Heard IMAGES

It's A Girl!!!

2011-05-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Introducing Baby E

Isn't she a beauty...?

oh Friday...

2011-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it's just after lunch and I'm finally sitting down after running around all morning. Been doing a LOT of cleaning/tidying/organizing lately...getting prepared for Baby! I figured I's sit and answer a few "tag" questions I've received over the past few months. Good times.

8 tv shows I like to watch:

- CSI - the regular one(when I remember that it's on!)

- How I Met Your Mother -seriously, Neil Patrick Harris is hilarious!

- Global Morning news - haha..yep. every morning!

- Ellen

- Live with Regis & Kelly -still waiting to win a trip ;)

- Everyday Food

- Vampire Diaries -when is it on again? I can never find it...

- hmm...oh right, pretty much everything on TLC

8 restaurants I like to eat at:

- Olive Garden -especially their soup/salad/breadsticks lunch!!

- Kelseys -oh if only they didn't close down here :(

- The Keg

- Milestones - omg their breakfasts!! those tomatoes & hashbrowns...mmm

- Mucho Burrito -you haven't had a better Mexican experience!

- Naan Bites

- Cactus Club

- Wired Monk

- Marble Slab Creamery...oh baby!

oops, that's more than 8...oh well

8 things that happened today:

- ate Banana Nut Cheerios for breakfast(not a huge fan, I prefer Honey Nut)

- put a really good quote on my facebook status!

- ate 2 chocolate chip cookies & a glass of milk

- got a call from hubby...the guys at work LOVED my cookies :D

- made my glucose tolerance test appt with the clinic...ugh

- forced myself to drink 2 large glasses of h2o

- did all the dishes -gotta love a clean counter top!

- looked at the floor covered in crumbs, cereal, spilled spices(?) and figured I'd get to it later...;)

8 things I'm looking forward to:

- Baby :)

- Hubby coming home from work. It's Friday!!

- finishing the nursery

- a semi-lazy weekend

- good friends over for dinner on Sunday

- the end of this rainy weather...I need a good walk outside!

- cutting my nails -they're getting hard to type with.

- an ice cold Coke :)

8 things on my wish list:

- a healthy baby & no-problem labour/delivery

- a raise for the Hubs

- a good settlement for his hand injury

- to be in our own house in the next 2 years...

- laundry machines that cleans/dries AND folds & puts away laundry! haha. but seriously, a house that cleans itself would be divine!

- a winter/Christmas vacation

- shopping spree...hmm

- *secret* ;)

<3>

Bring on the belt. And more.

2011-01-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

Hmm...I bet you're not very happy with me...? I've been slacking, yes. I've not blogged for...donkeys ages! Yep. I have no excuses. Bring on the belt, paddle, ruler, or any other object that would produce welts. I deserve it. :P Owee, that would hurt! (Hmm...why is it ME who is always writing the blog posts?? Why hasn't Matt gotten his butt in front of the computer to write a post? Huh? HUH?? I have no idea, but I hope he'll get into it soon...)

I have been M.I.A. for a very good reason though! So, I guess I DO have an excuse, even if it is just ONE! Ready for it??

WE'RE PREGNANT!

Yep. That's it folks! 23 weeks pregnant today!

So there. It's out in the world wide web. Hmm...not sure how I feel about that. Ahh what the heck...:P

Photography has kind of been put on hold for the moment. It wasn't intentional...it just slowed right down. And it's been lovely to have time to relax and unwind and prepare for this new chapter in our lives!

So far this pregnancy has been such an incredible ride! I felt only slightly nauseous the first few weeks. I couldn't go near meat though! Ick. I was all about the fruit, smoothies, and water. Now that I'm into my 6th month I can handle pretty much anything. Cravings you ask? Tuna, chocolate, peaches.....and them I get these hunger pangs for things at random. Like a Marmite and cheddar sandwich. Never liked Marmite in my lifetime, ever! And Spam...WHAT?? I had a serious craving for that gunk a couple weeks ago. I DID NOT give into said craving, thank goodness.

My mood has been ok. Every now and then I'll have a day full of hormoney goodness(or shall I say badness). But it's been pretty mellow. I'm sure once I get bigger and moving around gets a little more difficult, I may find myself getting snappy. Been feeling awesome though!!

Matt's so excited to be a dad! He can't wait! :)

Anyways, must be running along. Got some chocolate milk with my name on it, calling me from the fridge!

So........sorry for the massive gap in posting lately. My excuse: I'm growing a person inside of me. What can you do? :P

Just Because | Shelby & Tyler

2010-09-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

And the hawt couple award goes to...dah dah dah daah!

It was such a pleasure getting together with Shelb & Ty! So great to catch up! Miss Shelby & I worked together a few years ago, before either of us got married. And it was great to capture these two lovie-dovies! And it was even sweeter that we got to do it the day before their second anniversary! And if you haven't noticed, I like starting sentences with "and"...:P

We had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with S & T in and around Langley. It was such a relaxed shoot. And it definitely helps that they are both gorgeous! I mean, come on!

I just have to add that I(Claire) ADORE photographing couples! Seriously, it is my favourite! I just love capturing what people have, the connection, the looks they give each other. Just melts my heart.

Anywho, I now introduce you to Shelby and Tyler...here are their fabulous selves...

Fave shot of the day!! :)

Ooh...second fave shot of the day!! ;)

Okay, seriously? These two are just too gorgeous for words!

Oh Shelby...those eyes!

A sweet moment captured without them knowing...

Shelby & Tyler, you two are fabulous! Thank you for allowing us to spend time with you guys - it was a blast! Can't wait to capture your beautiful faces again!!

