Blake Photography

Andrew & Roxanne's Wedding

2011-05-23T10:18:00.007-04:00

On Saturday I had the absolute privilege of photographing Andrew and Roxanne's wedding at the Bean Town Ranch. Despite a week of rain leading up to the big day, we were very lucky with the weather and had beautiful blue skies. A huge Thank You goes out to Genevieve and the entire staff at Bean Town for making my life so easy! I hope to be back soon.

Keean part 2

2011-04-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

Life with two kids is awesome!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T07:35:00.001-04:00

Keean

2011-03-30T12:00:00.003-04:00

I'm happy to announce the birth of my second son, Keean. He was born March 29th at 7:42pm weighing 7lbs 11oz and measuring 22 inches. He's a great little man is doing very well. Stay tuned for more images!

Jen's Maternity Photos

2011-03-07T20:57:00.003-05:00

William is getting very excited to become a big brother! Officially only 15 days to go until the baby is due to arrive, but we have a feeling he may make an appearance before that.

Destination Wedding Photography

2010-12-06T11:42:00.005-05:00

I was fortunate to be invited by Sheila Gallant-Halloran, of Vision 2000 Travel Group, to do a guest blog post about the importance of bringing your own photographer to your Destination Wedding. You can read the entire article on Sheila's blog HERE.

Katie & David

2010-12-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

I had a great time working with Katie and David on their wedding day recently. The ceremony was held at St. Matthias church, and we went to the Arboretum for their post-ceremony portraits. It was a great day, the sun was shining and everyone had an amazing time. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day!

Business Edge cover

2010-11-18T11:24:00.003-05:00

I recently photographed Paul Emond from Versature for the cover of Business Edge News Magazine. Congratulations, Paul, on your cross-Canada profile!

It's A Boy!

2010-11-04T13:55:00.008-04:00

Jen and I are so happy to announce that we'll be having another boy, due on March 23rd, 2010. We found out at the ultrasound this morning, and William is SO excited to be a big brother to a baby boy :)

William took this one :)

Jamie & Brooke, Part 2

2010-11-04T13:24:00.005-04:00

I'm so lucky to be a photographer! I had the absolute pleasure to see Jamie and Brooke again yesterday, this time at their home. They are two amazing little girls and they were a joy to photograph.

If you're looking for newborn photography in the Ottawa area, please give me a call. I am more than happy to travel to your home 1-2 weeks after the baby's birth to capture these images. They grow incredibly fast, so it's important to capture this special time in your lives!

Jamie & Brooke

2010-10-21T11:54:00.004-04:00

I want to wish Shauna and Jon congratulations on the birth of their twin girls, Jamie Rose and Brooke Taylor. Jamie and Brook were born on Wednesday, October 20th and are both doing very well. Thank you so much for allowing me to capture this wonderful time at the hospital!

New Logo

2010-09-22T09:52:00.003-04:00

I've been debating using a new logo for some time, please let me know what you think by either leaving a comment on this post or by sending me an email. Thanks!

Shauna & Jon

2010-09-22T09:42:00.005-04:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing Shauna's maternity session. She and Jon are expecting twin girls in October, and I'm really looking forward to my first newborn session with twins!

Lightning

2010-09-09T17:05:00.002-04:00

I had a great time at the cottage over the last 9 days, and one of the highlights was the incredible lightning storm on September 7th. I got some good images when the storm was right over the cottage, but the really good stuff came about an hour later. The stars were out with a storm across the water, but it only lasted for about 30 minutes and then another big storm moved back in over the cottage.

Hockey for the Homeless

2010-04-12T21:53:00.004-04:00

A big thank you to the following people for sponsoring me in my quest to raise $1000 for Hockey for the Homeless:

Roger & Irene Blake
Julie Blake
Nancy MacDougall
Kathy Kruivitsky
Linda Visosky
Jer Girouard
Caroline Midgley

I would really appreciate additional donations, I'm currently at 40% of my goal.

Donations of $25.00 CAD or greater will automatically receive an electronic tax receipt http://hfth.akaraisin.com/p/PatBlake.aspx

Hockey for the Homeless

2010-04-06T09:47:00.002-04:00

I'm going to be playing in pretty cool fundraiser tournament on April 23rd. A lot of time and dedication has gone into planning the event, and this will be the first year it will take place in Ottawa. "Hockey for the Homeless" began in 1996 when a group of businessmen decided to turn an annual hockey tournament into a charitable event aimed at helping the homeless in the City of Toronto. Over the years the tournament has grown and it has helped raise 2.5 Million dollars for over 15,000 homeless men, women and children across Canada. This year it's our turn to do the same in the Capital.

