Chrystal Beson

Hello Blog...

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:36:00 +0000

...It's been a while. I have been busy, busy, busy! .

My daughter and I took a (very) last minute vacation to Mexico for some much needed relaxation and rejuvenation. It was amazing...so much more than I had imagined it to be. There is beauty EVERYWHERE, the people are insanely friendly, I'm pretty sure the ocean has some sort of magical healing powers and the margaritas are to die for! Of course, I took a few pictures...

Most definitely the highlight of my trip...I got to hang out with two of the coolest chicas in Mexico! Sol Tomargo, my fave fave photographer and a top ten wedding photographer in the world, and the Del Sol Photography studio manager, Melissa Mercado who defines awesomeness!

Only four days after returning to Canada, Peyton and I hopped a plane to Newfoundland. Well...we kinda missed our flight from Fort McMurray to Edmonton so we "flew" to Edmonton...but our landing gear was down the entire way. ;) We made it for the Edmonton to St. John's flight...barely!

Oh home...I love home.

I love this restaurant in Trinity...

I love this scenery...

I love going to my nephew's soccer games...

And spending time with my beautiful one year old niece (and God-daughter)...

Peyton and I have endured had some life altering changes this summer. Let's just say that I'm glad summer is over and I'm ready for Fall!

One change that we were not expecting was the passing of our beloved four year old Chihuahua, Rocco. He was the most amazing dog. He was my best friend...and I told him that everyday of his life. He was definitely more than just a family pet, he was an important part of our family structure. He brought a smile to our faces everyday. I will always miss him excitedly meeting me at the door after work, sitting between my legs as I stood at the bathroom vanity each morning, and running to comfort me when I was upset.

Regardless of the things that have happened this summer. We are absolutely keeping our chins up, we know everything happens for a reason. One day, when the time is right, we will know.

So it appears that I spent my summer vacationing....I guess that would be about right. But i have spent a lot of time shooting. Here's a sneak peak of what I'm working on right now. More to come later....

Peggy & Chad | Married Part 3

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:57:00 +0000

Okay, final post...I have to stop, but I could just go on and on. Super fantastic models make this so easy! I just want to post them all!

The grounds at the Links of Gleneagle Golf Course in Cochrane, Alberta are beautiful. We found lots of little places to take pictures. It was so gorgeous that we didn't bother leaving for the formals!

....and a couple from the reception!

Peggy & Chad, thank you so much for having Peyton and I as guests at your wedding...we enjoyed every minute! And, thank you for trusting me to document your special day!

Peggy & Chad | Married Part 2

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:33:00 +0000

As promised...Part 2 - The Ceremony!

The entire wedding was held at the Links of Gleneagles Golf Course in Cochrane, Alberta. It was a perfect location....so perfect that we didn't go anywhere else for pictures!

Here are a few from the ceremony:

Part 3 - The Formals (full of hotness) to come tomorrow...

For now a sneak peak:

See? HOTNESS!

Peggy & Chad | Married Part I

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:46:00 +0000

I spent last weekend in Cochrane, Alberta for Peggy and Chad's wedding. It was bea-u-ti-ful! Picture a golf course overlooking Cochrane, with mountains in the background (okay, so we couldn't see them because of the forest fires in British Columbia...but they were there!), a beautiful sunny day, and a gorgeous bride! It was perfect!

I'm getting ready to go to Mexico this week for some much needed (and deserved) relaxation and rejuvenation! But, I am desperately trying to get their pictures done before boarding the plane on Saturday. Let's do this in three parts: Part 1 - Getting Ready!

Next up...the ceremony, here's a sneak peak....

Strobist Boot Camp II | Assignment 2

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Mr. Strobist (David Hobby) has announced the second Strobist Boot Camp II assignment. It's all about food (and drink). Since I happen to own two martini shakers and more than a dozen cocktail recipe books, I thought the drink part would be my cup of tea (- the tea + some vodka).

These challenges are based on creating your own light or supplementing existing light to get the look that you want. Here is what I came up with using 2 Nikon speedlights; one in a softbox that my wonderful husband gave me for my birthday (this was actually the first time I used it) and one had a blue gel on it.

I am hoping this first one gives you an "tropical island" feel. There's only one thing I love more than a good martini...and that's a martini under the hot sun :) Only this image was submitted.I was having so much fun that I tried a couple of different looks. I was going for more of a night club feel for this one...
I may tear apart my kitchen again tomorrow and try something new. This is so frickin' addictive...I'm hooked :)

Shauna & Abbey | Senior Portraits

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:34:00 +0000

My cousin Shannon Oake was the first person to introduce me to an SLR...photography had already piqued my interest...but at that moment I knew I was hooked. WOWIE! You could take the lenses off, put different ones on, and you can have complete control of the little box...think of the things you could do! Not long after that my love affair with a Nikon DSLR began.

