Gillian Ottaway Photography Comox Courtenay Portrait Photographer and Wedding Photography

Best of 2011 Weddings - Comox Courtenay Wedding Photographer

2012-01-24T18:40:00.000-08:00

This year I shot 11 FABULOUS weddings (I took on one more than I normally limit myself to, because I just couldn't help it!) and even with only 11 weddings to look through, it was pretty hard to pick just 20 photos. So enjoy these top pics of the year :)

P.S. Don't forget to pick YOUR favourite and then read to the end to hear about the contest :)

a). Amanda and Vince: First kiss photos are often my favourite, and this is no exception :)

b). Linzie and Timber: Linzie was a STUNNING bride, and the light in this little corner of Crown Isle was beautiful! The little blog image doesn't do it justice.

c). Jason and Jolene: Jolene's smile wins out again, I could have picked about 20 of just her smiling, that's how great it is!

d). Jason and Jolene: There's that smile again! I'm suprised I only picked two :)

e). Imogen and Derek: These guys can JUMP!!! And the reflection just makes it better.

f). Imogen and Derek: This was such a gorgeous little B&B that Imogen got ready at, and she was such a perfect, laid-back bride.

g). Chantelle and Jonathan: There's just something about this photo that I can't quite put my finger on... but I love it.

h). Chantelle and Jonathan: I love when bridal parties are willing to have some fun with their pictures. These are much more fun than just standing in a row :)

i). Gillian and Davin: I just see this image and think... WOW!!! Thank you Gillian for being willing to climb out on that log for me. I love adventurous brides.

j). Gillian and Davin: This one is just so romantic.... it makes me smile.

k). Hayley and Nate: One of my favourite getting ready photos ever. I love her sisters looking in the mirror and her big smile. Perfect. :)

l). Hayley and Nate: A perfect wedding day moment, caught on camera. I love getting photos like this that really capture the feeling of a moment.

m). Kim and Darrin: The look on a grooms face as he sees his bride walk down the aisle gets me every time! I love it :) And this groom had already seen his bride during a First Look, so it just goes to show you that First Looks are great and definitely don't ruin the aisle moment.

n). Kim and Darrin: These bridesmaids REALLY loved my bad jokes, so they get a vote ;)

o). Sarah and Chris: I had to pick one great ceremony shot.. and this one just does something for me.

p). Sarah and Chris: I'm surprised that I picked a ring shot... but Sarah and Chris's rings, on top of their favours (adorable little frog prince candles) was just too cute to resist.

q). Jamie and Drew: They look SO happy and in love... and they're in a cemetary... so it's awesome! :)

r). Jamie and Drew: Fall weddings are wonderful, and i just love the colours of the season. Especially with a stunning black Victorian dress.

s). Katie and Geoff: This is the couples son, eating snacks in the aisle. Which was too funny not to capture. :)

t). Katie and Geoff: This lodge in Gold River is just teeming with photo opportunities! Such a fun bridal shot.

So there they are! The best wedding photos of the past year. I've already had one fabulous wedding in 2012, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store! As for these photos, one of these lucky couples will win the top prize of Best Wedding Photo of 2011 and the winner will win any one product of their choice with a value of up to $75! That means they could get a mini album of their whole session, or a gorgeous custom designed photo box to hold all their prints, or even a canvas wrap! Their choice :)

Here's how they'll win... Either comment here or send me an email to gillottaway@hotmail.com with your choice for best photo. I'd like you guys to pick a specific photo, so I know which shot wins, but votes will be counted per couple. So each couple gets one chance at winning, even if they have two photos. In two weeks I will tally up the results and announce a winner. Can't wait to see who it is!

So get voting and enjoy! :)

Best of 2011 Portraits - Comox Courtenay Photography

2012-01-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

It was so, so, so hard to narrow down all my portraits from the last year to just 20. I mean SOOOOOO hard! Which makes me happy, because it wasn't nearly as tough for 2010, so I'm going to go out there and say I was proud of my progress this past year. I definitely couldn't have done it without such AMAZING clients. Most of my favourite shots are because of the wonderful smiles in them, which has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with you guys. Okay, I guess I can take credit for the bad jokes that seem to crack you all up ;)

In any case, i'll get on with the photos! But stay tuned to the bottom of the post, for a contest you won't want to miss! :) In no particular order, my top 20 photos of 2011:

a). Chantelle, Jonathon, Jackson and Diesel: Such a gorgeous young family, among some pretty amazing BC scenery. The colours in this image just make me smile, and look at how cute that dog is?

b). Jason and Jolene: Who doesn't like drinking champagne in the park, out of adorable champagne glasses no less!

c). Christa and Family: This photo makes me smile (and giggle) every. single. time! I love that this family was willing to skip for me, in public... and the kids laughed while doing so! Such a wonderful little family :)

d). Hayley and Nate: Hayley and Nate are SOOOO easy to photograph. There is just SO much love between them and they're so at ease in front of the camera, and with eachother. It was impossible to pick just one.... so i picked two :)

e). Dawn, Chris, Baby Murphy and Boden: Boden is just the sweetest pup... and he LOVES being the centre of attention, and starring in photos. He's just sitting so nicely and looking right at me... it's perfect.

f.) Isabelle: Oh Isabelle, such a little girly girl. With her big flowers and her pretty dresses. And what a smile :)

g). Adorable Sisters: Two sisters who actually hugged... without me forcing them? I couldn't resist. Anyone who knows me and my sis, knows that I'm a big fan of sisterhood.

h). The Doyle Family: An adorable little family moment, with some beautiful scenery in the background. I love this shot, it would make such a beautiful canvas. I also giggle a little bit everytime, thinking about the fact that we waited forever to get this shot because there were some elderly ladies (complete with bathing caps) swimming in between. Hehe :)

i). Rae-Lynn and Finn: I love seeing Mom's with their newborn babies... so much love to capture.

j). Sara and Chris: These two pretended to be mannequins... so they OBVIOUSLY deserve a spot in the top 20. No question!

k). Sara and Chris (again!): These two also did a silly walk across the street... so again, they rock!

l). The Hatch Grandkids: Seven wonderful grandchildren! I hope I get grandkids even half as great as these ones. I'd love to have a shot like this when I'm a grandma

m). Hayley and Nate (again!): Dancing to a local street performer? Perfection! *sigh*

n). Jason and Jolene (again!): Just look at that smile... she's stunning! And the way he's looking at her? It melts my heart.

