Anna Epp Photography

Click on Through

2010-09-30T13:02:00.000-04:00

I have some exciting news! My blog is moving! All of the content you see here now is still available, but with a new look and tied into my Portfolio site.

Please continue to stop by just a click away: Anna Epp Photography Blog.

Baby M - Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-09-26T21:28:00.000-04:00

There is nothing sweeter than a brand new baby. At just five days old, I had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful little girl and her gorgeous parents. Baby M was an absolute dream to work with, fell asleep for me very quickly and allowed me to move her without barely an eye opened.

So beautiful and such a great sleeper, I hope she keeps it up for Mom and Dad.

Love the light from this window. It gave us perfect light to shine on Baby M.

Mom and Dad were great and so easy going, it was wonderful to me them and spend time capturing their sweet little girl.

Thank you for welcoming me into your home and allowing me to capture your beautiful girl. I feel so honored to share in this special time with you. Hope you enjoyed your sneak peek, I can't wait to share the rest of the photos with you.

'Tis the Season for a Fall Special - Ottawa Portrait Photographer

2010-09-21T20:18:00.000-04:00

As the cooler breezes blow and leaves start to change colour it is a sure sign that Fall is arriving tomorrow. And as sure as Fall arrives, Winter and the holidays are just around the corner.

Those of us that send out holiday cards, know that sometimes it is hard to pick that perfect photo of the family. Let me help you with that. As an added bonus if you book a Fall Portrait Session before October 31st (if you have already booked your session you are automatically included in this Fall Special) you will receive 25 Holiday Cards for no additional cost. And have the option to purchase additional sets of 25 for $25.00 each.

Here are the five options available to choose from. These cards are 5x5 inches and are professionally printed on card stock and come with white envelopes.

Tweethaven - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-09-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

Thursday night saw a crowd gather at Boston Pizza Barrhaven for the first Tweethaven event. Organized by Chris @NachosatMidnight Marissa @PRMarissa and Gloria @TrueBlissCoach. And it didn't disappoint.

I couldn't even begin to list all the people that attended, some of which I had met before others whom I had only met on Twitter. And of course some I met for the first time.

It was such a wonderful turn out and the prizes that were donated were fabulous, 67's tickets, stylus' for smartphones, gift certificates and more. Oh yes, and a Blackberry thanks to Marc from Wireless Merchant @WrlessMerchant!

A fabulous night all around, I think it is safe to say that everyone had a great time. A huge thank you to Boston Pizza Barrhaven @BPBarrhaven for allowing us to take over your bar area and supplying us with munchies (love the new chips!) and great service.

Looking forward to the next event already!

To view more photos from the event please visit my Flickr page.

Fuchsia Factory - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-09-16T10:16:00.001-04:00

On Tuesday night, I had the pleasure of attending the September Fuchsia Factory Event held at Station Dental. Fuchsia Factory is speed networking for Women started by Tina Yelle here in Ottawa and now branched out to Calgary and Toronto. Think speed dating, but you are sharing your business information.

Everyone is seated across from each other at a table and you have 60 seconds each to share as much info as possible about you and your business in that time. When the two minutes is up you move over a seat as do the opposite side, when you end up where you started you had the opportunity to share and meet everyone in the room.

It was a fabulous evening. Although I am great talking and sharing, when put on the spot my mind somehow shuts down and I have trouble thinking of what I need to say. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to work on my speaking on the spot while getting to know some fabulous women and their businesses. I loved that we could all share and find out how we can work together, the possibilities were endless.

The delicious cupcakes were from Little Cakes, we were all so polite we waited until the end to try them and they were so worth the wait.

Thank you Tina for inviting me to your event and thank you to all the wonderful ladies I met on Tuesday, I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you.

Family Day at Black Rapids - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-09-11T21:05:00.000-04:00

Today, September 11th is a day to hold your loved ones close and remember the events of nine years ago. It seemed fitting that today, I would have the opportunity to spend some time with a truly fabulous family.

Gorgeous both inside and out, we had a wonderful time at Black Rapids capturing moments together.

After a week of cooler temperatures and lots of rain, the gorgeous sunshine and warmth was welcome. We couldn't have picked a more perfect day or location for this family shoot.

Three boys, so sweet and loving. They were a charm to work with.

One of my favorites from the morning.

And the boys again, so lovely.

Mom and Dad were so great, it was easy to see why the kids were so easy to work with. They set a shining example.

