Char + Russell Wedding on the Lake
Char and Russell’s wedding day, for me at least, started at the Delta down at the Marina. I met Char and the rest of her bridal party and parents there. After some photos, we made our way down to Pier 2 where the rest of the guests were anxiously waiting, along with Russell. It would be hard to choose a more beautiful backdrop for an outdoor wedding.
Char and Russell’s wedding day, for me at least, started at the Delta down at the Marina. I met Char and the rest of her bridal party and parents there. After some photos, we made our way down to Pier 2 where the rest of the guests were anxiously waiting, along with Russell. It would be hard to choose a more beautiful backdrop for an outdoor wedding.
The ceremony was very sweet and you could really feel all the love from the family and guests there. I thrive on candid photos of pretty much everything, so when people either have tears of joy or smiles, it makes my job that much easier.
Once the ceremony was done, everyone walked back to the main part of the marina to congratulate the newly married couple. Before we left for Russell’s camp, we made sure to get some family portraits back out at the Pier. Then it was off to the camp on the lake, about 30 minutes outside of town.
As soon as I got there, we headed off to their neighbours property for some photos. It was covered in rock, moss and lichen, and it was absolutely beautiful. There was even some champagne and glasses waiting on the bench at the end of the trail.
Russell’s camp looked like something out of a movie. The decorations were exquisite, and from what I remember, Char actually hand picked all of the amethyst rocks. The reception was in the backyard with the lake in the backdrop. You could see the whitecaps on the water, which was actually quite rare. So it was as if, the wedding brought out the best in everything.
Everything else that evening was just perfect. The speeches, the food, the atmosphere, and of course the bride and groom dance. I’ve said this before, but each and every wedding I photography, I’m extremely thankful for. I know how much more important it is to capture photos of family who haven’t seen each other in quite some time, and how might not do so again, after the wedding.
Mino Bimaadiziwin Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program - Kingfisher Lake
My wife Anne and her mother Cathy were asked to spend an afternoon at Kingfisher Lake, which is just outside Thunder Bay, teaching aboriginal youth how to cook bannock. I decided to join them and document the afternoon through photos and video. Of course, I also got to have some amazing bannock made over an open fire! The program is called Mino Bimaadiziwin and is based on traditional cultural teachings and focuses on: key life skills, leadership development, healthy relationships, positive self-esteem, self-awareness and connections to education.
My wife Anne and her mother Cathy were asked to spend an afternoon at Kingfisher Lake, which is just outside Thunder Bay, teaching aboriginal youth how to cook bannock. I decided to join them and document the afternoon through photos and video. Of course, I also got to have some amazing bannock made over an open fire! The program is called Mino Bimaadiziwin and is based on traditional cultural teachings and focuses on: key life skills, leadership development, healthy relationships, positive self-esteem, self-awareness and connections to education.
There were many other activities the youth were taking part in, so overall it was an amazing experience for everyone involved. If you would like to find out more about this program, their website can explain it much better than I can.
Hassanali + Family Portraits - Loon Lake
This past weekend marked the second time I had the pleasure to photograph Hassanali and his family. The first time I did so was a couple years ago and took place at Centennial Park. For this particular session, they were renting out a cottage on Loon Lake, so it was the perfect location.
This past weekend marked the second time I had the pleasure to photograph Hassanali and his family. The first time I did so was a couple years ago and took place at Centennial Park. For this particular session, they were renting out a cottage on Loon Lake, so it was the perfect location.
Just like last time, Hassanali had some of this family visiting it from the States as well as overseas. Seeing as how the cottage was very beautiful, I decided to use it as a backdrop. Plus, it was the only real shade so it made perfect sense. Everyone was so much fun and natural to photograph that it really made my job super easy. I even got a couple suggestions here and there for poses or spots to use, and I am always open to that.
The majority of the session was spent capturing the different combinations for family photos but I was able to sneak in a few candid shots as well. All in all, it was a pleasure spending an hour of my time with Hassanali and their family, and I think the photos reflect just how great of a time everyone had!
Angie + Family Portraits - A Day in Quebec
This particular portrait session wasn't really your typical one, seeing as how it was purely family. During our trip to Ottawa a couple weeks ago, we managed to set aside a couple days to go visit my cousin Angie and her family up at their cottage in Quebec. It was the first time I had seen my cousin in a long, long time and the very first time I had met the rest of her family as well. Suffice it to say, I was very excited.
This particular portrait session wasn't really your typical one, seeing as how it was purely family. During our trip to Ottawa a couple weeks ago, we managed to set aside a couple days to go visit my cousin Angie and her family up at their cottage in Quebec. It was the first time I had seen my cousin in a long, long time and the very first time I had met the rest of her family as well. Suffice it to say, I was very excited.
