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last six weeks in pictures: august 11- september 21, 2014

September 23, 2014, 9:46 am
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Hey there! Fall has arrived and it's officially my favourite time of year. I'm snuggling up with a cup of tea and warm socks in my newly furnished editing cave (aka my office). I decided to take a moment to share some of what I've been up to over the last six weeks of summer. It's been a lot of long hours and not very much sleep, but I am so grateful for all the work and the play. To begin, here's a little overview, c/o Instagram:


As I previously mentioned, Brian and I moved into a new place at the beginning of August.  Most of our free time since then has been spent doing this:


The apartment needed a little TLC, so we've been sanding and painting and scrubbing to turn it into our home. We also sold most of our furniture before leaving Montreal, so we've been slowly acquiring new items and putting things into place. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm happy to say all the boxes have been unpacked and it's starting to look pretty decent.

In between shooting and working on our place, I've been lucky to attend a few great events. My friend Jenn came to town from her home in New York for her wedding shower, and it was lovely. I can't wait for her upcoming wedding!

Brian and I headed to Trenton to photograph and celebrate the wedding of Jennifer and Bryan, mother and step-father to our dear friend, Peter.

We stopped by the Ex for an hour of fun one night:


We flew to Vancouver to attend a family wedding and got to stay with my sweet sister-in-law, Carolyn and her puppy:

While out west, we were able to visit a few great friends, including Sophia and Trevor, whose wedding we photographed last summer:

Photo below: Sophia Lee


Two photos below: Carolyn Fauteux

In early September, we photographed the vineyard wedding of our good friends Amy and Derek.


The following day, I attended the shower of my longtime friend Aarti, whose wedding I'm excited to shoot next month! Her shower was planned so beautifully by her sisters and included a waffle bar, which was just awesome. Her fiancé was also in attendance which was so nice. It makes so much sense for a bride-to-be's beloved to be present and spend time with her close friends. I think more people should consider having their groom at their shower!


Thanks to my friend Peter, I attended the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for the first time. I attended the premiere of The Imitation Game, which features my favourite actor Benedict Cumberbatch. It featured a Q & A after the film, which was all too short, but still great. Following the presentation, Peter and I went to the official after party, which was incredibly exciting.



In mid-September, my family conspired with my dad's colleagues to throw him a surprise 25th work anniversary party. We tricked him into thinking he would be attending a photography seminar I was teaching. When he walked into the room, he found dozens of his colleagues and friends from throughout his career. He was completely shocked and it was so moving to hear person after person stand up to share kind words and reflect on how my dad influenced their lives.


Later that week, I was invited to return to my alma mater, Western University, to visit my old stomping grounds, The Gazette. I worked as an editor for the daily student newspaper during my undergraduate years, and I went back with my fellow editor, Paolo, to talk about work, career paths and how we did things back in the day. It was wonderful to meet some of this year's editorial board and be inspired by their enthusiasm and humour. It was surreal to be back on campus after seven years away, but as we drove through the city and walked through campus, I was flooded with memories of the best kind.



This past weekend, I travelled to Montreal for work and stayed with some dear friends in their sunny condo.  It was a total whirlwind, but I hope to go back to that wonderful city soon for a longer visit.


Well, I'm back to catch up on my editing! Wishing you a wonderful week and I'm excited to share a lot of new work with you over the next few days.

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cobble beach wedding | lisha & baden

September 24, 2014, 7:10 am
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There's something very romantic about rain on a wedding day. It poured all throughout my own, and I've always found that although stormy weather does necessitate a few logistical changes to the best laid plans, it also creates an undeniably warm and cozy atmosphere. By confining guests indoors, rain draws them closer together. On Lisha and Baden's wedding day in Owen Sound, guests from near and very far gathered to witness the union of two people who came from opposite sides of the earth, and they did so in the rose petal-covered Sweetwater restaurant at Cobble Beach.

Each guest would receive a bottle of Canadian maple syrup decorated with an Australian flag. "Thank you, from one side of the world to the other," it read. Lisha, a Canadian girl, met her Australian love, Baden when they were both working away from home in western Canada. They'd travelled to seek adventure and opportunity and found each other along the way. They decided to marry in Lisha's hometown of Owen Sound, and were joined by friends and relatives from around the world.

Shortly after they said their vows, the rain lifted and pastel colours diffused into the sky, allowing guests to enjoy the fresh evening air and the amazing views of Georgian Bay. Once the dance party started, Baden's side of the family invited everyone to share in their Albanian-Australian traditions such as joyful (and in the men's case, acrobatic) group dances. It was an amazing sight to behold.

Lisha and Baden, thank you so much for inviting me to celebrate and document your wedding day. You have grown into such an amazing woman from the lovely teenager you were when I first met and photographed you, Lisha. I'm so happy for you that you found Baden. I have no doubt that you two will continue to lead a life of excitement and love together. Congratulations and I wish you both all the happiness in the world!


One of my first sights upon arriving in Lisha's bridal suite was this cherry in the sink — evidence that the previous evening's party had been fairly epic.


Hilarious bridesmaids are my favourite bridesmaids, and Lisha's girls had sass in spades.