Shannon lives in Newfoundland, so we don't often get the opportunity to learn together. But you can bet that as soon as we're in the same room we are talking ISO's and "stuff". Anytime an opportunity to shoot with him presents itself, I'm all over it! He came to Fort McMurray this week to surprise his neice, who graduated from high school yesterday. I'm not sure who was more excited, Shauna or me!

We took Shauna and her friend Abbey out yesterday between the ceremonies for some pictures at Heritage Park here in Fort McMurray:

Nicole | Headshots

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:43:00 +0000

I didn't win the Strobist contest...but I'm anxiously awaiting the next challenge!

Seriously, this guy has created a following...literally thousand's of people flock to his site everyday and hang on to every word he says (writes). I'm all about blogs, conversations, books, videos, little voices inside my head talking strobes, light mods, apertures, ISO's...so I'm no exception. I admit to reading each of David Hobby's blog entries at least once and then running out to try whatever it was that he posted, and running back to see if what I did was right. I've made the snoots out of cereal boxes, and macro boxes out of cardboard...they kept me occupied for days! Thanks Mr. Strobist!

Nicole agreed to be my guinea pig for the contest headshot photos. I couldn't ask for a better model. She's beautiful...plus, she brought my little nephew over with her, I loved watching him chase my puppy around while we took pictures!

She designs no slip hair clips for babies, big girls and ladies! I hope these pictures can help with promotion of her new business: Mi Casa Clothing.

Strobist Boot Camp 2 | Assignment 1

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:05:00 +0000

This is my sister-in-law, Nicole. She is gorgeous. She also happens to be quite talented. She created no slip hair clips for babies that can stay on the thinnest of baby hair. Things just grew from there. She now sells a wide variety of hair accessories, all handmade, at various children's clothing stores in Edmonton and here in Fort McMurray, as well as on her own website, check it out: Mi Casa Clothing. While you're at it, check out her profile on Savvy Mom and vote for the Savvy Mom Entrepeneur of the Year Award!

When Mr. Strobist (my hero, David Hobby) posted the first assignment for Strobist Boot Camp II last week, I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to snap a few pictures of Nicole modelling some of her creations. There's two parts to this assignment. This part of the challenge was fun. Number one...Nicole is very photogenic, so that part was a cinch. Number two...I took time to challenge myself and actually think about what my lights are doing.

The second part of the challenge is to get a headshot of myself...that part was not so easy! Maybe I should have had a glass of wine first :)

The final product...

I'm the Luckiest Girl! | Personal

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:29:00 +0000

I'll never win the lottery, I will always work for my money...I guess first of all you have to buy a ticket. I don't because I know I won't win. I can't win $2 on a scratch ticket when I'm "feeling" lucky. But I know I'm the luckiest girl anyway.

I have been blessed with the most amazing family and friends, I have a great job as an Office Supervisor and part time photographer, and I truly believe that the sky is the limit in everything in life. When I was little, my mom always said "Reach for the stars...even if you do hit the fence". That has stuck with me and brought me to places that I never thought possible. Because of this I ended up in Fort McMurray with a dream of making a good life for Peyton and me. I got a good job, but on my first day as I sat watching my supervisor work, I decided that I wanted to be like her. Five years later I was sitting in her chair (She decided to be a stay-at-home mom....I didn't plot to steal her job...just so we're clear. She's great, and I miss her at our office!)

Let's rewind a few years here...I used to visit tarot card reader in St. John's, Newfoundland, pretty much on a yearly basis. During my last visit, she told me that I would meet a businessman and a businesswoman in a tall building; My life would change from that point forward. It almost seemed too far-fetched to believe. I was living in a town called Kuujjuaraapik (Great Whale) in Nothern Quebec at the time. There are no tall buildings there. Less than a year later I would realize that the businessman and businesswoman were management from the office that I would eventually work in here in Fort McMurray.

My life changed. I met the man that I would eventually fall in love with and marry; I met the best friends that a girl could ask for; I could afford to buy photography equipment and to spend time learning from professionals. My life has not been the same since meeting that man and woman in the tall building. And I love it.

All of this comes to mind today because my 32nd birthday was yesterday. My incredible husband planned a birthday party for me, his parents came to decorate while he took me out for ice cream, and my friends were all at my house when I got home. It's one thing to have nice friends and caring family, it's another to have ones that you adore and they adore you right back. After opening my gifts last night I'm amazed at how well they know me and how much attention they pay to my little quirks and rants and fads! I met all of these people that I can't live without all because I believed that I could make a good life for myself and my five year old daughter. It's so much better than good, even better than great!

