she said | sherwood park family photographer

Lily: yesterday when I was in your tummy and you was eating food it got in my eye.   ?????

There are no words to describe how wonderful this family is.  I'm so lucky to call them friends.

she said... | sherwood park family photographer

Lily:  I'm calling you Mama 'cause I like that name.  I also like Mama and Charmaine.  But that's a funny name.

Here's a super fun Urban session of another wonderful family!!  This year our boys get to "learn" hockey together.

H | sherwood park family photographer

School is in full swing now, and Henry came home talking about a new friend "Hailey".  I said "Oh, is she really nice?"  His answer "Yeah.  And we're friends because our names both have an H in them and their both at the front".  I love how that's all it takes.

Here's an absolutely lovely family I met in our music class:

rainin' ice | st. albert family photographer

Hank: I can't believe it's rainin' ice.
Jack: It's called hailin'
Lily: I don't like rainin' ice, it's borin'!!!

We had to postpone this session until later this summer because of iffy weather.  Turned out to be a beautiful day.....if you don't mention the mosquitoes.

grade 2 | sherwood park child photographer

So much has changed in the last year.  Growth: +3".  Two new BIG front teeth.  Full day school.  A love of Hockey.  But so many things are still the same.  Still not embarrassed to hold my hand / hug me / kiss me....right in the middle of the classroom.  Still wanting to give me snuggles on the couch.  I'm going to hold onto these things for as long as I can.  I love this sweet boy.

us.

At the end of July it was our turn to be behind the camera.  We met up with the wonderful duo of Wendy and Tyler from Blue Lily Photo in Jasper.  It had been planned for months.  As most of you know, with kids it's an adventure every day.  This was no different.  The day that we had to leave home, 2 of my kids ended up with a fever.  Lily was so miserable that I did not shower that day.  We barely got packed and on the road.  It was pouring when we arrived in Jasper.  Like our campsite was flooded.  And we had to confirm our location.  So we drove an hour up to Maligne Lake to realize that it wasn't the spot I'd imagined, and that Hank had a sick tummy.  By the time we arrived back in town, Lily's fever was back and she was miserable.  Pepto Bismol.  Tylenol / Advil.  Found the correct location.  Confirmed with the Blue Lilies.  Refrain from dressing kiddos until we get to new location.  Jack finds grease to wipe across his shirt.  Hank climbs the bridge where we got our first photos as he had run ahead of us (look how dirty he is).  And you know what?  I LOVE these photos.  They capture our family exactly as we are right now.  Well, ok, I don't usually wear platform shoes out hiking in the woods.  But you get what I'm saying.

So here's us:  Dan, Charmaine, Jack, Lily and Henry.

huh? | sherwood park family photographer

I love that my family enjoys looking at the photos I'm editing.  My husband always helps cull them (so he can enjoy the photos), and the kids are always so interested in who I've been photographing.  The other day I was editing Lexie (in the pink dress) as Lily was watching.  I converted the photo to black & white and she says "HUH?  Why she's grey now??"

My best & oldest friend's family:

august weeknight special!! | sherwood park family photographer

I have some weeknight dates available for August!  If you'd like to grab one, the session fee is a special price of $75 + one complimentary 8x10 print!!  Aug 13, 15, 21, 28.  Pop me an email to: info@charmainepoulinphotography.com to book it now!!!

*prints / digital images not included in session fee.

travelling with kids...|sherwood park family photographer

Oh the joys of travelling with kids.  Kidding, mostly....our stress usually results from the EXTREME need to go to the washroom....and having to find a place to pull over safely (if we have our trailer) or find the nearest roadside biffy.

This weekend we travelled to Jasper....one of my favourite places to go.

On the way home:

Hank: Are we still in Jasper?  Me: No, why?  Hank: Oh...I need to go pee in one of those outhouses!!

Lily: I have to go pee so badly! (while Henry was occupying our trailer's bathroom on the side of the road)  Me: Do you want to pee on the side of the road?  Lily: No!  Me (thinking about how I phrased that): How about in the grass?  Lily: Yes.  I don't want to pee on the road, because if someone drives in it, they'll slip!

:o) sorry for all the potty talk....that's what we get around here!

Here's all the ladies...Mom's, Grandma, Auntie's, Cousins.

but I thought I got to sing a song...| edmonton family photographer

We went to our local Farmer's Market on Wednesday with some friends.  There was a cute little girl singing with a microphone and music.  Of course the kids wanted to give her some money.  On the way home, Lily said "I gave that girl my money".  I said "Yes, you did".  She said "But I thought I got to sing a song if I gave her my money".

I had my first session for the Tiny Light Foundation recently.....look at this beautiful family!  The Tiny Light Foundation provides Professional Photography for families that have been faced with a life altering or threatening diagnosis.  You can also find the Tiny Light Foundation on Facebook for more information.

he said...| sherwood park family photographer

Hank: When can I have those leafses again that will make me so strong?
Me: You mean spinach?
Hank: Yeah.
He then proceeded to eat raw spinach leaves with his lunch......and then showed me how strong he was getting by lifting up our (plastic) hockey net with one arm.  ;o)

Here is another beautiful family from my mini-session afternoon.

overheard conversations | edmonton newborn photographer

Lily: let's pretend I'm a princess and you marry me. Henry: no, no, no. let's pretend I'm a spy. Lily: yeah, and then you marry me. Henry: yeah....at the end.

