gwendolyn waite photography :: blog

About two weeks ago, I read an article that was posted by a facebook friend of mine about a new birth center that is opening up in St. Paul. (Yes, all the best news I find on facebook!) My thoughts? IT’S ABOUT TIME!!! I’m SO excited that the Twin Cities is finally going to have a good option for families who don’t wish to labor in the hospital, but are not prepared for a homebirth.

Last week I met with the birth center’s owner, Amy Johnson-Grass, and took a tour of the location. It’s called Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center, and it’s absolutely beautiful inside. Gorgeous. They took an older home on Grand Avenue and completely renovated it to accommodate the birth center, a yoga studio, and a family and women’s wellness center. The rooms are cozy, comfortable, and filled with beautiful natural light. Their website sums it up well: “Providing individualized natural family medicine from pregnancy & birth to everyday wellness.” This is going to be an incredible resource for the Twin Cities. Please visit their website for more information.

And I am incredibly grateful to be able to display some of my work on their walls!

They will be having an open house this Saturday from 1-5pm (visit this link for more info) and one of the door prizes is a free newborn, child or family session from Gwendolyn Waite Photography! I will be there for a little while, so please stop by and say hello. You can get a chance to look at some of my work, answer any questions you might have, and enter your name in the drawing.

And if you don’t win the free session, there’s still something in it for you – if you book a new session at the open house on Saturday, you will receive a $100 print credit. Your session can take place anytime before December 31st, 2010.

And rumor has is that Peapods will be giving away a baby gift basket as a door prize as well!

And of course I can’t post without a photo, here’s a newborn I recently photographed…

I am beyond excited to start offering birth photography in the Twin Cities. When I was pregnant with my third child, I knew that I wanted to document his birth. I only have a couple snapshots from my oldest kids births, but they are still some of the most amazing, beautiful photos of our new family. I knew that I wanted to capture this third and final birth for our family, and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. These photos still bring tears to my eyes when I look at them, reliving the amazing process of birth. They are one of my most cherished possessions.

All three of my babies were born at home, so I am very comfortable and familiar with homebirths, and now we have a new Birth Center opening up in St. Paul (I will be posting on this very soon – check back later today!) so I will be happy to document your birth wherever you choose to deliver. I use only natural, available light. No flash to disturb laboring mom or newborn. No matter how dim your room – candlelit, table lamps or overhead light, I will capture the mood and beauty of your labor.

Knowing how important these photos are to me, it gives me great joy to announce…

The Cherished Arrival
Birth Day Photography

Your child’s birth is an unforgettable occasion.   But trying to photograph the experience can be a tall order for new parents.  Birth Day Documentation begins with a personal consultation prior to your due date that helps acquaint me with your needs and answer any questions.  Then, whether at a hospital, birth center or in your own home, I provide unlimited coverage of labor and delivery, unobtrusively and quietly capturing moments from this extraordinary event.  Because I can only schedule a limited number of these sessions per month, please contact me as soon as possible for complete pricing, and to reserve your space on my calendar.

Here are some photos from a birth I photographed recently, and here is what the parents had to say about the experience:

“Gwen made what could have been an uncomfortable situation feel totally natural… she captured the absolute joy of meeting Katy for the first time.  Those first moments of awe at seeing this little wonder were captured on film, it is a gift I can never repay!  I am still brought to tears when I look at the photos from those first wonderful moments when she came into our lives.”

I’m sure that most of you have been following news stories about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and and some of you might even have personal connections. I have been following a personal story on facebook posted by some friends of mine, about a little Haitian girl named Gracie. My friends’ cousin has been trying for over two years to adopt Gracie from Haiti. After a long and difficult process, and an incredibly stressful few weeks, Gracie landed in Florida on Saturday, and was united with her new mom early Monday morning. They are now getting to know each other as a new family in their home in Columbus, Ohio. You can read more about Gracie’s story here. I know there are stories like this all over the country about people trying to adopt, and so many of them do not have such happy endings. There are still many children stuck in Haiti who desperately need help.

Since the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, I have been thinking about ways I could help, beyond making an individual monetary donation. About a week ago, my friend and fellow photographer Sally Clark contacted me about taking part in a program she had just created to help raise money for the orphans in Haiti.

