WonkyEye

www.wonkyeye.ca

2011-02-24T12:26:00.001-04:00

merry christmas and a BIG thank-you

2010-12-11T19:34:00.006-04:00

(christmas cheer courtesy of awesome friend + photographer Blair)

Merry Christmas! And a very sincere and resounding THANK-YOU! to all my faithful blog readers and photography clients.

This has been a spectacular year for me and wonkyeye photography. When I think of all my blessings and everything for which I'm grateful, it's almost overwhelming. I can't believe that in just shy of two years I've gone from someone who likes to take pictures to a full-on photographer. I still can't believe it that when people ask me what I do for a living I'm lucky enough to answer, "I take pictures." Sometimes I even say, "I'm a professional photographer" and my stomach flips with excitement and to a smaller degree, disbelief. It's all happening - for real! :) :) :)

Over the next few months wonkyeye is going to be undergoing some major upgrading. In anticipation of the new changes, I've been holding back on posting my latest sessions. So if you've been wondering why you and yours haven't been featured on the blog yet, it's because I have a newer and better blog waiting in the wings and I want lots of new material for it's official debut this coming winter.

I'm still actively accepting photo shoots so don't be shy to get in touch. Although wonkyeye-the-blog will be abnormally quiet, I'll be busy behind the scenes, shooting away and working on a shinier version of wonkyeye, version 2.0 if you will.

A big, big, BIG thank-you and lots of love to everyone who's supported me, believed in me, and encouraged me this past year. Taking pictures is my absolute favourite thing to do and it's an honour and privilege that you invite me into your lives to capture your most special moments.

Happy Holidays! Wishing you lots of cheer, love, laughter, peace and happiness.

Love,
Christine
xo.

nicole + vickas (say i do part two}

2010-11-24T16:30:00.022-04:00

And here it is, the grand conclusion to Nicole and Vickas' wedding celebrations - the traditional Indian ceremony.

How am I supposed to choose 30 or less images from the 800+ of the day? It's practically impossible to whittle it down so in the end, I've decided not to. Today I will post the pre-ceremony, ceremony and portrait photos and I will post the dinner and dance photos later... when I get back from NEW YORK!

Yep, that's right folks, I'm off to NYC to celebrate my birthday and spend some time with my best friend and boyfriend (same person, in case you didn't catch that!). So, these beautiful images will have to keep you going until Monday!

It's a long ceremony for little ones!

Nicole and Vickas had something special on their wedding day that not too many people can claim - a hurricane! But hey, even though Earl wasn't invited, he didn't stay long and he most certainly didn't put a damper on the day.

You know I love taking pictures of the bride and groom's feet. I think it tells such a great story.

Here we're pretending that Hurricane Earl is blowing them away - isn't it great?!

These two were so much fun. When I said, "just be yourselves and let me take pictures" they knew exactly what to do! :)

nicole + vickas {sangeet}

2010-11-23T10:03:00.011-04:00

When Vickas and Nicole asked me to shoot their Sangeet, I said, "absolutely!" and then went directly to wikipedia to see what a Sangeet is. The proper definition is a ceremony/event prior to the wedding where people sing traditional Indian songs and the wedding guests have the opportunity to get acquainted with each other. The Sangeet is a joyous occasion where the family and friends of the couple perform dances to celebrate the upcoming wedding.

This is what I know... a Sangeet is an awesome party with lots of delicious food, lots of performances, lots of dancing and lots of fun! I hope you enjoy my take on this amazing gathering of family and friends.

Nicole showing her Henna and explaining what it's all about. It was so neat to see the mixing and sharing of traditions.

As a photographer it's fun to capture a wide spectrum of emotions... laughter and joy and sometimes, tears and despair. Don't worry, all tears were dried within minutes.

The performances were really beautiful... the dancing was amazing. I love this one of Mom sitting on the sidelines prompting her little girl's next move. So sweet.

Vickas and Nicole share a private moment while watching the performances. These two were so tight and so in love and managed to maintain this unshakable calm despite the chaos of the three-day celebrations. Must be love. :)

All people of all ages danced! It was awesome to see such a bumpin' dance floor. So fun! I wanted to throw down my camera and join the party! :)

nicole + vickas {say i do}

2010-11-22T11:33:00.022-04:00

I've known Vickas since I was ten years old so you can only imagine how pleased I was when he and his fiance Nicole got in touch and asked me to photograph their wedding. Well, weddings actually because they were having two ceremonies and a huge party in between to celebrate their union.

