The spring mini sessions have come and gone.  So many adorable little explorers came into the studio the last two weekends.  All came with eyes wide open and ready to adventure every nook and cranny of our little studio.  Here’s a little peek for some of you who are still waiting for your galleries….

Miss. J.

Mr. L.

Miss M.  look at how much she’s grown….from when she was ten months .

First off, i’d like to wish you all Happy Holidays!! This past year has come and gone so quickly. i have soooo much to be grateful for — so many amazing things have happened over the last year. it’s been a great year and i just wanted to take the time to thank each and every one of you for helping make this year such a fabulous one for Cherry Cortez Photography. We welcomed tonnes of new babies and captured lots of milestones for new and past clients. i’m so super excited for the new year — lots planned and lots of newborns i’m looking forward to meeting!!

I just wanted to share my family’s holiday card with you and I put together a little video of some of my favourite images from 2009, so if you have a couple of minutes, check it out…you might catch your cutie in it.

Wishing you and yours a happy and safe new year and all the best to you this upcoming decade. See you in the new year…

xoxoxox,
–cherry.

I’m finally all caught up.  It’s been a crazy but oh so awesome holiday rush.   Before closing down to enjoy the holidays with my family and amist all the fall and holiday sessions,  i’ve worked with  an awesome company Luxcetera to fine tune and rebrand my whole image.   It’s been a work in progress for the last few months.  It started with the new studio that we opened in October  and needing signage.  When i looked into getting a sign for the studio, the cost was well…let’s just say, not pocketchange. I really didn’t want to invest in a  sign when i wasn’t in love with my logo.  Thus, the journey began….. I worked with the amazing and uber talented Ashley Jankowski who taught me to embrace my brand.  I’m a simple kinda gal and i think that it’s carried throughout my work.  When ashley and i had our first brainstorming consultation, she said…’You gotta use the Cherries ….and red’.   Two things which i know i couldn’t vision.  uh-uh…no way.  The red was totally not in my comfort zone (i’m a blahhhhh kinda girl who likes muted tones like grays, off-whites and pale, pale blues….which are the colors i initially told her i’d like to use).  She presented me with her concepts and we worked together to get not only a new logo but a COMPLETE look and feel that i absolutely adore, am super excited about and that  totally represents me:  natural, classic and a little bit old-school.  And…guess what? — we used the cherries and the red (along with my gray, blues and off whites ).   Ashley  gets it.  She nailed my brand dead on.

Oh….and you’d think that with all the holiday craziness, the opening of our studio and the whole rebranding process that that would have been more than enough on our plates to handle…but no….if we’re gonna live in chaos, we might as well go all out and add  a new puppy to the mix!    Let me tell you — out of all the things i’ve done in my life, our puppy has been my biggest challenge.   We survived the sleepness nights when we had our first child, we managed through more sleepless nights with our 2nd and 3rd kids.  I gotta say that our puppy Tex takes the cake….he’s a whole lotta newborn…that’s for sure.  If i was to compare?  It would probably be similar to having newborn triplets.  Now i know you’re gonna ask if i have triplets of my own.  No, i don’t have triplets but i know how much work one newborn baby is and Tex is probably three times that much work (possibly more).  But….with all the potty accidents he’s had, the car rides that end up being too much for his tummy, all the nipping and sock stealing he’s done….he is the perfect addition to our family.  How could we not love this guy?!!??  Meet the newest member of our family : Tex.  I wanted to name him Sam. Sam was the boy name we never got to use for our second and third pregnancy but my son said, ‘why not Tex?’ .  I was all like, ‘Huh? What’s a Tex?!?’.  He said it was his inital combined with his sister’s:  Téa, Ella and Xavier.  We always knew Xavier was a bright  boy….i guess  ‘Sam’ just didn’t cut it (lol).  Tex.  We loved it.  Similar to the cherries and the red, we just had to use it.

Stay tuned to the blog for the next week….we’ll be doing our annual year in review slideshow and you just might catch your cutie in it!

Big, big, BIG news that has me so overjoyed.  As of last month, Cherry Cortez Photography has officially moved into our very own storefront Studio!  Our studio’s new home is located in Pickering’s Frenchman’s Bay Marina, steps (literally steps!!)  from the Pickering beach and boardwalk.  We are no longer ‘just east’ of Toronto but now about a short 2 minute drive just east of Toronto.    The Cherry Cortez Photography Studio is nestled between restaurants on the marina, spas, dessert cafes, gift shops and other wonderful retailers.  I’m so excited about this new adventure…the shooting possibilities are endless with immediate access to the beach, shops, stone sidewalks and waterfront, not to mention we have some yummy studio floors and wonderful natural light pouring into the studio.  God has truly blessed me and am so very thankful.  Thanks to our wonderful clients who have referred me time and again, my family and friends who have supported me since day one and to my amazing hubby who worked overtime to get this studio looking as amazing as it does in record time…..because of each and every one of you, we’ve been able to take this huge step in the business.   I am so in love with this new space and it’s surroundings and i know my clients are going to love it as well .

To celebrate the new studio, in the few days or so i’ll be having an exclusive in-studio special that you don’t want to miss.  Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified of the special and to be invited to the studio’s official Grand Opening open house.  The open house is sure to be fun and exciting with yummy treats, door prizes, a grand prize and a little something special for all those who come out and show their love and support.

xoxox,

–♥cherry.