Claire :)

White Rock Engagement Photography | Josh & Jolynn

2010-07-28T12:14:00.001-07:00

PDP = Pretty Darn Precious. Yep. That's these two! Oh boy...get ready.

I've known Josh for...oh...roughly 9 years? Wow. Yeah. 9 years! We met at Camp Tulahead. We were in the counsellors-in-training program together. He was a year behind me, but we became fast friends! Jump ahead one year and Josh & Matt meet @ camp...friends on! We ended up working @ camp together for a few years, and we try to get together throughout the year(which can be tough!). But now that Josh has moved back to his hometown of Abbotsford, we get to see him a lot more! And it's great!

When we learned that Josh had met "the girl", we knew we had to meet her right then! These two are seriously the most laid-back, fun, giggly, happily content couple I've ever met. They are sooo meant for each other. Just like good dark chocolate is meant to be eaten with a steaming cup of green tea. That good! We just knew these two were perfect for one another!

We met with them in White Rock for their engagement session at 10:30am. Yes, a.m. It was a cold, blustery, late spring morning. Figuring it was a little too chilly to take photos right then, we decided to nip into a cute little cafe/cupcakery for a cuppa. That's the thing I love about doing photos for friends...you can just be completely relaxed and take a break if you want to! After caramel macchiatos and scones we ventured back out into the less-cold air to commence the photo session.

Josh proposed to Jolynn at White Rock, so it was only appropriate that we have their engagement photos taken at the same place! I absolutely love the photos we captured! You can just feel the love being poured out from the computer screen! <3>

These two lovebirds are getting married at the end of August, and we cannot wait to capture their beautiful day!

There's lots of photos! Enjoy!

Sorry...:(

2010-07-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow blog readers!

Just wanted to throw out a quick apology for being so MIA lately. Our computer is going on the fritz...not cooperating at all! We have about 5 shoots to blog, but due to the complications we've been having, they have been put on hold for now. Thank you to those of you who have been wondering where we've been, if we're ok. We truly appreciate your concern. WE are great! Just not happy with this whole technology thing right now. So, keep looking back! We hope to have the posts up soon!!

Thanks again,

Claire :)

SUMMER SHINDIG!!

2010-05-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon to a blog near you!

2010-05-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

Jolynn & Josh

Due to be married:

August 28th, 2010

Stay tuned!

Quote Of The Day

2010-04-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Granville Island Engagement Session - Mandy & Chris

2010-04-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

She is from Kalispell, Montana. He is from Surrey, BC. They met at a concert in George, Washington. It was fate. He fell for her cute and clumsy disposition, she fell for his good looks and sense of humour. Endless nights counting shooting stars, and games of 20 Questions, only made the time they spent together that much more. Having to go back home was was heart breaking, but they made it work! After many, many visits back and forth for both of them, Chris asked Mandy's father for his blessing! Then on January 8th, 2009, during her visit to Canada during Christmas break, it happened! They arrived in White Rock, took a leisurely walk down the pier, gazing at the amazing sunset before them. With the sun setting, and the moon high in the sky, it was a beautiful evening! Continuing down the pier, Mandy recognized a familiar face among the people...their favourite musician, Ari Neufeld. Glancing up at Chris, she noticed that he and Ari were making eye contact. Unsure of what to think, she kept walking with Chris until they got to the bench at the end of the pier. Then little pieces of the puzzle started coming together. Ari was supposed to be there! So was the woman fiercely snapping photos of them! Ari started to play "their" song, and with tears in their eyes, Chris got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. Excitement rushed through her and "OF COURSE!!" raced out of her mouth. Chris had planned the whole thing! They are set to be married July 10th,2010. And we will be there to photograph their special day! Congratulations you two, you deserve all the best! Can't wait for your wedding!

Sneak Peek!! - Chris & Mandy - Engaged!

2010-04-01T14:20:00.001-07:00

Here's a little sneak peek of Chris & Mandy's Engagement Session! These two were sooo much fun!!

BAM! Umm...magazine spread anyone?? These two are HOT!

A cute little series...the last photo is so good!

Stay tuned for a lot more photos from this shoot!

Claire

Mallory - Downtown Formal

2010-04-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Mallory...what can I say? She's a natural! I had worked with Mallory a couple years back. We were at the Customer Service/Returns desk together(the same place I worked with Melissa)...oh some good memories! A lot of laughs! Hey Mal, "Why you be so fussy!?"- inside joke. We kind of lost touch up until I had sent out a Facebook request for models, so that we could finish our portfolio. Mal was interested, and had availability to a few prom dresses, so we were super excited when she said that she was up for anything! Haha, be careful what you say around us... No, we didn't do anything extreme for this shoot...but coming up in the next couple months you might be seeing Mal doing some pretty adventurous things! And stay tuned for her Taylor Swift themed shoot! My fave shoot so far! Anyways, onto some photos...

Love this one!! The polka dot dress, turquoise background...!!!

Hey Mal, how do you feel about climbing in high heels?

Favourite photo from the shoot!

How gorgeous is she?!

Well folks, that's all for now...keep tuning in! We've got an awesome Engagement shoot to blog about next!!

Claire

The Modern Boutonniere

2010-03-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

Buttoneer, bootawnear, boutonier...??? Ok, I was never THAT bad at spelling the dang thing, but I never got it right on the first attempt!

Since being asked to photograph 2 weddings(so far!) this summer I have been a flurry of excitement! We only got married just over 3 1/2 years ago, but so many things in the wedding world have changed! For the better I might add... And I'm catching myself doing a little too much research on the whole wedding topic. "Hey babe, can we have another wedding? Maybe we should renew our vows every 5 years or so!" Yep. I'd love to do that. (it'll never happen.) I can hear him cringing in the next room!

