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Beautiful Brandy

Friday, May 4, 2012 Posted in Headshots, Your Story

Meet Brandy…

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I first met Brandy at the Leduc Recreation Centre where she works as a Personal Trainer. What I first noticed about her was her smile, which she wears most of the time.

She dedicates her time to motivating and inspiring her clients, and she’s about to take it home as well!  She’s in the process of creating an in-home Personal Training space to better serve her clients.

Brandy is one of the most dedicated and hard-working women I have ever met. You see she’s just a few weeks from competing at Alberta’s which will be her fifth show. She did her first three shows in 1999 and went all the way to Nationals. She took 12 years away from competition to have a family and live life, but after going to the Alberta’s last summer, she decided to get back on stage. She wanted to do something for herself since most of her time was allotted to her family and clients.

When I asked how her training was going, she told me she hired the best guy in the business Ron Partlow, a friend and fellow competitor. Ron has been an amazing part of her success as she trains.  She competed at Muscle beach last October and placed first in Women’s lightweight and 3rd in Women’s Masters.

This photography session is the first of two as she trains for the Alberta’s which is only a few short weeks away on June 23!

Our kids go to the same school, so I am used to seeing her at school in her workout attire. Who knew that under her workout clothes, this is what her back looks like…amazing!

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Brandy is focused, determined, motivated. I can’t wait for session #2 which will be 10 days away from competition. I have no doubt with her focus and hard work, we will see even more muscle definition and striations. Way to go Brandy!

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by Christine Hopaluk

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Beautiful M.

Monday, April 23, 2012 Posted in Artists, Your Story

Meet beautiful M.

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This session was a celebration of who she is as a woman. She is beautiful both inside and out.

If I could use one word to describe her, it would be Authentic. Through times of adversity in her life, her spirit has grown in strength and character. Through it all, she has tapped into her true self. Her authenticity is a gift; it allows others the freedom to be themselves. A genuine and accepting heart is a rare find; it’s a true measure of beauty.

Among the gift of authenticity, she is also confident, intelligent, fun, spiritual, kind, and soft-hearted. She has this brilliant genuine smile that travels to her eyes and turns into a twinkle. Her smile immediately transfers to others and you can feel the joy in her heart when you spend time with her.  During the session, her favourite music played in the background. She has music in her soul let me tell you! I spent the entire session with a smile on my face and at one point, broke out into spontaneous dance along with her. You just can’t help but feel her amazing energy. Thank you for that!

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This last photo touches my heart, with tears in her eyes I could feel the range of emotions she felt as we celebrated the amazing woman she is. Thank you M. for sharing the gift of your true self with me, I left with a full-heart. You inspire me.

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There is nothing better than capturing a woman’s true beauty.

All you women out there, you are beautiful!  We can be so hard on ourselves.  We wait for the “right” time to be photographed, but the right time is now! Beautiful is confidence, wisdom, knowledge, and strength.

Be good to yourself, because you are amazing.

Christine

by Christine Hopaluk

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April 24, 2012 - 10:03 am Roxanne Dicke - With tears in my eyes, I can say you captured her beautifully. I have the amazing honour of being her friend and you really distilled the beautiful soul she is. Wow. Love you both and so glad you know each other. xoxoxo

April 24, 2012 - 11:35 am Catherine McGrath-Le - I am so honoured to be part of this circle of great women. Christine, this is absolutely beautiful work capturing this amazing woman. Michelle, you are truly beautiful and these are so "you"!

Why I Relay for Life 2012

Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Posted in Giving Back, Personal

Many of you have supported my Father’s journey as he’s been fighting Prostate cancer.  You have no idea how much your well wishes, thoughts, prayers, and support means to my Dad.

You see my Dad is the most social person I have ever met.  His smile lights up a room, and he loves to meet new people. In fact where ever we go, most often than not he runs into someone he knows. This happens in the most obscure and remote areas. I can only assume it is his mission to talk to every human he comes into contact with.

His heart is so generous. He would give you the shirt off his back, and he would even buy you an extra one. The very thing that drives him forward in life is to help others with words of kindness, gestures big and small, and the gift of his accepting heart.

He makes me proud of him daily.  My heart also breaks for him daily as he struggles with his health.

Cancer has taken little pieces away from my Dad that are a part of who he is as a man. It has invaded parts of his pride, dignity, joy, energy, and health. However, cancer has not succeeded in taking away any part of his Faith nor his Hope.  If anything, it has allowed his Faith and Hope to grow and by sharing his story, he has supported and uplifted others who share and understand this fight.

Here’s the thing, talk ing about cancer is uncomfortable.  It’s ugly. But how can we not talk about it?  I don’t know many people who aren’t touched by cancer in some way.  But what if we didn’t talk about it? What if we kept all talk of cancer behind closed doors because it’s too personal to talk about?  How will we ever hope to find a cure if we don’t do something? How would we raise awareness?

But I have to share something that cancer has given us as a family. This ugly disease has brought our family closer. It’s taught us to appreciate the gift of health, because it is indeed a gift. It’s taught us to value life, cherish those we love, tell our loved ones how much they mean to us, laugh a little more, and complain a lot less. And don’t sweat the small stuff!

I know I’ve shared photos of my Dad before, but here’s a little video featuring my soft-hearted Dad. (Click the link below)

Why I Relay for Life Video 2012

On June 15th, 2012 I will once again be joining Team Hope in the Leduc Relay for Life as a way to fight back.

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From 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. we will be walking the track in honour of my Dad, in memory of my Aunt Lorraine and my friend Chris, and in honour/memory of my team mate’s loved ones. I’m excited to capture the event through photography as well, click HERE to view photos from last year’s Relay. If you would like to join the fight by making a donation, please click:

HTTP://CONVIO.CANCER.CA/GOTO/CHRISTINE.HOPALUK

All donations big and small make a difference!  The Canadian Cancer Society advance in their research towards finding a cure each year with the help of your donations.  You can make a difference. No one can take away our hope. Let’s join together to fight this fight. If we don’t come together to make a difference, who will?

I will leave you with a photo of my Dad taken on Easter Sunday. Awww, he’s so cute.

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From my Dad’s heart to yours,

Christine

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by Christine Hopaluk

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