Archive for the ‘Engagement’ Category

Kim & Matt – Engagement [Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto]

Friday, December 21st, 2012

Kim laughing while Matt hands her a bouquet of weeds.

Kim & Matt will be bringing me with them, to capture their wedding at a luxury resort on an island off the coast of Samana, Dominican Republic in Feburary. We had an engagement shoot this fall at Toronto’s historic Evergreen Brick Works.

Kim & Matt stand in front of a historic brick building with a cloudy blue sky behind them.Kim & Matt kissing in front of a rusted wall with vines.

I had a great time wandering around Evergreen Brick Works with Kim & Matt for a couple hours, while I encouraged the couple to relax, be themselves and joke around. They did a great job and I’m really looking forward to photographing them again in paradise.

Kim laughs while Matt leans up agains a windowsil.lMatt sits in a windowsill while Kim stands inside the opening.Matt laughing while giving Kim a piggy-back ride.

Kim & Matt’s will be my first destination wedding. I so excited for this opportunity to photograph a wedding in a drastically different geographical location.

Kim sits in the kiln.kim-engagement-1
Kim & Matt looking up as they face a rusted wall.Matt kisses Kim's forehead as they sit by a pile of wood slats.Kim & Matt kissing while backlit.Kim hugging Matt while he kisses her cheek.
Kim & Matt stand together with the Toronto skyline in the background.

As the sun set, Kim, Matt & I hiked up the hill in Brick Works park, for a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline. Kim & Matt were so easy to work with and I loved photographing in such a unique location. I’m looking forward to meeting their families and bridal party in the Dominican in a couple months.

Kim & Matt kissing, shown in the reflection of a puddle.

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Patricia & Colin – Engagement [Toronto Island]

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Patricia & Colin sitting on a park bench.

I recently had the pleasure of spending an evening with Patricia & Colin. I suggested that we take the ferry to Center Island, which was possibly a risky move, since I had never been. As expected, there was no shortage of great locations for photos.

Patricia & Colin sit under a tree.Patricia & ColinPatricia & Colin

This was the second time I had met with Patricia & Colin and it only reinforced my initial impression, which was that they are an incredibly friendly and good-humoured couple. They were up for anything which really allowed me to evoke their personalities and made the whole shoot feel really loose and natural.

Patricia & Colin kissing by a wooden wall.
Patricia beating up Colin
Patricia & Colin hugging

Luckily for us, as we were arriving at the island, Centerville was closing down for the day, which gave us free reign of an empty, kids’ amusement park.

Patricia & Colin leaning against a yellow building
Patricia & Colin hugging by a yellow buildingPatricia hugging Colin and smiling
Patricia & Colin being cute on a bench.
Patricia & Colin sitting on a bench, looking at a duck.

I was caught off guard when we were walking to our next location when suddenly Patricia said, “There’s a goat on the roof!”
I turned around and sure enough…

A goat on the roof.
Patricia & ColinPatricia & Colin
Patricia & Colin
Patricia & Colin kissingColin kissing Patricia on the cheek

I’ll be photographing this couple’s wedding next March and I love that I got this opportunity to get to know them before their big day. We headed towards the lake for some fun on the swings and to get a good view of the Toronto skyline as the sun set.

Patricia & Colin kissing on the swings
Patricia & Colin looking out on a bridge.
Patricia & Colin sitting by the Toronto skyline at sunset.
Patricia's engagement ring
Patricia & Colin hugging in front of the Toronto skyline

I had a great time hanging out with Patricia & Colin and I’m really looking forward to meeting their families and friends at their wedding in 2013.

Patricia & Colin watching the sunset by the Toronto skyline

 

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Shannon & Josh – Engagement [Toronto Music Garden]

Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

Shannon & Josh relaxing with their shoes off on a park bench.

“So,” I said, trying to determine the least strange way of making a peculiar request, “how do you feel about taking your shoes off?”

Shannon and Josh chose me as the photographer of their 2013 wedding. I recently met with them to make it official and to shoot engagement photos. As a vague concept for the shoot, I suggested that the couple act, instead of being in a public park, as if they are at home relaxing.

Shannon and Josh relaxing with their shoes off on a park bench.Shannon and Josh sitting by a houseboat on Lake Ontario, with the CN tower in the background.

Shannon asked where I think would be a nice place in Toronto to shoot the photos. I suggested the Toronto Music Garden. It’s located just south of the Skydome. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Perfect for a day by the lake.

Shannon and Josh hold hands by the lake, with the Canada Malting Company in the background.Shannon and Josh hug by the Canada Malting CompanyShannon and Josh hold hands while they walk through the Toronto Music GardenShannon and Josh hug while they walk through the Toronto Music Garden

The Music Garden, which consists predominantly of spiral pathways that lead to various circular resting spaces, is inspired by Bach. I chose this spot because it’s beautiful, like any park, but it’s also an experience. Instead of the afternoon being about taking photos, I would rather it be about the couple sharing an experience, which I document.

Josh leans Shannon against a pole to get close.Shannon and Josh kiss by a pole.Shannon and Josh walk by pirate ships.Shannon and Josh kissing at the harbourfront in Toronto

I love that this space, just steps away from the CN tower, feels worlds away from the big hustle-bustle city. So peaceful.

Shannon and Josh laying in the grass.Shannon and Josh laying in the grass.

