NOSTALGIA

Blue Mountain Engagement Sneak Peek

2012-02-03T00:39:00.001-05:00

Hey there!

Just a short and sweet post tonight. Wanted to show a sneak peek from the Blue Mountain session that I blogged about in my last post - in case you missed it on my FB page. Click on the photo to view the rest of the images from the teaser album.

Blue Mountain Engagement and Workation

2012-01-28T12:15:00.005-05:00

Hello from Blue Mountain! This weekend will be a workation for me and that's where I'll be staying. Enjoying some time and company with my friends and doing a winter-themed engagement shoot in the Blue Mountain area later today. Yeena got right into the planning of the engagement session with me and even scored some cool props. Yeena and I came up with this inspiration board for their shoot:

I'm really looking forward to doing this. Yeena and Peter are a totally cool couple and I can't wait to try out different shots with the pretty-esque Blue Mountain and Village areas as backdrop. I'm also going to be trying out for the first time, a live behind the scenes coverage of the engagement shoot via Instagram. Find me @vivianspics or look for the tag #backstagewithviv and follow along on our outdoor adventure as it takes place.

Off to do some location scouting now! Happy weekend everyone.

Family Photography Session in Kleinburg

2012-01-22T04:17:00.008-05:00

Hello everyone and happy 2012!

First things first: to my dear blog, sorry for neglecting you over the holidays, I promise to take care of you and keep you updated this year. I have lots of new ideas and plans that I can't wait to share with you.

No really, I do want to take a moment to thank those who have been patient and still check back for updates. THANK YOU :) Things have been hectic the past few weeks, but I look forward to some quality time with all you readers this year. What's in store? More client features, style guides for what to wear during your session, ideas for what to do with all the gorgeous photos you will have, more behind the scenes posts and what I'm most excited about, some new design changes for the blog. Posts will be easier to find, more reader friendly, load faster and of course look prettier. Cheers to that!

So to start this year off - another special client feature, the Greco family:

Back in August of last year, Linda contacted me about doing a lifestyle photography session in October when her son, Sebastian would turn one. She wanted photos of Sebastian and of the entire family, just like the ones we did with her daughter, Alexia, at the same age. She also knew she wanted a small printed album with images from the day so we made sure that we planned around a single colour palette so that all the final images would look good together in the final product.

We really wanted to create a unique vision for Linda's family session. Using Pinterest, we collaborated on an inspiration board that the shoot would be based around. Check out the inspiration board here. For this task, Linda was given one guideline and that was not to add only photos of other shoots she liked but to include images of toys, colours, food, anything that brought a smile to her face so that we could incorporate everything that was meaningful to Linda into the shoot.

Based on what she added to the inspiration board, Linda was really drawn to images that were airy, natural and showed a connection with the children. She also wanted something outdoors and suggested a wonderful location: Kleinburg, Ontario - a rustic, historical village which we thought would work out perfectly. We also went with the colour theme of red, black and grey although due to weather, there was a last minute switch from the red to a deep pink which worked out even better as it really popped out in the photos!

Before heading over to Kleinburg, we decided to start with some photos at the Greco's home. The client's home is a great place to start a session whenever time allows for it. This is where children (especially young or shy ones) are the most comfortable - they have their toys and are in familiar surroundings. There is no better opportunity to see the family interact and hang out with the kids than here. These next few photos are perfect examples. Sebastian and Alexia playing together, Daddy hanging around with his two children, such sweet moments to be a part of!

And with that said, let's get to the photos! Here are some of my absolute favourite shots from the rest of the day - it was very hard to choose just a few.

Some shots of the final album that was designed for Linda:

And to sum it all up, a quote from Linda:

Hey Vivian, I love the little album!! Thank you so much the pictures look great, we're very happy.

A beautiful, photogenic family wouldn't you agree? A big thank you to the Grecos for the amazing session and a special thanks to Linda for her creativity in putting together the outfits for everyone. Yes we lost some apples in the process but it was worth it - Sebastian seemed to think they were balls and threw them to the ground where he saw fit!

View more images from this family portrait session in their highlights slideshow.

Why I Have So Many Photos of My Cats

2011-12-30T15:09:00.005-05:00

Welcome back everyone! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and got to spend some time with loved ones and people you care about. I had the most lovely family gathering but wish I wasn't so busy hosting and had more time to take some photos of everyone!

Before we get back into some full session posts for the sneak peeks I left you with before the holidays, I just wanted to share with you something that happened yesterday when I got my camera out to do some work. This happens to me quite often but now I realize that this is why I end up with so many darn cat pictures! I don't know - is this normal?

A (True) Cat Story:

Okay, so I may have fudged the times just a little tiny bit so it doesn't reflect how long I really spent distracted with the cats. Or not. I guess you could consider this my guilty pleasure. Anyone else have a problem taking a million pictures of their pets? What are some of your guilty pleasures?

GTA Wedding Photography - Hanh and Tom

2011-11-27T15:14:00.013-05:00

Back in October, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Hanh and Tom's fine affair. I still remember meeting with Hanh the first time and asking her to describe to me what her vision was for her wedding. Simply put she said, "Just picture, silver trees, lights and diamonds. Everwhere." And everywhere they were, from her sparkly Badgley Mischka heels and her ballerina-style sequinned wedding dress to the diamonds draping from the silver branches of her centrepieces and sprinkled around the head table candles. There was not one detail that was missed.

Hanh and Tom seriously looked like they walked off the set of a bridal magazine shoot. Gorgeous. A big thanks to Jennifer Lo and Myra for their fab make up and hair styling.

The ceremony and reception were held at the Paradise Banquet and Convention Centre where it felt like we had been whisked away to some private garden villa. With Joy Wedding Services did such a beautiful job with the wedding decor and bouquets.

Just when I thought that I couldn't be any luckier to be working with such a sweet and easy going couple, Hanh made my night when she walked up to the band, The All Day Breakfast, grabbed a mike and rocked it out on stage. *swoon

If you just can't get enough and want to see more images from this wedding, head over to the wedding highlights video here.

To Hanh and Tom - thank you for showing me what love is all about and for letting me be a part of your special day. I loved every minute it of it.

Markham Baby Photographer - Newborn Session

2011-11-07T00:44:00.004-05:00

This little man came extra early for mommy and daddy but that means all the more time they get to spend with his darling face. Congratulations Emily and Greg! We did this session only earlier today but I just couldn't wait to share this image with you all.

Prince Edward County - Farmhouse Belly Session

2011-10-22T01:13:00.005-04:00

Boy, looks like it's going to be a sneak peek marathon this weekend. We were chatting back and forth with location ideas for this session but when I found out this darling mommy and daddy-to-be pair were going to be in Prince Edward County the same weekend I was there, I knew without a doubt that THIS was the spot. Stay tuned for more from this shoot and updates on the newest addition to their family!

