In Bloom Photography

OUT OF OFFICE ALERT!

2012-01-23T13:36:00.002-05:00

I will be out of the office from Friday January 27th until Sunday February 12th enjoying a long overdue vacation! I will be periodically checking my email while I'm away and can respond to you as soon as I get a moment. If you place an order for albums or prints during this time, your order will be processed as soon as I return.
AND SOME GREAT NEWS!!! The last two weeks of February I will be working full-speed on giving the website an entirely huge, massive, awesome overhaul! All new pictures, on a redesigned website -- it's gonna be a show-stopper! I'm super excited to show it to all of you!
In the meantime, please enjoy this adorable shot of Baby Fiona from one of the many, many newborn sessions I've been doing lately! Have a great couple of weeks!

News & Tidbits: Looking forward to 2012!

2011-12-28T12:34:00.002-05:00

What a whirlwind 2011 has been! In Bloom Photography was voted the #2 Wedding Vendor in Southern Ontario by The Wedding Ring, I covered more weddings than any other year so far, I met so many newborn babies, families, and engaged couples too! It's just been a wonderful year full of so many great things. Even got a fancy new logo done up! So for that, I thank everyone, and am looking forward to a very strong and busy 2012!

Promotions:

The Deal of the Day promotion I did last week, leading up to Christmas, was a smashing success - my blackberry was going bananas with people's inquiries and bookings, and I'm so looking forward to working with all the people who took advantage of these 5 deals:

I still have a special deal on right now for my clients who are looking to book a good dj for their 2012 wedding, and I can't recommend him enough. Joe Seyler from The Sounds DJ is just about as good as it gets when you want a totally non-cheesy, fun, and professional disc jockey. And if you use the code GREATPICS when you go to his website to get a quote, you'll save $100 off a Standard Evening package. And who doesn't love to save a hundred bucks!?

Be make sure you follow me on Twitter @InBloomPhoto and like me on Facebook.com/InBloomPhotos because I regularly have secret deals and last minute promotions to take advantage of, as well as other neat information for people who are planning weddings or photo sessions.

On The Web:

Every year at this time, I go through all the weddings and portrait sessions I did and I look for some new shots to put into my website's galleries. It's hard trudging through literally tens of thousands of photos and only picking a few! But those additions will be coming soon to the website. I also have so many blog posts to catch up on -- I want to show you some of the really incredible places I visited with even more incredible clients this year! Be sure to visit my list of related wedding vendors and other business friends on my website. I'm constantly updating it with people who I've personally worked with, and have seen first-hand how they go above and beyond for their clients. Right now, I'm an active member of FrugalBride and The Wedding Ring, but you can also find me on Canadian Bride, Wedding Wire and several other wedding websites. You'll see I write a lot of articles on things I'm passionate about as they relate to photography; many articles I've written on boudoir photography, copyright, and photographer pricing (among others) have been re-posted on many other photographer's blogs and I'm so happy that my old copywriting skills are still being put to good use! lol

Packages & Pricing:

As always, clients are telling me how much they love my hourly rate for their weddings. Not everyone needs 10-12 hours of wedding coverage or a giant wedding album and I totally get that. So my plan is to keep the hourly package and a-la-carte pricing as it is for now... but... I will also be adding a package that is tailored to couples who want 8+ hours and albums as well. I'm still finalizing some things but should have that ready to go for clients who are booking for 2013 and beyond. As for 2012 weddings & portrait sessions, my calendar is getting full and it's not even the new year yet! Inevitably, I get a huge surge of people looking for engagement and family sessions in the fall, but I'm already about 2/3 booked right now, if you can believe it! So please, please don't wait until the last minute to book your sessions as I always feel terrible turning people away when their dates are unavailable.

Other News:

I'm super excited that for the third time in 3 years, I've been chosen to feature one of my weddings in The Wedding Ring's spring/summer issue of their magazine! Pick up a copy at Chapters or wherever super-awesome wedding magazines are sold because this one is a goodie: Nicole & Derrick were such a sweet couple, married last August at the Delta London Armouries. Also, in April, the Wedding Ring generally announces the winners of their Bride's Choice Awards. I'd be thrilled to hang on to my #2 Wedding Vendor title, so if you can spare a minute, visit this link and click the "LOVE IT" button! The more votes I get (and the more comments at the bottom of the page, if I've ever worked for you!) the more chance I have of holding on to the title! It means a lot to me - honestly - and I can't thank you all enough for the support you've given me since I started up this wee business!

Soooo, if you've read this far, wow... thanks! I'm excited for all the new things coming up, but I also wanted to update the blog and wish everyone the very best in 2012!
Assuming the Mayan Calendar ending in December '12 isn't really going to end the world (ha!) then I'm sure it's going to be a fabulous year full of new experiences and new fun photo shoots! Wahoo! Take care everybody and we'll talk to you in January!

Psst! Wanna save a hundred bucks?

2011-12-13T15:25:00.002-05:00

I thought you might! Check this out!

For a very limited time, wedding clients of In Bloom Photography have the opportunity to save $100 off of any Standard Evening DJ Package (starting as low as $650) through The Sounds DJ! With their Standard Evening Package, you will enjoy…

* Up to 8 Hours of background music during cocktails and dinner

- * A professional DJ

- * Basic MC service

- * Pre-event planning consultation and access to full suite of online planning tools.

- * Our standard equipment includes state of the art two speaker sound system and our comprehensive digital music library

Simply visit http://soundsdj.ca to get a quote and enter the Promo Code GREATPICS.

Kristin & Dave's Wedding: Toronto Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-12-13T11:07:00.000-05:00

I'm sure I've said it before, but we were sooo lucky this fall with weather. When you plan a wedding for October through December, you really never know what you're in for. But Kristin & Dave truly lucked out on their day! I had the pleasure of working this wedding with my second shooter, Jennifer Lefler who did an amazing job and was fun as always. Our day started off in Mississauga where Dave was getting ready with his groomsmen. We'll never forget Dave's Superman underwear! I'll let Dave keep his dignity and won't post any pictures... ha ha

Dave is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and was back from Afghanistan, complete with some well-earned sunglasses tan-lines!

Then we hopped into the car to head to Etobicoke where Kristin and her bridesmaids were getting ready!

At this point it was time to leave for the Capitol Theatre in Toronto for the ceremony. And wouldn't you know it? Traffic was horrendous. I can't tell you how bad it was! So when we arrived, Dave was a little nervous that Kristin and her bridesmaids were running a little late, thanks to a bit of a crazy limo driver! Luckily they arrived safely and things got rolling right along!

To make the service even more personal, Kristin's mom performed the ceremony in the middle of the theatre as all their family & friends surrounded the couple in a circle.

One crazy limo ride later, we all were at Edwards Gardens for some family & bridal party photos.

I love this next one that Jennifer took of Kristin as she was waiting for me to finish up some shots of the groomsmen!

Since things were running a little late, we hustled back for the reception & first dance. And what wedding at the Capitol Theatre would be complete without a picture in front of the marquee?!

What a wonderful, very personalized day these two had! My favorite shot of Kristin & Dave was when they were dancing in the spotlight together. So romantic!

All the best for a long and happy marriage Kristin & Dave!

Feeling The Love!

2011-11-14T17:47:00.001-05:00

In early 2011, In Bloom Photography was voted the #2 Wedding Vendor in Southern Ontario as part of the Bride's Choice Awards for The Wedding Ring. It was both humbling and incredible to have so many people come forward to show their "love" by voting for me! So from the bottom of my hearts, THANK YOU. Seriously, it meant a lot to this girl.
So now I'm starting early on the humbling task of asking clients & friends that if you know of my work, or if I've ever shot your wedding, family, or boudoir pictures, to vote for me again so we might have the honor of winning this prestigious award again in 2012.
It's VERY easy to do.
Anyone can click on the "LOVE" button (pictured below) to enter their vote..
And any former clients of mine can also scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a comment - each comment is worth 3 votes, and what's more important, is that I love reading people's feelings towards my work.
It's been a wonderful year in 2011 for In Bloom Photography, and I'm excited to get started on all the great things planned in 2012! Thanks so much everyone!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE & COMMENT NOW!

What I'm Working On: Southern Ontario Family Photography

2011-11-07T11:34:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd just share what I'm working on today! Meet Charlie - a very cute and amazing 2 year old!

Janice & Mark's Wedding: London Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-11-04T17:58:00.000-04:00

Weren't we so lucky with the weather this past Thanksgiving? I mean, when it comes to October weddings, you really never know what you're going to get. But Janice & Mark couldn't have done any better than their warm & sunny wedding day on Thanksgiving weekend at Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London. It was a nice change of pace for me as well: a short & sweet day so I could enjoy the weekend with my family and friends!

We started off taking the formal photos around the Village before the actual ceremony. Janice & Mark had use of the Pioneer Village's horse & buggy, and Janice looked very "regal" sitting up there!

There are so many great locations around this venue -- so many nooks and crannies, and at this time of year, the trees are in full colour!

Everyone loves the Brewery!

Before long, the guests had all filed into the adorable little chapel on site and the ceremony was underway. I just love small weddings, don't you?!

Immediately after the ceremony, guests mingled and took photos of the happy couple before the reception began in the barn.

And while the guests dined on a traditional turkey dinner, it was time for me to leave and enjoy the incredible sunset on my way home!

Congratulations you two - what a sweet wedding day you shared!

Let's be honest about pricing.

2011-09-28T11:57:00.002-04:00

Sticker shock got ya?

So you're shopping around for a wedding photographer and you're hit with a bad case of sticker shock. You're looking for some nice photos of your wedding and you're surprised at what it's going to cost you to get the style of photography you love, and the package that suits your needs.

Nobody questions the dramatic difference in the cost of a designer wedding gown vs. one off of the rack because it's clear that they're paying for the quality, brand and design of the dress. Most brides are reluctant to have their hair done at a discount hairdressing shop (like the one inside your local WalMart) for their wedding day -- they tend to visit more established salons because they want a particular style, and they're willing to pay for that quality work. And yet when people shop for a wedding photographer, the one person who will be giving you a tangible memory to keep for years after your wedding day is over, they often question the costs associated with hiring a professional. So I thought I'd take the opportunity to give you a little peek into the world of wedding photographers and where your money is actually going.

Let's say that for a photographer to cover your wedding day for 8 hours, with no prints or albums, just strictly the coverage of the day and a disc of images... Let's say the cost of this is $2500.00 -- not an unheard of price in Southern Ontario for wedding day coverage and might even be considered on the low-end of things. But for the sake of this blog post, let's just go with it.

Some people might think: "Twenty-five hundred bucks for 8 hours work?!? That's ridiculous! I don't make that at my job!" But is it really just "8 hours work"? Is that really all you're paying for? If wedding photographers really kept that $2500.00 for themselves, we'd all be driving Mercedes and taking lavish vacations on tropical islands all winter long. But we don't. So there's some kind of disconnect on what folks *perceive* they're paying for, and what they're *actually* paying for.

Here's a nice pie chart to help show you where your $2500.00 is going when you book your wedding.

YELLOW: TAXES
Right away, before anything else, there are taxes. This includes the HST that your photographer has collected from you and will be handing over to the government. It also includes the income taxes that the photographer is going to have to pay on their business. Unlike most people's jobs where tax is taken off of each paycheque, photographers have to consciously "bank" this money for income tax time. So a third of the payment is gone immediately to Mr. Tax Man.

RED: EXPENSES
Running a photography business means there are huge expenses for the business. Some of these are the same things you pay for when you hire a plumber, a mechanic, or a contractor for your house. Every photographer's expenses are different, but here's a list of some common ones:
- Equipment maintenance, cleaning, repairs and replacements (definitely not cheap, but you want your photographer to have good working equipment on your wedding day, right? Consider that professionals need to have 2 of everything as a backup, and one set of equipment alone can be $10,000 and beyond.)
- Software (in today's digital age, a large expense for photographers is the computer software used for editing and retouching your images.)
- Advertising (includes things like website maintenance costs, magazine or print advertising, web ads, etc. - it's how you found out about them so it's a necessary expense!)
- Travel (includes gas, car insurance and vehicle maintenance since you want your photographer's car to get them to the church on time!)
- Liability Insurance (a cost for professionals who want to ensure the safety and security of every photo shoot they work on.)
- General Office Administration (this includes things like purchasing specialized packaging for shipping photos and discs safely, shipping costs, paperwork and general office supplies)
And that's not even mentioning things like paying for second shooters, assistants, revising contracts, and capital expenses on studio space if necessary. There are membership fees to professional photography associations too! Some photographers may even have other expenses not listed that help run their business and this will be reflected in what they charge for their services. So for many photographers, this RED area might even be more than a third of the pie chart.