What is it?
A local hockey tournament at the Bell SensPlex where you are made to feel like a pro! Participants get an unforgettable experience. The tournament is designed to allow participants to taste that dream - to feel like a pro for a day.

No detail is spared to make this an unforgettable experience for all participants:

We dress them like a pro in their very own personalized jersey
We feed them like a pro at lunch and dinner
We provide beverages in the dressing room and on the bench
Every room is stocked with tape and pucks.
FREE BEER ALL DAY

Not only do we provide you with a pro-like experience, each team gets to play with two former NHLers. The NHL Alumni players actually dress in the same room as the participants – truly a once in a lifetime experience.

When is it?
April 23rd 2010 at the Bell Sensplex in Kanata

Format of the day:
- Players arrive at the arena in the morning and are shown to their dressing room for the day.
- Each player plays a minimum of three games alongside ex-NHLers and is served lunch and refreshments
- A silent auction with valuable prizes and one-of-a-kind memorabilia items is held after the event.
- A full evening reception dinner with emcee and guest speaker is provided at a nearby location.

How can I help?
1) Direct Sponsorship.
Any little bit counts! You can sponsor me directly at http://hfth.akaraisin.com/p/PatBlake.aspx

2) Play in the tournament
It is going to be a great day! I highly recommend it! Great experience, good food, great company and some awesome hockey! The tournament registration fee is $200.00 and you can register at
http://www.hockeyforthehomeless.com/

3) Corporate Sponsorship
If you are interested in being a corporate sponsor let me know and I will send you over the Corporate Sponsorship package.

My goal is to raise $1,000 and I am going to need your help!

Thank you very much for your generous support!

Pat

Executive Portraits

2010-04-05T15:54:00.004-04:00

Freshen your look this Spring!

Look great in your business cards, networking sites, brochures, and newsletters with an updated professional portrait.

You work hard to build your business. Now it’s time to improve your own ROI with a professional headshot.

Blake Photography will work hard to accommodate your busy schedule. Join us for a “power lunch” session for only $110. Take images, instantly review the session, select your image order, and be out the door in under an hour!

To schedule an appointment call Blake Photography at 613-884-3355.

Your help is needed

2009-10-16T11:21:00.004-04:00

Three weeks ago my best friend, OPP Const. Mike Poirier was hit by a drunk driver while on duty. While lucky to be alive, his recovery will be a long one. His wife, Lisa, is pregnant with their second child, and they will need all the help they can get this winter as Lisa will be limited in the help she can give Mike because she is expecting, and Mike will be concentrating on his healing.

If you are able to help them, contributions can be made at any TD Canada branch in Canada to account 2916 6042440 to Pat Blake in trust for Mike Poirier.

In honour of Mike's profession, and to express my gratitude for all of those who keep us safe, until the end of November all Police, Fire, Paramedic and Military personnel will receive a complimentary sitting fee, and I will contribute $25 from each session to Mike and Lisa. I feel that a family portrait is the perfect way to share my appreciation for those that put others first so often.

Turks and Caicos Trash the Dress

2009-09-19T12:52:00.007-04:00

Kim and Colin wanted to do a trash the dress session, so on Friday we went out and created more photographs in the ocean and at the pool.

Colin is a good friend, and he's also a photographer. You can view more photos on his blog at http://colingemmell.blogspot.com/

Turks and Caicos Part IV

2009-09-19T12:48:00.002-04:00

Turks and Caicos Part III

2009-09-17T12:57:00.005-04:00

Turks and Caicos Part II

2009-09-16T16:38:00.003-04:00

I made it safely. Here are a couple of photographs from around the resort. Today we spent the day walking around and planning the wedding photography, which is happening tomorrow. This is a huge advantage to bringing your photographer with you to your destination wedding: you can work very closely with them to ensure that the day is captured exactly the way you want it to be.

It's hot here - the humidex right now is 45-degrees Celcius! The nice thing about this resort is that there are a ton of fantastic locations for photography, no matter what the weather is doing. Keep checking back, I'll try to post some wedding photos durning the day tomorrow.

Turks and Caicos Part I

2009-09-14T22:25:00.002-04:00

The Ottawa airport was almost empty.

I left today for Turks and Caicos to photograph my friend Colin's wedding. This will be my first destination wedding and I can't wait!

Stay tuned for more.

France & Ali

2009-09-13T11:19:00.001-04:00

France and Ali are proud parents of their new baby girl. It was really exciting to photograph 4 generations of this family at the same time, as France's parents and grandparents were also there for the session.

Family Portrait - On Location

2009-08-20T15:04:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure recently of working with my neighboors to create their family portraits using their custom-built home as the backdrop. I love getting out of the studio to create portraits like these!

