Category: Photography

Some ideas and thoughts on photography in general, from a photographer’s point of view.

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If you feel it in your heart, it will show on the screen

I wrote the following post a couple of months ago and it’s sat in draft ever since. Something didn’t feel quite right and I was waiting to tweak it. But last week I read Spencer Lum’s (of Ground Glass) blog post about turning up the volume in the pictures vs. turning up the volume in people’s hearts. His idea is that there’s what you capture in a photo, then there’s how your photo makes someone feel. It reminded me of the post that I had written and I was inspired to finish it and publish it.

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“If you feel it in your heart, it will show on the screen”

A few days ago I watched an interview of a Chinese actor who I have recently been following, and something he mentioned has stayed with me since. In the first movie he acted in, the director, Zhang Yimou (who is well known by Chinese audiences around the world) said to him, “If you feel it in your heart, it will show on the screen.”

A very simple sentence, but the idea behind it is not so simple.

Some time after, I realized why his words made me stop to think. Ever since I first decided to photograph weddings and people, it has been the burning question in the back of my mind somewhere: Is it possible to shoot what it feels like? Is it possible to show in a still photograph those feelings that words cannot convey? With motion picture, the sense of motion can help communicate the intangibles, but what about a photo?

Having shot weddings for six years now, I feel like I can finally say with a resounding “yes”, that photos truly can capture how it feels. But I think to that, the caveat is “if you feel it in your heart, it will show in the photograph”.

If you don’t believe me, well, then I can only say that perhaps you are not looking with the right tools. Like Antoine de St. Exupéry said: “what is essential is invisible to the eye”.

As a photographer, the highest level of compliment I receive is when I hear someone say something along the lines of “there is so much love in these photos!” But once in a while I meet potential clients that make me wonder if they had even looked at my work. They seem to care more about capturing only what it looks like.

One of my previous grooms had said to me before: anyone can take a pretty picture. If it was just pretty pictures I wanted, I can take them myself with my phone. But you seem to have a way of capturing those emotions from a wedding day in such a warm and authentic way.

Photographers that I respect often say, show people who you are so that you may attract like-minded people and repel those who don’t agree with you. For a long time I think I was really afraid to do that. I was too scared that if I did that, if I showed people who I really was as an artist, what if no one liked that?

But then I realized that this is what I’ve been doing all along, maybe I’ve never put it so clearly in words before, but my photos definitely showed that. Maybe some people miss that aspect of my work, but that’s ok, because the ones who didn’t get it usually don’t end up working with me anyway. So now I’m putting this out into the universe:

Dear potential client, if you are reading this, don’t hire me to just capture what it looks like, hire me because you want to capture what it feels like.

And to loop back with Spencer’s post, I think our photos can only make people feel something if we captured a feeling in the first place.

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Top Iconic Toronto Photo Locations

As a Toronto wedding photographer who’s been shooting for over 6 years now, I often get asked for recommendations for some truly iconic Toronto photo locations. I personally have many favourite spots (some of which are included in the list below!) but what I love most about our city is simply wandering, and stumbling across somewhere new or unexpected that I’ve never been before. (Maybe I’ll do a post on those spots in the future!).

For now though, after combing through thousands of photos, I’ve selected 8 of my favourites, that I think represent our iconic city. Who knows, the next time you’re near one of these spots, you may catch me behind my lens!

The TTC

Nothing says Toronto and is as instantly recognizable as a red and white Toronto streetcar. The shot below was taken outside of historic Osgoode Hall, just as the 501 Queen car made an appearance.

And speaking of the iconic red & white streetcars, I love taking some photos on the streetcars themselves when possible! With the new vehicles coming in slowly, who knows, these older ones may soon be a thing of the past.

While not quite the streetcar photo, but I stumbled across this with my couple outside Bay station in Yorkville and we thought it was fun.

Evergreen Brickworks

The Brickworks was a former quarry and industrial site and it was in operation for nearly 100 years before its decline. Before its restoration, it was even used as a dumping ground. But now the abandoned buildings have been transformed into a cultural centre with the outdoor area featuring gardens, ponds and trails. There’s always lots going on here with a thriving farmer’s market on summer weekends and a skating rink during the winter. For obvious reasons it’s a popular spot for weddings, but even if you are not holding your wedding here, you can still take photos here (with a paid permit of course). One of my favourite spots at the Brickworks is this wall with the spray painted words “tout est possible” – everything is possible. :)

Queen West Graffiti Alley

I’m not really sure how the alleys of Queen street west got so much attention in the first place, but it’s become even a bit of a tourist attraction. If this is your hood, or you like street art, this is a great place to come wander and take some photos. The colourful and many variety of graffiti art make for great backdrops!