As of last month, all in-studio sessions have been held at the new location.   The studio will continue to remain open *by appointment only*.

Just a few quick images of the new space.  (L) the client seating area, (Middle) the view from my studio door. (R) some of my favourite images hanging  in my wall gallery.

The studio has been quite busy the last couple of months.  We’ve seen many, many, MANY newborns and have been scoping out new products, new marketing ideas and other wonderful things and i have been working on updating this blog.   Big news is about to be revealed in the next few weeks so stay tuned and be sure to sign up for the email newsletter. If you signed up for my newsletter, you were one of the firsts to be informed of the CCP Limited Holiday Mini Sessions and a few of you have already snatched up some time-slots.

What is a mini-session?  A ‘mini’ is a quick 20 minute session – how easy is that?! You get to choose between two great packages that suit everyone’s need and tastes.   Perfect to help with all your gift giving dilemmas (an 8×10 for aunt judith, an 11×14 for grandma and grandpa…).  If you’re looking to get some holiday cards done, the ‘Joy Captured’ package includes holiday cards.  You can choose between this year’s cards or even last year’s cards — and i must admit, they are just beautiful:: Press printed 5×7 double sided cards in your choice of linen, watercolor, or pearl finish.  The minis are also great for those that don’t want a full session just yet but would still love to capture their baby at 6 months or 3 months or to capture your belly if you are expecting or just to have your family photos updated.

When:  Saturday October 17th 2009
Time:  time slots available from 8:30 am to 3:30pm
Where: Pickering – in-studio location : to be announced
Who:  includes up to 4 people
ie. – 2 adults, 2 children
- 1 adult, 3 children
- up to 3 children

There are a few spots remaining and i expect these to go quite quickly.  This is a One-Day only event and spots are limited so be sure to hurry and reserve your time-slot.  Once they are gone, they’re gone…

**To reserve your spot, full payment is required at the time of booking.  Due to the quick and easy nature of the mini.session, these time slots are not suitable for newborns.

Here are the details:

I can’t believe the summer has come and gone and in less than a week, the kids are all officially back to school.  I’ve been waking up the last couple of days and opening the front door to breathe in that ‘fall school air’.  Y’know the one that i am talking about.  The cool air that signifies the onset of routines, homework, making lunches, changing colors and holiday planning.

With the Fall, all the holiday planning begins.  This year i’m so excited to be offering these beautiful 5×7 press printed cards.  Each card has a front and a back.  Since the back has plenty of space, there’s room to add some personal text, be it handwritten or printed directly onto the card.  A set of 24 cards is $95 and $50 for each additional set.  These cards are available to current clients and past clients.  If you are a client who’s had a session previously with me, just email me at info@cherrycortez.com or call me at 647.400.6538 and we can get you started on your Christmas cards.  Don’t forget to place your orders before the deadline – Sunday November 8th 2009.

I get many emails inquiring about what the session album looks like.  This leather bonded slip-in album is included in the Belly and Baby Captured Package or can be ordered a la carte and holds twenty of your favourite 5×7 images from your session(s).  It’s perfect for those that want an album but also want the option of removing the prints and putting it into your favourite desktop frame. Of course, you can always upgrade from this album to the Elite Session Album but that album is soooooooo yummy, i’ll have to save that for a post all on it’s own  .

Did you know that we offer gift certificates?  What a wonderful and unique gift to give that special someone.  The best part about your gift is knowing that it will provide the recipient with years of memories.  Friends S and D, got together to give this family the wonderful gift of Fine Art Portraiture.

Meet Mr. E…a.k.a. ‘baby boon’ to friends and family.   Little E surprised me with his early arrival, as i’m sure he surprised mom and dad too.  He was 4 weeks old when i finally had the pleasure of meeting him and what a dream he was.  He slept the entire session as if he was just born yesterday and didn’t make a sound.

Congrats R and R..you are both so blessed to have such a content little man.

–cherry♥

After months years of stalling, i’ve finally created a CCP Facebook Fan page and a CCP Facebook Group.   Thanks to one of my wonderful clients, michelle for making me realize i’ve been procrastinating for way TOOOOOOOO long and for making me get my butt in gear!  lol.

Now, there are two groups you can join…

(1)  click here to become a CCP fan !! Anyone can join the Fan Page so share the link with friends and family!

(2) If you’re a current/past or future client you can also send me an email to request to join the CCP Facebook Group.  Here you can post images, comments, questions, start discussions, chat about your session or anything else you’ve got on your mind…

Of course, you know i love comments so leave me a facebook comment or two….i’d LOVE to hear from ya .

xoxox,

–cherry.

Now what’s a post without an image…more newborn sweetness.

Meet the B family. This is my second time working with sisters C and C. When their mommy contacted me to book another session she told me that her BIL and SIL from Ottawa were hoping to book a session too. So we had one big cousin session!! The weather didn’t cooperate with us that day so we had to have most of their session indoors but i think it still worked out beautifully!

I know the B family has been waiting for a sneak-peak for awhile. Thanks so much for a fun morning . It was great seeing you again N & Y– your girls are just as gorgeous as i remember them! To M & D: thanks so much for traveling down from Ottawa…i loved photographing your little cuties M and N!

I haven’t posted an image of a collage in awhile. They are usually custom requests. Occasionally, i will show one in your gallery. Collages and storyboards are custom creations that feature a few images and most often include some text. It’s a beautiful way to highlight a few of your favourite images from a session by showcasing them together in a grouping like this…