2009-07-26T20:12:00.006-04:00

Vivan and Eric from Blend Creations chose to have their family portraits created at the Arboretum in Ottawa. It's a great location for family portraits as well as weddings, and if you're thinking of either in Ottawa consider this amazing spot.

Family Portrait - On Location

2009-07-09T12:26:00.006-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to work with Jim and Amy to create their family portrait in their home. It had been a few years since they'd had a family portrait, and with the addition of their daughter 4 months ago it was time.

If you're looking for a photographer in Ottawa or the surrounding area to help you create a family portrait that you can cherish for many years, I would be pleased to chat with you.

Myths and Misconceptions

2009-06-30T14:36:00.001-04:00

The 5 Myths, Mistakes, And Misconceptions About Having A Family Portrait Created

By visiting my website and blog, you must at least be considering having a portrait of your family created. You will probably never make a decision that will bring you more lasting joy. However, there are some things you NEED to know before you and your loved ones step in front of any camera. By the time you finish reading this, you will know everything you need to know about how to have the perfect family portrait created - the one you will cherish forever!

You may feel that having a family portrait done is going to be a lot of work on your part. Well, it isn't! In fact, that could almost be one of the "myths or mistakes" right there. As long as you know the information that follows, it won't be any work at all on your part.

#1 Myth, Mistake Or Misconception:
"There's No Way To GUARANTEE I Will Love My Family Portraits."

WRONG! Depending on who creates your family portrait, that is. Just suppose you had a family portrait created, and your son or daughter didn't look natural. The photograph was "ok," but it didn't turn out the way you wanted. Should you have to pay for it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I believe strongly that no one should ever have to pay for a photograph that isn't PERFECT. That's why I am the only photographer in Ottawa to offer the following guarantee:

Here's My Guarantee - Unlike Any You've Ever Heard:

If Your Family Doesn't Look The Happiest & Best They've Ever Looked Together In These Photographs - You Don't Pay Me For Them.

That's my guarantee and personal promise to you. As far as I know, there's no other photographer around that will make you this amazing guarantee. These photographs will be completely meaningless to you unless they convey the real emotions and relationships between you and your loved ones. That's the only real reason to have a family portrait created.

So, if FOR ANY REASON you feel that the photographs I create for you are anything less than perfect, you don't pay me for them. It's that simple.

Obviously, I'm totally confident that the portraits I create of you and your family will be well beyond anything you imagine. I believe completely that these photographs will become your most prized possessions - that, if your house were on fire, you would grab them on the way out of your burning home. This is not arrogance. No, this is a complete belief in my abilities to capture natural, real emotions and family relationships on film unlike anyone else.

So, To Restate, Here's My Fantastic DOUBLE GUARANTEE:

If you are not THRILLED with your photographs - if you are dissatisfied for ANY reason at all, I will do two things for you:

1st - At NO CHARGE, I will photograph your family again, and make sure that anything that wasn't perfect is fixed, without you paying another cent.

2nd - If I am absolutely unable to thrill you - if I'm unable to create a photograph that you feel you will cherish forever, I will refund EVERY PENNY you invested in them. You don't pay for your photographs unless you love them beyond expression!

If I don't end up being your photographer, make ABSOLUTELY SURE your photographer offers this strong of a guarantee. If they are good, they should back up their work by taking all the risk off of you.

#2 Myth, Mistake Or Misconception:
 "All Family Portraits Are Created Equal."

INCORRECT. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you're at all like most people, you've probably had this question going through your mind: "How do I choose the right photographer?" In fact, you may even have thought of someone in your family - an uncle, a grandparent, even a friend - who is a bit of an amateur photographer. Why not just have that person create the photograph of your family?

Question: "Just Suppose Someone Were To Create The Perfect Family Portrait - One Where You And Your Loved Ones Looked Better Than Ever, Happier Than Ever - A Portrait That Meant The World To You - What Would That Be Worth?"

No price tag can be put on your family's memories. They are, and always will be, priceless. So, why would you ever want to gamble with those memories? It's just a question of whether you believe a portrait of your family could really mean that much to you.

If you were sick, and had to go to a doctor, would you want the "cheapest" doctor, or the best one? Well, there's really no question. It's the same thing with your family's memories. You can certainly find a cheaper photographer in town. But there are other things to consider than just price...

The Photographer You Choose Should Care About YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MEMORIES.

I pride myself on becoming a family friend of every family I photograph. I CHOSE to become a professional family photographer. Why did I make that career choice? Because I finally realized that all the money in the world meant nothing to me if I didn't feel like I was making a difference.

I Realized That Memories Were Priceless - That There Was No More Noble Or Wonderful Profession Than To Become A "Memory Giver."

Time is the one thing that none of us have enough of. It's the one thing that money can't buy. It's the one thing that we all would give just about anything for. Through photography, we can hold on to the moments in our lives that we wish could last forever. And, if it's done correctly, these same photographs can become almost like works of art that we display in our homes for everyone to see and share.

