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Photography Blog

  • Sporty and fun engagement photos at Jeff Healey Park and Tom’s Dairy Freeze

    Thursday, April 6, 2023

    I knew I was going to have a fun time photographing Marc and Maya when they suggested we do sporty engagement photos.

    We were initially going to take the photos close to Humber Bay, but the field there was soaking wet, so we pivoted and took them at Jeff Healey Park instead.  This new location worked out great because it also has tennis courts and is located in very close proximity to Tom’s Dairy Freeze . Maya grew up eating ice cream at Tom’s Dairy Freeze, so we incorporated that into our session too. Scroll down to see the excitement that happened at Tom’s!

    South Asian woman trying to get football off white man. They are both smiling and in a field.

    Tackle time.

    White man in black long sleeve shirt lying beside South Asian woman in purpleish pink shirt with football in-between them. Their eyes are closed and the photo was taken from above.

    Their love is a touchdown! 🏈

    Black and white photo of a couple looking into each other's eyes and smiling. They are surrounded by a grassy field and it is a sunny day.

    In that fleeting moment, the world disappeared, and all that mattered was the connection between them.

    South Asian woman throwing a Molkki stick in a baseball field as her white fiance looks on and smiles. Black and white photo in baseball diamond.

    Marc and Maya introduced me to a new sport called Molkki! Check it out here: https://www.molkky.world/molkky-game .
    Have you ever played Bocce? It is similar to that, but different. This game originated in Finland. These were definitely the most sporty engagement photos I have ever taken!

    Couple looking into each other's eyes and smiling in a black and white photo in a baseball diamond as they pick up Molki sticks.

    You can tell these two make a good team as they pick up Molkky sticks together.

    Colour photo of engaged couple picking up Molkky sticks in a baseball diamond.

    Love and laughter, Molkky ever after.

    White man hugging South Asian woman on tennis court. They are each holding wooden tennis courts. They have lots of tennis balls in front of them.

    Courtship at its finest.

    Couple sitting on tennis court. They are each holding wooden tennis courts. They have lots of tennis balls in front of them. They are looking at each other and smiling. Woman is South Asian, wearing a purple shirt and black leggings. Man is white, wearing a black long sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

    Courtship on court.

    Couple sitting on tennis court. They are each holding wooden tennis courts. They have lots of tennis balls in front of them. They are looking at each other and smiling. Woman is South Asian, wearing a purple shirt and black leggings. Man is white, wearing a black long sleeved shirt and blue jeans. They are kissing.

    Game, set, love!

    Two vertical photos of couple on the tennis court. Woman is on left kissing man on the right. They are on either side of the net. The woman has a long sleeved purple shirt and the man has a long sleeved black shirt. They are both holding wooden racquets. Man is white, woman is South Asian.

    Have you ever seen so many sporty engagement photos from one session? I love how they incorporated so many of their athletic interests into their session!

    Two side by side vertical photos of a couple eating ice cream. The man is eating his vanilla cone and the woman is looking shocked as her chocolate ice cream falls off the cone. In the photo on the right, they are both laughing. He still has his ice cream, she does not have hers. They are laughing. Man is white, woman is South Asian.

    Ice cream casualty makes for a double scoop of laughter. Maya’s family has been coming to Tom’s Dairy Freeze since she was little and this was the first time she ever left an ice cream.

    Two side by side vertical photos of a couple eating ice cream. The man is eating his vanilla cone and the woman is looking down as she has just lost her chocolate ice cream. In the photo on the right, they are both laughing. He still has his ice cream, she does not have hers. They are laughing. Man is white, woman is South Asian.

    The aftermath of the dropped ice cream. Unlike in childhood, nobody looks too sad.

    Two side by side vertical photos of a couple eating ice cream in front of Tom's Dairy Freeze, outdoor ice cream place. They are looking at each other in the photo on the left. She has a giant chocolate ice cream cone and he has a vanilla cone. they are both laughing. In the photo on the right, they are both eating their ice cream cones. Man is white, woman is South Asian.

