenfull photography

a little black & white love...

Still processing older photos... still stuck in September.

These are my nieces and nephews... their mother is my little sister and I love her muchly (and I should get BIG brownie points for getting these up for her!)

I hate having the big stinking watermark in the centre but I need to be able to batch process the photos quicker and this is doing it for me...

This is a tragic snapshot but it reminds me soooo much of photos in old albums.

So, that's the crew - aren't they cute?

Here's a few random shots that I've been processing...

Yes, she was hanging upside down... I didn't go rotate'crazy.

How's this for moody lighting, Julie?

I LOVE those little chubba-bubba fingers!!!

This one is a little different... is it good different or weird-freakin'-me-out-must-look-away different?

TWO MORE SLEEPS until Santa comes!!! Yippee!!!!

Things are crazy!!!

I am actually more ready for Christmas then I usually am by this time of the year. Yay me! Every single present that needs to be wrapped is wrapped (I just need to pick up one more for Bailey). This is HUGE for me... I'm usually up late late late on Christmas Eve wrapping while Danny is hmm... well, you parents will know but I can't say because my kids read the blog ;)

So all but one present is bought and the bulk of the food is bought. I just love Christmas... it's my favourite time of the year. I'm so thankful that I can still experience the magic through my children's eyes. I love when they see Santa downtown... the way they run to him and hug him tight... the excited chatter as they detail their wish lists for year... the wonder as they run back to tell me every single thing he said and every move he made. I love watching their faces lit up by the lights of the christmas tree (even if we did turn our lights on late this year).

I just love it. Usually I love the weather too... especially since moving back to the colder climate. It's so funny to see everyone's photos of snow at this time of year. I just looks so weird to me. Normally we'd be having some fantastic warm weather with sunshine and lollipops. This year though it. is. wet! We're in a pretty bad drought here though (level 4 water restrictions) and we're having enough rain to actually make somewhat of a difference for the farmers... so I can definitely be thankful for that. I do miss having the kids running around with a sprinkler in the back yard though.

I think I sat down for an hour today and then we were off, out of the house and BUSY! Now I just need to finish up the new website for vibe and the new website for urban pulse... FINALLY bought templates! I should be able to finish that up in between baking batches of christmas cookies with the kids tomorrow, shouldn't I? Ha! Yeah right...

Wishing you ALL a very merry christmas and a fantabulous new year!

{insert witty title here}

I'm trying to get caught up on personal editing. I'd love to be up to date by the end of the year... start fresh in 2008.

Here's one from September that I passed over on first glance...

For my sister...

I swear, I'm getting to them...

Love to shoot someone this cute that LOVES the camera!!!

Doesn't she have the most beautiful eyes?

and such an infectious giggle!

The black and white shot....

Love you sis, sorry it's taking so long :)

My baby graduates

I keep calling him by baby. I keep remembering the sweet way he used to smile, the soft touch of his skin, the smell he had when he'd get out of a bath... I remember the way he looked into my eyes when I sang 'hush little baby', the way he felt wrapped in my arms, the sound of his babytalk... I keep pretending that he isn't growing up.

A few days ago though, I was faced with reality. He graduated from preschool. My sweet, soft, gorgeous and very last baby... graduated from preschool. And he just looked so right. He was completely in his element... showing us his friends, singing along with his classmates and looking... well... looking all grown up.

Here his is getting his award...

and here his is walking away without it...

and being chased down to be given it...

Ha! This was taken for bribery...

When Santa made his grand entrance, he was the first out of his chair which snagged him a personal one on one hug...

I sooo wish he was facing me.

So... it's time for me to face facts. While in my heart he'll always be my baby... always and forever... he IS growing up.

And now, instead of remembering the sweet way he'd look at me or the sweet sound of his baby talk, I'm going to start living in the now. I'm going to enjoy the way he laughs when we play, the way he smells when he comes inside from play and the way he sings and plays in the bath. I'm going to laugh and sing and dance when we sing his favourite song together - now "hush little Pacey" with a much more rockin' tune. I'm going to savour these sweet, funny, strange conversations we have and I'm going to soak up the way that he throws himself into my arms and hugs my with his entire body... I want to remember these times... with as much tenderness as I remember his baby hood.

Have you *Elf'ed* yourself yet?

A friend of mine emailled me with her Elf'ing and I couldn't resist doing it myself... Check it out {here}. You should try it... too funny. It's easy to use and doesn't take that long at all.

Finished the last set of photos from the mini shoot with Jadzia. This girl has the most beautiful eyes... just stunning. I'm so jealous of her lashes!

Surfing time...

veNo photos to post today so I thought I'd share some links with you. Some of these are funny... some gorgeous and some are plain crazy!

40 prettiest pictures
Some... interesting? photographs
Perfectly timed images

Have fun!!!

Mummy goggles

It's a term used by photographer's when we take photos of our children that we know aren't award winning but we just love them so much anyway...

These photos have not been deleted under the mummy goggles category. I don't get a lot of super great photos of Jadzia. She's fantastic about letting me try out new ideas and all that, but when it comes time for a shoot her face usually gets quite tense.

These... I love...

My girl, great light and some 'pesky' grass

Isn't it funny how we all hate having long grass. Every weekend we mow the lawn... and yet, long grass makes a photographer's perfect location.

I had to keep this photo - I just love her hair... so long and perfect:

Photographer tip: How NOT to Frame
Do NOT compose your photo with grass sticking up your stubject's nose... it isn't flattering at all:

Aaaah... how TO frame your subject... much better :)

My favourite from this location:

The Noogie

Everyone at some point has received a noogie and almost everyone has given one out.

I don't think though, that anyone has ever looked this cute while getting one....

Pacey loves to wrestle. He's just developed his own 'special move'. It's a double karate chop performed while jumping onto his opponent with a half spin. Apparently, it can't be defended either...

This kid... is happiness...