The cottage itself was located in Gracefield, Quebec. A place neither me or Anne had ever been before, so we didn't know what to expect. The drive up was beautiful and we could tell right away that it was going to be very nice, just from the views we saw along the way. It only took about 1.5 hours to drive from downtown Ottawa to the cottage, which really wasn't that bad at all. As soon as we pulled in, we noticed no one was around. We checked inside the cottage itself quickly and no sign of life. In the distance, we heard talking and laughter and realized that everyone was down at the dock, which made perfect sense, seeing how nice it was outside.
So we made our way down got acquainted with everyone. My Uncle Don and Auntie Pat were visiting as well which was awesome. I hadn't seen them in a few years too. In a way, it was a bit of family reunion. My cousin Angie joked ahead of time that we didn't have bring anything and we could stay the night, only if I agreed to take photos of her and her family. It was a deal I couldn't refuse.
As I mentioned above, this wasn't really a traditional session as I was taking candid photos all day. Once the sun went down a bit, that's when they all got changed and we did some 'formal' portraits. If you could do all my portrait session like that, I would be simply amazing. We were able to go out on the boat for a while and generally just hang out on the dock and have fun swimming and eating.
It was so nice being able to spend time with family and also come away with some really great moments that I know Angie and everyone else will hopefully cherish.
Sydney + Curtis Portraits - Crescent Lake
Yesterday I got the chance to photograph yet another amazing couple, at a location I had never even been to. Sydney and Curtis approached me quite a while ago to set up a portrait session at Crescent Lake, which I had definitely heard of before but never been. Well, what better excuse to go there then to photograph two extremely easy going and fun people in Sydney and Curtis.
Yesterday I got the chance to photograph yet another amazing couple, at a location I had never even been to. Sydney and Curtis approached me quite a while ago to set up a portrait session at Crescent Lake, which I had definitely heard of before but never been. Well, what better excuse to go there then to photograph two extremely easy going and fun people in Sydney and Curtis.
Once you arrive at the toll booth on Mount McKay, all you need to do is ask the lady there if you can get a way without paying because you are just heading down the trail. It worked for us, so you never know. So we made our way down the trail and I would say it's about a 10 minute walk depending on your pace. Even though it took a bit to get to the lake it did give us a chance to talk and get to know one another along the way. I did learn that Sydney and Curtis are going to be adopting a dog soon. Even though, dogs don't supposedly like Curtis so we will see how that goes. We also learned that if a bear did jump out and attack us, we were pretty much screwed.
In any case, nothing out of the ordinary happened and we arrived at the lake which was absolutely beautiful. Since it was just a mini session we didn't spend too much time at the lake but we did come away with a ton of great shots while we were there. Before we knew it, we were heading back down the trail, but I made sure to capture some photos along the way since it was such a nice path. Plus, by staying ahead of Sydney and Curtis a bit I knew I would be able to outrun them if I bear did attack us. :)
There is already talk of an engagement session in the future so I can't wait for that. Both Sydney and Curtis are avid hikers so I would be excited to see what kind of location they come up for that session!
Katrina + Ed Wedding
It was only a couple weeks ago but Katrina and Ed's Wedding Day is still fresh in my mind. The day turned out to be one of the nicest so far of the summer, although, it was fairly hot. But, there is no way I will ever complain about hot weather in this city with winter always around the corner.
Katrina and Ed's wedding took place at their new house out on Hawkeye Lake. For those of you that haven't been to this lake it is absolutely gorgeous. I had been to their house a year prior but that was for engagement photos and the house wasn't quite done then. Seeing it for the first time with all the guests and family gathered around was quite the site. Of course, the backdrop of the Hawkeye Lake definitely helped set the mood.
It was only a couple weeks ago but Katrina and Ed's Wedding Day is still fresh in my mind. The day turned out to be one of the nicest so far of the summer, although, it was fairly hot. But, there is no way I will ever complain about hot weather in this city with winter always around the corner.
Katrina and Ed's wedding took place at their new house out on Hawkeye Lake. For those of you that haven't been to this lake it is absolutely gorgeous. I had been to their house a year prior but that was for engagement photos and the house wasn't quite done then. Seeing it for the first time with all the guests and family gathered around was quite the site. Of course, the backdrop of the Hawkeye Lake definitely helped set the mood.
Before I made my way to the wedding site however, I first made my way to Katrina's house to capture some moments of her and the other girls getting ready. As I have mentioned many times before, I absolutely love taking getting ready shots. They are truly candid and there are always a ton of raw moments if you know how to look for them.