Boutonnieres for example: They used to just be flowers; maybe a little greenery added in and a touch of ribbon. Nowadays you'll see grooms and their boys sporting feathers, wire spirals, even buttons! And I LOVE it! It adds so much personality and authenticity to the whole day!

I think brides need to branch out and look at the different options. And guess what? The more modern boutonniere can easily be cheaper than your traditional flower one! Bonus!

Here's a few pictures of The Modern Boutonniere:

The boutonniere on the bottom left has to be my favourite of the bunch. I love the simplicity and elegance of it. The copper spiraled wire makes it that much more!

Hope this helps you brides out there who are wanting to put a modern twist to your special day!

Photos courtesy of Etsy.com

Relief is...

2010-03-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 23rd. 4:27am - wake up with horrendous sore throat. ugh.

5am - Matt's alarm.

5:09am - alarm(he hit 'snooze')

5:18 - "

5:27 - "

5:30am - my alarm - outta bed...COFFEE!

That's pretty much our daily wake-up schedule. Why not just set the alarm for 5:30am you ask? I dunno...ask Matty! Anyways, waking up with a sore scratchy throat is never fun. And since I'm trying to get better @ this whole blogging thing, writing more than one a month, I though you might like to see my days menu! {insert sarcasm here} On to it then...

My relief is:

this goodness...

mmm...Echinacea tea...gotta add honey though!

of course.

people always make a fuss about Buckley's. it's not that big of a deal! c'mon!

Vitamin C. goes without explanation.

yup. Halls. a staple for coughs.

So that's that. My goal is to try and get a blog up every other day...let's see how it goes! Until next time...~C

Sneak Peek!! - Mallory Jean - Portraits

2010-03-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

.....stay tuned for more!!

Cute Couple Questionnaire

2010-03-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

I snagged this couple's questionnaire from a fellow photographers blog http://addilayphotography.blogspot.com/ Thanks!

It's such a cute way to share about Matt and I!

♥ What are your middle names? Emma and Trevor
♥ How long have you been together? in total?...6 years. wow!
♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating? 4 years...kind of.
♥ Who asked who out? I think it was a mutual thing...but I(Claire) am pretty sure I asked the question.
♥ Whose siblings do you see the most? umm...we see one of Matt's brothers every now and then. Used to see his little sis a lot, but she's in Mississippi now. :(
♥ Do you have any children? No, no kids yet... jeez, why does everyone keep asking that!? one day.
♥ What about pets? well, does a Japanese fighting fish count?? her name is Luna, she's mostly blue with some red colouring. Matt got her for me right after we got married. We can't have a dog where we live, but like children...one day!
♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? money.
♥ Did you go to the same school? no. Matt was home-schooled for most of his schooling life in Langley. I went to public school in Northern Ireland and then in the Okanagan, BC.
♥ Are you from the same home town? No...I was born & raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, until I was 8. Then my family moved to the Okanagan. Matt was born & raised in the Lower Mainland. I moved here when we got engaged.
♥ Who is the smartest? hmmmm...I think it depends on what the subject is. But Matty's very knowledgeable!
♥ Who is the most sensitive? Me! I will cry about anything...that's how I deal.
♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? SUSHI!!!
♥ Who has the craziest ex? I think that's a tie...but if we had to pick...hmm. ???
♥ Who has the worst temper? Matt.
♥ Who does the cooking? Me. Occasionally Matt will. But it's me.
♥ Who is more social? Matt. I tend to be quiet until you get to know me.
♥ Who is the neat-freak? unfortunately, neither of us.
♥ Who is the more stubborn? hmmm...I think that's a tie
♥ Who hogs the bed? Matt. I am constantly waking up pulling the blankets back over to my side, or shoving his elbow out of my face!
♥ Who wakes up earlier? We both get up when the alarm goes off @ 5am. yes...5am! After hitting the snooze button 7 times though!
♥ Where was your first date? Our very first date.....hmm...I honestly can't remember! It was either the little Greek place in Princeton during a summer @ camp, or ABC restaurant in Langley.
♥ Who has the bigger family? Immediate family or extended? Immediate - Matt. He has 2 older brothers and a younger sister. Me, I have my baby brother. But if we're talking extended family, then i take the prize on THAT one!
♥ Do you get flowers often? mmm...no, but I'd much rather have a pair of shoes, or a shirt or something instead! hint hint!
♥ How do you spend the holidays? We never really know. It gets decided before Thanksgiving. This year, we're going to my mum's for Christmas dinner though.
♥ Who is more jealous? Me. But I try to hide it...not well.
♥ How long did it take to get serious? Not too long. We had both been in rough relationships previous to our getting together, so we were both just waiting for God to send along the right person. And it just happened to be perfect timing!
♥ Who eats more? Also, sadly, debatable.
♥ Who does/did the laundry? We do it together...pause for the "awwwwwww!". yep. we take it to the laundromat!
♥ Who’s better with the computer? Definitely Matty.
♥ Who drives when you are together? Always Brandon. I think he lacks faith in my driving! Maybe that's because I don't have a license! :P

But What Will I Wear?!?

2010-03-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

Suggestions on what to wear to your Engagement Shoot:

~ Wear something you are comfortable in. If you're not comfortable, it will show in the photos. 2-3 outfit options/changes are best; they give variety and a selection if you change your mind at the last minute and want a different look.

~ Think about layering clothing. With the unpredictable weather we get here in Vancouver, you never really know what's going to happen!

