Here are a couple of sneak peaks of some recent sessions i  did. ”B” and “M”, I hope you’re having a fabulous time on your family vacation.  I don’t know if you’ll be connected in Hawaii but just incase, here’s your beautiful family: These next 3 were sooooo cute!!!….So full of energy and so playful!!  whenever the 3 of them were within a few feet of each other the giggles started and the silliness began.  I love seeing sibling relationships especially when they’re so young.  You’ve got beautiful children “J” and “S” – thanks for the fun morning up at the cottage! 

I thought i’d post my schedule here on my blog so that current clients and those hoping to book a session would be aware of my availability and key dates to remember to avoid disappointment.Let me first start off  by saying that i book only a limited amount of sessions per week.  I do this In order to give my clients the best service possible yet also stills allow me to spend time with my own children.I’m taking (a much needed!!) vacation and the studio will be closed for 2 weeks at the end of August and beginning of September. 

• JULY 2007 – is booked
• AUG 2007 – is booked 
• SEPT 2007 – currently booking for Sept 29th/30th

Key dates to remember:

• JUL 31st – LAST day to book a session to receive the discounted ‘Fresh Faces’ promotion where sessions are $75 (a savings of $50), 10% off of a la carte prints and you also receive a free 8×10.  Book ahead and schedule an appointment for fall or Christmas to take advantage of this special offer. After this date, session fees go back to regular price $125.
• AUG 22nd – LAST DAY to put in your order before the STUDIO is CLOSED until September 8th.  Orders received by midnight August 22nd will be processed.
• AUG 23rd to SEPT 7th CHERRY CORTEZ PHOTOGRAPHY will be closed.  I will not have access to email or phone.  Any calls or emails received, orders placed, session and waiting list inquiries will be responded to upon my return.
• SEPT 8th the studio reopens.
• OCT - FIRST ever MINI SESSIONS: “A Day in The Park” – stay tuned for more information – you won’t want to miss this one – perfect for Christmas Portraits!!
• NOV 3rd – Supporter at the MOM2MOM show…stay tuned for more information.
• NOV 8rd – last day to place orders for guaranteed holiday greeting card delivery.
• NOV 22nd – last day to place orders for guaranteed holiday delivery.

If you are hoping to book a session, please call ahead.  I am currently booking up to 5 weeks in advance and I anticipate fall filling up fast.  If you have a specific date in mind and it appears to be full you can still email me to inquire about the date you are wanting, sometimes there are last minute cancellations and i may be able to still accomodate you.  For newborn sessions, please call as i reserve a few spots for last minute newborn inquiries.SNEAK PEAK…This one was a tough one!!  Rain and a little boy who refused to look at the lady with the big camera!! This family lives 15 minutes away from me.  When i called to tell “V” and “C”  that i was on my way to the session location there were no signs of rain.  Of course, 15 mintues into the session, i began to feel the droplets.  What luck.  It was the first time i’ve ever been rained out!!  So we went back to their place and took a few photos there….Luckily i’m quick on my toes cause…i caught “A” looking

