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Oscar came right in the middle of my “season”. A quieter “season” by far, but with the newness of motherhood (something I never imagined would change my world as much as it already has), it’s still been so full. 18 weddings pre Oscar, and 18 from the day after his birth to my last one of the year in December. Each year is different, but this year just might be one of my most heartfelt years yet. My relationship with my couples has shifted in this beautiful way where everything has a deeper meaning and there exists much more appreciation between us both. Often at weddings, us photographers don't get thanked, boohoo, I know, but here me out..... the band, who might not have even gone on yet, gets a thank you and the wait staff, who's names they will never know, gets a big thanks too. But, as we photograph them thanking others, right in front of them, we get missed. For a long time it really bothered me, and I can tell you each couple who's forgotten me and each who's remembered me, but then I got over it and it really hasn't phased me in years. But this year, most speeches not only touch on me being there, but the couples have gone up & beyond with the kindness they've shown throughout their entire wedding process. I've never felt so truly appreciated and cared for. And, I've never wanted to give so much of my heart as I have this year. I guess it's true, when you feel loved, all you want to do is give love back. And, shouldn't a love story be completely drenched in everything love?! I think so. So remember that, remember to friggin' love all the people who are there making that super special day possible, 'cause it just might make everything so much better. 🖤
When you watch any good movie, or start a book, the first thing they do is set the scene. The setting, the venue if you will, has an affect on everything. And, I'm pretty happy that the venues I've been shooting at this past year (and the venues next year) totally rock! From small intimate restaurants, to lakeside ceremonies, secret forested spots, lofts and industrial spaces; I'm so darn inspired to create unique, personal and timeless images that (hopefully) give my couples all the feels. Just give me all the cool spaces and I'll give you all of my creativity & he(art). Confession time; I limit how many times I shoot at a venue because I never want to recreate the same image twice. No two couples are the same so biggest goal is keeping things fresh. Shooting at new venues, or only a few times max at one particular venue is how I do that. Thank goodness there are so many places to get hitched now a days! 🖤
When the ceremony spot happens to be a freaking dream. Killing it @roadsideflorist @blushandbowties 👌🏻 Also ..... I’m trying out a thing... I’m going to be giving away one couples shoot in October at either an outdoor Toronto location or an intimate indoor location in Hamilton (both chosen by me!). ~ Here’s how to enter; 1. Make sure you are following my account & then “like” this photo. 2. In a comment below tell me what love means to you, or what is the most special thing about your partner. 3. Tag your friends to get them to like this photo AND your comment. ~ Who ever has the most amount of likes on their love answer wins the shoot! Will close & tally by Sunday the 9th! Good luck!! Oh ps- if the date doesn’t work, then it goes to the runner up.
Oscar's birth. It's a story I've only just felt at peace with. Little by little & slowly, but surely. Going into this pregnancy journey, I knew it would have it's bumps (quite literally), but I never knew the rivers, valleys and mountains I would travel in such a short time. To me, birth stories were beautiful, but I never knew they could be traumatic. I've slowly been sharing mine with people and in that, I've been hearing other people's own experiences. Hard times, heart breaking ones, and beautiful ones; they all exist and sometimes all in the same one. I'll be sharing mine soon, but in the meantime, I’d love to know yours... how did you come into the world, or how did you bring your own child into the world? ~ One of my favourite first photos of Oscar & myself taken a few hours after his arrival. 📷 Photo by the beautiful, talented and kind soul @northern_wildflower 💕
Full honesty, I was so nervous for this wedding. But, not for the wedding itself, as I knew my sweet couple was more than wonderful & everything was gonna be better than awesome. It was more of a personal worry as I would be 8 weeks PP, it would be the longest day away from Oscar, topped with a 2.5hrs drive to & another 2.5hrs drive from the wedding, plus pumping 3 times throughout the day (and keeping that liquid gold nice & cold), and worrying about the fact that Oscar still was refusing to take a bottle from his dadda (I’m learning it’s not unusual that babies will refuse a bottle from some ppls vs others... who knew?! 🤷🏼‍♀️). With all that on my mind, I was there to rock the day and create a collection of images that were honest & unique to any other wedding, and all while providing a beautiful experience to my sweet couple’s intimate & heartfelt day. They deserved all the good things. I wanted to make sure I gave them everything and then some. I hoped I had. A week later I opened an email from this beautiful bride & her groom. It was the most heartfelt thank you letter I’ve ever read. With no sneak peaks yet, and just the experience to go on, they thanked me for things I often wonder if people appreciated, or even recognized I do. Their email brought me to tears (hello hormones) and made me believe so much more in myself than I have in a while. I’ve been full of doubt and guilt lately over the juggling between my two roles, motherhood & girlboss. This email made me see that I’m doing much better than I believed I was. I find that we can become so critical of ourselves and being reminded we are doing ok, well it’s the greatest thing one can do for another. I’m lucky for beauties like them in my life. @meg.stypa & Jon, thank you from the bottom of my heart 🖤
The only caption I can think of is how engagement shoots remind me of a time of easy blissed out loving days & nights where the only reason you ain’t sleeping is ‘cause boom chicka boom boom. Photographing these two love birds today as they say I do in the cutest little chapel. Love me some Friday weddings.