Courtney + Porya | Beloved

Ahh, Courtney and Porya... I can't say enough about them. They are incredibly fun loving, open-minded, and willing to try just about anything. They are also extremely comfortable in front of the camera - and who could blame them - they are both gorgeous people! Together, they are playful, sweet, and loving.





As you know from my previous post, this shoot was especially special for me because I was finally ready to put into practice a few things I learned at WPPI. Also, Courtney is a friend and fellow photographer so I was happy to finally meet Porya after hearing so much about him!



Here are a few more images that I absolutely love... [Court, your red shoes are SMOKING HOT!]







Courtney and Porya were prepared and brought their pet sheep to the shoot!






Seriously, how beautiful are these two...




Courtney and Porya, thank you for a great photo shoot... you two are the best!

Beloved: Celebrate Your Love

Vince and I have been working on launching a new type of photoshoot. Inspired by Jesh de Rox, our Beloved sessions are a celebration of people in love. The Beloved movement involves taking a little time every once in a while to reconnect with your loved one - whether you're in a budding relationship, anticipating your upcoming wedding day, or celebrating your 1st (or 50th) anniversary of being together.

So how did we get to this point? When I was doing research for our own wedding photographer, I stumbled across Jesh de Rox's website and was blown away by his spectacular imagery. What struck me most was the pure emotion behind his images. Even though Vince and I had not yet started our business at the time, a little seed was planted when I saw Jesh's work. And even though I was still a hobbyist, I aspired to create a body of work that would move me as deeply as his images did.

Flash forward... to over a year later. I was planning our WPPI itinerary and as soon as I saw that Jesh was offering a platform session, I knew we had to attend. We had a bit of a hard time finding the seminar location and very nearly popped into another session instead because we were getting really close to the start time. But Jesh's imagery haunted me - so I pushed on to find the right room.

Let me just say, if you were to tell me that I would have had a life-altering experience in that room with 750 other people, I would not have believed you. But both Vince and I were so profoundly impacted by Jesh's inspiring words and his passion for people. I kept saying to Vince afterward, "imagine if we had gone to the other session." Many of the attendees commented that if Jesh's were the only session that they had attended at WPPI, it would have been enough. And I felt the same way.

Since coming home from WPPI, I have been looking for the perfect moment to put the inspiration into practice. Finally, when Vince and I met with Courtney and Porya, we knew that their sweet relationship and playful personalities would be the perfect fit. After the shoot, as I was going through their photos, I came to the below image and stopped. I said a few words out loud even though I was home by myself. It hit me. This image moved me. Deeply.



More images from Courtney and Porya's Beloved session will follow but I just wanted to give you a sneak peek of what we've been working on the past few months. We will be posting a special offer for Beloved sessions on our Facebook page - so be sure to visit us there for updates!

Mother's Day

On this bright second Sunday of May, my wish is for all moms to feel delightfully special and well loved. Happy Mother's Day!

If you like this card and wish to send it to your mom, please feel free to do so! Simply right click on the image, save the image to your computer, and attach the image to your e-mail message with a note of love. Please note that this card is scaled for web viewing only and is not suitable for printing.

A Walk in High Park

I've been waiting and waiting for cherry blossom season. To be quite honest, I've never seen cherry blossom trees - in fact, I didn't even know what they looked like. Yet this year, I was obsessed with seeing them because I've heard so much buzz about them. I think what fascinates me is how short the blossoms remain in bloom - procrastinate for just 1 week, sometimes 3 to 4 days even, and you will have missed them. Imagine that.

So this year, when I suggested to Vince that we go to High Park to see the cherry blossoms, I was pleasantly surprised that he wanted to see them too. Perhaps he was intrigued by our trip to Japan last year or perhaps he just wanted to go to the park. Whatever the reason, he agreed without me having to convince him. Hurrah!

It was an absolutely perfect day to explore High Park. There were groups of families and friends everywhere - flying kites, having picnics, climbing trees, taking photos, laughing, smiling, sharing, and enjoying the sunny day. Plus the cherry blossoms were in full bloom!









Since it was a lazy Sunday, we took a little rest on the grass before exploring more of the park. There is something about lying on the grass in a park that is slightly addictive. As I lay there, I kept picking up my camera to capture images... of the blue sky peeking through the wood fence beside me and the little heart formation that I thought I saw in the clouds.





As we explored the rest of the park, we came upon even more cherry blossoms, more and more people, the little pond, various birds, and a lovely mix of pretty plants. It was the perfect Sunday for a walk in High Park plus I can now finally say that I've seen cherry blossoms. Up next... plan a return trip to Kyoto so we can see them on Philosopher's Walk! :)

They Followed Me Home

Today, I am paying homage to one of my favourite types of detail shots: shoes! Alright, I pretty much love all sorts of detail shots, but shoes are something special to me, maybe because I buy so very many pairs. I love ballet flats, spike heels, sandals, wedges, certain types of platforms, slingbacks, sneakers, Converse, rain boots, cowboy boots, ankle booties, and even Uggs. But not Crocs... nope, not Crocs.

If there's one thing that generates a strong opinion in many ladies, it's the topic of shoes. So do tell, what are your favourite types of footwear? What styles do you gravitate towards? What styles give you the "ick"?