A few of the gifts and a true picture of how quirky I can be:

I LOVE to scrapbook!

Happy Bunny socks, all mismatched....just the way I like them (it's good luck!):A Mickey pinata...because I love Mickey and chocolate! I think they may have been trying to make up for the kidnapping of my Mickey pen at work and the ransom notes that they left. Yes, I use a Mickey Mouse pen at work...nothing says "Let's get down to business" like a Mickey Mouse pen!
My fave wine!I am amazed at how well these people know me. I love them so much for it!

My Stylin' Camera Bag! | Photography

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:52:00 +0000

I have blogged about this bag before but I'm going to blog about it again....for two reasons:

1. Because I've had it for a few months now and have had a chance to use it several times now.

2. Because I just won a free Shootsac cover!

Seriously, if you are a photographer or into photography and have a few lenses, you need this bag! With your old bag you have to stop, take the bag off your back, unzip it, pull the lens of choice out, put the other lens in, zip it up, put it back on your back.... Plus the old bags are not really known for how stylish they are. The Shootsacs are trendy and you can pick your own style by picking a cover; they don't look like lens bags so no one suspects that you are carrying expensive equipment; grabbing lenses is super easy since they are right at your hip; and you don't need to worry about noisy velcro or zippers during say a wedding ceremony shoot. Seriously go get a Shootsac...now (they are available at Henry's in Canada).

Anyway, I could go on about how much I love mine, I don't get tired of talking about it really....my family and friends hear it all the time! The real reason I'm blogging is because I won a Shootsac cover for my "Freaky Friday" submission! Photographers are encouraged to submit photos of their Shootsac and/or cover being used for a purpose for which it was not intended. Every Friday a photo is chosen and posted on the Shootsac Blog and the winner gets to choose a free cover! This week, I WON and I am so super excited about it! I get to choose another stylin' cover! Check out the Shootsac blog post for the whole story, but I will leave you with one of my entries:

Jodi & Andy | Engaged - Part 2

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:53:00 +0000

I was going to wait until all of the editing was done before posting a few more so that I could pick my faves from the whole bunch and post them...I have decided that it won't be possible to pick just a few, so here are some faves from what I have edited so far.

Jodi and Andy were incredibly fun and comfortable in front of the camera...literally my job was to shut up and shoot! So that's what I did!

Okay, so I did give a little bit of direction like "Hey, Andy run up there and practice your first dance with Jodi!"And "Hey Andy, can you pick her up and give her a kiss?"Thanks guys for the laughs and the fun! Wishing you a life time of happiness and laughter!

I'll get back to editing your photos now... :)

Jodi & Andy | Engaged

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:27:00 +0000

After a week of trying to get out there for a shoot, Mother Nature still wasn't entirely on our side, but we went for it anyway. When Jodi told me that Andy was looking forward to the shoot, I had my doubts...she was not kidding, he was havin' a time! They are definitely fun personified....and HAWT, oh man are they HAWT!

Just a few teasers...more to come!

Okay, so I like my new fisheye...so sue me!
...But I gotta be careful how I point that thing!

My Baby is a TEENAGER!!!

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:43:00 +0000

It just seems like yesterday I held the sweetest little baby that I had ever seen. She was 6lbs 12oz and perfect, beautiful, everything I imagined and more. We named her Peyton, against the wishes of the nursing staff who thought the name wasn't "pretty" enough for her. We thought it was perfect. We later found out that Peyton is a boy's name and it means "Warrior Horse"....it suits her well.

She is still perfect and beautiful, plus she's smart and fun and a true "Warrior Horse". She's 13 tomorrow, and she's still more than I could have ever imagine that she could be. She loves to dance, she's been going to dance for six years. She shares my passion for music and can name every song on the radio + the artist....and boy, can she sing. She speaks her mind and doesn't care what others think. I hope she is a beautiful and strong person during her teenage years, and then throughout her adult life as she is right now.

I brought her to the salon today to get a special birthday "do".....

Carrie-Ann & Dallas

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:54:00 +0000

As promised a few more from this wedding that I shot with Amy from Island in the Mist Photography (http://www.islandmistphotography.com/). I had so much fun shooting with her...actually, it's always fun hanging around with Amy, I think she's one of the funniest people I've ever met!

This is the exact spot where they got engaged! It's at the fountains at the Parliament building in Edmonton!