Thank you for allowing me to capture your gorgeous family this morning, I had a fabulous time.

Jody and Luc are Married - Ottawa Wedding Photographer

2010-09-09T21:00:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful opportunity to shoot second for CL Buchanan Photography on Saturday. It wasn't the most perfect day weather wise, but everything else about it couldn't have been better. Despite the chilly wind everyone was happy not to get rained on and not to be sweating in the heat that was hovering over us for the week before.

Jody and Luc were married in Embrum and had their reception at Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm, two beautiful locations.

If you would like to see more photos from this special day please head over to CL Buchanan Photography and view the slide show she put together. It was a truly magical day. Congratulations and thank you to Jody and Luc for allowing us to share in your special day.

A Tale of Two Families - Perth Family Photographer

2010-08-28T21:38:00.000-04:00

I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet and photograph two absolutely beautiful families. I was first introduced to one of the family members when I did a photo shoot for a Hair Salon in Perth last November.

Then at Christmastime, I received an email from this gorgeous girl. She wanted to nominate her friends and neighbours for my Giving is Awesome Giveaway. She shared with me how her neighbours had to move out of their house due to a life threatening mold issue. The children were sick and their health was compromised.

Originally they had moved into a tent trailer hoping to get back into their house before the cold weather moved in, but delays getting rid of the mold and putting their house back together meant they had to find somewhere else to go. They stayed with their neighbours for a little while then moved into an apartment for the winter. With a full clean up and restore going on at their home, they now had to pay to rent an apartment while still paying a mortgage and the reno bills on a house they couldn't even go in.

As Winter carried on their renos continued the neighbours not only offered neighbourly support, but physical labour as well, helping to lay floors, tile bathrooms and all around clean up. It was very clear to me in the short time I got to spend with these families that they are not only neighbours but a family as well.

The teenagers were amazing with the smaller children, playing, having fun and just all around being there for them. I was deeply touched by how much these families cared for each other, it was truly an awarding evening for me.

As March rolled around and Spring was well on its way they got the go ahead to return to their Family home. The Summer has been good for them and they finally feel that they are home again. I couldn't resist taking photos of each family in front of their front doors. Not only do I love front doors, but in this case I know who lives behind them and they are truly amazing people.

The children are doing well, most of their health problems are cleared up, but a few linger and we can only pray that they will disappear all together. These little guys were great for me. They were so full of energy at the end of the day they posed, ran around, posed some more and ran some more. I had a wonderful time watching them interact with their teenage counterparts.

To both of these wonderful families I would like to Thank You. Thank you for sharing your touching stories of how two neighbours can be so wonderful to each other in a world where many would walk the other way.

And Thank You for allowing me to share in some of that family time. It was a very special evening for me and I feel blessed to have shared in your stories with you.

Vincent Massey Park - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-08-23T13:49:00.000-04:00

Saturday morning had a certain air of Fall. Cloudy, cool and threatening rain. Thankfully, the rain pretty much held off for our Family Photo Shoot at Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. It drizzled a little, but the coverage of the trees kept us dry.

Since the skies were threatening we worked quickly and got some fantastic results. Mom and Dad were fabulous at holding their smiles and letting their little guy lead the way. We had a lot of fun and some great opportunities to capture smiles.

Here is a sneak peek of our morning together.

I love this one, he was so fast and just loved to run. The expression on his face is priceless.

Thank you for letting me capture your gorgeous family.

The Beauty of Cupcakes - Ottawa Photographer

2010-08-13T15:52:00.000-04:00

Doors Open - Ottawa Photographer

2010-08-01T15:02:00.000-04:00

I have a thing about front doors right now. I am in search of the perfect front door. Perhaps because mine isn't very exciting I am looking for excitement in someone else's door.

This one is from Rehoboth Beach. I love it. I love the white wood of the house and the black door with the red brick. And most of all I love to wonder what the people are like behind the door.

Scott Kelby's WorldWide PhotoWalk - Ottawa Morning Edition

2010-07-28T22:01:00.001-04:00

Saturday was Scott Kelby's third WorldWide PhotoWalk. And it was hot. A dark morning that looked like it might promise rain turned into a sweltering muggy trek through the Market in Downtown Ottawa. Despite the heat I had a wonderful walk.

My girlfriend Sharon tagged along with me this year and several other photographers I know, professional an non-professional alike, were part of the group of 50.

I liked trying to find fun things to photograph that were out of the ordinary. I actually found a few side alleys that were cute and I would have never noticed had I not been stopping to look.

