Hi Everyone,

If you are a twitter follower, then some of you may know that my family and i got into a very bad car accident this past Sunday.  I thank God for keeping my family safe through the scariest experience that my husband and i have ever been through.  To keep it short, we were on the 401 when it happened.  a man tried to overtake us, lost control and crashed his car into the side of our SUV  sending us ( me, my husband, my 2, 5 and 8 year) into a full 360 and a 180 where we ended up crashing head on into the concrete median that separates the express and collector lanes.  As you can imagine, since most cars on the highway are going at least 100 km an hour, any accident that happens on the 401, can’t be good.  Being in a car accident is one thing.  Being in a car accident with your children is a nightmare.  When i heard the other car hit ours,  i just began praying.  praying for my kids, praying for my husband, praying for the Lord’s hand to reach out and help us.  Knowing that your children are in a situation where they are in danger’s way and not being able to do a single thing to help them or remove them from a harmful situation, has got to be the worst feeling ever for any parent to endure.   By God’s grace, my entire family walked away with minor bruises and scratches….a miracle.  We are so very blessed that He was keeping watch on us.

I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone for all the emails, phone calls and messages.  they truly are appreciated.  Since the accident, my husband and i have been taking some much needed ’smother your kids with hugs and kisses’ time….but i am working my way through emails, placing orders, and have almost gotten through rescheduling most sessions from this week.  If you have sent me an email and haven’t heard from me yet, please feel free to contact me again.

thank you all so much for your patience…

xoxoxo,

—-cherry.

Miss M….so full of adventure.  She had quite the audience the morning of her session.  An audience who she had wrapped around her little fingers.  We were so captivated by her…swaying to the beat of Britney in her leather jacket and sassy tutu.   Uncle B , Auntie L and Gran  had a lot to do with bringing out her ’sweet’ personality.  Sweets for the sweet . Let’s just say that after the session, I’m pretty sure that Uncle B was right up there on  Miss M’s  ‘Most Favourite’ list along with Barney and her puppy.

We just sat back and watched this little gal adventure and explore the studio and all its props.  Her curious little mind, so ready for the world.  There is so much to see Miss M and the world is is yours….

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.

Just a little bit of housekeeping here.  There has been so much going on in the last month i haven’t been able to keep up with this blog.  The year is quickly coming to an end and i’m frantically working on holiday orders, fall sessions, lots and lots of newborns and preparing for another Holiday show.

Key dates to remember:

• NOV 7th – At the Mamas and Chicks show as a sponsor.  Drop in for some fabulous holiday shopping.
• NOV 8th – last day to place orders for guaranteed holiday greeting card delivery and Fine Art Canvas delivery.
• NOV 15th – last day to place orders for guaranteed holiday delivery.
• DEC 19th to JAN 10th 2010 – the Studio will be CLOSED for the holidays.  if you are due during this time and your baby has arrived, please call or email the studio.

So first off , the Mamas and Chicks show is sure to be a fun-filled day with some awesome vendors, a great crowd and some wonderful conversation!

Show Special

Book a Photo Session at the show and receive a complimentary mini-accordian album with six 4×6 images.

Here are the details:

When : Saturday November 7th 2009

Where: The Holiday Inn, Oshawa

Time: 10am  to 6 pm

Admission is $5 (children under 12 are FREE)  a portion of proceeds from ticket sales go to Lakeridge Health Oshawa

Hope to see some of you there!

Here are some images of some cuties from the last couple of weeks.

Baby N at 3 weeks. sooo soo sleepy and too too cute for words.  congrats C & A!!

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:

Meet gorgeous Miss A.  This is a looooong overdue post but i couldn’t help but NOT blog about this sweetie.  She was so alert at her session and gave me tons of expressions.  At 13 days old it’s amazing what character this little gal had.  I’m sending out her gallery tomorrow so this won’t be much of a sneak.peek but better late than never.  Congrats S and A, she’s a beautiful addition to your already gorgeous family.

On a side note, the studio has been UBER busy with lots happening.  Limited holiday mini-sessions were released this morning exclusively to newsletter subscribers.  So hint, hint all you blog stalkers — stop stalking and subscribe to the newsletter! You’ll be the first to know of events and specials and will be privy to ‘exclusive’ subscriber perks/specials.  Some spots have already been reserved for this one day event so if you’ve been thinking about it, you’ll definitely want to snatch one up before the time-slots open up to non-subscribers on Thursday September 17th.

Until then…

xoxox,

–cherry.

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  .

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.