~ It's best not to wear very tight clothing that will restrict your movement in any way. We usually walk to different locations & may have you sitting on grass, laying down, hopping over rocks, etc. Practice moving around in your clothing before making the selection.

~ Wear something you love and make sure it's YOU! Try not to wear something you are going to wish you hadn't worn in a few weeks when looking back at the photos.

~ A bit dressier than normal can be flirty & fun, but make sure it's still you! All about you baby!

~ Wear clothes that are complementary in style & colour. But don't be too "matchy". For example, you could both wear 'spring' colours or different shades of blue.

~ Wear clothes that have the same level of "dressy-ness". Don't dress up and have your fiance wear their everyday jeans and tshirt.

~ Have clothes match the location and season of the shoot. If you aren't comfortable it will show in your pictures. Don't wear shorts and sandals if it's a Fall/Winter shoot, or a thick sweater and jacket for a Spring/Summer shoot.

~ Large patterns/florals/stripes/etc are a No-No. The backgrounds of photographs generally have a lot of texture and colour, so patterns etc will make the shot too busy.

~ Wear shoes you love, and that you can comfortably walk in. Bring along flip-flops to walk in if you want to change into stilettos etc for the actual picture taking.

~ Jewel-tone, solid colours are best! Along with neutral colours. For example, ladies could wear a bright coloured top or dress while men wear dark-wash jeans and a neutral button-down top. My fave picks for ladies - bright yellow, jewel-tone greens, purples, blues, and pinks! They give that pop of colour and look amazing in photos! Men - complement your gal by choocing a nice solid colour top in a complementary shade like dark blue/navy, browns, black etc.

~ Have a dressier clothing option as well as a casual one. Examples: Dressy - ladies in a bright spring dress, men in jeans and a button down shirt or light-knit sweater. Casual - both in jeans with complementary white/light coloured tops.

Other things to remember:

~ Leave your purse/bag behind. We can carry keys, small wallets, and a few necessities in our camera bags. Exception if you are bringing along extra outfit options where we will be walking to locations.

~ Feel free to bring your dog(s) along on the photo shoot - we LOVE dogs! But please have a friend come along to watch him/her while we are taking other shots.

~ Plan on having a good time. Think of it more as a date, and less of smiling at the camera. Natural smiles are different than forced smiles...and we want to see you glowing!

~ If there is something you want us to avoid photographing, it helps if you let us know in advance. That way we can work with you to keep the scar/tattoo/etc out of the pictures.

~ Ladies - please do not use the Engagement Session as your "trial run" for your wedding up-do!! Keep your hair casual, easy and romantic. The less fuss the better. There may be some wind(you never know in Vancouver!) and all that hard work making your "do" perfectly set can all be blown to the wind. (pun intended!)

One last thing:.......I promise!

~ Please, please, please...feel free to let us know of any poses you would like to incorporate into the shoot. We love getting suggestions from our clients! A little "foot pop" during a kiss? I think so! Definitely! Bring.It.On!

Over and Out

Claire

Kylie & Steve - White Rock Couples Shoot

2010-03-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Kylie & I met @ Camp Tulahead, I can't remember if it was 2003, 2004, 2005.....hmm. Well, it was YEARS ago! She was a counsellor and her camp name was Flower. After spending weeks upon weeks together, we never really kept in contact over the years, that is until Facebook emerged in the world. After sending out a Facebook plea, looking for models to put in front of our camera, Kylie came forward and offered her beautiful face! She married Steve a couple years ago, and these two are too cute for words! We headed to White Rock for some sun-shiny beachy photos. Thanks for helping us out guys!

Port Moody

2010-01-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Lately we've fallen into a bit of a slump, especially on the weekends! Matty ventures into his "cave" to play XBox Live, while I tidy up the house, sit on the sofa with a cuppa tea, and read a book or watch some tv. It's gotten into quite the routine...and I've had enough! We went to Port Moody yesterday, and boy is this place ever cute! We didn't really know where we were going, and the GPS took us to a dead end road, but we ended up finding an amazing park with tons of little hiking trails! We had a little picnic(in the car...it was freezing out okay!?), and wandered around for a couple hours. I can't even remember the name of the place, so I'll have to update later on, but it was gorgeous! One of my new year's resolutions is to get in shape and lose some weight, and this place is definitely on my list of workout spots! Haha! The trails go up, down, all around! It's quite the leg workout! I felt the BURN!! Especially today! After that hike, my kick-boxing workout, AND 2 hours on the recumbent bike(!!!!!...yes, I rode while watching a movie!), my legs feel like jello today! But, that's okay! I just hope I didn't get too many funny looks walking around the grocery store like I just got off a horse! Well, this post was quite random. Yes. But random posts are bound to happen! Enjoy these few shots of Port Moody! There's more to come!

2010 Mini-Sessions!

2010-01-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about that time where we need to add to our portfolio! We are in need of models!! We need to photograph:

-Newborns

-Engagement

-Boudoir

-Couples

-Single portraits

If you, or anyone you know, are interested...please contact us @ heardimages@gmail.com

Space is limited, book your appointment soon!

*Bring your own outfit(s) - preferrably 2

*You will be able to purchase a dvd of all the best photos from the shoot for $25.

Calling All Highschool Grads!

2010-01-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

Attention 2010 Graduates!

Now is the time to book your Grad Portrait Session! We have limited space available, so book your appointment soon! Grads will receive a disc of best photos from shoot, and one 8x10 print. Feel free to bring your friends and make it a day of fun! If you are fun, up-for-anything, and full of excitement, we want to hear from you!

