Love stories

March 26, 2014April 20, 2016

Selma & Andri // Iceland Wedding Photography

Selma & Andri’s Icelandic anniversary session was featured on Mountainside Bride!

Even though I didn’t photograph Selma and Andri’s wedding (they got married last September), I did get to take some additional wedding portraits for them around Skorradalur and Lake Skorradalsvatn in Iceland, just an hour north of Reykjavik. This almost didn’t happen because of my schedule but when I got Selma’s email, I knew I had to make it happen. And I’m so very glad that I did.

We met early in the morning and drove north from Reykjavik to Skorradalur where both of their parents have summer houses. I love the story of how they met.

Both of their fathers work in the baking industry and had actually known each other, but Selma and Andri never met; Both of their families had summer houses on opposite sides of Lake Skorradalsvatn, and they never met. It wasn’t until their undergraduate years in university that they met. As it happened, Andri spotted this very interesting looking car in the parking lot one day and thought to himself, no guy would drive that car! A few weeks later, he ran into Selma as she was leaving her car and realized it really wasn’t a guy driving the car and just had to introduce himself. Selma at this point thought he was a bit strange. At the end of that semester, on the last day of school, Andri decided to ask Selma out. But he couldn’t find her anywhere at school that day. So, he “wrote” his phone number on her car (I think it was in need of a wash) and asked her to call him. When Selma got home, both her mom and brother-in-law (the car actually belongs to her brother-in-law) thought she should definitely call him. The rest, as they say, was history.

What a lovely morning I had with them. It was like a regular portrait session on a wedding day, except we had lots of time and it was all so relaxed. They were such adventurers as well, up for anything. And I had the best time getting to know them and just chatting about anything, from the things I love about Iceland to my attempt at telling an Icelandic joke (that I saw at Keflavik airport), to their studies in Scotland (where they currently live), to Icelanders’ love for sweets (me too! it was meant to be), to their love for their beautiful country. They said they just love coming home when they can and driving around the country. I would have to agree with that. I could stare out the window forever.

If you are looking for adventures, or would love to have a wedding or to elope somewhere with stunning landscape and nature, Iceland is the perfect destination. It would be an experience like no other.

Selma & Andri, thank you so much for this adventure together. I adore your spirits. xo

March 24, 2014April 19, 2016

Amy & Dustin // Stockholm Photographer

I met Amy & Dustin on the first day of my Stockholm trip a few weeks ago. I was worried I might be super tired after a redeye flight and not being able to sleep on airplanes (which is weird because I can fall asleep almost anywhere else), but the fresh air totally woke me up. Not to mention that meeting and photographing couples always gives me a kind of adrenaline rush; it puts me in this zone, and I pretty much forget everything else.

Amy and Dustin are fellow Canadians; they gave me huge hugs when we met up :) Dustin plays hockey in Stockholm and they’ve lived in quite a few other countries in Europe as well. We talked about the amazingness that is Paris, the fun and not-so-fun things about travel (such as leaving something at a store and being stuck outside for 2 hours because it’s siesta time), and some of their favourite places they’ve been (such as Switzerland). After being together since pretty much high school, they still have this amazing chemistry.

It was so awesome meeting you, Amy & Dustin – especially as a jet lagged traveller!

Here are some favourites from our time together. Enjoy!

Talk about photobombing!

March 18, 2014April 19, 2016

Sigga & Óli // Iceland Wedding Photographer

Iceland: the first time I visited in June of last year, I more or less didn’t know what to expect. Fast forward to 9 months later, I was on my way to a photography workshop in Stockholm and planned my trip around having a 4-day stop over in Iceland. I just had to go back. This land is magical. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, you’ll just have to go.