Maple Children's Photographer - This Week's Sneak Peek

2011-10-21T01:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday! A sneak peek to start this wonderful weekend. I'll be meeting this family next week for their private viewing session. I just can't wait to show them all the adorable images from their family photoshoot. Here's two more for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

The Perfect Gift - A Client Story

2011-10-15T20:42:00.006-04:00

Happy Weekend everyone! I'm so excited to share a very special client feature with you today. For privacy reasons, I'm sure you understand why, we'll leave her name as Miss M.

It all started with an email…

For her husband's 40th birthday and anniversary gift, Miss M was looking for something different, something fun and with a whole lotta spice. What was she looking for? Gorgeous, sexy pictures that would show off her curves, presented in a little hardcover black book designed especially for her husband!

We met over lunch to plan out the session and to make sure that we were on the same page. We both agreed that some flirty lingerie paired with classy and elegant poses would just drive her husband wild. To complete her look, she decided to go with the make up artist and hair stylist team that I work with on most of my styled shoots. She wanted something that wasn't over the top but brought out her natural beauty. I suggested an indoor location with lots and lots of windows to surround her in natural light and add to the soft, romantic feel of the shoot. With the details worked out, we set a date and the countdown began.

On the day of the shoot, Miss M admitted to me that she was nervous and shy - who wouldn't be? We toasted to some glasses of mimosa, snacked on strawberries and popped in some girly power anthems. You know. The kind that gets you up and moving and singing out loud with your girlfriends - yeah you know what I'm talking about (but in case you don't, click play on the player above as you read the rest of this post!) Before long, Miss M was rocking the shoot, trying out different poses and flaunting all her cute outfits and accessories. Boudoir shoot success!

After the shoot, the photos were sent online to Miss M through a private gallery where she chose her favourites to go into the little black book. We played around with a few different designs, finally deciding on a clean, modern design with black backgrounds - one that screamed sexy. :)

And the verdict? Well, a few weeks later when I sent Miss M a follow up email to find out how everything turned out, this is what she wrote back:

"Vacation was good and [the mister] LOVED his gift!! He was surprised but he knew there was a photoshoot as he had seen emails…anyway, he loved it and went through the book at least 20 times when I gave it to him."

Looking through the book 20 times, too cute!

When I asked Miss M later if I could post her photos on my blog, she agreed and replied simply that she was very proud of the photos and in fact had showed them off to many of her chat group friends online already. Miss M, you should be proud, you looked beautiful and sexy and have a darn lucky husband! Thanks for letting me be a part of such a fun and fabulous day.

Thanks also to Sora Won and Jennifer Lo, my fab hair stylist and make up artist team!

Apple Orchard Engagement - Hanh and Tom

2011-09-17T11:45:00.002-04:00

I can't believe we are into fall weather already. Fall always brings me memories of bright leaves crunching under your feet, the smell of wood burning in the air and apple picking with the family which is exactly what we did for Hanh and Tom's engagement session. Here's a sneak peek from their delightful apple orchard engagement session to start your weekend!

The Cat Scan Fail

2011-08-26T00:46:00.009-04:00

Okay, so the other day I came across this neat Tumblr site, The Cat Scan that posts pictures of cats on scanners. I thought I would give it a try too but it turns out Dennis Jerry is scared of the white light from the scanner going across the glass screen. Funny, because he loves to investigate the printer by stepping all over the paper tray when I'm trying to print something! But nope, he tip toes around that white light zipping across the scanner like someone avoiding the cracks along the sidewalk. All I managed to get were these two shots. Not quite as cool as the pictures found on that site. Sort of fail?

Catching the Rain | Cornell Family Picnic | Orange Bag Zimele Event

2011-08-11T01:07:00.007-04:00

As promised, I am delighted to present to you the following two events that will be happening over the next two weekends. Find me at either of these events to ask any questions you have about photography, find out how to plan a session or just to hang out and chat about how fast your little munchkins are growing up. I will have a free kid's photo booth for dressing up and posing fun; a photography session giveaway; plus you'll be one of the first to see my new products and collections and get exclusive introductory pricing - available at these two events only.

Here are the details:

Sunday, August 14 - 11:00 pm to 3:00 pm
13th Annual Cornell Picnic
Benjamin Marr Park (behind Cornell Village School on Country Glen Rd)
A family event featuring live music, fun games, races, face painting, BBQ, Merchant Alley and more. The kick-off parade starts at 10:30 am at the corner of Cornell Park Ave. & Country Glen Rd. Join the parade with a decorated bicycle, tricycle, stroller or wagon and get a chance to win a prize!

Saturday August 20 - 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
The Orange Bag Zimele Event
Onnuri All Nations Community Church
63 Dunblaine Ave, Toronto, ON M5M 2S2
This is an event in support of women in South Africa. There will be women artists and vendors, crafts, food, music, artists, bouncy castles and more. A portion of all sales will go towards Zimele, an organization dedicated to helping South African women be self sufficient.

I hope to see you there!

Aaand, that's a wrap. Since all posts end with an image, here's a few of the rainy view from my front porch.

Hiatus.

2011-08-10T01:05:00.011-04:00

Sorry for the brief hiatus. I’ve been busy working on some exciting new photography collections and products which I cannot wait to talk about and show you all. I've also been making some crazy long to do lists all in preparation for two upcoming community events where I will be showcasing my photography. For the first time. To the public. In front of hundreds. Scary and exciting - yay! All these details, I promise, will be revealed in the coming posts so please check back very soon.

In the meantime, a peek at some images from the annual Living Water Counselling Centre Walkathon.

Everyone, meet my mom (middle) and her two sisters. There's a total of seven siblings on this side of the family! My grandma, is one a brave woman.

Pinterest & Rocker Baby Inspiration

2011-07-22T00:37:00.007-04:00

So...I signed up for a Pinterest account a few weeks back but never had time to play around until the past two nights. It's so fun finding things to pin and everything looks so pretty. Now I can't stop looking at stuff! What have I started now?

Anyways, if you haven't heard about it, Pinterest is basically a virtual pin board that you can pin stuff you like. Almost like Tumblr but with images. It's still in the early stages so a little buggy, but if you like a lot of visual stimuli (yes, I said stimuli) then you just might like this. You can create as many different boards as you like and pinning is easy enough by adding a "Pin It" button to your browser's bookmarks bar.

Are you on Pinterest? Leave your link in the comments box and we can follow each other. Look forward to seeing some of your boards!

Here are some of my pins from today. THREE of them are from Locked Illusions, but I'm sure you'll understand why - rock 'n roll kids! Can't wait to plan one like this. Anyways, that's my inspiration for the day. Back to some editing for a boudoir shoot I did a few weeks back.