o). The Graham Family: Playful families are my favourites. I'll take an adorable action shot over a looking straight at the camera shot anyday. Look at that grin :)

p). Kim, Darren and Kehgan: It makes such a difference to the photos if the family is having fun and being relaxed. That's why I promote tickling.. because it gets wonderful shots like this :)

q). Krystle, Thierry and Madigan: I love when people bring their pets to shoots. Because pets are adorable, and I love the challenge. Madigan, however, is not a challenge. She was a little poser, and pulled off this cute move. So her (and her loving owners) secure a spot in the top 20.

r). The Dunlop Family: The light, the look on her face.... one of my faves from the year. This could be a contender for the #1 spot.

s). Avery and Megan: This one may seem like an odd choice to some, as it's technically just an outtake from a fun session with three 13 year-old girls... but I love the fun of it. It just shows a little bit about how silly shoots with me can be, and I love that :)

t). Brayden: This little guys is adorable, so that made a huge impact on choosing this photo. But I also just love the look on his face, as if he's trying to get just one more lick in before Mom takes it away.

And that's that! Aren't they wonderful? Maybe I'm just a bit biased ;) Now on to the contest! One of these photos will win the top prize of Best Portrait of 2011 and the winner will win any one product of their choice with a value of up to $75! That means they could get a mini album of their whole session, or a gorgeous custom designed photo box to hold all their prints, or even a canvas wrap! Their choice :)

Here's how they'll win... Either comment here or send me an email to gillottaway@hotmail.com with your choice for best photo. In two weeks I will tally up the results and announce a winner.

So get voting and enjoy! :)

Jason and Jolene - Wedding Slideshow

2011-07-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

The Great Cloth Diaper Change! - Courtenay Event Photography

2011-04-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the local group of parents participating in The Great Cloth Diaper Change! This event was planned to make the Guinness World Record for most simultaneous cloth diaper changes. It also brought some much needed attention to the world of cloth diapering. Cloth diapers are not what they used to be! They are adorable, easy to use (even I can use them with ease, and I don't have babies! lol) and are great for the planet. :)

Local childrens store, Podlings, hosted the event in Courtenay and it went off without a hitch. There were 26 adorable babies and toddlers, along with moms and dads there to help set the record.

It was awesome to capture photos of this unique event!

Sick as a dog....

2011-03-14T13:00:00.001-07:00

.... Is what I am! I am still in Cold Lake visiting my wonderful mom, sister and nephews, but the trip has been slightly buggered by a horrible cold that has consumed all of us! We can't keep the tissues in stock around here.

The cold hasn't slowed down the little ones much, just made them crankier... so us adults are forced to suffer through games of hide-and-seek, pillow fight, "Who's hiding behind the red curtain", and train building despite feeling awful. It's a good thing we all love the little ones :)

I also had an AWFUL allergic reaction to the soap I used my first day here, and am COVERED in a rash. Pretty much anywhere the soap touched (ie. EVERYWHERE!) is covered in itchy, red blotches... Good times :)

On a positive note, I am still enjoying time with my family! My eldest nephew ADORES me and can't go a minute without playing games with me. since I'm sleeping in his room with him, I get woken up every morning by his cheerful face jumping up onto my bed. Perfect!

Now if only I could convince him to sleep in past 7am! Lol

<3 Gillian - Posted from my iPhone

Location:45 St,Cold Lake,Canada

It's finally happened....

2011-03-08T15:12:00.001-08:00

.... I've become a West Coast Wimp!!

When I moved to Vancouver Island from Ontario 6 years ago, I used to chuckle to myself when all my new West Coast friends whined about one centimeter of snow, or a temperature below 5•C.

I was proud of the fact that I came from Ontario, where are summers are HOT (oh, how I miss that heat!) and our winters are COLD (I thought I missed the cold and snow....) Well, I think I may have to apologize to all my friends and family back in Comox, because I have DEFINITELY, 100% lost my Ontario toughness!

I left Comox on Monday afternoon and said goodbye to blue skies and 10•C weather... I am now in Edmonton, and heading north to Cold Lake, and Frrrrrrrrrrrrreezing!!

I have no idea what the actual temperature is here, but I do know it's not unreasonably cold (for here). The bus driver who's bringing us to Cold Lake commented on how sunny and "warm" it is today. I kid you not... He used the word warm to describe what I would call RIDICULOUSLY FREAKING COLD!! As in, I was outside for about 5 minutes max before I started whining to my mom about frost bite. Lol

So, it's official, I can no longer call myself a Winter-Tough Canadian. Instead I'm a West Coast Wimp.

I guess this just means I'll have to call gorgeous Vancouver Island home for the rest of my life. :)

I hope all my Comox Valley readers are enjoying some warm sunshine! If you are, send happy warm thoughts my way for the rest of the week.

<3 Gillian

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Unnamed Rd,Lesser Slave River No.124,Canada

Spring Special - Childrens photography in the Comox Valley

2011-02-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

I've been perusing Etsy for fun photo props, which is a bad habit of mine (I'm telling you, if you have not discovered the amazingness that is Etsy.... Don't start now! It will suck you in with it's adoreableness!) I wish I had closets and closets full of props and outfits to offer my clients... and then it hit me! My Spring Special idea :)

I want to build my prop collection, and you want adorable photos of your little ones, so here's what I have to offer you:

- 1-2 hour shoot, in up to two locations (outdoors, studio or both)
- 25 digital images and the rights to print in sizes up to 8x10 (that's 10 more images than my usual package!)
- your choice of two props from the wonderful Etsy shop PetitePeanut to feature in your shoot (ie: one royal tutu and a headband, or one royal tutu and boys tie)
- one 11x14 enlargement from your session

All this for only $175! It's a great deal for you, and when we're done I'll have a closet full of props :) Sessions can be booked anytime this spring/summer, just contact me for details and to choose your props.

And if you're not sold yet, just head over to the Petite Peanut to look at their ADORABLE stuff and you'll most certainly be won over ;)

<3 Gillian

P.S. Just three months until my wedding day, which means just three months and one week until the wedding shooting season begins!! I still have two spots left, so call soon to book :)

My new wedding site is up! - Comox Wedding Photography

2011-02-05T20:34:00.001-08:00

My new wedding website is finally live! So if you're engaged and looking for a photographer you can stop by the site to check out photo galleries showcasing my work and get an idea of the package that I offer.

You can still access my portrait site through the same link, just choose Portraits or Weddings, depending on what you're interested in!