When my plane was approaching Keflavik airport, I peered out the window and noticed something: the country appeared to have been completely covered in snow (at least from what I could see). At which point I thought to myself: oh shit. Why did I come here in the winter?? It’s March, but it’s still winter here! There was a moment of mild panic. I have no great love for winter. Yes, I’ve lived in Canada for 15 years but those years have done nothing to make me love the season. Winter in Iceland is a whole other animal. Even in the middle of summer, the weather can change in the blink of an eye. I wasn’t sure what the next few days would be like. As it turned out, it was a bit of a shit storm (weather wise anyway and pun intended). But I decided that I was going to make the best of it no matter what and not dwell on the weather too much. After this trip, I think I can endure winter better if I lived somewhere as beautiful as Iceland.

The morning I met up with Sigga and Óli, the sun was actually out and you could see bits of blue sky. It was a good sign but I still prayed on our drive towards Seljalandsfoss on the south coast. As it happens, big chunks of snow fell from the sky when we were only about 10 minutes away. And with the snow, the wind picked up. Sitting in the warmth of the car, I wanted to go back to my hotel and curl up in bed with a good book, but at the same time I was also in awe by the desolate wintery scene that stretched for miles around me and wanted desperately to explore it. So we went for the exploration. The thing is, just as quickly as it can snow, it can also stop suddenly. When we got to the parking area at Seljalandsfoss, that’s exactly what happened and we had maybe a 10-minute window to shoot in. This theme continued for our other locations as well. Secretly I thought this was Mother Nature’s way of rewarding us for pushing through despite what she threw at us.

Sigga and Óli, thank you so much for coming on this crazy adventure with me! Here are some of my favourite photos.

Skógafoss. I missed this waterfall last time due to a (almost) dead car battery. Fun fact, apparently they filmed

parts of Thor: The Dark World here. Which I watched while I was in Iceland.

March 16, 2014April 19, 2016

Andrea & Bruno // Stockholm Photographer

I always believed that most travellers are photographers (doesn’t matter if you are an amateur or a pro), but that all photographers are travellers. So when I had the opportunity to travel to Stockholm, Sweden for a workshop (more on that soon) with two of my favourite photographers, I also knew I would want to photograph couples while I’m there. So I met with Andrea and Bruno one sunny morning while I was in Stockholm earlier this month. We walked around their neighbourhood in south Stockholm and I took some photos. It was a beautiful morning. While still chilly, you could feel that Spring was in the air with the birds chirping. Andrea and Bruno were such a pleasure to work with and I really enjoyed getting to know them. They met when Andrea was traveling in Brazil. After a couple of years of traveling and long distance relationship, Andrea moved to Brazil. And now they are in Stockholm. They have such an easy connection with each other.

Thank you Andrea and Bruno, I had such a lovely morning with you. And thank you for the delicious carrot cake :)

March 12, 2014February 25, 2014

Document Love: Jessica & Kyle // Hamilton Engagement Photographer

janice-yi-photography-hamilton-engagement-photographer

Jess and Kyle got engaged when they traveled to Paris. You’ll be happy to know that Kyle didn’t propose under, on, or anywhere near the Eiffel tower ;) He proposed in a little park in the city, which they now have a framed photo of in their home. That’s the way to do it right – an engagement that is – don’t do it because everyone else does it, follow your own story. For their Document Love session, I picked Detour Cafe in Dundas because of its Parisian feel and it’s not as far since they drove up from London for the day. After a coffee break, we headed to the Dundas Valley Conservation area for some fall photos.

Here are some of my favourites from that afternoon! Jess & Kyle – looking forward to your beautiful vineyard wedding in the fall!

It was cloudy most of the day but the sun came out to play just for a bit.

February 20, 2014

Document Love: Tiara & Roy // Toronto Engagement Photographer

janice-yi-photography-farm-engagement-photos-toronto-engagement-photographer

What to say about Tiara and Roy? From her first email, I already felt a connection with Tiara. When I met with her and Roy, we sat and talked about travel for a long time and felt like old friends.

They love to travel together and believe that “You can always make money; You can’t always make memories”. So it’s no surprise that for their Document Love session, they wanted to incorporate travel into it.

Thanks guys for inviting me into your journey! It’s been awesome getting to know you and I can’t wait to be a part of your big day in October!

they got engaged in Iceland :)