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The Rachel Blog Wants You!


Join my photography adventures!! I want you to be a part of my passionate journey for life and photography. Signing up will keep you posted on what is going on, and you'll also get a chance to be a part of the fun. I'm always looking for ideas and new things to capture, so you can help me! Here are a few samples of things that I've got planned:


- Random shout out's for models when needed - everything from newly engaged couples to a little girl with raven hair and green eyes!

- Rants & Rachelism's

- Showcasing clients being fabulous

- Happiness Findings

- Current and updated information on packages, news & my travels

- Contests to win big!


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190
I met Katelyn & David over a year ago when we choose to meet to do their engagement session in Charlottetown. I knew from the minute I met them that they would be a sweet couple to work with. I spent the time with them doing their session which seems like yesterday, but now that along with their wedding day have passed. It is hard to believe that wedding photography requires over a year ahead to be booked.

Katelyn & David's day was at the beautiful Stanley Bridge Resort. The weather was perfect for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the water. Friends and Family were all very happy to see this amazing time finally here! We then went around the New London area to do photos. The day ended back at Stanley Bridge Resort for a delicious meal and some dancing!


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(5) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
Kim MSMF:

It was a beautiful day! :) Gorgeous bride and stunning dress :)

(08.24.10)
jennifer Collings:

OMG I love her dress!

(08.25.10)
jennifer Collings:

I love her dress! :)

(08.25.10)
Cass:

love the purple accents!

(08.26.10)
shadi:

Beautiful Bride ..

(09.02.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Katelyn + David = Married . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogbyrachel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/189
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193
A wish is a hope or desire for something. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.

wish: (plural wishes)

  1. a will for something to happen.
    Your dearest wish will come true.
This is exactly what my sister did. She made 3 wishes. 3 huge wishes. I bought her a wish bracelet on one of my ventures from the "oh so cool" store Fred Segal in Los Angeles.The rule of the bracelet was to make 3 wishes and when they came true, the bracelet would fall off. This past May when we were in Cuba, the bracelet came off. She tossed the bracelet into the ocean hoping that her wishes would all come complete and the wishes of others would come true as well.

BdayGirlKim001.jpgThis is my sister ~ who is always there for me, through thick and thin. A sister is a special friendship that I would wish for everyone.
This is my personal buddha ~ who can calm me down and brings logic into my ever moving mind.
This is my assistant ~ who can always come up with amazingly creative ideas when I hit a wall. 
This is my friend ~ who is the most loyal, loving, giving girl around & can make me laugh with her witty remarks.
This is my BFF ~ who I cannot imagine my world without.

 
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The last few images are ones that I will treasure forever! It was our first trip together on a plane. We have traveled many times over the years together but never actually have sat next to each other on the plane. I am sure that the people behind us loved ever single minute of our 3 hour - without breathing - conversation! I know Dwane did!

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I am sure that me and lovable sister will be on many more ventures together, and share many more laughs and fun moments together. I will treasure every single moment thus far with her and wish for many many more! I hope you have the most amazing day ever! My wish for you is that all those bracelet wishes come true for you and many many more! Happy Birthday! XO
(6) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
Shelly Connell:

Happy Birthday Kimmy...I fell like I know you through Rachel. She speaks so highly of you and loves you so much...you have a great sister relationship. Have a wonderful day!

(08.17.10)
SueAnne:

"Happy Birthday" Pretty girl.. You guys are lucky to have each other, just as I am lucky to have my Sister, thanks God for SISTERS!!XO

(08.17.10)
Kim MSMF:

Why do I always make those funny friggin faces!! ba ha ha. Thanks for the beautiful blog post, I am very lucky to have you in my life. :) Sappy Much????

(08.17.10)
Paula Hansen:

Love this blog - but I also now need a tissue! Happy birthday to a truly amazing person!

(08.17.10)
Stacey:

Beautiful photos and a beautiful person! I hope that all your wishes do come true! You girls are truely blessed to have such a special relationship! xoxo to you both!

(08.17.10)
Jennifer Collings:

What beautiful pictures, you and your sister are quite lucky to have this bond. Happy Birthday!

(08.17.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: MSMF BFF Personal Buddha - Kimmy . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogbyrachel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/192
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176
So along comes the day of Jocelyn & Matt's engagement shoot in Toronto in May, and it pours. Like totally pours. We decided to go to where there was a conservatory close by so we could hide for shelter if the rain persisted. As soon as they arrived the rain stopped! The sun even came out for a bit!

Today's wedding we have no worries of rain, although it did cross Jocelyn's mind a little bit. The sky's are bluer than blue, and it is gorgeous outside. This sweet couple deserved it after the rain in Toronto.

