Photography Blog

My friends Jaime and Krister got engaged on Monday.  Krister did a very cool and creative proposal using his iPad!  Thought you might enjoy (and gentlemen, take note: She said ‘yes’!).

https://www.quantumpie.com/i-proposed-today/

I know them both from Lindy Hop swing dancing. If you want to learn how to swing dance or find out more about Lindy Hop swing dancing in Toronto, check out www.torontolindyhop.com

This was also a perfect way for Krister to propose because Jaime is a social media strategist.  I learned how to use twitter from one of her workshops. You can find out more here:

https://jaimealmond.com

If you want to follow me on twitter, just look for rabbatphoto!

Congrats again, Jaime and Krister!  Thanks for letting me share the good news 🙂

I had the pleasure of photographing Nadia and Andrew’s wedding in 2009, and I was delighted when Nadia emailed recently to ask if I was available to photograph their family with their 6 month old!

Here are a few of my favourite photos from that session.

On the couch, where they will likely spend many more hours together.

Aidan trying to crawl.  He looks pretty close here!!!

We went outside for a few photos since there was a big snowstorm in the morning, but Aidan was happier inside!

Thanks for having me back to photograph your family!

Lesley’s friend Angela did our father’s day special in the spring and Leslie liked the photos so much she contacted me to do a session 🙂  We had also met before at a La Leche League meeting .

They wanted an outdoor winter photo session, and I was a little worried it would be too cold outside for baby Lucy, but she was real trooper!  We took these photos at Colonel Sam Smith Park, in Etobicoke.

Here’s my favourite photo of mom, dad and Lucy together.  I sang “Six Little Ducks,” to keep baby Lucy happy.

These photos were taken between renditions of the ABC and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (which are the exact same tune!).

We DID go inside for a few.  She just started standing.  You can tell she is proud of pulling herself up to that position! I could have observed her for hours.

Here are a few of my favourite photos from my WKRA picnic winners.  The WKRA is the West Kingsway Ratepayers Assocation, which also happens to be the area I live in.

These three girls were a lot of fun!

It was Mia’s first communion, so she is wearing a white dress.  Thankfully, she managed to keep it clean!

The sisters like to have fun together.

They found this red hat on the ground and decided to take some photos with it.

Here is a more serious photo of the three sisters.

In terms of weddings, the year kicked off with one I second shot for my friend Amanda from Firefly Photo Studio this past winter.  I love shooting with other photographers, because it gives me ample opportunity to be extra creative and of course, we get to learn from each other and see moments in different ways.

This wedding took place at Saint Cecilia Church in the High Park area of Toronto and at The Boilerhouse in the Distillery District (which is one of the most loved photo districts for Toronto photography of all kinds!) and also holds a special place for me, as our wedding band plays there every Sunday morning for brunch (though trumpeter Kevin Clark is now living in New Orleans).

I think everyone who does pictures in the Distillery District gets some with this cool old rusted truck.

I used some extra lighting effects for these ones.

Everyone was concerned about what the weather would be like for Traci and Lawrence’s wedding, because it was supposed to pour, but it hardly rained at all and we were able to capture lots of outdoor photos!

Jennifer and Jaime’s wedding took place on the idyllic Ward’s Island .  Janette placed in an ISPWP contest with the first image show here!

Sarah traveled to to Sudbury for J and Terri’s wedding.  We photographed J’s brother’s wedding a couple of years ago and adore the family, so it was great to reunite with them!  J and Terri had a very creative vintage themed wedding.

I’ve been good friends with Dave since high school and was absolutely thrilled when he proposed to Claire, since she is an awesome girl too.  Their wedding took place at Piper’s Heath Golf Club in Milton, which is a wedding venue I was experiencing for the first time, but I certainly hope I will get the chance to experience again because it is gorgeous!

I’ve know Rob for quite a long time as well and I hadn’t heard from him for awhile, so it was a completely pleasant surprise when he called to tell me that he was now engaged to Tomoko, who is originally from Japan but was living in Brantford.  They got married at the Brant Rod and Gun Club.  Tomoko’s immediate family came from Japan for the wedding and they incorporated some Japanese traditions (and made some other Japanese traditions their own)!

Sarah suggested meeting with Stephanie close to her home before the wedding…little did she know that was where Mike proposed!  Their wedding took place at one of our favourite venues in Newmarket; King’s Riding Golf Club.  Stephanie used to ride horses, and they incorporated a horse and carriage into their wedding!