Source: lockedillusions.com via Vivian on Pinterest

Source: wovenplay.com via Vivian on Pinterest

Cornell, Markham Baby and Family Photographer - Julie and Marlon Plus Two

2011-07-17T02:15:00.003-04:00

Meet Julie and Marlon, proud parents of Treana and baby Mikayla.

Mikayla was cute as a button with her full head of hair and big, round eyes. She barely made a fuss, no pacifier needed as she kept herself entertained munching on her tiny fingers while we placed her on the different props and backgrounds. Then there was Treana, who was shy at first, but after a few warm-up poses with daddy, was a perfect little model. By the end of the session she was loving the camera so much she didn't want to leave!

I loved the pops of green, blue and purple on both the girls' outfits too. Thank you Julie and Marlon for a fun session! Here are some of my favourite images from the day.

To see more from this session, check out their slideshow here.

Movie Inspirations: Blue Valentine

2011-07-13T13:40:00.007-04:00

When I started shooting weddings in 2006, one of the first assignments my photography mentor, Kim Lovell, gave me was to watch the movie, Man on Fire. I've seen it and it was a great movie, I replied to her. No, she said, really watch it. Pay attention to the composition in each scene, where they place the characters in relation to the background, close-ups, colours, and shapes. So I did.

It's amazing how you don't notice things until you really look for them. When I was shopping for my first car way back when and researched a few brands and models. It was only then that I noticed those on the road. Before that all cars looked pretty much the same to me.

Fast forward to 2011. I still find myself noticing things like where the characters are placed in the scene, how much or little background is shown and the use of wider angle shots to bring the viewer into the story. It's not something I'm consciously looking for, but when I do come across a film with scenes that really stand out and appeal to me, I appreciate them for their artistic value.

This brings me to my first inspirations post. I've decided to share some of my favourite scenes from the movie, Blue Valentine directed by Derek Cianfrance with director of photography, Andrij Parekh. Without any weight on the dialogue or significance they may have had in the plot, these scenes stand out to me because the composition and posing in each scene tell a story on its own. Have a look:

Now look again and notice how the use of colour makes an impact too. Everything from the background colours to what the characters are wearing all tell one cohesive story. Definitely things to think about when planning the next engagement shoot or family portrait session.

Look for more of my inspirations posts in the future. Whether you are a photographer looking for ideas or a bride or mom planning out a portrait session with your photographer - everyone could use a little visual inspiration.

Seen any movies you thought were visually stunning? I would love to hear your thoughts - leave a comment below!

Special Event Photographer - Dhanisha's Bridal Shower

2011-07-02T22:03:00.003-04:00

I hope everyone's been enjoying the lovely weather from the past few days. I couldn't stand to spend a day like this indoors so I brought my office to my front porch. Here are some images from Dhanisha's cute and intimate bridal shower.

Although I only got a chance see Dhanisha with her fiancé, Raffi during the final few minutes when he came to bring her flowers, anyone could see right away how madly in love they were with each other. Congratulations Dhanisha and Raffi!

They are so cute together!

Check out the video below for more highlights from the day.

GTA Wedding Photography - Vicki and Mark

2011-06-23T00:14:00.003-04:00

Trying a bit of a different layout for this wedding, hope that you all like it! And just like a good wine pairing enhances a meal, here's a song by the Plain White T's to accompany this post. I had this song on repeat for most of my post-editing so I guess it's only appropriate. :)

More photos from the entire day can viewed in Mark and Vicki's wedding highlights slideshow.

Second photographer for this wedding was Chan-Ra - thank you, for doing a stellar job with all the details, candids and bringing in a different perspective. Full vendor list and more candids can also be found on my Facebook page.

GTA Baby & Family Photographer - Julie & Marlon Family Session Sneak Peek

2011-06-16T01:35:00.005-04:00

A mid-week sneak peek for y'all! Meet Julie, Marlon and their two lovely daughters. Got some new baby props and backgrounds so was excited to try them out for this shoot. More images from this fun session coming up shortly.

Sally & Mike Destination Wedding and Second Photographer Perks

2011-06-11T13:21:00.016-04:00

As much as I love working with my own clients and being the primary photographer on their wedding day, I also try to fit in some second photography jobs throughout the wedding season. There are many articles out there with tips on how to shine as a second photographer but not many speaking to why you should go through the experience. Here are five personal reasons why I enjoy being a second photographer:

1. I get to play around with settings and different techniques that I normally don't have the luxury of doing on the day of the wedding when nailing that perfect shot takes priority. It's especially great when I work with someone using the same brand since I also get to try out other lenses that I don't normally shoot with like the macro and the 70-200 mm, FUN!

2. Have you ever had couples who are relaxed and laughing one minute but as soon as you raise the camera to your face, they tense up and give you their "I'm-going-to-stop-what-I'm-doing-now-and-pose-for-the-camera" look? Being the second photographer, you hang out behind the scenes so you get a ton of those amazing candid shots that capture the couple's true personality. It's also a great opportunity to work on your photojournalistic technique.

3. The experience you gain from watching the primary photographer interact with their clients and how they run the show is paramount. It is also a great chance to find out about another photographer's creative process (obviously you'll want to time your questions for the down times during the day). I've had many insightful and inspirational conversations with fellow photographers during the car ride to different locations on the wedding day or in between speeches at the reception.

4. It has been said many times and I'll say it again, practice makes perfect. This is never more true than for photography. The confidence I gain and the quality of the images I get with every new wedding I shoot improve exponentially. 99% of the time, you don't want to shoot in the the same spot as the primary photographer so this really forces you to think about your shots and move around in order to find that unique angle and composition. This gets your creative juices flowing and enhances your wedding photography reportoire.

5. The food, the venues, the food. Although this is true for being a wedding photographer in general, you can double the number of venues and resturants you get to visit. As a second photographer, I've had the chance to shoot inside gorgeous and unique locations such as Casa Loma, Canoe, Jump Restaurant, the Bata Shoe Museum, the Eglinton Grand, the Old Mill, Oakview Terrace and the list goes on.

Here are some images from Sally and Mike's wedding in the picturesque Jordan Village, Ontario at Inn on the Twenty. These were shot by me as a second photographer for Lisa of LG Weddings. This wedding was a ton of fun. Riding in Porsches and visiting wine cellars for starters, then getting to meet Sally and Mike who are super cool and friendly! It was a real pleasure working with them on their big day.

Special thanks to Lisa for letting me use these images on my blog. You can also view more images from the special day on her blog.
That's all I have for now so if you are considering going for that second photographer job - go for it!

Until next time...