    They kindly gave her an extra large scoop after, making this the sweetest engagement session!

    Two side by side vertical photos of a couple eating ice cream in front of Tom's Dairy Freeze, outdoor ice cream place. They are looking at each other in the photo on the left. She has a giant chocolate ice cream cone and he has a vanilla cone. they are both laughing.They are sitting on a blue bench in front of the ice cream store, which has the menu and photos of ice cream on it. Man is white, woman is South Asian.

    These two have a fantastic attitude!

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  • Hehe’s 80th birthday party!

    Friday, March 31, 2023

    I was delighted when Dianne contacted me to photograph the momentous occasion of her father’s 80th birthday celebration in Etobicoke.  It was the first family gathering they had in a long time and it was definitely the type of gathering we all missed for the past couple of years.

     

    80 year old man on right with his two grown daughters on left, all wearing white t-shirts.

    Hehe and his grown daughters.

    Two side by side vertical photos. In both photos, an 80 year old man is holding a boy around two in his lap. They are all wearing white t-shirts.

    Hehe and his great-grandsons.

    Man sitting on a couch holding a photo of his deceased wife.

    Honouring his deceased wife by including her in the family photos.

    80 year old man in middle with his grown daughters on either side of him. They are all wearing white t-shirt. He is holding a photo of his deceased wife.

    Hehe, his daughters, and their mom/his wife.

    Two young women in their late teens and/or early 20s each holding a 2 year old boy.

    Some of the younger family members hold the youngest family members.

    Two grown men in white t-shirts smiling side by side.

    Brothers-in-law

    Man on couch with his dog, who is standing but has his right paw on the man's lap.

    Grandpa’s main companion was happy to pose for photos with him!

    Family of three. Two year old toddler son in the middle.

    The little guy was happy to pose for photos!

    Toddler son holding an orange toy car in-between his parents.

    Family of three.

    Family of five on couch, all wearing white t-shirts. The kids are all boys and the youngest is around 13 and is lying on the laps of everyone else.

    Sometimes it’s fun to try out different poses.

    Large group family portrait of 10 people, all wearing white t-shirts.

    Dianne’s family.

    16 person family portrait, 17 including framed photo of deceased wife/grandma. They are all wearing white t-shirts.

    17-person family portrait.

    Many family members all dressed in white t-shirts, doing cheers to the family patriarch

    Cheers!

    Grandpa blowing out his birthday candles, while many members of his family watch.

    They didn’t put 80 candles on the cake!

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  • Tammy and Cody’s Winter Engagement Session in High Park

    Sunday, March 12, 2023

    Tammy and Cody met online nearly 3 years ago and have been going strong ever since!  They were open to everything, so we started off at a coffee shop and continued their session at High Park. We really lucked out because it was an overcast day with no snow on the ground, but by the middle of our session, there was a fair amount of snow!  These two could not stop smiling at each other throughout the session.

    Couple looking at each other while holding coffees inside a local coffee shop. Asian woman, white man. THey are smiling at each other. The store has a pink moose head on the wall behind them and the counter is green. The couple is in front of the counter.

    We started the session off at a local coffee shop because Tammy and Cody love coffee.

    Couple looking at each other while holding coffees inside a local coffee shop. Asian woman, white man. THey are smiling at each other. The store has a pink moose head on the wall behind them and the counter is green. The couple is in front of the counter.

    These two are real coffee connaisseurs and they gave me a list of 4 local coffee shops to choose from for their photos.

    Two vertical photos side by side of a young couple dressed in black outside on a snowy path. They are hugging and looking at the camera in the first photo and they are kissing in the second photo.

    There was no snow at all at the start of our session, but we were pretty happy it appeared for the photos!

    Two vertical photos side by side of an Asian woman and white man holding hands and smiling at each other. Grenadier Pond is in the background.

    I love the look of Grenadier Pond, so we walked down to the Queensway for these photos.

    White man hugging Asian woman from behind, in front of Grenadier pond. SHe is looking behind her to smile at him and he is looking at her.

    “Winter is a time for love and we are so grateful to have found each other.”