Don't Make The Decision As To Who Will Photograph Your Family Until You Chat With Me. There Are Things You'll Want To Ask The Photographers...

There's no cost, and no obligation to just chat with me, and it will make the whole difference as to how great your portraits will look.

Simply CLICK HERE to find out how to contact me by phone, just to chat. If you decide to have me create your portraits - great. If not, no problem.

#3 Myth, Mistake Or Misconception: 
"Family Portraits Have To Be Created In A Professional Studio - And They Have To Look Boring."

If you're like most people, when you think of a PROFESSIONAL family portrait, you think of all of you gathered in front of a "painted background" in a photography studio, posed unnaturally, and all saying "cheese" as the photographer snaps the picture. Now, is that something any family will cherish for a lifetime? I think not. Yes, it may capture the whole family together, but it will never capture your family relationships - your family's love.

Picture instead: All of you gathered in your favorite room in your home. Or outside on the new deck you just had built. Or in your backyard by the pine trees that give your yard so much character. All of you are dressed in clothes the photographer helped you choose - clothing that conveys your individual personalities, but still looks great together.

Well, that's what makes all the difference, and that's what I will do for you.

And This is SO Important: All Of You Feel Totally Comfortable In Front Of The Camera!

Do you know ANYONE who feels totally comfortable in front of a camera? I'll bet you don't. I don't. Nearly everyone I've ever met tells me the same thing: "I never look natural in pictures." The last thing you want is a photograph where you or your family members have that fake "posed" look on your face.

That's why it's so important that you feel very natural and comfortable with your photographer. Just think of how great your family would look if your best friend were creating the photograph. They would all look so happy and natural! I take pride in developing very close relationships with all my clients, and their entire family.

Plus, I understand the "psychology" of photography. Learning the technical aspects - what lenses to use, what lighting looks best, how clothing adds and subtracts weight in a photograph - all of those things were only the tip of the iceberg. Without being able to make each and every one of your family members look and feel comfortable (and natural), all those technical things would amount to nothing.

You'll NEVER hear me utter the words "say cheese."

That's a surefire way of getting expressions that look totally fake and unnatural. No - a great photographer knows that, in order to get a great expression from a subject, you need to get to know that subject a bit - to know what will make them smile naturally. That's what I do, and I love it! I will get to know your whole family so well, and they will feel so comfortable with me, that their expressions will be perfect every time.

#4 Myth, Mistake Or Misconception: 
"There's No One To Help Me Make Choices About Clothing, Hair, Makeup, Location, etc..."

Okay, normally you would be right thinking that. However, I pride myself in being different. I'm going to help you with all of those things, WHETHER I'M YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER OR NOT!
My Years Of Experience Photographing Families - Yours FREE - Without Any Obligation.
Okay, by now you are probably considering having a family portrait created. You may even be considering choosing me as your photographer - but I don't want you to make that decision just yet.

No matter who creates your photographs for you, you will need to make some decisions. What clothing should your family wear? Where should this photograph be created? How heavy should the makeup be on the ladies in the photograph? There are a number of things to think about, and I will walk you through all of them personally.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO RIGHT THIS SECOND? (and why?)

Pick up the phone, and call my studio. CLICK HERE for the number.

Even if it's after business hours, still call right now. I've got an answering machine that is just waiting to cheerfully take your message, and I'll personally call you back so we can chat. Just let me know when is a good time to call you back. Don't worry, I'm not going to try to "pressure" you at all into working with me. Plus, there's no cost at all for us just to chat.

When you call, we'll chat briefly about the things you need to know. I'll tell you a bit about me. I'll answer all your questions about how to prepare for a family portrait. It won't be a long call, but it will be one of the most important calls you make.

#5 Myth, Mistake Or Misconception: 
"There's No Rush To Have A Family Portrait Created Right Now."

You know how things are. If you don't pick up the phone right now, and at least call me to chat about your family portrait, you will probably get swamped with other things, and forget all about it. Then, before you know it, a year - two years - five years have gone by. How different will your family be then?

You see, time is ticking.... and it's never going to stop.

First, Your Child Takes His or Her First Step. Next, Learns To Ride A Bike. Later, Gets A Driver's Licence. Graduates From High School. Gets Married. Starts A Family Of His or Her Own.

These are precious times, and although things will change, this moment never has to slip from your fingers.

Don't put this off. You know how life is. We put things off, and before we know it, everything has changed. If your life is half as crazy as mine is, year after year you find yourself frustrated at the things you wanted to do, and never got done. A family portrait is something you deserve.

Plus, You Will Save 50% By Acting Right Now!

