The Feist Girls - A Radiant Shoot - Calgary Beauty Photography

It was a flurry of suitcases, make up and hairspray at my place a couple weeks ago.  I had the Feist girls in for a Radiant photo shoot and they came prepared!  So much so my bedroom looked like it does when I'm packing for vacation!  I'm never surprised when my clients come with a closet full of options for what to wear during their shoots....it's a tough job trying to figure out what to wear!

These girls got together for a girl's weekend, some shopping, visiting, eating and spending time with a women's speaker.  They managed to squeeze in some time for some photos.  It was a blast putting each of them in front of my camera....they all did a great job and looking amazing!  Huge thanks to Rebecca of RC Make-up and Hair, she did a great job with the make up and hair for all the girls.

These girls (okay women, but I like calling them girls!) have a special place in my heart....they are family.....it was an honour to capture their beauty, poise and grace.....they are RADIANT!!!

Enjoy the images....I sure did enjoy shooting them!  We were working with a rather tight schedule and dealing with a pending rain storm (which did hit in the middle of our shoot) and I could have shot quite a bit longer....that always seems to be the issue with me though!!

I'm going to split this session into two posts as I really don't want to cramp up the post....check back tomorrow for images of the four of them together!!

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Calgary Engagement Photos - Victoria and Adam

You can take the girl out of Saskatchewan, but you can't take Saskatchewan out of the girl....I mean really...she had all the colors of rainbow to choose from and the girl chose a Rider green dress for her engagement photos...how much more Saskatchewanian can you get? Just one more reason for me to love this couple!

It was a beautiful evening with clear skies and a gorgeous couple, I knew I was in for an amazing time! Adam and Victoria are such a fun couple and my time with them just flew by. I love engagement photo sessions, it's a chance for me to get to know my couples a little bit better and for them to have some time away from the busyness of wedding planning and life in general.


I enjoyed my time with Adam and Victoria, it was fun wandering around Aspen Hills finding spots for photos and visiting. I'm looking forward to their September wedding in Calgary.

Victoria...you are stunning.

I have so many favorites from this session...these are just two.

I LOVE that Adam decided to bring his guitar along for some shots...his seranade to Victoria was....umm....funny.... it went something like "taking pictures....taking pictures....we're taking pictures...." Really really deep lyrics.

Feeling Weird - Calgary Grad Photography

What girl doesn't love dressing up in a pretty dress?  As women we get two opportunities to dress up and go over the top if we like....our wedding and our high school graduation.  And I've yet to be disappointed with the photo shoots I've been part of! I love dress up...I love dressing up...I don't dress up very often (okay..it's rare that I dress up).  But I love seeing girls in gorgeous dresses. And since it's grad season I've seen quite a few this year!  I do have a question though....who decided that big puffy sleeves, ball gowns covered in lace was the best thing going? I mean really?  Today's grad gowns are gorgeous!


I had the chance to spend a little time with a group of friends from Centennial High School last week as they were heading off to their graduation banquet.  I remember that feeling of getting all dressed up, hair done, make up on and slipping on a great pair of shoes (okay mine were satin and dyed to match my dress, but back then THAT was great!) and swishing around in a beautiful dress.  It was fun hanging out with them on the train tracks and road trying not to get hit by passing motorists that slowed down just a little bit to catch a glimpse of the beauty on the side of the road.


I heard one of them say that it felt a little weird....wrapping their high school career up.  It is weird, the familiarity of knowing what to expect, the freedom of making their own life decisions, wearing a pair of high heel shoes that haven't been properly worn it...weird. But...exciting...and I know this group of friends will embrace the weirdness of it and come out successful.


Thanks for the fun afternoon you guys!  Congratulations and best of luck as you move on to the next step!

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Finally getting it!.......Calgary Women's Beauty Photography

I have wanted one for ages.  One that would be around for a long time.  One I actually loved.  One that my family loved.  One that would show me...who I am...and who I was when time has passed.  I'd always found something to not like in a photo of myself.  I'd pick it apart, I was having a bad hair day, I was looking super puffy, you could see a roll or two, I didn't like my pants, my skin was looking terrible, where did that second chin come from, you know the usual.  I've had some time under my belt, some laugh lines are appearing, grey hair is in the future, I've had some babies, psoriasis has struck....my body has changed and I hated the images I'd had.  I often see images hanging on walls or on desks that are timeless.  You know the Grace Kelly/Audrey Hepburn timeless kind of image.  Something that will be around forever and doesn't contain floral patterned bell bottoms and a tube top. (side note...that was when I was like 4 years old people!).

Being around photography all the time ramps up my critique of images of myself and so I often felt that I'd never get one that I'd be happy with.  That all changed a couple months ago and confirmed something that I'd been mulling over for quite some time.  I had the opportunity to model for two photographers. (yup...you read that right...me...model. Watch out Tyra!!)  It was an experience that I won't soon forget.