I love when they find something in common to play :o)

Here is sweet Ayda and her wonderful parents.  9 days fresh.

Today we celebrated Mother's Day.  I got to stay in bed with my computer until I was brought coffee, toast with avocado and my wonderful handmade gifts.  My husband slaved in the kitchen all day to provide my Mom and I with a wonderful meal of ribs, double baked potatoes and grilled vegetables (and an ice cream cake that I've been coveting for a few days).  I forced asked my children to sit with my Mom for some photos, because we never seem to remember to take the camera out when we're just visiting.  We topped our day off by going to our WHL team's final game of the year, in which they actually WON!!!


Hope you had a happy day!

face camera | stony plain family photographer

This week I was working on Jack's French Dictée with him, and being a short week we needed to get it memorized within 2 days.  Frustrated that I was asking him to re-write it again, he says "I don't know why we have to learn this stuff anyways!!!!".  I said "Well, what's going to happen when you're an adult and you don't know the spelling of something when you're writing a note to someone?".  He said "I'll just use Face Camera".  Me = stunned.


Here's a lovely family I met a few weeks ago.

she's got taste... | sherwood park children photographer

Lily: (looking through the window at Cartier watches.) Ooooooh look at dose watches!  I wish I could have one of dose watches!!

Me: Oh maybe when you're older.

Lily: Oh actually, I already have a Hello Kitty watch, I don't need 2 watches.  I got my Hello Kitty watch from McDonalds.

I tagged along with my friend Michelle (Michelle Hansen Photography) to capture the 5 year old spirits of her twin niece / nephew.  Who are best buds with my 5 year old.

These were some of my results....check out hers HERE.

because i love you | edmonton newborn photographer

Lily: here, you can take a lick of my lollipop.  Me: mmmm, thanks Lily.  Lily: now ask me why I gived you some.  Me: why?  Lily: because I love you.  sigh...

Before holidays, I met sweet Cooper and his parents and grandmum.  Now this boy is loved!

Happy Easter!

seven | sherwood park child photographer

My boy turned seven last month.  We held off on our photos until our trip to Seattle, where we found a couple of gorgeous spots.  And he tolerated me......with his brand new Superman in tow.

We have a few days of vacation left.....I'm still hoping to capture one of his missing / loose toothed smiles.

innocence | sherwood park family photographer

Lily was showing me her middle finger and that it didn't have an "owie" on it anymore.  As in giving me "the finger".  Then she said "Do you want me to show you how to do this?  You put one finger down, two finger down, three finger down, four finger down, and six finger up.  Now, do you want to try Mama???"  Me "Ummmm…no thanks."  

I've been a terrible winter blogger....here's another beautiful family (and one that is very special to me) from the fall:

she said | edmonton maternity photographer

"Mama....wemember when you was a baby you was in my tummy" -Lily

This beautiful couple just welcomed a baby boy to the world!

eggies | st. albert family photographer

My phone rang as I was shopping with my 3 kids for frozen pizzas and a GF Easter treat for Hank since he missed out on one earlier in the day.  Picture me, distracted....kids asking for multiple treats plus trying to hear the person on the phone.  Lily turns around with her hand covering her mouth.  Do you think she might be feeling sick?  No.....not my Lily girl.  That's her signature "I'm eating something I know I'm not supposed to" look.  Like I wouldn't ask her why her hand is over her mouth.  Looking just past her.....I see a bag of Eggies with a hole in it.  Shocked.  That my child would just eat candy that doesn't belong to her.  Insert sarcasm.  I give her the usual "we can't eat anything unless we buy it" spiel, turn to talk to the boys and who do you think leans forward to try and take one more (with her mouth) out of the bag???  So now guess who's sitting here eating that darn bag of Eggies.............they'll be gone by tomorrow, I'm sure.

Here's my good friend's beautiful family.....from last fall.

oh the things she does when I'm working.... | sherwood park newborn photographer

I noticed Lily out of the corner of my eye underneath the other office desk, rubbing something into our dog's bed.  I asked what she was doing & she said "I dust wanted to make it all pakally for Sophie".  What was she rubbing in, you ask?  A whole tube of dry glitter.  Sparkly…..yes, indeed!  A girl needs sparkles......even if she's a dog.

Meet baby Kai, 5 weeks old.  This boy is treasured.  A true gift from God.

not real | sherwood park maternity photographer

In the fall, we visited our local pumpkin patch to make scarecrows, walk the corn maze at night with flashlights and have a fire with some great friends.  When I asked our friend if they had "real" washrooms, he said yes.  As we rounded the corner I exclaimed "these aren't real!" (b/c they were portapotties).  Hank, I guess listening to me, opens the door to the first one and says "nope, they're not real" and slams it closed again.

Anxiously awaiting the birth of their son (baby Kai):