The Toronto Islands

A simple way to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, just a stones throw away. The Toronto Islands make for a great day trip for locals and tourists alike, but they also make for some great adventures for outdoor enthusiasts! Grab a kayak, stand up paddleboard, bicycle, or simply get your feet moving – only a 15 minute ferry ride from the mainland. I love the islands because they are so accessible, and so relaxing.

And even if you are not the adventurous or sporty type, the islands are a great place to relax and get some time in with nature. Plus, it’s one of my favourite spots to watch the sunset from.

The Distillery District

The Distillery District has long been a favourite with many of the clients I work with due to its history and architecture. There’s something a little bit edgy about it that gives it a unique vibe, but at the same time it is so distinctly Toronto. Sample a craft brew, sip a delicous coffee or just stroll throught the lanes and alleys exploring. A great way to spend an afternoon in an iconic Toronto district. During the holidays, the Christmas market here has become a hit in recent years as well.

Even though the Distillery can be very busy on the weekends, if you wander a bit, you can still find a few quieter spots. The LOVE locks not being one of them, but if you are patient, it’s still possible to get a photo with no one else in it ;)

Union Station

So maybe I’m a bit of a sucker for train stations because of my love for train travel, but Toronto’s Union Station is still an impressive sight. Once the current renovations are complete, I’m sure this will be even more spectacular than before. Located just across the street from the historic Fairmont Royal York on Front Street, Union Station serves up its fair share of great spots for portraits.

I love the location for the classic and grand architecture, and it doesn’t even feel like you are in a modern city like Toronto anymore.

University of Toronto Campus

The University of Toronto (which I’m a proud alumni of!) was founded as King’s College in 1827, as Upper Canada’s first insitution of higher learning. The architecture around the campus is amazing due to the history and is definitely one of my favourite spots to photograph in the city. A permit is required to shoot here although if you are an alumni, you do receive a discount.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

As the biggest museum in Canada, the ROM is definitely a popular destination. While it’s not typically thought of for wedding photos or portrait photos, I think the angular lines of the Michael Lee-Chin “Crystal” provides an interesting backdrop. As a prominent landmark, it’s just a very Torontonian location.

Have an iconic spot that’s not listed here? Let me know in the comments below!

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2017 // A Year in Photos & Life

aka Why We Sold Our House & Are Now “Homeless”

2017 has the same 365 days as any other year, and yet it seems to have gone by even faster than before.

The biggest change for me this year is that Mike and I decided to sell our house and almost half of our stuff, put the rest in storage and became “free range humans” or modern day nomads. How did we come to such a seemingly crazy decision? Well, it was a long time in the making really.

When I was young, like most kids, I couldn’t wait to grow up. Becoming an “adult” was the only way I knew I could have the freedom to control my own life.

But somewhere along the way of growing up, I more or less fell into this template that society has laid out for most of us. Like a good kid, I graduated from university, found a steady job and joined the thousands of people who commute to work everyday. But I was living life as if on autopilot, and I asked myself “is there nothing else to life?” If you’ve read my “about page”, then you know the story of how I quit my day job and became a full-time photographer.

It was a life-changing decision. Within a short amount of time, I realized how much happier I felt – being able to decide what to do with my time. By no means is being self-employed easy, but doing something meaningful, something you love makes it worthwhile. The same year that I became a full-time photographer, we went to Iceland for the first time. And it was after this trip that I found myself wondering about being a “travelling photographer”.

Two years after that we spent 3 months away (2 months for Mike) travelling through Australia, New Zealand, Bali and China. I found that I didn’t miss “home” at all. The definition of home for me wasn’t just limited to a square box with a roof over my head anymore. Nor did I miss the convenience of home. The world was just too fascinating, I just wasn’t too concerned about where I showered, where I ate or slept – as long as it was clean and sufficiently comfortable. I liked being on the road and on the move. After this, Mike and I separately arrived at the conclusion that we wanted to do this more. We wanted to see more of the world while we are still healthy and physically able to, while we don’t have the responsibility of raising kids. We didn’t want to just vacation once or twice a year; we wanted to travel long term, for as long as possible.

That was the dream. But was it possible? Maybe the Universe heard us, or maybe we were just looking for it, but we read articles and blog posts like this one, this one, and this one. And we realized that it IS possible. Other people have already done it, and some even do it with kids!

At the time Mike had a full time job where he only had 4 weeks of vacation a year (I know, I know, 4 weeks is a lot but not quite enough for what we wanted to do). We also had this 3-bedroom townhouse in the suburbs, a car, and a townhouse in the city that we were waiting to move into. We owned all this stuff, but often times we felt like they owned us instead. You might not agree with me, and that’s ok because not everyone feels this way. But we definitely did. We had this huge place (huge by our standards) with 3-bedrooms and barely used two of the rooms. The guest bedroom was more like a laundry room and the “office” was never used because I preferred to work downstairs anyway. When it came down to it, there was just a lot of extra space that we didn’t need (not to mention the basement). But then when you have a lot of space, you feel the need to fill it with stuff. And then not only do you have to clean and maintain the house, you also have to maintain all your stuff.