Oakville Baby & Family Photography - Amy, Dave and Raynor

2011-05-31T23:42:00.005-04:00

Get ready for some cheek pinching, fuzzy feeling, 'aww' factor cuteness because trust me, baby Raynor from this portrait session is ALL of the above. Add Amy and Dave into the picture and you've got one good-looking family! We did this baby session in Oakville when Raynor was just shy of 6 months. Near the end of the session, Raynor was getting tired and started to fuss but at the request of Dave, Amy brought out her secret weapon. She sang "Wheels on the Bus" to him and got us a whole set of awesome smiling and laughing baby images just before we called it a day. Not only that, Amy gets bonus points for co-ordinating the grey coloured wardrobe theme because grey is one of my favourite colours!

Amy and Dave, Raynor is a cutie - he'll have all the girls after him before you know it! It must be such a wonderful feeling watching him grow day by day. Thanks for letting me be part of capturing the three of you as a family.

Some of my favourite images from this session are posted below. Enjoy!

Barney on the iPad, woohoo! I tried my best to sway him towards Yo Gabba Gabba but he wouldn't have any of it.

Had to show these two side by side. So cute!

For more images and a bonus Jolly Jumper adventures ending, check out Raynor's slideshow.

GTA Baby & Family Photography - Raynor Sneak Peek

2011-05-28T03:37:00.003-04:00

Here's a quick teaser for you all this fine Saturday morning. Off to the Radisson to second shoot a wedding. Have a wonderful day!

When Life Gives You Dark Clouds and Rain, Play a Happy Song

2011-05-27T00:00:00.013-04:00

Last week I ended up cancelling my shoot because the rain just would not go away. Yes, it was a little disappointing but it turns out good things (like sales) happen to those who wait. I held off buying the dress I planned to wear only to find that the price was reduced when I went to get it the day after. Bonus!

Maybe this whole shoot thing is just an excuse to buy more dresses and perhaps a new pair of shoes. Or two. Anyhow, the shoot has been re-scheduled for sometime in June, so please check back soon for some pics of moi.

Moving on. Here's my happy song (more so the melody, never mind the lyrics)

And here's the new dress!

Coming up soon, an Oakville baby shoot and Vicki and Mark's full wedding post.
Goodbye, Thursday. I'll see you soon, Friday!

Oh Sweet Love - NYC Wedding Proposal

2011-05-23T17:51:00.007-04:00

For those who aren't on Facebook and may have missed it on my FB page just wanted to repost a very sweet proposal story for this fine evening (via Style Me Pretty). Hope that it brings a smile to your face like it did to mine.

Features a Florence & the Machine song too! Woohoo!

GTA Engagement Photography - Bertina + Roger

2011-05-21T17:18:00.012-04:00

I just tried to weed my lawn and cut the grass - I give up!!! I think this job is better left to the professionals. Oh and as for those push reel mowers, don't let that cool, vintage look fool you into buying one, there is a reason they are called PUSH mowers.

Let's talk instead about something that does get me excited and happy to think about, Bertina and Roger's engagement session photos! First, a song to set the mood.

Bertina first noticed Roger after attending a training class at work. Later she had a dream that Roger was in and in that dream they were dating. This was before she even knew his name and the rest, as you can see, is history. We had planned this shoot originally back in February but as luck would have it, shortly before our shoot, Bertina slipped on some ice and broke her ankle. Two months, two casts and many, many Call of Duty Zombie rounds later she was up and ready to try it again.

Three facts you should know about Bertina and Roger:
-they invented the Eskimo kiss
-they love monkeys (observe the monkeys in the background of the bedroom shots)
-they love each other very, very much

Here are some of my favourites from the session:

Who knew that the swings could be this much fun!

What did I tell you about the eskimo kiss?

Exchanging love notes...or maybe they just wrote something funny about me.

A whole lotta gorgeousness!

Thank you Bertina and Roger for welcoming me into your home, your lives and sharing your monkey collection with me. I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Also a great big thanks to Jennifer Lo and Sora Won for their make-up and hair styling talents. For more photos from the session, take a look at their slideshow here.

First Dance Songs and an Engagement Teaser Part II

2011-05-20T14:01:00.008-04:00

Happy Friday!!

Although I've photographed a few weddings where the couple has chosen not to do a first dance, I've always loved the first dance moments. For some couples, this is the first and only chance that they get to spend time together, alone. One of my brides told me that during her first dance, her new hubby whispered to her, "It's just you and me," and she fell in love with him all over again.

Just wanted to share this very sweet song that my brother passed along to me. Thought it would be perfect to use for a first dance song at a wedding. Her voice gives me the goosebumps, in a good way :)

What song will you be playing for your first dance?

To conclude this post, I just had to show you this gorgeous solo pic of the bride-to-be from an engagement session I've been working on. I normally don't post a second sneak peek since I posted the first ones recently here but she looks so cute that I just couldn't help myself!

Always the Photographer, Never the Photographed

2011-05-15T03:14:00.005-04:00

Photographed, photographee? I don't think that's a word, but you know what I mean.

As photographers, it's not unusual to go through thousands of photos in one day, especially for a full day wedding coverage. Even when I'm not working, I'm usually carrying a camera so I really don't have that many photos of myself. Well everyone, this is about to change! I'm very excited to announce that I'll be getting my very own photoshoot done this coming week by Chan-Ra, a fellow wedding photographer!

Since updating my website this year, I have been wanting to add some photos of myself so that potential clients who visit the site have a face they can identify the work with. Easier said than done of course. I've been delaying this and delaying this until finally one day, I mustered up the guts to ask someone AND set a date so that I didn't have any excuse to back out. Wish me good luck, I'm sure I'll need it since it also makes me extremely nervous just thinking about it!

Here's a photo of me at work taken by Richard Tang. I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank Richard (the one on the right) who was one of the amazing second photographers working with me at our very first wedding of the season this year. Thank you for helping to make sure the day went smoothly and being there for me!

GTA Baby & Family Photography - Ashley, Michael and Mikayo

2011-05-08T18:25:00.003-04:00

Luscious lashes and bubbly toes, I could not get over how cute this little guy was! And that was before mommy pulled out the oxford sweater vest and Air Jordans combo. Aside from that, there was a lot of drooling, a lot of falling over and never-ending laughter - ingredients for a perfect baby session.

Ashley and Michael I can't believe that Mikayo is already past his 6 months, it only seemed like yesterday when we did your belly session. Watching the two of you interact with each other and with Mikayo was such a special experience. Mikayo is a sweetheart, his giggles are contagious! I had so much fun hanging out with you guys during his 6 month session, looking forward to seeing more of Mikayo in the future!

Here are some of my favourites from the day. For more images from the session, check out Mikayo's slideshow. Happy mother's day!

Eating the backdrop

Now I will show you my grumpy face

Stylin' with my new kicks

Chillin' with Daddy - my toes are so delicious!

Toronto Wedding Photography - Vicki & Mark Sneak Peek

2011-05-05T22:32:00.002-04:00

Time for another wedding sneak peek! The rain held off exactly one day for Vicki and Mark's special day. I'm not even kidding! It rained the entire week leading up to the wedding day, stopped, and then the day after the wedding, more rain again! There was plenty of sun on the wedding day though and the little alleyway we took the bride and groom to had just the perfect amount of light and shade. Pair that with an amazing bride and groom and we've got a photographer's dream come true!