BLUE: SERVICES RENDERED
So now we're left with just one-third of the pie chart left for the actual work your photographer has done on your wedding. You *think* it's just the 8 hours of shooting on your wedding day, but let's look at that a little more closely.

How much time did the photographer spend meeting with you in consultations before your wedding day? How much time was spent travelling to and preparing for those meetings? How much time was spent on phone calls and emails with you too, ensuring that everything was set and ready to run smoothly on the big day? Most people wouldn't accept going to their own regular desk job and being told they wouldn't be paid for the time they spent consulting with clients and meetings. Photographers are no different! So let's say, in the time leading up to your wedding, the photographer spent 3 hours on these meetings, consultations and contact with you. (Many photographers spend more than 3 hours - so keep that in mind!)
Then, on the day of the wedding, your photographer puts in those great 8 hours you've booked; climbing up and squatting down to capture every angle, wrangling family members that are straggling away, keeping the bride & groom calm & happy, sorting out what camera settings to use in a split-second situation, being creative on the spot, and making sure everything they've been asked to shoot has been adequately covered.
After your wedding, the photographer goes back to the office and begins the painstaking task of editing the photos. Now, every photographer's process and workflow is different, so there's no standard of how much time this part of their work takes. But at the very least, your photographer is probably going to be culling all the images - sorting out which ones are "keepers" where the exposure and composition is great, and deleting the ones that someone's eyes were shut, out of focus, or that just "didn't work". Next, they probably are going to do some corrections to the thousands of photos that did make the cut -- that means tweaking the colours to be more accurate, playing with the exposure and contrast to give the images a more polished look. Some photographers even go another step and do more retouching to each photo, while others pick out their favorites to fully retouch into stunning works of art. But the point is, there are hours upon hours of work here. And that doesn't include the time it takes to upload these massive files into online galleries, creating and packaging up your disc of images for shipping, featuring your wedding story on their blog, and all that "loose end" kind of work.

So... that "8-hour wedding" you booked is actually probably closer to 20+ hours of work for your photographer. And then consider this: does expertise and experience have value? When you look at what is considered a reasonable labour wage for the expertise of a professional mechanic, plumber or contractor with years of experience, a photographer's rate is quite reasonable for someone you are putting in charge of capturing and keeping your memories on one of the biggest days of your life! It takes years of practice and education (formal or not) to create magazine-worthy images of your wedding day with people who aren't trained models, and that is most definitely worth paying for.

Bottom line: when all is said and done, the real variable in pricing comes with the experience & expertise of the individual photographer and what value you place on having someone like that shooting your wedding.

Certainly, there are less expensive options, and there are more expensive options. There are photographers out there for every budget and you'll find the one you're most comfortable with. This is merely a feeble attempt and showing you how the money you spend on your photographer is generally allocated so you're better prepared to head out and find the one that's a perfect fit for your wedding. By all means, I can't speak for every photographer, and I'm sure there are some who allocate the funds quite differently than this. But I hope this answers a few of your questions, and of course if you've got any more, please don't hesitate to contact me and I'll be as honest as I can on how I set my prices and packages. I truly believe in educating clients, and taking an up front approach with what I do. So best of luck in your wedding photography search, and I hope you find the one that not only meets your needs but exceeds your expectations!

Cherri & Bill's Wedding: Niagara Falls Wedding Photography

2011-09-21T13:18:00.001-04:00

An old friend of mine from high school contacting me last fall about her September wedding this year, and can I just say how delighted I was to be a part of this for Cherri & Bill? :)
These two really know how to have fun, despite everything the world has dealt them and their love and strength really show. That's why their wedding was not just a celebration of their relationship, but a display of their lifelong bond to each other. So romantic!!!
I drove down to Niagara Falls in the morning to meet Cherri at her hotel while everyone was getting ready.

While there was a bit of a snafu with the limousines Cherri & Bill had ordered (*thanks, Total Recall movie filming, for stealing Cherri's original limo!) things all worked out and Cherri was on her way to the Sanctuary Centre for the Arts where the ceremony was being held.

After a quick, but elegant ceremony, we travelled to Oak Hall (across from Marineland!) for some very stately photos around the mansion!

Then it was back to the Americana for their very funky purple reception!

Their first dance was to "Somebody" by Depeche Mode - one of my favorites and it sure does remind me of high school!

Now if you know Cherri, you know these 3 things about her: it's pronounced "Cherry" like the fruit, she's very creative, and boy does she ever like monkeys! So in order to get the bride & groom to kiss, friends and family had to don the monkey hat and do their best monkey screeches on the dance floor! Kudos to everyone who was brave - it sure was funny!

You guys were such a great couple to photograph and I wish you both the very best of everything: love, health and happiness. I hope you're enjoying Las Vegas and California, and we'll see you when you get back!

Amanda & Leo's Wedding: Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-09-12T11:04:00.003-04:00

Last year I was so excited to hear that my cousin's daughter Amanda had gotten engaged to the love of her life, Leo! Yay! And I was so honored that Amanda asked me to come allll the way up north to Mattawa (near North Bay) to photograph their big day just this past August. Now normally I don't travel that far for work but for family, I was so happy to do it! It was exciting and scary, all at the same time to be working with, and in front of, so many of my family members that day! But we had such a great time and it really shows in Amanda & Leo's faces. I don't think they stopped grinning all day!
My morning started off at my cousin Shelley's house, where Amanda and all the girls were getting dressed.

Leo's daughter, and Amanda's new official step-daughter, Kylie, was so awesome all day and looked great with all the other bridesmaids!

Then I headed over to Leo's sister's home where the boys were enjoying a few drinks and goofing around before the ceremony!

Before we knew it, it was time to head to the church for the big event as everyone was starting to arrive!

I love this one where Amanda & Leo are peeking at each other! :)

Kiss!

I love all the hugs & kisses after a ceremony...

Nice big wedding party, eh?

The reception was held at the local arena, where the speeches were not only funny, but as Leo put it, "there were more tears than at a funeral!" :) So emotional...

I remember when Amanda was just a baby, she would be so enthralled with watching hockey on tv! So I thought it was great that Leo & Amanda shared their first dance at centre ice...

This was a great day guys. Seriously - I had such a blast and I'm so glad I was able to catch a few memories for you to look back on in the future! I wish you both the very, very best and can't wait to see you all again at the next family reunion!

Baby Marlee: Toronto Newborn Baby Photography

2011-09-07T21:24:00.003-04:00

As part of their Baby Blossoms Club membership, little Marlee's parents decided to use one of their photo sessions to capture some newborn memories for their family. And oh, what a little sweetheart she is! She was a very curious 6-day old baby when I arrived in Milton to do the session at their home, and she really fought hard to stay awake to see what I was doing. You can tell she was really trying to focus those new eyes on who was snapping all these strange pictures of her! But she finally gave in and fell asleep so we had a chance to get some really peaceful, adorable shots! Enjoy!

In Bloom's New Product Lineup!

2011-09-02T01:51:00.002-04:00

This week, in between editing oodles and oodles of amazing new wedding, family and newborn shoots, I've been diving in and organizing all those wonderful "extras" that are available to my clients. And I thought I'd take a moment to update you all on what's new!

VISION ART:

First, I've gone ahead and streamlined my album selection now to only include Vision Art Albums. I think there were too many choices before and I decided to only offer the best products. Vision Art Books are stunning - unlike anything available to the general public - and I'm so glad to continue offering them to my clients. Everyone I show my samples to says "oooh!" and "aaah!" because they're really that impressive!

Hand-bound to last generations, these museum-quality albums boast thick, matte, patented lay-flat pages that allow you to enjoy panoramic images with nothing lost in the gutter of the book. The wraparound hardcover is fully customizable and best of all, shipping is now FREE on Vision Art Books to my clients!

CANVAS GALLERY WRAPS:

I've always offered these thick & impressive canvas gallery wraps, but now I've expanded the sizes and shapes available to clients! Your image is printed on the finest quality of archival canvas, then hand-stretched around a 2" gallery frame, ready to hang.

PHOTO COLLAGES:

One of the things I get asked for a lot are customized photo collages. These enable clients to purchase several images fully retouched and printed onto one single matte enlargement, ready for framing.

You choose the images and the background colour surrounding them - there are 3 sizes/designs to choose from. Clients who have been to my home studio have seen a few examples of these collages hanging on my walls, and have always commented on their unique look!

GIFT CERTIFICATES:

These have always been a hit, especially with people who are shopping for a wedding present or baby shower gift. Available in any amount, and completely customizable with your own personal message, you'll receive a quality printed gift certificate in the mail ready to be presented to your loved ones.

ALL of these products are available to clients through their online viewing galleries (as well as the regular assortment of professional quality print enlargements we've always offered!). If you're getting married or are expecting a baby in the near future, let your friends and family you'd love a gift certificate and they can purchase one for you by visiting http://www.inbloomphotoscart.com and clicking on "THE STORE" in the top right corner (without requiring access to any online gallery).

For a list of pricing of all these items, please download my "Extras" pricelist by clicking HERE.

And as always if there are any products you're interested in, just ask! I can certainly get a price for you, and who knows?! I may end up adding it to my list of popular items!

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE - Southern Ontario Newborn Photography

2011-08-29T23:38:00.000-04:00

My Newborn Days special ends this Wednesday... don't miss out! Book the package today and we'll determine the session date after your baby is born!
Gift Certificates are available too, so give a gift to someone you love!
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS PACKAGE, AND HOW YOU CAN SAVE $50.00!

Album Selection as of August 31, 2011

2011-08-25T11:12:00.000-04:00

For the past several years, In Bloom Photography has been offering two brands of albums to choose from for your wedding and portrait sessions: Vision Art Books and AsukaBooks. Two types of albums that are both great, but very different in terms of end product. I found that with so many styles and sizes, there was almost *too* much for clients to choose from, and that can be overwhelming. So I have decided to discontinue the AsukaBooks and only continue to offer Vision Art Books after August 31st, 2011.
These albums are fantastic - if you've ever come for a client meeting with me, you've seen how Vision Art's thick, matte pages lay perfectly flat so you can spread a photo across two pages without losing anything in the gutter of the book. Everything is customizable as it always has been, from the wraparound covers to the fully unique page layouts. And once you hold the album in your hands you can definitely feel the weight and quality of these books. *Swoon!*
I can't wait to design your Vision Art Books in the future!

Krista & Jordan's Wedding: Toronto Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-08-19T23:20:00.000-04:00

Who wouldn't love a hilltop wedding surrounded by peaceful sailboats and a reception on the waterfront?! It sounds perfectly magical, and that's exactly what Krista and Jordan had planned for their wedding in early August!

First stop of the day was at Krista's mom's house, where her brother and bridesmaids helped her into a gorgeous strapless gown. Can you believe Krista's family made all the bouquets themselves after the florist lost her reservation? What a great job! And keeping with the do-it-yourself vibe, Krista even did her own hair for the day, which looked so gentle and simple. Love!

Krista got these unbelievable suede shoes as a gift from her brothers which really looked so cool under her gown! And isn't her mom just the cutest!?!

Once everyone was ready, I headed off to Bluffer's Park Marina Restaurant in Scarborough for the incredible ceremony and reception. That's where I met up with Jordan and his boys as they were heading over to meet the guests and get ready for the big day.

Then, on the most perfect afternoon, with not a cloud in the sky (even though they'd been calling for thunderstorms), the ceremony began!

The marina was a great place for photos at sunset, while the guests enjoyed cocktails inside the restaurant. Krista changed into a classic birdcage veil that looked spectacular with her eyes, don't you think?

Krista and Jordan had received dance lessons from Jordan's mom, so they put on quite a fun show for their first dance during cocktail hour!

What a great day these two had surrounded by their friends and family. I really had a great time - even Krista's brother gave me a hug before I left! They're currently on their honeymoon but I can't wait for them to come home and see the rest of their photos! I wish you guys all the best!

Newborn Days Are Back!

2011-08-19T15:59:00.000-04:00

I just got in a whole bunch of gorgeous crocheted hats, diaper covers, cozies and more for future newborn sessions from a fantastic Etsy artisan - S&S Handmade Crochet! Whee! So tiny and cute!

So you know what that means?!?! I've gotta have a newborn promotion so I can use them!

