Happy Mother’s Day!

We celebrate Mother’s Day today in North America and in my home country, Brazil.

My mother lives far and despite all the ups and downs of our relationship I would like to wish her a wonderful day.

I guess I am celebrating in my own awkward day as it is 3:35 AM, I am working on editing the last three family galleries’ of the lovely clients from Scotland. I am so behind but by doing what I love, there is never a bad time to work!

My own kids are growing up and letting me more space to fulfilled my life with my passion of photographing children and their families now but yet they are the ones who infuse my passion.

Without them, my photography would not be the same. Without them I would not be here today, writing this post about Mother’s Day.

Yes they maybe more independent and can make their own food, take basic care of themselves however there is nothing like waking up and seeing their squishy face and hearing they are exhausted or sharing a precious smiles.

I have to work today and will have little time to celebrate my day, however I am very grateful to my mum and my own daughters who equally make my everyday very special.

I like to wish to my lovely clients, the mothers of the most sweet kids I have the pleasure to photograph every year a wonderful day too. I hope you have some lovely smiles and special memories to collect and treasure.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you out there!

Ana

My job and my passion

Those who follow my work and my journey knows how much I had invested last year in redefining my approach, on my growth as an artist. It was time for me to stop and dive deeply inside myself and evaluate my images. It was time to step forward. Any serious artist knows that from time to time, we need to grow and we can only do that by putting everything on hold and diving inside yourself. It is a painful process and if you reach it, then you achieve a real growth. I had spent many many months last year going through this. Asking myself how I could improve my art, where do I want to take it. All the answers came gradually and the designed sessions gradually took shape. I had applied all this growth  in the sessions before I returned to Aberdeen as well as to all the wonderful families who I saw during March and April 2012 in Aberdeen. It was clear to me that I had achieved something special, that  my work became even closer to my heart. The sessions are now different and I am able to achieve the goal  that  I set many months ago; which was to produce images that are ME, honest, real, simple. My job is simply to turn ordinary moments into extraordinary moments in time. To turn ordinary gestures into something that are timeless, that we can hold forever.

The image below is  a true example of this growth. it brings tears to my eyes, as such a simple gesture can endure something so powerful as a true bond between those brothers.

I am grateful for the tears that came  during this growth. I am grateful for the time I had spent diving into myself to bring out something that is closer to  me.

Thank you C and J to share this with me. I am forever grateful!

Ana

Best Friends

Today was sunny, beautiful. A warm spring day.

I had the immense pleasure to capture those two gorgeous girls who are best friends.

Different personalities who enjoy playing together.

Such a lovely time!

celebrating B’s first birthday

I had the immense honour and privilege to photograph the first birthday of this adorable little boy today.

We had chosen a good day although a bit cold, especially for this lovely brazilian family who arrived in Calgary not so long ago.

The boys were just brilliant and we did a lot of running around to warm everybody.

The pictures are just simple, beautiful and themselves.

Thank you so much, T,J,B and O for the lovely afternoon.

The last session…

had ended on a very high note!

It was my last session, number 18 in 12 days!

I had a blast in all of them.

This session took place at this wonderful family new home.

Mr.O had grew up a lot since our last session. He is talking and he is super sporty.

Their pictures are so so beautiful and super super fun.

O. is into everything that moves and circle.

Balloons, balls, anything… he is into it!

We had a ball playing games and sharing so many giggles.

Thank you W,J and O to finish my trip in such special way!

Here are your pictures

A brief pause… to leave to his own planet

I will be back in Aberdeen very soon! Can’t wait!

A reading tent filled with giggles

Yes this session took place in a two men tent…. where me and this wonderful family who I have been photographing for 4 years, played for a good 40 minutes.

When we are having fun, space is not an issue and with those girls… it just turned to extra special time as Ca is starting to learn how to read.

We had also a picnic and then party time at their bedroom.

I just love them and the girls are very very special.

Thank you D,K, Ca and Ce for filling my last day in Aberdeen with so much fun!

Can you tell how much fun they had?!

the smiles can break and melt your heart, J. is a master of those!

This little guy was jet lagged and tired. We had planned a session at a local park with his favourite thing_ Thomas… however he kept saying… ” Mum, I need a little sleep!”

Little J is a sort of duracell child that never stops on that morning, he was a tired boy.

We did spend sometime outside and then went back to his house.

He laid down and had a bit of his special cupcake…. HE CAME LIVE AGAIN!

He started running around, chasing and giggling. Like the ones that make any person smiles. He was a super star!

Thank you K.S and J for the wonderful time!

There are some very powerful connections here… just pure love!

This big smile seems to be all he needed to send jet lag away!

Just love it!

One of the reasons why Scotland has a very special place in my heart…

Every so often people asked why I say Scotland is a place I called home, well this family is one of the reasons why.

I have been  part of this wonderful family for many years now. I saw Mr.  A at two weeks old and being photographing them ever since. Their wedding was the last one I’ve done.

They are very special people and today while I was preparing the sneak preview, tears came to my eyes as I can see the reason why I love Scotland so much.

It is family like this as well as so many  others that made every session worth while, that keeps my heart beating fast and drives and enhance my passion for what I do.

It is indeed a wonderful way to celebrate my deep connection to this wonderful place.

I love you guys!

Thank you so much for bringing such a light to my day!

Ana

Now for the pictures…. just LOVE THEM!

They made those super cool fortress and they played and played and filled the air with giggles and joy!

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Ms J & Ms L!

it was a drizzly day in a beautiful forest.

The circus was decorated with beautiful black and white flowers and we played and played.

Those girls had brought giggles to this wonderful place .

We also needed to recharge their batteries at home after so much running around so a little bit of huge red lollipop kept the fun going.

I just absolute love those pictures.

Thank you so much T,P,J and L for such amazing time.

Alice ( S) in Wonderland

This session was indeed infused with passion and love.

The preparation was intense from my side as well as their mum.

The location: at grandma’s house… very much Alice.

Why Alice?!

Because those two beautiful girls are best friends and love to play with their imagination.

We had a ball playing with them and it was one of the highlights of the 18 sessions in Aberdeen.

Just really precious

Thank you A,L,S and H for a smashing time!!

One of the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever took! Forever in my heart!

really a very special family!