Marlene’s Designer Portraits bio picture

About Marlene Fast

I photograph children, families, high school grads, fine art, pictorial, scenics.

I love photography; working (playing) in Photoshop; the rain; my clients; winter (if it would last only 2 months); spending time with my friends and family; learning about the latest in photography trends and styles; Tim Hortons coffee (large, black, please); my cat; Christmas; people; travel; Africa; elephants; Disney World; making people laugh; spring; flower gardens; listening to the amazing music of Matt Anderson.

what makes me smile…

- the sunshine  - brewing a pot coffee with freshly ground Starbucks beans -  knowing that spring is just around the corner -  picking up my niece and her husband from the airport from their trip to Mexico  - spending time with my sister - photographing families.
Speaking of that, in a few minutes I will be photographing a past client and her husband and two girls.  They are expecting their third girl and I have the pleasure of capturing this special time!

I am also excited to be photographing High School Senior/Grad Portraits in the next few months.  What a wonderful time of life - finishing high school and heading off to university or a job.  I remember when I was graduating - it was the end of an era (or so it seemed) - I was SO glad to be done my 12 years of school and the anticipation of what life was to bring - and that makes me smile as well!

And, since no blog post is complete without a photo, here are a few High School Senior Portraits taken of two that are going to be graduating this June.

This is Andrea - she came in with some fabulous outfits and she looked like a model!

5672

I asked Colton to bring in a prop that had meaning to him and that he would look back on one day that really defined him at this time of his life.  He brought in a Bible and a large cross (you’ll have to wait to see those images).

1166

So what makes you smile?

March 4, 2010 - 9:00 pm Patty Boge - What makes me smile? Knowing that I'll have Marlene Day for 4 straight days and nights starting on Sunday! Can't wait!

March 4, 2010 - 9:02 pm admin - And I'll have a Patty Day for that time as well! It's been TOO long!!!!

personalities - you gotta love ‘em!

Recently Heather and Scott were back in the studio.  Check out their last visit here.

The children have grown and it was time for an update.  Heather told me that the twins were really shy and the chances were very good that one or the other would be clinging and the other crying.  But she would be happy with any results I could get!   What a challenge!  :-)

Of course, as many of you know, children’s attention spans are about as long as what their age is - and I was surprised to see them co-operate for 27 minutes!  And we got some fabulous images!

This first image you can see how hesitant the girls were - very laid back and not sure about me as yet!

730

They’re starting to get more comfortable here - but what makes this image so wonderful is the moment between Dad and Jack!

737

Love, love - LOVE this image.  Look at the way that Macy is clinging to Dad!   And Jack - look what he did with his sweater - kids do that all the time!

741

Macy had to come closer to check me out - the first two times she put her hand over my face - I guess she wanted to see if I was a threat - and after that she really relaxed.

742

At one point when Daddy and Jack left the room - Mom gathered her girls into her for a hug…

757

But - the result was that she banged their heads together!  :-D   The girls didn’t seem to mind - but the expression on Mom’s face is just priceless!

758

We tried another family group - but at this point I knew it was not going to result in the look we were after.  But there is something about this image that is absolutely precious!   Can you imagine the story this will tell years from now?  I keep looking at it and it makes me smile and laugh.  Look at Macy reaching out for the feather Dad is holding and Mom’s expression!  Mallory is checking out Jack’s feather.  This depicts real life to me!

764

After that we tried to get some of the children together - at this point the kids had had enough - but I really like this image.  Shows their little personalities - in fact I see them shine through in all of these images!  One day Heather and Scott are going to look back on these and laugh.

768

February 22, 2010 - 8:11 pm Heather - Marlene, you do such a great job!! Thank-you!

February 23, 2010 - 9:06 am Inge - What an absolutely amazing series of images Marlene! You have captured the personalities of the three children so well, I feel I know them from these photographs. Heather and Scott will treasure these for the rest of their lives!

Shear Effects in Steinbach, Manitoba

9919

This is the lobby for a local hair salon in Steinbach.  I’ve had the privilege of photographing all the stylists at this salon (see the photos behind the counter).   Recently I had a call from the owner to ask if I could do some photos for their upcoming brochure.  I jumped at the chance and last week three gorgeous women came into my studio!  Don’t you agree?

0004

0006

0025

0044

0046

0052

0071

0087

0096

February 11, 2010 - 9:40 pm Carissa - Love the hair on the last girl! Very pretty! Great colour

February 12, 2010 - 9:52 am Inge - Lovely ladies! And I LOOOOOVE the backgrounds!!!!

another baby!

Recently I photographed Nichole and Don for their maternity session.  And I was thrilled when their little baby girl arrived and I could photograph her at just 6 days old!  Welcome sweet Bailey - you’re so beautiful!

9497

9561

0301

0338

0376

0380

Thank you Nichole and Don and Bailey!  I can’t wait to see her grow up!

February 12, 2010 - 11:11 am Inge - So sweet! And what lovely blue eyes!

13 days overdue and she’s here!

On January 23, 5 lb. 10 oz. Brooke Faye arrived.  Her parents were waiting and waiting….. but Brooke decided to make her entrance on her terms!   What a gorgeous little girl!   Look at those lips.  She’ll definitely be a heart-breaker one day!

Thanks Jared and Sandi - for bringing little Brooke in when she was just just 5 days old!   Here are some of my favorite images from the session.

9796

9797

Ohhhh - she’s smiling!

9804

9828

And very alert!

9841

“It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into.” ~ T. Guillemets

February 2, 2010 - 10:10 am Inge - Gorgeous photos of a gorgeous young lady! How cute can you get? :-)

February 3, 2010 - 9:56 pm Auntie Bev :-) - Wow! Marlene, gorgeous pictures of the Peters family as always! I'm somewhat partial to my grandnieces and nephews from Sylvia's family. thanks for posting these shots, as I won't see Brooke until the spring. (Sylv tipped me off about your blog.) Bev Reimer

February 25, 2010 - 8:16 pm Sandi - Hey Marlene, Thanks again so much for taking Brookes pictures...as always you did an amazing job and just made her even cuter!! We couldnt be happier!! Sandi