Grand Opening!

BIG NEWS! The zoning is in place, the plans underway for the Grand Opening of Ebonie Klassen Photography! Who knew opening a business would be so much work?! Licensing, zoning, invites, etc!

With Zoning in place, I've been able to create a great studio space to use for children and family portraits. Come check it out -Saturday March 6 between 1:00-5:00 p.m. . Drop in and out (Come and Go) to enter to win awesome door prizes and draws-you have to attend to be eligible to win! Have a piece of cake, coffee , enjoy viewing some of my more recent works and upcoming specials. Balloons, children's favors and much more!

As I looked for images to use for my invitations I realized what better models to feature than the winner of my Penny Promotion from December. You may recall the winner won an event session with disk as well as tickets to the Manitoba Children's Museum. The entries were numerous but only one winner could be drawn out of the ballots. But who knew I wouldn't have just one winner but two! I had done a shoot for twins Anna and Noah and both their names were on the ballot for their previous shoot! Timing to use an event session couldn't have been better, for the twins, who just happened to have their 1st birthday in January! Here are just a few images captured at their party.

Hope to see you at the Grand Opening!

They are watching you! Las Vegas 2010.

" The Strip" evening view in the rain

My husband and I have just arrived home waterlogged and completely exhausted from a 4 day trip to Las Vegas. Yes, you heard me right- Who would have thought going to the desert could be such moisture rich experience! In the couple of days we were there, they received more rain than they did all last year! Bonus- they got snow in the mountain areas as well. Great for them- bad for us who were trying to get away from snow! 

View of the snow on the mountains from the Paris Tower

The mountains I must admit did look quite spectacular from the Paris Hotels tower. Mostly that's what we did for our 4 days, walk "the Strip", avoiding puddles where possible and doing the touristy things like the wax museum, the towers, the water shows etc. . After about 6 hours of walking each day our feet and legs were letting us know just how out of shape we were. 

That's where the STORY begins- How I got the attention of security at the Bellagio hotel on a Friday afternoon... 
Horse in the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas- I'm about to change all that, openly admitting that yes- I - calm, mild mannered, middle-aged mom and wife got the attention of security at the Bellagio hotel. 

Bellagio Watershow in the evening

It was Friday afternoon and Henry and myself were on our way to the tram running from the Bellagio. After walking most of the morning I pleaded with my husband for us to take a break and sit and relax a while to give the feet a rest. Just beyond the chocolate shop is a wonderful hallway with seating around the sides with breath taking views of the outdoor pool area. We  found a comfy couch and Henry pulled out his Blackberry to play some games and I leaning against his shoulder watched him play. I guess I can blame it on the soft couch, the physical abuse my feet had endured over the last couple of days, or the beautiful atmosphere surrounding us, somehow I just drifted off to sleep! 

"Sir-I'm with Hotel Security- Is the women with you alright" I heard this loud male voice booming me out of my relaxing sleeping stupor. My eyes flew open-

"Miss- are you all right?" Into focus came from this balding man in a hotel uniform. I must of looked completely surprised.

 "We've been watching you on our hotel security monitors and anytime we see someone with their eyes closed we have to call paramedics- Do you need me to call them?" 

"I'm fine" I stuttered-out of all the hundreds of thousands of people going through this hotel-I was on their monitors? I remember watching T.V. shows like Vegas and seeing huge security rooms of monitors. I was mortified to think of someone (or a fleet of someones) I didn't know, were watching me while I slept. 

"Should I call them- actually the fire dept. will arrive first." The balding man continued.

It didn't take me long to compose myself-

" I'm fine" I said a little more forcefully, "But are they good looking?" I said with flash of a smile.

His lips curled into a smile, " yeah, I guess they could be!" I looked at my husband who gave me a knowing look. (The great thing about being married 20 years is that you don't even have to verbally communicate, I knew by the look in his eye I had a willing co-conspirator- Bellagio Security didn't stand a chance against the Klassen's from Winnipeg! We weren't about to leave without some fun! )

I pretended to weigh my options about meeting Vegas firefighters for at least a good 2 minutes.

"I think this time I'll pass, really just my feet need some T.L.C., But thank you sooooo much for your kind offer" I said in a sickly sweet voice. Not even hotel security was going to tell me to leave that comfy couch. "If it's alright with you, we are going to just sit here a while longer" I didn't really say it like it was an option- more like this is how it's going down.

He left with a shrug obviously not happy with the fact that he couldn't get us to leave. I said under my breath to my husband-Trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

"Do you think they can hear what we are saying- Where do you think the camera is ???".

"I think it's time we enjoyed our chocolate cake we picked up earlier" -oh, this was going to be fun. We proceeded to enjoy that piece of cake, licking our lips, our forks, moaning in appreciation of it's great flavor. Let's just say we gave a great performance. I'm sure all the security personnel either got sick watching us or ran out on their break to get a piece!

About a half an hour later our stellar performance complete, I said to my husband

" I guess we should go-Was I snoring?" I asked him-Still indignant that someone should watch me sleep!

"No" he said " But you were drooling weren't you?" He said with a smile. "Yeah, maybe I was" I laughed as we walked towards the tram.

 

Above and below Mirage Hotel's Volcanic show 

The piece of cake we so enjoyed for the benefit of Bellagio security

Elvis is alive and well living in Vegas. 

Above:Henry in the rain on the way back to our hotel

Below: Fountain fun -used a little painted technique to make it seem like a painting.

 

Turning 1!!

This little girl has literally grown-up in front of my eyes and my camera lens! You may recognize her from some of her images on my website over the past 6 months. Her parents followed with a tradition of photographing their first born child every month for the first year of his life and naturally it just followed that the second child should have the same tradition. She was introduced to me over 6 months ago and I've had the privilege of recording her growth progress to her first birthday this month. What a sweetheart! What a great tradition!