I've decided to open up two more dates for weddings in 2011, so if you are looking for a photographer, get in touch soon before i fill up!

<3 Gillian

The Selman Family - Christmas Card photos in Courtenay, BC

2010-12-16T18:41:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of photographing one of my absolute favourite families in October, and since there Christmas cards are now all in the hands of family members, I can share the photos with you guys!

We headed down to some train tracks, with gorgeous fall colours all around, and got TONS of great shots of this adorable family. The two boys were such superstars, even coming up with funny poses all on their own! I wish all my shoots could go this smoothly.

On to the photos!

<3 Gillian

It's Christmas Time!!

2010-12-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

I am SO sorry for neglecting the blog... bad, bad, bad photographer! *slaps hand* As you can tell from my being MIA for months, it was a VERY busy fall for me! I had tons of sessions, and most of them could not be shared, as they were for Christmas cards. Well, Christmas cards are being mailed out by most people as we speak, so I should have lots of fabulous photos to share with you in the next little while :)

In the mean time, I wanted to share with you some of the adorable photos I captured today at the 19 Wing Jr Ranks Kids Christmas party. The big guy himself was on hand to meet all the little ones and even hand out some presents. It was so sweet to see the kids get excited to meet Santa. Though, to be honest, there were quite a few crying toddlers as well! But, for the most part, the kids were happy and it was a great day! :)

I'm probably biased, because I know and love this little guy, but isn't he adorable?

This next little girl was SO excited to see Santa she asked if she could come sit with him twice. It was very sweet.

I just love this little girls smile... and her dress!

This next girl brought a flyer, so that Santa would be really sure EXACTLY what she wanted. I thought that was hilarious (and cute)!

And finally, I couldn't get over the look on the little newborns face. Priceless :)

Aren't there some adorable kids in the military families of 19 Wing Comox? It was a pleasure to be their photographer for the day, and I'm so glad they asked me to come out! In appreciation of all that the military does for our country, and especially our community, I offer a 10% military discount to military members, and their spouses. All you have to do is tell me that you're in the military and you immediately get a discount on any portrait session or album/product order (unfortunately this is not available for weddings). How's that for a great deal? :)

I also wanted to remind people of my current Christmas special! I know that most moms/dads/grandparents/best friends would LOVE a custom photo session as a Christmas gift, so i'm offering a special on Gift Certificates. Purchase a gift certificate for a full session (a value of $150) for someone else (or yourself, whatever you like!) and you'll receive an extra gift certificate for $25 to keep for yourself. You can use the $25 for product (or stick it in with the present as a bonus for them!) or towards your next session. Everyone wins!

Well, i hope you all are enjoying the holiday season, I know I am! I'll be back soon with some fun photo shoots from the fall!

And to end, me and my fiance with Santa! Aren't we cute?

<3 Gillian

P.S. I also have a seperate website in the works to showcase my wedding work, so keep your eyes open for that too! :)

Jodie & Quinten - Courtenay Wedding Photography

2010-09-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

I had the absolute pleasure of finishing off my busy wedding season with a gorgeous couple, Jodie and Quinten, and a special wedding out at the Fish & Game in Courtenay. The bride and groom were both stunning, and the bridal party wasn't half bad either ;) The weather was a bit windy and overcast, but it made for some nice light and no one seemed to mind!

There were SO many amazing photos from this big day that I just couldn't narrow it down, so be prepared for a lengthy post!

The girls all got ready at Jodie's mom's lake house, which was GORGEOUS for photos.

The dress is on and she's ready to go! LOVE her smile. She just had the biggest, most natural smiles all day long :)

Once the dress was on it was time for some GORGEOUS bridal photos. Jodie was such a great model and the location was perfect, I couldn't have asked for more. :)

We even had time before the ceremony to get some shots of the lovely bridesmaids, and Jodie with her adorable step-daughter, Hannah.

Meanwhile, Brandon was over with the guys getting ready and drinking beers!

Then the guys arrived in style, via limousine, to the ceremony site... Love this string of photos that Brandon caught :)

Meanwhile, us girls arrived in even MORE style... via party boat! It was a blast heading across the lake in the boat while listening to tunes and drinking champagne :

Then it was time for the big event! It was very sweet, and the clouds made for great photos. Jodie and Quinten just looked so happy and in love :)

They did a sand ceremony with Hannah, which was a sweet way to unite them as a new family.

And finally the kiss!!!

Then we did some family formals, which I don't normally post... but I liked this one of Jodie, Quinten Hannah. I also couldn't resist Jodie's mom giving her a big kiss :)

After formals we had lots of time for some beautiful portraits of the Bridal party along Comox Lake, and even MORE time for just the gorgeous couple :)

I'll start with my favourite two photos of the couple. The first was caught by Brandon, and it's PERFECT! Jodie just looks gorgeous! The second is a stunner of Quinten, and I love the way Jodie is looking at him :)

And the rest.... all just so perfect :)

The reception was also a blast! Lots of dancing and laughs, which always make for fun photographs at any wedding. Jodie and Quinten's first dance was adorable, and her dance with her grandfather was one of the best i've seen!

Jodie and her sister rocked it out all night long!

Jodie and Hannah had a blast dancing to Rude Boy by Rhianna. Hannah's favourite song :)

We ended the night off with a bang! :)

I want to say a HUGE thank you to Jodie and Quinten for trusting me with capturing the memories from their big day. Brandon and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at their wedding, and were so sad to say goodbye to everyone at the end of the night. We really feel like Jodie and Quinten became more than just clients, which is always what we want.

Congratulations you two!! Here's to a lifetime of happiness :)

I am now booking for the 2011 wedding season. I am taking on a limited number of weddings next year, and have about 5 spots left. If you are getting married and are looking for a high quality, yet affordable, wedding photographer give me a shout! I'm still offering my 2010 prices for the next month.

<3 Gillian

Little Jasmin - Courtenay Baby Photography

2010-07-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

I had a VERY brief little session with 6 month-old Jasmin on Saturday, and managed to get some ADORABLE photos. The little peanut wasn't feeling very well though, so we cut it short and will finish up next week. I did want her parents to see that our 20 minutes was not completely in vain though, as this little girl looks great, even when she's under the weather.

Can't wait to finish up this session!

<3 Gillian

Kari & Dave - Comox Wedding Photography

2010-07-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with the pictures from Kari & Dave's wedding at the lovely Filberg Park, in Comox. They are so obviously in love and could not stop kissing and smiling at eachother all day, which made for some great photos. I won't ramble on, but instead will head right to the photos! Enjoy your sneak peek!

