So I really like my birthday – like really like it. I am actually the type of person to give myself not only a birthday week, but a birthday month! But historically, I have never been able to celebrate my birthday on the actual day. When I was in university, exams always ruined the birthday spirit and all the celebrations would be postponed until after everyone had suffered through all their tests. Then when I was working as an engineer, the end of March was one of the absolute busiest times of the year and everything would once again get pushed a week or so. So when I starting working for just myself, I figured I would be able to set the day aside for celebrations – but that only works if you don’t book anything on the date.
But I didn’t mind sharing the date with Jolani + Josh for even a second! These two are so kind and wonderful that I had no problems postponing my birthday celebrations a little bit to be able to capture their wedding day! And as an added bonus, these amazing people took time out of their special day to highlight my birthday by gifting us a delicious birthday cake – how cool is that?!
I think we all have our favourite places, both in our homes and outside in the real world. For me, my favourite places are almost all inside my cozy home, where I don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing or how my hair is doing that day, but when it comes to outdoor places – this little forest nestled nearby is definitely high up on the list! And I am so glad Christine + Sam loved it too! Although, the ice-covered hill going in both directions did take the awesomeness of this place down just a tad on this particular day.
This styled shoot was literally everything I had dreamed of and so much more! Adding an extra day to my Arkansas trip was a million per cent worth it because I got to work with some extremely talented people and cross off something from my photography bucket list (doing a styled session while traveling). And to think it all started off with me leaving my comfort zone for a few hours one day back in January.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, winter engagement sessions here in Ottawa can be brutal! There really is no telling what kind of winter day you will get, and the cold, storm-ridden days are just as likely as the cold, windy, blue-sky filled days. And for some couples, dealing with the outdoor conditions just isn’t for them, but fortunately there are a ton of indoor locations to choose from in the area. Mix those with a few quick trips outside, and you have a lovely winter session in which no one had to get cold!
I have mentioned it before, but I really will do just about anything for my clients and their photos. I often end up lying on the ground during my session to get a unique angle, although as I mentioned to Natasha + Jon during their session, this is really only suggested for wide shots as a straight up the nose angle isn’t flattering for anyone. I can also be seen with mud all over my shoes, dirt on pants, and squatting is something I can do for days thanks to the long stretches of it during wedding ceremonies. But in the case of winter sessions, the dedication to getting the shot is probably best exemplified by the bruises that are currently covering my shins.