GTA Engagement Photography - Bertina + Roger Sneak Peek

2011-04-30T01:05:00.003-04:00

Doing the final preparations for my wedding shoot tomorrow which include, recharging batteries, formatting memory cards, packing lenses, reviewing posing inspirations, and buying a new dress. Yes I said buying a new dress. I don't know what it is, but the past few weddings, I've looked in my closet to plan what I'll wear on the job the next day only to panic because I didn't like what I saw, then run desperately to the mall to find something new! I even bought a new pair of Me Too shoes to match the last dress I bought. *shrug. A girl needs heels that are comfortable to shoot in and we all know you can't wear the same outfit to more than one wedding! Well enough of me trying to rationalize and not feel guilty about my purchases...

I leave you with a sneak peek from Bertina and Roger's engagement session. Have a great weekend!

GTA Newborn Photography - Baby Ella

2011-04-27T20:19:00.005-04:00

Earlier this month I hung out with Theresa and Chris for a mini-session with baby Ella. It was my first time meeting her and oh my goodness, she was just too cute for words. I've already mentioned that Theresa and Chris made a pretty awesome pair during the wedding ring incident at their baby & belly shoot. Now imagine them changing Ella's diaper, I swear it took them less than ten seconds flat! Going into the shoot, we armed ourselves with a pacifier and lullaby playing giraffe to prepare for any fussiness we might encounter. Turns out we had nothing to worry about - aside from a few tears at the beginning, there was not a peep from her for the entire session! She slept peacefully in her pink tutu and even let us take a few shots with her all wrapped up in the cloth cocoon.

Ella already has a pink Maple Leafs hat waiting for her pretty little head to grow into and her very own chandelier in her nursery. She is going to be one special little girl. Theresa, Chris and Ella, you are a beautiful family, I wish you many more beautiful moments to come.

For more of this cutie pie, take a look at Ella's slideshow. Until next time...

GTA Wedding Photography - Amy and Andrew

2011-04-19T07:30:00.008-04:00

On the afternoon of her wedding day, Amy...
1) forgot her shoes,
2) found out that her wedding dress was missing the bustle, and
3) left her bouquet at the hotel during the bridal party photos.

While any of the above might be enough to ruin a bride's day - not this one! Just take a look at the gooorrgeous images of Amy laughing and smiling and you can tell just how much she cared about the little things.

Instead, Amy and Andrew have built a beautiful life together based on the big things. Things like family and friends and time spent together. In the hustle and bustle of city life, between catching up on the latest Apprenticeship episodes and enjoying a nice meal at their favourite hotspots to Amy putting in extra time to coach a girls' cheerleading squad, they make time to plan family get-togethers, camping trips with friends, fishing trips, vacations and dinner parties - because that is what is important to them.

It was truly an inspiring evening - there certainly was no shortage of laughter or tears. I really should add to my job description, "will laugh and cry with the bride and groom." Thank you so much Amy and Andrew for opening your lives to me, sharing your family and friends and letting me capture every single minute of it.

Looking for the bustle.

These were fun, but you wouldn't know unless I told you that the bridal party was braving near zero degree weather!

STUNNING.

Andrew usually puts on his serious face for photos but there was no stopping him from smiling from ear to ear on this day.

More wedding highlights can be viewed on Amy & Andrew's slideshow.

Also a great big thanks to the wonderful vendor team:
Pretty florals and decor from With Joy Wedding Services
Yummy cupcakes by Eini & Co.
Rockin' entertainment and music by Trickel Down Productions

GTA Baby Photography - Mikayo Sneak Peek

2011-04-15T20:09:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone!

Spring, spring, arrive already!! I already switched over to my warm weather jacket (and found $20.00 in the pockets woohoo!) but today was not spring weather at all! Brr. I just can't wait for flip flop weather either. I detest wearing socks. Anyhow, a few teasers to start your weekend. Super cute, adorable and beautiful Mikayo and his equally loveable parents, Ashley and Michael. More artwork and session details coming soon!

I think I have eyelash envy.

Just hangin'

See ya...

GTA Newborn Photography - Baby Ella Sneak Peek

2011-04-06T22:38:00.001-04:00

Dear Macbook Pro. Welcome to your new home. You will be loved, used, gawked at, and occasionally drooled over by your new owner, me.

In other news, some teasers from a newborn session I did with Theresa and Chris on Sunday. I present to you…Ella. She is beyond adorable! More artwork and details about this session in a few weeks.

Until next time...

Sleeping habits and the Toronto Ombudsman Annual Report

2011-04-02T11:16:00.004-04:00

I consider myself to be the queen of "night owl-ism" shuddering at the thought any early morning activity that is, until this morning when I woke up at 6:00. Well actually my alarm was set to 6 and I snoozed 'til 7. Of course I went to bed way too early to admit, but I had really wanted to get a bunch of things on my to-do list crossed off before driving over to Niagara-on-the-Lake to second shoot a wedding. Verdict? I can't believe how productive a morning it has been. Got in some more edits with Amy and Andrew's wedding, had breakfast and tea and now am writing this way overdue update to my blog. It's actually very quiet and peaceful in the morning at my house so quite conducive to being productive.

Anyhow, just getting ready to pack up my stuff for today's wedding shoot. I wanted to leave you with these shots of the Toronto Ombudsman 2010 Annual Report. I was commissioned by them late last year to compile a series of images of Toronto - crowd shots, shots depicting life in the City, and scenery of all the unique neighbourhoods in Toronto for use in the report as well as for future publications. In the process I fell in love with Toronto all over and had the opportunity to meet the wonderful team of people working in the Office of the Ombudsman. Design of this report was done by Campbell Symons Design. Check out the online report (and my images in the title pages! hehe) here.

One of my favourite images taken inside the Eaton Centre. Loving how the designers put it all together.

Until next time...

GTA Wedding Photography - Amy + Andrew Sneak Peek

2011-03-19T01:49:00.004-04:00

Looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend and attending my first 'high tea' party tomorrow, although I'm not entirely sure what to wear.

Oh no, I just remembered I triple booked myself tomorrow - tea party, dinner with cousin, and a b-day/ufc party. Whhhhyyy….
Anyhow, here's a few teasers from Amy and Andrew's wedding that I shot last weekend. Let me just say that it was one crazy party, but more details and artwork coming in a few weeks!

GTA Baby & Belly Photography - Theresa + Chris

2011-02-22T00:00:00.011-05:00

All Theresa wanted to do was have that one photograph to show off her pretty wedding ring, hand in Chris' alongside her new baby belly (who doesn't?). So that is what she set out to do. Now for those who are not familiar with the whole pregnancy process, it is very common for fingers and possibly even feet to get a teensy bit bigger during those 9 months and so Theresa had to muster up quite some strength to get that little ring back on her ring finger.