Melissa & Derek ~ Pregnancy Shoot ~ Part 1

2010-01-07T11:08:00.001-08:00

4 years ago I met Melissa @ the retail store we used to work at. When I heard she was expecting a baby in February I jumped @ the chance to photograph her baby belly! We needed a maternity shoot in our portfolio, and she was so excited to be part of our learning experience! We met up and went to Fort Langley(I love that place!!) to take some outdoor shots. This couple is the cutest darn thing you've ever seen! You can tell they're really excited for this next chapter in their lives. Thanks for being superb models for us you two! You were amazing! ps. Melissa has such a natural beauty to her, I didn't need to edit ANY of these pics! And the weather and lighting outside was a bonus too!

What a beauty!

I heart this one!

Aahh...love

Favourite!

Again, thanks Melissa & Derek!! More pics to come!

*all photos taken by Claire Heard

The time has come...

2009-11-26T12:38:00.001-08:00

Well, it's official! The time has come for me(Claire) to retire the good ol' flip-flops...(tear)...and welcome my grungy boots back into my life! Those who know me well know that I live in flip-flops pretty much all year round...not this year! It's been so gross outside that I've had to resort to my second favourite pair of foot apparel. Sigh. But there's good news to all this mumbo jumbo! I have a new pair of grungy boots!!! Well, they aren't grungy at all actually! Hubby bought them for me last weekend! And I heart them! So maybe life will look up; maybe I'll wear my grungy boots all year round! Then again, maybe not.

Summer lovin'...all year round(used to be)

My old grungy boots! I still love them!

My new loves!!

~Claire~

Cans For Comments!

2009-11-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

Cans For Comments...it pretty much explains itself!

In 2008, Vancouver photographers Chris+Lynn, started Cans For Comments. For every comment left on a blog post(old or new), a can of non-perishable food will be donated to the local food bank. Great concept right?

This will be out first year participating in Cans For Comments, and we hope you'll join us! We will be started today and going until December 25th! That's a whole month! So, come on, let's help out people in need and share some love this holiday season!

Be sure to check out other local photogs who are joining in this great movement!

http://www.kaycigoughphotography.blogspot.com/

http://traceylheppner.blogspot.com/

Random weekend

2009-11-03T09:03:00.000-08:00

Gotta love weekends where you have absolutely nothing planned! And to top it off, after the whole week of rain, the skies cleared up and it was gorgeous for both Saturday AND Sunday!! We went into Fort Langley on Saturday to meet Mum for coffee, then just wandered around taking in all the Autumn colours and busy-ness! Here's a few pics from Fort Langley:

Hmm...lovely

The old train station

The remnants of a great Caramel Macchiato..Mmm

Not yet ready to retire the flip-flops!!!

And here's some from Sunday @ the Steveston Harbour/Fisherman's Wharf:

Charthouse Restaurant...soo good!

Marina

Fishermen sell their catch out of the back of their boats!

Shrimp stall

Swans in salt water...?

Such a model!

Fishermen eating icecream..it was 4 degrees!

Favourite photo of the weekend!

Mr. Cloud...he was so sweet.

Photo of the Day!

2009-10-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love Fall!! It's my favorite season by far! The cooler weather, the changing colours of leaves, cozy indoors, fuzzy slippers, sweaters, scarves, the smells of apple cinnamon, not to mention the seasonal Starbucks drinks! Yay for Pumpkin Spice & Caramel Apple Spice!!! :) Here's a pic of a tree in the backyard!

~Claire~

Barns, horses, sunsets...oh my!

2009-10-22T09:18:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago we got a little antsy on a Saturday evening, had nothing to do...so we took a drive, toting our cameras(of course!), and happened upon a bunch of horses in a field. These photos are being posted late...sorry! Our computer was having issues... Here's a few shots I got!

I love this old rickety barn...even though it's about to fall over!

Mama horse. Very pregnant!

Sooo cute! Matt looks a lil scared though...

Black Beauty

The gorgeous summer sunset

What are YOU thankful for?

2009-10-12T19:53:00.001-07:00

What are YOU thankful for?? This question seems to only be asked once a year...during Thanksgiving. Why only once a year? I was sitting @ the dinner table with my in-laws yesterday(after stuffing ourselves with Mummy Heard's feast!!!), and we were filling out a little card that asked us what we were thankful for, and what we hoped for/to accomplish in the future...and it occurred to me. We need to take time and think about what we are thankful for more often! Count your blessings! It may be as simple as being thankful for your t.v., or more,

being thankful for waking up everyday in a comfy bed, with a roof over your head, and food in your fridge. Even the little things count!!

"How does being thankful affect your life? Let's look at it in terms of someone you may know. Imagine the person who is usually in a bad mood. They are always complaining about something, there is always someone who's done something to them and they're always getting the bum deal. This person is hard to be around and it takes a lot of energy to maintain a relationship with them. By the end of a visit, you're exhausted! Do you think this person is a thankful one? Probably not. In fact, if you asked them what they're thankful for, they may have a hard time telling you.

On the other hand, think of someone else you know. This person is energetic, and has a certain spark to them. They laugh a lot and have a "can-do" attitude. They may be afraid, but they are willing to try new things. If you ask them what they're thankful for, they will be able to list off many. And when you visit with this person, you feel energized, inspired and thankful to know them. It's safe to say that this person is more fulfilled in their life than the unthankful one."

Even if where/what you are isn't where/what you w

ant to be, be thankful that you are where/what you are, be thankful that you are ALIVE!! With breath in your lungs, and shoes on your feet!

Try this exercise: Starting first thing in the morning, make a list of the things you are thankful for. It can be as simple as having hot water for your shower, or a safe drive to work! Keep adding things to your list throughout the day. Then take a look at it before you go to bed...you'll see that all these little things add up pretty fast!! Could you imagine what your list would look like after a week? Month? Year??? That's a stinkin' long list!

