Portraits of whimsical fairies and shimmering mermaids inhabit Cheryl Law’s photography studio in her home southeast of Lacombe.
She has a hallway full of translucent wings and petite, yet voluminous, dresses that have stitched on flowers and sashes. Shelves in her studio hold hats and toadstools, feathers and birds.
The Lacombe portrait photographer will use all of the items to produce her next Enchanted Fairies calendar for 2011 to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta.
“I love kids and to me it is a really good charity,” said Law, who owns C.L. Photography. “It would be a huge benefit to have that in Red Deer.”
For each picture Law sets up a background, made up of what looks like a stone wall, leafy green vines, flowers and animals. The children dress in colourful tutus, leafy or flowing garments that she supplies for the session. She’ll often let the children play, tell them a story or get them to act things out until she finds a portrait photograph that captures who they are.
“I like to leave myself enough time and space to let the child have enough time to relax,” Law said. Toys from the toy chest, fairy dust and bubbles can also help.
As part of the fundraiser, Law will do enchanted fairy portrait photography sessions between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 with youngsters for $75, taking a variety of portraits of the child.
She will post the artwork she takes on her website and allow people to vote for which portraits go into the calendar at a cost of $1 a vote. The $75 fee, $1 for each vote and $5 from each $15 calendar will go to Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta.
Parents who choose to can also purchase copies of the artwork of their child from Law.
Law plans to take pre-orders for the calendars on her website at www.clphotos.ca. She hopes to raise $10,000 this year to go towards Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta.
Law said she enjoys what she does because she gets to take what she sees and make people happy with it.
“There is no better feeling than to see somebody hang a portrait in their home that represents them and their family,” Law said. “I don’t feel like a photographer. I feel like an artist.”
She has being doing portrait photography for five years, after studying with photographer Dwight Arthur in Red Deer, and she is part of the Professional Photographers of Canada. She lives near Lacombe with her husband Greg and two daughters Shaelynn and Ashley.
Anyone wishing to contact her for a session can phone 403-782-4298.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com