...and on her finger went the ring. What happened next must have only been just a few minutes, but to me, it seemed like everything was going in slow-motion. Theresa's finger started to turning red and swelling at a fast enough rate that in my head I was thinking, good thing they live so close to the hospital…

Theresa quickly and very calmly, I might add, walked over to the kitchen faucet and ran her hand under the water to try to get the ring off. Without missing a beat and equally as calm, Chris reached under the counter, pulled out a tall bottle of dish detergent and proceeded pouring the detergent around the ring. With a little bit of encouragement from Chris and continued efforts from Theresa, they slowly got the ring off. Accident averted.

Watching Theresa and Chris was like watching a well practiced two-man team who solve ring-stuck-on-finger situations on a daily basis without breaking a bead of sweat. To me, this is a perfect indication of the great mom and dad team they will make when their baby is born. Theresa and Chris, thanks for allowing me to capture the next milestone in your lives and I can't wait to meet your little one!

Loving how serene Theresa looks here.

Here's the shot behind the story, sans rings. We'll get them next time, T!

Aren't they so sweet together?

More poses from the gorgeous mama-to-be.

To see more pictures, take a look at the slideshow for Theresa and Chris' maternity session here.

Toronto Engagement Photography - Amy + Andrew

2011-02-12T19:30:00.086-05:00

I still remember the day Amy called me up and said, "Guess what? We want you to be the photographer for our wedding!" followed immediately by "Can we do our engagement photos this weekend?" I thought it was so cute how excited she was to get in all the lush fall colours because she was convinced it would all turn "mushy and ugly" the week after.

Amy and Andrew are down to earth, easy-going and sweet. They are also good friends of mine and I'm so thrilled to photograph their wedding coming up in March. We hiked around Sunnybrook Park - okay fine, drove through, visited the horse stables, caught some horses in the act (traumatizing, yes) and had some good laughs along the way.

Andrew was feeling camera shy so I had to tell them some bad jokes.

Amy showing off her science teacher skills with the cricket she found.

Love is when you can get your fiance to practice cheerleading moves with you.

Some behind the scenes - I absolutely adore these ones! They capture Amy and Andrew's fun-loving side so perfectly.

They could seriously be models straight out of a magazine. Can't wait to see Amy in her wedding dress!

To see more pictures, check out the slideshow for Amy and Andrew's engagement session here.

Quebec City Photography - Road Tripping

2011-02-03T00:24:00.001-05:00

When I'm busy with weddings and portraits during the year, vacation and personal photos unfortunately tend to take a backseat. I have a ton of photos from birthdays, parties, and trips that are just hanging out on my hard drive. This year I'm pushing myself to post some of more of those up. Here are just a few from a road trip I took to Quebec City with Alvin back in July last year. Or you can watch the vid for the hyperspeed tour version (ie. 100 photos crammed into two and half minutes).

For those who are into travel, the shots from the video include views from Hôtel Pur in the St. Roch Neighbourhood, Canyon Ste-Anne, street views of Rue Saint-Joseph (where you will find a ton of great restaurants and cafe hangouts) and surrounding areas, scenery from Ile d'Orléans, a Cirque du Soleil street show and of course Old Quebec City.

Okay, this last photo is not exactly scenery, but I thought I'd include it since they had cute french accents, plus, they were trying to make enough money to go to circus school so how could I not?

How quickly time flies! Going back through the photos reminded just how gorgeous the scenery was in Quebec City - so full of texture and history. If I get the opportunity, I would absolutely looove to shoot a destination wedding there.

Until next time...

For the Brides - a Beautiful Wedding Venue

2011-01-19T07:34:00.003-05:00

Doing some research for my winter wedding brides for indoor photography locations and came across this open house sampling event on January 29th.
at Graydon Hall Manor. You get to walk through the fab mansion in person but MORE importantly you get to sample food from their resident chef! I photographed a wedding there last spring and was lucky enough to try their spring lunch menu. DEE-licious. Warm crab cakes with chili corn salsa and coriander sprouts…grilled beef tenderloin with some kind of hollandaise - I'm salivating just thinking about it.

Anyhow, back to the post (I am easily distracted by food). Newly engaged brides still looking for a venue, check it out for yourself - and bring me too! :) Some photos of the gorgeous terraces, courtyards and bridal room below. Shoot me an email to see more pics of the wedding I shot at Graydon Hall.

GTA Newborn Photography - Baby Lara

2010-11-18T20:41:00.019-05:00

Remember Marcela and Vic from a maternity photo album I posted back in August on my Facebook page?
Well, here they are again (back for more!) this time with their beautiful baby daughter, Lara. Isn't she the sweetest thing?

Thank you, Marcela and Vic for your wonderful patience (despite getting peed on) and giving me the opportunity to photograph your bundle of joy!

Markham Portrait Photography

2010-10-26T23:43:00.004-04:00

Back in August, I had the pleasure of photographing a family of ten. It was a lot of fun going through all the different family combinations, getting them in just the right poses, all the while trying to keep everyone's attention! They reminded me a lot of my own family each summer when all my relatives visited and we had some really crazy, big gatherings - a lot of noise, food, and running around. I remember sleeping in the basement in our sleeping bags with at least six other cousins, if not more, side by side, squished on the ground between the sofas. I loved everyone minute of it. In fact the house always seemed so sad and quiet after the last of the relatives left at the end of summer. Anyways, here are just a few pics of one of the couples (the rest are shy!)...

Markham Engagement Photography - Eunice & Gabriel

2010-09-06T03:51:00.012-04:00

I have known Gabriel since grade 9 when he sat behind me in Ms. Bernstein's math class and made fun of my holey jeans (although he still won't admit to it). When I found out he had proposed to Eunice, I was so excited for them and was more than happy to do their engagement session.

It was a rainy day, but we were a determined group. We braved the great outdoors and despite Jen screaming and running from bees in the background we got in a good number of photos at our first location before cutting it short because we were getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.

For this session, I wanted to capture some of their personal stories and decided to use video for a part of it which makes it my first official multi-media engagement session. I had a ton of fun interviewing Eunice and Gabe in my 'confession room' and I'm sure they enjoyed my Barbara Walters type questioning.

Here's the video and some of my favourite shots from the session. Full set of photos can be viewed on my Flickr gallery.

Doesn't Eunice look just adorable in her yellow dress? Thanks to Sora Won from DBK Salon for the beautiful hair and Jennifer Lo who did a wonderful job with makeup.

All in all it was a fun and adventurous day to say the least. Eunice and Gabriel, congratulations!