I cannot wait to start snapping photos today. I am excited, butterflies all in a dance party in my belly. This happens every wedding, and I asked other photographers if this happens to them too. The majority answer was YES! It is an exciting feeling and they would be worried if it didn't happen.

Ruven Afanador who photographed Oprah, has also shot covers for the The New York Times Magazine and directed various music videos said this "I get nervous before every photo shoot. I think it's important to be nervous. Otherwise it would not be exciting"

Congrat's Jocelyn & Matt - see you sooooooon!
 

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(5) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
Heidi:

What a beautiful shoot and couple :) Jocelyn I hope you enjoy every minute of today. Can't wait to see the wedding shots...

(08.14.10)
shadi:

very nice pics

(08.14.10)
Karen:

A Sweet Set of pics. What a cute couple! Cannot wait to see what happened in yesterdays pics!

(08.15.10)
Lori:

I cannot believe that you did these in the rain - looks like a great day. Wonderful location and shots!

(08.15.10)
Marsha:

Great Shots! I have seen u in action and you don't look nervous at all!

(08.15.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Jocelyn + Matt = Engaged . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogbyrachel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/175
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191
I think this book was written about me. Well I am sure other women who read it, also think this same notion. I felt like the words were coming out of my mouth onto to the pages and that is why it reached out to me so deeply. I have read the book multiple times, listened to the audio book many more times. Each time is like the first time.

EPL1.jpgI cannot wait to see the movie and I think that other women need to see it as well. In fact, I would think that guys should see it to, so that they can understand women better. I mean, it is no secret, that men seem confused by women. This is why I am having a contest. Can you tell that I love contests!?

1- You must comment on this post with one thing that makes you happy. I don't care if it is as simple as one word "whip cream"....oh wait that it something that makes me happy. Or you can write a note of what makes you happy. I want to hear what makes other people smile.


2-Comment on any blog post of mine with a comment.
Each comment is an entry.

3-Smile at a stranger. Oh wait, that is just something I want you to do.


You have the chance to win, a movie night for 2, with a copy of the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.


EPL2.jpgThese are the pages that particular struck a nerve with me, page 149 & 150. I couldn't even read them aloud at the time without crying. It should speak to many women who couldn't understand why any given relationship wasn't working. It is a conversation between Richard & the author about breaking through the misconception that we need to find our one true soul mate in this world.

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you will ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. And thank God for it."


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The other quote that stayed with me since I read this book years ago is "Your wishin' too much baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be." So many people wish that a relationship with their partner would change and work, and don't realize that it never will. I have been in that position as I am sure many of you have. This book isn't all about relationships with other people, it is more about the relationship with your own being. This is something that most people need to work on, and always will, including myself.

Each section of this book is a marvel to me. Spoken from the heart of the author and right int mine. Each time I read it or listen to it, I learn more about myself, more layers of my life and what I should do next appear to me.

I hope the movie is just as amazing!
Get commenting and smiling to strangers!
(32) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
Carol O'Hanley:

I so enjoyed talking with you about this book. It was clear how much you loved it!!

What makes me happy is "snuggles". I love snuggling with my boys and my husband. It makes me smile to just think about it! :)

And I always smile at strangers too :)

xoxox

Carol

(08.12.10)
Jenny Mac:

What a great idea Rachel! Right now, the thing that makes me most happy is watching the latest video of my niece learning to walk. Smiles and tears every time :)

(08.12.10)
Conny M:

Learning to run again and taking time for myself!

(08.12.10)
Jenny Fraser:

coming home from a long day at work and being greeted by two smiling little faces with great big hugs :) Makes my heart melt every time.

(08.12.10)
Marie-France MacKinnon:

What makes me happy & smile. Sneaking in my 13-month old daughter's room before I go to bed ... and watching her sleep so peacefully and knowing how loved she is (while she dreams of Aunt Jenny).

(08.12.10)
Joanie:

Rachel, YOU make me happy. To follow your blog, and see how passionate you are; and how you are doing what you love (livin the dream!) - that makes me happy. Also, my dog Crosby - he makes me happy. He's the "baby boy" that God didn't give me; that we got to hand pick for our family!! I read the book and like you - am excited to see the movie!

(08.12.10)
Heather deBoer:

Sewing :) And seeing people's reactions to my products!

(08.12.10)
Meredith M:

Fantastic contest idea, Rachel! For me, hugs make the world (and myself) much happier:)

(08.12.10)
Claudette:

What makes me happy Rachel is when my 23 month daughter comes up to me and says "I love you Mommy" and gives me a big hug. There is nothing in the world to match that kind of happiness.