    Asian woman in front, white man behind. He is looking happily at her and she is looking up at him and laughing. He is wearing a long sleeve black coat. She is wearing a black vest. She has a long-sleeve green shirt under her vest.

    I love how this couple makes each other laugh!

    Asian woman and white man with foreheads touching. Their eyes are open and they are smiling at each other. She is wearing glasses. They are in front of Grenadier Pond, which has trees in the background.

    I like asking couples to get really close without kissing. It makes for some pretty intimate moments and romantic expressions.

    Woman's hands wrapped around the back of a man's head. She has turquoise fingernails and you can see her diamond wedding ring. It is a single diamond on a rose gold band.

    We had to take this photo to show off her ring and her nails!

    Close up of white man kissing Asian woman in front of Grenadier pond. They are both wearing black. You can see the pond and the out of focus trees in the background.

    “A kiss on the cheek is like a warm hug for your soul.”

    Couple on a snowy path. White man is looking at the camera, Asian woman is looking and smiling at her him. Her hand is on his chest, showing off her engagement ring.

    The path was covered in snow towards the end of our session!

    Asian woman and white man with foreheads touching as they hug each other on a snowy path with barren trees.

    “The warmth of winter love is the sweetest of all.”

     

     

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  • Andrea and Stefano’s Port Credit and Adamson Estates Engagement Session

    Wednesday, March 1, 2023

    We decided to do this session at the beautiful Adamson Estates, which has a forest, neat architecture, and a view of Lake Ontario. It’s also not too far from downtown Port Credit and the lighthouse.

    Man and woman holding hands both wearing white shirts with rim lighting in background. They are head to head and you can only see from the tops of their heads, to their elbows. Her engagement ring is showing. Forest background

    I always like to ask couples to go nose to nose and avoid kissing because it makes for some intimate photos (and moments for them)!

    Man and woman holding hands both wearing white shirts with rim lighting in background. They are head to head and you can only see from the tops of their heads, to their elbows. Her engagement ring is showing. Forest background

    Look at how she’s smiling as he takes her in.

    Man and woman with noses and lips nearly touching, about to kiss. Man is on left holding hands with woman. It is an extreme close-up from the noses to the elbows. They are backlit by the sun.

    “Until the end of time
    As you grab my hand
    Time slows down and stops. As I hold you tight I wish we could be like this forever.” Leonard Cohen.

    Man placing lips and nose behind woman's hair. Only their noses to elbows is shown. They are both wearing white. Her hand is on top of his. Forest background.

    “In love, one and one are one.” -Voltaire.

    Man hugging woman at the waist, woman looking at camera. man with nose buried in her hair, to the left of it. She is looking at the camera. They are both wearing white and standing in a forest. Close-up from the waist up.

    Early evening light makes for dreamy photos.

    Two vertical engagement photos, side by side from the waist up. Couple is nose to nose in the first photo and looking at the camera in the second.

    We were hoping for snow, but we still liked the look of the barren trees.

    Two vertical photos side by side. In the one on the left, the woman is on the left and the man is on the right. They are hugging each other around the waist. They are head to head. In the photo on the right, they are holding hands and walking down the forest path.

    Walking down the forest path at Adamson Estates.

    Couple kissing with sunlight in the background. They are standing under a wooden archway covered in vines. He is kissing her on the cheek. They are wearing white shirts and blue jeans. She has heels on and he is wearing running shoes.

    An hour or two before the sun sets often makes for the best light.

    Two side by side photos of a couple holding hands around the waist, ready to kiss. They are both wearing white shirts and blue jeans and in front of a white pole with vines around it.

    The architecture at Adamson Estates makes for some neat engagement photos.

    Woman on left beside man on right sitting on a rock ledge in front of Lake Ontario in Port Credit. The lake is dark blue. There are lots of clouds. The couple is wearing blue jeans and white shirts. There are lots of clouds.

    Romantic engagement photo in front of the lake.

    Woman on left and man on right wearing winter coats in front of the white lighthouse in Port Credit with a red door and red roof. Two side by side vertical photos. They are looking at the camera in the photo on the left and kissing in the photo on the right.