Here are a few of my favorites from the walk, more can be found on my Flickr page should you wish to take a look.

Ashley and Sam Engagement Shoot - Ottawa Wedding Photographer

2010-07-19T21:25:00.000-04:00

On Sunday we had a nice break from some of the heat of July and met up at the University of Ottawa for an engagement shoot with Ashley and Sam. Such a gorgeous couple. So easy going and fun to work with. The gardens on campus were lush and provided us with the perfect backdrop for our shoot. Thank you Ashley and Sam for such a wonderful afternoon.

Here is your sneak peek.

I just had to get a photo of Ashley's shoes. I love them. I look forward to seeing what wedding shoes she will pick.

What a gorgeous couple. Thank you again Ashley and Sam for such a great day, looking forward to the Wedding Day already.

Picture Perfect - Rehoboth Beach, DE Photographer

2010-07-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

A picture doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect.

Sometimes we can spend an hour trying to get the perfect picture only to realize later that the perfect picture was the one where the hair was flying and both children weren't looking at the camera.

This picture is perfect to me because the sand was cool, the sun was warm and both of our children were happy. If one photo can signify our time together perfectly it is this one.

Don't spend more time than you need to trying to get that perfect picture, chances are you already got it.

Riding the Carousel - Ocean City, MD Photographer

2010-07-03T15:58:00.000-04:00

If you are taking a trip to Ocean City, Maryland be sure to stop by the Trimpers Rides. This 1902 Carousel has been there since it was built. It is one of the oldest Carousel's left in the US. They just don't make them like they used to.

EM Ottawa June 14th Event - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-06-17T21:18:00.000-04:00

Monday night EM Ottawa got together for a night of networking only at Social on Sussex. This is our last meet up until September so we gathered and shared for the evening. Social served us a fabulous cheese platter and some sliders (mini hambergers), both of which I would recommend on another visit.

We will be taking a break for the summer, but will be starting up again in September with a Trade Show Workshop with Cleo Thompson of Character Creative. October brings Erin Blaskie back in as our keynote speaker. And November will be our first Trade Show.

If you are interested in attending be sure to register early to avoid missing out.

How to Watermark your Photos with Photoshop Elements

2010-06-09T12:29:00.001-04:00

This will be the first post in a series of 'How To's' that will follow. I decided to post this info so that instead of emailing everyone an answer, I can direct them here.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get other than which camera to buy, which is a whole other post, is how do I watermark my photos? It thought I would take this opportunity to share it with you all in a post so it can be easily referenced.

Watermarking is important as it helps to discourage people from stealing your photos at the same time leaving your mark to say that you took that photo.

Since there are different ways to process your digital photos, I should specify that I will give instructions for Photoshop Elements in two parts and Photoshop in two parts. These are the two that I am most familiar with. If you only use software that came with your computer, as long as you can type words onto your photos, then you can watermark them.

Photoshop Elements (PSE) - Part 1:

Method 1 - fast and furious:
If you have a lot of photos to process and upload this is the fastest method. It uses the batch processing tool.

1. Open files to be processed and make your adjustments if necessary.
2. With your files open, click on Files -> Process Multiple Files. A dialogue box will appear like this:

Make sure to select open files.
Choose a destination folder where the new files will be saved. I have a folder that I call 'Watermarking' and this is where all of my watermarked photos go for uploading to my blogs.
File Naming. You can choose to rename your file or leave it as is.
Image size. I save my watermarked images to 50%, smaller photos use less room.
File Type. This is another key thing in watermarking. I choose Medium Quality so that I know that I am not putting a High Resolution print on the web. A lower resolution will not allow for a good print if someone wishes to do that.
Is where you fill in your watermarking info. This is a very simple watermark. Type in your text, choose where you want the text to show up, the font, size, opacity (the lower the opacity the less visible) and colour and you are set to go.

Click 'OK' and your files will be saved to your Watermarking folder, ready to be uploaded to your blog or photo sharing web site.

And that concludes the first lesson in Watermarking. Part 2 will demonstrate how to do something a little more fancy with PSE.

Portraits by the Sea - Rehoboth Beach, DE/Ocean City, MD Family Photographer

2010-06-01T14:23:00.000-04:00

Family vacations are a wonderful time to get your family portraits done. Everybody is relaxed and happy and the Ocean and Sand can be used as your backdrop.