Often times i am asked, “what exactly is an on-location custom photographer?”.  I thought I would take some time and describe what it is i do, what i am all about and what i can offer to you and your family.”On Location” means i come to you. My target market is families with young children and expectant parents.  As a mother of two small aged children (and who’s been through the whole 9 months – twice!), i know first hand just how difficult and stressful it is to pack my kids (and myself) into the car to head to a studio to have portraits taken.  Let me eliminate that stress and allow me to come to you.  I do not have a studio – capturing the spirit of you, your child and your family doesn’t happen in unnatural environments that are unfamiliar to your children.  For this reason, all my sessions are conducted at the location of your choice – be it at your home, a favourite park, your backyard or even an empty field — natural environments that your children are familiar with where there are no forced smiles and unfamiliar spaces….where they can act and be exactly who and what they are…children.  If your vision includes artistic classic portraits, that requires dramatic backdrops and lights, then that’s okay too…I have a portable studio that i can bring along and set up in your home.”Custom Photography” means that your photographic journey with me caters to your needs and your children’s needs.  Custom photography is all about you…my client.  A custom photographer dedicates their time and talent to you to ensure that your photographic experience is something that you will remember.  From the moment i am contacted to even after delivery of your portraits, no detail is overlooked. Together we will plan. I will contact you and we will have a phone consultation to discuss what your goal is or what you are hoping to achieve from your session.  Whether it be a wall you’ve been wanting to fill for months above your sofa, or to capture your child’s budding teeth, or be it for your child’s 1st or 5th birthday, or just to have beautiful memorable photos that will last a lifetime  – we will work together to achieve your photographic vision.  ‘ What do i wear?’.  You will be given an information pack upon booking and it details suggestions of what to wear and what not to wear.  Still undecided?  Lay out a few outfits for your children before i get there and i’d be more than happy to help chose…It’s all about you.  Your session – will never be rushed.  I typically only book one session a day so i am never rushing out the door to get to the next appointment.  I do not watch my clock or click my shutter, reach a number and say, “We’re done.”.  To ensure that you have a good selection of images for your gallery, I take the time to let your child’s spirit shine during the session in order to artistically capture  memories that will last a lifetime. attention to detail – As a custom photographer i inspect each and every image.  I never show a photo straight out of my camera.  Each image is carefully selected and artistically evaluated and developed before it is presented to you in your gallery. Every photo is inspected personally by me before it is delivered to my client.Highest quality.  I pride myself in the products and services i offer to my clients.  All my photos are printed on archival, acid free paper that comes directly from a professional photo lab that services only professional photographers. Other high end products i offer include fine art custom gallery wrap canvases, leather bonded albums, linen and leather accordion albums, metallic prints, custom collages, storyboards, wall displays and portrait packages to meet everyone’s price points.    Custom photography is advising, designing and consulting.  As individuals, we can not be experts at everything.  As much as i love cooking, i try and experiment but only a skilled chef would ‘know’ if the ingredients work together.  I have an artistic background, an eye for design and the attention to detail.  I will offer suggestions of groupings of photos and custom wall displays that detail which photos from your session would work well together, exact sizes of prints, wall space and will even show you how it will look in a room. Tell me your need and i will listen and come up with the rest.    To better help my clients in the photo selection and ordering process, in your gallery i will often present to you custom collages, storyboards and wall displays.  Below is a sample of some of my client’s needs and the custom services I have provided in order to fulfill their requirements….“I need a birth announcement”…. “We want to capture photos of Great-grandma and my daughter since they both have the same name”…“My son is on the go all the time, i’d love to get some photos of him playing”….“I want to do a wall display but don’t know how it’ll look above a bed?”…   “please show me some different options”…As with every product that is offered in the market, there are different grades and levels of quality.  A custom photographer is top of the line in the way of a photographic experience. Because of this, custom photography is not for everyone.  It is not something to be compared to your local department store photo studio.  It is for those who are willing to invest in one-of-a-kind portraiture that will be cherished for years to come.  You’ll notice that on my webpage i use the term ‘INVESTMENT’ for my pricing page on my website.  This is because custom photography is something worth investing in – a custom experience, great customer service, attention to your needs and your children’s needs, offerings of custom services and delivery of products with the highest standards is what i am all about. 

since my last post.  Busy with sessions, my son’s birthday and just trying to be a wife and mommy.  Here are a few from the last few weeks and a couple of sneak peaks for those of you waiting…Little Miss “V”s parents asked me to photograph her to mark her first year.  This weekend she turned one…Happy Birthday to you sweetie This chair was a find of mine on my way to meet them for their session…i think it was perfect for her…These next 2 families flew in from the USA for father’s day weekend.  It was so nice to meet you all.  The 2 sweetest boys…”N” and “J”.  You can just tell from the look on “J”s face that he’s just a sweetheart of a big brother..…and of course, their cousin, little “L”.  Now, i LOVE bare feet — especially when they belong to little munchkins.  so i asked “J” if she could take her daughter’s shoes off so i could get photos of her playing in the yard.  Apparently she hates the feel of grass on her feet.  You should have seen the strength on this little 2 year old …hanging onto mommy and daddy making sure i couldn’t snap a photo of her feet in the ground Here’s a sneak peak for you “N” and “I”.  I must say “I”, you’re a lucky man to be surrounded by so many beautiful girls in your life    Another preview…this one for “G” and “C”.  What a little poser your little man is!!  Too cute