GTA Wedding Photography - Gladys & Steve

2010-08-08T19:41:00.017-04:00

I am very luck to have been a part of Gladys & Steve's special day back in June. They are such a genuinely nice couple and were so laid back and chilled on their wedding day you'd think they were just going out for a trip to the mall. The bridal party soldiered through the rain and chilly weather with nothing but smiles and jokes. Here are a few of my favourites from the day. You can also check out my facebook page for more candids moments from the day.

Hot, hot, hot! :)
Thanks, Gladys and Steve, for a fun-filled day!

Markham Engagement Photography - Leanna & Steve

2010-05-06T00:29:00.007-04:00

I got to hang out with Leanna and Steve (and some red ants) in April when I photographed their engagement session. They were the most adorable couple and I had so much fun photographing them as we trekked through the fields. I am totally psyched to be shooting their wedding in May for Kim Lovell Photography. You can also view Kim's post on her blog.

Thanks, Leanna and Steve, for all the laughs and your eagerness for trying out different things!

First Engagement Shoot of 2010

2010-04-19T23:01:00.019-04:00

For the 2010 season, I will be shooting weddings for Kim Lovell Photography, as a principal photographer. I have been working with Kim for almost 5 years now and adore her style and approach to wedding photography. Her images are clean and modern and I am very excited to take on this new venture. I am completely head over heels in love with wedding photography, they are full to the brim with happiness, individuality, families, friends and the most amazing details.

My first wedding for Kim will be with Alaine and Jaspher. I had the pleasure of meeting up with them in March for their engagement session. Had a few laughs when I asked Jaspher to brush back Alaine's hair from her face. I guess he only heard me say the "brush hair back" part so he promptly ran his hands through his own hair. I am absolutely looking forward to shooting their wedding at Graydon Hall Manor next month.

Here are a few of my favs from the shoot. You can also view Kim's post on her blog.

fun on the farm

2009-11-13T22:21:00.007-05:00

Meet Linda, Franco and Alexia. I had the pleasure of hanging out with them one fine fall day at Forsythe Family Farms. Despite the cold and being interrupted from her nap time, Alexia was still full of smiles. Just don't try to take her away from her pony ride! Linda and Franco were so sweet and I absolutely adored the little fur vest ensemble that they picked out for Alexia. Here are some highlights from that day - such a beautiful family, wouldn't you agree?

wendy and lambert

2009-11-10T14:37:00.027-05:00

What better way to mark the beginning of fall than to celebrate it with a wedding! We did this wedding back in September and had such an awesome time shooting it. Wendy and Lambert were the cutest couple - they've known each other since high school and I still caught glimpses of them giving each other the lovey dovey looks like they had just fallen in love. Wendy had not one, but two wedding gowns and two Cheongsams. Even with a mini wardrobe crisis with the Cheongsam she still managed to look super stylish and beautiful in both of them. Here are a few of the highlights from the wedding. Congrats again Wendy and Lambert!

new look

2009-11-07T02:01:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks for checking in. Please excuse the looks of this blog as I migrate the content over to a new blog template. Hopefully this will create a better viewing experience for all.

To give credit where it's due, this new template is from http://www.ourblogtemplates.com/. They have a whole bunch of great customizable blog templates there and they are free!

Also, an update about one of our previous shoots called the "Offbeat Bride." This shoot has been featured by the lovely, Kat Williams, creator of the Rock 'n Roll Bride blog and website. Take a look at the feature here!

Test Shoot

2009-07-01T02:08:00.009-04:00

Got some new lighting equipment, decided to test them out.
Photoshoots are fun.
Video highlights of the shoot.

The Offbeat Bride Photoshoot

2009-01-30T19:38:00.011-05:00

More photos in Bridal Shoot Set.

This, definitely, is not your everyday bride. A little behind the scenes from our Bridal Photoshoot at the Evergreen Brick Works...

Our model actually found her funky bride's dress at a thrift store and bought it figuring it'd be useful one day (she was right!). And oh what a dress, it's so eighties-retro-awful that it's awesome! I mean, check out the 'wings' on the shoulder! For this shoot, we decided to go with some crazy make up and hair - to match the dress of course.

The hair being built, one strand at a time.

Close up of the hair creation - yes, those are feathers.

There's Sora, working on Roxane.

And here's Jen, doing some touch up on location.

That's me! Thanks, Jen, for taking this pic.

My two favourite hair and make up girls.

Oh and going with the thrift theme here, unless you are doing a magazine photoshoot with budget of a few thousand dollars, you'd obviously want to try to keep the expenses low. Especially when doing TFCD shoots. Don't underestimate the Dollarama! For this shoot, those black beads you see in the model's hair and around her bouquet (I think she also wears it as a necklace in some shots) were found in the Hallowe'en section - 3 for $1.00. The dried up flowers, also $1.00. The ribbon around the bouquet were leftover from some X'mas supplies and the pack of feathers, another dollar. So, that's the Photoshoot-on-a-budget tip of the day - visit a dollar store. Lol. Just make sure you choose "tasteful" items and props that don't actually look like you paid a dollar for them. Finally, once you start shooting, if you find that the props aren't quite working out as you envisioned, do yourself a favour and toss it. Hey, it was only a dollar!

That's it for the behind the scenes. Don't forget to check out the final photos on my Flickr page here. Also, if you haven't already, find me on Facebook and become a fan to keep updated with my latest shoots! See ya.

JUZD Photoshoot

2008-11-18T01:18:00.009-05:00

Here's a few finals and behind the scenes shots from the JUZD photoshoot during Toronto Fashion Week. Photoshoot was at Rockwood Club.

Jing, the owner and creator of JUZD getting hands on

Donna Milburn (creative director) having fun on set

More photos in JUZD Photoshoot Set, originally uploaded by cplus51.

Windsurfing Canada at Lake Scugog

2008-11-18T00:15:00.036-05:00

Windsurfing Canada Photo Set, originally uploaded by cplus51.

Am I really that far behind? Yes I am. Photos from a Windsurf Regatta that I did for Windsurfing Canada in Lake Scugog back in July. Having never really done sports photography before especially while going crazy fast in a speedboat, getting knocked up and down by the waves - I have to say that this was quite a challenge. Just as I track down the racer through my viewfinder, by the time my lens focus, they are gone...then trying to hold the lens steady as the boat rocks back and forth and just as I'm ready to click the shutter, my lens get splashed by the crashing waves. Despite all that, I had a ton of fun, met a lot of nice people and got some neat shots while I was at it. A ton of respect for those sports photographers out there who do this all the time and still get amazing shots!

This was my ride! See that little space up in the front with the metal bars? That's where I was sitting (hanging on for dear life, mind you, for fear of my camera going overboard!)

Reina Swimwear Photoshoot - Behind the Scenes

2008-09-08T00:05:00.012-04:00

Reina-Swimwear Photoshoot, originally uploaded by cplus51.