    Of course, we had to take some photos in front of Port Credit’s iconic red and white lighthouse!

    Heart shaped silhouette of man on left and woman on right. They are making a heart shape with their arms. The Toronto skyline is in the heart.

    We noticed the Toronto skyline and decided to make a silhouette. They came up with the heart shape around Toronto!

     

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  • S and J Downtown Toronto Engagement Photos at St. James Park

    Wednesday, February 15, 2023

    S and J live downtown, walk downtown, and spend a lot of time there, so of course they did a downtown Toronto engagement session! They met swing dancing and regularly go for walks at St. James Park, so it was a fitting spot for photos. I met S at Balfolk dancing, but we also both Lindy Hop (as does J)!

    Two vertical photos side by side. In the photo on the left, the couple is looking at each other.. She is South Asian. He is blonde. In the photo on the left, he is behind her, holding hands with her around the waist and they are looking at each other. She is looking up at him. In the photo on the right, he is still behind her with his arms around her waist. Her hands are on top of his. He is kissing her on the forehead.

    There was really nice light on them as it reflected off the buildings.

    Two vertical photos side by side. In the photo on the left, the couple is looking at each other.. She is South Asian. He is blonde. He is standing behind her in both photos and they are holding hands at her waist. In the photo on the left, he is kissing her neck. In the photo on the right, he is kissing her on the cheek and she is grinning. She is South Asian. He is blonde.

    A little romancing.

    Two vertical photos side by side of a white man in a suit with an open jacket holding hands at the bottom with a South Asian woman in a blue dress. In the first photo, they are both looking at the camera. He is smiling and she is laughing. In the second photo, he is smiling and looking straight ahead at the camera and she is looking at him. Photos are in front of a flower bed with downtown Toronto stores behind them.

    He makes her laugh.

    South Asian woman getting kissed by her fair haired fiance. She is wearing a beautiful dark blue dress. He is wearing a suit. In the photo on the left, he is kissing her neck and in the one on the right he is kissing her cheek. She is laughing in both photos.

    Some spots are pretty ticklish!

    South Asian woman and white man. He is wearing a suit, she is wearing a blue dress. Two vertical photos side by side. In the photo on the left, they are hugging each other tightly. She is looking slightly ahead with her eyes closed. His eyes are also closed and he is looking down. In the second photo, they are still hugging, but he is kissing her cheek that is closest to him and we can see her profile.

    It was like they forgot I was there!

    Engaged couple holding each other at the waist. He is blonde, she is south Asian. she has long brown hair. They are looking straight at each other. She is wearing a blue dress. He is wearing a suit.

    I love the way the sun is lighting them from behind.

    Engaged couple holding each other at the waist. He is blonde, she is south Asian. she has long brown hair. They are looking straight at each other. She is wearing a blue dress. He is wearing a suit. In the second photo, they are both looking at the camera. They have red flowers behind them as well as an out of focus Toronto store.

    Downtown Toronto was pretty busy when we were taking these photos, but we managed to wait until there was no passerby.

    This couple is hugging, but you can only see from just below the waist to the tops of their noses. A beautiful south Asian woman is in front with her hands crossed over her waist, on top of her fiance's hands. In the photo on the right, two hands are on top of a blue dress and the one on top features a stunning blue engagement ring.

    Check out her beautiful blue wedding ring that matches her dress.

    Light haired man and South Asian Woman. Her arms are on his shoulders and her hands are clasped at the top. His hands are around her shoulders, as if he is about to lead her into a dance. He is wearing a suit and she is wearing a dark blue dress. There is a tree and out of focus church behind them.

    It’s hard to tell from a photo, but they are in a dance pose here!

    South Asian woman and blonde man in front of a passing Toronto streetcar and red flowers. They are smiling and looking at the camera and holding hands at the waist. She is wearing a blue dress. He is wearing a suit..

    It’s a real downtown Toronto engagement session when the TTC is involved!