I will be in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland in July and will be offering two sets of mini-sessions on the beach.

Rehoboth Beach - Thursday, July 1st from 5:30pm-7pm
Ocean City - Tuesday, July 6th from 5:30pm-7pm

Portraits by the Sea
Mini Session Fee: $75.00 (up to five people, each additional person $10)

Includes 30 minute mini session on the Beach
Includes two 5x7 prints of clients choosing
25% Off any studio products purchased from this session.

If you are interested in booking a session please contact me. Spots will fill up on a first come first served basis. Session Fee due at time of booking.

*In the event of inclement weather, we will have an alternate date available

Armed with Poles Race Day - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-05-30T14:23:00.000-04:00

I was honoured to head Downtown last night to photograph Armed with Poles in their final minutes before the Race began. Energy was good, weather was nice and smiles were all around. Congratulations to the team! Thank you for letting me share in your Race Day with you.

A Day at the Arboretum - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-05-24T20:52:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful family photo session at the Arboretum last weekend. We couldn't ask for better weather, not too hot, not too cool, just perfect. The children ran and played and we got more than a few gorgeous photos to share.

Here is a sneak peek at our wonderful time.

We even had the opportunity to get Auntie in on the action with her neices. You can see in their smiles just how much they love spending time with her.

Thank you M Family for allowing me to capture your family.

Mother's Day Winner - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-05-19T14:34:00.000-04:00

Together with Kids in the Capital, we had a Mother's Day Giveaway. And on Saturday I had the opportunity to meet the winner. What a wonderful family, Dad was with us, but only to help. In the spirit of the giveaway, our winner decided that it was just a time for Mom and the kids to have their photos taken together. And it worked out quite well.

The weather had just taken a turn on us, going from bright and sunny to cloudy and windy and the wind off the water at Andrew Hayden was quite cool. We found a few spots that the wind was blocked and tried our best to keep warm. Mostly concerned for the kids as us Moms we are tough.

Here is a sneak peek at this gorgeous family. I am truly blessed to be able to capture these wonderful moments together and to meet such wonderful people. Thank you.

Armed with Poles - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-05-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce to you Armed with Poles. Armed with Poles is a Nordic walking team who have come together to raise money in the fight against cancer. They are gearing up for Ottawa's Race Weekend where they will be Nordic Walking the 10K, this is the second year that Armed with Poles has participated in the Ottawa Race Weekend.

I had the pleasure of photographing them while they were receiving their bright orange jerseys and heading out for a training walk of the course. What a wonderful group of athletes. The smiles were bright, the energy was amazing and I was only sorry I didn't have some poles to join them in their walk.

Best wishes for Race Day!

EM Ottawa May 12th Event - Ottawa Event Photographer

2010-05-14T23:12:00.000-04:00

The Entrepreneurial Mom's May Event was held at Milkface on Bank Street. Britt Pegan shared with us her journey from Mom to Entrepreneur. Britt started her online company back in 2001 and now has two storefronts in Ottawa as well as the online store. And to top that off Milkface is working towards becoming a franchise. We had a wonderful evening and I still find it amazing each month to meet more and more amazing talented Women in Ottawa.

Thank you Britt for sharing both your store and your story with us on Wednesday, you are such an inspiration.

Happy Mother's Day - A Giveaway

2010-05-09T08:44:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! And if you would like a chance to win a spot in my Spring Mini-Sessions on May 15th, head on over to Kids in the Capital and enter the draw. They are hosting their first Giveaway for Mother's Day. Don't miss out!

Sweet Addison - Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-05-07T13:43:00.000-04:00

A sneak peek of sweet Addison. What a beautiful baby, so sweet tempered and gorgeous. She sure didn't want to curl up and sleep for me, but we managed a few snuggly shots.

Just look at those gorgeous eyes. Thank you Jamie and Din for letting me share in this beautiful time with you.

Just a Tease - Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2010-05-03T21:33:00.001-04:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph this beautiful little girl on Friday. Sweet Addison, two weeks old and so beautiful. This is just a teaser, I have so much more to share.

B Family Sneak Peek - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-04-17T21:25:00.001-04:00

Here is a sneak peek from a family session I had this morning. Such a gorgeous family to work with and the light, ooh that soft light that came with the rain. We had lots of fun and a few laughs. Thank you for allowing me to capture your beautiful family.