So, here is the first part of Nicole and Vickas' three day wedding extravaganza! This first set of images is from day one, or marriage 1.0 as Nicole said (so cute!). The Catholic ceremony took place in Truro with a casual reception following in Nicole's parent's back yard. How special to have the reception in the house where you grew up.

Day number one was awesome. So many adorable kids, so many cool mixing of customs - a henna ceremony in one corner of the yard and a highland fling being performed in the other... I loved seeing Vickas and all his family dance in with funky Indian music, bearing gifts and Vickas front and center in the van. Everything about the day was so relaxed, so interesting and so perfect. Stay tuned for pictures from the Sangeet!

***right-click 'open in a new tab' to see the images nice and big***

sneak peek

2010-11-16T23:40:00.005-04:00

I shot this amazing wedding in September and can't wait to reveal all the awesome images we got. But until then, here's a teaser. :)

a christmas present for mom

2010-11-15T15:12:00.012-04:00

This photo shoot took place in the middle of a monsoon. Well, not really. Just in the middle of about eight days of rain and magically, it stopped for exactly the two hours I was at their house. Someone, somewhere, really likes this family. And so they should! They were all so welcoming and awesome to work with - and best of all, you could tell how much they genuinely cared for each other. It was a pleasure to capture these beautiful images of everybody and when I say everybody, I mean it - even the cats! :)

I hope these images preserve happy memories and serve as a great Christmas present for your Mom, Laurie! Thanks for inviting me over and giving me free reign of your house!

cameron in fall

2010-11-11T00:40:00.008-04:00

Remember Cameron? How could you forget this sweet baby boy?! I know I couldn't, which is why I was so pleased when his Mom got in touch for another round of photos that included the whole family this time.

We met on a sunny afternoon in Dingle Park (a popular photo location these days!) and got right to business. Cameron was full of smiles and Mom and Dad did a pretty good job of posing too. :) One of my favourite parts of doing photos with wee ones is listening to the parents jump around behind me trying to get baby to smile. But Cameron didn't need any coaxing, he's just so happy.

I think my absolute favourite from our session is the one of Mom and Dad kissing in the grass. Cameron's expression is priceless, it almost seems as if he's thinking, "Ugh. I know what you're doing back there and it's gross! I am not impressed." I love it!

Oh, and the last one too... this little guy's got a lot of love. :)

*right click 'open in a new tab' to see full-size images*

morgan + rob {in love}

2010-11-10T11:38:00.011-04:00

Morgan and Rob came down from Truro for their engagement shoot because they wanted some shots at Dingle Park. Rob proposed to Morgan on a boat in the harbour and so the location was very special.

I always suggest people bring outfit changes for their engagement shoots and for the first time ever someone paid attention to me! Morgan brought three changes and I think it's so great that we have such a variety of photos - I think it mixes it up so nicely!

After we exhausted Dingle Park, we headed up the road to York Redoubt. I love how York Redoubt has all the old buildings which make excellent backdrops. The three of us explored further than I had ever been and were rewarded with an awesome old fort dug into the ground with tunnels which is where I got the awesome silhouette photo... which I wouldn't even have thought of if it wasn't for Morgan's creative input! Thanks girl! I love it when clients feel comfortable enough to collaborate because then we end up with even more amazing images!

I've put up a lot of photos because I know Morgan is super anxious to see the results and won't be able to get her disc until Saturday. So here you go, an epic post of you two being incredibly happy and in love. Morgan and Rob, you're so cute together and I can't wait to shoot your wedding next fall!

*right-click 'open in a new tab' to see them big*

splashing sticks and pumpkins

2010-11-09T13:55:00.008-04:00

When I met up with the Parkers we had a beautiful morning for a walk at Hemlock Ravine. I've taken pictures of this happy family before and was looking forward to an outdoor session. Joey is just the sweetest little guy who doesn't give his smiles away for free, that's for sure! We worked at it - swinging him around, splashing sticks in the river and looking at ducks. I'll admit, I was feeling dubious as to whether or not we got any keepers so when Mom mentioned they were going to pick out a pumpkin, I jumped on board.