Just suppose you call my studio and chat with me. Just suppose you decide you would like me to be your photographer. As long as you are one of the first 19 PEOPLE to call me (for your FREE chat), I will send you a 50% OFF certificate in the mail that will allow you to deduct 50% off the creation of your family portrait!

What does that mean? All you do is call me to chat. I'll answer all your questions about family photography. I'll send you your 50% off certificate. If you decide to have your family portrait created by me, you may use this certificate to save 50% off the creation of your images! It's that simple!

It's Not Too Late. This Moment, Right Now, Can Be Held Onto For The Rest Of Your Life - For You To Share With Family And Friends.

You don't have to make a big decision right now. You don't have to choose your photographer - you don't even have to decide that now is the time for your family portrait. Just take one small step toward holding onto your family's happiest moments RIGHT NOW.

Just Call My Studio, And We'll Chat. And, Remember, If You Decide You Want Me To Create Your Family Portrait, Save 50% Off It's Creation. It's All Up To You.

Once again, CLICK HERE for my studio number, and you can call any time. If I don't answer, just leave your name and number, and I'll call you back. If you're thinking of this family photograph as a GIFT FOR SOMEONE, let me know, so when I call back, I only ask for you, and don't spoil the surprise!

The Perfect Family Portrait Is Only One Phone Call Away...

Make the call now. It will be a call you will be glad you made for the rest of your life. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Patrick Blake,  Photographer

P.S. - Remember, call me just to chat, and if you're one of the first 19 people to do so, I will send you a CERTIFICATE FOR 50% OFF the creation of your family portraits! There's no cost, and no obligation for this chat. Your family portraits shouldn't be trusted to any photographer who doesn't realize what a responsibility it is to make sure these portraits are perfect. These are your memories - don't trust them to just anyone. You've nothing to lose, and so many great memories to gain. Call my studio now - no cost, no obligation - CLICK HERE TO CALL ME (no cost, no obligation)!

Cheryl & NIck's Wedding

2009-06-23T17:05:00.006-04:00

This past weekend I had the great pleasure of working with Cheryl and Nick to capture their wedding celebrations. The entire wedding was held at Nick's brother's house in Cumberland and we also drove down the road to the Galla's Heritage Ristorante for these photographs.

It was fun to see Cheryl in a black dress and Nick in a white suit - it definitely made for some great images.

I still have some dates open for weddings this summer. If you're looking for a photographer who enjoys photographing weddings and has fun during the entire event, I'd love to speak to you!

10th Annual BNI Golf Tournament

2009-06-11T10:26:00.001-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing BNI's annual golf tournament held at the Metclafe Golf Course in Ottawa. The tournament is held in support of Make-A-Wish and this year we raised $6,500 for this great cause.

If you'd like to see more images from the day, you can view them HERE.

Baby Plan - Newborn

2009-05-25T11:41:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest installment from Nadine and Andrew's baby plan series. For the second session in the baby plan, I will go to the new parent's home to photograph the baby. Having gone through the first couple of weeks with a new baby myself, I know what a big adjustment it is. For that reason I travel to them, at no extra charge. In fact, for any of my location work, whether it's a newborn portrait, a family portrait or a wedding, the travel fee is included.

Maternity Photography

2009-05-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with Nadine and Andrew to create maternity portraits before their daughter was born.

If you're pregnant or know of someone who is, I highly recommend having this type of portrait created - it's a great way to capture the memories of your pregnancy!

I also offer a baby plan which allows you to have a maternity session; a newborn portrait; and a 3-month, 6-month and 1-year portrait of your child.

This will let you remember your baby's first year, from pregnancy to walking, in a very special way. If you'd like more information about this great plan, please feel free to contact me at info [at] blakephotography [dot] ca or by phone at 613-884-3355.

As with all my work, your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If FOR ANY REASON you feel that the photographs I create for you are anything less than perfect, if you don't honestly feel that you look better than you've ever looked before, you don't pay me for them. It's that simple. Please visit my website for all the details.

Website Updated!

2009-05-06T17:42:00.006-04:00

My website is now updated and live. One of the main changes I've made to the site is that there is now a flash version (for people with DSL and Cable internet connections) and an HTML version for those on dial-up or who want a faster-loading site.

I've also included a new bio, some testimonials and a section that explains my incredible 100% guarantee.

Keep checking back over the next few weeks as I'll be adding more content and changing some of the images as new sessions are completed.

If you or anyone you know is getting married, looking for an updated family portrait, or has a new baby, please have them give me a call!

New look

2009-05-04T14:38:00.002-04:00

If you've been a regular visitor here, you'll notice that my blog has a new look. Stay tuned, as I'm currently updating my website which will hopefully be up and running by the end of the week. I'm also going to try posting something at least once a week to keep things current.