Sweet Girl Five Ways

2010-04-15T21:52:00.000-04:00

Although the original photo is just lovely as it is, I had a little fun playing with this photo a little tonight. Each adds a little something different to the photograph, all of which are lovely but in a different way. Which is your favorite?

Original

Spring Mini Sessions - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-04-11T21:47:00.000-04:00

Spring is finally here, a little ahead of schedule perhaps, and we are planning our first Mini Sessions of the year. We are very excited to offer these Portrait Sessions for you. This is the perfect time to get your family together for a smaller session in a gorgeous park setting.

The Mini Sessions will take place on Saturday May 15th starting at 9am. At one of Ottawa's Fabulous Parks. (Rain Date will be Saturday May 29th). All details about the location will be provided upon booking.

Family Mini Session Fee of $75.00 (up to four people)

Includes mini, 30-minute session with at least 10 unique poses.
Includes two 5x7 prints of clients choosing.
All other studio products are available for purchase, through your own personal gallery at 25% off.

To book your session contact me soon, spots will fill up on a first come first served basis. Session fee is due at time of booking.

The Workshop on the Waterfront - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-04-02T21:46:00.000-04:00

I am not sure I even have the words to express how amazing The Workshop on the Waterfront really and truly was.

I should come right out and say that I made it just fine without my Husband and Children with me and they did just fine without me at home. And if I was going to be away from my Children for the first time ever, The Inn at Perry Cabin was the right place to do it. Nestled in the small town of St. Michael's, Maryland it had the perfect amount of cozy, glamour, and relaxation to make me feel like I was on a getaway just for me.

Except that I wasn't! I was joined by 69 other women to listen to fabulous women share and teach and encourage. Marsha, the woman behind The Savvy Photographer and the Savvy Sisterhood knew exactly what to do to pull together an amazing three and a half days. And what an amazing job she and her team did. Thank you.

A huge thank you to all the women who made a difference in my life for just those few days. The women I met had the same excitement and passion about photography as I do and I hope that we will continue to grow our business and share via the internet together.

And if I get a choice in the matter, I will be doing this again next year!!

A Silent Auction for Bev Sunday and Family

2010-03-23T20:31:00.001-04:00

We have been keeping Bev and her family in our Prayers. Bev and her Husband are slowly making their way on the road to recovery, but the road will be long and while they are recovering their children are being cared for by family and need assistance. Since Bev and her Husband were both self-employed they don't have some of the benefits available to those who work for another company.

With the amazing group of Women at Entrepreneurial Moms we are putting together a silent auction that will take place on Tuesday evening. However, if you aren't attending or just want to help out in some way, you can bid on the auction items online (in other words you don't have to attend to win, although you might just love it if you are a Mom and have your own business or are thinking of starting one). I have donated a Family (or Portrait) Session. If you were thinking of getting your family portraits done, then this would be a fabulous opportunity to help Bev and her family and get your family portraits at the same time.

edited to add: You will need the auction ID and password to see the auction.
Auction ID: BevSunday
Auction Password: children

I am cross-posting this with Life is Good...At the Beach.

I'm Getting Savvy

2010-03-15T13:40:00.001-04:00

Last Fall when The Savvy Photographer announced they would be hosting A Workshop on The Waterfront I knew I wanted to go. Eight fabulous women coming to share their knowledge and skills about photography with us. The list of guest speakers is just amazing, Catherine Clay, Jodi Otte, Kelli France, Mika Beth Edwards, Marta Locklear, Melanie Mauer, Jessica Grieves and Bev Hollis. WOW! I think I need to pinch myself really.

Fall came and went and Christmas happened, then the Workshop sold out. I was sad, but knew that if it was meant for me to go a spot would open up. I believe that things happen because they are supposed to and sure enough a spot (or two, I don't know how many) opened up and I was able to get it. This is a huge adventure for me. The first time I will willingly leave my children overnight and the first time for my daughter at all. This will also be the first time my Husband will have to take care of the children on his own and go to work. It will be a huge milestone in our family and I hope that it goes well.

And most importantly I am looking forward to the knowledge I will bring back with me. All these women sharing in their business and photography skills. I can't wait to share all that I will learn with you.

edited to add: If you are a fellow Photographer, head on over to The Savvy Photographer and check out their amazing giveaway from Willette Designs.

Albums by Pictage - Ottawa Wedding Photographer

2010-03-07T21:39:00.001-05:00

I have been so excited to share these albums with you. It took me quite a while to decide on an Album company for Anna Epp Photography, but now that I have I am more than thrilled with what has arrived.