The end result? Loads of great images... I especially love the one of Joey handing his Mom tiny squashes and Mom's infectious laugh - what a special moment to capture. And I just had to throw in the last one - such a perfect little boy with his perfectly grubby jeans after crawling around in the park and pumpkin patch! :)

emily graduates

2010-11-08T12:30:00.009-04:00

It's hard to believe that I've known Emily for over five years now. We met when I was still living and working in Dartmouth and since then, she's gone on to graduate with a Masters in a health-related field and I've become much better at taking pictures.

This works out well because as a result of our newly found skills, I get to expand my portfolio and she gets really cute grad photos! We met on the rainiest, most blustery day in October and so had to do our shoot inside. At first I was a little nervous about being stuck inside... but I'm glad for it now because I think we got a unique set of photos that we never would have dreamed up if we would have had access to the entire campus.

I hope you enjoy your photos Emily! Your big beautiful smile makes me smile every time. :)

gavin turns one

2010-11-04T22:34:00.009-03:00

I think it's official. Birthday parties are in my top five favourite things to shoot. How could they not be?! Balloons, cute babies, toys... CAKE!

Speaking of cute babies, holy smokes. Get a load of the birthday boy. Gavin is one CU-u-u-u-te little boy. He has these big eyes as blue as the sky and these tiny two teeth poking up behind his bottom lip and a button nose and all I can say is, I hope his parents kept the blue print when they made him! He was so chill taking everything in - I could have stayed all day just taking pictures of him and his multitude of adorable expressions.

And oh, Gavin's mommy is super talented too. Check out her animal cake - handmade! I can't even imagine all the hours that went into it - check out the lion's mane and the zebra's stripes. The details are crazy and she was like, "no big deal." I think it deserves a huge shout-out.

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of Gavin's first birthday party. I hope you enjoy your photos! :)

meaghan + mark {expecting}

2010-10-26T15:02:00.014-03:00

I feel a little silly posting these photos now because Meaghan's beautiful bump turned into an incredibly adorable little boy named Rory about a week ago. I'm so excited to meet their new bouncing baby boy but I would feel sheepish showing up without their maternity photos. So on this rainy, grey day I settled into the cheery work of editing Meaghan's maternity session.

Today also happens to be the last day of my free trial of Alien Skin Exposure 3. It's a program I've been playing with that makes digital photos look like film. Basically, you open up your digital file and the program allows you to choose from a long list of films (from polaroid to kodachrome to holga to slide!) and magically your file is transported back to 1973!

As I was going through Meaghan + Mark's photos I felt a vintage vibe from some of their images... something about our bright, sunshiny day and their good looks. So what you see below is something a little out of the ordinary for me - heavily processed photos that look more like the decade I was born, than when Rory was born. :)

*you can right-click 'open in a new tab' to see 'em big*

the janes

2010-10-19T09:22:00.007-03:00

A sunny morning in Shubie Park. A beautiful family. I don't think these pictures need much more of an introduction... other than an "oh my goodness how gorgeous are these children!?" I can't wait to meet the new little one!

maria + ben {let's dance}

2010-10-18T11:11:00.008-03:00

Here is the last installment of Ben + Maria's wedding. Did I mention that their reception was in a potato storage barn? It was nothing short of incredible... and, let me tell you, these people know how to have a good time! :)

All the bridesmaids and groomsmen danced their way into the reception. I love this one of Ben carrying his bride.

Maria having a good laugh over her maid of honour's speech and slideshow.

To get the bride and groom to kiss, you had to roll a barrel of potatoes the length of the head table. This guy had no problem.

Ben had a slightly harder time.

But he got his kiss!

The first dance was nontraditional in that it was a slightly faster tune... which suited these two perfect as you can tell they love to dance and are really good at it!

And if someone is going to cut-in on your first dance, she better be as cute as this... :)

When your son has too much to drink, all you really can do is laugh!

cindy + mike {in love}

2010-10-15T12:35:00.010-03:00

There is one obvious thing that every photographer should have tucked under their arm when walking out the door to a shoot. Yes, that would be a camera.

