Youth Unlimited Revolutions BMX Park Revitalization

Last weekend, Youth Unlimited Revolutions gathered the support of around 100 volunteers and worked to revitalize a BMX park that has been left un maintained for quite some time.  The project got the attention of the local councillor and a couple of trail building groups as well and will see an even bigger project happening in July with additional elements being added to the park.  After a bit of work, it was necessary for some of the youth to get out and test their work.  Here are some images and a timelapse of the day.

 

Tags: Bayview BMX Park, bmx, Dirt, Jumps, Nikon, photoblog, photography, Revitalization, Toronto, Willowdale, Youth Unlimited, YU Revolutions

Baby Travis, Almost 1 Year Old – Sneak Peek

Travis’ parents and I have been planning this shoot for almost a year!  When Travis was born they approached me to say that they would like to do a shoot as soon as things got a little less busy.  If you’ve ever parented a newborn, you know that they’ve simply given up on that idea and went ahead and booked a time to shoot.

Here’s one from this afternoon

Tags: baby, D7000, family, fun, infant, Nikon, North York, parents, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, Toronto, Travis

Krystaal In Concert

If you are looking for an inspiring group of people to be around who have a story filled with miracle, you would be wise to start with the Lwamba brothers Michel, Fabian and Aliston who make up the group Krystaal.  The brothers were, at one time, refugees from the Congo who weren’t sure if their other family members were alive or not.  After spending time in camps separated from their brother, Michel and Aliston were brought to Canada.  Shortly after arriving in Canada Michel sent a letter to a friend in his old camp to let him know he was doing well, the letter was spotted by Fabian who had been moved to the same camp that his brothers had just left.  Fabian could not mistake the handwriting and was reunited with his brothers after this miracle sighting of the letter   One blogger has told their story here.  Since being reunited in Canada along with a number of other family members, they have been making award winning music and giving back through their incredible gift.

I had the privilege of capturing their concert last night and a privilege it was!  Along with an opening band Echoes of Praise, they put together 3 hours of wonderful music!

Tags: concert, D7000, echoes of praise, gospel, Krystaal, Lwamba, photoblog, photography, Toronto

Product Shots – Blue Butterfly Chainmaille Jewellery

A while back I had the opportunity to do a product shoot for a friend who is making chainmail jewellery.  It was a great experience and I enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the dreams and ventures of a friend.  To see more of the jewellery and place orders, you can click here

Here are a few from the shoot:

Tags: blue butterfly, D90, jewellery, Nikon, photoblog, photography, product

Benjamin’s Cake Smash

Ben turns one next week so it was time to introduce him to the wonders of cake!!  Armed with cupcakes from Pusateri’s we set out on our matchmaking adventure.  After a reluctant interaction with chocolate, Ben found his true love in the form of vanilla bean icing!

Now there’s one thing that you can be sure of when you’re doing a cake smash photoshoot, if there’s a dog in the vicinity, he’s going to find his way into the pictures!  Tucker is one cute puppy, but there was very little convincing Ben of that!

Tags: baby, Benjamin, cake, Cake Smash, cupcake, cupcakes, food, fun, Nikon, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, puppy, Pusateri's, Toronto, Tucker, vanilla bean

Baby Hilary June

Remember Hilary June? We had a wonderful photo session last Friday.  She slept, as they say, like a baby through the whole thing.  I’ve never met a more content and cooperative baby.  Tim and Amber are incredibly excited to be new parents and it seems as though Hilary is pretty pleased herself.

It seems as though Tim’s love of super heros is going to experience some great challenges in the near future.  Hilary may, in fact, have just earned herself the name Super Woman

Tags: baby, D90, family, first time parents, Hilary June, home, infant, newborn, Nikon, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, sneak peek, tattoo, toronto newborn photographer

Contest – Jay McIntyre Photography and Youth Unlimited North York *Update contest closing extended

* UPDATE!!! the contest has been extended for a week to close on May 7th

Here’s a chance to be a part of something that is literally huge! Like Guinness Book Of World Records Huge!

On June 16th, 2012 Youth Unlimited North York is putting together the worlds largest QR code as a fundraising initiative. What’s a QR code??? check out the Wikipedia entry here you can read more about the event at theqrcode.ca

The qr code, once assembled will hold the record as the largest Qr Code ever built and will be submitted to the Guinness Book Of World Records

I love the work that Youth Unlimited does so when I saw the opportunity to sponsor the event, I jumped on it. I’ve decided to go one step further in promoting it though by throwing this contest.

First the task:

Post your most creative image incorporating a scannable image of the Youth Unlimited QR code on the Jay McIntyre Photography Facebook page

In order to post the picture on the Jay McIntyre Photography page you will have to “like” the page if you haven’t already. “Bonus points” if you also “like” the Youth Unlimited North York page. *

The Prizes:

First place (as selected by myself and Scott Moore, the North York Director of Youth Unlimited)

1 – photography session with Jay McIntyre Photography valued at $350 see package details here

1 – $100 square in the Youth Unlimited QR Code event on June 16th **

Peoples choice as voted fans of the Jay McIntyre Photography Facebook page:

1 – $25 square in the Youth Unlimited QR Code event on June 16th

You can click on this image for a full size version of the QR Code for reference or to print and use in the contest.

You can see the gallery of the current entries by clicking here

Contest Closes on April 30, 2012. * UPDATE!!! the contest has been extended for a week to close on May 7th.  We are looking forward to your entries, remember, be creative and have fun!

*Please note “bonus points” will not influence voting

** If you are not in the GTA, but are willing to cover the travel costs, you may claim your prize of the photography session, otherwise you will receive a print of your choice and a donation of $100 will be made to Youth Unlimited North York in your name.

Tags: contest, fun, Guinness Book Of Records, Newtonbrook, North York, QR Code, Willowdale, Youth Unlimited, YU North York

Baby Hilary June – A Sneak Peek

Hilary June is 9 days old and is already settled into her new home with Tim and Amber, the proudest first time parents you’ll ever meet.  It was my hounour to meet them today, here’s a sneak peek at our session:

Tags: baby, D90, family, first time parents, Hilary June, home, infant, newborn, Nikon, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, sneak peek, tattoo, toronto newborn photographer

Baby Declan

Remember Declan?  He is a little cutie, but I use the word little with caution.  Declan was born at 11lbs 14oz I guess you could say he’s a bit of a pork roast!  I got to photograph him at just over a week old.  With Mom and Dad there to help him along and Big Brother Cordell along to make sure he was taken care of, Declan did wonderfully in his first photoshoot.

With the presence of a pork roast it only made sense that Declan’s parents wanted to get a shot of him in a roast pan, unfortunately he was a little too big for the roast pan so they went with a soup pot.

Tags: baby, D90, Declan, family, infant, little cutie, mom and dad, newborn, Nikon, North York, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, soup pot, Toronto, toronto newborn photographer

Baby Declan – Sneak Peek

Baby Declan is two weeks old.  Here’s a sneak peek of our shoot from today.

Tags: baby, child, D90, Declan, family, infant, newborn, Nikon, photoblog, photography, portrait, portraiture, Toronto