(08.12.10)
Angela Marchbank:

Spending time with my nieces and nephews *always* puts a smile on my face. I was there for all of their births (except Alex who is the oldest of the nephews) waiting outside the delivery room. :))

(08.12.10)
Mira:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens! Besides that, reading the Saturday edition of the 'Globe and Mail' outside (bonus points for being near the ocean), and preferably with a cup of tea. Pure happiness!

(08.12.10)
Erin :

Music makes me HAPPY!! it doesn't matter what genre, artist, where or when... any song or lyric can send me into a happy dance inside my head which often ends in me totally rocking it out to the outside!! Music is my saving grace and brings a smile to my face every time... especially important to me while cleaning!! :)

(08.12.10)
Danielle:

A movie night at home, with my kids and hubby, all snuggled on the couch, eating snacks, that makes me happy : )

(08.12.10)
Dawn:

My fiancee, sleepy Sundays and my cat and newly adopted kitten!

(08.12.10)
Wil stevenson:

Two things make me happy. The first is a great cup of coffee with some great music and a great book on a Sunday morning.

The second thing is making my girlfriend laugh, because after all shouldn't life be about having fun with those who you love madly?

(08.12.10)
Shannon:

this is so hard as I find myself having so many things to be happy about! I am happy that I am taking some time for me after 14 years and am going to take a photography class at HC this winter!! I have been inspired by you I still look at the photos you took of me and smile as I cant believe what a great job you did and how great you made me feel that day! I hope maybe one day my pictures my be as good as yours.... maybe???

(08.12.10)
Amanda kember:

Taylor (my daughter as you know) have a special thing. Everytime we want to tell each other we love each without anyone knowing. We will squeeze the others hand three times. One time I went into her bedroom after she had been asleep for awhile and grabbed her hand. I squeezed it 3 times... And she sqeezed mine back without even knowing. Special little things like that make me smile :)

(08.12.10)
Tammy:

What makes me happy? So many things that I take for granted from time to time...my kids, my husband, my health, our great country and our freedom. Too many to name.... :)

(08.12.10)
kath siebert:

i love food. eating makes me smile. especially if the food can be prepared with friends all stepping on each other's toes in the kitchen, belly laughing at our life moments and sipping our wine while the aroma of dinner fills the house. experiencing food with friends. it's a winner - every time.

(08.12.10)
Natalie:

Pictures make me happy...and I LOVE to smile at EVERYONE!

(08.12.10)
Debbie Brady:

Fireworks make me happy. We had the best new Years eve while in India. We were dancing in the courtyard when the sky lit up with beautiful colours. It was amazing. I also love to see trees lit up. My husband says I will watch an entire movie just because it has a decorated and lit Christmas tree. I am a HUGE fan. Christmas eve is the only night each year that I sleep very lightly...'cause I'm still a believer :o)

(08.12.10)
Laura Cococcia:

Thanks for Tweeting your post to me - and I love your blog! Things that make me happy: warm, gooey, homemade chocolate chip cookies. I try to have one every day.

(08.12.10)
trista hevey:

One thing that makes me happy? Oh my..just ONE. I am a happy soul and try to be 98% of the time....If I had to narrow it down to just one thing then I'd say putting the windows down in my car, turning the music up and singing....good/bad, doesn't matter...JUST having FUN! Alone, with my hubby in the car, mom or friends..either way it always makes me HAPPY!!! Brings joy to my heart, sometimes a tear to my eye....but emotions come up...which is a good thing :) That's HAPPY....now I am off to smile at some strangers!!!!!

(08.12.10)
Kim MSMF:

FAMILY!! Yep all of them. I love them and they make me feel proud and lucky. :)

(08.13.10)
SueAnne:

Hmmmm...what makes me "Happy" is seeing the people I love happy

(08.13.10)
Louise Wilson:

Looking into my husbands eyes and knowing that I am married to my Rock, my best friend and feeling so much incredible love when he holds me, its real.
My children laughing,walking up to me and hugging me just because.
Watching a child walk up to the alter at churh and pray.
I literally just got a phone call while writing this saying my shift was changed to days instead of nights, this makes me incredibly happy! I will see my kids through the week now :D
Watching the Lord work.
Chocolate :)

(08.13.10)
Erin:

Having a wonderful and support husband and two beautiful girls! Simple but it makes a world of difference.

(08.13.10)
Diane Parsons:

The thing that makes me happiest in the world right now is spending time with my kids when we have nowhere we have to be and nothing we have to do. We can just do whatever we want with no agenda. Of course, this only works when they aren't fighting with each other.