I know that it's nearing the end of Thanksgiving, but my hope is for people to take a little time out of their busy day to reflect on everything they are thankful for.

I'm thankful that I have a great country to live in, an amazing husband, great friends, family, my health, my faith, my talents, sunsets, rainbows,(chocolate & shoes!!!)...

So.....

What are YOU thankful for?

Bromley Rocks!!!

2009-09-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all!

So, we were in Penticton not too long ago, and we passed through Princeton on the way back home. We stopped @ Bromley Rock, which is a rest area with a tiny beach, a huge boulder(Bromley Rock), and a wild river!! That's a whole other story...let's just say, when Matt was a lifeguard, he had to do some rescuing in that river... Anyways, on the other side of the river is another little beach, and we just strolled along, picking up big flat stones to do some cooking with(another story!). And we decided to make some Inukshuks! Here they are, in all their glory!

Yep! So there you have it! We were quite proud of these creations!! :)

Long time no bloggin'...+ Sister teaser!

2009-09-30T09:09:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the MIA-ness...we've been super busy and haven't gotten around to updated this. Bad Claire & Matt! Anyways, I have yet to post Sherri & Crystal's "Sister shoot". Yes, this was done a while ago, and I haven't even edited the photos, but here's a sneak peak! These two are friggin hilarious!!! I'll post the others soon...I PROMISE!!! :)

You were created to love and be loved...

2009-08-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

The following is from the site, "To Write Love On Her Arms"...this movement is very close to my heart, as I have battled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts throughout different times of my life. Please take some time to look @ their website and Facebook pages...~Claire~

"You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters."

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Website: http://www.twloha.com/page.php?id=6

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/To-Write-Love-On-Her-Arms/8529136956?ref=ts

Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204841887&ref=ts

New Do!!!

2009-08-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

So, as you can see from this photo, I cut about 5 inches off my hair!!! And I don't miss it @ all! And it's all thanks to the gals @ Versas Hair & Esthetics!!! Thanks ladies! I walked in a hot mess, and walked out a hot lass! Haha! Visit them @ 20410 Fraser Hwy, Langley BC...I can't stress enough how great their services are! Check them out!!!

~Claire

Business cards have arrived!!

2009-08-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Our business cards have finally arrived!!! Yay! Here they are...

Love them!!!

2009-07-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!! Claire here! So, a couple weeks ago my mum-in-law asked me to come with her to her studio(she's a ballet teacher), and take some photos of one of her students who has greatly improved over the past year! I was honoured, so I jumped @ the chance for a ballet photo shoot! Nicole is such a beautiful dancer...so graceful! Here's a few teaser shots that I got...lots more to come!

My fave shot from the whole shoot!

Mum & Nicole

Graceful

waiting for instruction...

another fave...I love closeups of pointe shoes!

Business Cards Are Ordered!!!

2009-07-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

So we FINALLY got around to ordering our business cards...! Yay! We're ordering custom cards from VistaPrint. They allow you to upload your own photos, and pretty much design your whole card! Now for the wait...that'll feel like forever. They also have a deal where you can make your own cards using one of their templates...250 cards FOR FREE...you just pay the $8 shipping!! We'll post pics when ours arrive! Hope you all have a great week!

Check out VistaPrint's website @ www.vistaprint.ca!

And here's a random photo...of me & my other love!

Why Are Professional Photographers So Expensive?

2009-07-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

We came across this article online, and thought it would be a helpful thing to share! ~C & M

Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?

In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 (actually more then what I charge) for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?

Here's why.

Simply put, you're not just paying for the actual photograph, you're paying for time and expertise. First, let's look at the actual time involved. If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part.

For a two hour portrait session:

- one hour of travel to and from the session
- two hours of shooting
- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.
- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 4 Gb of data)
- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
- 3 - 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs
- 2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.
- For local customers, we also print a set of all of their photos, and meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours.

You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour.

For an eight hour wedding:

- I won't bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least two to three full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour.

Now for the expertise.

Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.

Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.

And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.

Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.

What about the cheap studios at the mall?

Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.

The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.

Conclusion:

We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Author: Shawn, Pamela & Gavin Richter
http://www.caughtonfilmphoto.com/costofphotography.html

Simard Family Teaser

2009-06-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

Jeff & Jackie and their 4 boys, Matthew(10), Liam(5), Justin(3), and Kaleb(8mo) were such a blast to shoot! The Simards have been family friends for years, ever since Matthew was 3! Now he's 10 and almost as tall as me! We had so much fun with this bunch and we got some awesome shots! Here's a sneak peak:

The beautiful couple!

I absolutely love this shot of Jackie and her sister! It's one of my faves!

Stay tuned, there's more photos of these guys to come!
~Claire

BBQ Time!!

2009-06-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

We bought a BBQ!! Matt put it together(in under 40 minutes!) and created a feast!

This was after finding out he had to exchange 2 parts that were bent...

A MAN READING INSTRUCTIONS???

The putting-together of the BBQ was a success! Then he created this lovely dinner!

The chef in his element...

Mmm...kabobs!

Cedar plank salmon...secret recipe!

Oh so good!!

Teaser: Horses, sunsets, barns, oh my!

2009-06-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

I love this old rickety barn...even though it's about to fall over!

Mama horse. Very pregnant!

Sooo cute! Matt looks a lil scared though...