If you know anyone having a baby, this would make a wonderful gift! Ask about gift certificates.

You book your space in advance, but the date of the session is "To Be Determined". Once baby is born, you give me a call and I'll come by your place within 7-10 days and do the session right in your home. Sorry, only west GTA, Hamilton, London areas please. Let the cuteness begin!

Why I love shooting at sunset...

2011-08-04T15:17:00.000-04:00

This was shot in Brantford near my home -- I'd love to take more clients out to this little hidden place I found. You just don't get that kind of light at high-noon on photo shoots! Sunset is definitely the most flattering. :)

Nicole & Derrick: Wedding Album Cover Design

2011-08-03T15:38:00.004-04:00

Just working on an album today... thought you'd like to see the cover design!

Packages To Include a New Bonus!

2011-08-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

Now as a bonus to all new wedding and portrait clients, I will be including some fully retouched "Photographer's Favorites" on your disc of high-resolution proofs! As a complimentary bonus, I'm going to select my 10-15 favorite shots from your session and give them the royal treatment: skin & hair retouching, colour work, editing out distractions, cropping and more! These will be the kinds of images you see on my blog, only you'll be receiving the files in high-resolution for your own personal use! Enjoy!

Jenn & Mark's Wedding: Hamilton Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-08-01T23:54:00.000-04:00

We have really lucked out this summer with sunny Saturdays for weddings! And despite the heat waves we've seen, there was one day back in June that was absolutely perfect for an outdoor wedding. I mean honestly, Jenn and Mark had blue skies, a cool breeze and very little humidity for their day at Ancaster Old Mill. Jenn got ready in the coach house next to the mill with her bridesmaids and mother.

Love the shoes!

Preparations were underway for the reception to follow, as Jenn put on some finishing touches...

Then it was out to the garden chapel, nestled in the trees for their intimate ceremony with one of the best officiants I've met in a long time! So friendly and uplifting! What a great service.

I love this one of Jenn's parents getting a little misty-eyed with the newly signed marriage certificate. :)

Then it was off around the Old Mill's grounds for some quick photos before the lunch reception.

A beautiful lunch in the atrium followed, surrounded by lush trees and the waterfall of the Old Mill. Such a simple, yet gorgeous day!

I wish Jenn & Mark all the best with the new addition to their family next year, and congratulations on a wonderful and happy beginning together!

Nicole & Derrick's Wedding: London Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-07-25T14:14:00.000-04:00

On a very hot and humid July day, I was in London for Nicole & Derrick's wedding at the Delta London Armouries. We weren't sure if the rain would hold off or not -- all the humidity made it feel like it could downpour at any moment. But, Nicole got her wish and there wasn't a drop in sight!
The morning started off in the incredible suite as Nicole's mom and sister helped her get into her gown.

Derrick's brother brought up a gift for Nicole from her groom, and a very sentimental card...

Derrick has great taste in jewelry!

Meanwhile, downstairs Nicole had her father deliver a little gift of her own to Derrick...

The room was set and ready to go for the ceremony!

After the ceremony, we all headed down the block for some photos.

The heat got the better of us, so we opted to head back inside for some cool air conditioning!

Before long, it was time to head into the hall for the couple's first dance and the start of their reception!

Such a sweet couple! I wish you guys the best of everything and hope your Hawaiian honeymoon was incredible!

My Neglect Can Only Mean One Thing

2011-07-19T17:37:00.000-04:00

Isn't it funny how in the summer months when I'm doing the most work (weddings, boudoir, and portraits oh my!) my blog gets horribly overlooked?!?! This is the time of year when I have so. much. great. stuff. to show you and yet I just never have the time to do it!
Well fear not... this time I have a reason for neglecting my blog updates. I'm working on a few little bonuses that I'm going to be adding to packages -- even the people who have already booked will receive these little surprises with their chosen photo package. And once I iron out all the details, I swear I'll be sharing a whole lot of goodies with you on the blog!

So just bear with me a little longer and I promise it'll be worth the wait! I've got weddings and portraits to share, and I'm also in the process of updating my website galleries as well. No rest for the weary! In the meantime... how are you enjoying this intense summer heat wave?!?!?! Yikes!!! Talk to you soon!

Chris & Rose's Wedding: Burlington Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-06-15T09:57:00.000-04:00

The weather was warm and spectacular for Chris & Rose in Burlington this past May. We were so excited to take part in their intimate wedding at St. Thomas The Apostle -- the sanctuary was spectacular! Chris & Rose waited in separate rooms for everyone to arrive and then their elegant ceremony began.

Such a gorgeous bride!

After the ceremony, it was off to one of my favorite venues, Paletta Mansion.

Rose's bridesmaids were so cute!

Such a classic, romantic day for these two "Love Birds"! Congratulations again Chris & Rose!

DS Wedding Cinema + In Bloom Photography = Big Savings!

2011-06-06T12:41:00.002-04:00

Big news at In Bloom Photography!!!
We are so pleased to announce that we're teaming up with DS Wedding Cinema for an unbelievable Photo/Video package that you are definitely going to want to take advantage of. When you book both of us together, you not only save a total of over $500.00 but you also get incredible cinematic-style and photojournalistic coverage of one of the most spectacular days in your life!
David is an incredibly talented cinematographer who has spent time across Canada and exotic locations around the world documenting exciting and emotional moments in peoples' lives. He now works out of Hamilton Ontario and specializes in wedding videography -- this guy is a hot commodity so definitely go check out his website and portfolio, and you'll see what we mean!
Here's the package we're offering and are sure you're going to love:

Marissa & Matt's Wedding: Southern Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-06-04T13:12:00.003-04:00

You know those weddings that are just a little bit more fun than expected? Well Marissa & Matt's wedding was fun... and then some! Marissa & Matt live in California, but the wedding was held in Windsor -- on a mutual friends' recommendation, I was given the opportunity to shoot this awesome couple's big day in a city I rarely travel to! The day started out with the girls getting ready, and this was the first time I actually ever met Marissa in person. What a personality!

Inside the limo, Marissa demonstrated her best duck-face self-portrait for Facebook.... hilarious!

Then it was time to visit Matt and his entourage at his parents' house nearby. Things were a little more relaxed for these guys (and one girl!) getting ready to head to the church.

Marissa's brothers had the honor of walking her down the aisle, and gave her the cutest kiss!

Then it was off to a beautiful lakefront property for photos. This group was ready to party, let me tell you!

Marissa is awesome. What else can I say?!?

Next, we headed to an industrial part of Windsor where there are a number of old abandoned warehouses. This one is pretty cool, as part of it has grown over with vines!

Then we scooted off to the reception hall where Matt & Marissa immediately shared their first dance.

So many hilarious and heartfelt speeches during dinner...

And the dancing began!

What an unbelievably fun day for these two! There were sooo many photos from this wedding that I love -- I'm sure I'll be back and popping a few more into this blog post when I get an extra minute. Matt & Marissa are now back in California and I wish them all the best for a long and happy marriage!

Friends & Wedding Vendors

2011-05-17T19:12:00.000-04:00

Since starting up my little business a number of years ago, I've met a lot of great wedding vendors as well as other entrepreneurs that offer wonderful services to people in all stages of life! So I've decided to showcase them on my website now under "Links". You'll find them divided up into Wedding Resources and Our Other Friends so it's pretty simple to find what you're looking for. I'm going to be adding another section in there soon with Wedding Venues and Photo Locations because I get asked about those quite often. Then I'm just going to continue to fill up those lists -- hopefully they help!

If you are a wedding vendor or businessperson that would like to do a link-exchange with me, let me know! If it's a good fit, I'll add you to my lists. Happy wedding planning!

Luke & Nate: Toronto Baby Family Photography

2011-05-09T17:31:00.000-04:00

One of my oldest and dearest friends Tara has asked me many times to photograph her gorgeous little boys over the past three years and I'm always so happy when I get the opportunity! Her kids have such perfect little smiles! This time, Tara & her husband Pete were celebrating Luke's first birthday. So we took a quick trip through their neighbourhood to get a few shots of the boys.
Here's the birthday boy!

And then big brother Nate and their pretty mama joined in!

Look at how proud Nate is for pulling his little brother all the way home! I think Luke's enjoying the ride too!

Thanks for letting me come hang out with you guys again! And happy first birthday Luke!

And the Silver Medal goes to... In Bloom!

2011-05-04T17:00:00.001-04:00

Thanks to all of your support, your reviews and your love, In Bloom Photography has officially been announced as the #2 Wedding Vendor in Southwestern Ontario, courtesy of The Wedding Ring! I am so excited for this, and want to say that all of your heartfelt reviews and words of confidence really made me feel great about what I do. There are so many fabulous wedding vendors in this area that it is a huge honor to come in second place. So a huge, huge thank you to everyone who voted and took the time to review my work. :)

To see the entire listing of who won, and from where (including many other different kinds of wedding vendors across SW Ontario), click here.

And to read the review that the Wedding Ring themselves wrote about me, as well as all of the client reviews that were submitted as well, please visit this link!

A Sneak Peek of What's To Come

2011-05-02T17:12:00.003-04:00

On May 14th, 2011 In Bloom Photography will be changing around some of our packages so here's a little sneak peek of what's to come!
Book now before changes take effect!

Weddings By The Hour:

Saturday Weddings between April - October: $275.00 /hour +HST

(minimum booking required)

Saturday Weddings between November - March: $250.00 /hour + HST

(minimum booking required)

Weekday/Sunday Weddings Year Round: $250.00 /hour + HST

(minimum booking required)

As always, all wedding packages include the following:

- unlimited shooting locations throughout the consecutive hours booked

- all photos given colour & density corrections

- all photos featured in a private online gallery for 3 months

- all photos in high-resolution format on DVD for your own printing

- a 25% discount on engagement photos if you also book your wedding

Everything else, like fully retouched & creatively enhanced professional prints, albums,

thank-you cards and more are available on an a la carte basis.

Single Portrait Sessions:

Engagements, families, babies, maternity and more: $250.00 +HST

(these types of sessions generally last around 1.5 hours, but there is no guaranteed time frame)

As always, portrait sessions include the following:

- one on-location photo session with In Bloom Photography

- all photos given colour & density corrections

- all photos featured in a private online gallery for 2 months

- all photos in high-resolution format on DVD for your own printing

- a $25.00 print credit to be used with In Bloom Photography

Everything else, like fully retouched & creatively enhanced professional prints,

albums, announcement cards, etc. are available on an a la carte basis.

Boudoir Packages & Baby Blossoms Club Memberships will be changing as well.

Please check back for updates on these packages as they become available.

Really? I mean, REALLY?!?

2011-05-01T16:29:00.002-04:00

Hoo-boy. Literally, 24 hours since I posted this article I wrote on photographers stealing work from other photographers, I discover someone using my website's wording on their website! I mean, REALLY? Is that not the definition of irony?!?!
So let me just put this out there (and I can't believe I even need to address this because it should be just common knowledge... but anyway...:

To whom it may concern,
It's not cool when you copy my wedding package exactly, and use my wording on your website. Yes, I realize you changed about 3 words. But we both know the other 200 words are exactly as I wrote them.
I don't care if you want to offer the exact same package as me, at a radically discounted price because you're trying to compete and build a portfolio by slashing your prices. That doesn't bother me.
But could you at least TRY to write your own text for your website? I mean, you're calling yourself a photographer, which in itself is a very creative feat. But you're not creative enough to come up with your own wording for your website? I mean, Geez-Louise, I'm flattered you want to be exactly like me, but ripping off my website is just bizarre. What's next? Are you going to re-post some of my articles as your own? Copy and paste the promotions that I'm offering people?
I'm not going to contact you directly, because I'm pretty sure you know who you are. But I am asking you politely to remove my package from your website and come up with your own. And I will be periodically checking. I haven't worked for the past decade on creating my business' brand, finding the packages and presentation that work for me, and establishing a reputation in the industry to have someone just copy & paste it onto their site.
Do the right thing. I know you will.

Ack! Nobody Likes A Thief...

2011-04-30T17:54:00.000-04:00

I've been hearing about a rash of photos being stolen from other photographers' websites lately, and it's something that I wanted to address on my blog today. Because what is happening is theft. It's illegal, it's mean, and it's just downright low.
As photographers, we all have to start somewhere: we all start out needing to build a portfolio in order to attract new clients... but you need to attract clients in order to build that portfolio. It's hard to do! Believe me, I've been there. But when a new photographer decides to steal photos from a more seasoned pro in order to "pad" their own portfolio, nobody wins. Here are a couple of my thoughts...