The girls got ready at The Westerly Hotel in Courtenay, in a nice big bridal suite. It was a treat having their hair and makeup done right in the room!

Kari looked stunning!! Her dress suited her so well :)

Meanwhile, Brandon was over with the guys, doing their thing.

Helping his Dad with his flowers :)

The ceremony was beautiful, warm weather, gorgeous location, and a super happy couple! What more could you ask for? :)

This is my favourite ceremony shot I've taken so far, LOVE the look on Dave's face and the gorgeous trees and light.

Brandon got this great shot of them walking back down the aisle with bubbles. Love it! Everyone should have bubbles blowing as they exit a ceremony :)

We then had lots of time for fun photos of the bridal party.

Let's start with the boys...

Then the beautiful girls... these next two shots are some of my absolute favourites :)

And the lovely couple...

Then we headed to the marina for a little more fun with the bridal party...

Kari and her best friend, and maid of honour, Rae-Ann. Rae-Ann was so proud all day, and I could see why! She introduced Kari and Dave :)

These photos of the bride and groom at the marina are just perfect. I could probably make each of them into a canvas and never be able to decide which was my favourite!

Details!

I loved their cake topper! lol

Kari and Dave lit candles for the members of their family who are no longer with them, and couldn't be there to celebrate. I thought this was such a sweet idea. I just might do it at my own wedding :)

And to end the post, a lovely shot from their first dance :)

I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and my first attempt at a wedding video! :)

<3 Gillian

Deni & Jason - Tofino Wedding Photography

2010-06-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Brandon and I drove out to Tofino to shoot Deni and Jason's beach wedding. They REALLY lucked out and had a GORGEOUS day. Blue skies all around, and warm, even with the beach wind. Actually, there was SO much sun that it made it tricky for photos. Not a patch of shade to be found, and sun directly overhead. Needless to say, we all got a bit red :)

We still ended up with some stunning photos from the day, so I'll get right to those!

Deni had both her parents walk her down the aisle, and I just LOVE that idea :)

Jason had a HUGE grin on his face the whole ceremony. It made me smile everytime I saw him :)

I don't normally post formals, but I just loved this shot of Deni, her mom and her sister. Such a beautiful family... those are some good genes!

The super stylish guys....

And the GORGEOUS ladies!

And the stunning couple... they were SO easy to photograph :)

I caught this candid moment of the bride and groom while they were waiting for photo instructions. I love it :) One of my fave photos from the day.

And onto the reception! This couple and their friends new how to party! I had an absolute blast at this reception.

Are you having a wedding out of town? I have very affordable travel rates, contact me for more details.

Congratulations again to Deni and Jason :)
<3 Gillian

Grad Portraits - Comox Portrait Photographer

2010-06-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

I've been busy, busy, busy lately, so I've been waiting for a few weeks to post this sneak peek. I went down to Goose Spit with a few wonderful grads from Highland Secondary School, in Comox, and took some photos of them in their GORGEOUS grad dresses. It was so much fun!

I truly hope that Beth and her girlfriends cherish these photos as they head off from high school this year :)

Watch for a wedding sneak peek later this week as well as a new contest coming up!

<3 Gillian

My new nephew - Comox Courtenay Newborn Photography

2010-05-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

I had the absolute pleasure of welcoming my second nephew, Owen, into the world on Friday, May 21. He looks just like his big brother did as a newborn, which is ADORABLY CUTE! And yes, I realize I'm probably a little biased. :)

I've been busy with work and weddings, so I've only had the chance to play with Owen in the studio for a short while. Here are some of the shots from that day, and stay tuned for more next week when I venture out with his whole family!

Until next time!
<3

Kari & Dave - Engagement photos at Air Force Beach, Comox

2010-05-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

I spent the morning last Sunday down at Air Force Beach, in Comox, with Kari, Dave and their adorable dog, Shades! The forecast had been calling for rain, but we were greeted with GORGEOUS blue skies, perfect for strolling the beach taking photos.

Kari and Dave are getting married in July, at Filberg, in Comox, so it was a pleasure getting to work with them a bit before the big day. I hope you two enjoy your sneak peek!

This one is definitely my favourite! Wouldn't it make a great large print for guests to sign instead of a guestbook? :)

Shades is such a cool looking dog! He's half shar-pei and have lab. I just LOVE his face :)

Can't wait until their big day in July!
<3 Gillian

Natalie & Adam - Comox/Courtenay Wedding Photography

2010-05-20T15:25:00.000-07:00

Natalie and Adam met in high school and FINALLY tied the knot on May 15. The ceremony was held in Comox at the United Church, and the reception was at an AMAZING private home. The decor was all done by Natalie and her mother, Elizabeth, who is an interior decorator. This was my first wedding of the season and it went off without a hitch! These two are so obviously in love, and surrounded by family and friends who adore them. There were lots of tears shed at the reception, during the fabulous speeches and tender moments. It was truly an honour to spend the day with this couple!

I had TWO fabulous shooters with me for the big day, my partner, Brandon and my good friend, Laurel. I want to thank both of them for their hard work at capturing some stunning photos.

On with the pictures!

The girls got their hair done at Bellini's in Comox, and got dressed at the reception site.

Meanwhile, the boys relaxed and played video games before heading to the ceremony. I hear there was a little trouble with the ties ;)

Natalie's father was SO excited and proud when he saw her for the first time.

They were lucky enough to snag some GORGEOUS vintage cars to be driven around in all day!

The ceremony was short and sweet, you could see the love in both their eyes :)

And finally, some fun portraits!

Thank you SO much to Natalie & Adam for entrusting me to capture this huge part of your life. It was an amazing day, with two amazing people. I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek :)

I couldn't resist.... - Comox/Courtenay Newborn Photography

2010-05-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist posting this adorable little sneak peek from the newborn shoot I did yesterday. You may remember his momma, Rachel, from a few months ago when I did her maternity photos. Well, this little bundle of joy was born a week ago and couldn't be cuter! He was so well behaved for his session :)

Stay tuned later this week for the rest of this session, a great family session, and maternity photos. Plus, it's the first wedding of the season this Saturday so that will be up on the blog early next week. It's busy, busy, busy around here!

<3 Gillian

What should I wear? - Comox/Courtenay Family Portraits

2010-05-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

I often get asked by clients "What should we wear to our photo session?" ... and it's a VERY good question, because what you choose to wear can make a HUGE difference in the outcome of your portraits. So, I've decided to compile a little advice post with a fabulous sample at the end.