Black Beauty

The gorgeous summer sunset

Shooting on the Go

2009-06-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hey! I just wanted to share, yet another, of my shots! On Wednesday June 10, 2009...after having a really crappy day at work, I was on my way home at about 7:30pm when I saw the clouds and the sun in a pretty cool setting. However, I was driving at the time and had nowhere to pull over. So, I pulled my camera out and rested it on my left arm, which was holding onto the steering wheel, and I quickly checked the viewfinder and snapped the photo! I only got ONE shot off. The original shot was lacking some "feel" so I enhanced the color and shadowing with CS3....This is the finished project!

THANKS!!

Matt Heard

Jen & Scott's Wedding

2009-06-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots of our friends Jennie & Scott, who were married on May 22nd...we didn't shoot the wedding, but I think the photos we got were pretty good! It was such a beautiful wedding...for two beautiful people!

With this ring...

The happy couple

I really like this one for some reason.

Reception kiss

Happily ever after...

<3>

Campbell Valley Park & Friends

2009-05-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, May Long weekend, Matt & I ventured around Langley scoping out locations for upcoming photoshoots...which we are so excited for!!! We stopped @ Campbell Valley Park, which is a beautiful area, and found some friends in the pond!

That little frog was so funny! He'd let me get so close to him, but not Matt. Whenever Matt tried to get near him, he'd just leap back into the water...I think this is because when Matt was younger he'd capture frogs, probably catching some of this little guys ancestors...I think the frog sensed that Matt was a danger!

More to come...

~Claire

Victoria Lily

2009-05-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Mandy & Joe brought this little angel into the world December 2007. This photo was taken just 2 weeks after she was born...so precious!

Night Shooting

2009-05-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Well, on Sunday night I got pretty restless...so I went out for a drive, with my camera of course. I found my way around Surrey; I stopped beneath Alex Fraser Bridge and got this image...

After spending some time on a railway line, in the dark, I moved on to the SkyTrain Suspension Bridge near King George Highway. Now, this photo has an interesting ending. I drove down a side road off of Scott Road, down towards the bridges, and parked in a pub parking lot. I saw a sign that mentioned something about fees for boat-launching so I assumed it was a public area. So I entered and spent about 15-20 minutes setting up a few shots, one of which will be shown later. After taking this awesome shot of the bridge I packed up and started walking back to my car. As I was walking back I noticed a shadowy figure walking across the lot! "WHO ARE YOU!?!" The voice of an old drunk man! I basically told him I was taking photos of the bridge. "GET OUTA HERE! OR I'LL TAKE A PHOTO OF YOU...*insert curse words here*..." he said. So I kept on walking and he kept on yelling! It was really quite something to experience. Especially in a totally unlit parking lot! CREEPY! So, after all that....here are the two AWESOME images I captured in a creepy dark parking lot!!! Ready....

I Heart Books, Shoes, & Cameras

2009-05-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

I got bored one day, one very long day of cleaning the house, so I decided to pick random things in our house and shoot them(photographically speaking)...I'm liking how they turned out! ~Claire

Photo Editing with PS CS3

2009-05-04T08:38:00.001-07:00

Photo Editing with PS CS3:

Hi, Matt here. I would like to share a little of my most recent photo shop work. Claire and I made a trip to Penticton, where I took this photo of an old classic car on the outskirts of the little town o' Hedley. To the right is the original photo in all it's un-edited glory. Using PS CS3 (Photo Shop Creative Suite 3) I made some alterations, by creating a black and white back ground using the original photo. After creating two seperate layers, one as black and white and the other in full color, I placed the black white layer on top and the color layer on the bottom. In short form, I erased the black and white color on the top layer to reveal a "hidden" red color beneath. The trick is to erase ONLY the parts of the upper layer that were originally red. Sounds tricky but it's pretty simple...it just takes FOREVER! This finished product, complete with color replacement and enhancement of the visible red, is what I have posted for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks for reading!

Matt Heard

Misty Reflection

2009-05-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken during a foggy winter day just outside Fort Langley, BC. I love the look of this photo. The mist gives it a spooky feel.

Matt's Stuff.....

2009-05-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

Matt-
I am currently shooting a 10.3Mp Pentax K10D. The K10D has proven itself to be versatile and easy to use, the basic controls are literally at your fingertips. It fires a good rate of 3.0 frames per second (fps) from 1 nice and slow 30 second shutter speed, up to 1/4000 second shutter speed (four thousandths of a second). I have had my camera for almost two years and I love it. It's easy to use and really easy to get photos from the camera to the computer. It has awesome battery life, if I don't use the built-in flash, and even has an optional cable to charge the camera, rather than having to drag around the charger with me. I don't have that cable....yet! I actually have THREE dedicated batteries for the camera. The K10D uses a Lithium battery called a D-Li50. Not like having AA batteries, the Pentax KM uses 4 AA batteries.
The other REALLY AWESOME aspect of the K10D, or any Pentax DLSR for that matter, is that you have the option of using ANY Pentax lens with it! Whether it's a new digital lens or an old 35mm lens, it will fit on my camera, as long as it has the Pentax K-mount. Pentax manufactures their digital cameras with the Auto-Focus (AF) motor and Shake Reduction (SR) built right into the cameras! Whilst other companies, like Nikon, tend to build these options into the lenses. This means that some lenses are not compatible. Also, if the lens is compatible but has no SR built into it....you have no SR at all! Pentax is SR compatible no matter what! AWESOME!

Lenses! I love lenses! Small ones and big ones! I currently have Pentax 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 Lens and the Pentax 55-300mm 1:4-5.8 Lens.....My problem is, I still want a bigger lens! My "want" is a 2x extension and a 500mm lens. This will basically give me a 1000mm lens and the ability to get "closer" to subjects that are further away! One day I will have my "want"!