2008-11-27T06:27:00.004-05:00

This is a project I recently completed for a condominium development company in Ottawa. They are building two new towers near Dow's Lake and wanted to be able to show prospective clients the view towards the Gatineau hills. I will be installing an 8-foot display at their sales office next week, when it's complete I'll post the photos here.

If you have any need for commercial photography, whether it's architecture, products or food, please contact me for a custom quote.

Busniess Portraits

2008-11-26T17:54:00.000-05:00

I recently completed some business portraits for a past client. This is a great marketing tool for anyone in business who needs to present themselves in a positive manner. Real estate agents, mortgage brokers, insurance agents and many other people use their image to promote their businesses, and their photograph should be current and up-to-date.

If you or anyone you know is in need of a high quality, fully retouched business portrait please have them call me. The sessions are fun and professional, and all work is 100% guaranteed.

Dragonfly

2008-09-17T08:40:00.001-04:00

I saw this huge dragonfly on the side of my house last night around 10 and it was still there this morning. Hope you like it!

CHEO 100

2008-09-09T21:43:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with Johnny Hunt of Com/Choice Realty in Ottawa. He and his good friend Mike Machargo put together another one of their great fundraisers for CHEO - The CHEO 100. The weather did not fully cooperate, but everyone who attended had a great time. If you were at the event and would like to order photographs, you can view them HERE. All proceeds will be dontated to CHEO.

Jonah Elliott

2008-08-20T10:00:00.002-04:00

A big Congrats goes out to Stacey and Guillaume on the arrival of Jonah to their family on a very lucky 08-08-08. Jonah is a big boy, he weighed in at 9lbs, 3oz.

I've had the pleasure of working with Stacey and Guillaume over the last few years - I photographed Stacey's maternity sessions for both her kids; I've done the newborn photography for both Etienne and Jonah; and I did a family session for them for their Christmas cards a couple of years ago. They are a pleasure to work with and I look forward to seeing more of them over the coming years as their family grows.

Congratulations!

2008-07-28T19:20:00.004-04:00

A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Lisa and Mike! Lisa gave birth to their first child, Adèle Rae Poirier, on July 27th. Adèle weighed in at 8lbs 2oz and she's doing great. I was lucky enough to visit them in the hospital this afternoon and Adèle is quite a little sweetie. I'm looking forward to doing some newborn photography for Lisa and Mike once Adèle is home and settled in.

If you've getting ready to have a baby, or if you've just given birth, I would be pleased to speak with you about newborn photography for your baby. I offer at-home portraiture of your child and will work with you to make the baby as comfortable as possible for the photography. I am located in Navan and am pleased to visit your home anywhere in Ottawa and the surrounding area. Of course, you are also able to stop by my studio for the photography if you wish. I can be reached by phone at 613-884-3355 or send me an email to info@blakephotography.ca.

William's cake

2008-07-24T22:50:00.003-04:00

William will be turning 1 on August 5th, and I wanted to create a portrait to mark the occasion. He's having his first taste of cake in these photos (and so is KC!).

If you'd like to do something similar for your own baby please let me know, I would be happy to do a session like this for you. If you have a little girl I can photograph her on a pink background with a pink cake.

This was a lot of fun, if only to see his reaction to a very new experience.

Another K6 partnership

2008-07-24T18:25:00.002-04:00

I teamed up with Tristan and Christian from K6 media to provide them with imagery for some vehicle wraps they're producing for the Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts. They'll be doing two more vehicles in addition to this one. Once everything is done, I'll try to post images of the real thing.

Stacey, Guillaume & Etienne

2008-07-16T18:15:00.002-04:00

This is another recent maternity session with some past clients. Stacey & Guillaume are amazing parents and Etienne is going to be a fantastic big brother, he's already giving kisses to the baby. Here's what Stacey had to say after viewing the proofs:

"Oh my Gosh Pat, you've done it again. I have never seen so many gorgeous pictures. I'm really speachless and it makes me want to have another one just to have another photo shoot!"

Thanks for the positive feedback, Stacey. See you for the newborn session!

Lisa & Mike

2008-07-07T21:48:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to photograph Lisa's maternity session before little Adele arrives. Adele is a couple of days behind schedule, so she should be here any day now. Can't wait to meet her!

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T10:34:00.002-04:00

This is William's first Easter, so of course we need a photo!

He's now almost 8 months old and he's a big, strong boy. Will now weighs in at almost 24 pounds! We think he'll be crawling any day.