Though it was raining when we began taking portraits, The Inn at Cobble Beach offered so many lovely indoor spots where we could shoot.

And besides,  a little rain never hurt anyone!

Thanks to the on-site shuttle, we were able to explore more of the stunning grounds at Cobble Beach.




During a break in the dinner services, we noticed a spectacular sunset had appeared, so we stole a few moments for some evening portraits.


Then one hell of a dance party began, kicked off by some traditional Albanian dances.


Credits:

Venue and catering: Cobble Beach // Photographer: Dallas Curow Photography  // Bride's shoes: Steve Madden // Bride's jewellery: Swarovski  //  Hair and makeup: The Spa at Cobble Beach
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national air force museum wedding | jennifer & bryan

September 30, 2014, 1:05 pm
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Last month, Brian and I attended the wedding of Jennifer and Bryan, the mother and stepfather of our dear friend, Peter. We were so honoured to photograph what was being excitedly referred to as "The Brady Bunch Wedding." For just as on the beloved 70s sitcom, with their marriage, Jennifer and Bryan created a large, blended family. Rather than tell you any more about my impressions of the day as a guest and photographer, I thought it would be much more interesting for you to hear from Peter, as he talks about their love story and the journey leading up to it in his roast toast:


Video by Brad Horvath.

Jennifer and Bryan, thank you so much for inviting us to share in your day. Since we first saw you both together during the "elaborate game of truth or dare" that Peter refers to in his speech, it was crystal clear that you two bring out the very best in each other. It was so fantastic to be there with you on your wedding day and witness the beginning of the rest of your life as one big happy family. You two are such inspiring people, and we wish you all the happiness in the world.

Before the ceremony, we met at Trenton's Montrose Inn for family portraits.











After portraits, we travelled to their reception at the National Air Force Museum of Canada.

Bonus content! The video of Peter's speech went viral, which led to it being featured and Peter being interviewed on Right This Minute. It's definitely worth a watch if you have a few minutes and feel like laughing even more! 



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behind the scenes: toronto flower market styled shoot

October 2, 2014, 7:24 am
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It's been a while since I've shared a behind the scenes post, so I'm quite happy to show you a glimpse behind my recent shoot with the Toronto Flower Market. To see the official images, you can see my blog post, or check out the post on weddingbells.ca on inventive new ways to work flowers into your wedding. But behind every polished final image is a whole lot of planning and sweat, and the stories of how a picture came to life can be so interesting. Let me tell you a bit about our creative team's adventure on the day of our shoot.

Before the shoot, we visited the site to choose locations for the different photos. Location scouting for an editorial shoot is key, as it saves valuable time on the day itself. Thanks to the scouting and test photos, art director/stylist Jenny Boucher and I had already visualized this shot beforehand:



On the day of the shoot, I noticed a grove of trees with some pretty flowers that would make a nice backdrop for one of the gowns. From left to right: my test shot, Toronto Flower Market founder Natasa Kajganic kindly posing as a stand-in, and the final shot with our model, Alice.



We were lucky to have Holcim Waterfront Estate as our location — a dream spot to shoot. When we arrived, the entire landscape was cloaked in fog, which created a surreal effect. I was happy with that, however the weather forecast and gathering clouds seemed a bit more ominous.



Minutes before we were due to start shooting, the skies opened up and the downpour began. It was some of the heaviest rain I've seen! Luckily, we were getting ready in the comfort of the estate's event tent.

Linnea of b&m models, one of our bridesmaids, kept the mood light.

As the storm intensified, creative director Natalie Petozzi and my assistant Karly Boileau battened down the hatches. Thankfully our producers were extremely well prepared and had packed numerous umbrellas and a tarp. 

We headed out into the pouring rain to begin shooting the first looks. Thank you to Jill, Jenny and Karly who took turns shielding me and my gear.

The usually clear waters had turned a bit muddy from the heavy downpour.

The creative team prepped the floral garland before putting our models in place.

Our models stood with umbrellas until the last possible second, then stood boldly in the rain.

We all got seriously soaked. It was fun.

Garment, hair and makeup changes back in the tent in between looks.

Prepping for our petal drop:

Florist Jill of The Rose Mint and Jenny Boucher assembled and style our bride's wrist corsage.

They also beautifully decorated Cake & Loaf Bakery's cake with local blooms:


Left: Jenny and Jill putting the finishing touches on this amazing floral crown. Right: the resulting image:


Left: all the & For Love gowns, hanging safely in the carriage house. Right: Alice keeping her gown dry.

Left: Natasa prepping Alice's gown, and the final image:


Below: Natalie and our venue liaison, Marisa, helping out behind the scenes of these images:


Towards the end of our day, the clouds dissipated and the sun warmed our shivering bodies.

We were visited by several blue herons and a deer during our shoot, which made the location feel even more magical!


After we wrapped, we all gathered behind the estate for a group photo:


Thank you so much for everyone who took part in this shoot for dealing with whatever nature gave us and being so cool and composed throughout. From left to right, above: Jill, Jenny, Natasa, Natalie, Marisa, Alyson Kelly (production assistant), Karly, yours truly.
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you're invited to my first gallery show, "the feeling of fragrance"

October 7, 2014, 11:29 am
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Hey dear readers! I'm hosting my very first gallery show next week, and you're invited to come hang out.

