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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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Archeo Wedding in Distillery District // Peter & Jennifer

I met Peter and Jennifer two years ago when I photographed their friends Maggie & Jack’s wedding. So when they contacted me last year about photographing their wedding, I was absolutely up for it! You might also remember their beautiful sunrise Document Love session at Trinity Bellwoods park and Queen west that I blogged about in the summer.

What can I say about their wedding day? There were definitely many moments that left a deep impression with me. The day started with the usual getting ready, and then Peter and Jenn each read a letter from the other. At which point, I was already tearing up! Then they played door games and the boys were treated to all kinds of crazy tasks which made everyone (myself included) crack up. I laughed so much I was in tears again. Their vow exchange was so touching and heartfelt too, definitely some tears going around then. And then during dinner when the speeches were spoken, Jennifer’s dad’s speech had everyone in stitches again!

It was definitely a day filled with happy tears, laughter and lots of love. I’m an emotional person who tends to wear her heart on her sleeve. This characteristic hasn’t always served me well in real life, but I’m glad that my sensitivity to emotions serves a purpose in my work as a wedding photographer.

Thank you Peter and Jennifer for inviting me to share in one of the most special days of your lives, and for trusting me to document your story! xo

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Restaurant Wedding Toronto // Camille & Jeff at F’Amelia

Intimate & Heartfelt Toronto Restaurant Wedding

As far as choosing a venue for intimate weddings in Toronto, there are definitely lots of options. I’ve never photographed one at F’Amelia before until Camille and Jeff’s intimate and heartfelt wedding there in September. It’s a lovely restaurant that serves delicious Italian food in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto. For their wedding portraits, we just walked around the neighbourhood and I absolutely love the feel of the area, so charming!

Camille and Jeff met while going to university at McMaster. To bring everything full circle, when Jeff proposed, he brought Camille back to the place where it all started. Life presented them with an opportunity to bond intensely fairly early on in their relationship when they lived for a few months in Tanzania together and then backpacked through east Africa. To spend so much time together 24/7 in a new and very different environment must have been challenging but also very enriching. I think this experience definitely paved the way for them to go on adventures together. I think no matter how long you’ve been together, it’s always important to experience new things together.

My favourite thing from their wedding was their personal vows during the ceremony when Jeff said that Camille is still the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. And the way they looked each other while the other said his/her vows was really sweet.

Thank you so much Camille & Jeff for having me photograph your wedding day and document your story! I hope these photos will forever serve as reminders of how much you love each other & love being together, and the love you are surrounded in by your friends & family. xo

Thanks Terry for second shooting this one with me!

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The Toronto Hunt Club Wedding // Carolyne & Angelo

An elegant Toronto Hunt Club Wedding | Country Club with a View

The first time I met Carolyne over coffee, I felt an instant connection to her. She was so easygoing and genuine. And as a hopeless romantic, I couldn’t help but gush over her and Angelo’s engagement.

Here’s how the story goes: they were travelling in Paris. One night they went out for a walk and stopped on a bridge (oops I can’t remember which one now, but let’s just say it was the wonderful Pont Alexandre III). Then the clock stroked midnight and the Eiffel tower lit up, and Angelo got down on one knee and asked Carolyne to marry him! I mean c’mon, how amazing is this?! It reminds me of Midnight in Paris, which also happens to be one of Carolyne’s favourite movies. What can I say? I love all stories that take place in La Ville Lumieré.

They wanted their wedding day to be a day that was filled with people they love and to be present to enjoy every moment. I truly think they did just that, and I feel that I was able to capture those in photographs. I think one of my favourite moments was during their thank-you speeches, Carolyne looked over to Angelo and said “I can’t wait to grow old with you”. With tears starting to well up in my eyes, I pressed my camera shutter. Every time I see that photo, I remember that moment. And therein lies the true magic of photographs right? As a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone. I can only hope that the photos I took will remind them of all the ones they remember from the day, and also the ones that they might not remember because they happened so fast.

Thank you guys for having me document your wonderful day, it was a pleasure to be a part of it and to record your story. xo

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Graydon Hall Manor Wedding // Katie & Lee

I had the chance to second shoot for the lovely and talented Lee Weston for Katie and Lee’s (the groom’s name is also Lee!) elegant and heartwarming Graydon Hall Manor wedding last year. If you are looking for an outdoor venue but also want a place that is elegant and has old world charm, Graydon Hall Manor is the right place.

The day started with Lee getting ready and hanging out with the boys, and then him and Katie had a First Look which was so touching. I can never get enough of these First Look moments. When you see the photos, you’ll see why. My other favourite thing to photograph at weddings is probably speeches. There are just so many wonderful moments and expressions. I can’t help it. It’s always these emotional moments on a wedding day that moves me to click the shutter. That and when there is beautiful light!

Thank you for having me Lee! Here’s the story of Katie and Lee’s wedding day through my lens.

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