Newer Blog is now LIVE!

Thank you for visiting! I'm excited to announce that my newer blog has been launched!

Please visit www.mikaphotographyblog.com

~mika

Time to Revamp!

I'm currently working on upgrading my blog to something a bit more user friendly and flashier (no pun intended). I hope to have more photos up to showcase my work.

This blogspot site will still be running but will no longer be updated. My new blog will still have all the content of the last 2 years so it really won't be a new blog. It'll be like getting a manicure. Same nail, but fresh coat and slightly different colour.

The newer blog will be launching on http://www.mikaphotographyblog.com on May 20, this Thursday! I'm filled with excitement!

Thank you so much to you guys who regularly check my blog. It's been a looong time coming so thanks for your patience! My goal is to post more photos and I hope I will be able to do that with my new revamped blog. Yay!



Baby Audrey at 1 years old.

Goodbye April...Hello May!

Happy Friday and here's to the last day of April...and the first day of May :)

Enjoy the sun!



An infectious smile! I captured this image of Marisa at her Uncle Trent and Aunt Nancy's wedding last summer.

Baby Jayden & Big Brother Aryan {Vancouver Baby & Family Portraitures}

I remember the exact moment when my good friend Praneeta told me she was pregnant with her second baby. I screamed so loud that I'm sure her entire neighbourhood still remembers as well. Fast forward several months and here we have baby Jayden, the cuddliest, most laid back baby there is. He looks exactly the same as big brother Aryan when he was a baby with those big expressive eyes and those lashes! Oh...those lashes...


Baby Jayden at 8 months old. He seemed to be quite comfy in the basket.


Maybe he wants to escape now.


I love his smile!


This is big brother Aryan, who just turned 4 years old. It was his choice to wear this tie to Auntie Mika's place...suave!


Just adorable...







Gorgeous mum Praneeta and her two handsome boys... P, you are so blessed!


:) :) :)

A Vegas Weekend

I just came back from a fantastic weekend in Vegas for our friends Joanne & Vo's stagette & stag... I think that's all I'm allowed to say! Happy Friday!

Vancouver Newborn Portraitures

I've been photographing more newborn babies lately at my new studio. There's something so special about a newborn, the way they curl up, they way their skin folds, the way the yawn and even the way they smell. It's amazing how a little bitty person brings so much joy and love to others.

Here's a few tips if you're thinking about investing in having newborn portraitures taken:

1. Newborn photo sessions are for babies under 12 weeks old. The best time to have the traditional "newborn portraits" is before your baby is 10 days old. At this time your baby will still curl up naturally and will sleep most of the time. Also, this is usually before babies start getting baby acne.

2. When taking newborn portraits, I will have you hold or caress your baby so the photo can show how tiny your baby is compared to you. I recommend that you wear solid white or black to get the most out of your photos..no logos on your shirts please unless it's related to the Canucks!

3. Since you will be holding your baby, your hands will be in some of the photos. This is a GREAT excuse to treat yourself a manicure!

4. Knitted baby hats and blankets are great in photos...bring those hats that grandma knitted :)

5. I set aside lots of time especially for newborn photo session so there's plenty of time for changes, feedings, more cuddles and breaks. Relax, have fun and cherish the sweet moments and I will capture this for you.



Baby Jasmine at 3 weeks old.


Baby Emily at 5 days old.


Baby Russell at 8 weeks.


Baby Benjamin at 10 days old.

Siobhan & Mark {Vancouver Spring Engagement Session}

So how did a girl-next-door like Siobhan meet a guy in a band like Mark? Mutual friends of course! Siobhan & Mark were setup by a friend who obviously has a talent for match-making. After the customary online chat for 3 weeks, Siobhan & Mark went on their memorable first date to the movies at Metrotown. Mark was so smitten with Siobhan by this time that he had forgotten where he parked his car and had to call security (totally understandable - parking at Metro gets confusing even on a regular day!) It all worked out in the end though. Mark found his car AND got the girl! At that time I worked on the same floor as Siobhan and I noticed a change in her...she was in love and she glowed! Fast forward two years and they are becoming Mr. & Mrs. this fall and will be holding their reception at the Diamond Alumni Centre.