"The Feeling of Fragrance" is a project I've been working on in secret over the past year. This one night only event will feature a collection of portraits inspired by my favourite scents and the memories that accompany them.

As you probably know, I recently moved to Toronto after my time in Montreal and Wisconsin. I'm incredibly excited to be back in town and would love to see you! Please stop by for a glass of wine and say hello. I look forward to welcoming not only the models featured in the portraits, but a great group of family, friends, clients and readers alike.

Certain pieces will be available for purchase. The collection will also be showing at Full Spectrum Gallery in Owen Sound, Ontario during November and December, 2014. This event is being coordinated by my friends at The Event Room and will feature florals by The Rose Mint and cupcakes by Sarah Burns that incorporate the fragrances and flavours in the portraits.

Details:

The Feeling of Fragrance
Thursday, October 16, 2014
MJG Gallery, 1028 Queen Street East
7:00 pm-10:00 pm

You can RSVP here or just come on over.
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last three weeks in pictures: september 22-Oct 13, 2014

October 14, 2014, 9:02 am
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The last three weeks have been pretty exciting. It's been the height of my busy season, which has meant a lot of travel and many shoots. In the moments between work, Brian and I have been continuing to set up our apartment. Part of the reason it's taking us a while is because we sold most of what we owned before we moved from Montreal, so we're slowly reacquiring furniture. We're taking our time and choosing pieces we really love from among family hand-me-downs, antique stores, contemporary shops, and auctions. Day by day it's starting look like a pretty cozy little apartment. I hope to be able to share some photos with you soon. For now, here are some images from some of my favourite memories over the past three weeks:



I recently photographed the wedding of my friends Aarti and Bhavesh. Aarti is the first friend I made in high school. We met in the school bus lineup. It was the first day of grade nine and I was the new kid at school and didn't know anyone. She and her sister, Ruby, befriended me before high school even began and made me feel so welcome. I'll never forget their kindness. Before Aarti's wedding, I was lucky to join in on the fun at her mendhi party, where family and friends gathered to have their hands painted with henna in preparation for the big day.

Aarti explaining to the mendhi artist the kind of designs she had in mind.

Some of Bhavesh's family members were skyped in to sing Aarti a song that blessed her mendhi ceremony. It was so sweet.


My family has been generously helping me move and store furniture for my new place and for the future. One night, my dad and brothers picked up a gorgeous antique couch given to me by a family friend. There's sadly not room for it at my current place, so my brother is keeping it safe for me in his storage locker until I'm ready for it. I'm definitely dreaming hard about a place that will fit all the things I've got tucked away.

At the end of September, testing the photobooth at Jenna and Phil's wedding (photos to come soon!):


In the bridal suite in my morning outfit, the day of Aarti's wedding:


Over the past weekend, Brian and I took our first real days off in a long time to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. It was glorious.





Lastly, I spent a lot of time this weekend preparing for my upcoming show. On the left, I'm prepping the prints for framing. On the right, our family's dog Leon is supervising me and my mom as we applied the framing clips and wire yesterday. Wishing you a wonderful week and if you're in Toronto, I hope to see you at the show on Thursday!

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the feeling of fragrance

October 17, 2014, 8:42 am
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With great excitement, I'm ready to share the images from my "The Feeling of Fragrance" project!

After being invited to show some work at Full Spectrum Gallery, I decided to create a collection of new work for the occasion. I began planning this project last fall while living in Madison, Wisconsin and spent hours sketching and brainstorming in coffee shops. I compiled a long list of my very favourite scents and decided to begin with 12 portraits that represented them. Once I moved back to Canada, I began the process of casting the models, scheduling the shoots, location scouting, wardrobe shopping, and makeup/hair conceptualizing. I shot the images between May and September this year.

Here's my artist statement

I recently moved back to Toronto after eight years of living away from home. While residing in different places (and moving eight times in the last 18 months alone) I discovered one simple thing that could make each new place I lived feel a little more like home: fragrance. Lighting scented candles, spritzing perfume, steeping teas and baking my favourite dishes were a way to personalize each space. Each scent reminded me of a fond memory or a dear friend, and it helped me from feeling too homesick. 

Scent is the sense most intimately tied to memory, and when we breathe in a familiar scent, it can evoke powerful ties to our past, instil a sense of calm in the present, and stir excitement and hope for our futures. I decided to create this series of portraits as a tribute to my favourite fragrances and the memories that accompany them. In many cases, I returned to the actual place where a distinct scent formed a cherished memory. 

The "Mint" portrait, for example, was shot in the back creek on my relatives' property where wild mint grows in the water. My cousins and I used to pull on our rubber boots and trek through the creek, and I'd pick the mint as I walked upstream. For this reason, two of those cousins donned their rubber boots and walked that very creek for the portrait. 

This collection of images represents some of my favourite scents and depicts both specific memories and the elevated sensations and momentary fantasies that fragrance can conjure. It is a salute to some of my life's most treasured moments and an expression of the gratitude I feel to have returned home. 