Tripod! For a long time I had a Slik U-212! I bought it off a friend of mine for $50, which was a pretty good deal at the time! However, it was old and heavy and a little cumbersome. So, I bought myself a Manfrotto 190XB with a 486RC head unit! It's an amzing little thing! All I have to do is turn one knob and the whole thing moves in any direction I want. In addition, it has totally independant legs on it. I can actually spread the legs out at 180 degrees to the camera. I highly suggest spending the extra money on a good quality tripod. Manfrotto and Gitso offer some really nice options from $150 upto $500. Don't let prices fool, it's really worth the money! All I can say for Manfrotto is "Italian"....like a Ferarri! It's good stuff!

Finally....how to carry all my great stuff?!? I spent about $100 on a Lowepro FastPack 250. My FP250 allows me to carry my camera, in an easy-to-access pouch; as well as my lenses, cables, filters, etc. THe FP250 also has a large pouch to hold a 15.4 inch laptop! AWESOME BAG!! I would HIGHLY reccomend a Lowepro bag! HIGHLY!!

----

DSLR w/ 18-55mm Lens - $1200
55-300mm Lens - $400
Manfrotto 190XB w/ 486RC Head - $200
Lowepro FastPack 250 - $100
The experience of making a picture no one else can make - PRICELESS!

Thanks for reading!!
Matt Heard

"click-click"

Image of Colour

2009-05-03T11:55:00.001-07:00

* Whiterock, BC, Canada; Taken with the Pentax K10D w/ 55-300mm Pentax Lens. Image color and quality was edited using Photoshop CS3.

Welcome!

2009-05-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hi there! Welcome to Heard Images' Blogspot! Heard Images is a photography company made up of a husband and wife team, Matt & Claire Heard. Currently residing in beautiful British Columbia, these two are avid photographers...anywhere they go, you'll always find their cameras in sight! Matt Heard has always had a passion for photography. From an early age you could always find him roaming around, snapping away, producing some gorgeous shots. His speciality is nature and wildlife. Claire has also always been into capturing memories on film. Having shown an interest in photography, Claire took photography classes in highschool, and became even more enthusiastic about it! She loves taking photos of light(sunsets/silver linings), and really anything creative that captures her attention. After years of solo work, Matt & Claire are finally teaming up to start their own business. We hope you enjoy the work they've done, and what is to come!

Contact Us

2008-05-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Please don't hesitate to let us know what you think of our work...we love getting feedback! Feel free to comment, or just drop us a line...honest criticism is also welcome! We'd love to hear from you!

Heard Images
6015 130A Street
Surrey, BC V3X 3T9
heardimages@gmail.com
http://www.heardimages.blogspot.com/

~M & C

Our Prices

2008-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

“All in the Family” Package: $250

Includes:

- 2 hour session @ CLIENTS desired location.
- High Res DVD(s) of edited pictures. (approx. 50)
- 2(two) prints up to an 8x10 size that have been edited.
- Color correction and simple edits of photos ex: blemish removal, skin softener, etc.

*see additional info

Lifestyle Package: $250

Couple/Engagement, Maternity, Babies/Children, Portraits

Includes:

- 2 hour session @ CLIENTS desired location.
- High Res DVD(s) of edited pictures.
- Color correction and simple edits of photos ex: blemish removal, skin softener, etc.

*see additional info

Wedding Package #1: $1200
*note: 2 photographers shooting

Includes:

- Complimentary Engagement Photo Shoot

- One free 8x10 Engagement photo(of your choice! Can be used at the guest book table!)

- Free consultation
- 12 hours of coverage: including Bride getting ready, group shots, ceremony, reception.
- Proof DVD(s) of ALL pictures taken from shoot(no editing/no watermark).

- Final DVD of photographers edited photos(approx 50), plus 10 photos of your choice edited - ex. black & white, sepia, colour pop, etc.

- One free 8x10 Wedding photo(of your choice).

*see additional info

Wedding Package #2: $1000
*note: 2 photographers shooting

Includes:

- Complimentary Engagement Photo Shoot

- Free consultation
- 10 hours of coverage: including Bride getting ready, group shots, ceremony, reception.
- Proof DVD(s) of ALL pictures taken from shoot(no editing/no watermark).

- Final DVD of photographers edited photos(approx 50), plus 10 photos of your choice edited - ex. black & white, sepia, colour pop, etc.

- One free 8x10 Wedding photo(of your choice).

*see additional info

Wedding Package #3: $800
*note: 2 photographers shooting

Includes:

- Complimentary Engagement Photo Shoot

- Free consultation
- 8 hours of coverage: including Bride getting ready, group shots, ceremony, reception.
- Proof DVD(s) of ALL pictures taken from shoot(no editing/no watermark).

- Final DVD of photographers edited photos(approx 50), plus 10 photos of your choice edited - ex. black & white, sepia, colour pop, etc.

- One free 8x10 Wedding photo(of your choice).

*see additional info

Watch Me Grow Package: $350

Includes:

- Three 2 hour sessions (Newborn, 6 months, 12 months).

- Proof DVDs (one from each shoot) of ALL photos taken(no editing/watermarking).
- 3 High Res DVD's (one from each shoot) of photographers edited photos.
- Color correction and simple edits of photos ex: blemish removal, skin softener, etc.

*see additional info

2 more Watch Me Grow packages in the making!! Stay tuned!

Additional Info:
*each additional hour $50*
*Prices subject to change without notice*

*Pets are welcome on any shoot*
*Extra prints/albums/products can be ordered at an extra cost*

*Travel fee applies outside of Lower Mainland*
*non-refundable deposit due at booking*