I had the opportunity to shoot with Amanda from FireflyPhoto Studio again at Sunnybrooke Estates.  I LOVE hora dances! Don’t you think they should dance the hora at every wedding?

Ashley and Steve also lucked out weather wise as it was expected to rain non-stop all day, but it didn’t!  I love that she brought her dog to the hotel.  I also love the colours in that garden.  Their wedding took place in the picturesque town of Jordan, ON at Inn on the Twenty.

It was extra special photographing Rob and Kim’s wedding, because Rob was the best man in our wedding and my husband was the best man in his.  They got married in Ottawa, ON at Bethel Pentecostal Church and their reception took place at Capone’s Catering.  Rob gained a wife as well as a sweet 6 year old daughter.

Bernadette and Geoff were an amazing couple to finish off the 2011 season with.  They constantly made each other laugh.  I also loved their venue, The Academy of Spherical Arts.  It was my first time photographing a wedding there, and I’m glad I brought studio lights because it was a tad dark, but thanks to the lights you cannot tell!

Congratulations to all of our amazing 2010 couples!  It was truly a year of fantastic couples.

We are accepting a limited number of bookings for 2011, so if you recently got engaged and would love to be one of our happy 2011 couples, please call us at 416-763-3546 or email [email protected] .

Thanks so much for another great year!

Recently, we were commissioned to photograph the CHATT Inc. office in Bolton, ON.  They are a team of counselling professionals.

This is the waiting room.

There is an area for children to wait, which would not be complete without all the toys!

People can read magazines or make themselves coffee or tea in the waiting area.

Director of CHATT Nadine Lulu with one of the many details that can be found in the office.

The play therapy looks like a lot of fun!

Counselling is a lot about listening.

Team meeting.

CHATT is located at  12295 HWY 50, Unit 214, Bolton, Ontario L7E 1M2 in the Bolton medical building.  They can be reached at  905-951-6443 or [email protected] .  If their friendliness during the photo session is any indication, they are all amazing therapists!

Julia had her very first haircut last week!  That is, with the exception of the bang trims my husband and I have been giving her.  I was dreading this moment, because I knew that if she was anything like me, she would be constantly moving and very difficult at the hairdresser’s.  Miracle of miracles, she was perfect the whole time!

She had her first haircut at Melonheads in Bloor West Village.

I’m very glad I brought my camera, because their camera was broken (though they said that she can get a picture next time we go in).  We DID get a certificate that said the date and had a clip of her hair though!

Julia had lots of seating options, but she chose the horse, of course!

She doesn’t looked thrilled, but she stayed still the whole time so that’s what matters, right?

They had a TV to distract the kids. It worked!

The hairdresser gave Julia a Sandra Boynton book to look at so she would keep looking down.  That worked too!

When she was done, she got to go on the horse ride, which moves up and down!  You can get a side view of her hair here.

Yeehaw!!!

How old was your child the first time you took them for a haircut?  Did they sit still for it?

As many of you know, we recently exhibited at the Babytime Show!

Thanks to everyone who came by our booth.

Here is a picture for those of you who did not make it:

Here is a close-up of our albums, which were a big hit!  They all have really thick pages so you can show them or read them to your very, very little ones without worrying about them getting ruined (just like cardboard baby books)!

Finally, here are a couple of pictures of my daughter in the new studio set-up! We also do on-location.

Congratulations to Karen Markowsky who won our draw for a portrait session!

Evan’s mom and I have been friends since we were two years old, so I was thrilled when she and her husband had my family over to tell us the news that Evan was on the way!

Here is their adorable little bundle rocking the bunny ears hat.

Awake in the basket. Apparently, he had not slept for many hours and he did not sleep again until several hours after I left.

On the new zebra patterned fabric.

It LOOKS like he’s sleeping here, but he actually only stayed asleep for about 5 minutes!

Don’t you love babes in arms?

I like how Moses (the dog) is admiring Evan, but Evan is ignoring the dog.

Mommy and Evan looking into each other’s eyes.

Mom, dad and doggie all admiring Evan…who once again looks asleep, but would only remain that way for about 5 minutes.  Amazingly, however, I am told he started sleeping through the night shortly after that!

Congrats again on your adorable little bundle!