And, as I pulled into Hemlock Ravine to meet Cindy + Mike and was excitedly thinking about grandiose wide angle shots with tall, sweeping trees, what realization do you think punched me in the stomach?

I forgot my camera. I had a bag full of lenses but... no camera.

I know! How in the world does a photographer do that? Forget your camera?! It's like walking outside to go for a run and realizing you're still in bare feet, or putting milk and sugar in a steaming cup of hot water and as you take a sip - whoops! No tea bag.

How I managed to do this still confounds me. I've been feeling so happy and grateful about how the bigger picture pieces of my life have finally been falling into place that apparently I was becoming careless about the details... you know, like bringing my camera to an engagement shoot.

Cindy + Mike were such good sports. Mike immediately shared a story about he and friend drove two hours and then hiked one hour into the woods to go fishing only to discover his friend forgot his fishing pole (thank goodness I'm not the only one!). Mike saved the day by lending his back-up fishing rod to his friend.

Luckily, Cindy is a photographer as well who just so happens to have the good sense to shoot Nikon and was smart enough to bring her own camera to her own engagement shoot - basically saving the day. What a relief!

But of course, for the first little bit I was thrown. My camera is an extension of me and I reflexively switch aperture, shutter speed, and ISO without even realizing I'm doing it sometimes. To have to stop, look at the controls, compose through a different viewfinder... I wouldn't say I was terrified but I will definitely admit to unsettled.

So it was a great relief to see that despite using somewhat unfamiliar tools, I was still able to get a few fantastic shots of Cindy + Mike. In the end, I learned two lessons with the obvious one being don't forget your camera! The second one is it's not because of my gear that I get great images, it's because of me and the wonderful people I work with. A fancy-pants camera enables but doesn't create.

ANYway, enough about me. Cindy, along with being a photographer, is also an herbalist. Mike works in forestry. Between the wee plants on the forest floor and tallest trees, they pretty much know everything. It was a pleasure to spend an hour tromping about the woods with them and listen to them talk about what's what and why. To top it off, these two have an unmistakable bond that made my job (even without my camera!) pretty darn easy. Can't wait for the wedding you two!

maria + ben {getting ready}

2010-10-12T14:43:00.012-03:00

There are so many great shots from Maria and Ben's wedding that it's practically impossible to decide which ones to post. Here are a few from before the ceremony.

While Maria and her bridesmaids were getting their hair done, I asked her three little nieces to come outside with me for a mini photo shoot. These girls were so fun, so well-behaved and as you can see - brimming over with personality!

Maria and her maid of honor leaving the... what do you call a place that does make-up? Beauty parlour? Well, whatever it's called, Made You Blush was a really neat place to photograph because inside the walls are pink and the floor has pink polka dots!

I loved Maria's dress so I took a lot of pictures of it... as you can plainly see. The first shot was one of those situations where as a photographer you look around and go, "Yikes! There's no light in this room!" and then you remember to never under-estimate the power of a bedside lamp.

These shots of Ben and the boys are Dave working his magic. Remember in the last post how I said their day was epic? Well, it doesn't get much more epic that using a private airplane as a backdrop!

Ben and his lovely mother (also taken by Dave). So sweet.

Stay tuned! I'll be posting a few fun ones from the reception in a day or so!

maria + ben {say i do}

2010-10-11T15:48:00.009-03:00

When I think of Maria and Ben's wedding, the first word that immediately jumps to mind is Epic. And yes, I meant to type that with a capital 'E'.

Where do I even begin? Maria is stunningly beautiful. Ben is handsome with a smile that lights up a room. Both their families are so warm and welcoming. They got married in Johnville, New Brunswick where the scenery is so pretty you feel like you're in a story book. We took pictures in a hay field and Maria stood on a hay bale! And they jumped on a trampoline!! Have you heard of a couple being so laid back that they're totally cool with jumping around on a trampoline!? And get this too... *dramatic pause*

The reception was in a potato storage barn!