The more you own, the more you are owned. We reached a point where we just didn’t want all this stuff to clutter our life anymore (I also have the Marie Konmari book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up to thank as well). We realized we value experiences and memories more than material possessions. Selling them, at least some of them, was not only the right thing to do financially but also the right thing to do for the lifestyle that we realized we wanted. You can always make more money and buy more things, but you might not get more time.

I don’t have a lot of ambition, and the only one I have is to be able to live freely.

So what does this mean for 2018? Especially if you are one of my 2018 couples reading this – my commitment to my work is still the same. Of course I will be back in Toronto for the weddings I have already booked! But the rest of the times, I may or may not be in town.

All in all, 2017 was a very busy year, but also a very meaningful year. I can’t wait for what 2018 will bring! Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season, and a great year ahead filled with only the things that you love, of all the people that you love, and most of all, purpose and meaning.

It’s never too late to be whatever you want to be. And, “everything is possible, the impossible just takes longer”. (Never thought I would quote Dan Brown, but he knows what he’s talking about).

Here are some of my favourite moments from this past year.

 

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2016 // A Year in Photos

Dear 2016,

You have come and gone and although there were 365 days just like any other year, it felt like it all went by in the blink of an eye.

I’m not sure where to start really. But maybe I’ll start with this: in April I attended a little workshop put together by the awesome Jenn & Dave Stark (no, not related to anyone from Game of Thrones, I checked), who are not only really talented photographers, but amazing people all-around. As an introvert, I generally don’t love big group interactions. I find them overwhelming. But I’m much better in more intimate settings or one-on-one interactions. Such was the case with the Stark’s workshop. Turns out, there were a few other familiar faces there too. Throughout the workshop, we talked, and I mean, really talked, about running a business and all the little bits and nuances that comes with the territory of being self-employed, being a photographer, being an artist. It was the kind of talk you would have with good friends until the wee hours of the morning. There was a lot of laughter, and also a lot of tears. It was something I sorely needed and I definitely look back to our time together with love and appreciation. I felt so grounded afterwards, in a really good way.

The previous year was a very interesting year. I shot quite a few destination assignments and it was something that I really wanted to do. The year was going well in all sense of the word. Then the wedding season ended and bookings for the 2016 season were really lackluster. And I just couldn’t figure out why. It was beyond frustrating. Worst of all was the sense of “hey I’ve been doing this for a while now, shouldn’t this get easier?” Little by little, with a lot of help from Mike (my wonderful, wonderful other half), friends and some soul searching, I came to the realization that it doesn’t work this way. I had forgotten that your dreams don’t work unless you do. In the end, I picked myself back up and reminded myself to let go of the things that I can’t control, and focus my energy on the things that I can. Blogging my work, making sure my website functions well and is SEO’ed well, submitting work to be featured (link backs!), updating my site (which hadn’t been touched for 2 years) etc.

When I went to the Stark’s workshop I was once again reminded of why I loved photography in the first place: to capture all those fleeting moments of beauty and love that exist in this life of ours; the moments that, in the blink of an eye, disappear forever, with nothing to prove they ever existed. You know what I mean, those moments that are seared into your memory, though some fade a bit over time. In this way, photography is a way of witnessing life.

In life, we always seem to be chasing that next golden nugget. That sense of “if only I have this, then I will be truly happy”. For me, it was chasing after being a destination and international wedding photographer. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But at some point I lost sight of why I loved photography in the first place. It became more about being able to say that I did this, and that. Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t see this earlier. The things that I didn’t care about in my previous life as a 9-5 worker – climbing the corporate ladder, overworking myself, why did I fall into the same trap in this one?

I would still love to photograph couples, people and weddings all around the world. But I’m perfectly ok with photographing them right here at home too. Because the essential things in life don’t change very much no matter where you go. With this in mind, 2016 was a much happier year for me. I felt more content.

Mind you, I still love travelling. I don’t think that will ever change.

Whenever I meet new people and I tell them that I’m a photographer, I always get asked if I still like what I do after 5 years. I have to say, I still do. Even though it isn’t perfect, and nothing is perfect. Not just because I love taking photos, but also because doing what I do is always teaching me new things. I’m always learning new things, heck, I’m forced to learn new things even if I don’t want to. Haha.

2017, I’m ready for you. Bring it on.

