Matt Ballard Photography Blog

Lilly in the Tub

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:41:00 +0000

As you can see, Lilly just loves her bath!

I think she'd stay in there until the water got cold if we let her.

Of course, now that she's on the verge of crawling, she flips herself over in the tub, so we have to watch her like a hawk.

Lilly is 2 weeks old!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Lilly is 2 weeks old. Where does the time go? She's doing great, growing like a weed, and we just can't get enough of her! I can barely remember what life was like before she came into our lives.

Lilly Joan Ballard

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:18:00 +0000

Our beautiful little girl, Lilly Joan Ballard, was born on April 1, 2008 at 12:18pm. Everyone says what an incredible experience it is to watch your child being born, but until you experience it for yourself, you just can't know what an amazing moment it truly is! Yes, Daddy had tears in his eyes watching my gorgeous little girl arrive.

My Beautiful Pregnant Wife

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:22:00 +0000

As many of you know, we're expecting our first any day now! The official due date is March 25th, but the doc says any time is fine. So we figured we better do some maternity photos while we still have time.

Here she is... my beautiful pregnant wife Renee!

Dan & Laurie's Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:26:00 +0000

Catching up on some over-due blogging... Dan & Laurie's Wedding from this past August

Eric

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:00:00 +0000

Eric was turning 3 years old, and Mom wanted some photos to celebrate the occasion.

As you can see, Eric is a really cute little guy, and he was a lot of fun to work with. The hardest part was keeping up with him! Where do they get all that energy? I’d like to buy some!

Victor & Rachel

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:06:00 +0000

Victor and Rachel had a gorgeous day for their wedding. They were a fantastic couple to work with. Even better, they were obviously very much in love… you could feel it!

Kevin and Erin's Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:18:00 +0000

Kevin and Erin’s wedding took place on a beautiful, bright, sunny day. The ceremony was at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener. They chose the Grist Mill and the Clay and Glass Gallery, two popular KW spots, for their photo locations.

Ryan & Shirley

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:48:00 +0000

Ryan and Shirley's was an out-door wedding. Even though we had the luck of the Irish and got rain, Ryan and Shirley were smiling throughout.

Dan and Katie

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:33:00 +0000

Dan and Katie’s was a small, intimate wedding at the Walper Terrace in downtown Kitchener.

Dan and Jenn

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:08:00 +0000

Dan and Jenn's big day started with Jenn and the girls getting ready at the Four Points Sheraton in London.

The ceremony was at Metropolitan United Church.

Then it was off to the Old Court House for some photos…

And finally, to Forest City National for the reception…

Mark and Christina

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:42:00 +0000

It was a beautiful sunny day at the Dowding Water Gardens in Mt. Brydges, Ontario for Mark and Christina's out-door wedding!

Josh and Dana... the Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:52:00 +0000

Josh and Dana were fantastic to work with, and a lot of fun!

A really great couple, in love and loving life!

Josh began his getting ready with a turn down the waterslide and a dip in the pool.

New Portrait Packages

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:40:00 +0000

We’re rolling out All New Portrait Packages at Matt Ballard Photography!

Included will be our all new Photo Party Package as well as some specific group packages such as our all new Stamp with Heather Packages.

Check out the Portraits section of the Matt Ballard Photography Website for details.

Our Children’s Hospital Program will be changing in the process, and we will continue to support Children's Hospital as our charity of choice. With any package or photo session, client’s can choose to support Children’s Hospital with a donation amount of their choosing. The previous Children's Hospital packages will still be available for those that wish to select them instead of one of the new packages.

Trevor & Jade... A Cowboy Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:53:00 +0000

What a fun wedding! Cowboy hats, cows, and a fantastic day!

Trevor had a really cool tux, and Jade was stunningly beautiful. What a great couple, and they were a joy to work with on their big day.

Nate

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 23:44:00 +0000

I love kids! They're so darn cute.

And Nate is no exception. He just makes you smile... and smile some more... and smile again. :)

(All you "Stampin Up" ladies from Heather's group might recognize this little guy.)

Chloe's 2nd Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:30:00 +0000

It's a well known fact that I have the CUTEST NIECE in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!

She just turned two on June 1st, and her party was on the 3rd. She got such a kick out of everything! The cake, balloons, opening the gifts... she just loved everything!

Chloe also had BIG news to tell us on the day of her party. Her shirt says "BIG SISTER DEC 07." We're SO excited!

Auntie Renee made her a special cake with a bear on the top.

Chloe loved it!

See my tongue Uncle Matt!

She's really into ballons now.

Especially orange ones it seems!

Thanks for inviting us to your party Chloe!

Uncle Matt & Auntie Renee send big hugs and kisses and can't wait to see you again soon!!!

Mark & Jen... May 26, 2007 Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:05:00 +0000

It wasn't hard to see the love with these two.

Mark could hardly wait to kiss his new bride!

It's so great to see a couple so much in love.

Trevor & Jade

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:07:00 +0000

The weather kept being un-cooperative so it took a while to get a date nailed down, but we finally did!

Last night we did Trevor and Jade's engagement session down at the lake. We had a lot of fun, and Trevor and Jade were great to work with.

There's a new dock on the water too, which made for some great shots!

Josh & Dana

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:50:00 +0000

So the chipmunk (see previous post below) wasn't really the main subject of the shoot. :)

Josh and Dana were!

A great, fun-loving couple, Josh and Dana were a lot of fun to work with during their engagement shoot, and we got some great photos!