I chose Pictage and have not for one minute been disappointed. The service I have received is unbelievable, the ease that I was able to create albums was wonderful and the actual product in had was so much more than I could have ever expected. I want to provide my clients with the best possible Albums to display their photos and Pictage has made that possible for me.

The albums you see here are: Proof album (top left) which is included in my wedding packages, The Modern Album (top right) a classy album complete with sleeve and printed hard cover prices vary, and the Sequoia Album by Willowbrook (bottom center) beautiful leather with optional printing or window cover and lay flat pages prices vary.

These albums work well for weddings as well as family photo shoots, covers and colours can all be customized according to your wishes.

I have a few more products on the way and I look forward to sharing them with you once they arrive.

B Family Sneak Peek - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-02-25T21:04:00.000-05:00

Here is a sneak peek from a Family Shoot I had last weekend. I have had the opportunity to photograph a couple of these family members before, but never the whole family all together. And what a lovely and fun family to work with.

I know I mentioned this in a previous post, but it is truly wonderful to capture four generations together in a photo and we were able to bring everyone together for such an occasion. Don't delay.

Give the Gift of Photography

2010-02-03T21:31:00.000-05:00

We now offer Gift Certificates.

Give the gift of Photography.

Memories that will last forever.

Contact me for details.

Four Generations - Ottawa Family Photographer

2010-01-31T13:22:00.000-05:00

It isn't very often these days that we get a chance to capture four generations together. So this photo is a precious moment in time, not only four generations are here, but four generations of women, each with a story to tell or a story yet to be written. And the lone little fella standing strong as the youngest of the group, oh the stories he will have to tell.

In my own family both of my sets of Grandparents have passed on and I never got that chance to have my children meet any of them. I don't have that photo to show my children, this was you with your Great-Grandmother or Great-Grandfather let alone a photo of all of them together.

Sometimes it is hard to get that family photo, usually one or more of the participants it waiting until they look their best or lose that last ten pounds.

Don't wait. Time is precious and if you wait you might just miss that opportunity.

Getting Engaged?

2010-01-16T22:04:00.000-05:00

Are you getting ready to pop the question?

Why not plan it so that your engagement photos include you actually getting engaged.

You take so much time to plan the perfect engagement, why not include a photographer to capture those moments forever.

It is your Love Story, from beginning to end.

Fun Fashion Shoot - Ottawa Teen Photographer

2010-01-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

I had a fabulous opportunity to work with Sam this weekend. We had a fasion shoot together and WOW, what an amazing girl. Sam was so fun to work with and such a beauty, the light and camera loved her, all we had to was snap away.

Here are just a few shots from yesterday, so much fun. I hope to do another shoot just like it very soon.

C Family - Perth Family Photographer

2010-01-04T21:24:00.000-05:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph an amazing family in Perth on Sunday.

Although the drive out was a little more than I had planned for with the blowing snow and white outs, it was well worth it. Originally I had hoped to get them outside for some shots, but the windchill was a bit much at -22C (-7F) so we stayed inside where it was warm and toasty.

Here is a small selection of this wonderful family. My favourites from each set. Thank you for having me out to your lovely home which was so filled with warmth on such a chilly day.

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

I promised myself that I would get out and shoot more this Winter. And so far, I am pleased at how many times I have gone out all bundled up to shoot.

We have been tobogganing a lot this holiday break and I got a few creative shots in there too.

Looking forward to my first Family Shoot of the year tomorrow. Stay tuned for a sneak peek tomorrow.

A Winner has been chosen.

2009-12-26T12:41:00.000-05:00

Thank you for all the nominations and support of the Giving is Awesome giveaway. A winner has been chosen and notified. It was really hard to choose just one winner, so hard in fact that we have decided to offer a couple of runner up prizes that will be awarded today.

I am not sure yet if we will be sharing the stories of the winners, that will be up to them. But, I do know that it made a difference in my holiday to know that so many of you out there are caring and loving towards others and there is a lot of goodness in the world that I live in.

Thank you all for sharing with me.
Anna
aka. BeachMama

Giving is Awesome

2009-12-17T16:09:00.001-05:00

I have been gearing up to offer a Giveaway for Christmas and thought I had it all figured out. Then, I met a wonderful photographer on Twitter named Jen. Jen is from Toronto and she participated in a Help-Portrait event on December 12th. I really wished we had something like that here I could participate in, then I saw she was giving away a photo shoot. Not just any photo shoot, but one that you must nominate someone for. After reading about it and emailing with Jen, I have decide that this is what I would like to offer in my Christmas Giveaway.