    South Asian woman and light haired man in front of a red and white Toronto streetcar and red flowers. She is wearing a blue dress and he is wearing a suit. She is holding his cheeks in her hands and looking at him. He is looking back at her. They are smiling at each other.

    Nothing like a little romance in downtown Toronto!

    Blonde man with South Asian Woman in a dance pose in front of trees. He is wearing a suit, she is wearing a short sleeve blue dress.

    These two met lindy hopping, so of course we had to incorporate swing dancing into their wedding photos!

    Two photos side by site of a couple outside a brick building. There is a door on the building with a black awning that says "The Reservoir Lounge," in white cursive writing. The man is wearing a suit and the woman is wearing a blue dress. They are dancing with each other.

    The Reservoir Lounge features swing, jump blues and boogie woogie Wednesday through Saturday. It is also a great place to lindy hop to live music, so we took some photos outside the venue.

    South Asian woman in long gray coat with blue high heel shoes and white man hugging in front of flat iron building in downtown Toronto.

    The Flatiron building, also known as The Gooderham building was completed in 1892. In spite of the construction that surrounds it, it is one of Toronto’s most iconic buildings.

    Thanks again for having me photograph your engagement session! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in June!

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  • Happy Valentine’s Day!

    Tuesday, February 14, 2023

    Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you had a great one!

    Photo of a 6 year old in a dress with a black velvet T-shirt top and pink silky skirt. She is sitting on a swing above the clouds with heart balloons above her head.

    Don’t you wish we could actually swing above the clouds?

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  • Oakville Family Portraits

    Friday, January 27, 2023

    One thing I love about being a photographer is reconnecting with people.  Jess and I went to high school together. Now she is a doctor in Michigan! I was thrilled when she inquired about family photography for her mom’s birthday and I also loved seeing her, her parents, and her brother again, meeting her new girlfriend, her brother’s wife, her aunt, and her niece and nephew.

    Senior couple holding hands and looking at each other in vertical photo on left. He is wearing a red button up shirt. She is wearing a light brown sweater with a plaid scarf on top. In the photo on the right they are holding hands and looking at the camera.

    I love it when couples who have been together a very long time get their photos taken. Often the only time we take professional photos is when we are engaged or getting married, so it is nice to do them on other occasions. Family portraits also include couples photos!

    Lesbian couple holding hands in photo on right. Couple dancing together in photo on right.

    Jess and Jen have lots of fun together!

    Lesbian couple looking each other in the eyes and smiling lovingly. Greenery in background. Close-up portrait.

    These two communicate volumes with their eyes. 

    Outdoor extended family portrait with 9 people including two children.

    Another photo I am glad we got before the storm hit! We only had about 10 minutes outside.

    Outdoor extended family portrait

    I am so happy we got this photo before the storm hit!

    The backs of people walking on a trail with dark storm clouds.

    We walked away seconds before the lightning and downpour.

    Two sisters in their 60s or 70s sitting on a couch beside each other.

    Sisters on couch.

    Brother wearing black hugging sister with his right arm. He is wearing a black sweater, she is wearing a red sweater and a red and gray scarf. They are sitting on a couch.

    Brother and sister.

    Wife wearing orange button up shirt smiling at husband. Both in their 30s.

    Sometimes you can’t help but smile when you look at your loved one.

    Matriarch and patriarch on light couch with ocean blue pillow and their family behind them including two young children, the matriarch's sister, their two children and their partners.

    Extended family photo in the new Oakville house. Congratulations!

     

     

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  • James Gardens Engagement Session!

    Friday, January 13, 2023

    Kim and Kristjan are always up for adventures, so I was delighted to photograph them because they were willing to try just about anything! They met riding dune buggies and sandboarding in Peru!  He works as a pilot, so they both really get around. They are also both nature lovers.  I think Winne the Pooh’s saying applies to them, “As soon as I saw you I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.”  After all, they were on an adventure when they met, and to quote another children’s author, Lewis Caroll, “Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures!”