(08.13.10)
Banksy:

Thank You! I've been debating on whether to read this book or not for a while now and after reading this post I RAN out and bought the book this morning. Thanks for the inspiration...Speaking of inspiration, that is something that makes me bubble over with happiness. Inspiration is EVERYWHERE - so go out and become inspired.
Thanks again :)

(08.13.10)
Frances:

Connections make me happy....between people; of people to places; to ideas....there are so many and I'm so happy that my job is all about creating connections.

(08.13.10)
Sandra Regier:

Many Many things make me happy... My husband, my kids, my amazing photography sista's (of which you are one) ... Going to the beach, drinking a glass of red wine. I am so blessed and so happy with my life!

(08.13.10)
Heidi:

Sunday. 10:00 pm. HBO. True Blood - one hour of happy Heidi :)

I smile at strangers too and I like to over tip when my change purse allows it.

(08.14.10)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Eat, Pray & Love in any order . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogbyrachel.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/190
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189
** As shared via the Island Tweethearts Website ! **

A real estate agent, a hair dresser, a copywriter, and a nutritionist walk into a bar. No, it's not the start of a bad joke--it's the average supper meeting of the Island Tweethearts, a new PEI networking group.

The idea for the group was conceived during a casual lunch between Twitter enthusiasts Carol O'Hanley, a Charlottetown real estate agent and April Ennis, a Summerville resident in the midst of launching an online magazine.


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"Carol was talking about her husband, Steve, also a real estate agent, who meets regularly with friends over lunch to network. I mentioned that I'd recently started meeting for dinner once a month with a group of mothers also affected by autism," states Ennis who is working on finishing her Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality. Ennis adds, "Carol proposed that we do something similar so we started building a small group of women we knew from Twitter, each with different professional backgrounds, with whom to share food, ideas, support, and wine every month."


The first official meeting of the Island Tweethearts took place in May at The Pilot House. The group was made up of six women. Besides Ennis and O'Hanley, the group consisted of holistic nutritionist Rachelle Wood, owner of Insight Marketing Kerry Ann MacDougall, photographer (myself) and UPEI researcher and lecturer Cheryl Wartman.


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Since then, the group has grown to twelve where it has been capped to help keep the meetings intimate. Each Tweetheart represents a different industry. Rounding out the group of twelve are freelance editor Christine Gordon Manley, freelance copywriter Jaime Lee Mann, owner of Rita's Style, Julie MacIsaac, mortgage broker Lori MacDonald, IT consultant Esther Duncan, and Jen MacKinnon who works in business development with a local IT Firm.


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This group has quickly become very tight, with many members connecting at multiple times throughout the month to chat, drink coffee, and/or toss around business ideas. "It's a tremendous source of support, especially for someone like me who has worked from home for so long," states Jaime Lee Mann, owner of Morell-based Mann Made Copy.


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And the support doesn't just stay within the group either. "One thing that was important to us was the idea of giving back to the community somehow," states O'Hanley. She adds, "At every supper, we each chip in $10. We then discuss as a group who we want to help out that month. The first time we did this we had $100 to give to a Twitter friend who was having a difficult pregnancy. The second time, we decided to donate the money to a local family one of us knew was going through a financially draining personal situation."


"We decided that helping one Islander every month was actually a wonderful thing," adds Christine Gordon Manley, owner of CGM Editing. "Often times there are many people who need help but can't access help for whatever reason. And, even more often are those of us who simply need a pick-me-up to help them out of a temporary situation. A hundred dollars or so isn't much, but it can make someone smile, and that's what we want to do."


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The Tweethearts do not publicize who they help to protect the privacy of those who accept their donation. You can read more about these acts of Tweetheart kindness here.


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It was an honor to be asked to be part of this wonderful group of amazingly talented and giving women! I look forward to many more dinners and chats!
(8) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
aimee:

Great post Rachel! Looking forward to hearing/seeing more from the Island Tweethearts!

(08.11.10)
Stephen Desroches:

A dedicated website and everything. Hardcore!

(08.11.10)
Kim MSMF:

What a fantastic group of Ladies! I know you guys will do amazing things! :)

(08.11.10)
jennifer Collings:

Great idea of a network of Women!

(08.11.10)
Melanie Ellis:

Amazing idea! I am so proud of April...she and I went to Junior Nationals in Curling for Prince Edward Island back in the day.
You made all of these lovely ladies look tremendous. Your attention to detail, and capturing people 'in the moment' is what you do best! Great job Rachel!
:)

(08.12.10)
Marie-France MacKinnon:

Such an awesome pic of Jen. Can't wait for you to capture a little bit of Emma's life sometime soon :-)

(08.12.10)
Meredith M:

Congratulations to an amazing group of women who have taken networking to a new level! Here, here!

(08.12.10)
trista hevey:

what a generous, caring and fabulous idea!!!! way to network and give back! xoxox

(08.12.10)
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