You probably know someone. Someone who has experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $500 worth, to be exact. This awesome giveaway will include my creative session fee, a high resolution cd of our session as well as a selection of prints of their choosing.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $100 print credit towards their order when they book a session with me (full session fee still applies). What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services.
* The nominee must reside in Greater Ottawa Area. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must nominate someone by telling me the full story by sending an email to me at anna@anneppphotography.com.

The winner will be announced on Christmas Day -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,
Anna
aka. BeachMama

Family Day - Ottawa Family Photographer

2009-12-09T09:38:00.003-05:00

On Sunday I was not only blessed with two wonderful photo shoots, but the Sun peeked out at just the right moment to provide this outdoor shoot with some beautiful light and warmth. We were meeting at the Chapman Mills Conservation Area, just off of Prince of Wales. The water is gorgeous and there are some nice trails that are open in both Summer and Winter. In the Summer when the boardwalk is in the water you can walk all the way to Manotick.

Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to spend some time with your gorgeous Family.

Baby C - Ottawa Newborn Photographer

2009-12-08T21:18:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to photograph this beautiful baby boy on Sunday. We first met his Mom back in October when she came to see me for some Maternity Photos. At seven weeks he is just the sweetest little guy. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

Shear Perfection Photo Shoot - Perth Photographer

2009-11-29T16:02:00.001-05:00

I had a wonderful shoot in Perth yesterday. The only thing that would have made the shoot better was if I hadn't woken up with my first head cold of the year. I took it easy in the morning, went over my gear and prepared myself to meet with Stacey and Rashelle of Shear Perfection Hair Design.

And what a treat awaited me. I got to work with some gorgeous models. All were so sweet and let me pose them and move them around the store.

Here are a few samples, you can view more on my flickr page.

Thank you Ladies for such a wonderful time. Stacey and Rashelle you did such a fabulous job on the hair and makeup.

Family Photo Session - Ottawa Family Photographer

2009-11-16T15:16:00.001-05:00

Thank you to A Crafty Mom and her family for letting me spend some time with them capturing some smiles and a little bit of fun.

Siblings - Ottawa Children's Photographer

2009-11-12T22:22:00.001-05:00

Sometimes all you need is a moment to see that two brothers really love each other.

Here is that moment. Priceless.

Christmas Cards

2009-11-05T14:22:00.000-05:00

I have been working on some Christmas cards for a while, and wasn't happy with what I was coming up with.

These two are finalists for me. Tell me, would you pick up these Christmas Cards at a Craft Show?

My Constant Companion

2009-11-04T21:43:00.000-05:00

When the weather is right.

2009-10-26T21:21:00.001-04:00

Take it outside.

We seem to not be having many sunny days this Fall, well this year quite frankly. So when the opportunity arose to get out, get some sun and fresh air we took that opportunity. And I took my camera. The kids were getting a little tired of me and my camera but, they were troopers.

It was late afternoon so the sun was nice and warm and getting low. The kids were playing in the few leaves that we have on our lawn (mostly from the neighbours tree) and were willing subjects for a few minutes.

Here are two of my favourites.

ISO 400

1/500 at f5.6

45mm

Slight Lighten and Crop Post-Processing

ISO 400

1/320 at f5.6

60mm

Slight Lighten Post-Processing

Tom - Ottawa Wedding Photographer

2009-10-25T14:29:00.001-04:00

While everyone was off shooting the bride, Della, I realized that I had a prime opportunity to work with the groom, Tom. Tom was just as easy going as Della, but clearly knows that the bride is the one that most photographers want to work with.

As much as the wedding day is about two people joining their lives together, we all know that it is usually the bride who has been dreaming of this day since she was a little girl. But, Tom was here and available and so I started setting him up in a few poses and was quite pleased with what I got. Because the groom still needs a few shots to remember his day by.

This is my favourite, which I put in black and white, simply because I forget about black and white and realize that sometimes photos just look that much better when the colour has been taken out.

Della - Ottawa Wedding Phoyographer

2009-10-23T13:57:00.001-04:00

One of the nicest things about the Wedding Workshop I attended last weekend, was that we could just keep on shooting until we got what we wanted. And Della was just so sweet. Willing to pose with her bare arms on a sunny, but chilly, Fall day.