Let's start with the basics and go over some basic tips for choosing your clothing:

1. Try not to choose clothes with large words or logos on them. Patterns are fine, as you'll see later, but giant logos or images don't translate well. You may think that your son's Go Diego! Go! shirt is adorable, but it's best to leave it home for a photoshoot.

2. Match, but not TOO much. You want to choose colours that go well together, but not all the same colour. If you were headed out to dinner as a family you wouldn't all wear the same outfit (ie. white shirts and jeans), in fact you'd think it was very odd if you did! So, why should you think any differently for your portrait session?

3. Bright colours make your shoot playful and fun, where as more muted, earthy tones tend to give the portraits a more down to earth, laid back feel. That doesn't mean we can't do laid back shots in your bright blues, reds and yellows, just that the overall feel of the shoot will be more playful (this is great for kids).

4. Pattern is fun!! The key is just to use it strategically. You don't want everyone in a pattern, or it becomes too much. A good plan is to pick one or two patterned pieces (that go well together) and draw the rest of the colours from those patterns.

5. Accessorize!! Accessories can make a plain outfit really pop! If you are wearing a one-colour top and some jeans, you may think that's boring... so accessorize! Pick some great earrings, a fun scarf, a flower for your hair and some fabulous, over-the-top bracelets. The skies the limit when it comes to your accessories, and don't forget the shoes!

Now, to show you how to pull all of these ideas together, I created a little sample for you!

All of the above clothes are from Old Navy, which shows that you can get great outfits for affordable prices. You can easily do the same thing within your own closets or at any other store.

I started by choosing the fun sundress for the little girl and went from there. As you can see, all the other pieces use colours pulled from the sundress. Dad and son get cute matching shoes, and Mom and daughter really get to play up the shoes and accessories. Oh how I would just love to photograph a family looking adorable like this :)

So there you have it! The basics on how to dress for a shoot :) When you book your shoot, feel free to ask any other questions you may have. I can even come over for a pre-shoot consultation and help you guys pick outfits.

Happy Weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there :)
<3 Gillian

Boudoir Sneak Peek - Comox Courtenay Boudoir Photographer

2010-04-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a quick sneak peek from the boudoir session I had earlier this week!......

It's my little pup, Jack! He jumped right up on the bed while I was doing test shots, so I used him as my little model :) Isn't he adorable?

Hopefully there will be some more (REAL) sneak peeks from this shoot early next week!

<3 Gillian

Product & Studio Tour - Comox Courtenay Photography Studio

2010-04-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got some of my product samples in and they are too fabulous not to share! So far I only have samples of my gallery wraps and books, and am still waiting on samples of my higher quality albums and my mini-wallets.

Let's start with the gallery wraps...

These are the perfect way to show off your favourite photos on your walls! They are nice and simple and let you display large photos without feeling like 'too much' in a small space. I have a few canvas wraps that I purchased from some online photo sites, and let me tell you, the quality difference is AMAZING! These gallery wraps are high quality and look stunning in person! I can show you the difference in person if you stop by the studio. :)

Now on to the photo books... these books look great, and the lay-flat, hinged paper makes them super easy to flip through. They are available with photo covers, or in a wide range of fabrics and leathers. These are a super affordable option, and are a great deal for the price.

I have a few of these samples, one is designed to be a guestbook for a wedding, and the other is a higher-qualtiy, pearl finished book. The pearl finish makes the photos shine and pop, and the photos don't do them justice!

These are perfect and affordable for documenting a family photo session, your baby's first year, as a wedding guestbook, or as parent albums from your wedding. If you are interested in a book/album from one of our sessions, I will custom design one for you. I also offer services for designing albums from your own photo collection, contact me for details on this! ((P.S. A custom designed book makes a GREAT present!))

If you haven't had a chance to visit the studio, or haven't popped by in awhile, it's really coming along! I finally have most of the little finishing touches up on the walls to really make it feel like my own! Here are some quick shots...

The desk and chair used to belong to my Grandma, and I love having them in use in my studio :)

The wall quote was purchased from Stampin Up! and went on SO easily! They look great, and I can't wait to get more for around the house.

Thanks for checking in! Hope to see you in my studio soon :)

A gem.... - Comox Courtenay Children's Photography

2010-04-25T15:33:00.001-07:00

I was finishing up the editing on this family session and found this adorable little shot of my nephew. I know the lighting isn't technically perfect, but that little smirk is just SO Nate. I love it :)

Also, I put up a boudoir section on my website, so check that out if you're interested! I'm working on a seperate site for my boudoir, as it's one of my specialties, and I really want to work with it more!

<3 Gillian

P.S. Watch for a post tomorrow featuring some of the wonderful products my studio offers!

Boudoir Sneak Peek - Comox Courtenay Boudoir Photographer

2010-04-19T23:03:00.000-07:00

I had the most FABULOUS boudoir session this week and I just had to share a few sneak peeks. We had so many outfit changes, it was a whirlwind! And the shoes.... oh, the shoes!! Enjoy this little peek!

And the winner is....

2010-04-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Actually, we have THREE winners! And I'll get right to it! The first two people will receive a Full Portrait session with me, which includes up to 2 hours of shooting time at any location, a disc of 15-20 high resolution digital files (for printing in sizes up to 5x7), one 8x10 print of their choice and one 11x14 print of their choice.

The first winner, who's FABULOUS photo got the most votes is......... Sheena LaBossiere! Her photo capture from a Keith Urban concert is just stunning. The lighting and emotion is perfect, and I can definitely see why it got the most votes :) Congrats Sheena!

I also had the DIFFICULT task of choosing my own personal favourite to win a second portrait package (identical to the one that Sheena wins!) And let me tell you, it took me FOREVER! There were so many great entries, I would really have liked to give away 10 packages! lol Alas, I chose my favourite and the winner is.......... Naomi teWinkel!

I love the pose she chose to use in this photo, and the use of the bright red chairs for props was a great idea. Congrats Naomi :)

Finally, I decided to choose one more winner (this time through a draw, so that I didn't have to make anymore decisions!) to receive a free mini-session with me. The mini-session entails a 1 hour shoot, one 8x10 print, one 11x14 print and one 4x6 print. For this draw I put all the names of people who voted, as well as all the contestants into a hat and drew one winner! And that winner is...... Chloe Rankin!