A Weekend of Scrapping & Shooting

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:06:00 +0000

Yes, I LOVE to scrapbook. I really, really love how creative you can get with it and how you can tell stories that are sure to be forgotten if they are not recorded in some way. The first weekend in May, I went to Edmonton to spend the weekend scrapbooking with my Aunt and my cousins. I didn't realize that other people were as serious as me about the hobby, we were up until 3 AM each night scrapping!

On Saturday, I joined my friend Amy from Island in the Mist Photography (http://www.islandmistphotography.com/) to shoot a wedding. I used to babysit Amy (I won't say how many years ago) and we found each other on Facebook again. We quickly realized that had one thing in common: Photography. We talk to each other over Facebook nearly every night sharing ideas and photos from recent shoots. It was nice to finally actually shoot with her! Hopefully we'll be able to do it again some day soon.

Here are just a few pictures from the shoot (more to follow...)

Parker

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:57:00 +0000

I love this one...real tough guy!

This little guy is GORGEOUS! He has the sweetest little expressions...I couldn't have asked for a better model! I fell completely in love with him when Renee showed up with him at my house, and all over again when I started editing the pictures. Almost made me consider having another one...almost.

Kelcey & Ben

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:53:00 +0000

It was Ben's last night in Alberta, before returning home to P.E.I. So we went out to take engagement pictures and have some fun before he left, hopefully we convinced him that he needs to move here sooner rather than later :)
Ben, it was very nice to meet you, hopefully you will be here double dating with the Beson's in no time!

Baby Kaedyn's Shower

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:39:00 +0000

My friend, Audrey, my husband and I hosted a baby shower (more like a celebration bbq) for our good friends Dyan and Curtis last night. We had an excellent turn out, a house full of people that came to meet baby Kaedyn and wish the new parents well. We are so happy to share in this new adventure with them. Kaedyn is certainly a bundle of joy, we all love him so much!

Some pics of the decorations, before anyone arrived...
Cupcakes made by Audrey and I. We had a lot of fun preparing for this! The Gift Table (before anyone arrived!)

Opening of the gifts... Everyone had a chance to hold little Kaedyn...he was such a good boy!

All tuckered out...it's time to go home!

The Scherer's

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Shame on me! I am just finishing up one of my best friend's belly pictures and we already welcomed the little man to the world. Kaedyn was born at 6:27 PM last Friday, weighing a whopping 5 lbs, 9 oz...just a teeny tiny little guy! Pics of the little prince to come..for now, here's Dyan's belly!

Better than Christmas!

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:00 +0000

I received two treats in the mail today....a Jessica Claire Shootsac and a Lensbaby! I don't think Christmas was this exciting...some pics taken with the Lensbaby:

(And yes, I had to take pictures of the box before even opening it and pulling out the bag itself! ...In case you were wondering!)

I don't think anyone has ever been as excited as me to receive this box. Jessica Claire is definitely a fave photographer of mine, her style of photography is incredible and well, these bags are just awesome! It was an anniversary gift from my husband...isn't he the best!

And the Lensbaby...

Jasmine & Tyler

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:26:00 +0000

Five reasons why I like your home better than mine...

Look at this couch...I love it!

This was Tyler's giraffe when he was a baby...so cute!

Words over the baby's crib...

As soon as I walked into their home I knew this was going to be a fun shoot....the words, the colours, the furniture...I wanted to use it all! It's so much better going to your home...the pictures are more meaningful to you when you're surrounded by your own stuff. After all, if you didn't like your stuff you wouldn't have bought it in the first place!

Thanks Tyler and Jasmine for inviting me into your beautifully decorated home, it was definitely a lot of fun using your "stuff" for your pictures!

Mandy

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:51:00 +0000

I never met Mandy before the day of the shoot...I was stunned when she opened the door. She is gorgeous, which made this shoot very, very easy! These were done as an Easter surprise for her husband!

It's Been Almost Two Years....

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:36:00 +0000

I decided to do a little photo shoot with our wedding rings. Next month we will celebrate our second wedding anniversary and we've never had a picture of our rings, I took well over 200. I might have a gotten a little carried away, but now I have lots to choose from! Here's a few from the shoot!
And a few of the starfish alone...We got these on our pre-wedding honeymoon cruise to Avalon, California, and used them to decorate the tables at our wedding in the Dominican Republic.

Las Vegas

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Wow! It was my first time ever in Vegas...a very strange city indeed! I took the advice of a friend and rented a sports car (a Corvette!) and left the city to see some beautiful sights at the Valley of Fire. A photographer's dream with colour, texture and history. It was a fantastic day!

Sophie Grace

chrys28@telus.net (Chrystal) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Just a few pics that I have done so far for Erin and Scott before I leave for Vegas!