I was really excited when I realized that the two photos above, placed together, seem to create a heart shape.

Josh and Shannon relax lay in the grass, under a big tree.Shannon and Josh kissing in the grass, under a big tree.

I think even a quick engagement session is a great idea for the couples whose weddings I photograph, since it gives me a chance to get to know the personalities of the bride-and-groom-to-be and the couple a chance to become comfortable with my style of photography. This should, in theory, produce even more spectacular images on the wedding day, as we’ll all be pros at working with each other by that time.

Josh giving Shannon a piggy-back ride.Shannon and Josh relaxing on a park bench.Shannon and Josh holding hands walking along the harbourfront.Shannon and Josh laughing by Lake Ontario.Shannon's engagement ring.

I had a great time photographing Shannon and Josh and I’m so excited to work with them again in 2013.

Shannon and Josh smiling by Lake Ontario

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Sarah & Reid – Engagement [New Hamburg]

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Sarah, a good friend of mine, asked me to shoot some engagement photos of her and her fiancé, Reid. If you follow my work, you may recognize her from her Headshots and from my First Impressions series.

Sarah Sosnoski and Reid Vanier engagement photosSarah and Reid New Hamburg engagement

Both Sarah and Reid are actors who met when they were both attending school for theatre. I love working with actors, specifically because they’re almost always up for any suggestion and they’re always full of personality.

Sarah and Reid engagement laughingSarah and Reid engagement

This was the first time I had met Reid and it was obvious right away that he was a perfect match for Sarah. They kept each other laughing and smiling through the whole shoot.

Sarah and Reid engagementSarah and Reid engagement

 

Sarah and Reid engagaementSarah and Reid engagementSarah and Reid New Hamburg engagement

This shoot was fairly impromptu, since we shot these photos about a week before Sarah took a flight to Japan to work for Universal Studios Japan for a year. Sarah and Reid are getting married in 2013.

Sarah and Reid engagementSarah and Reid New Hamburg bridge engagement

I was honoured to be asked to photograph the couple shortly before they spend a year apart, but I wish them all the best. I’m looking forward to capturing their wedding day in 2013.

Sarah and Reid hug engagementSarah and Reid engagement ringSarah and Reid bench engagement

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Brittany & Matt – Engagement [Elora Gorge]

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Brittany & Matt kissing at Elora Gorge, Ontario

When Brittany & Matt suggested that we shoot their engagement photos in Elora, Ontario, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. We were disappointed that the Elora Conservation Area was closed for the season, but we wandered around Elora and found some great locations for photos.

Brittany & Matt kissing and laughing by Elora Mill InnBrittany & Matt sharing a moment by an abandoned mill in Elora, OntarioBrittany & Matt looking at each other by an abandoned mill in Elora, Ontario

At first, Brittany seemed upset that we weren’t able to shoot in the Conservation Area, like we had planned, but I wasn’t worried. I knew we’d be able to find a good location for photos, but I wasn’t expecting a beautiful abandoned mill to shoot at. This was the perfect backdrop and I was almost relieved that the conservation area was closed. Although I’m sure the conservation area would have been beautiful, I don’t think we would have had the variety of backgrounds as we did.

Brittany & Matt look out at the river near Elora Gorge, Ontario.Brittany & Matt sharing a moment by Elora Gorge, OntarioBrittany & Matt peek in through a gate.Brittany's engagement ring.

I feel like almost every shoot I have where something doesn’t go to plan, my faith that everything will work out in the end is reinforced. It seems like every time something goes “wrong,” the results end up being better than they would have been if everything had gone to plan. It’s funny how that works.

A nice man suggested we walk around the corner, where we found a beautiful wooded area with some look-out points to the gorge.

Brittany & Matt walking into a wooded areaBrittany & Matt kissing through a treeBrittany & Matt stand together on a bridgeBrittany & Matt look out onto Elora GorgeBrittany kissing Matt's cheek at a look-out over Elora Gorge, OntarioBrittany moving away as Matt tries to kiss her

Congratulations to Brittany & Matt on their engagement. All the best to you both.

Brittany & Matt enjoy each other's presence

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Holley & Ben – Engagement [Dundas Square]

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

In anticipation of their 2011 wedding, Holley & Ben requested engagement photos… at night?!

The couple, from rural Ontario, took a trip to TO to have their photos taken among the big city lights. Holley & Ben had a romantic evening skate at Nathan Phillips Square, followed by a visit to Yonge-Dundas square.

Photographing portraits at night without elaborate lighting equipment was nothing short of a challenge, but it certainly made for an interesting backdrop. I tried my best to capture the movement and excitement of Toronto, while simultaneously capturing Holley & Ben’s personalities, which compliment each other perfectly.

Even though these two are from farming country, Toronto’s bright & colourful nightlife was a suiting backdrop to capture Holley & Ben.

Clearly up for anything, I had the couple pose sitting on a set of benches, which are part of an ad campaign, but fit perfectly with the playful, romantic feeling of their shoot.

Shortly after I posted these photos, Holley sent me a very excited message:

i absolutely LOVE THEM!!!! that is exactly 100% completely what we were wanting!!!!! they look so awesome thank you sooo much!!!

It makes me so happy to know that I was able to achieve what the couple had asked of me, despite all the challenges. Holley & Ben were absolutely a pleasure to shoot, and I’m looking forward to capturing their wedding in the summer of 2011.

Happy Holidays!

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