...To New Photographers:
- If you're stealing photos to fill out your portfolio a little more, you're only risking doing damage to your reputation in the industry. If a client hires you based on your "false portfolio", they're only going to be disappointed in the results after their photo session takes place: their photos will end up looking like nothing on your website. So are you prepared to deal with unhappy clients? People demanding refunds? With the internet nowadays, one client's bad review of your work will create headaches for years to come. It's so important to earn happy, satisfied clients from every photo session because you can deliver photos similar to those in your portfolio. Word-of-mouth advertising is crucial to running a successful photography business, so why start off on a bad foot?
- Even if you do fool some clients into hiring you based on a false portfolio, what you're doing is illegal. As in, you could be (and probably will be) taken to court and sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I've heard all kinds of excuses for this theft in the past, like "Well, I re-edited the picture in photoshop, so I should be able to use this in my portfolio now". Uh, no, that's not true. In fact, that's laughable! As soon as the photo is snapped in-camera by another photographer, it is not allowed to be stolen by anyone else, regardless of who edits or re-edits a picture in photoshop! That's basic Copyright 101, and ridiculous excuses like this don't hold up in court. There is absolutely no excuse for stealing someone else's work. End of story.
- Do you realize that there are many photo recognition software programs that many photographers use in order to scour the internet for people stealing their images? It's quite easy to do actually. A simple piece of this software will search the internet for the same picture (or even a cropped version of the image) so it's relatively easy to find you if you're stealing pictures. And chances are, even if you quickly remove the stolen images from your website, someone's already gotten a screen capture of your website with the illegal photos on there, so you can't deny you were using them. And believe me, if you ever get caught, you can pretty much assume that you're done in the photography industry and you'll be labeled as a thief - and nobody wants to hire a thief.
- Bottom Line? It's not worth it. Instead, volunteer to take photos of your friends and family to build up your portfolio and gain actual, practical experience! Ask another photographer if you can tag along on one of their wedding shoots (with the bride & groom's permission of course) to second shoot or be an assistant for the day! You've got to come up with your own style, your own methods, and your own images for your portfolio! Start your business off on the right foot as an honest, hardworking photographer, and you can only succeed!

...To People Shopping For A Photographer:
- So with all of that said, how do you know who you can trust? First, when you're looking at a photographer's portfolio, what does your gut tell you? Are the photos consistently in focus, with a similar style or theme to all of them? Or are some phenomenal while others are abnormally terrible? A photographer's website should showcase their best-of-the-best work, so if even a few shots aren't so great, you've got to ask yourself "Why would they put that in their portfolio?!?"
- Meet with the photographer and ask to see actual printed versions of their work. Chances are, if they've stolen shots online for their website, they don't have printed samples in person (eg. albums, prints, etc.) to show you. Consider that a red-flag.
- If you're shopping for a wedding photographer, ask to see an entire wedding's worth of photos - not just their select best shots from one wedding. This will help you see what types of images you can expect after your wedding is over.
- Ask to see before/after examples of retouching work. Again, if the photographer doesn't have the "before" shot, that could be another potential red-flag.
- Get referrals from people you know! Don't just rely on anonymous referrals online, although they sometimes can be helpful. Ask people you know and trust because they'll tell you the truth. For all you know, the reviews & testimonials online could have been written by the photographer's mother!

By writing this blog post, I don't want to scare anyone or worry anyone about their choice of photographer. But I wanted to give everyone a few things to consider. In the world of photography, one thing is certain: if the pricing or the work seems 'too good to be true', chances are, it is.

For more information on Copyright and what rights you have as a client, please see this blog post I did a little while ago: "COPYRIGHT: WHO NEEDS IT?"

I'm CRAVING this prize!

2011-04-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

I have been a fan of Crave Photography for quite some time, but I was super excited when I saw they were having a contest for a free, all-expense paid trip to a private workshop with Crave's brilliant leader Andee. She's going to talk about the business side of the industry, go over what she does for workflow, and she's even going to share some of her mad Photoshopping skillz! Heck, they're even giving away a ton of cool prizes as well! So I'll be kneeling by my bed every night praying that I win, if you need to find me. Thanks Andee for the awesome contest!

Everyone else can check it out by going to their blog at http://www.cravemyphotography.com/blog/world-wide-giveaway/

New Studio Display - Canvas Gallery Wraps

2011-04-18T16:08:00.000-04:00

I'm still trying to squeeze some studio work in before my wedding season explodes and I'm swamped for 6 months! So this week, I got around to putting up a new 20x30 canvas gallery wrap from a wedding I shot last year.
Often when I'm meeting with clients, they aren't 100% sure of what a canvas gallery wrap is, so I thought I'd do a little blog post to give you an idea of what it is!

Simply put: they're a modern alternative to having a print made that you put into a traditional photo frame. And they look great! The image is printed directly onto canvas, and then stretched around a 2-inch pine-wood frame. The photo actually "wraps" around the corners. (Get it? "Canvas Gallery Wrap"!) The lab that prints my gallery wraps guarantees the canvas as being of archival quality (read: doesn't fade or look crummy after a few years), and are reinforced with a front face board so they are quite sturdy.
Here's what the edges look like on another canvas I have up in my studio:

These don't require any frame to hang on the wall; depending on the size of the canvas you order, they either have a regular picture-hanging wire attached to the back, or they have alligator-style hangers on the back that hook onto any nail in your wall. And best of all, these are priced quite comparably to getting a professional print made, and purchasing a quality frame to display it in.
Now, when choosing a photo to print on a canvas gallery wrap, you've got to choose wisely. The outer 2" (at least) of the image will be wrapped around the sides, so it's important to choose a picture that doesn't have anything crucial along the very edge. In other words, it looks awkward to have someone's face wrapping around the side of the canvas so not every photo works!
And even though these are considered a more modern, sleek-looking alternative, they still look perfect on the wall next to more traditionally framed photos.

In Bloom Photography offers fully retouched & creatively enhanced images printed on canvas gallery wraps in a variety of sizes at very reasonable prices. Send me an email if you'd like a quote!

Collect Them All!

2011-04-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

I love my new business cards. Ten different designs! Collect them all! :)

It's Only April, But...

2011-04-13T16:35:00.003-04:00

Can you believe it? We've just barely gotten out of the snow and sleet from this past winter, and I'm going to go and mess things up by suggesting you think about the upcoming autumn season! But believe it or not, now is the time to book fall photos before my calendar gets too full. Every year I have to turn many people away because I'm already booked solid with families, couples and kids all wanting pictures with beautiful fall colours outdoors. So to help convince you that now's a great time to think about the fall, I've got a little deal going on!
There are only a limited number of sessions available at this rate, and once they're gone, they're gone! Check out what areas I'm going to be in, on what days. We'll nail down the specific locations for these photo shoots (a particular park or area, for example) once I see who is registering so we can find something that works for everybody.
So have a Happy Spring... and a Happy Fall too! :)

UPDATE: The West GTA date on October 2, 2011 is now full.

Thank you for your interest!

Uncle Joe vs. The Pro

2011-04-01T12:19:00.002-04:00

We all know them: the relatives or friends that show up at family holidays and events with their large cameras, 'snap-snap-snapping' away at everything. They love tinkering with the settings on their cameras and revel in showing off their latest landscape shots or their most recent vacation photos. And that's great! Everyone likes to have a hobby. But is "Uncle Joe" the right choice for your wedding photographer?

These 2 photos are from "The Celebrations Game" blog, featuring awkward wedding & engagement photos.

Is this what you've been dreaming your wedding photos would look like?

Or are you looking for something different?

Let's face it -- the thought of hiring a friend or relative to shoot your wedding is tempting simply because the price is right! Who wouldn't want to save thousands of dollars?! But before you give in to that temptation, consider these top 3 reasons why Uncle Joe isn't necessarily the best decision over a Pro.

1. "It's Not The Train, It's The Engineer."
A great camera doesn't always produce great images. A great photographer does. I've seen novices with the most expensive equipment possible, and yet they have no concept of composition, artistic flair, or creative lighting techniques - and their photos prove it. And then I have seen Pros with not-so-great equipment and they manage to take phenomenal images! Basing your decision on the type of equipment a person owns is like choosing a wedding cake based on the type of oven your baker owns. Yes, better ovens, just like better cameras, have unique features that make creating masterpieces a little easier. But without the right basic ingredients (creativity, understanding of lighting, ability to work under extreme pressure, etc.) no single piece of equipment will create photos that will take your breath away. Uncle Joe might have a great camera - it doesn't mean he's a great wedding photographer.

2. "Wedding Photographers Are A Different Breed."
Unlike landscapes, portraits, or even fashion photo shoots, wedding photography is an extremely stressful and ever-changing challenge for photographers. Think about it: you've got an enormous cast of characters all playing different roles during the day. You've got bridesmaids giggling, a nervous groom, proud parents, goofy groomsmen, an elegant bride, and hundreds of wedding guests -- and they're all doing something different, at every second of the day. So a wedding photographer has to be constantly moving, watching the crowd, looking for special moments that are happening in the corners, listening for cues as to what's coming up next... the action truly doesn't stop! Does Uncle Joe know the best place to capture your tears coming down the aisle, as well as being in position to get great images of your groom smiling back at you? Can he get incredibly detailed shots of the bride & groom holding hands during the ceremony without being intrusive? Is he going to be in position in time to get that incredible (but fleeting) shot of your first kiss? Meanwhile, as all of this is happening, a wedding photographer has to be evaluating changes in lighting & composition as people move from one place to the next -- a bridal party is like shooting several moving targets all at the same time! Churches and reception halls are extremely difficult in terms of getting adequate lighting, and it takes a lot of hands-on experience to get it just right. (I cringe at the thought of someone blasting a giant flash directly into a bride's face - nothing is more unflattering!) Can you be sure that Uncle Joe is prepared for these situations?
But if that's not enough, your wedding photographer needs to be able to quickly shift gears and efficiently organize people into creative, well balanced portraits at the drop of the hat. How do you get creative in a park with family photos -- will everyone just be standing in a straight line saying "Cheese"? Or will Uncle Joe be able to quickly organize people where they look most natural, creating different levels or visually interesting positions? How will Uncle Joe capture true romance and happiness between the bride & groom, and not stiff, awkward snapshots? Look online at wedding photos that really appeal to you artistically and ask yourself if Uncle Joe will be able to create that style of image under pressure.
Taking great landscape shots or portraits is one thing: those photographers have time to stop and think about how he'd like to compose the shot, and what camera settings are best. He can take his time, trying 3 or 4 times until he gets everything just right because his subject hasn't moved. But in wedding photography, it's all about making split-second decisions intellectually (to ensure proper camera settings for changing lighting & focus), while at the same time, constantly moving, crouching and climbing to ensure you're making excellent decisions creatively. And unlike landscapes, if you miss the moment, that one split second, it's gone forever. No amount of photoshopping can fix pictures taken incorrectly from the start... and it certainly can't fix photos that weren't taken at all. Wedding photographers only have one chance to get it, and get it right. Will Uncle Joe be able to handle that stress?

3. "What if...?"
Still not convinced? Then consider these questions.
- What if Uncle Joe's camera or battery dies mid-way through the ceremony? Does he carry a second set of equipment just in case?
- What is Uncle Joe's back-up plan if he is sick and can't come to your wedding?
- Will you be stressed feeling like you need to "direct" Uncle Joe to get the type of shots that you want (instead of enjoying your wedding day)?
- Will Uncle Joe be distracted by other friends & family at the wedding and potentially miss special moments?
- What if Uncle Joe fails to give you the pictures in a timely manner after the wedding? Will you have a contract or agreement on what you're to receive and when?
- What if you hate your photos after the wedding? Will there be tension forever between you and Uncle Joe?

Yes, it certainly can be tempting to save a large sum of money by hiring a friend or family member to do your wedding photos. Everyone likes a bargain! But in most cases, the risks outweigh the benefits. You've spent so much on your gown... your flowers... your reception. You've trusted those important aspects of your wedding to professionals. And yet the one thing that you'll continue to look at for the next 50 years will be your photos. Only you can decide if it's worth choosing Uncle Joe... or the Pro.

Small Town Brides Will Like This!