Today, I'd like to share the final images followed by some photos from the launch party I hosted last night. Later, I'll share a series of posts with more images from each individual shoot, as well as a glimpse into the planning process.


"Soap"
Model: Meredith Sherlock


"Lavender"
Model: Ida Althini


"Grass"
Model: Tara Lloyd


"Mint"
Models: Elise and Deanna Lloyd


"Pine"
Model: Vicky Q/Orange Models


"Forest"
Model: Courtney Shurgold


"Ocean Air"
Model: Carolyn Fauteux


"Smoke"
Model: Jada M


"Roses"
Model: Paige Dzenis


"Spring Blossoms"
Model: Shannon Sprung


"Tea"
Model: Rozlyn Burns


"Fresh Linen"
Models: Lindsay and Grace Hampson

.....

And now, a bit about the show!

I wanted to throw a party to thank all the models who participated in this project, and since most of don't live close to the gallery where they'll be showing, I thought it would be cool to have a one night only show in Toronto. I enlisted the help of Jenna and Jennifer from The Event Room to help me pull it off. They planned everything so wonderfully, from finding a gallery (MJG Gallery) to walking me through event logistics. They even provided custom calligraphy for some of the signage.



From left to right: Jenna, Rozlyn (one of my best friends and model for the project), Jennifer and me.

The beautiful printed paper goods were created by Jordan Puopolo, who does all my design work and is just generally an awesome guy.


The florals were done by Jill Galucci of The Rose Mint. She made six separate arrangements inspired by the scents featured in the portraits. I was astounded by her artistry and creativity.






I tried to get photos of all the models who were able to attend with their portraits.


The cupcakes were provided by Sarah Burns, my first ever engagement session client from 2007!

My sweet parents-in-law stood in for my sister-in-law, Carolyn, who posed for "Ocean Air."

Lindsay, one of my oldest friends, her adorable daughter and her soon-to-be born second daughter posed for "Fresh Linen." 

In addition to Jenna, Jennifer, Jill and Jordan and their wonderful contributions, more thanks go out to: my brother Jeremy, for bartending and filming the event; my brother Jonathan for spending his whole day off running errands before the show with me; my mom for helping out with every little thing I needed on the day of the show, and also for helping with the printing and framing of the images; my best gal Rozlyn for not only modelling, but helping set up the event, bringing the cupcakes and just being a wonderful friend in general; every single guest who attended, with extra gratitude to those who travelled from afar; every friend who sent me an email, text, facebook message or post on my facebook page with words of encouragement; Foto Art for printing the images; Al Lipske for building the custom frames, and of course Mark from MJG Gallery for hosting the whole event.

I wish I could have gotten way more photos of everyone who attended, but I was too busy talking to you all! Thank you so much for being there, and for all your support!


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commercial photography | subtle shift yoga

October 21, 2014, 8:44 am
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I was recently commissioned by my friend Karen to take some photos for the launch or her new business and website, Subtle Shift Yoga. We met at a beautiful studio in downtown Montreal, and with the help of some of her friends and students, had a lot of fun creating some images of what Subtle Shift Yoga is all about. I've practised with and learned from Karen countless times in the years I've known her. She has a graceful, calm and kind teaching style and a staggering wealth of knowledge. I am so proud of her for this new venture, and I know she will help a great many people.

If you're in Montreal and want to learn more about yoga from one of the finest and warmest instructors out there, be sure to visit her brand new site, which was designed by our mutual friend Deanna Radford. Congratulations, Karen! Here are just a few of my favourite images from our shoot.










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dans le boudoir with i

October 22, 2014, 9:56 am
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A few favourite images from a boudoir session with a fellow photographer.


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cave springs winery and inn on the twenty wedding | amy & derek

October 23, 2014, 8:30 am
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They were married in between thunderstorms. On the morning of their wedding, it rained cats and dogs. In the evening, once their guests were tucked into the cozy confines of the party, the sky lit up again with an hours-long lightning spectacle. But in between the bouts of extreme weather, the sun came out and shone upon their union. Amy and Derek, two people who are strong in every sense of the word, joined their lives in the middle of a vineyard in the late summer heat.

When my longtime friend Amy found Derek, I immediately saw that this was her partner for life. They push each other to pursue their highest dreams and ambitions, and remind each other to take breaks and have fun despite their intense careers. I'm so happy my feisty, headstrong, loving, sassy and kind-hearted friend with the one-in-a-million personality has found her match in a man that is calm, thoughtful, and funny as hell. It was such a pleasure to see two lovely people and their loved ones come together and celebrate as one big family.

Amy and Derek, thank you for having me as your photographer. I am so happy for you guys and it was amazing for both me and Brian to get to share in all the excitement while documenting your day. Wishing you all the happiness in the world!






















Their ceremony was in the middle of a vineyard at Cave Spring Cellars. It was breathtaking.























We travelled to Inn on the Twenty for their elegant and intimate reception.

During the party, we snuck away for a few moments for portraits in the wine cellar.


