Carla & Brent - Maternity Shoot

Carla & Brent are an amazing couple. I can't believe it's been almost a year since I shot their beautiful Ancaster Wedding. Now they are welcoming a baby girl into the world. I can't wait to meet the beautiful & strong, Rileigh. I love photographing Carla & Brent. First of all, because Carla is amazing in front of the camera and always comes up with the best poses. But mostly because I tell Carla & Brent to be themselves and the results below are what you get; striking, candid and intimate potraits. Carla & Brent, the world will be a better place with loving, caring parents like you in it.

Have a look at their maternity shoot below!

Sara & Scott - Maternity Shoot at High Park

Sara & Scott have been long time clients and friends. They were the first couple to ask me to shoot their wedding and they have since entrusted me with documenting their special moments.

These two are about to welcome their first child into the world and I couldn't be happier for them. Little 'Norbie' (the hilarious fake name they have given this special little person) will be in wonderful, loving hands. This child will have the best parents because they know how to laugh and have fun with one another. 

We had a really great night together, catching up and wandering around High Park to get the best light! They even brought Brooklyn their beloved pup along who will no doubt be a big part of little Norbie's upbringing. 

Please have a peak at their wonderful maternity shoot. Can't wait to welcome their new addition in the coming months!

Family Photoshoot at Trinity Square & Ryerson University

Sarabeth had the great idea of asking her boyfriend as well as her brother and his wife to do a joint family photoshoot as a present to all of their respective parents. It was like a double engagement shoot as well as a family shoot! We even got some nice portraits in of each of them as individuals.

We started the day at Trinity Square. A secret hideaway behind the Eaton Centre. We then made our way over the Ryerson Campus to finish our day and take advantage of the beautiful nature there. Ryerson was not initially on my list of places to shoot but they have a beautiful courtyard that made for a lush green setting. We had a great time laughing and being just a little bit cheesy throughout the day. 

Sarabeth is a great example of doing a photoshoot just to have some great pictures of you and your loved ones! And judging by the email she sent me letting me know that her boyfriend Dwayne's mom cried after receiving the photos, they make a perfect gift!

A Practical Wedding (Planning Advice That I Really Needed)

As part of my personal blogging I wanted to share with you a book that I have been reading over the winter months that has helped me shape my wedding. As a photographer, I am obsessed with all the beautiful images that wedding blogs and Pinterest boards provide. I love trawling through them and getting inspiration. However, as an engaged woman I have become aware of the fact that when you are planning your own wedding, there is a lot more to it than your inspiration boards. There's a lot questions I had about etiquette, what matters to me, as well as difficult life situations I was facing.

Enter Meg Keene. 

I fell in love with her blog A Practical Wedding while doing research for A Sunday Smile. Once I found out she had written a book, I decided to spend my Christmas Chapters giftcard (a very coveted prize) on the hard copy. This book really help me break it down and let go of my own insecurities while planning a wedding. You can pick up your own copy on Amazon unless you too have a coveted Chapters gift card, (in which case I'm jealous.) After reading the book there were three main concepts that really resonated with me. I wanted to share them with all the other engaged ladies and gentleman out there in hopes that maybe you might be feeling the same way too.

1. It's Not Always About How Your Wedding Looks, It's About How It Feels

Now this isn't an absolute, I'm guilty of secret pinterest boards and lots of DIY projects. I also consistently contemplate what type of decor will suit my fiance and I 'as a couple.'

"We're nature people, we aren't beach people."  

"The wedding needs to look a little 'live in."

These are hilarious things you will hear me say to my confused wedding party. However, when I read this part of Meg's book I thought about all the couples I had photographed and what really stood out to me was their love for one another and the emotional attachment I had to these people just as their photographer. I thought if I get teared up watching couples as their photographer, their loved ones must be feeling the most amazing emotions right now. When I realized this, I knew what Meg meant. You can have the most pristine wedding in the world but you can't fake authenticity. Weddings should be full of emotions, fun, love and spirit. So of course plan your pinterest boards but maybe also spend some time crafted a really meaningful ceremony or practicing how you are going to be mindful and present on your wedding day. Those will be the things people remember. And your love is what is going to create beautiful photographs for years to come.

2. Decide What is Meaningful to You

This is really important to me. I think some wedding traditions are adorable and some seem dated and not really my style. It was really important to me to have the wedding I wanted. I still took into consideration what my family and my fiance's family wanted but I didn't want to add traditions for the sake of them. A Practical Wedding actually takes you back through time and explains the history of a lot of different traditions, why they exist, and what they mean to a modern bride. The book gave me license to question everything about my wedding and decide what makes sense for us in 2014. Many brides might err on the traditional side, others might be super non-traditional. I think what is important is to not do things just because someone says you should. Have the wedding you want and feel free to mix match. If you don't like cake you don't have to have cake. If you want to have a modern wedding but wear a veil and have a church ceremony do that too. Create a day that feels like you, not the pressure you are receiving to conform to any traditions. 

3. When Life Hurts, Plan a Wedding Anyway

This advice was really surprising to me. When I lost my father I thought I should put everything on hold and that it wouldn't make sense to plan a wedding. The timing would be off, it would be too much emotionally, it might even be insensitive were all thoughts I had. However, after reading Meg's book I found out that she herself had planned a wedding after she lost her father. She explained to me that when hardship comes along we can't forget to celebrate life and love as well. We need those happy celebrations when times are tough. It's also important to remember that our loved ones would want that for us.

She gave me the strength to plan a wedding anyway. 

Love,

Stephanie