A Year in the Life of a Photograhper

One of the biggest blessings in my life is being able to do what I love for a living. While there are definitely areas of my job that I would rather not do, I LOVE being a photographer. Being able to celebrate life’s major milestones over and over again is indeed a blessing.

Being a photographer in Ontario has it’s own challenges. We have less impressive landscapes than other areas of Ontario but after travelling quite a bit this year, I’ve realized that without the distraction of mountains and canyons, oceans, and the focus of photography can actually be on people. I can focus on capturing those moments, creating those moments that you’ll remember and that you will be the focus of those memories.

Plus we get all the best seasons, especially those glorious fall colours! In spring we can go to the Guelph Arboretum for cherry blossoms in your engagement or family session. In the summer we can head to Burlington beach for some super fun beach sessions, In the fall, everywhere you look has the most beautiful reds and oranges and yellow. Then those winter sessions which are few and far between are so magical! We are so luck to have the array of different seasons here and being able to capture everything from engagements to weddings to maternity sessions, and family sessions, and solo sessions. I have the best job in the world.

And I could not do what I love without the support of all of the local wedding vendors in the areas. This year every wedding was incredible and so special shout outs go to Cellar52, Cambridge Mill, and Langdon Hall, thank you for having such incredible venues in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region!

Thank you to all my couples, families, and entrepreneurs for supporting my business. For trusting me with capturing your life and you as you are, thank you!

Emily + Parker | A Burlington Beach Birthday

Emily and Parker have become a couple I look forward to photographing every year! I love the love they have for photoshoots and they are always up for anything. They basically made all of my photo dreams come true with this session!

I was hosting some beach mini sessions and Emily sent me a message saying she wanted to book a slot as a present for Parker’s birthday! First of all, how awesome is it that she wanted to gift him a photoshoot? Second, how awesome is it that he was super pumped about it? They are my dream couple for sure. I was super excited and she booked the sunset session.

After a very crazy time finding a suitable location for my beach minis (that didn’t include lots of geese poop or an expensive permit) I selected Burlington beach and it turned out beautifully. Almost. There was still the weather we had to contend with! We all sat in our cars for about 45 minutes while the rain poured down, and thankfully it cleared up just in time for a beautiful sunset and stormy sky. It definitely all worked out for the best!

Let us all take a moment and appreciate that E+P take the time to document their lives and their relationship. This wasn’t an engagement session or something that “had” to be done, but something fun for them to do together. This session gave them a beautiful memory and as you’ll see, quite the adventure. That’s what photography can do for you. It not only captures your moments and memories but it creates them. Doing this super fun beach session with me created a memory that they will definitely cherish forever. As a photographer, there is nothing I love more than being able to help create lasting memories, not just great pictures.

Laura + Taj // A Tiffany Falls Engagement

I LOVE engagement sessions! There’s just something about the anticipation and excitement about a couple’s upcoming wedding that makes the session that much better. I love getting to know how couples interact with each other and here them talk about their plans for the big day.

An engagement session is usually the first time I’m meeting a couple and/or photographing them and it gives me a really good feel for how to capture them on their wedding day. This is why I include engagement sessions in most of my wedding packages, it’s so important to me to be able to know the couple and for them to feel comfortable with me!

Laura and Taj were up for an adventure, which is what I look for in an awesome couple! They wanted to go to Hamilton to take pictures with the waterfalls and if you follow me or know me at all, you know that sessions with water just bring me so much joy! Plus, these two were even willing to get in the freezing cold water in the middle of October which made them gold star clients in my books!

Tiffany Falls is a popular spot for engagement photos for a good reason. There is an easy, pretty path right up to the waterfall, and lots of space in front to take pictures! Using your engagement session to have an adventure or doing something creative is a really good way to make sure you and your partner have fun! I love this session so much and I cannot wait for Laura + Taj’s wedding in just a couple of weeks!

Meagan + Phil // A Valens Consveration Area Engagement Shoot

Meagan and Phil are a special couple to me. Meagan and I go way back to elementary school. She was one of my idols even though she was only one grade ahead of me. We continued on to the same high school where we road the bus together. You see, I grew up in Cambridge Ontario but lived in a rural area. Meagan also lived out in the country so we had loads of long bus rides together. We have lost tough throughout the years but when I got her wedding inquiry I recognized her name immediately.

Let me tell you, it makes a HUGE difference when you feel like you know your photographer (and in this case, she already did!). It’s one of my biggest business goals to connect with my couples. For the main reason that I want them to feel comfortable being themselves. When a couple can just be themselves their photos become real memories and tell a real story of their relationship. So one of my questions during a potential client interview is, “what are your hobbies? what do you like to do together?” Sorry, that’s two questions! This lets me in to see what kind of engagement session we can have, I love to do something during an engagement shoot that the couple already does together, making them even more comfortable.

When I asked Meagan this she said she would love to do them at Valens because they love to explore the park and they do it quite often. I was super excited! That’s where I grew up, my childhood home is in the conservation area , plus my love of water and voila! the perfect engagement session for them!

They decided on a November session so they could be all cozy and warm and cute and man were they ever. Add that splash of red to a beautifully overcasted evening and I was doing happy dances every time I checked the back of my screen.

We had a lovely walk around the lake, to the iconic Valens Lake bridge, then to some beautiful yellow leaves that stayed just for our session so we could add some fall colours in and have some fun leaf throwing.

These two were perfectly in love and I could see it with every frame. I’m super excited for their wedding day and the magic these two will create with me!

Contest Winners // Alex + Evan + Del

First off, I love hosting photoshoot giveaways. Not just because I tend to boost my following but also because I get to meet really great people who I might not have met otherwise! When I first relaunched my business I held a giveaway for Southern Ontario. My existing followers did a great job of spreading the word and trying to get my name out there! It’s so hard to start over in a new city and so this photoshoot giveaway was the perfect opportunity to spread the word that I’m back and I’m here in the KW area!

*Fun fact: I actually grew up in Cambridge! I love being back in the tri-city area, especially since we are so central to so many great locations for pictures and amazing wedding venues!*

After my giveaway closed I entered everyone’s names into a random generator and I got the cutest little family! Alex and Evan are engaged (and hadn’t done engagement photos yet) and they have the cutest little baby girl Del, who just melted my heart. I’m such a sucker for chunky cheeks! Plus they also brought their fur baby along and we got to capture the whole family as well as sneak in some engagement photos!

I love how these turned out, they were so much fun to work with! We went to Victoria Park which is a really popular location for pictures because there is so much variety and beautiful landscape, but since I’m new to this area, I haven’t done any shoots there yet! I loved it! I love all the bridges and the willow tress and the klittle creek. I’m definitely excited to shoot there again!

Usually there are a few jitters at the beginning of the shoot when we’re first meeting and start taking some pictures, but not this time. Alex was a pro and you could tell that Del was comfortable in front of a camera! Evan was great and they all took direction so well and were just such a joy to photograph. I love seeing the relationships and personalities in front of the camera. Seeing the love that Alex and Evan had for each other and for Del was so cute and I had so much fun that we definitely spent more than an hour taking pictures! It’s so hard for me to stop when I’m having so much fun!