Two weeks prior I found myself so excited with anticipation as I decided on what I should wear, how I should have my hair done.  I felt so amazing that whole day....hair...make-up....clothes....photos. It was a blast! I experienced something that day that I hadn't in a long time.  I felt confident, strong, beautiful.....radiant.  At no point was I self conscious about my skin or my weight.  I was in the moment and enjoyed every single second of it.  It helped that I had two amazing photographers!  Huge thanks to Joelene Mills of Joelene Mills Photography and Sheila Buhr of Forever Captured Photography.  As a result of their amazing talent and the skills of the hair and make up artist I finally got it....those images that I'll keep forever.

As I walked through the whole process I kept coming back to my photography and the direction I wanted to head.  Women have an innate desire to feel beautiful, to feel confident, to look beautiful, to be remembered.  I want to give that chance to women...I want them to have those images that will be seen by generations to come that are timeless and a true representation of her.  And so with that I'd love to introduce a new branch to c koop photography....Radiant - Women's Photography.  Capturing your radiance and sealing it forever in images.  Timeless images for every woman.  Stayed tuned for featured Radiant shoots. 

Below are 3 images....a before shot (yup...here's Carly with no makeup and hair freshly washed!!) as well as two images from my talented photographer friends!Thank you ladies....I love them!

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My Girls......Calgary-Prince George Beauty Photography

These women are friends.  They are wives.  They are mothers.  They are sisters.  They are amazing!  It was my absolute pleasure to capture these women at this point in their lives....and a gorgeous point it is!  They helped me down a different photography road that is exciting me which I'll share more about in the next week or two.

These women are my friends and I was so honored to be able to shoot their photos a couple weeks ago.  Each one of them brought something special to my life in PG and after 2 years I still miss that day to day input they had.  I consider myself truly blessed that I can call them my girls.  They encouraged, challenged, laughed, cried, supported, laughed (yes I know I said that twice!), and loved me.  They still do, it's just from a distance (which totally sucks by the way!).  I can honestly say that I don't laugh with anyone else the way I laugh with them, they are GOOD for my soul. 

It was a great afternoon shooting and even though we were missing 2 of my girls because of scheduling conflicts, we still had a great time.  (Dee and Lori....next time!!) It was a learning experience for all of us.  For me; shooting friends in a totally different way than I'm used to and for them to be infront of the camera for a period of time alone, without their kids or husbands.  It was a fun afternoon and I loved hearing them chatter away as we shot, laughing over so many things, discussing what they should wear for the photos, catching up on news....sigh....it was so GOOD!

This blog post will be lengthy in images, but I had such a hard time choosing what to post I went a little overboard!  Which one is your favorite?

If you'd like to have some photos done, please let me know!  carly@ckoop.com
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Suzy....I love this photo! This girl makes me laugh....hard...tears rolling down my face hard.

 Jennifer....this is IT! So timeless.  She always has an encouraging and positive word to share with me.  So it was nice to give back to her!

 Holly...you've seen here before...she's the other me. 

I asked for bedroom eyes and this is what I got...Jason?

 Lisa....2 years have passed and nothing has changed...we can still sit around your island and share our hearts.  My photo friend. She got me started in this whole thing..photography. She claimed she'd be difficult to shoot, well she was right, but I prevailed!

The Reimer Family - Calgary Family Photography

I had a great great time with Shawn, Tamara and Koston.  Koston captured my heart the very first moment I laid eyes on him.  What a sweet boy!! Tamara has been part of our lives for over 15 years now....wow...15 years!  I watched her grow from a pretty little 13 year old into a gorgeous teenager with an amazing spirit and huge heart, to a beautiful bride with a smile that wouldn't stop and now she's glowing with the loveliness of motherhood.

It was a honor to be able to photography Shawn and Tamara's Calgary wedding in 2008, they were gracious enough to allow me share the whole day with them and it is a day I won't soon forget!  So it was very special when they called and asked if I would get some images of their little family.  It warmed my heart to watch them care for Koston and I was taken back to those years that I had with my boys.  Watching them coo and cuddle and laugh with Koston brought tears to my eyes as I remembered how I enjoyed those times myself with Garth and my boys. 

I'm looking forward to watching Koston grow up and run around and play with my boys.  And I know my boys are looking forward to being his babysitter!  Plans are already being made!

Another photo shoot is in the works where it will be more Koston focussed so stay tuned for that!  Take a few moments to look over the images and let me know which one is your favorite!  Right now I think mine may be the very last one!

If you're looking for some photos of your family, drop me a message at carly@ckoop.com and we'll work something out!

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I could bore you with each image and tell you how much I love each one, but this one just explains their family....love, laughter, smiles, warmth.....awwww!

 Taking photos is a tiring business!  Poor Koston fell asleep as we were relaxing in the bedroom, so I just kept shooting while he slept!

 I LOVE his little smile!!

 Yup...this is it....one of my absolute favorites from the day.....sigh....