Credits:

Ceremony venue: Cave Spring Cellars //  Reception venue and catering: Inn on the Twenty // Officiant: Reverend Brent Hawkes  //  Photography: Dallas Curow Photography, with Brian Fauteux  // Florist: Fleurish Design Studio //  Baker: Lynn McGuire, mother of the bride  //  Dress: Moonlight  Couture // Shoes: Badgely Mischka  //  DJ: Maximum Music //  Makeup + Hair: Pretty in Pink Mobile Makeup & Hair

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rachel and aaron of blisscraft & brazen

October 27, 2014, 2:07 pm
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Have you heard of Blisscraft & Brazen? It's a beautiful two-person operation run by partners in business and life, Rachel and Aaron. Aaron is the man behind Blisscraft, a woodworker and furniture maker. Rachel designs and crafts nature-inspired jewellery under the name Brazen Design. When they're not making their awesome individual works, they join forces as Blisscraft & Brazen to create beautiful home goods.

I'm a longtime fan of their work, and an even bigger fan of the two of them. Last month, I met them in Toronto to take some photos for their site, as well as some portraits of Rachel for the launch of her new collection. While she previously worked exclusively in silver, she has recently started offering work in brass. In addition to several of her silver pieces, own two rings from this new brass collection and they make me very happy.

Rachel and Aaron, thank you for choosing me to take your portraits while you were in town. I'm so in awe of all you do and I wish you continued success in life and business!



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l'ambroisie wedding | amanda & kory

October 28, 2014, 11:16 am
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Their love was generations in the making. They were first introduced as babies, since their mothers were friends. And their mothers met because their own mothers were friends, as well as business partners. Since the beginning, their lives have been intertwined, and like some of the greatest love stories, theirs began with friendship. That it was born of generations of friendship makes it even more remarkable.

On their wedding day, they shared the long story of their romance in short:

1980s — Our strollers collided
1990s — He kissed her on the nose
2000s — High school locker buddies
2010 — He took her for a drive. Their first kiss... a real kiss this time
2011 — They fell in love. They saved each other
2013 — He popped the question. She said yes!
2014 — And now their story continues...

What you see when you spend time with Amanda and Kory is two people who are surrounded by unbreakable bonds. You see family members who are incredibly supportive, and friendships that are inspiringly close. You see laughter and enthusiasm and passion. You see kindness, honesty and directness. You see really deep love.

Amanda and Kory, there is a big place in my heart reserved for you two. Ever since we first talked, then had a wonderful afternoon at your engagement session, I  felt really connected to you guys. Being able to share in your wedding day meant the world to me. There was a special magic in the air that day, and I'll never forget looking around your ceremony and seeing so many beaming faces. There sure are a lot of people who were ecstatic to see you guys tie the knot. I am lucky to count myself among them, and luckier still to know you both. Congratulations!

I was fortunate to be accompanied at this beautiful wedding by my friend Lisa Griffiths who worked as my second photographer that day. She did an outstanding job, and as always was a pleasure to have by my side. 



While I photographed Amanda getting ready at her parents' home, Lisa was with Kory and his guys.

We met by the Lachine Canal for Amanda and Kory's first look. Amanda's father, a former wedding photographer himself, suggested the idea of giving her away during the first look. I loved this.












Amanda and Kory had handed out bubbles to be used during the recessional, but some guests decided to kick things off during the ceremony itself. What resulted was one of the most romantic ceremonies I've ever witnessed.


L'Ambroisie is a photographer's dream. There are countless gorgeous locations for photos, and it grows especially pretty in the soft evening light.












I'll close with one of my favourite moments of the day, captured by Lisa.



Credits:

Venue and caterer: L'Ambroisie //  Officiant: Rev. Dr. Craig Davidson  //  Photography: Dallas Curow Photography, with Lisa Griffiths //  Florist: Alain Simon Fleurs // Furniture rentals: Luxe Rentals //  Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas //  Bride's dress: Kathy Ireland for Mon Cheri, purchased at The Inspired Bride in Williamsburg,Virginia  //  Bride's shoes: Spring  // Hair: Amanda did her own!  //  Makeup: Dallas Curow
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last three weeks in pictures | october 14-november 2, 2014

November 3, 2014, 10:03 am
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The last three weeks have been a heady mix of very low-key days working at home, exciting days of shooting, quiet days of setting up house, and slightly frenzied days of travel and celebration.  Two weeks ago, my brothers came to visit me so we could attend a friend's Halloween keg party. It was the first party of that sort I'd been to in years and I had an absolute blast.

A quiet brunch at Me & Mine with some of my favourite guys was just the ticket.

Last Friday, Brian and I caught a flight to New York to attend the weddings of our friends Jenn and Pierre.

We spent Friday walking endlessly around the city, then met up with some friends for a cozy dinner and an impromptu Halloween pub crawl.

While we were having drinks in the lower east side, I met another photographer who laughingly said "I love that you bring that camera out with you." The truth is that while I know it's a bit much to bring my full-frame dSLR in my purse, every time I don't I am devastated about the photos I could have taken. So along she comes, every single place I go. I've never regretted bringing it along, even if it means I have to carry a huge bag. It just does the best job of capturing things the way they look in my head.

