{done!}

I did my last 2 sessions of the year this past weekend. It's been a crazy ride this past few months but it's been GREAT! Thank you so much to all my clients in 2008 who have let me capture a moment of their lives. I am so lucky to be doing what I love!
This will probably be my last post before Christmas so I want to wish you all a very happy holiday season!
I will be back after Christmas updating the blog & website with new pictures and information as I shake things up in the new year!

Here is our Christmas card!

{sneak peek}

***Please scroll down to bottom of post for update on session openings!***

Here's yet another newborn and his family!

This family is related to the the girls on my blog header and we discovered my husband plays hockey with this Dad! Love when I find connections to my clients. It's such a small world!

This was a last minute shoot and I am so happy I was able to fit them in! This little guy was great for me. It's always iffy with "older" newborns- if you can call 2.5 weeks, old ,lol!!

But he slept and let me move him all around.

His big brother was a busy little bee but we managed to keep him one spot for about 5 minutes!

Enjoy your sneek peak "T" family!

Love this black & white, but had to show these gorgeous blue eyes!!

** *Just an update on 2008-09 sessions. I am BOOKED through January 2009!!! I will be making exceptions for newborns and maternity clients only!! I have opened up my schedule for February and March, so contact me for more info!***

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{what is the matter with me??}

2 posts in one day??

Don't I have anything better to do?

Yes, actually, I have editing to do, orders to place, orders to package, storyboards to design, dishes to do, floors to wash and don't even get me started on the laundry!

But I had to come give you the heads up about some changes going on in the new year!

#1: Session fees are going up. In the new year, session fees will be $100-$150 depending on the type of session you choose.

Types of sessions are: Simple session, Newborn & Maternity session, Senior(graduate) session, Storybook session, family session.

#2: I will be offering digital files and digital collections!

#3: New and cool products to go with collections!

I will post more about the collections and details about digital files and products, but I am still working on it and what to have all my T's crossed before I give out too much information!

I haven't posted alot of images lately so here are a few of my kiddos playing in the first snowfall!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{workin' woman wednesday...and a sneak peek}

Owning your own business is hard. It's also fun and exciting and rewarding, but hard. You need all the help you can get. And that includes from other business owners. We can help each other so much!! And I want to help you! So I'm starting a regular feature called Workin' Woman Wednesday. If you are a business owner in Winnipeg/Manitoba and have a product or service that would benefit or be of interest to children or families, I would love to profile you here!
My intent is to interview a woman owned business once a week about their businesses and have a link to their site on the right. Now we all know about good intentions, right?? I may(will) miss here and there, but will try to be consistent!!

Interested?? Here's what you need to do...
E-mail me ccswaitk@mts.net and I'll send you the interview questions.
Send me a picture of yourself...don't have one?? Well I happened to be a photographer ;) and if I have enough interest will plan a mini session (free of charge!!) in December to capture some great pics of you!
Then, when it's your turn, your intereview will be posted!

To start, I'm going to go first!

Name:Carol Swaitkewich

AKA:mmmm, nothing! I've never had a nickname! My neighbours tried to give me one a few weeks ago, but, let's just say it didn't stick!

Hails from: right here in Winnipeg, Man. I did live in B.C. for a few years as a child, and now live in LaSalle, Man.

Name of your business: Freckle Face Photography

When was your business born? October 2007 I did my first "real" shoot, my website went live January 2008.

Why did you start your business? What inspires you? I consider myself a creative person and had been looking for something I could do once my children were in school that was creative. For some reason photography didn't occur to be as a business idea until fairly recently, even though I have always been "into" photography. My children of course are a huge inspiration to me and my business. When you capture an image of a child that gives the parents goosebumps, you know you have found your calling. I've had many jobs but had never felt like it was what I was supposed to do. I feel pretty lucky because I know not everyone finds that.

What does you business offer? Quality, custom portraiture of your children and family. Capturing real life, freckles and all!

Where do you see your business in the future? Doing exactly what I do right now! But maybe a litle more efficiently! Let's just say I'm not the most organized girl around! I also plan on expanding my product line over the next little while to offer cool stuff to my clients! I would really love to have a natural light studio one day! That's in the 5 year plan!!

How do you balance work/family? This is a trick question!! I don't have a good answer which is why I'm asking it!! I need help in this area!! How do you do it???

