It was such a thrill to capture portraits of Carrie and Rob. I was crushed that I was not available to photograph their upcoming wedding, and this was a wonderful consolation (although now I might be a little more crushed) – because they truly are fabulous. Not only are they both stunning, but you really couldn’t meet two sweeter people.

Together they have such a lovely calm way. I don’t know if she noticed, but Rob couldn’t take his eyes of Carrie the whole time and she just melted into his arms when he snuggled her.

We headed out to photograph in some areas that were special to them, and it was such a lovely session and time that we photographed until just before dark.

Carrie and Rob thank you for your grace, humour (I loved learning more about this side of you,)  and being such sincere interesting people. You must know I am huge fans of yours!

The smile.

It said so much about her.

That was my first impression.

I was first struck by Jenna about six years ago. I went to watch a Pantuso Dance Recital and my then four year old and I enjoyed the whole show, but at one point this strong tapper came on stage and even though she was part of a crowd of dancers we couldn’t take our eyes off her. Her smile shone so brightly and the joy she shared while dancing filled us up.

My daughter named her smiley girl. She was pretty sure she was a celebrity. When I would see her around town and point her out to my daughter s would get shy –  ”What smiley girl shopped at the same grocery store as us?”

Eventually, we came to know her as Jenna and she came further into our life. She even babysat my star-struck child, and now my children have followed her footsteps into dance. I am like many, who when they meet Jenna they come easily to care about her.

When Jenna’s father contacted me a year ago to plan Jenna’s grad session my heart did a pitter-patter. First off, you have to love a dad who is so tuned into honoring and celebrating his daugther that he plans a year in advance. Secondly, as I have gotten to know more about Jenna my feeling of being honored to capture this time in her life deepened.

Jenna is no ordinary teenager. Yes, she can dance and perform with so much heart it will give you goosebumps, but she is so much more than that. She has a unique bravery. One that leads her to do the right thing, to take chances and to be herself, which we all know isn’t always easy, never-less in your teen years.

As she heads off to college there are so many people excited for her. There are also many who will miss her glorious presence.

Thank you Jenna, you make me smile.

And there is well deserved buzz..

You know Jenn? For sure you do.

“No, I dont’ think so.”

“Come..on” of course you do.

I kept hearing about this woman Jenn.. “She is amazing,” – “She is inspiring” –  ”Man, does she have talent” So when we met backstage at Music Fest last summer I was a wee-bit nervous. Thankfully, her warm smile, and the few glasses of wine I had enjoyed helped us jump, into easy conversation and now, I can say first hand, that she is indeed a star on so many levels.

You might know Jenn as a gifted and well loved elementary school and private music teacher or as the woman who transformed the Vanier Choir. Perhaps you met her in her role as leader of the  Celebration Singers, or you have seen her perform with her Trio, or maybe one of her solo performances, or another one of her calibrations. Maybe, you know her because you see her picking up her kids from school, because she rocks the mom role as well – or you recognize her because you have seen that amazing smile around town. Seriously, this woman is hard to miss.

Her precense is strong. After photograhing her I can tell you that all that you see when you first meet her goes so deep. She is full of honesty, which comes across in her performances. She is present. She is a quite simply a joy.

Thank you for the wonderful morning of creating photographs Jenn !

With her fine features and head full of hair she is just Siaja is just a sweet little beauty. She nestled right into her session, snoozing through a good part of it. This little one is set, with proud parents, who are smart, fun and dotting life is going to be very good to her.

She really was such a doll to photograph – might we have a caught a little smirk?

A 13 th birthday is nothing to let pass without something special and Darion’s mom knows how to make some magic. As well as organizing a fabulous party for her she took her daughter out for some hair and make-up treatment and then we connected for a photo shoot. What an amazing gift! Of course we had tons of fun and I am so happy that Darion will have these images to look back on. All too often we stop photographing children when they become young adults, which is such an amazing time of change, on all levels.

This photo session is pretty special to me. I first met Darion when my daughter  Selah was one and Darion was four. They attended a wonderful daycare together, and really became part of our extended family. My daughter always looked up to Darion, (even when a five year old Darion gave Selah her first hair cut.) I have had the chance to photograph her through the years and watch her become this interesting,  kind, self-assured person who still laughs like a young child.

It’s hard to believe she is now 13, but easy to see how bright she shines.