Hype

2008-03-22T17:15:00.000-04:00

I was hired by Tristan at K6 Media to photograph this can for a new energy drink company called Hype. The image will be used as part of a vehicle wrap for the company. When it's all done I'll post more photos.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T08:51:00.002-05:00

Alexander

2008-02-08T18:56:00.000-05:00

This is a recent newborn session, I hope you like it.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T09:36:00.000-05:00

Emily & Dale

2007-12-01T21:04:00.001-05:00

Today Emily and her father Dale came by the studio for a session. Emily is a cutie, and if you look closely, you'll see that her pupils (especially her left) are tear-drop shaped.

Christmas is coming!

2007-11-27T15:43:00.000-05:00

It's still not too late to book your portrait sitting with Blake Photography! Many of us dislike fighting the crowds at the mall, especially when we're trying to find a gift for that person that "has everything".

Why not give a gift from the heart this Holiday Season? Come to Blake Photography and let us help you create a family portrait that you'll treasure for years to come. We can create your portraits at our studio in Navan, in your home or at a location of your choice (location fees may apply, please call for details). We have a wide selection of products, and we can even create custom cards from your images that you can send to family and friends.

If you mention this post, you'll receive a free set of 8 2x3 wallets (a $29.00 value) for any sittings booked before December 10th.

To see more samples, please visit our website at blakephotography.ca Call at 613-884-3355 to book your appointment.

Poirier Family

2007-11-27T15:06:00.001-05:00

On the weekend I had the opportunity to visit Carl Poirier of Cayenne Creative at his home to do some family photos. Carl and his wife Natalie recently had a baby girl named Lilliane who was born October 10th.

It was a lot of fun working with Nat and Carl and their other two daughters Caroline and Isabelle.

William

2007-11-19T23:40:00.000-05:00

Here's a shot of the best little man in the world. Thanks, Auntie Shauna, for a great outfit! More to come, keep checking back.

Mackenzie

2007-11-17T17:35:00.000-05:00

Today I had the pleasure of photographing Mackenzie. She was a blast, full of personality and boy, does she like jelly beans!

Megan

2007-11-14T14:27:00.000-05:00

I was going through some images that I'll be enlarging to display as samples in my studio, and I came across these ones.

Megan recently turned 1, and she came in with her mom Sue for a sitting. Truthfully, it's pretty hard not to get a great image with such natural models!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-30T23:15:00.001-04:00

Prolity

2007-10-26T14:40:00.000-04:00

Here's another project I worked on with Carl from Cayenne. Prolity distributes the Microdrone and the RDCC.

The Microdrone can be fitted with a camera, video or infrared for monitoring crisis situations, military operations, search and rescue and many other applications.

The RDCC is used in the same situations as above, and it provides on-site communications in any environment.

Boone

2007-10-24T12:57:00.001-04:00

I've been working with my graphic designer, Carl Poirier from Cayenne Creative, to photograph the exteriors of all four Boone locations in Ottawa.

It's always a challenge to make a building in an industrial park look good, but I think this one passes the test. Stay tuned for the other locations, coming later this week and next.

William

2007-10-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

Here's a shot I took of William during a break in the action. He's pretty cute, if I do say so myslef!

It's been a while

2007-10-22T08:55:00.001-04:00

Ok, I've been pretty delinquent about posting here, and I hope to be better in the future. Hopefully it's not 5 months between this post and the next!

Since my last post, our son William was born. He arrived on August 5th at 4:07pm at home (9lbs. / 21.5") and has been doing amazingly well since then. As of last week, he was already 18lbs! I'll post more photos of him and us in the next few days.

Thanks to Colin Gemmell for coming over yesterday to do some photos of our family, as usual he did an amazing job.

William's Crib

2007-04-27T23:33:00.000-04:00

Today Jen and I attended our first pre-natal class at the Monfort Hospital. I wasn't expecting much, but our instructor Kim was amazing. She was funny and entertaining, and she made the time fly by. We go back tomorrow morning for round 2.

After the class, we went out for lunch at The Works, an amazing burger joint. Then we went and picked up William's new crib and change table, came home and assembled them. 13 weeks to go until the big day - I can't wait!

April 26th

2007-04-26T22:50:00.000-04:00

I got this set at the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam. Jen and I were in Europe for our honeymoon from October '01 to February '02. We started at a resort in Portugal for two weeks to start, and then we backpacked through Europe for the next 5 months, eventually visiting 12 countries. If you ever get a chance to go to Europe, I highly recommend it - we had a blast.

2007-04-25T23:36:00.000-04:00

The season of Jen is still in full swing. Tonight we had dinner with her father at the Merlot Grill at the top of the Marriott hotel in downtown Ottawa. The restaurant revolves once every 2 hours, and I took this shot as we came around to see the river and Parliament Hill.