Dave and I shot for 14 hours and literally took a gazillion pictures, give or take a few. We got so many amazing shots that it's hard to know which ones to post... so I'll start with the ones that give me goosebumps and go from there. :)

Maria and Ben: I hope your lives together are as magical, happy and beautiful as the day we spent with you playing in farmer's fields and dancing in a barn. Thanks for inviting Dave and I to capture your special day.

A gorgeous ring shot by Dave.

And talk about magical - here Dave captures a bumble bee doing it's thing while Maria and Ben pose in the background. When I saw this one, my jaw dropped!

If you right-click 'open in new tab' on this one, you'll be able to see it better. This was taken around midnight when I asked Ben and Maria to come to the entrance of the barn with me because I just knew this image had to be snapped. I told them to stand in the middle of the doorway and 'snuggle in' and they posed in this perfect embrace. To me, this image is definitely the cherry on top of a day already full of amazing photos and memories.

family portraits

2010-10-06T14:55:00.006-03:00

This was my second visit with Heather and her family. Remember this adorable little guy? I met Freddy when he was just 16 months old and I was still brand new at taking photos of babies. Well, both he and I have grown a lot since then and so has Heather's family! Gwen is the newest addition and oh my gosh - she is SO sweet! Heather and Kevin sure do make beautiful babies and it was an absolute pleasure to be invited back to capture this special time.

I really like the second family portrait where it looks like Freddy has no head... getting an 8 month old and 3 year old to look at the camera is no easy task! It makes me laugh every time. And who's heart doesn't melt seeing a father and his little boy playing hockey out in the yard? It might be my favourite photo of our session. Enjoy!

christine + ian {say i do}

2010-09-17T22:46:00.020-03:00

Christine and Ian's wedding was particularly special to me because it was the first wedding I've ever done in Truro - the town where I grew up. I was super pumped to shoot a ceremony in a church that I've attended since I was ten years old and to work in an area that is so near and dear to my heart.

Christine and Ian were incredibly sweet to work with and their families very welcoming. I'm so excited about their photos that without further ado... my most epic blog post ever - 30+ images for your viewing pleasure!

Family photos at the the NSAC Alumni Gardens. Believe me, I didn't ever dream while I was going there that some day I would be working as a photographer in the gardens. Life's twists and turns are amazing.

Trying to figure out how to pin up the back of Christine's dress. It was a surprisingly complicated procedure!

Funny moments during dinner.

What's super cool about holding your reception at the local fire hall? Fire trucks!!

This picture is one of my all-time favourites and why I'm so glad Dave comes with me to most weddings... I wish I could take credit for this image but all I did was click the shutter, Dave's the creative genius behind this one.

I got such a kick out of watching Ian and his Mom dance - you could tell they were both having so much fun.

I love Christine's smile in this shot... and the one of the boys? It's definitely worth the "right-click open in a new tab" just to see their expressions up-close!

Dancing pictures might very well be my most favourite kind... that's why I like to stick around for awhile - at least til the beer starts to kick in! :)

pam + jason {in love}

2010-08-27T00:59:00.008-03:00

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}

2010-08-20T08:41:00.008-03:00

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

2010-08-19T11:36:00.006-03:00

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.

(right click "open in a new tab" to view full-size without leaving this page)

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

2010-08-18T09:27:00.008-03:00

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

2010-08-17T12:23:00.006-03:00

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

2010-08-13T11:33:00.006-03:00

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}

2010-08-06T10:38:00.017-03:00

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!

jen + alex {family bbq}

2010-07-12T20:52:00.011-03:00

The great thing about shooting weddings of people you know and are friends with, is that you get invited to all the events leading up to the big day. And that's great for a couple of reasons. 1.) You get to eat delicious food, hang out and have fun, and 2.) you get the chance to introduce yourself as "photographer" and (hopefully!) make everyone more comfortable with your giant camera in their face before the really important shots of the wedding day. It's almost like an engagement shoot for the family. :)

The first few are portraits of everyone hanging out and having a good time. I love taking photos of kids because they're cool as cucumbers in front of the lens - kids are way more interested in having fun and letting their personalities show than what they look like... I guess my job as photographer is to help adults feel the same way... now how exactly do I do that??

Click on the images to see them full resolution!

Playing hide and seek with grandma, SO cute!