On Saturday, we slept in and then went for brunch in Brooklyn, then spent over an hour at a fabulous fragrance shop called Twisted Lily. I was astounded by the wonderful customer service offered by Anna, the charismatic fragrance encyclopedia who helped me and Brian find perfume and cologne respectively.

Shortly thereafter, we hopped in a cab and headed to the wedding.


Being a wedding guest as a wedding photographer is a completely different experience. It's always really refreshing and fun. I would say the biggest difference is that my makeup and hair looks a lot less bedraggled as a guest since I'm not constantly squinting into my viewfinder, doing lunges, and laying on the ground! In all seriousness, it was such a treat to be there with my friends and observe the union of two beautiful souls. Congratulations, Jenn and Pierre! I hope your honeymoon is glorious.


Then back to Toronto. Wishing you a beautiful week!

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toronto high park engagement | chelsea & edi

November 4, 2014, 9:22 am
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Someone recently told me that the things you love distinguish themselves from others by leaving you feeling energized after you do them. Meeting and photographing Chelsea and Edi, laughing and exploring high park, and looking at their love through my lenses left me feeling like a million bucks. These two lovely people and their buoyant effect on my spirits reminded me how much I love what I do. Their love is inspirational, captivating, and definitely photogenic. They push each other to grow and learn and explore, and they have the most beautiful chemistry. Like me, they are also devoted tea drinkers, as I was delighted to see when they showed up to meet me sipping some infusions. Chelsea is the cousin of Meghan, one of my beloved 2013 brides. It's such an honour to meet and work with another member from such a great family.

Chelsea and Edi, thank you for the wonderful afternoon together, for the laughs and the awesome book recommendations. I'm really happy to know you and have you as a part of my life. Thank you most of all for choosing me as your wedding photographer. I can't wait for your big day next spring!

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styled shoot: romance al fresco

November 5, 2014, 8:10 am
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Today is a day for big news, and not only because my idol Benedict Cumberbatch's engagement was just announced. It's also a great big day because my dear friends Jenna and Jennifer at The Event Room are officially launching their brand new website.

I am so proud of these two hard-working women. They have a strong shared vision as well as complementary skill sets. They are immensely talented and just lovely to be around. I'm happy to have worked with them on many occasions, including Jennifer's own wedding last fall. Most recently, they expertly coordinated the launch party for my Feeling of Fragrance project. I'm sending a big hug and warm congratulations to my friends today. I know this is the start of something big for them.

We thought their launch day would be the ideal moment to show you our latest creative collaboration. I'll let The Event Room tell you all about it:

Our vision for this styled wedding shoot was "romance al fresco" through the juxtaposition of elegant luxe elements in an intimate garden party setting. The concept was inspired by the idea of taking the glamourous feeling of a black tie affair, and the relaxed vibe of dining with friends and fusing them together. It’s about living life as if every day is worth wearing your special occasion jewellery, or busting out the nice china. Where the finer things in life should be enjoyed along with the simple pleasures. 

The main design elements of the tablescape are crisp, white linens with silver and blush accents bathed in candlelight, all under the cover of towering willow trees. The mercury glass votives, crystal and silver candelabras and a chandelier strung from the trees set the tone for romance. The floral design takes the idea of from garden to table to a new level, with a light and fresh colour palate of beautiful full blooms and lush greenery draping over chairs, and cascading from the vintage washboard cake table. 

DIY hand-painted silver pear place cards, and framed paper goods that include romantic quotes add a sense of understated elegance. We couldn't resist a subtle nod to the glamourous life of Manhattan’s elite — the faux guests at this outdoor affair fit for Blair Waldorf were none other than the characters of Gossip Girl. The invitation suite was designed to be soft, simple, elegant and modern. Our baker The Sweet Spot Cupakes designed an array of treats with a luxe sensibility (read: glittering, silvery sugar!) that made them almost too pretty to eat.

A special thanks goes out to our models Meg and Steve, a real life married couple who spent their first wedding anniversary shooting with us. Now, without further ado, here are the images from our Romance al Fresco styled shoot:


Credits:

Concept and Styling: The Event Room //  Photography: Dallas Curow Photography, assisted by Karly Boileau  //  Venue: private residence  //  Florist: Helen Hardmeier of Florals by Design //  Rentals: Absolute Tent & Event Services // Makeup and Hair: Dallas Curow  //  Baker: The Sweet Spot Cupcakes //  Stationary: The Tansley Press
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canadian museum of nature wedding | jenna & phil

November 6, 2014, 12:49 pm
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From beginning to end, Jenna and Phil's wedding day felt more than a little bit like a fairytale. From the first soft notes that Phil strummed on the guitar Jenna gave him that morning as a wedding gift, to the dreamy first dance they shared to "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos. There was a resplendent gown fit for a queen, bubbling champagne and a the exchange of vows during the day's most golden hour. Then there was the fact that they got married in what was essentially a castle. Sure, I mean technically it was the sumptuously renovated Canadian Museum of Nature, but it sure looks like a castle.