The day started off at 6:00 am with a LOT of coffee. The location was at a park by the water in the south end of Scarborough. We started hair and make-up at my house, but had to finish on location so as to make the best of the morning light. I think mostly everything went according to plan except for a slight insect problem - crazy biting ants that crawled EVERYWHERE, including my models! Anyways, here are a few shots of the preparation process. Credits are listed at the end of this post. P.S. Reminder, in case you missed my previous post, the full set of photos from the shoot can be found on my Flickr page here

Scouting out the location the night before

The team that made it all happen! Our make-up artist, Jen somehow escaped the wrath of my lens but needless to say was a vital part of our operation. Also, special thanks to my sister, Yvonne, who spent the day being the make-up, hair AND photography assistant.

My friend Crystal helping us out with some hair teasing.

Just had to include this one! :) Kam, after an all nighter out at the Toronto Jazz Festival

Credits: Make-up by Jennifer Lo.
Hair by Sora Won.
Wardrobe by Marievefrom Reina Swimwear.
Models were Roxane Bryce, Chynna Murphy, and Kam.

If you are interested in working with anyone of these talented individuals, please email me for their contact information.

Reina Swimwear Photoshoot

2008-09-06T11:20:00.008-04:00

Reina-Swimwear Photoshoot, originally uploaded by cplus51.

Photos from the Reina Swimwear Photoshoot are up on my Flickr! Click here to look at the full set. Check back soon for more about the day of the shoot and behind the scenes photos.

New toys!

2008-07-23T23:07:00.002-04:00

ooooooooooo...I almost forgot, I finally got my new camera! I'm very, very happy with it since I've been starting to feel the age and limitations on my 20D. So this change is a good one. I was going back and forth between the 40D and the 5D for the longest time but finally decided to go with the 40D simply because of the larger LCD size, live view and the sensor cleaning functions. Plus, the guy at the store said that there will be a new 5D replacement coming out in the next few months which should have a few more of the upgraded features since the 5D has been out for a long while now. So, I can always wait til I get a few more photography bookings to get the next camera upgrade. Can't be TOO greedy now. Also upgraded my flash to the 580EX (was previously using the 480EX) which did the job, but just didn't give me quite enough power when shooting in darkened rooms during wedding receptions. Here it is! So sexy.

Now all I need is a longer zoom lens, maybe a wide angle, and oh I could always use another prime lens. It never ends.

Juzd Private Party

2008-07-23T22:27:00.001-04:00

Earlier this year, I covered a Juzd Private Party where they had a fashion show to launch their new collection. Looks like they've ended using a lot of my photos throughout their website as well as the header images on their blog! Anyways, they've put up a collection of my photos from the night on the photo section of their site or you can always go to the Juzd Private Party set on my flickr. Here's a few of the ones they ended up using (except for the last one) but I've added that because I like that spotlight shining through behind him :)

I have a busy weekend coming up, a swimsuit shoot and a windsurfing competition! Well, I'm not a contender, but I will be following closely with my camera in a boat to take photographs of the windsurfers. Should be fun...check back for those photos.

Literature for Life Fundraising Event

2008-07-07T23:29:00.001-04:00

Another fundraising event I attended last month that was held at the Gibsone Jessop Gallery in the Distillery District. Arti(you may recognize her name as one of the models who posed for me from an earlier post!) sits on the board of a charity called Literature for Life and asked me to take photos for this special evening. This organization is dedicated to helping young moms and families to create "a love of reading and building a culture of literacy." They do this through various outreach programs, reading circles held at shelters and youth centres, as well as a quarterly publication, Yo’ Mama Magazine which is written by young mothers for young mothers.

The evening included entertainment from the band Porkbelly Futures, a book signing session from author, Stuart McLean, and what I thought was the highlight of the evening, spoken word performances from some of the ladies who were involved with the Literature for Life programs. These girls were amazing and truly inspiring. Here's a few pics from the evening, the full set can be found here.

Porkbelly Futures

Spoken word performances

Stuart McLean signing a book from his Vinyl Cafe Series

LWCC Walk-A-Thon

2008-07-04T09:35:00.001-04:00

LWCC Walk-a-Thon.

I do believe it is important to give back to the community so when the opportunity arises, I try to make the time to offer my photography services to a non-profit organization. This fundraising event was held at Milliken Park in Scarborough for a professional counselling organization called Living Water Counselling Centre. They provide counselling, parent education and training in professional counselling with a vision for healing broken relationships, strenghtening families, valuing marriages and enriching quality of life. The day started off with the walk followed by games and food for all who participated in the walk. Here's a few more captures from that day, as usual, the full set can be found on my flickr page in the set: LWCC Walk-A-Thon. Enjoy!

Kolor Shades "Hollywood" Launch

2008-06-30T23:00:00.001-04:00

Kolor Shades Photoshoot. Love her look here.

Did a photoshoot for Kolor Shades last week to help the launch of their new product Hollywood Shades. The photoshoot was at Century Room on King St. West but we ended up using the streets and back alleys for backgrounds and borrowed some bartender's motorcycle! Dude was on his way to work at Devil's Martini when we swarmed him with our crew of models and begged to use his bike, how could he say no? Anyways, had a fun night working with some amazing models. I love working with models who are willing to try out different poses and experiment with me (eg. climbing up poles, fences, walls, garbage disposal bins, bathroom stalls!) They did it all with not one word of complaint! Makes my job ten times easier! Thanks you guys!! Anyways, here are a few of my favourites. The rest of the set can be viewed on my flickr set for Kolor Shades Photoshoot here

A day with the girls

2008-06-24T23:41:00.000-04:00

Sora at work

Aside from weddings and events, this is the first 'on-purpose' shoot of the year. On purpose as in, a shoot for no reason other than to improve my photography skills and build on my portfolio. Hopefully I can keep myself motivated to do more of these this year. Already I see a few things that I need to work on, number one being, I MUST take the time to adjust camera settings. Shoot. Adjust. Shoot. Adjust. I know this, yet I don't know what it is about having someone standing in front of me, waiting on my instructions, waiting on me. I get scared to take my time. I guess there's always room for improvement. Anyways, more importantly, I did get in a few decent shots and I had a great time doing it. Yay. Enough talking tho.

Models were Upi, Harpreet, and Arti. Make up - Jennifer Lo and hair - Sora Won. Thanks ladies for a really fun shoot! I've posted some shots of the pre-shoot prep as well as one or two of my fav shots.

tools of the trade

more tools

makeup'n

Arti

Harpreet

Upi

The full set can be found on my flickr page under the SJV Series I set. As always, any critiques or comments...leave your mark.

Coming soon...

2008-02-24T13:37:00.000-05:00

Photography blog by Vivian Hui.
Coming soon...

In the meantime, see my photographic work here:

http://www.flickr.com/people/vivianhui/