The next best thing is that I get to play and play with the photos from the weekend. This one of Della is one of my favourites. The late afternoon sun was shining and I happened to catch a few rays in my lens. I added a bit of a seventies finish and rounded the corners. I just love it.

Finding My Way

2009-10-22T14:18:00.000-04:00

Today I had a few minutes to myself and decided to play with the light I had yesterday with the meringues. Which was partial natural light and partial studio light with an umbrella. Unfortunately today was a much darker day outside so my natural light didn't come out as nice.

I am playing with Christmas ornaments in the hope that I can make some Christmas cards of my own this year. I also love China, especially tea cups, so I took a few out and played around with them too.

Not sure which is my favourite, perhaps I haven't shot it yet.

Shooting Food

2009-10-21T15:24:00.000-04:00

I have a love/hate relationship with shooting food. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Today I think it worked. I got the light just right and the meringues were calling my name. And I wonder why I can't shake the last ten pounds.

Wedding Photography Workshop

2009-10-18T21:43:00.000-04:00

Meet Della and Tom. This week I had the pleasure to photograph them at a Wedding Photography Workshop at Algonquin. It was a great weekend. Getting to shoot such an adorable couple, who are going to be married in just a month, was such a treat.

Della and Tom are the dream Bride and Groom. So sweet, so patient and willing to let you shoot them over and over and over again. When their time comes next month they will be more than prepared for their big day, at least when it comes to pictures.

As for the workshop, it was really great to shoot with fellow photographers. Feedback from our intructor directly on the spot, was great. We had the opportunity to test out different lighting both inside and outside. I feel that much more prepared for future weddings and feel that I could bring some of what I learned into my portraits as well.

Rule of Thirds

2009-10-11T21:48:00.001-04:00

I have joined an online photo class, 12 weeks to better photography. This is week two and this weeks assignment was to take two or three shots using the rule of thirds. These are the shots I took.

A New Mom and A New Baby - Ottawa Maternity and Newborn Photographer

2009-10-06T21:54:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure last Friday of photographing two family members. One who is due with her first baby in two weeks. And the other who was just a week old. Two beautiful Ladies, both of whom were very easy and fun to work with. I look forward to meeting the next member of their family.

Playing with Light

2009-09-30T20:11:00.000-04:00

I have been playing with light lately, both off camera flash and ambient lighting only . Here are two recent shots I have been playing with.

ISO 200

1/30 at f3.5

50mm

SOOC

Only one light in the room, a table lamp about ten feet to the left of the piano.

ISO 200

1/60 @ f3.5

70mm

SOOC

One off camera flash at 90 degrees to the left of the bulb. Three ambient lights one to the left, one to the right and one behind.

Kids that won't stop moving

2009-09-28T21:13:00.000-04:00

I have two very active children. Most days I can ask nicely and get a few shots of them. But, every now and then we have a day like today where they wouldn't let me get a shot.

I shot about 20 frames and these are the only two that I liked. I should also add that I was shooting without a flash and trying to get a bit of bokeh in the background so I wouldn't have to straighten the room.

My son did well and his face is nicely in focus. My daughter on the otherhand just wouldn't stop, she isn't quite in focus, but I do love this photo of her. She was trying to hide behind her Daddy's legs but, I could still see her.

ISO 200

1/30 at f/1.8

50mm

SOOC

(straight out of the camera)

ISO 200

1/40 at f/1.8

50mm

SOOC

Fall Landscape Bokeh

2009-09-27T14:59:00.000-04:00

Miz Booshay put up a Fall Landscape Bokeh assignment over on Pioneer Woman's Photography Site on Thursday. And today I decided to take my camera with me on a little walk to see what I could find.

The weather is cloudy and threatening rain, but I was able to find some beauty stashed away, and so close to home.

Charlotte

2009-09-26T14:32:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Anna Epp Photography

2009-09-12T12:47:00.002-04:00

I have been a photographer since I was 12 years old. I am now nearing 40. When I wrote myself a list of 10 things to do before 40, taking my photography to the next level was one of them.

Late last year I was asked to shoot a wedding for a young couple. That request took me to where I needed to be mentally. It started with one request and has been building for the last year.

To see a full portfolio of my weddings and portraits, please go to my Photography site: Anna Epp Photography. Here, on my blog, I will post some of my shoots that will not always make it to my site.

If you wish to contact me for a shoot feel free to send me an email through my contact page and I will respond to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy your visit.