Early autumn sunlight flooded the rooms of the museum and illuminated the impeccable attention to detail that Jenna and her planner Julie had bestowed upon the décor. Every element had sweet significance: photographs of beloved relatives graced a table, a pretty poster shared advice for the bride and groom from their families, and homemade treats brought a taste their respective homes to the celebration. Towering over it all was a handmade 8x8 ribbon wall that Jenna had dreamed up, festooned with all the shades that coloured their day.

And yet, despite the heady elegance, their wedding day felt joyous and relaxed. Loved ones gathered from near and far, from the surrounding neighbourhoods in Ottawa and from Northern Ontario and Chile, where much of their families reside. On their wedding day, they were surrounded by love and support. After Jenna and Phil exchanged their heartfelt vows (Jenna delighting Phil by speaking partly in Spanish), they walked gleefully down the aisle while guests enthusiastically waved flags.

Jenna and Phil, thank you so much for including me in your plans for this spectacular day. Both Brian and I were truly honoured to be there. It was a pleasure to document everything you worked tirelessly to create, and just fantastic to witness your union. Wishing you all the happiness in the world!


Phil got ready at Ottawa's Lord Elgin Hotel.

Meanwhile, Jenna prepared at their beautiful home:

Pablo Neruda's timeless poetry was a recurring theme throughout their wedding, and their ceremony included a beautiful reading of one of his works. It was a lovely nod to Phil's Chilean heritage.

Once all the preparations were complete, they met for their first look in a circle of trees beside the museum.

That dress...

We explored the magnificent museum and its grounds for some portraits


Their ceremony was held in the Queen's Lantern, a gorgeous sunlit room at the front of the museum.

I loved the moment when Jenna and Phil invited all their guests to wish on pennies, which were later collected in a jar to be kept in the couple's home.

Then it was time to head to the reception. As you will soon see, the styling was breathtaking.


During the reception, we tip-toed away for a few final portraits.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!


Credits:

Venue: Canadian Museum of Nature //  Event planner: Chic Wedding Planning and Design // Styling: Jenna Young (the bride!) and Chic Wedding Planning and Design //  Officiant: Justice Michael Varpio  //  Photography: Dallas Curow Photography, with Brian Fauteux  //  Caterer: Thyme & Again //  Florist: Full Bloom //  Baker: Thimblecakes //  Favours: The Young-Castro family!  //  Invitations: Wish Tree Invitations & Stationary Inc. //  Dress: Reem Acra, purchased at White Toronto //  Shoes: Kate Spade //  Fascinator: White Ribbon Accents //  Jewellery: borrowed from the bride's mother  //  Makeup: Dallas Curow //  Hair: Sonia Nicastro at BossArts Salon and Spa // Groom's suit: Mr J Mens Fashion  //  Groom's tie: Burberry //  Shoes: Banana Republic //  Musicians: Guitarists Lucas Paluch and Steve Tozzi
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the feeling of fragrance | pine

November 7, 2014, 11:10 am
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Happy Friday! As you may know, I recently wrapped my The Feeling of Fragrance project, or at least phase one of it, in time for my gallery show. The prints are now sitting happily at Full Spectrum Gallery until the end of December, after which select ones will go to their new homes, and some will go up in my apartment. Now that this phase of the project has been completed, I thought it would be fun to tell you a bit about each individual portrait. Today, we'll start with the story behind "Pine." Here is the portrait that was included in the collection:



I decided on this portrait after much debate. Of the entire series, it was the second most difficult to choose. I ended up with this one after my test group of family and friends unanimously voted for it. I usually kind of operate in a vaccuum without outside consultation, but I found I needed quite a bit of help making final decisions for this project. The reason is simple. For every other shoot, I usually deliver many images, never just one. Or when I do have commercial assignments that only require one deliverable image, it's the client who makes the choice. For portrait clients, I get attached to many images and send as many as I think are pretty and flattering. So for this project, choosing one was really hard.

What ultimately helped me make the choice was to land on an image that did two things:

- captured the essence of the fragrance it was imagining, in this case the scent of pine needles
- complemented the other images in the collection, providing balance and harmony

With the help of my confidantes, I chose the above portrait because of the way the sunlight wove its way through the needles and onto her cheeks, and because it was the only tight closeup in the collection.  I am so happy I got to work with model Vicky Q of Orange Models. She and her mother were wonderful to work with, and we had fun hunting for all sorts of evergreen trees in the blocks surrounding my apartment. Vicky was the perfect model for this portrait. Her quiet grace and lovely complexion just shone and she helped me create exactly the vibe I had in mind for this scent.

For her makeup, I knew I wanted the colours to directly echo the greens and browns of evergreens. I kept the lines straight and purposely didn't curl her lashes to mimic the shapes of the needles. I kept her lips nude and glossy, so that the shiny finish would provide some nice contrast against the rough needles. I kept her hair straight and continually roughed up the texture throughout the shoot. Vicky's hair is really healthy, so it kept falling back perfectly into place between shots. It was fun to just keep teasing it to get that messy feeling I wanted. For clothing, I either wanted a cozy woolen look or a bit of sparkle, so I brought along garments in both textures. As it turns out, the tight crop of the image eliminated any trace of the styling, but I wanted to have options, you know?