2011-03-29T19:00:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine recently started a new blog specifically targeted towards small-town, rural brides in Southern Ontario. There aren't a lot of resources for couples getting married outside the big cities, and Ontario Wedding Blog has now filled that void! There are lots of great do-it-yourself ideas, real wedding stories, and plenty of vendors that cover these rural areas have given their support to this new blog. Check it out!

http://www.ontarioweddingblog.com

Ashley & Joe: Southern Ontario Wedding Photography

2011-03-20T22:31:00.000-04:00

So now that the new website is up and running, I'm finally getting caught up on several wedding blogposts from this past summer! (I know, it's about time, eh?!) Anyway, here's one that I just loved.
Ashley & Joe decided to be married in a friend's backyard in Stratford, which was simply stunning with huge willow trees, a small creek, and plenty of lush flowers. It was a very humid day last August when the couple exchanged vows under the trees with their closest family and friends. (eek! I remember the mosquitos!) But what a gorgeous celebration they had. So many fantastic details went into Ashley & Joe's wedding that it was a photographer's dream.
Ashley got ready inside the house, while her bridesmaids, family and friends put the last few details on all the ceremony pieces outside.

Everyone appreciated the order of service that was printed on these handmade fans, because it was really a steamy day outdoors!

Meanwhile, Joe was busy going over some last minute details with the officiant and the girls got into place...

Do you think Joe was a little bit nervous? hee hee

But the ceremony went off without a hitch. Ashley & Joe were full of giggles and smiles all afternoon long!

Don't ya just love bubbles?

A big thank you to Ashley & Joe for letting me come out to your ceremony and share in this exciting moment! Keep smiling you two - it's something you do wonderfully together!

Launching The New Website!* (*and why it's good for you to read this)

2011-03-15T10:50:00.003-04:00

It has been fun, exhausting, and more fun going through literally thousands of photos from past photo shoots looking for some new blood for the website re-launch. What a neat experience, re-living some really cool moments with great couples, babies, kids and clients! So I first want to thank all my past clients for allowing me to document these special times in their lives!
Anyway, I'm so proud to say that the new website is finally launching! www.inbloomphotos.com
For all you iPhone and iPad users, be sure to use the "Mobile Website" link on the main page to view everything in that format. For everyone else, enjoy the slideshows and information! Check out this screen capture:

So to celebrate this occasion, I'm offering up some pretty awesome deals for the next couple of weeks.

March Madness Deals!

Save 25% on Single Portrait Sessions:  Engagement photos, family or baby photos, you name it! Book a future portrait session by March 31st, 2011 for just $150.00 plus HST. (That's a savings of $50.00!)
Save 15% on a Boudoir Session:  Spend a couple of hours being pampered with sexy makeup and a fun girlie photo shoot, and give someone special the photos that will make them swoon! Book a future session by March 31st, 2011 for just $306.00 plus HST. (That's a savings of $54.00!)
Save $50.00 on Baby Blossoms Club Membership:  The package that gets you 3 separate photo shoots to document your baby's first year at a reduced rate is discounted even further now! Book your first of 3 future sessions by March 31st, 2011 for just $450.00 plus HST.

* offers can not be combined with any other promotion

** these offers are applicable to new bookings only

Be sure to mention the March Madness Deal when you're booking to receive the discount!

To all my clients, past and present, thank you for your support! I hope you all enjoy the new website and I look forward to working with you in the future!

There's a New Website on the Horizon!

2011-02-28T18:55:00.005-05:00

WE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
I'm excited to announce that the current (and very old) website for In Bloom Photography is being totally chucked out the window and a new one is coming in the next few weeks! It's going to be awesome: larger pictures, more condensed & simple navigation, TONS of new work never displayed in my galleries until now... so stay tuned!

The site will sporadically be up and down for the next while and some features may not work. In the meantime, my blog is always up and running so you can certainly check out my stuff here. And if you need to get a hold of me, please do!

info@inbloomphotos.com 519.209.4611

All the best with your wedding plans and I can't wait to show you my new site soon!

Something Kinda Nice...

2011-01-28T21:10:00.003-05:00

The other day I checked my email and discovered that In Bloom Photography has won the Wedding Wire's 2011 Bride's Choice Awards! How exciting! It's apparently based on reviews that past clients have given me and surveys that Wedding Wire has done over the last year.
Apparently, that means I'm in the top 5% of wedding professionals across Canada, so I'm humbled to be surrounded by such a fantastic group! That's something kinda cool, don't you think?
Anyway, shameless brag post over! :)

Baby Nathan 9 Days Old: Southern Ontario Baby Photography

2011-01-20T13:16:00.000-05:00

I was so happy when I heard from Shannon, an old co-worker and friend from St. Mary's Ontario. She was scheduled to have a c-section on January 7th so we made plans to take her baby's photos just over a week later. Not only was it nice to catch up with Shannon, but it was a pleasure taking her wee little Nathan's photos right there in their living room. Congratulations Shannon, Nicholas & Darren on your new addition!

Karen & Mark's Wedding: Toronto Wedding Photography

2011-01-12T13:12:00.001-05:00

My last post was all about Karen & Mark's engagement session, and now I'm so excited to show you their Graydon Manor Hall wedding photos. Karen & Mark were married on November 30th, so you really never know what kind of weather you're going to get at this time of year. It was definitely cool out, but these two were so open to taking advantage of the early sunset and gorgeous Graydon Hall grounds that we got some wonderful photos throughout the day.
When I showed up, it was time to jump right in as Karen was getting ready in the bridal suite...

Of course, what would a Graydon Hall wedding be without the iconic staircase picture.... (and by the way, doesn't Mark look all cute & nervous!)

The couple decided to do their photos before the ceremony to take advantage of the good weather & light outside.

Graydon is famous for its outdoor garden weddings, but in November they offer a gorgeous chapel indoors that was romantically lit with hundreds of tealights for Karen & Mark's evening service.

The readings Karen & Mark's friends did were very personal and heartwarming... not a dry eye in the house!

But I think Karen's smile after their kiss just shows the excitement and love they share!

The reception followed immediately after the ceremony, and the warm tones of the ballroom were stunning as the couple shared their first dance.

Such an amazingly romantic and wonderful day for such an amazingly romantic and wonderful couple. Congratulations Karen & Mark, it was a pleasure working with you both!

Karen & Mark: Toronto Engagement Photography

2011-01-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

This is going to be part one of the "Karen & Mark" story, so be sure to check back for their stunning wedding photos next! I met up with Karen and Mark early one morning at the Bronte Creek provincial park for their engagement session, and what an incredible fall morning it was. The sky was bright blue, the leaves were all changing... it was a photographer's dream morning! Especially with Karen & Mark as my very fun and gorgeous clients! I just love how the two of them played around and laughed with each other - they are truly a couple in love! Here are a bunch of my favorites from their session.

These are a couple of my favorites of Karen - she has such a wonderful smile!

And Mark wanted a picture on this tractor but they kept losing their footing! So cute!

Becky: Toronto Boudoir Photography

2011-01-04T16:43:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2011! To start things off this year I wanted to show off some more boudoir work from last October, this time with Becky. She was a former wedding client of mine and wanted to do something fun for her new husband. So here are a few of my favorites from her session at Studio West in Campbellville.

Best Value in Wedding Photography

2010-12-22T10:56:00.001-05:00

Somebody I know posted an article on facebook that was all about getting the best value in your choice of wedding photographers. I found it really well written and hope you will too! Just some food for thought on a cold December day. Check it out HERE and stay warm friends!

Andrea & Gord's Wedding: London Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-12-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

This past summer, I was thrilled to shoot Andrea & Gord's engagement session at the UofT in downtown Toronto during one of the hottest days of the year! Then in late September, it was time to head west to London for their wedding ceremony. The service was held at the Sacred Heart Church, followed by photos around the Thames, and then a reception at the always lovely Best Western Lamplighter.
Our day started off at Andrea's parents' house while the girls were getting ready.

Then it was off to the church to see Gord put on his finishing touches, and the ceremony was underway!

I love Andrea's face as they came outside after the service... :)

Then the bridal party dropped by the Forks of the Thames for a few pictures while the rain held off.

Andrea and Gord took dance lessons for their wedding, and they decided to practice their "dip" a couple of times just to get it right!

Finally it started to sprinkle a little and it was time to head to the Lamplighter for the start of the reception. Here's a cool picture of Andrea & Gord getting ready to be announced by their MC, followed by their first dance. The lessons paid off as everyone cheered during their performance!

Congratulations, Andrea & Gord, and all the best for a long and happy marriage!

Christin: Toronto Boudoir Photography

2010-12-13T14:10:00.001-05:00

Back in the summer I put out the call for people wanting to model for my boudoir portfolio. And I was so fortunate to have some lovely ladies who I'd worked with before apply for the gig. Christin was one of them -- I shot her wedding with her husband Richard earlier in the summer so it was great to see her again, and I was blown away by her new haircut! (Christin, I'm seriously still considering getting mine chopped off the same, it looked so awesome on you!)
So in October, we got together for a fun day at Studio West (thanks to Tara West for the awesome shooting space!) and with the help of my makeup artist Bonnie Little, we got some very steamy shots that I'm sure Richard will love! These are a few of my favorites, and in the coming weeks as I spring-clean my website galleries, you might just see some more of Christin in there! Yowzaaa!

Baby Layne 4 Weeks Old: Southern Ontario Baby Photography

2010-12-11T21:31:00.000-05:00

In November I was excited to meet so many squishy new babies during my "November Newborns" promotion that took place at my home studio here in Brantford. One of the youngest that joined me was Layne, with his proud Mommy and Daddy. Poor Layne wasn't sure about having his picture taken in my unfamiliar space, but his parents managed to coax a few coos and smiles out of him. They're going to be fabulous parents and Layne is one lucky boy! So here are a few of my favorites. Isn't he so alert? Those eyes are spellbinding!

Welcome To The New Blog!

2010-12-11T19:25:00.003-05:00

Hey Everybody! Check out my new digs!

Thanks to Rita at The CoffeeShop Blog I've got a brand-new, customized blogger template to work with! (You're awesome Rita - I can't say that enough!) So now I've got no more excuses... I'm off to begin playing catch-up on the zillions of weddings, baby photo shoots, and so much more that I've been procrastinating featuring on the blog.

I hope you like the new colours and design -- the website & online galleries are going to be revamped to match my new blog in the next couple of weeks so keep checking back! (You're awesome Rita - I'm saying it again!)

Testing, 1, 2, 3... November Newborns have begun!

2010-11-05T17:02:00.000-04:00

So with all the activity of moving, setting up shop in my new office, and being buried alive with so many fabulous weddings and engagement shoots, I'm finally sitting down here for a minute to say hello in a new blog post! Tomorrow morning will be my first of many photo shoots in my new studio, this being the first of the November Newborn series I'm shooting. I'm so excited! I've got the studio set up for the little baby boy who will be joining me in the morning, and I wanted to do a few test-shots just to check out my lighting and a few of the many props I'll be using. What do you think? :)

Because of the success of this promotion, I'm definitely marking it down as an annual thing. I can't wait to meet all the little behbehs that will be dropping by my new place! I'll be posting pics in the coming weeks of the little ones, but for now, I'm just playing with Minnie Mouse. She sure looks cozy, doesn't she?

Amy & Wade's Wedding: Milton Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-09-23T20:03:00.002-04:00

September weddings. Either you get fabulous fall weather, or it's raining and grey outside. You just never know what you're going to get! Thankfully, Amy and Wade were blessed with such perfect weather for their big day in Milton. I'm a Milton native and went to school with Amy's older brothers so it was such a treat to shoot her wedding, as well as share the day with old friends from my hometown. And the day couldn't have been any more gorgeous! I started off at the Best Western in Milton for some shots with the boys as they got ready...

Wade didn't seem nervous at all getting dressed up for the celebration (although he told us later that he was!). Luckily, Amy had given him a copy of the itinerary for the day to keep all those boys on track!

After visiting the boys, I headed over to Amy's parent's house where she was just about to get into her gown.

You could tell that Amy's mom was really excited for the day! After a few quick shots it was off to St. George's Anglican church in Campbellville.

After the ceremony we headed outside for a quick receiving line and some pictures on the church grounds.

Here's a great picture of Amy with her brothers Greg & Mark...

After photos at the church, it was time to head to the Grand Chalet for the reception where there were lots of laughs, plenty of delicious food, and totally hilarious speeches!

Amy and Wade had their first dance to an acoustic version of "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters (which I loved!).

Wade and Amy each shared a touching dance with their parents and then it was time to party! I was lucky enough to be able to pack up my camera and stick around as a guest of Amy and Wade's because of some mutual friends, and I must say, these two know how to throw a party! Congratulations to both of you and all the best for a long and happy marriage!