For their engagement session, we scheduled it around the cherry blossom season. Siobhan lived in Japan for three years and their cherry-blossom-loving-way has rubbed off on her as it did on me since I had lived there before. So our day was set 2 weeks ago and we had a great afternoon. It was apparently a productive afternoon as these two were making decisions on the music for their wedding WHILE doing the photoshoot! How efficient are they? Thanks for a great time you guys...can't wait to capture your wedding day!


Siobhan and her beautiful blue eyes...


Surrounded by the cherry blossoms!




They couldn't stop laughing!





Spring is here!







We're still in the Olympics spirit!



I love this photo of them...

Siobhan & Mark {Engagement Session Preview}

Here's a quick preview of the lovely Siobhan and her main squeeze Mark...you guys are way too cute :)

An Inspirational 3 Days {Tidbits}

Countless times in the last 3 days I found my heart racing, my eyes well up and got one of those pen marks on my fingers from writing so much. Why? Because I was at the 3 day ImageQuest Wedding/Portrait Photographer's conference held at the River Rock Casino.

I attended sessions put on by great speakers such as Dane Sander from Santa Barbara who had a room full of photographers choking up with emotion within the first 10 minutes of his presentation. I was excited for the presentation of Vancouver's premier wedding photographers Miranda & Reilly of Blue Olive Photography (www.blueolivephotography.com).They are a wealth of information and their presentation was a blast!

The last presenter was Jasmine Star (www.jasmine-star.com), one of the most sought after wedding photographers in California and named one of the top 10 wedding photographers in 2009. I absolutely LOVE her work and I'll admit it, I've blog-stalked her for about a year.. so you can imagine how excited I was to learn from her and meet her in person! Haha...yes, it was kinda like meeting a celebrity or for a Vancouverite to meet Luongo in person. Jasmine was amazing, and her story of why she started photography just 4 short years ago really hit a chord with me.

I came out of the 3 day conference feeling a bit more complete than I had lately. The sessions were inspirational and I was reminded of how I fell in love with photography.

Engagement Sessions Have Started!

With the early arrival of cherry blossoms this year, engagement sessions have started early this year!

Here's a sneak preview from my good friend Tracy, who I've known since grade 8, and hubby-to-be Pat's engagement session...their furry baby Dante joined us in the second half and it became a puppy session before I knew it!





Here's Dante-puppy who is oh so cute :) I can't believe he's already 5 years old though!

Baby Zoe {Baby Portraitures}

Here's sneak preview of baby Zoe at 3 months old...comfy and happy in her mum's arms.

Go Canada! Canada vs USA for GOLD!

It's gonna get crazier here in Vancouver!

Vancouver 2010 Olympics: Day 5

Gosh, it's already day 5 of the Olympics. We waited for 7 years for the Olympics to arrive in Vancouver and now we're already almost a third done!

My favorite sport to watch during the Olympics is figure skating by far...I think it's every girl's dream to glide gracefully and twirling around on the ice in a sequined costume.

I was lucky to get tickets (special thanks to Elizabeth!) to the practice and so I went with my camera on hand and was blown away by the pairs teams.

Love the emotion on the ice.

Red Celebrations!

Lots going on today! It's the day of RED... red for sweet Valentine's, red for Chinese New Years and red for Canada winning gold for the first time on Canadian soil! Lots to celebrate today!






My friend Netty's adorable little girl Kaylee :)

Go Canada!

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics are finally here! The city is buzzing and the energy is something quite special.

Go Canada Go!

Maddox & Marcus : {TWINS! Vancouver Baby Photography}

Double the trouble, double the love, double the FUN!

I had a great afternoon photographing adorable twin boys Maddox & Marcus with their parents Matt & Karla. It was non-stop go go go with these two little ones...I am amazed at how much energy Karla & Matt have!

For more photos, there's a slideshow at the bottom of this post...turn your speakers up, sit back and enjoy!








They're not too happy in hats...

Marcus :)

Maddox :)

It takes at least 2 adults to change a baby!







Thanks for a great afternoon!




Here's a 3 minutes slideshow which is included in every baby session. Press play and enjoy!