It’s called Lenses of Love: Hearts for Haiti, and I am honored to announce my participation. It’s a nationwide effort by photographers dedicated to helping the people of Haiti.

Book your Limited Edition Lenses of Love session by February 14th (you have until April 30th to complete your session) and I will donate 100% of the sitting fee to Kentucky Adoption Services, a nonprofit organization that is helping orphans in Port-au-Prince.

I am offering a special sitting fee for this fundraiser of $150 (normally $200).
Limited number of sessions available. Call 612-747-0372 or email today to book a session.

All Lenses of Love sessions include:

- A pre-session phone consultation to answer questions and discuss location and wardrobe

- A full 1-2 hour photo session at a location of your choice

- An online slideshow featuring 20-35 fully-edited images from your session

- A personalized ordering meeting to choose your prints and products

The session fee is for Gwen’s time and talent only. Wall galleries, albums and other products are available at standard pricing. May not be combined with any other offers. Minimum order of $300 applies.

A great big shout-out to Sally Clark for creating this program, and putting all of the hard work in to make it a success.

Please share this link with your friends, family, and help get the word out. If you are not in the Twin Cities area, please visit the Lenses of Love website and click on “Find a Photographer” to locate a photographer in your area.

612-747-0372
gwen@gwendolynwaite.com

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and were able to spend some time with family and loved ones. I took some time off from my work to gather with family, spend time with the kids, work on some (major) house projects, splash at the water park, play Santa Claus, and sleep in.

Now the kids are back at school, swimming lessons, art class, cub scouts, homework, ECFE, and all our weekly activities are starting back up. Busy busy.

I wanted to share a little bit about the family I chose as the winner of my portrait session giveaway. It was an extremely difficult decision – I received so many heartbreaking stories. But this one especially touched me, maybe because this little boy is so close in age to my son, Elliott.

Ben is two years old, and was diagnosed about a year ago with a genetic eye disorder. The main issue with this condition is his compromised eyesight. Ben wears glasses, and that helps him to be able to see better.

However, in September of last year, they received another diagnosis, this time much more serious. Ben was diagnosed with a very rare immune disorder. He will require a bone marrow transplant soon, and will need to spend 4-6 weeks in the hospital. Prior to the transplant, he will be undergoing 7-10 days of chemotherapy, to clear out all of the abnormal cells so he can start fresh with the new cells.

They are still looking for a bone marrow donor. Please visit the National Marrow Donor Program website to find more information about donating bone marrow. You can give the gift of life to someone like Ben.

Ben has a big sister who is 4 years old, and I’m sure Ben’s transplant will be very hard on her as well. I can’t wait to meet both Ben and Lydia, and their parents, and give them some photographs which I hope they will treasure forever. They will be receiving a complementary session, as well as a $1500 print credit to use however they wish.

I have been so blessed to be able to do what I love, and this is a small way I can give something back to the community. I challenge each of you to find one way you can give back, even something small. Maybe you can buy a gift card for the person standing in back of you in line at the coffee shop. Or volunteer your time at a local school. Go through your closet and donate the clothing you don’t wear any more. Or maybe your profession would allow you to donate a service to a deserving family.

Just do something.

UPDATE: I have chosen a winner, and have sent them an email. As soon as I hear back from them, I will post a few details!

Last year, Kristen Kalp of Essential Imagery started a grassroots movement. She put a challenge out to the photography community to give the gift of photography to deserving families who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford custom portraits. Last year I joined the movement, and was able to give an amazing single mom and her four kids some portraits of her beautiful family. This mom was so inspired that she used the same idea to give a deserving family the gift of her midwife services. I love how the spirit of giving is so contagious.

This year I am so excited to be participating again.

And here’s where you come in…

You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $1500 worth, to be exact. Whether it’s a canvas or an album, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season. The winner will receive a complementary session along with a $1500 print credit to use however they wish.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner also receives a free session ($200 value) and $500 in print credits. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in the Twin Cities area (that would be in Minnesota, for all you non-Midwesterners). Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : gwen@gwendolynwaite.com by midnight December 23rd.

The winner will be announced here on my blog on Christmas Eve.

Get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries.

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

Giving *is* awesome.

Something else that is awesome?
My three kids.
Here they are.