November Newborn Days - now booking!

2010-09-10T16:36:00.008-04:00

Got a baby on the way, or just recently born? Know anyone that would love to get some newborn photos done? Gift certificates are available and make a wonderful present for a new mom & dad! All newborn photo shoots taking place in November will be 50% off! That's a savings of $100.00! Plus, your photo shoot will take place at our new & highly anticipated Brantford studios!

Contact info@inbloomphotos.com soon as spaces are extremely limited.

UPDATE: There are only 2 spots left at this discounted rate! Visit my website at www.inbloomphotos.com and click on "Calendar" to find a date that works for both of us!

A Nice Warm Fuzzy Quote

2010-09-09T11:05:00.000-04:00

With all the moving around we've done this summer in preparation for our new home this October, this quote always sticks in my mind. It's just a simple little picture hanging on the bathroom wall in the temporary rental home that we're currently in, and I see it every morning. It reminds me of what's important. :)

Wayne & Rachel's Engagement: Southern Ontario Engagement Photography

2010-09-06T21:44:00.001-04:00

So as I continue to play catch up on my summer's blog posts, here's a short & sweet little sampling from an engagement session I did with Rachel & Wayne at App's Mill in Brantford. This is a great little hideaway for engagement photos, and I'm looking forward to shooting some future family sessions here as well! Rachel & Wayne were the winners of my "FABULOUS YOU" contest earlier this summer, and as part of their complimentary package we did this photo shoot and they'll be receiving an 8x10 print of their choice as well.
Congrats guys!!! And thanks again for taking part in the contest!

Marcia & Armando's Wedding: Toronto Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-09-05T01:38:00.003-04:00

Wow... it has been a long time since I've had time to post some featured photos on the blog! So this one's gonna be a biggie! This time, it's Marcia & Armando - two friends that met and dated in high school. Then after a bit of a hiatus the two were still such great friends that they got back together and engaged a few years ago. This is their next incredible chapter in their 19 year-long story! On August 29th, they tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony at the SGI Cultural Centre in Toronto, followed by a completely fun reception at Enoch Turner Schoolhouse.
Marcia looked fabulous in her kimono...

Her brothers walked her down the aisle, as Armando and her mother (who officiated the ceremony) awaited her...

During the ceremony, Armando took the time to sing an incredible original song he wrote for Marcia, called Always and Always...

After the ceremony, we headed to Enoch Turner Schoolhouse where Marcia wore a stunning white gown and put on some finishing touches in the schoolroom. Meanwhile, Armando and his siblings had some fun outside...

The couple was introduced into the reception with their first dance - and because Armando & Marcia are no strangers to dancing, the show was well worth the wait!

Afterwards, a delicious dinner was served while guests hula-hooped for Marcia & Armando to kiss! Notice the chocolate bars that they gave out? MONDO and MARSHmallow? How clever!

Some more musical performances, a wee bit of wedding cake, and a hilarious game of "Shoes" where Marcia and Armando had to hold up the shoe belonging to whoever is "most likely to........" Check out Armando's awesome socks!

We took some time, just before the sun disappeared, to go shoot some romantic shots in the big city...

What a fun, exciting and incredibly romantic day for this couple! Congratulations to both of you, and best wishes for a long and happy marriage!

A Little Retouching Goodness

2010-08-29T10:53:00.000-04:00

So I'm back in the GTA for a few days, working hard on event photos, headshots, wedding photos... when will the madness end?!?! I can't complain actually... I love it. :) I've got a big stack of blog posts to do next week when we get a little more settled, but in the meantime I wanted to throw this out there just to show the difference between "Proof" vs. "Retouched". This doesn't include any creative colour work or anything fancy like that -- this is strictly skin & hair retouching, clothing smoothing, etc. Some folks are perfectly happy with the proofs (the "Before" side) they receive on their disc, and that's great! Others want a more polished look and that's the "After" side with the retouched product. There are different levels of retouching that can be done -- this is about as extreme as I would get with retouching skin. Once you go any further, some people start to look like a plastic doll... if you want an example of what I mean, check out this link. YIKES!
Take a look! (PS - thanks Vivian for being such a gorgeous model!)

Hello? Anyone home?

2010-08-21T01:28:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody! Can you believe it's almost the end of the summer!?!? How did that happen?
Yes, I'm still alive and well - it's been a busy few weeks up at the cottage. With the lack of internet up there my blog posts have been put on the back-burner for a while. But believe me, I've got some good photo shoots to share with you soon! I can't wait to get settled in the new house... only a few more weeks and construction should be finished! So bear with me and I promise to get back on the blog soon!
I can still receive emails on my trusty blackberry so keep in touch!
Cheers!
Carolyn
PS. And just because I don't like to have blog posts without photos, here's one of my cute dog Indiana. :)

Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's Up To The Cottage We Go!

2010-07-21T12:48:00.002-04:00

WE'RE MOVING! Well, not exactly right away...
It's out of the current house and up to the cottage! Our new home and the new studios of In Bloom Photography are still under construction, so in the interim, we'll be staying up north at the family cottage. Not a bad way to spend the last half of the summer!
In the meantime, if you are a current or future client of In Bloom Photography, you can still reach me...

CELL PHONE: (519) 209-4611

EMAIL: info@inbloomphotos.com

If you have deposits to be made, please forward them to my interim mailing address while we're up north:

In Bloom Photography

100 Millside Drive, Sky Suite 02

Milton Ontario

L9T 5E2

And of course, I'll be coming back down to civilization on the weekends to cover weddings all the rest of the summer so if you'd like to get together for a meeting, let me know and I'm sure I can fit you in.

Here's to an exciting August and September! I'll talk to you soon! The beach is calling my name...

A Great Article on Compromise With Wedding Vendors

2010-07-12T11:20:00.002-04:00

Another wedding vendor pointed me in the direction of this article on another blog. I think it's very well written - despite possibly sounding harsh. I truly do this for the love of the job -- I'm definitely not becoming a millionaire as a wedding photographer! Check this link out and let me know what you think!

You Catch More Flies With Honey - by Sparkliatti

And here's another one from the same author that's excellent too:

You Can Always Get It Cheaper - by Sparkliatti

Half-Off Fall Engagement Photos! Hurry!

2010-07-09T00:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, we're in the middle of a heat wave in Southern Ontario, but would you believe it's the perfect time to be thinking ahead to the fall?!? Mid-October is one of the busiest times of the year for people to book photographers for fall engagement sessions - right when the leaves are the brightest and most vivid in colour. And, as they say, 'the early bird gets the worm'! So start thinking about it today before they're all booked up!

September is pretty much full for me, but there are a few limited dates left in October. So to fill them up, I'm offering half-off my portrait package for engagement sessions taking place in October 2010. That means you're only paying $100.00 plus taxes, for everything including a disc of high-resolution JPG files. Wow! :)

A couple of notes:

- You must book your engagement session no later than July 30, 2010

- If you also book a wedding, the standard 25% off engagement photos does not apply in addition to this offer.

Check my website at www.inbloomphotos.com for my calendar of availability and select your date in October!

Heather & Craig's Wedding: Guelph Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-06-29T20:46:00.001-04:00

Last year, I was so happy to shoot Heather and Craig's engagement session in Guelph, and it was a pleasure to come back this past Saturday for their wedding too. The weather man was saying there was a slight chance of thunderstorms throughout Guelph and Milton where Heather & Craig would be celebrating, but we kept our fingers crossed that the sun would shine!
The day started off at the lucky couple's home where the girls were very relaxed and enjoying themselves when I arrived.

The theme of the day seemed to be pink peonies - they dressed just about every part of the ceremony and reception... and it was all courtesy of some very crafty relatives who made each bouquet and decoration. I just love these little initial charms on each of the girls' bouquets, so they would know who's was who's!

Then it was time for everyone to get dressed. Heather was truly a gorgeous bride!

Unfortunately, just before it was time to get in the limo, the skies opened up and there was a bone-drenching downpour...

The plan was to do an intimate "reveal" with Craig at the Guelph Arboretum where they had their engagement photos taken, but because of the rain, we opted to head directly to Milton's Greystone Golf Club for the very special moment.

Then it was on to take some family photos before the ceremony began. Heather & Craig were ready to go! Now, I should mention - Craig has twin older brothers; Keith and Kevin, who are just about the 2 funniest people I have met on location shooting a wedding. These guys were just so full of energy - they literally would ham it up every time I walked past them with my camera! I was in stitches all day long - thanks guys!

In fact, Keith and Kevin were razzing Heather all day long about how organized she was for the big day. "IS IT ON THE ITINERARY?!?!" they would say anytime anything was suggested. So, I had to snag a photo of Heather and her sister checking the infamous itinerary of the day! But I must say, with Heather's organization, everything flowed so nicely, with plenty of time to relax before all the guests arrived. Way to go Heather!!!

Finally, late in the afternoon, guests started to arrive, and it was time to get the ceremony rolling...

It was such a sweet ceremony - so many giggles and stories. Heather & Craig couldn't help but show their happiness!

Immediately after the service, everyone shuffled outside to find the rain had passed and the sun was starting to come out! It was a great time for cocktails and mingling on the patio before dinner was served.

During the reception, Craig's 13-year old son Anderson was the best man, and enlisted the help of Keith & Kevin to make a toast to the couple. The three of them changed into ruffly tuxedo shirts, because it had been their wish all along that they could wear powder-blue tuxes to the wedding! The speech had the whole crowd in tears with laughter! I go to a lot of weddings, and I don't always get the inside jokes told during speeches. But this one even had me roaring. Good job guys!

So although the day started out with rain, it ended with blue skies and a gorgeous sunset. I wish Heather & Craig a lifetime of happiness! Thank you for letting me be a part of this fabulous day, and enjoy your tropical honeymoon!

Copyright: Who Needs It?

2010-06-22T11:10:00.002-04:00

So, there you have it. You've gotten married and your photographer has just handed you a disc of all your precious images documenting this huge day in your life! How exciting! You trot off to your favorite photo lab with your disc in hand; you're going to get some prints made! Then up at the counter, the photo lab technician notices you're holding a disc with a professional photographer's logo, and the question comes up:

"Do you have permission to print these pictures?". Well, do you?

Photography contracts should be very clear on where the copyright and permissions lie in the use of the photos from your wedding (or any professional photo shoot for that matter). And the laws that surround copyright are different in the USA vs. Canada, so it's important you've got the right information. In the United States, copyright is given to the artist or creator of the work by default. However in Canada, the copyright automatically belongs to the person who commissions (ie. pays for) the work. That's you, the client!
Congratulations! But wait... what does that mean?
If there is no copyright clause in your contract then you can assume you're the proud owner of the images, and can, by law, do whatever you'd like with the photos. You can sell them to Pepsi for their latest ad campaign... alter the photos all you like... purchase billboards to display your photos... and you never have to give any credit to your photographer. Hooray!
But, you can probably see why a professional photographer might not want you to do those things. Photographers like to hold on to that copyright so they can continue to use your images in their portfolio, attract prospective clients, and retain the right to creatively enhance your photos if you should request it (among many other reasons). More simply put, we want the credit for creating the work, the same as an author wants his name printed on the cover of his book. We can control a little more how the image is used and who's profiting on it. That's why we put copyright clauses in our contracts. By law, we have to specifically address who is going to be the owner of the copyright after the work is completed - otherwise, it defaults to the client and we no longer have any control over where the photo ends up.
But what does that mean to you? Are we holding the images hostage and forcing you to purchase prints and albums through us? Not at all! Keep reading...

Although your photographer might be holding on to the copyright, you're not left out in the cold. What you should be receiving is a "Copyright Release" as part of your photography package. This is a simple form that your photographer will create, saying that you do indeed have permission to print photos included on your disc for personal use only. That means you can get enlargements made at any photo lab of your choice, have the photos printed on your favorite coffee mug, create your own thank you cards or any other personal creation! You just can't sell the images for profit of any kind. For most people, this is fine. Not too many couples set out with plans to sell their wedding photos to make money -- they just want to be able to print a few photos for their apartment walls. So with a Copyright Release, everybody wins. The client can make prints at their leisure; the photographer has control over the business-side of the images. No hostage-taking at all!

So while you're out and about, shopping for photographers for the next big event in your life, be sure to ask what the photographer's copyright policy is! It's in everyone's best interests!