William

2007-04-24T22:33:00.000-04:00

Today's picture is in honour of my son, William, who's due to be born on July 22nd. Jen and I can't wait to meet him. Here's his latest photo from February 26th:

April 23rd

2007-04-23T22:51:00.000-04:00

Photo a day continues. I'm looking forward to Wednesday when I get to see the Algonquin College Photography Exhibition. Hard to believe it's been 9 years since I graduated. Where does the time go?

Montebello

2007-04-23T22:46:00.000-04:00

Well, the season of Jen continued yesterday. We went to Montebello for brunch, and then got a couples massage at the spa. Both were fabulous.

April 21st

2007-04-21T21:57:00.000-04:00

This is Milo, one of my parents' two Maine Coon cats. He and his brother, Benny, spend their days hiding in the basement, and in Milo's case, in this wine rack. They're both beautiful cats, just extremely scared of everything except my Dad, who is also known as Dr. Doolittle. I'm surprised Milo stuck around long enough for me to get this shot.

April 20th

2007-04-21T21:56:00.000-04:00

The trees in my back yard.

2007-04-19T22:37:00.001-04:00

No story today, just a small statue from around the house.

Dinner last night was fabulous! If you know anyone who's a member at the Rideau Club, I highly recommend you ask them to bring you for a dinner.

April 18th

2007-04-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

Happy 30th Birthday to the love of my life, Jen.

Jen and I are off to celebrate her birthday at the Rideau Club. This is one meal I've been looking forward to for a long time, and it's not even my birthday!

The Sens beat Pittsburgh last night to go up 3-1, and I just found out summer hockey starts on Sunday, so I figured I'd go with a hockey theme today. This is the blade of my skate, from front to back.

April 17th

2007-04-17T22:45:00.000-04:00

Ok, not much to say about this one, except it's orange. I had an idea for a shot when I picked my wife Jen up at the airport this afternoon, but in my rush to get out the door to get her, I never remembered the camera. Oh well, next time.

My Andy Warhol moment

2007-04-16T21:32:00.000-04:00

Ok, today's photo started out only as my desire to think of something other than the 10cm of snow we got today. So looked around the house for something that would represent warmer climates, and I found this cactus. Who knew there was a cactus in the house? I didn't until about a half-hour ago.

Once I got it in Photoshop, I started playing around with different effects, and one thing let to another until I came up with this. I told you this was stretching my creativity!

Three other photographers (Jon Harrington & Marc Desnoyers of Icon Imaging and Colin Gemmell of On Point Photography) are participating in the photo-a-day, and you can see all the photos HERE. Colin has his own blog that you can see at http://colingemmell.blogspot.com.

Photo-A-Day

2007-04-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

Since the beginning of April, I've been taking one photo everyday. The only rules: I can only photograph the same subject once, and I only get one frame (click of the shutter) to get the photo right. I've been having a lot of fun with it. It's really stretching my imagination to come up with different subjects and finding new & unique ways of lighting them. I hope you enjoy the photos.

Day 15
Today I needed a thumbnail for the entry to my blog on my website, so here's what I came up with:

Day 14
OK, I cheated on the one frame per day rule. You would too if you had to time dropping the dice at exactly the same time as the timer ended. I figured since I had to do another shot, I may as well keep shooting 'till I got something I like.

Day 13
Rock salt. Hopefully we don't need any more this year!

Day 12
MMMMMMM.......Pizza

Day 11
A self-portrait. Any of you fellow Canadians will know the frequency of winning another chance to play "Roll Up the Rim to Win!". My Dad got me one of those rim rollers from Lee Valley tools - they really do a good job. Just make sure the cup is empty when you roll your rim!

Day 10
This is probably my favourite photo of the month. This can was in the middle of a farmer's field near my house.

Day 9
I seem to be having a hard time uploading this one for some reason. I'll keep trying, but if it doesn't get posted, that's OK. It wasn't one of my favourites anyway.

Day 8
One of KC's MANY toys. Just wait 'till we have kids, we'll never see the floor!

Day 7
Looks a whole lot better than it tasted. Actually, it didn't really taste at all, which was the problem.

Day 6
On the feeder in my backyard.

Day 5
If you guessed packing peanuts, you're right.

Day 4
The power went out, so I worked on my laptop till the battery went dead.

Day 3
I've been working out for the last 5 months at Lean + Fit. If you're in the Ottawa area, I highly recommend it, I've had a blast.

Day 2
A tulip for the start of Spring.

Day 1
The best dog in the world, KC. He's a Schnoodle, and his current favourite toy is this stuffed carrot. He carries it everywhere, and unlike all his other stuffed toys, he doesn't feel the need to take all the stuffing out.

Welcome to my Blog

2007-04-15T14:48:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it! After a lot of work and many hours at my computer, my website has been totally transformed. Please take a look and check back often - I'll be adding new content here and on my website on a regular basis.

Please feel free to send me any feedback you think might help.