Chloe was one of the contestants, and it turns out was on the short list for my favourite photo. I love her capture of the beach :)

I had so much fun seeing all the entries into the contest, that I can't wait to do it again! Watch for another one coming up in June. Also, as a thank you to EVERYONE who participated, I'm offering a special coupon for all contestants, as well as anyone who voted. The coupon will give you 25% off any session fee, as well as one free 8x12 print from your session. If you were a contestant, voter, or one of the winners please email me at gillottaway@hotmail.com to receive your coupon or prize voucher!

Thanks again to everyone :)

Mother's Day Specials! - Comox Valley Portrait Photographer

2010-04-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and so I have a few packages to offer that would make the PERFECT gifts for mom or grandma! There are a few spots left for you to get your photos back by Mother's Day, if you just want the kids photographed, or get Mom a gift certificate so that she can be a part of the portraits later! Here are the specials I'm offering for Mother's Day:

#1 - All Mother's Day Portrait Sessions are 10% off! That's right, just for booking before Mother's Day, you will get 10% off the price of a regular session!

#2 - Canvas sale! Wouldn't you love to have a GORGEOUS canvas of one of your portraits to hang in your home? These canvasses make quite the statement and look fabulous. For Mother's Day only you can get a 10x20 or larger canvas for $30 off! Contact me to see samples and a full price list.

#3 - Mini Book package! Do you need a gift that will work for both Mom and Grandma? Book a session for both of them, and get a mini wallet album for each of them for just $50! Regular price for this is close to $100, so it's quite the steal!

#4 - Book sale! After your Mother's Day session I will personally design a photo book for you, which any mother would LOVE, and you will receive $20 off the cost of any size book! Contact me for samples and a full price list.

So, what are you waiting for? Book your Mother's Day session now and stop worrying about what to get that special lady in your life :)

It's Voting Time!

2010-04-01T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well, the time has arrived! The March photo contest has closed, and now it's time to pick the winners! There will be two grand-prize winners for this contest, one chosen by the fans, and one chosen by me. These two people will win a full photo session with me (along with some prints), valued at over $150! I will also be making a few draws for smaller prizes for both the contestants and the voters. So, it's not too late to win something! Head on over to the fan page and vote :)

Here's how it will work... you must be a fan of Gillian Ottaway Photography to vote, and you can vote up to 3 times (for 3 different photos). To vote, just go to the photo album called "Vote for a Winner" and either "Like" that photo, or leave a comment. Please leave only one comment per photo, and if you are leaving a comment, don't "Like" that photo. Easy enough!

So, tell all your friends, get them to head over and become a fan... and start voting!

And, because no post is complete without a photo, here's another stunning capture from my fabulous partner, Brandon!

Photography Tip #4 - De-clutter your background!

2010-03-30T18:22:00.001-07:00

Here it is, the final photography tip for my special March contest! This tip is an important one, and also an easy one to follow! It works especially well for posed (or semi-posed) shots, like portraits.

De-clutter your background!

It can be very distracting having bright objects, or odd shapes behind the head of your subject matter. Take this next photo for instance. *I hope my boyfriend does not kill me for putting this old, horrible photo of him on here!*

There is a table coming out of his head, a distracting red bucket in the background, and basically all sorts of clutter! By moving locations (and adding me to the shot, which always helps... hehe just kidding!), you get a much cleaner shot. The focus remains on the people (and the ridiculously cute dog) instead of on the clutter.

This photo required a bit of moving (in this case, off to the side of the trailers that we were camping in), but improves things significantly! Here's another example:

This is a great shot of my nephew when he was just a few months old! The lighting is nice, he's smiling with BIG eyes and the background is fairly neutral, which is great. The only problem is that there is some sort of stick in the top left corner. If the stick gets removed, in this case through the use of photo editing software, it makes Nate stand out just that much more. You could also achieve this same look by rotating to the right a little bit, and cropping out the stick.

So, next time you're taking photos, really look through your viewfinder and check out what is surrounding your focal point. If it looks too cluttered, move a little or consider another location, and really make your photos pop :)

Tomorrow is the last day to get your photos in for the contest! Just email me your favourite photo (taken by you) and have a chance at winning one of TWO free portrait sessions!!

<3 Gillian

Just because...

2010-03-24T23:23:00.001-07:00

I adore this man! In fact, he's the man of my dreams! How can you not love a face like this, who's willing to spend his birthday with two little munchkins that aren't even his. He's perfect and I love him :)

Oh, and the two little ones are pretty adorable too :)
<3 Gillian

The Campbell Family - Comox Valley Family Portrait Photographer

2010-03-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing some of my FAVOURITE people over the past few weeks, and was SO happy with the results. My beautiful sister (who happens to be pregnant and glowing) was visiting with my 2 year-old nephew and her husband, so we headed down to Goose Spit for some family photos.

I know I'm a little biased in this case, but aren't they just perfect? :)

My nephew is just full of smiles, all the time!

It's just too easy to make him laugh :)

And my beautiful sister, Jen. I can't wait to do a full maternity shoot when she's back in May for the birth of my new niece or nephew!

The rest of their visit was spent just relaxing at home and playing with my nephew. Loved having them here. I'll leave you with some shots of my nephew's favourite thing to do.... watch Curious George! It's a good thing it's a great movie, or i'd be VERY sick of it by now! hehe

<3 Gillian

Photography Tip #3 - Use available resources

2010-03-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Photography is a popular subject, particularly on the internet! There are SO many resources out there to help you improve your photography skills, all you need to do is FIND them! Unfortunately that can be a bit daunting, so I've done some of the footwork for you and compiled some links for you to check out on basic photography skills. So browse away and enjoy!

The Exposure Triangle - Getting perfect exposure is the key to great photographs. This article will explain the basics to you, and is quite easy to understand.

Understanding Modes on your Digital Camera - If you're just starting out you probably shoot on Automatic mode most of the time, but it's great to learn about the different modes available and what they can do for you! This article explains most of the modes found on common digital cameras.

And finally, a few articles on how to photograph specific subjects that I know a lot of people struggle with!
- Sunsets
- Beach Photos
- Christmas
- Direct sunlight

As you can see, I got all of these articles from a FANTASTIC site called The Digital Photography School. They update on a daily basis, have forums where you can ask questions and are generally a great resource for photographers of all skill levels. Check them out whenever you're in a photography bind, you won't regret it!

And because no post is complete without a photo, here is a gorgeous sunset shot taken by my partner (both in life and photography), Brandon, at Goose Spit. Also, there is just one more week until the photography contest is over, so send in your favourite shots soon!