Now for a few "fun" questions...

Skills: Getting 3 children ready for school and out the door in the morning in 1/2 an hour.

Challenges: Doing above skill without yelling,lol!

Chips or chocolate? I have to pick one?????

Secret weapon: Mini M&M's. A toddler will do anything for those!

Enemies/pet peeves: People who cel phone and drive, people who do dumb things to get on America's Funniest Home Videos.

Can't live without: My family, caffeine, my camera and the internet.

Heroes: All Moms,especially mine, (hi mom!!) my hubby (even though he never reads my blog, phfftttt!!!!)

Little known fact: I'll have to get back to you on that one... I'm not really that interesting!!

There you have it!! These will be the questions you have to answer.

Now for the picture! I'm also including a image of me and my hubby.He wouldn't like this but because he never reads this he'll never know!! We don't have anything but snapshots of us, usually he's taking the picture of us with one hand, since we were married. Definitely something we should do on a regular basis. Thanks Rosie for taking them!

Now for the sneak peek! it was SO cold the morning of this shoot but this little peanut was awesome!! She was super busy and after just learning to walk couldn't be slowed down! Your gallery will be ready soon "H" family! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{friends & neighbours... part 3}

This next sneak peek is for 2 great families!

First the "H" family...

This couple were the first neighbours we met when we were building our house and we were so happy to have such nice people living across from us!

They are now 2 members bigger since we first met them! You wouldn't recogniser her, but baby "J" was featured in a blog post this past summer.

Big sister "M".

Next up is the "C" family!

Mom "E" is a friend of mine from a mom's group and this is the 2nd time I've photographed them. I love working with them because "E" "gets me". They like unposed, unscripted, real and I love that!

This time I turned the camera on them as a couple instead of just as parents and I am thrilled with what we got!! I {heart} sunflare!!These aren't even my favs!!

Both of your galleries will be ready this week!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{friends & neighbours... part 2}

Look at me posting 2 days in a row!! Don't get used to this!

Here's my next 2 families that are friends of mine. These mom's and I share babysitting so we can all work and save some babysitting costs! It works great and our kids love playing with each other. The kids are actually here as I write this...I watching them, really I am!!

Here's the "G" family!

I {heart} this image!! So sweet!Here's the "B" family!

Coolest golf cart EVA!!

More LaSalle families coming in the next few days!!

And don't worry "E" I didn't forget about your sneak peek! It will be up next!!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{friends & neighbours... part 1}

It was a busy weekend shooting, mostly here in LaSalle, which is SO nice!! And I was shooting mostly for my friends and neighbours! I have a whole lotta pics to post but I think I'll split them up into 2 or 3 seperate posts.

Here are 2 families that I hang out on an weekly/daily basis!!

Ladies, you don't mind if I pull out my camera this weekend at the halloween party, and post them here do you??!!!

Here's the "D" family!

This is my daughter "I's" future husband!

Here's the "M/W" family!

You may recognize these beauties from my website!!

Stay tuned for part 2 soon!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{catching up on sneak peeks}

***scroll down to {100!!!} post to enter contest***

I haven't been as consistent with sneak peeks lately. It's just been too crazy! Hopefully when it slows down in a few weeks I'll be able to post some of the great families I've had the pleasure of meeting these past few weeks!

Here's a sneak peek for the "O" family!

We had a great time at the park, jumping, chasing and throwing leaves and playing on the play structure. These kids were AWESOME!! So easy going and willing to do anything I asked!

Enjoy your sneak peek!!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~

{post 99 and a favorite family}

This is my 99th post!!

The next post is 100 and I will be having my first contest!!! It's an easy one so you don't wanna miss it! Check back in the next day or so. I won't keep you waiting too long.

This is not a sneak peek because they already have their gallery but I had to share. I LOVE this family!!! Meet the "B" family.

I've known mom's brother since I was in grade 7. My husband has known this dad since high school, maybe earlier. We reconnected at their wedding social and once we had children we spent more time together. Now that our children are getting older and a whole lot busier, it's harder to get together. But we try and we always have a great time with them! Their children are so sweet and fun and they don't mind showing how much they all love each other. It's so nice to be in the company of such a loving family.

You may recognize these girls from my blog header. That session was all about them, now it's family time!Yes, their eyes are THAT blue!

Thanks for looking!

~Carol~