pam + jason {in love}

I don't even know where to start with this engagement session. We had the most perfect, made-to-order sunset with the most spectacular light. I'm simply over the moon with how these pictures turned out! Of course, it helped that Pam and Jason were so easy going and fun... listening to these two interact totally cracked me up. I think their wedding is going to be a blast and I can't wait! Come on October!

Okay, enough blah blah blah from me - here are the pictures. I wish I could post every single one because they all turned out amazing but I need to keep a few as a surprise. :)

As always, if viewing in firefox, right-click 'open in a new tab' to view the images full-size. They just look better that way!


I love how it looks like Pam flew through the air and is tackling Jason in this one. She didn't - he's swinging her. :)


The light! OMG!


This picture actually makes me jealous. I want a picture like this of me and Dave! :)


There I go with the flare again. I'm having a pretty hard time picking a favourite, but this one is definitely in my top three...


Diva is the most beautiful pup. I love how she's looking back. I can almost hear her thinking, "why are you making me sit here next to this crazy lady?"

shelly + dana {in love}

What can I say? I've known Shelly and Dana forever (over ten years now - it's hard to believe!) and I love them to bits. If someone asked me, "Do you know someone who truly lives in the spirit of peace, love and happiness?" Without a shadow of a doubt I would say Shelly and Dana. These two people are SO wonderful and SO fun and SO awesome together. Honestly, I couldn't imagine a better pairing.

So when I found out Shelly and Dana were getting hitched I jumped at the chance to take their wedding photos. Yes please! I know the day is going to be a magical, fun-filled day and I'm super pumped to share it with them.

In the meantime, to mentally prepare them for having my huge honkin' camera in their face, we met up in Truro for a short and sweet engagement session. Our original plan was down on the marshes but guess what? The mosquitoes will practically carry you away down there at sunset! So we improvised and I really like the results... I hope you do too!

This first one is my favourite of the session and makes me really happy. I've been experimenting a bit with flare lately and trying to incorporate it more into my work - I think it's so romantic and nostalgic.

(As always, right-click 'open in a new tab' to view big in firefox)

I love this portrait of Shelly. I feel like you can really see her big heart and amazing spirit in this one.


The light! *swoon*


And this one cracks me up!! I love Shelly's Mona Lisa smile and Dana's expression. I love how they're standing and I love the super-saturated colours. It looks like they're standing in front of a museum exhibit. It took a lot of willpower to not photoshop in a dinosaur peeping over the trees - haha!

the lever family

Well, this shoot made me nervous. Why? Because Lori is an awesome photographer. How nerve-racking is it to take pictures of a fellow photographer's family? Ieee! Very!

But I should have known better. Lori is one of the most relaxed, down-to-earth people you'll ever meet and of all the people in the world, she understands how hard it is to take pictures of two children and two adults where everyone is looking the camera with a half-decent expression on their face. I actually think she was more nervous than me being on the other side of the camera for a change! :)

Lori had one request - to get a good portrait in front of the church where her and Dave were married. It's a beautiful sentiment and I think (hope!) we nailed it.

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Lori, thanks so much for inviting me to take pictures of your sweet family. Your boys are so handsome and hilarious and well-behaved. The love you share as a family is strong and beautiful - you're very blessed. I can't wait to catch up over tea and show you the rest of your images. :)


Because Lori is more than capable of taking awesome shots of her hubby and boys, this shoot was more about the four of them together. But this picture was so adorable that I can't help but post it. Check out those eyes!


And how cute is this little web-slinger?! :)

a real engagement session

When photographers talk about engagement sessions very few actually mean taking pictures on the day the man gets down on one knee and says, "Will you marry me?" But that's exactly what Isabelle and Ryan's engagement session is - photos of the day the ring was slipped on her finger. How great is it that I was able to capture this special day? This is definitely something more men should orchestrate - photos of the proposal... As long as you're one hundred per cent sure she's gonna say yes! :)

Unsuspecting Isabelle heads to the beach. Last moments as a single lady.


The deed is done. She said yes!


Hugs and tears all around... I may have even shed one or two myself!


The photo shoot. Isn't it so sweet and romantic? I love how it looks like there's a light shining down on them in the black and white image... looks to me like a match that's meant to be! :)

a wedding in woodstock

I was invited to a wedding in Woodstock this summer and you know I couldn't leave my camera home. I can't help it... I think it's a disease. I love taking pictures! Especially consequence-free, no-pressure pictures like when you're a guest at a wedding and it doesn't matter a lick if you get a decent shot.

So these shots were taken at 3200-6400 ISO because I was reluctant to use a flash - mainly out of respect to the official wedding photographer. I didn't want to whip out my fancy gear and gallivant around like I was important or something - so some of these ones were taken from my seat, sans flash and they're mainly of Dave's friends. And I love them all. Yes, that would be both his friends and the pictures. :)

Also, I really like this band, this song and this video.

anna rose

Last month when I was in Cape Breton, I had the privilege of meeting the adorable Anna Rose. Anna Rose traveled all the way from Inverness, Scotland to Mabou, Cape Breton just for this photo shoot, isn't that amazing!? Haha, I kid. She was home to visit her grandfather. :)

I loved every last shot of her session and knew immediately that it would be so hard to whittle it down to just 5 of the "best" to show here on the blog. But I think I've somehow managed!

I don't know what it is about Anna Rose, I think she is such a classically beautiful little girl. There's something so Gerber baby about her - she's just perfect with her big blue eyes and reddish hair. I love the first two images where she's on the bed in the bedroom where her Mom grew up. I love the faded bedspread, I love the light coming in from the window, I love Anna Rose's expressions... I love it when that magic happens and you get something special like this.

jen + alex {say i do}

Holy smokes! I can't believe it's been six days shy of a month since my last blog. Where in the world does the time go? I blinked and July was over!

So finally... here is the long awaited sneak peek of Jen + Alex's wedding. These two had a small, classy and all-around awesome wedding day on June 30th. The sun was beautiful and bright but we had a great breeze to keep us cool. The Citadel was a photographer's dream as far as locations go. And Jen and Alex? Talk about having two people that are very easy to photograph! I don't actually know what made it easier - how incredibly nice they are, how in love they are, or how smokin' hot they both are! Either way, I was very happy and honoured that they chose me to capture their special day. Enjoy your photos!

(right click "open in new tab" on each image to view full-size without leaving this post)

I had to throw this one in - Alex and his twin brother Zach. This photo makes me grin like an idiot. I love it!

The ceremony took place in a very little room with a door on one end and a small window at the other. As a novice wedding photographer, I almost started to hyperventilate when I saw the "shooting conditions," But we ended up with some really great shots so all the worry was for naught - which it usually turns out to be anyway!


The ushers!


Portraits of the Mr. and Mrs. :)


The entire wedding party. I've never taken a single picture of so many people before! I learned that I've really got to work on my people herding skills!


Cocktails, dinner and dancing followed at Ryan Duffy's. I love the image of the two teeny tiny girls in the gigantic booth. I think it would be so cool to get that shot again when they're 21!


And what were these guys taking pictures of?


Why these beautiful ladies of course!


I love this shot of Jen + Alex's first dance. It's not a traditional shot by any means, but neither was their first dance. Despite having other couples join them on the dance floor, you can see from this picture that it was still a very intimate and special moment. I like how there are people all around them but you can tell they feel like the only two people in the world. :)


Who doesn't love a wedding that ends the night with a poutine bar?! These two thought of everything!