After about 45 minutes, I made my way to the ceremony. We had to wait a bit for Katrina to arrive but it gave me plenty of time to get a ton of candid photos of the guests. Soon enough it was time to get the ceremony on the way. With the chairs set up right on the water, and the guests gathered around anxiously waiting, Katrina eventually made her way down the steps and into Ed's grasp. I couldn't have asked for a better setting to take photos as you can see from some of the photos below.
Once the ceremony was done, there was some mingling and then we were off on the houseboat. We used this opportunity to get some great photos of the wedding party and of course, Katrina and Ed. Shortly after docking we got all the family portraits out of the way.
There were really some great moments so I had to make sure to always be ready. For instance, Katrina decided to hop on the back of the neighbours jet ski. I ran down the dock grabbed a seat and prepared myself for some action shots of the bride flying through the water. What I wasn't ready for was the fact that the driver decided to come very close to the shore and completely drench me on three occasions. It was a bit of shock, but as they say, anything for the shot. Luckily I was using my XT-1 which is waterproof. So after they were done I went back to my seat at the dinner table much more wet then when I left. Suffice it say, people got a kick out of that.
And that was my day. I got a couple last shots at the end of the road of some of the signs and then it was a 40 minute drive back home. Thanks to Katrina and Ed for letting me photograph their wedding. I still can't believe how many great shots I walked away with. I only hope they think they same.
Anika + Family Portraits - Chippewa Park
Chippewa Park was the latest location for my most recent portrait session. This time around around it was Anika and her fantastic family. It was later in the afternoon but it wasn't too cold at all, especially once we all started moving around. We started off at the playground which got everyone's blood flowing and it was off to the races from there.
Chippewa Park was the latest location for my most recent portrait session. This time around around it was Anika and her fantastic family. It was later in the afternoon but it wasn't too cold at all, especially once we all started moving around. We started off at the playground which got everyone's blood flowing and it was off to the races from there.
Next up, we spent a bit of time right on the beach. There is a beautiful wooden railing that surrounds the entire area and we took advantage of that. We played in the sand for a bit and then made our way towards the boardwalk area. Instead of going straight there we decided to take the trail through the trees and it was a great choice because some of my favourite photos came from that short walk. One of which is the one used directly above for the main photo!
As we got to the boardwalk there was a nice little shaded area on the rocks off to the right. It's probably my favourite location at Chippewa, it's just so beautiful. Once again, we came away with some truly memorable moments here as well. Then after we got a couple quick shots on the boardwalk itself it was time to head back. Before we packed up we made sure to get one last photo of there stuffed animals. I thought it was fitting since they carried them around the whole time!
Katrina + Ed Engagement
Last year I had the pleasure to photograph Katrina and her wonderful family at Centennial Park. Unfortunately, Ed wasn't able to join us for that session. Well, fast forward to this past Thursday and I finally got the chance to meet Ed. It was time for an Engagement session with the two of them. Since I am photographing their wedding next summer, they wanted to take advantage of this great weather and some early photos for invitations.
Last year I had the pleasure to photograph Katrina and her wonderful family at Centennial Park. Unfortunately, Ed wasn't able to join us for that session. Well, fast forward to this past Thursday and I finally got the chance to meet Ed. It was time for an Engagement session with the two of them. Since I am photographing their wedding next summer, they wanted to take advantage of this great weather and some early photos for invitations.
One of the main challenges as a photographer in this city is finding unique locations for photos. That was not the problem this time around as we were able to use Ed and Katrina's property out on Hawkeye Lake. As soon as I arrived I realized just how beautiful it was. Aside from being right on the lake, there were a lot of nice little spots around the property that made for some fun and unique photos.
Overall it was an extremely laid back and spontaneous session. Ed and Katrina were really natural behind the camera. We were also able to get their two dogs into some of the photos. I also learned that next years wedding is going to be at the same location so I really can't wait.
Thanks again to Ed and Katrina for inviting me out to see their property as well as allowing me to capture some moments between them.
Maha + Kevin Portraits - Boulevard Lake
When Maha and Kevin contacted me to take their photos for their 1 year anniversary I got really excited. There is something about anniversaries that make these photo sessions that much more special. I could tell that they were a bit nervous to be in front of the camera at first but they quickly fell into stride. From there it was smooth sailing and it resulted in a lot of great photos.
When Maha and Kevin contacted me to take their photos for their 1 year anniversary I got really excited. There is something about anniversaries that make these photo sessions that much more special. I could tell that they were a bit nervous to be in front of the camera at first but they quickly fell into stride. From there it was smooth sailing and it resulted in a lot of great photos.
The location was just across from Boulevard Lake. It's a nice little venue that has a great beach area with really cool rocks as well as some nice trails leading to Centennial Park. I must say, both Maha and Kevin were very easy going and quite adventurous. There were some tricky spots we had to walk to under the bridge and they didn't even hesitate. It was that type of flexibility and care free attitude that allowed me to get a lot of the photos you see below.