Laura & Erich's Wedding: London Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-06-21T22:03:00.001-04:00

Thunderstorms, mundershtorms! This past Saturday was supposed to be a stormy wet day in London, but the Outdoor Wedding Gods changed their mind at the last minute for Laura & Erich's wedding at the Elsie Perrin Williams Estate. This is my second wedding of the year at Elsie Perrin's - last time was an indoor wedding so it was a nice change of pace for a garden setting this time around. I arrived a little early, which was wonderful since I was able to catch Laura's final moments before putting on her gorgeous gown.

Then it was on to the incredible ceremony out under the giant trees behind the mansion. Although it was very humid and muggy, everyone fanned themselves in the shade of these trees, while Laura's dad escorted her to the ceremony. I love how she walked down the aisle herself with Erich waiting...

The ceremony was very unique and personal to the couple - instead of traditional readings, Laura & Erich's family and friends gave their stories of what love is, and their best wishes to the couple. Then their vows were sealed with a kiss, and it was off to the patio for cool drinks and congratulations!

The clinking of the glasses never seemed to end for Laura & Erich!

It was such a pleasure working on this wedding, and experiencing the personal spin that Laura & Erich took on the service and the reception. Congratulations to this happy couple and enjoy your honeymoon! You deserve it!

The Winner Has Been Decided!

2010-06-19T12:06:00.000-04:00

Congratulations, Rachel & Wayne, on winning the Fabulous You Contest! With 59.7% of the votes, Rachel's story was the runaway favorite. They will be receiving a free lifestyle photo shoot plus one metallic 8x10 fully retouched print of her choice. Here's Rachel's submission...

I will have to admit I AM pretty fabulous but I am making this entry for my boyfriend, Wayne, who has been even more fabulous over the past couple of years. He just completed his last year of college and has worked his butt off to get there! Due to the recession, I was laid off from my job and forced to accept unemployment. This meant that while in school he worked fulltime to keep us 'afloat'. After a little while, I found a new job and things started to ease up financially so I booked us a photo session for the two of us and his 6 year old daughter, Hannah, as a Father's Day gift. Well, guess what? The place where I work just announced that it is going out of business. The luck I have. Needless to say, I had to cancel the appointment. It would be really great if we could win this contest because my FABULOUS boyfriend deserves it! He is amazing and has been such a great support for me in the past while and has encouraged me to follow my dreams and pushed me to start my own business so I don't have to worry about being laid off EVER AGAIN!

Ruth & John's Vow Renewal: Niagara Wedding Photography

2010-06-15T18:23:00.001-04:00

My second Niagara vineyard wedding this season was nothing short of beautiful. Ruth & John came up from Chicago, Illinois to celebrate their vows a second time in The Carriage House of Vineland Estates Winery. They are avid wine connoisseurs so their choice of venue was not only romantic, but very fitting for this couple!
The day started out quite grey and dreary, so the ceremony was moved indoors of the Carriage House while John kept an eye out for rain, and for Ruth's big arrival...

When Ruth arrived, the rain finally stopped and their renewal ceremony began.

Immediately after the service, all of Ruth & John's guests were treated to a tour of the winery as well as a lesson in wine tasting!

I was so happy to be a part of Ruth & John's wedding renewal ceremony and wish their families a lifetime of happiness together!

WANTED: A Few Good Models

2010-06-10T18:55:00.003-04:00

I'm looking for 3 or 4 women who are willing to get some gorgeous boudoir photos taken *at an extremely reduced discount*! That includes makeup, a studio photo shoot, and all the colour-corrected images on disc in high-resolution format. The cost to you: $200.00 plus taxes. That's over $160.00 off!
Here's the catch: I'm looking to update my boudoir portfolio so your images would be displayed on my website, blog, and sample albums.
If you are interested, send me a photo of yourself (I'm looking for ALL shapes and sizes of women!) and your contact information. If you are selected, the photo shoot will be taking place in the early fall in the West GTA and I will contact you with all the details! Thanks!

Andrea & Gord's Engagement: Toronto Ontario Engagement Photography

2010-06-03T11:26:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, I made the drive to U of T to meet Gord & Andrea for some engagement pictures. They were so nicely dressed - I was impressed! Gord kept his stylish jacket on the whole time, even when it was 30+ degrees out! The sunshine was definitely hot but we got some great shots. I'm looking forward to Andrea & Gord's wedding in London this September.

Distillery District Wedding: Toronto Ontario Wedding Photography

2010-06-01T21:41:00.002-04:00

A couple of months ago I signed up for a really cool workshop in the Distillery District of Toronto. A group of about 10 photographers had 2 stunning models for the day and we basically just wandered the district playing around with poses and people watching!
As time goes on, I may go through the 600+ photos I took that day and choose a few more to feature! But for now, these are some of my favorites!

I love this next one because I think some girls in the background were imitating all of us photographers and the model! :)

Luke's Baby Photos: Milton Ontario Baby Photography

2010-05-28T01:07:00.001-04:00

About a month ago, I was so happy to visit one of my oldest friends, Tara, who was expecting her second baby. We did some cute maternity photos with her little boy Nate. Well now Nate has a perfect little baby brother to play hockey with: it's Luke!
When I arrived, Luke was fast asleep on the couch...

Luke definitely did not want to wake up for pictures...

So big brother Nate decided to get in on the fun! I call this one "All Babies Please Make a Funny Face":

"Great! Now please be a little more coy..."

This last picture cracks me up! Newborn crosseyes are the cutest! And he just looks so mad that I'm taking his picture! :) Tara, you and Pete make adorable children... xoxo

Christin & Richard's Wedding: Niagara Wedding Photography

2010-05-24T22:46:00.001-04:00

This past winter, I had the pleasure of meeting Christin & Richard in Guelph to do a very cold but romantic engagement session in the snow! So it was a great change of pace to shoot their wedding on an incredibly warm May day. I didn't have to wear my mitts and toque this time!
We started out the day at the Niagara Botanical Gardens where the skies were cloudy but the breeze was warm and inviting.

Then out of nowhere, the skies opened up for a quick but heavy downpour! It was time to put everyone to work to save Christin's lovely dress from getting wet. We made a quick dash back to the limo...

By the time we got to Chateau des Charmes Vineyards, the skies had cleared up enough to cast some gorgeous light in on their ceremony. Christin & Richard had the giggles!

I adored Christin's bouquet of flowers. They were hand-dyed silk fabrics and feathers in a stunning and small nosegay. The colours totally match Christin & Richards' personalities!

Then it was time for the reception to begin! You could tell everyone was enjoying themselves!

Here are my 2 most favorite shots of the night: their first dance, and the incredible sunset that appeared during the reception. Incredibly, the colours in that sky were NOT photoshopped at all. I think the heavens just decided to match Christin's bouquet for the evening! :)

Vote Now For The Fabulous Submissions!

2010-05-24T11:35:00.028-04:00

The Fabulous You Contest is underway! All submissions from contestants will be displayed here! Once a new story is posted, you will be able to vote for it. Stories may be submitted until June 5, 2010. Voting will continue until June 19, 2010.
For contest details, click HERE. So get voting and let's see who's feeling FABULOUS! Good luck!

#1: JENNIFER
I'm not sure if this counts as a "fabulous" thing to go through but I've come out the other side a much happier person. When my second child, a son, was born a year ago, the little guy had several medical issues. After dealing with a pediatrician misprescribing medication for him, multiple trips to Sick Kids Hospital as well as various other emergency rooms across Ontario, our little guy is a happy healthy boy now! Upon the end of this roller coaster maternity leave, I returned to a beloved job, only to be laid off two weeks later. I managed to quickly secure a part time job, and while at the time it felt like the "worst thing ever", I have discovered that things happen for a reason. I'm a much happier person now, getting to spend more time with my kids, and having made it through a quite trying year! For that, I feel FABULOUS now! I would love to win a family portrait session to commemorate this new beginning for my family and me. Thanks for considering me!

#2: CHRISTINE
I'd like to enter my story for the fabulous contest! This is so great because I just got some fabulous news about 2 weeks ago! I have been working for a large marketing firm for 6 years now and I love every minute of it. When I started I was the receptionist, and slowly throughout the years (and one college diploma later) I have been working my way up in the company. I just found out that after all my hard work, keeping other people on track and organized, working late hours and burning the midnight oil, I've got a promotion! I'm so excited! I'm now a Marketing Supervisor and I'm so proud because I did it all on my own. I set a goal for myself and I achieved it. And now that I'm here, I feel like the sky is the limit for me. Thanks for the contest and I hope I win! I'd love to get some shots with my boyfriend who has stood by me through all these years and we have no really great photos together that we didn't take ourselves! :)

#3: SANDRA

Hi, my name is Kelly & I’d like to nominate my best friend Sandra for the Fabulous You photo contest. Sandra’s husband Scot is in the Canadian military and is currently serving in Afghanistan for several months. Sandra is
the mother of two beautiful young children and also works full time as a elementary French teacher in a school close to the military base in Petawawa, Ontario. In addition to her own stresses of having a husband at war overseas, holding down a full time job and raising her children as a single parent right now, she also supports the many other military families in the area, sharing the ups and downs of news of loved ones injured or lost in the field. I don't know how she does it. I think she is “Fabulous” and very deserving of a photo shoot. A special photo would be a wonderful gift to send to her husband overseas.

#4: RACHEL

I will have to admit I AM pretty fabulous but I am making this entry for my boyfriend, Wayne, who has been even more fabulous over the past couple of years. He just completed his last year of college and has worked his butt off to get there! Due to the recession, I was laid off from my job and forced to accept unemployment. This meant that while in school he worked fulltime to keep us 'afloat'. After a little while, I found a new job and things started to ease up financially so I booked us a photo session for the two of us and his 6 year old daughter, Hannah, as a Father's Day gift. Well, guess what? The place where I work just announced that it is going out of business. The luck I have. Needless to say, I had to cancel the appointment. It would be really great if we could win this contest because my FABULOUS boyfriend deserves it! He is amazing and has been such a great support for me in the past while and has encouraged me to follow my dreams and pushed me to start my own business so I don't have to worry about being laid off EVER AGAIN!

Tell us about FABULOUS YOU!

2010-05-22T10:54:00.006-04:00

Click HERE to vote and see the results so far!

Here are some other great ideas for stories:

- you met your weight loss goal

- started a new job or got a promotion at work

- you've been volunteering at a great organization you want to promote

- you put in long hours every day as a mother :)

- you finally got your hair chopped off into a brave new 'do

- you're engaged!

- you finally sold your home

Pretty much anything that makes you feel great, is a proud accomplishment and makes you feel good is a perfect story! And of course, you can nominate someone you believe should win.

Additional prizes may be added to this package as the weeks roll on... ;-)

And the coolest part? You can use the photo shoot for pretty much anything on location! Engagement photos, family photos, fashion-style photos of your fabulous self...

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Featured Photo Shoot: Becky & Eric's Wedding

2010-05-17T17:40:00.001-04:00

I have the world's greatest job. Seriously. And this time of year makes it exciting and new, every single weekend! This past Saturday I was in Woodstock for Becky & Eric's wedding. They were married at the Church of the Epiphany, followed by a gorgeous reception at Craigowan Golf Club. When I got home and scanned through the photos I took, one thing really struck me: everyone, and I mean everyone, was smiling from ear-to-ear throughout the day! Becky and Eric's wedding wasn't just a celebration of their vows and marriage -- it was also a really fun, happy reason for old friends and family to get together and enjoy each other's company.
This afternoon I received an email from Becky - straight from their honeymoon in Hawaii...
"We are just starting our first morning in Hawaii and wanted to send you a quick and very heartfelt THANK YOU for working with us on our wedding day. I'm just itching to see all the pictures! You were so fun to work with and I'm sure you managed to get many great shots. Let us know as soon as the gallery is ready, we can't wait to see them!"
Well Becky and Eric, here are a few of my favorites from your day. I hope they tide you over until you get back from Hawaii!

Featured Photo Shoot: Deirdre's a Firey RedHead!

2010-05-13T18:06:00.001-04:00

On May 1st, my friend Deirdre brought some fabulous props, great ideas, and her smokin' hot red hair to the boudoir marathon in Toronto! I had a hard time picking out my favorites from her session because a lot of them were too hot to share! But here are some that I know you'll love...
Way to go Deirdre!
Here's a note a I got from Deirdre after her photo shoot:

I wanted to thank you for a wonderful morning. I loved how you were able to think of such amazing poses with the outfits I brought. You really made me feel at ease and would do it at the drop of a hat again. You're awesome and I can't wait to see my pics!

Worst Wedding DJ Ever!!!