Here are a few shots of Sadie singing a modified version of 'All the Single Ladie s' by Beyonce. This little cracker-jack changed the lyrics to something along the lines of, "Oh yeah, Alex finally put a ring on it..." I wish I could remember the words because it was hilarious, as you can clearly see. :)

christine + ian {in love}

2010-07-08T22:28:00.008-03:00

You would never be able to tell how hot, how humid and how sweaty the three of us were for this photo shoot. We were worried about rain but the humidex is what we really should have been worried about! If Christine and Ian can maintain their composure and look this good on a day that felt like we were in a sauna, I can't wait for their wedding. Which is in... TWENTY-THREE days! Can you tell I'm pumped?

I loved having the opportunity to shoot in Victoria Park where I spent many an hour walking and running in my early twenties. I like the thought of shooting weddings in the town where I grew up, I think there's something really special about that.

I also love the images that book-end this set. I think the first one is sweetly romantic and the last one... super hot!

merrick + haedyn

2010-07-05T22:29:00.006-03:00

Master Merrick pops up once in a while here on WonkyEye because I always bring my camera when I visit his mommy. How could I not with his darling personality and infectious smile? And now added to the bunch is pretty little Haedyn whose big blue eyes are just to die for.

My last visit was a bit of a whirlwind, but I somehow managed to snap a couple of keepers. Some day soon I will go over with the sole purpose of getting Kim's "dream shot" of both kids looking at the camera with nice expressions on their faces. I'm always up for a challenge!

I really like the last image because I think it speaks so clearly to where they are right now - rambunctious three year old running through the background, baby with two new teeth and about to take her first steps - but mommy still has to help her keep her balance... it might not be a "looking at the camera and smiling" shot, but it still shows a lot of love... and how much patience Kim must have! :)

true love

2010-06-28T10:52:00.005-03:00

The problem with having a photographer for a girlfriend is that I make you do stupid things and then take your picture... sometimes with a wide angle lens too, which is always less than flattering. See examples below.

I actually think that this picture of Dave eating soup is the most hilarious and awesome picture I've ever taken.

But God love him, he puts up with me. And once in awhile, I do take a serious one which shows off just how perfectly handsome and adorable he really is. xoxo.

cameron

2010-06-23T10:30:00.006-03:00

Okay, I'll admit it - I have a crush on Cameron. But how could I not? His big blue eyes and easy smile are melt-your-heart adorable. Add to that his sweet little personality and well... no girl stands a chance. As you scroll through these images, be prepared for extreme cuteness. My favourite is Cameron sitting on the grass with a scrunched up nose - as you'll see, he didn't quite know what to make of it!

Coincidentally, I'll be seeing Cameron next week at a wedding we've both been invited to - I can't wait to see him in his sweater-vest, I'm sure he'll be stealing hearts left, right and center. Thanks to his mommy Kate for inviting me over to take pictures of Cameron-who-just-learned-how-to-sit (sooo sweet!), it was an absolute pleasure. :)

spencer's buddies

2010-06-16T11:42:00.006-03:00

Yesterday I showed you pictures of Spencer celebrating his one year. Today I'm featuring a few of Spencer's little friends. One of the best things about birthday parties is all the overwhelmingly adorable children. I don't know how parents do it, surrounded by so much cuteness all the time. But somehow, they manage to cope. :)

spencer turns one

2010-06-15T13:21:00.011-03:00

Spencer is beyond adorable. His parents are awesome. Spencer just turned one.

This is part one of his birthday party post. Today features the handsome little birthday boy; tomorrow will feature a few shots of his friends.

Thanks so much Lindsay and Mike for inviting me back to your beautiful home to share this special day - I had so much fun! :)

You should be able to click on this to make it bigger. Yep, it's a balloon floating away - that's what happens with helium balloons and 4 year olds! Love it!

jen + alex {in love}

2010-06-08T12:32:00.005-03:00

I don't think you could ever tell from these images how reluctant one-half of Jen and Alex was to get his picture taken... I won't name any names, but it's because he loves Jen so much that he agreed - and I sure am glad he did because we ended up with some pretty amazing shots! :)

And here's a first for me - I like all the pictures from their session better in colour than in black and white! I KNOW! I think it's because we had such spectacular light. It poured all day and then later in the afternoon the sun started peaking through and the world was bathed in this beautiful light that made all the colours look super-saturated. Gorgeous.