The hour went by super quick and I'm sure we could have even went longer! Thanks again to Maha and Kevin for inviting me to be part of their 1 year anniversary. Hopefully I get to see them again on their second one.
Nancy + Family Portraits
It was yet another beautiful fall day just in time for my latest portrait session with Nancy and her 3 daughters. The location this time around was the Thunder Bay Marina. I like using this location especially when there are kids in the family as it really provides a nice relaxed atmosphere with plenty of distractions.
It was yet another beautiful fall day just in time for my latest portrait session with Nancy and her 3 daughters. The location this time around was the Thunder Bay Marina. I like using this location especially when there are kids in the family as it really provides a nice relaxed atmosphere with plenty of distractions. That is exactly what happened this time around. We walked down one of the walkways and everyone was jumping off the raised ledges. Then it was off big grassy hill, but along the way there were plenty of things to climb. There were even a couple ducks here and there which provided for some priceless reactions from the girls.
As usual, the hour went by really quick. Just before we were going to finish up I saw a small patch of long grass by the parking lot. This is where some of the best photos came from as the girls wouldn’t stop running around and through it. With the sun beaming the in background it made for some truly fantastic photos. I couldn’t have asked for better weather and even better family to photograph. I still can’t get over how much energy they all had.
Alisha + Derek Wedding
After an engagement shoot at Chippewa Park a few works prior, it was time for the real thing. As soon as I arrived I made my way to the cabin where Alisha and her bridesmaids were getting ready. I took some elegant photos of the dress as well as some candid photos of everyone getting ready. With a bit of time to spare I then made my way to the ceremony area. It was located right by the water in behind the main cabin in a beautiful setting.
After an engagement shoot at Chippewa Park a few works prior, it was time for the real thing. As soon as I arrived I made my way to the cabin where Alisha and her bridesmaids were getting ready. I took some elegant photos of the dress as well as some candid photos of everyone getting ready. With a bit of time to spare I then made my way to the ceremony area. It was located right by the water in behind the main cabin in a beautiful setting.
All the seats were setup and guests were gathering as everyone waited for the bride to arrive. Once Alisha did arrive it was a wonderful entrance. There was a nice long pathway coming from around the trees into the ceremony area. The flower girl almost stole the show show, as she smiled the whole way carrying her little bouquet. Once Alisha arrived at the alter the ceremony began. The highlight for me was the poem Alisha and Derek wrote for on another. It was a very nice touch.
Immediately afterwards we did all the family and group shots and then it was time to focus on the bridal party. We began by walking out to the end of the path overlooking Lake Superior followed by a few quick photos along the beach. The thing that made this wedding so different from anything I have photographed up to this point was the fact that there was an amusement park. Alisha and Derek bought tickets for any guests who wanted to take advantage some of the rides. We focused on the bumper cars and the merry go round. They turned out great!
My favourite part of the day came next, where it was just me, Alisha and Derek doing the main portraits. We made our way to the boardwalk and got some truly creative and striking photos there. Next up was the reception which was located in the main lodge. Unlike some receptions, getting the couple to kiss requires a certain challenge. This one was no exception. There was a mystery kiss jar which included the names of couples in the crowd. Once called, they had to come up and perform a unique kiss of their choosing. It was then Alisha and Derek’s turn to copy that exact kiss. As you can imagine, some of the kisses were very creative and fun.
After the speeches were done, it was time for the first dance and then the cake cutting. Before the regular dancing started there were two more things to take care of. The first of which was the bouquet toss. This was followed by the garter toss. Both of these drew huge crowds, and aside from a small tumble, one lucky many and woman made a great catch. And then everyone danced the night away. As always, thanks to Alisha and Derek for a wonderful time.
Alisha + Derek Engagement
This was the second engagement shoot for Alisha & Derek. We decided to do another session closer to their wedding, which is coming up shortly. Plus their wedding is at Chippewa so this gave us a good opportunity to scout out some locations and determine lighting for the day. We also got took the opportunity to test out a couple of the rides which the bridal party will be going on the day of the wedding.
This was the second engagement shoot for Alisha & Derek. We decided to do another session closer to their wedding, which is coming up shortly. Plus their wedding is at Chippewa so this gave us a good opportunity to scout out some locations and determine lighting for the day. We also got took the opportunity to test out a couple of the rides which the bridal party will be going on the day of the wedding.
For this photo session we talked the workers into start up the go carts and the merry go round for us. This resulted in a some really fun photos. We also walked around to the end of the path and used the beach for some great natural shots as well. As always, I can’t wait for the wedding to come. I have never shot one at this location but there are a ton of good spots to use.
