The BIG Change

September.  It's 3 months away, but lately it's been all I can think about.  September.  The month the kids go back to school after a long, hot summer and the month my life will change, I mean REALLY CHANGE after 9 years of being a work from home mom, doing jobs that allowed me to both stay at home with the kids and still work with my kids at home (daycare, preschool, and for the past 2 years, photography). 

My baby will be going into Grade 1 in the fall, meaning for the first time in 9 years, I will NOT have ANY little ones at home with me during the day, 5 days a week!  I am sad to think my little guy will be gone at school all week, but at the same time, I am thrilled to think of all of the undistracted, 100% focused work time that will be sitting in front of me.  For the past 2 years, I have grown my photography biz into a full-time gig, while still being stay at home mom, the volunteer school mom, the field trip mom and having my youngest home with me 5 days a week (he went to kindergarten 2 full days a week this year).  It has always been a juggling act - mommyhood and self-employment. 

About 4 years ago, when I was deep into childcare at home with my baby, my toddler and 8 daycare kids in my care 5 days a week, I made a promise to myself that one day soon, I would have a MORE CREATIVE LIFE again!  Before the kids came, I was a published poet, short-story author and volunteered as a crew member on independent film productions in Winnipeg.  I majored in Film Production at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario and dreamed of being a photographer and screenwriter. 

Then the kids came and, well, all of that got put on hold.  Not a sad story, just a typical one for moms of young kids.  Nine years later, I am ready to press that "PLAY" button again and crank it up to 10.

So, what does this mean for Stay Gold Photography?  Well, it means that I am going tp put my energies 100% into doing what I've always wanted to do in photography - namely specializing in Children's and NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY.  Yes, NEWBORNS!!  It's taken me 2 years of self-directed study and practise, but I finally feel confident in my abilities to work with and pose newborns.  It's been a long and trying two years, lol, but these past 2 weeks, after doing 5 awesome newborn sessions, I have finally hit my stride and I am going for it.  I will be converting my little studio space into a more parent-friendly and comfortable place and will be investing in more studio lights and newborn props and accessories. 

Newborn photography is not for the faint of heart. Those darling little ones are not always so quiet and sleepy as they appear in their photos (when they are done right).  I have alway found Newborns to be my most challenging area of work, but it has always been a challenge that I have wanted and have strived to improve at, so I am beyond thrilled to be able to put so much more time and energy into that art-form (and yes, good newborn photography is definately a fine art!). 

My studio, in the fall, will become my prime work place.  I really just prefer the studio so much more when there are no variables with weather or lighting to contend with.   I will continue to do Children's Minis in the studio, as well I will continue to do Children's Theme Sessions, which I LOVE!  Fine Art Fairies, Spring Fairies, Woodland Fairies and Lost Boys, Rock Stars, Vintage Boys, and SuperHeroes, will all continue.  Cake Smashes will also continue to be a specialty of mine, as they are just so much fun, and, I will continue to do studio Maternity sessions, because I really do love photographing the whole bump to baby transition.

What will NOT continue, and what the other big change is coming this September, is thatI will no longer be doing family sessions.  I have 4 family sessions booked for September already and those will be my last ones.  Family photography has always been a bit of a struggle for me, and having to always do it outside (because my studio is too small) has never really been ideal for me.  There are just always too many factors to deal with.  I will, however, continue to offer Mom and Me minis outdoors in May, because I do believe it is important to get mom in the picture too.

So that's my big news:  I will be specializing in NEWBORNS, working almost 100% in-studio (except for Theme Sessions and Mom & Me Sessions) and will no longer do family photography by the fall.  

Stay Gold Photography will now be exclusively CHILDREN'S and NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY!  

I am SO excited to begin the transition into this new realm for Stay Gold Photography.  Being able to live and work my passion has been the best thing in the world for me for these past 2 amazing years.  Thank you so much to those of you who have followed my work, supported me, and hired me to photograph your children and families!  Without you, there wouldn't be a Stay Gold.

- Melanie Ever Moore