Erin and Caleb – August – Penetanguishene, Ontario
Alannah and Adam’s Summer Engagement – Awenda Park, Ontario
Awenda Park is one of my favourite engagement session locations. It has a perfect combination of forest and beaches and is a great place to catch a sunset over Georgian Bay. I met Alannah and Adam there on a warm evening in early July. I knew they were golf fanatics, so an active walk through a provincial park seemed like a perfect place for their engagement shoot. The mosquitoes were a bit vicious, but we had fun wandering the paths and exploring the beach. I’m excited to share the blog post from their GORGEOUS September wedding in a few weeks. For now, enjoy this stroll on a warm summer evening…
Shelby and Sergiu’s Spring Engagement – Toronto, Ontario
Shelby, Sergiu and I planned to meet up in late May for their engagement session. But last spring was wet, wet, wet, wet, with a side dish of rain, which made it a bit more challenging to find an evening for the session.
On the night when we finally met, there was a weather alert for a bit of a storm. It looked like rain would be patchy and I suggested rescheduling, but I give full marks to Shelby and Sergiu for having zero fear when it comes to the weather. Engagement shoots are a great way to get to know people (and is a great way to get used to the camera if you’re a bit nervous). And what I learned quickly about Shelby and Sergiu were that they are fun and cool (and amazing weather forecasters), and most of all, to quote Sergiu, they are not risk averse at all!
Our first stop was Graffiti Alley, where the colourful walls were a edgy contrast to Shelby’s tulle dress. We then went down to Cherry Beach, which was still recovering from spring flooding. But when life gives you puddles, you make reflecting pools. Best of all, the storm held off and created a beautiful pink sky and rainbows. My favourite shot of the night is the last one below – the lightning had started to come over the lake and my shrieks may have made them laugh a bit. We had to run for cover, but not before we got a dramatic night for photos. Can’t wait for their winter wedding next month …
Megan and Ryan – September – Walter’s Falls, Ontario
Deanne and Derek’s Winter Engagement – March 2017
It’s been a while, I know.
2017 has been quite a year – sadly, my dad became ill and passed away and it was one of those moments in life where it was important to take time away from my computer. I lightened my workload and took the time I needed away from the pressures of blog posts and the Instagram frenzy. A needed pause – time to be with family and friends. Time to take a breath.
But friends, please know that I have so many photos I’m looking forward to sharing. During this time, I’ve been working with fabulous people and have been as focused as ever on making beautiful images with them. So many great celebrations – weddings, engagements, anniversaries, new babies, and more. If anything, I’m just more convinced than ever about the importance of photographing these milestones. There’s so much work to show from the past year or so and I’m looking forward to catching you all up in the coming weeks. The last blog post (from Allison and Steven’s engagement) was shot just a few days before my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. With such a long gap between posts, I thought it only fitting that I start back with the last shoot I did just before he passed away. It’s my personal bookends to this time in my life.
First up is Deanne and Derek’s very cold winter engagement. We had to postponed this one a couple of times, mostly because February was unusually warm and wasn’t snowy enough to look like winter. Okay, correction. This session took place near Georgian Bay, in Ontario’s snow belt. In my hometown (well, like the next village over, if we’re getting specific). But it’s a place that’s always snowy in winter. And there WAS snow. It just took until March for the snow to recover and look less brown and melty. I have a personal belief that all shoots take place at the time when they are meant to happen. And the fortunate part about postponing was that it eventually took place on the same day that Deanne and Derek picked up their new (SUUUUPER ADORABLE) puppy.
I can’t convey just how cold it was that day. Puppy stayed warm in the car (and in Derek’s coat!) while we braved quick bursts of photographs. Thanks to Deanne and Derek for embracing the weather and for being brave enough to jump in a snow drift when I suggested we jump in a snow drift. Can’t wait to reconnect with these two in a couple of weeks for their autumn wedding. So, at long last, here we go …