    Two side by side vertical photos of a recently engaged couple in front of a tree with lots of yellow leaves in the fall. In the photo on the right, they are looking at the camera. In the photo on the left, they are hugging and facing each other. Photos at James Gardens

    The bright yellow leaves of the tree behind them definitely caught my attention!

    Happily engaged couple at James Gardens. Photo of the two of them looking at the camera on the left and photo of them looking at each other on the right. Photos took place in the fall, when the sun was starting to set. There are lots of trees changing colours behind them.

    The light really changed when the sun started to set.

    Couple touching foreheads on left, Different photo of the couple sitting on a tree branch on the right. at James Gardens

    I love how Kimberley climbed a tree and Kristjan happily joined her.

    Black and white photo of a couple holding hands, with her engagement ring showing at James Gardens in Etobicoke.

    This photo worked best in black and white, but please pay close attention to the ring in the next photo.

    Hands wrapped around waist of woman. Can see things and shoulders, but not faces. Engagement ring is turquoise.

    Check out the colour of her ring! It’s turquoise.

    Man dipping a woman in a beautiful background full of fall trees and bushes.. Beautiful view of James Gardens in the fall in the background

    Getting ready for the dip at the end of a dance. The view behind them is why James Gardens is one of my favourite places to do photos in the fall.

    Couple sitting in a tree smiling at each other from the waist up at James Gardens

    They are smiling because the tree branch they are sitting on is still holding them (just kidding).

    Couple sitting on a bench looking lovingly into each other's eyes in the fall at James Gardens.

    I love the way they are looking at each other!

    Reflection in water of a couple holding hands and touching heads at James Gardens.

    Reflection.

    Couple of having a leaf fight at James Gardens!

    Sometimes it’s fun to do something you did as a child with your future spouse. This is another reason I love doing fall sessions at James Gardens!

    Man lifting up woman smiling while she is laughing so hard her head is back. Can only see from elbows up at James Gardens.

    Love this natural laugh! I also love following your Instagram pages and finding out about all the exciting parts of the world you are discovering.  Thanks for sharing your adventures and thanks for being so open to trying new things during your engagement session.

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Wonderland Winterfest Engagement!

    Friday, December 23, 2022

    I was pretty excited when I met with Lais and Andris and we started talking about how we all had Canada’s Wonderland season passes. We then discussed doing their engagement photos at Winterfest! Anyone who knows me knows that amusement parks are my happy place, and I was eager to do a nighttime engagement session with lights, carols, and rides in the background.  You don’t need to wait until winter is over to get great photos!

    Congratulations again on your engagement!

    Winter wonderland engagement photos underneath arch with Christmas decorations.

    I love how they decorate for Winterfest at Wonderland!

    Romantic photo in front of lit up Wonder Mountain at night. Canada's Wonderland Winterfest.

    Wonder Mountain.

    Engagement Photos in front of Christmas windows. Couple on bench under Christmas arch outside of store.

    Isn’t window shopping in December romantic?

    Couple looking at camera in front of lit up Christmas tree.

    I love the bokeh of the Christmas lights!

    Couple in front of arch with Christmas decorations, ready to kiss. Winterfest at Canada's Wonderland.

    We loved this arch in front of one of the stores.

    Canada's Wonderland Winterfest couple photos. Woman looking lovingly at man with circular ride lit up and in motion behind them.

    Many of the rides were still running and they looked really neat with the lights on!

    Two photos in black and white of a couple in front of a lit up Christmas tree at night. Winterfest at Canada's Wonderland.

    Photos in front of one of the biggest Christmas trees I’ve ever seen.

    Engagement photo in front of a carousel with the carousel in motion and the couple staying still in front of it at Canada's Wonderland Winterfest.

    I always wanted to get a photo where the couple was in focus and the people on the carousel were not. Thanks for indulging me Lais and Andris!

    Woman on carousel, man smiling at her lovingly at Canada's Wonderland Winterfest

    A little romancing before the ride started.

    Romantic engagement photo in front of the fire at Canada's Wonderland Winterfest

    Where are the chestnuts? Everyone enjoyed the warmth of this fire!

     

     

     

     

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