<3 Gillian

Photography Tip #2 - Hold it steady!

2010-03-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

One of the most frustrating things that can happen with a photo is when it ends up blurry! You see the perfect moment between your two children, you grab the camera, click the shutter few times and once the moment has passed you realize that the photos were blurry. The photo below is an example of a photo ruined by movement and camera shake.

Luckily there can be an easy solution! The number one cause of blurry photos is camera shake. Okay, I made that up... I don't know if it's REALLY the #1 cause in the world, but it definitely is for me! Even the slightest shake of the camera can cause blurriness in a photo, but it's fairly easy to fix! Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Use the Viewfinder! Most new point and shoot cameras allow you to see what you're taking a picture of on the LCD screen, but you'll get a much more stable shot if you actually look through the viewfinder. Using two hands and having the camera stable against your face makes for MUCH less shake.

2. Take a deep breath before you click that button! Breathing in or out while taking a picture can cause your hands and camera to shake enough to cause some blurring. If you take a deep breath right before you shoot, you can easily stop this from happening.

3. When possible, use a tripod or stable surface to rest your camera on. Even some point and shoot cameras have the capability to use a tripod, and even a mini tripod that lets you rest the camera on a table can make a HUGE difference! A great one that allows you to manoeuvre the tripod on all sorts of different surfaces. It's called the Joby Gorillapod and is available for a good price from Future Shop here.

4. Adjust your camera settings! If you're taking photos in a low light situation, sometimes your shutter speed is just too slow, no matter how steadily you hold the camera. If you have a simple point and shoot, it will often have different modes that can help. Try using the action mode (normally identified by a little man running), this can make a HUGE difference. If you have some control over manual type settings, then try bumping up your ISO so that your camera can use a faster shutter speed.

And in the end you will get much clearer, crisper photos like this one! So give it a try, and then submit your photos to the contest! There are still 2 weeks left to enter and the prize is great :) Just submit one of your favourite photos (by email at gillottaway@hotmail.com) and tell me why you love it so much. At the end of the month I will pick my favourite photo and that person will win a full photo-shoot with me! Watch the Facebook fan page in the next day or so to see the entries we have so far. They're pretty great! :)

<3 Gillian

Photography Tips - Comox Courtenay Professional Photography

2010-03-04T21:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first photography tips post for the month of March! I'm starting out with a REALLY basic tip, but one that I find is the most common mistake that I see among peoples photography.

It's all about composition and focal point. In a photo you want to make sure the viewers eye is drawn to the most important part of the picture. Whether that is a tree, mountain, person, birthday cake or landmark, the theory is the same. Limit the amount of clutter in your photo to make sure the eye is drawn to the correct object.

The easiest way to do this is to crop your photos in tightly around your focal point. Let's take this photo of my nephew on the beach as an example...

This photo definitely needs to be cropped in more. The two boys swimming in the background make it hard to tell what exactly the point of the photo is. Do I want you to focus on the swimmers? Are all three boys important? In this case, no, I want you to only notice my incredibly adorable nephew.

If I just bring the camera in closer to my subject (by zooming or physically moving closer) it makes it much more obvious, as in the next photo.

This photo has nothing to distract us in the photo and the subject takes up most of the frame. This is exactly what we want to achieve in a photo! There is no doubt that the important part of this photo is that fabulous little boy (can you tell I'm a bit biased? hehe)

There are LOTS of ways you can implement this into your own photography. Is it your child's birthday? Zoom in so that your child's face and the cake take up most of the frame. At the park with your kids? We don't need to see the whole piece of play equipment to understand the context of a shot. Zoom in so that we see a small piece of play equipment, and your kids adorable face is taking up most of the frame.

I know that this is a very basic piece of advice, but, like I said, I see the mistake committed far too often on Facebook photos. Next time you have your camera out, move closer to your subject and see how the results turn out. Then share them with me!

Finally, don't forget about the contest! In case you forgot the details, here they are again:

I want you guys to send me your favourite photos, taken by you, for my photography contest. You can email them to me at gillottaway@hotmail.com, along with your name and the reason why you love the shot.

I will post all the entries in an album on my Facebook fan page, and at the end of the month will choose a winner. The winner will receive a photo session with me, and a print package of their favourite photos from the session!

So, spread the word! If I get enough entries I may end up having to give out extra prizes ;)

<3 Gillian

Boudoir Sessions - Comox Courtenay Boudoir Photography

2010-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

I've been busy, busy, busy editing my recent boudoir sessions and I am FINALLY able to share some with you! I have so much fun doing this kind of session, so I am still running a promotion for discounted boudoir photography sessions. People so far have commented on how fun and relaxed they are, and how sexy they feel while doing them! You definitely don't need to be a super model (or have the body of one) to take part and end up with some sizzling photos of yourself. Give them to your boyfriend, husband, partner or just keep them for yourself. You definitely won't regret it :)

Enjoy this sampling from my past sessions and contact me to for details on how you can get a session done for yourself while the sale is still on.

Photo Contest! - Comox Courtenay Family Portrait Photography

2010-02-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

That's right! I'm having a photo contest! One of the reasons I started my own photography business was because of how important my OWN family photos are to me. I love looking back over them and reliving memories. I truly do feel that everyone deserves to have GORGEOUS photos of their family, and that's the main reason why I try to keep my services affordable.

Though I would love it if all of you booked a session with me, so I could capture your family's precious memories... I also want all of you to become better photographers on your own! So for the next month I will be posting my favourite photography tips once a week on the blog! Now here's where you come in! Throughout the month of March I want you guys to send me your favourite photos, taken by you, for my photography contest. You can email them to me at gillottaway@hotmail.com, along with your name and the reason why you love the shot.

I will post all the entries in an album on my Facebook fan page, and at the end of the month will choose a winner. The winner will receive a photo session with me, and a print package of their favourite photos from the session!

So, spread the word! If I get enough entries I may end up having to give out extra prizes ;)

Now go forth and photograph! Tips post will be here next week to kick off March!

<3 Gillian

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! My boyfriend and I celebrated yesterday and had a nice evening of movies and dinner, that he cooked! I hope all of you are enjoying this day of love and that you have someone special to share it with.

Brandon and I are obsessed with self-photos of us together. I've looked back at the past 3 years of us as a couple and out of the hundreds of photos we have of eachother, there are maybe 10 of us taken by someone else. I really need to remedy that in the near future and find someone to do a professional shoot for us!