Here were my many other choices of images. I couldn't decide what kind of foliage looked best, so we tried pretty much everything we could find!

This photo below was the second runner-up. I still love it, especially because it's pretty much straight out of camera and the natural light was just so fabulous.

We had a bit of free time at the end of our shoot, so I shot a few photos for Vicky's book.

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holiday family portrait special

November 10, 2014, 7:47 am
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The holidays are approaching, and I don't know about you but I'm starting to feel festive already! To celebrate my first holiday living back in Toronto in many years, I've blocked off two days in my calendar exclusively for family portraits later this month. I'm offering these shoots at a special rate as my gift to you this holiday season. I can't wait to photograph you and your family. By family I mean you and anyone you love with all your heart. So bring your significant other, your kids, and even your dog(s) and we'll have a blast taking photos together.

DATES

Sunday, November 23 in Burlington (only one spot left!)
Sunday, November 30 in Toronto (Trinity-Bellwoods park)

WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • One hour family portrait session
  • Makeup touchup for one person
  • Styling advice to help you choose great outfits for your shoot
  • 40 beautifully edited photos in high resolution
  • Lovely online gallery to share with family and friends
Investment: $350 + HST

Photos will be ready within one week of your shoot, so you'll have lots of time to print them before Christmas and Hannukah. 

Spots will go quickly, so get in touch to book your portrait!


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webster falls engagement | karolyn & blake

November 11, 2014, 8:10 am
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High school sweethearts Karolyn and Blake were on vacation in Switzerland earlier this year when they decided together, like the thoroughly modern couple they are, that it might be time to make things official. While they were walking around and exploring, a sparkling ring in a shop window caught their eyes and a short while later, they were engaged! Upon returning home, they kicked things up an additional notch by welcoming a new addition to their home, a spirited and adorable puppy named Thor. If you're a dog person at all, prepare for your heart to melt when you see him.

I met this lovely trio at Webster Falls on a stunningly beautiful Sunday afternoon to take some photos that celebrated their engagement and documented this exciting time in their lives together. Karolyn and Blake, thank you for spending that gorgeous afternoon with me and making me laugh endlessly the whole time. I know your wedding next May will be nothing short of amazing, and I can't wait to get into all the Bruce Springsteen hits that will undoubtedly be the soundtrack of your party. Wishing you all the best in your wedding planning, and I can't wait for the big day!

P.s. How much do you love Karolyn's cozy, layered outfit? I don't think I've ever seen a more perfect look for fall.
 



Lastly, a special thanks goes out to Karolyn's mom, Helen, who came along as a puppy-sitter. In addition to being the mother of the bride-to-be, Helen is a talented florist whose work I was able to photograph during a recent shoot.
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the feeling of fragrance | smoke

November 12, 2014, 10:46 am
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I'm continuing my series of posts about each portrait in my The Feeling of Fragrance series. Next up, I'd like to share a little more about the "Smoke" portrait. Here is the image that was included in the collection:

This portrait featured model Jada M from Orange Models. I had worked with Jada once before, and I thought her look would be perfect for this theme. Luckily she was available and I met up with her and her mother, Juliet on a bright summer day. I had originally envisioned in a coniferous forest, but once I settled on "Pine" as another scent, I decided mixed foliage would made a better backdrop. I knew I wanted to shoot outdoors, as my love of smoke comes from all the great memories I have of bonfires and cottage weekends and camping. I chose a conservation area in Aurora, Ontario as the final location.

Next up, I had to figure out the best way to get an actual element of smoke into the photos. I knew I wanted to capture this in-camera, rather than adding it in post-production. I began doing lots of research as to the most convincing effects. After ruling out a smoke or fog machine, exploring lots of firework websites, stores and sketchy pop-ups in parking lots, I found this website. I called one of their Toronto locations and the woman on the phone assured me that they had the perfect products for my shoot. When I dropped by, she helped me pick out a selection of different options. By far the best were these smoke emitters in gray and white. Here's what they look like as they're, well, emitting:



The smoking cone, on the other hand, was a bit of a bust. It smelled horrendous and barely worked.



Here's Juliet, who generously volunteered to carefully hold the smoke emitters so we could better control the direction of the smoke:

The final step on the day of the shoot was choosing a backdrop that would best show the smoke. I took a bunch of test shots before concluding that we'd just have to have a very dynamic, experimental shoot and see what worked best on the fly. My main worry that the backdrop would be too tropical looking and would, with the added smoke, start to resemble the jungle dancing sequences from J. Lo's Waiting for Tonight video. For that reason, I tried to stay away from ferns!


For Jada's hair, we let her natural texture shine, aided by some french braids that shaped the wave, thanks to Juliet. I created a soft smoky eye in gray and taupe tones to match the smoke itself.  I kept her lips natural in colour with a hint of shine, and added only the tiniest bit of contouring and blush to her cheeks. We brought along a variety of black garments with interesting textures, and we ended up using four or five different outfits to provide options. Jada's poise and focus were instrumental to the success of this shoot. It's unbelievable to me that she is only 16 years old. I wish I'd had myself that together at her age! Many thanks to Jada and her sweet mother for all their help with my project. Here are the other images from the shoot:













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