New Model

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sun, 13 May 2007 18:02:00 +0000

Well, Spring has sprung (sort of anyway... the temperature can't seem to find it's spot and stay there), and the weather is sort of co-operating for engagement shoots.

Yesterday I was at Springbank Park in London doing a shoot, and I ended up with a new model who wanted me to take his picture. The little guy was pretty persistent and kept running into the photo or scurrying up beside me from behind, so I gave in and took his picture. :)

On the way to Teeswater...

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:25:00 +0000

With Winter gone, and Spring warming things up, I went on a road trip to see my dear old Mum in the great out-back of Teeswater, Ontario last Sunday. Of course I took along my gear, just in case a photo op should present itself along the way.

According to the Southern Ontario Tourism website, "Teeswater Ontario is a small rural village in Bruce County located 12 kms west of Milday and 16 km north of Wingham. The first settlers to the area were the families of Matthew Hadwen and Peter Brown who arrived around 1855 and erected mills on the Teeswater River. In 1856 a post office was established and in 1875 Teeswater was incorporated as a Village. Settled by mainly Scottish and English settlers the community of Teeswater has always maintained a strong musical tradition. Today Teeswater is home to the Teeswater Highlanders Pipe and Drum Band, established in 1961."

But enough of the history, and on to some photos!

This little spot along the way is in Harmony, a tiny hamlet just South of Stratford, Ontario. I always pass this spot and think, "I should take a picture of that." So I did! The picnic table sits on a natural crest and marks the entrance to a path off into the woods. Very Narnian.

Farther along, I pulled over to watch a couple of horses grazing at the front of an interesting looking barn and yard. Who doesn't like horses?

This fellow was keeping a low profile while keeping an eye on me.

I shot these barns while driving. Disclaimer: I don't recommend trying this. First, it's not easy to do, and secondly, you may end up in a head-on collision or in the ditch.

Grain silos off in the distance. Again, shot while driving.

Some intereting farm equipment in various states of disarray.

A small collection of planes reminding me to get approval from my wife to buy a plane.

A neat old barn. Barns are always interesting subjects to photograph, each telling it's own story. The trick is in the composition.

And of course... cows! Aren't cows cool! My wife always laughs when we're going somewhere because I like to honk at the cows we pass. They're such interesting animals.

Don't ya just love cows!

The New Star of the Julie & Bentley Show!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:47:00 +0000

Introducing, the new star of the Julie & Bentley Show... Miss Ava Lynn Thistlethwaite!

Ava came into the world at a tiny 8 pounds 10 ounces, and she's cute as a button!

It's so neat watching new parent's with their firstborn. All the wonderful feelings rolled into one giant sunbeam... love, adoration, amazement, fascination, pride...

For us guys who don't normally get "all emotional", it's hard not to when you see the look on a new Dad's face while he's holding his new-born daughter. Truly one of life's best moments!

Welcome Ava! We wish you a lifetime of joy, love, and all the best things life has to offer!

"Show Off Your Pets" Photo Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Announcing the first annual “Show Off Your Pets” Photo Contest!

We want to see your best photos of your pets. Funny ones, sad ones, serious ones, and glad ones! Anyone can enter!

We anticipate a lot of entries and postings, so we've given the contest it's own blog.

The Official Site for the "Show Off Your Pets" Photo Contest is http://showoffyourpets.blogspot.com.

Send us your best photos of your pets and get a chance to win a new Epson R340 Photo CD-DVD Printer.

Features:
• View, select and crop photos before printing – all without a PC!
• Print directly on ink jet printable CDs/DVDs
• Print beautiful photos from your digital camera or memory card
• Speed through photos and documents
• Get stacks of borderless photos

The Epson R340 is an amazing little printer! It’ll print photos up to 8.5”x11”, and the quality will blow you away. You can also print on CD’s and DVD’s! No more scribbling on your discs with a marker… now you can have professional looking printed CD’s and DVD’s!

Second, Third, and Fourth prizes are your choice of one of the following:

- a Sandisk 5-In-1 Card Reader

- a Transcend 2GB Secure Digital or Compact Flash Card

- an Ultra FlyDrive 2GB USB 2.0 Portable Drive w/ CA 2007 Anti-Virus Home Protection

Each entry costs Five Dollars ($5.00), and you can send in up to 5 photos per entry. You can enter as many times as you want (for example, if you want to enter 20 photos, then you'll need to make 4 entries, each with 5 photos). We’ll be regularly posting our favorite entries as submissions continue to come in, so check back frequently!

The deadline for submissions is September 30th, 2007 (which gives you the entire Spring and Summer to take some awesome photos of your pets!), and the winner will be announced on November 1st, 2007.

To enter, click here to pay your $5.00 entry fee via paypal.

You don’t need a paypal account if you don’t have one or want to set one up. There is an option to make a one-time payment via credit card without setting up a paypal account. Be sure to include your name, email address, and the name of your photo entry in the payment details.

After you’ve sent your entry fee, email us your photo(s) [up to 5 per entry] to showoffyourpets@sympatico.ca. Photos should not exceed 1 megabyte (MB) in size to ensure we receive them without problem. You can edit, crop, or otherwise enhance your photo entries in any manner you see fit.

Don't You Just Love Puppies!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 20:09:00 +0000

I gave this print to my Mum, and she loved it.

I caught this photo of Sammy after he'd had been playing outside in the snow. This is him looking in the through the back door waiting for someone to let him in.

Don't you just love puppies!

He's growing up so fast! Everytime I see him he's gotten bigger.

[in case it's not evident by now with all the dog photos... I LOVE DOGS :) ].