Wishing all of you a wonderful year ahead filled with good health, love, laughter, all that you hold close to your heart, and most of all, moments that you want to preserve forever. xo

Ending this long post with a quote that I love, and is oddly appropriate at the start of a new year (then followed by photos):

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late, or in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

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Toronto Restaurant Wedding Venues

Toronto Restaurants Perfect for Intimate Weddings

As a couple looking to get married in Toronto, there are lots of options ranging from beautiful grand manors to vineyards in Niagara to rustic farms. But if you are looking to have a wedding in the urban setting of the city, then Toronto restaurant wedding venues are the perfect option!

You might think that buying out a restaurant for a wedding would be very expensive (I used to think that). But in reality, it’s often a lot more economical compared to having your wedding in a more traditional type venue. Not to mention, the restaurant would already be decorated and often you don’t need to do that much more to dress it up. Your fees already include the space, food, and furniture. And the best part? If you are a food lover, having your wedding at a restaurant with food you love can make a big difference compared to food typically served at a more traditional banquet hall.

I always thought that your guests are most likely not going to remember what kind of centre pieces were at your wedding, but they’ll remember things like if the food was good and how the atmosphere of the venue felt. As a photographer, I often remember the food (the really good ones as well as the really bad ones). If you value the food and the experience and less about having a show, then having your wedding at a restaurant could be a very interesting option.

Below are some of my favourite restaurant wedding venues in Toronto:

1. Archeo

Located in the historic Distillery District, Archeo is one of a few venues in the area. It features high ceilings, exposed brick walls and wooden beams. You can use the courtyard for your ceremony during warmer months, or if you just need a reception space, the indoor restaurant area is perfect. It’s an intimate and warm atmosphere.

See more of Peter & Jennifer’s intimate wedding at Archeo here.

2. F’Amelia

Located in historic Cabbagetown, F’Amelia serves up hearty Italian fare. The layout of the restaurant is so fun with big windows and a veranda-style dining area at the front as well. The decor is also charming. The only thing that I think they can perhaps improve on, is to keep the patio area used for ceremonies more clutter-free.

More photos of Camille & Jeff’s wedding at F’Amelia here.

3. The Harbord Room

I’m including The Harbord Room here even though it is now closed :( Just to give you an idea of what is possible around the city. The Harbord Room was the perfect little space for a really intimate wedding of 30 or less. The courtyard was perfect in the warmer months and feels more like an intimate family gathering than a wedding.

4. Le Select Bistro

Love French food? Love French Bistro style? Le Select is a great space for intimate weddings with two private dining areas and a cute courtyard that can be used for your ceremony.

You can see more of Lianne & Tristan’s Le Select Bistro wedding here.

5. Drake Hotel Café

The Drake has several options for weddings. The Café is a great space for 30 seated or 45+ cocktail style reception. Plus you can stay at the Drake hotel for getting ready (see photo below). As a photographer, the only thing I didn’t like was that having your ceremony on the Café patio might mean that the sidewalk ends up being your background (which can be very distracting in the resulting photos). But you should be able to use the café as the background instead.

You can see more photos of  Chrissy & Gareth’s wedding at the Drake Café here.

6. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

I’ve shot a couple of weddings at Mildred’s now. The food here is really good! Located in Liberty Village, the space is very modern and features an open kitchen.

You can see more photos of Denis & Kim’s wedding at Mildred’s here.

7. Auberge du Pommier

Of all the O&B restaurants, my favourite for a wedding is Auberge du Pommier. Though it’s located in a bit of a random location (right by York Mills station), the food is excellent and you can use the courtyard for your ceremony. The space is very charming and has lots of natural light.

You can see more photos of Helen & Adam’s wedding at Auberge here.

And just for fun, here’s one a bit further away, but in the beautiful setting of Prince Edward County!

Angeline’s Inn

A historic property, it also features guest rooms that you can stay in to get ready. The ceremony space outdoors is lovely and the food here is delicious!

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McLean House Wedding // The Estates of Sunnybrook

Last month I had the opportunity to help photograph this beautiful McLean House wedding at the Estates of Sunnybrook. Elly and her good friend Simin are the lovely ladies behind ES Design, who was the planning team for this wedding. I also photographed Elly’s beautiful wedding at The Lake House in the summer so when she contacted me again to help shoot this wedding and get some working shots of them, I had to say yes. The elegant details that they put together complemented the venue perfectly!

I’ve photographed a few weddings at the Vaughn estate at Sunnybrook before but this was my first time photographing at McLean House. If you like the look of Vaughn estate or are looking for something similar to Graydon Hall but for a smaller wedding, McLean House is perfect for a more intimate event. The house is gorgeous and full of beautiful touches. The backyard where the ceremony can be held is lovely with the house in the background.

Thanks Elly & Simin for having me again! It was so fun working with you and I hope we’ll do it again soon!

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