Couture Portraiture

STORYBOOK WEDDINGS is a dress shop I love to go into particularly to see the owner MARY as she is such a warm and welcoming person to not only her customers but anyone who comes to know her over the years in business.She gives her whole self to making sure it is the right dress for you.Her service is next to none so if you are looking for a wonderful" frock" dress wedding or evening or grad STORYBOOK WEDDINGS is the place you must go to.Located conveniently on the corner of 3rd and Brunswick St.(1397 Brunswick St.) Char purchased her dresses from STORYBOOK and that is how we met. This was one of her favorite images that she said we could blog about.Can you believe she is a not only married 31 years..but a grandmother of 2! Wow. The world is so small as we discovered we both swim at the same time...6am ( she is much more dedicated though in the Masters Group) at the PG Aquatic Centre and we both go to Yoga at Chinook Yoga !!Thanks again for squeezing us in to your busy schedule Charlene.You have a  stunning dress. If you are at the STORYBOOK WEDDING BRIDAL SHOW Jan 20th you will see more of this session. Tickets are $20 from STORYBOOK WEDDINGS. Have to mention she had her hair done by Lauren at CRAZE Hair Salon ( 17th & Spruce St beside Sylvan Learning Centre) and Makeup by Heather at LES BEAUX VISAGES  ( 1284 4th Ave.) Beautiful work ladies!!
It was alot of fun working with all of you on this shoot.

New Restaurant in Town..Persian Food "SHIRAZ"

 A Mother and  2 month old baby enjoyed the opening night music and with Morteza Akbari.

Mother of the owner -Mahrokh (Mary) Akbar   relaxing with the baby.

The Chief - Nahid Taheri (holding chin )

is off and visiting with her friends and their baby Rika.

Owner Reza Akbari and his Proud Father Morteza Akbari  after at the end of Opening Night

Day 4  Cheers to our new friends. (L-R) Lynda Anderson,

Marie Hay, Nahid Taheri,Reza Akbari,Mary Akbari,Morteza Akbrai and Hanna Hughes.

View from the tea & alcohol bar!

Persian Tea and Father of Owner - Morteza Akbari

SHIRAZ Cafe and Restaurant just opened their doors in the Parkwood Mall here in Prince George.  It is the fist PERSIAN Restarant in town. Sat Dec 29 was their Grand Opening.  Music and dancing was enjoyed along with the great food!

We were delighted to have had the owner and his parents and chief to our home for Christmas Day Dinner. .Quite by coincidence  my partner went in to get some food the night before. It was after the  Lessons and Songs Service we attended at St.Micheal's and All Angels Anglican Church where I sing in the small choir.

When she said she had invited them for dinner I realized I knew who she was inviting - the family of my friend Roya Akabri - another photographer who now lives in Vancouver.It is a small small world.They are a delightful family and though our English is limited we are able to communicate no problem.The parents have been here 4 months now from Iran to help their son Reza with the restaurant.Reza has been here several years and has lovely English..So if you haven't already been to their cafe/restaurant as it is open during the day ...and till 11pm so you can go before or after a movie or any time for Persian tea and baklava ( absolutely my favorite ) do go.It is a lovely new diverse addition to the  dining out options here in Prince George."Like" them on their Facebook Page too and share your secret new get away.

Happy Holidays..family portrait session with a twist

With families gathering for the holidays we often go on location in and outdoors for sessions

and this past weekend we were at the university to photograph 20 people 10 under the age of  5!

They were marvelous.We did this as a fun one on the steps. Happy Holidays to all our clients

of  past present and of course the future ones too!!

Weightwatchers Draw Today Bringings Double the Joy

Oh what a wonderful way to start the day .
Once again we gave a full makeup and hair makeover  plus boudoir session with
Philomena Hughes Photography . Jody at Craze Salon will be the makeup and hair artist.
 The winner was Sandra!! Her Mom was absolutely THRILLED...and screamed when she heard her daughter's name called.Paddy did the draw at the  Saturday morning  Weight Watcher meeting ( the one I regularly attend) and received hugs from both her Mom ( upper right pic), me ( bottom left) and the previous winner (bottom right) from last year.Fern knows how much Sandra will love her experience.We will be doing the session the first week of January. After they both told me separately that they wished were hoping that the other would win it.The icing on the cake is that Kathy is one of my swimming buddies so it just makes me smile ( alot all day so far!). I know Kathy feels she has won just because Sandra did.
I love the expressions on those around Sandra and Kathy too! Thanks everyone.Next year we are opening it to all members of WW  here in PG at the 1st & Tabor location..Details will be announced at all the meetings in 2013.!! Congrats again Sandra!

A Mother & Daughter Portrait to Cherish

A Mother and Daughter session is always lovely to do, but  this one was also emotional.  Lucy and her Mom

will be separated in January  when she leaves to live in England, for her gap year. Though  both of them are prepared  and agreed that with the Internet it doesn't seem as difficult we also know that it will have its impact ..Letting go is easier said than done.I too will be experiencing this when our 15 year old

daughter goes to France to live for 6 months  in Jan. 

Your comment Collette that we caught the essence of Lucy and of your relationship really says it all to me.

Thanks so much for coming back to our studio and letting me be Your Photographer.
Come to our website for more info at: http://www.phughesphotograp

Children Grow Up..but our Memories Linger

 When the mother of these children hired me  years ago to photograph her family and her Mom who was visiting.. I always want to take the session beyond what I am asked for by looking for the tender moments that sometimes we take for granted and seeing where it takes us.We asked to them to  sit there at their tree-house. The little girl was protective of her little brother.  He had a stone that he didn't want to let go of .I asked her to stay close and if she could give him a kiss and this is what happened.
I love the  colours.I really love  their curled toes and though we do not see their faces enough information is visible.
What is not "visible" is what we feel when looking at it. And that is what makes it so memorable.That is a "successful" image.Not the awards it wins ( which it did) but the feeling it gives us.
 Flash forward to this year 15 years later and now the  sister is leaving her little brother to live in Australia.
Their father asked if we could make some images before she left. I've never forgotten this image from years ago and near the end of our session  suggested we try to working with it..The emotions were there, knowing that everything would be  changing soon for them, nearly as much as they had since this image was taken I took the kids to my studio garden where I asked him to choose a stone to hold .These were fake stones with a words engraved on them.. The choice was  Integrity or Endurance.He chose Endurance.That spoke volumes to me.
The last image is one of my favorites...as it represents the reverse role..of he being protective of her but the kids preferred the happier look,so you choose and send me a note about your thoughts below on the comments.!  Thanks again for asking me to come into your lives again..and I look forward to our next meeting.

Our Auction Fundraiser Donation for the Art Gallery 2012

One of the things I hear from our Boudoir clients is how much they LOVE making this a special day for themselves.I LOVE hearing that too.So when you are planning your session treat yourself and pamper yourself as you only will do this a few times ( we hope) in your life! Frances came to us when she won the bid on the fundraiser we did for PG Art Gallery's" Menagerie" Event last month. Her Hair was by Jody at CRAZE (562-6226) and her Makeup was by Heather at Les Beaux Visages Salon (563-3788). Thanks ladies you did a beautiful job.Her  cute hair piece was made by a friend..Your husband is going to love his pic. ssshhh if you know him don't tell him as it is a Christmas gift.