Anyways, once again, Happy Valentine's Day!

Comox/Courtenay Boudoir Photography Special

2010-02-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

Have you always wanted sexy photos of yourself but been to shy to try them out? Well, now is your chance! I'm having a boudoir photography day, next Saturday, February 20, in my studio! You'll get your boudoir photography session at half price, and still receive 20-30 images on a CD. It's a great deal, and guaranteed to be a blast.

Just send me a message for more details and to book your session!

<3 Gillian

SPLAT!!

2010-01-28T23:39:00.001-08:00

One of my favourite little people turned 5 recently and I had the pleasure of photographing his FABULOUS birthday party at the local 4Cats Art Studio. The kids had a splatter paint party which was MESSY! It's a good thing the paint wiped off my camera, because let me tell you, there was LOTS of it. I definitely recommend the parties at 4Cats if you have a young kid in your house, the kids can get messy, have a blast, and you don't have to worry about anything except bringing a bit of food.

If you're interested in having your child's birthday party (or your own for that matter!) photographed, the rates and packages are the same as a standard portrait session (rates are available on my website). It can be a huge weight off your shoulders to just relax, enjoy the day without having to make sure there's a camera out at all moments.

Enjoy!

Baby Jasmin

2010-01-23T21:40:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of shooting newborn Jasmin, who was born on December 27. She was a complete sweetheart, and SO sleepy! However, she REFUSED to pose for me! It didn't matter how asleep she was, her arms and legs just popped right back to exactly where they wanted to be. She must be fiesty, like her mamma ;) So, we just went with it and captured her just the way she wanted us to. And she looked great!

I must also mention that I have NEVER seen a baby so young that looked so much like one of the parents already! She is the spitting image of her Dad, and boy, is he smitten! He's a proud papa if I ever saw one. Congrats Leanne and Jason! I hope I get the opportunity to work with you and little Jasmin in the future!

We're Moving!

2009-12-30T14:50:00.000-08:00

In a few weeks I will have my new website up and running, and the blog will be moved to the new site! My full portfolio, as well as more information on packages and pricing, will be available on the new site, so it should me much more informative and easy to navigate.

I will keep you posted on when it is up and running, but until then, a few of my favourite photos from the past few shoots.

Leanne and Baby!

2009-11-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

I had the absolute pleasure of shooting Leanne's maternity session this week, and it was a blast! She was so much fun to work with, and was truly a GLOWING mother-to-be.

We did some studio shots and then ventured out into the rain to grab a couple more. What a trooper! And her hair stayed perfect, even when wet! ;)

If you are interested in having a maternity shoot done, please contact me for details. At the moment I am also offering a baby's first year special for only $300, but only if you book before the end of the year!

On to some photos...

Massive Update!

2009-11-07T23:01:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy doing shoots with people that I haven't had time to blog! Hopefully you've all be keeping up to date on everything through the Facebook page (which you can join by clicking over on the right there), but I will still do a quick update on the blog here :)

First, though, I wanted to mention the current special going on from now until the new year. I am currently offering a 1-2 hour session, at up to 2 locations for as many as 6 people. For the low, low price of $100 you will receive a CD with 20-30 high quality, fully edited photos from your session. This is an AMAZING deal right now, but I can only guarantee the price until the end of the year, so if you're interested, contact me now to book your date!

On to some photos, here is a sampling of shoots from the past 3 weeks:

Jacqueline and Kids

2009-10-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous shoot this past weekend with Jacqueline and her two adorable children. We played around at Filberg Park and had a blast. The kids were all over the place, but luckily they slowed down enough for me to grab some wonderful pictures of them all. Jacqueline is GORGEOUS and has a fabulous, funky style. I wish we'd had the time to get more solo shots of her, we'll have to do that next time Jacqueline!

Enjoy the sneak peak!

Also, I am still looking for certain people to get their session fee for free. If you are a teenager (or have a teenager, particularly seniors!), a young couple, newborns or pregnant moms, contact me and take advantage of a free session!

Pets!!

2009-10-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to do some shots of my Mom's fabulous pets while I was home visiting in Ontario. Her two dogs (Emma and Beau), along with her silly cat (Scruffy) mean the world to her, and I was so pleased to get her some fabulous photos of the little guys. If you're interested in having pet photos done, or just want some family pictures with your pets included, please contact me. I'm still looking for sessions to improve my portfolio for the time being, so it will be no cost to you. Doesn't get much better than that! :)

Enjoy the photos!

The Hatch Family

2009-09-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

Had a FABULOUS family portrait session on Saturday with the Hatch family. They are a great group of people and were a blast to hang out with. You can just see how much this family loves each other, from the loving glances of Mom and Dad to the hugs and cuddles between siblings. It was adorable.

I'm still looking for people to shoot for my portfolio, so if you're interested in a free session, just give me a shout!!

On to some photos...

I'm heading on vacation for a week to visit family and attend a football game, so i'll be back next week with photos from that. I'll still be available through email though, if you want to book a session.

Cheers!

Interested in a session?

2009-09-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

At the moment I am looking to do portrait sessions for children, families, couples, babies and pets. I am looking to expand my portfolio and get images to use for marketing. The cost of the sessions will be free, and I will give you a CD with 20-30 fully edited images from the session. This is for a limited time only, so if you're interested give me a call at (250) 218-6766 or email me at gillottaway@hotmail.com.

Welcome to my blog!

2009-09-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, and welcome to my blog! I'll tell you a bit about myself, to start off, and then we'll get to some photos! My name is Gillian, and i'm a 26 year old graphic designer from Comox, on beautiful Vancouver Island. I live with my boyfriend of 3 years, Brandon, and our two fur-babies, Hope (my siamese cat) and Jack (our superstar chihuahua). I'm just starting out in the wide world of photography, though i've had it as a hobby for a few years now. Earlier this year I started working as a second shooter at weddings with the very talented Stefanie Pletscher of SP Photo (if you need someone to do your wedding or studio work, DEFINITELY check her out!) and loved it. As much as I loved shooting the weddings, my heart has always been in portraits and capturing people, so that's where I'm starting out! Aside from photography, my other main hobbies are computers (I'm a World of Warcraft nut!) and scrapbooking (which happens to tie in nicely with the photography!)

Now, onto some photos! I recently did a mini-session with a fabulous little guy, Josh. He was a PRO in front of the camera and was a blast to work with. Here are some of the best shots from that day:

Hope you enjoyed the photos! I have a few more shoots this weekend, so check back soon for updates.