Alex and Jen, I hope you like your photos. I'm super pumped for your wedding in... oh my gosh... 22 days! It's going to be so much fun!

dal grads 2010

2010-06-03T13:03:00.010-03:00

Emily and Nicole are sweet, beautiful and up for anything. That's pretty much a photographer's dream so of course I immediately said "yes!" when they asked me to shoot some grad photos for them.

Of course, we took a couple of more traditional-looking head shots. But the ones I love the most from this session are the silly ones around campus. I especially love the one of them jumping - so fun and it's kinda amazing how much air they got!

Thanks for a fun morning girls. And congratulations! :)

an epic party post

2010-06-01T13:57:00.011-03:00

Hold on your hats! It's an epic birthday party post!

Sweet Miss Alison turned four in May and her parents invited me over to take some photos of the happy event. There's no trouble to tell that Alison is a very loved little girl. Her party was amazing. There was basic party fare - balloons and cupcakes. And then there was totally 100% awesome party fare - a bouncy castle!!

The first set of photos are from the bouncy castle. They're so darn fun and I love how they turned out. I especially like the image of the Mom bouncing and having (probably!) more fun than the kids.

The second set of photos are from the actual party. As you can imagine, there is no shortness of sweetness to photograph with a bunch of adorable four year olds running around. I am especially enamored with the images of Alison playing with her dolls and playing dress up in her closet... It's such a fleeting and special moment and I'm so lucky to be able to document a small piece of her family's story.

Thanks for inviting me over Christa and Nate!

***

it's time....

2010-05-31T10:37:00.005-03:00

to show off my beautiful nieces and nephew again! I popped over to my brother's place on Victoria Day and was rewarded with cuteness beyond what should be allowed per household. :)

I absolutely adore the image of Rhianna on the tire swing. Childhood isn't all sunshine and lollipops and I don't think it should ever be portrayed as such. I love how these kids are so comfortable around me that I can capture them in all their colours.

on the beach in bathurst

2010-05-25T12:06:00.006-03:00

This weekend Dave and I headed up to Bathurst, New Brunswick. Who knew Bathurst was such a beautiful, charming little town? It must be one of Atlantic Canada's best kept secrets - amazing beaches, fun walking trails through the woods, 30 degree weather! My only regret was that we didn't get to stay longer.

The chipmunk and squirrel shots are courtesy of my favourite wildlife photographer. The beach photos in the middle are mine. :)

awaiting alexis

2010-05-24T11:12:00.005-03:00

Brittany is the sweetest girl you'll ever want to meet. And she is sooooo excited to meet her new little girl Alexis. In eager anticipation, we went out to York Redoubt for her maternity session on a beautiful, sunny, blustery day. I absolutely adore all the shots we got and I can't wait for our newborn session once little Alexis arrives!

megan + lg {let's dance}

2010-05-22T02:31:00.008-03:00

I love weddings. I love them! And I'm so honoured that Megan + LG invited me to be a part of theirs. For their last post, I'm showing some of my favourites from the dance. I had a hard time narrowing it down to just these "few" because so many of their images were so fun.

All the best in the future Megan and LG... I can only imagine all the awesome things in store for such two wonderful people who share so much love. xo.

megan + lg {picture time}

2010-05-19T01:20:00.006-03:00

Here are some fun family pictures and a gorgeous portrait of Megan + LG. I LOVE the shots of the boys on the waterfront, they look so cool. And as much as I wish I had snapped the first image, I can't take credit - that goes to my favourite assistant of all time, Dave.

megan + lg {say i do}

2010-05-18T10:38:00.010-03:00

The most important part of the wedding day is what happens at the church of course. As a photographer, I found it technically challenging because the light was quite low and you're trying so hard to be as close to invisible as possible because the ceremony is about the union of two people before God - not about me taking pictures! No one wants to see that! :)

But as luck would have it, I managed to get some really great shots of these two tying the knot. I especially love the image of LG looking so serious waiting at the end of the aisle, the shot of their first kiss as husband and wife, the one of the girls freezing as they walk back to the limo... oh heck, I love them all!