Beautiful baby boy

Baby Dashel was so alert for this photo session, it felt like a little wise man was peering at me and my camera. For someone less than two weeks old, it was pretty remarkable to be so alert. I love, love, love newborn skin, and this little guy had it all - the wrinkles, the softness, the little peeling bits. So super cute! Congratulations to a proud mom and dad (and grandparents!)

Perth fall family session

If you've never been to Perth, do yorself a favour and visit one of Ontario's most charming small towns. The historical architecture and the parks make it one of my favourite places to do photo shoots. I recently met up with the Renwick family (well, most of them!) to capture their family fun in the autumn leaves - a perfect setting for an active two-year-old who loved to play amongst nature's photo props. I photographed mom and dad's wedding a few years back, and it was so nice to return to Perth to capture their growing family in pictures.

 

Jennifer and Mark

Jennifer and Mark's wedding was a small, close friends and family affair at Loch March Golf and Country Club. It was not only special because of their wedding, but it was also Jennifer's birthday (see the silly chair-dance photos with the birthday cake and sparkler).

Now you know and I know that wedding celebrations are all about love, but I must say I was struck by the very real and tangible feeling of love throughout both the ceremony and reception - between the couple, yes, but also from their families and from their friends.

It was obvious Jennifer and Mark cherish their friends and family, as well, because they ensured their guests became a part of the day's documentation. It was important to them that very single person who had traveled from across Canada and beyond was captured through photos.

Congratulations to a very lucky couple!

Distinctive downtown wedding

Unconventional - that's the word I would use to describe Cindy and Brandon's wedding this past weekend.

We hit a number of downtown photo locations in record time, walking through a sea of tourists calling out their congratulations. One lucky tourist even asked to have his photo taken with Cindy - she looked so beautiful, he probably thought she was a movie star.

I love it when a wedding is a bit different - they got married on a Sunday, we did all the photos before the ceremony, Cindy created the bouquets, they got married at Lago restaurant instead of a church, her mother walked her down the aisle, the first dance was before the reception.... In short, Cindy planned a wedding that defied convention, but worked perfectly for them on their special day.

Congratulations!

Todd and Tamara

I scouted locations for Todd and Tamara's wedding photos months before their big day, but didn't find anything that I felt was good enough for them. It was important to have "wow-worthy" spots to reflect all the time and effort put into their wedding planning. The location also had to be close to Tudor Hall or St. Mary's Church so that their little man could get in the family photos, then be whisked away for naptime.

Finally, a week before the marriage date, the perfect spot presented itself. Mere blocks from the church, and possessing the most exquisite light and greenery in the midst of a drought. Check out the last photo of this post, where Todd and Tamara are nestled under the huge, old tree - definitely "wow-worthy" of this beautiful couple on their beautiful day.

Bigger is better!

Recently a client ordered two 16x20 enlargements and an 11x14 from her daughter's photo session with me. I have always believed that small photos don't do justice to professional images. Bigger is better when it comes to wall art.

After bringing the enlargements home, she wrote me: The big photos are very impressive... People probably spend more on a dinner out than they do on pictures. The dinner is gone immediately and the pictures will last for decades. It was great showing them to people all weekend. [My brother's] kids had great reactions, too. Their jaws dropped open when they saw the "flying baby" and then they burst into great big smiles.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Here are the photos - the "small" one is the 11x14.

It's a boy!

And he's beautiful. Just a few days old, and already grinning for the camera. Nestled on the blanket Grandma made for him, Connor slept through most of his first official photo session. Perfect! Then at the end, we were thrilled to capture him alert and checking out what all the fuss was about. I love the silky blond locks on this photogenic little newborn baby - my wedding clients have gorgeous babies! Congratulations, Jen and Matt!