2010-05-13T17:03:00.001-04:00

Oh. My. Gosh.

Look At All The Cool Ways To Check Out In Bloom Photography!

2010-05-11T13:43:00.002-04:00

We're moving! Not far... still in Brantford... but we're building a brand new place that will have a dreamy new studio & office space for In Bloom Photography... I can't wait!

So in all the craziness of the upcoming move, I've been up to my elbows in address-changes for everything. Current and future clients will be informed personally of the address change, but for everyone else, I've compiled a list of where you can find us!

Website: www.inbloomphotos.com

Email: info@inbloomphotos.com

Blog: (with latest work, promotions, etc.) www.inbloomphotos.blogspot.com

Twitter: (sometimes exclusive promotions listed here) www.twitter.com/InBloomPhoto

Facebook: (sometimes exclusive promotions listed here) www.facebook.com/InBloomPhotos

Wedding Ring Magazine Review: (an in-depth review of my work) The Wedding Ring - In Bloom Photography

Slideshow: (a little show of a wedding I covered recently) Sean & Amanda's Slideshow

I look forward to hearing your wedding plans and more!
All the best,
Carolyn

Featured Photo Shoot: Heather from HRM Photography

2010-04-25T14:02:00.001-04:00

This past Friday night, I took a drive out to London to meet Heather Tarasick from HRM Photography. We decided to trade services for the evening: I'd shoot her beautiful family and baby Iris, and she'd get some good headshots of me! It worked out great. Here are my favorites of Heather, Eric and Iris at Springbank Park with all the gorgeous magnolias! Thanks again Heather - YOU'RE AWESOME! :)

A nice wet kiss for daddy...

Featured Photo Shoots: Catching up with Kids

2010-04-25T11:34:00.001-04:00

I'm just catching up on some blog posts today and wanted to share these 2 photo sessions with you. The first is with a great friend of mine, Tara, and her son Nate. I've known Tara for over 20 years and we've always been close. Her son Nate is only a few months older than my daughter Juliana... we're already planning their marriage! :) Tara is expecting her second baby in May so I stopped by to do some belly photos and pictures with her and Nate. I can't wait to meet the new little one!

Then, I had the pleasure of revisiting Shivonne, Keelyn & Phil in Hamilton. I met Keelyn when she was only about 6 weeks old and really enjoyed her newborn photo shoot. Now she's a busy 6 month old with lots of giggles and smiles for her mom & dad. So cute!

Stay tuned! I've got more catching up to do so more photo shoots will be featured shortly!

Featured Photo Shoot: Arlene & Jasan's Wedding

2010-04-21T15:33:00.001-04:00

This couple is madly in love. You can just tell when you meet them. :)
On April 10th I had the pleasure of shooting their wedding at the Elsie Perrin Williams Estate in London. It's a beautiful old historic building with huge leaded windows and sprawling grounds. A perfect fairytale setting for an incredibly romantic wedding.

And how romantic is this?!?! During the ceremony, Jasan got down on one knee to say his vows to Arlene.

Congratulations to this wonderfully happy couple! :)

Oh Boy! It's A Twitter Contest!!!

2010-04-19T17:36:00.001-04:00

Alright folks. I've taken a giant leap into the 21st century and signed up at Twitter. My hope is to use the place to announce promotions and featured work that you might be interested in! Oh I just feel so cool now... I mean, if 76-year old Larry King can tweet, so can I!
But I feel like a big loser because I am dreadfully low on followers. So here's the deal:
Become a follower of me on Twitter, and you're automatically entered into a contest to win a $100.00 gift certificate towards any product or service from In Bloom Photography! It's just that simple!
The random draw will take place on May 1st, 2010 and the winner will be announced on... you guessed it... TWITTER!
So good luck! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! There's $100.00 in photography up for grabs!
http://twitter.com/InBloomPhoto

In Bloom Needs A Minute Of Your Time...

2010-04-08T11:02:00.009-04:00

CALLING ALL CLIENTS OF IN BLOOM!!! As a new advertiser on Wedding Wire I'm looking for past clients of mine to write up a quick review of my work. It's just a quick few clicks to rate me and there's space to leave comments. Really easy. So go ahead - tell me what you think!
Pretty please... :) Just click on the picture below to get started. Thanks!
***UPDATE: The glitch seems to have been fixed. But if you're still having trouble, let me know. Thanks everybody for the kind words! I'm so flattered reading your comments today!!!

Are you my photographer?

2010-04-07T12:14:00.003-04:00

The Wedding Ring magazine has recently published an article I wrote on questions you should ask photographers you're considering hiring for your wedding. Check it out here:
ARE YOU MY PHOTOGRAPHER?

Colours & Moods: There's more than just the basic three!

2010-04-06T18:23:00.003-04:00

In the world of photography, most people are accustomed to seeing 3 different variations of colouring with their photos: regular colour, black & white, and sepia tone. But there's a whole other world out there of creative colouring that most people don't even know about! The colour choices that you make for your photos can affect the mood of the final image. Is it bright & cheerful? Dark and brooding?
That's where your photographer comes in. When you order a specific print or album from your photographer, you'll also be entering a whole new world of creative colour work. It's the type of thing you see in magazines all the time, but people just never think that their photos can achieve the same look. Let's take a peek at some examples of a church that I took a photo of last October.
First, here's the original "colour proof" the client would receive. It's been colour-corrected and has some nice colours, but there's no real punch to it. Next is a standard "black & white" & "sepia" photo that any lab could print. Again, there's nothing particularly "wrong" with these choices. But you could be missing some "WOW" factor! (click to enlarge any of these photos)

Now let's look at the same photo with a few creative filters applied. Perhaps you like bold, bright colours that are heavily saturated! Or maybe you like an antique-feel, but not fully sepia-toned. What kind of mood do you like?

Or here's one that's very desaturated but not quite black & white; very popular when you add textures to the picture - it gives it a 'gritty, urban' feel. And one that's a little more mysterious with play in the shadows and golden tones...

The possibilities are truly endless. There are even several different kinds of black and white, and each one is a different mood! Don't believe me? Check out the differences in these photos...

When you talk to your photographer, tell them the kind-of mood you're looking for in your photo! Or, let them play around and create a work of art with creative colour in your pictures. Colour work is just one of the steps taken in the full-retouching process that photographers do, and it's a fantastic way to take your photos from nice to AMAZING!

Please, PLEASE Hire A Professional For Your Wedding!

2010-04-02T20:45:00.001-04:00

I'm not usually one to watch daytime courtroom shows, but this one was fabulous. Thank goodness the judge knows about photography and was able to rule accordingly! Nobody wants to end up in a courtroom after their wedding because their photos were terrible...

2011 Wedding Blitz Is On Now!

2010-03-30T18:31:00.005-04:00

***PLEASE NOTE: PRICES ARE GOING UP
ON MAY 1st, 2010 SO DON'T DELAY!***

One Spot Has Just Become Available!

2010-03-09T19:18:00.002-05:00

Guess what? One spot is now re-opened as my client has to go away for a business meeting and unfortunately won't be able to get her boudoir photos done this day! Sooo...
Who wants the 12:00pm spot??? Last time these spots went very quickly so book now!

(click to enlarge ad below)

Featured Photo Shoot: Jenn & Scott's Wedding

2010-02-19T14:31:00.003-05:00

How much do I love the Best Western Lamplighter Inn in London?! Their atrium is gorgeous, especially for winter weddings! Earlier in January, Jenn and Scott were married here amongst the tropical palm trees, rocks, waterfalls and lighthouse, all indoors in the Lamplighter's atrium. The lighting was gorgeous and made Jennifer's fascinator veil and gown even more stunning. She was truly a gorgeous bride! (Scotty-Too-Hotty looked good too! hee hee) While it was freezing outdoors, we enjoyed the warmth indoors and got some wonderful shots. Here are a few from their special day...

Notice Anything Different?

2010-02-17T14:04:00.000-05:00

We've done a bit of re-branding here at In Bloom Photography! Woot woot! A new logo, new colours, new blog... lots of good ole' newness for 2010. Slowly but surely, I will be revising all the galleries to include all new pictures from 2009 and 2010 so be sure to check back. After playing with my logo for the past few years I think I've finally settled on something I love. I hope you do too! In the meantime, enjoy the new look of In Bloom Photography!

OUT OF OFFICE ALERT: January 30 - February 14, 2010

2010-01-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

After shooting a wedding this Saturday in London, I'll be taking off for a greatly needed vacation! You people have been keeping me busy! ;) Yippee! It's our annual trip to Disney World! I'll still be working while in Florida but only checking my email periodically. I gotta spend time with my family once in a while! If you need anything, please send me a message at info@inbloomphotos.com and I will reply as soon as possible.

Keep your fingers crossed that it will be warm when we go! They've been having some crazy weather down there lately! See you soon,

Carolyn

Featured Photo Shoot: Cake Smash!

2010-01-26T16:20:00.001-05:00

As their final session with their Baby Blossoms Club membership, Sabrina & Mike decided celebrate their daughter's first birthday with some messy fun! We started off with some pictures of Aanika in her pretty dress, followed by a whole lot of ooey-gooey goodness in a cake made by a family friend. At first, she didn't really know what to do with the cake, but after Mom & Dad shoved her hands into the pudding-filled centre, Aanika got the hang of it pretty quickly! This was a lot of fun and a great way to finish up their year of photo sessions. Happy Birthday Aanika! It's been an honor watching you grow!

Of course, you've GOTTA put some cake in your hair if you're having your first birthday cake!

Featured Photo Shoot: Christin & Richard

2010-01-26T14:12:00.000-05:00

On a very cold January day, I met up with Christin and Richard in Guelph at the Arboretum. It was very peaceful and quiet at sunset, and Christin and Richard managed the frozen fingers and toes quite well! I'm looking forward to shooting their wedding in May. Here are a few photos from their icy cold winter photo session.
***Remember, all proceeds from engagement photo shoots booked before February 28th will go towards UNICEF's Haiti relief efforts.

How Your Engagement Can Help Haiti

2010-01-22T23:36:00.006-05:00

Over the last couple weeks, my eyes have been glued to the news, watching the stories of horror and happiness coming out of Haiti. So much tragedy leaves a lot of us feeling hopeless and helpless.
I remember about 15 years ago, I traveled to Haiti on a Caribbean cruise and I'll never forget the absolute and utter poverty the Haitians were living in. I remember watching a small rowboat packed to the hilt with Haitians rowing back to shore as our cruise ship left the port of Labadee - citizens heading home after a day of hoping tourists on cruise ships would buy their trinkets so they'd be able to buy another meal for their family. And now to have their homes destroyed by a horrific earthquake, it's almost hard to imagine the scope of this tragedy.
One thing I can't seem to stop thinking about are the children. The ones who are too young to talk; they don't know their names, they can't speak up and describe who their parents are, whether living or not. What is going to happen to them? How will they be reunited with living relatives when they have no identification? Who is going to stop these beautiful little babies and children from being falsely claimed by sinister people posing as relatives looking to sell (or worse) them for profit? UNICEF is already getting reports of child trafficking. Maybe it's because I'm a mother of 2 very young children, but I can't stop imagining it being my babies laying in those streets, with no one to comfort them, feed them, dress their wounds and kiss them goodnight.
I've donated money to the Red Cross. But I want to do more.
I'm not a doctor or nurse, I'm not a rescuer. I'm not able to adopt these children (although I would love to!). So how can a simple wedding photographer help?
In my line of work, I am often surrounded by happiness and new beginnings and for that I'm truly blessed. So my gift to Haiti is to volunteer my time, so that their country can benefit.
Here's my plan:
For every engagement photo session booked from now until the end of February, I will donate my proceeds to UNICEF. So many people are already looking to book engagement photos for the spring right now - why not do it for a wonderful organization dedicated to looking after the children of this tragedy!
Here's what you get:
Purchase a single engagement session from In Bloom Photography for $200.00 plus taxes.
You will receive:
- a photo shoot at the location of your choosing in Southern Ontario or the GTA
- all photos edited and color corrected
- an online gallery for 60 days featuring all your photos to share with family and friends
- all photos in high-resolution format on DVD
I will donate all proceeds from these engagement sessions to UNICEF, and update my blog at the end of February with the total amount donated. My goal is to hit $1000.00 or greater for this totally, totally worthy cause.
***BONUS: For every dollar donated to UNICEF Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency will contribute a dollar to the relief efforts. Double the bang for the buck!
You're getting engagement photos anyway. Let's make them count for so many others. :)
Take care everyone.