I've also had a lot of fun playing around with photoshop the last couple of months.  I've been busy creating cards both for holidays and Birthdays that are unique to clients. Who knew it would be so much fun! Happy Birthday Baby girl!

Rocky's New Year's Lockport Adventure

New Years Day, a day for some quality family time."Rocky would you like to go for another drive" I heard myself say to our "borrowed pet" of just a few more days. Could that be him smiling- It really looks like a smile-makes me want to smile!????? I know for a fact this dog really enjoyed his last outing to Starbucks. So the family decided to take a drive out to Lockport to the Half Moon, a dog with taste buds for Coffee must surly have a stomach for hotdogs?

Rocky got excited as we arrived on the parking lot-anticipation grew- ahhh, the home of Hot Dogs and Super Dogs, He should fit right in! He might of been excited but we were a little disappointed as they were not open! "Lets go through the A&W drivethru in Lockport" I said to my husband. Rocky's eyes grew large as we pulled up into the parking lot. Smelled good!

As we ordered our food, the lady at the window asked if our dog would like a dog biscuit. "It's really not our dog" I heard myself say, but I what I was really thinking was what kind of fast food restaurant caters to dogs????? Am I really seeing this right- Is that employee really passing Rocky a dog biscuit from the drive thru window?????!!!! 

    

Despite the size of the Biscuit , Rocky looked so regal sitting on the dashboard his "prize" tucked between his front paws. I really think he was thinking, (or else he was still in shock) "Wow, how cool, what an experience-now how am I going to be able to eat this!" (It was about 20x's the size of his regular biscuits!)

While he contemplated the situation we continued to show him some of the sights down River Road. About 15 Minutes later completely exhausted from his Big Biscuit dilemma he curled up and went to sleep- dog biscuit still not eaten, lying beside him. Maybe  "sleeping on" the situation seemed the best resolve for him. Our next Rocky Adventure maybe will have to be a little less problematic in nature! 

Rocky's Big Starbucks Adventure

Rocky looking over the driver's shoulder in anticipation of the fresh coffee?

He's Back! Some of you may remember Rocky the dog from an earlier summer blog. Rocky is our "holiday day" dog-when our friends go on holidays we get the pleasure of having a dog and enjoy all the experiences that go along with being dog owners.  Of course, not owning a dog sometimes brings into question what exactly do you do with a dog? More importantly what do you do with a dog that is all of 2 pounds and a little larger than your hand? The last 2 days have been a bit of a snow storm outside and even sending him out to do his business is a little iffy- a few inches of snow is higher than his legs! Going for walks was not even an option.

This afternoon I suggested to my husband that we go for a drive to Starbucks for some coffee and hot chocolate. To my surprise Rocky's ears perked up and he ran to the front door. My eye brow went up-hmmm a dog that likes coffee? My friend had brought Rocky to our home dressed in his beautiful purple coat that she said he hates and usually won't move in. Wouldn't you know he practically jumped into that coat and made a be- line out the door. I began to think maybe this is not a normal dog, (not only that but taking a dog out for coffee is a little "outside the box" as well!)  Could he have done this before? He really seemed to know where we were off to!

  
Rocky discovered in the Starbucks parking lot that the front dashboard was actually quite warm, a good spot to enjoy the coffee.
Waiting in anticipation as I ran in to get the coffee's.

A little light reading on the caramel Macchiato.

Ah the life! Coffee, a warm place to sit in the sun and good company! Life is good!

Just makes me wonder Tee-Hee Hee- When his owners read this are they going to really be surprised?  Stay tuned for more Rocky adventures!

Pete and Leah,and Baby will make 3!

Christmas Holidays are a great time to spend with family. Even better yet, is to see family members who come home to visit for the holidays. Our family was fortunate have Niece, Leah and her husband Pete in from Alberta for a few days. Leah is only 7 weeks from giving birth to their first born. It was fun having them come down to the studio to capture the pregnancy. She just seemed to "glow". Congratulations you guys and all the best for the delivery! We'll be awaiting the good news! 

Sights and Sounds of Christmas 09

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year! WOW-I can't believe how this past year has flown bye!!! The last month has been a bit of a blur, but in reflection, I was able to, every once in a while, spend some time in pursuit of the Holiday Spirit. What is the  "Holiday Spirit" you ask?

                   For me, it's feeling the warmth and laughter enjoyed by spending time with friends and family, seeing and hearing  sights and sounds of the holidays that some how trigger a fond, magical childhood memory. I thought I'd  share  just a few of the "treasures" I was able to enjoy in the past month. The first three images were captured at a Christmas party at Galbraith House Bed and Breakfast. Above is a collection of antique Christmas balls given to the owner by a relative. What struck me was how beautiful the display was but more importantly how much meaning it held for the owner.

My husband and I managed to sneak out one Sunday afternoon to the Conservatory at Assiniboine Park to enjoy the beautiful Poinsettia displays. I found one lonely stocking hung from a displayed fireplace-I loved the texture the whole scene.The brick, the wood and the stocking textures just seemed to create such a welcoming feeling.

I also spent a Saturday  photographing pet portraits with Pawsitive Image at the Pawsh Dog and met some wonderful individuals! -Oh, and some great Dogs too!!!! 

This weekend we were invited to attend the wedding of Melissa and Josh. The Hotel Fort Garry and the Crystal Ballroom were so beautifully decorated for the holidays!  Sharing in such an important day with friends was also beautiful thing! 

Here is wishing that you too get to spend some valuable time with friends and family and create cherished memories for years to come. Again, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!