Matt + Lauren | Engaged | KW Wedding Photographer

I was so excited to meet this wonderful couple at the location for their upcoming summer wedding, the Detweiler Meeting House, near Roseville.  This quaint, sparse little meeting house is so beautiful and full of light, I can't wait to photograph their wedding!! We were lucky enough to find the caretaker on the grounds, which allowed us the chance to do a couple of images inside - AMAZING!!  Then we just walked around the small area surround the building to capture a few more moments. This couple has been together for a few years, which I love because they know each other so well - how to make each other laugh, how to make each other comfortable and how to just be together.  Plain and simple love.

Counting the days until we get to go back to this fabulous location in August and watch these two seal their vows!

M xo

Waiting for a Winter Babe |Kitchener Maternity Photographer

This family has had a pretty spectacular year.  Last year around this time, I was photographing them to celebrate their commitment to each other as a family after Brad + Jen's engagement, and then in the spring they sealed their wedding vows at the gorgeous Pillar & Post in Niagara-On-The-Lake.  And now, they are welcoming a new life into their family.  There is a lot of love going around here, folks! Jackson arrived on December 5th at 8:43pm, but just a few short weeks before that, we got together to take a few images of Jen's perfect baby belly and to celebrate Jackson's iminent arrival. I am so happy and excited for this fabulous couple.  Their new little guy is going to be surrounded with more love than he will possibly able to imagine!

M xo

(PS My lovely friend Katy Brunkard took some absolutely breathtaking images of Jackson after he was here - check out her awesome newborn work here!)

Fall Sunshine | KW Family Photographer

It was a lovely, sunny evening when I met up with this gang to take some updated photos.  I first met their mom on a field trip last year with my youngest's class when we both volunteered and a few times since as our daughters became friends and attended the same birthday parties. It is always both fun and interesting to photograph kids who know you a little bit, with that unique mix of familiarity but in a new situation. We enjoyed a nice little walk to the location and then set about our business - which essentially meant chasing little Mr. H and trying to find things to keep him interested long enough to stay in front of my camera. The girls were champs though, gently (for the most part) guiding him back into the frame, but eventually we just let him do his thing and they had an epic leaf fight instead!

Thank you all for your patience and cooperation (and especially to Dad for fetching wagonloads of leaves when we needed more!).

M xo

I Heart Faces - Best Face of 2014 Photo Challenge

This is my submission to the I Heart Faces "Best Face of 2014" Photo Challenge! I just love her little smirk - it makes me wonder what she is dreaming about... I am super excited to be a Guest Judge for this photo challenge along with other members of the IHF Creative team! Join in the fun - get more details on the IHF website!

In the Yard| Kitchener Family Photographer

This super fun family won their session through my daughters' school silent auction and I was so excited when they connected with me to plan their session.  Mom right away suggested that we could have the session in the backyard of their gorgeous home and I quickly agreed.  There is just something so special about photographing a family in their own space. We had a beautiful fall evening and the leaves were falling as the light began to fade, but we had gorgeous, soft light from the sky and we had a blast hanging out in the backyard, chasing Luke the dog and throwing leaves.  There were lots of laughs and many silly faces.  What more can you ask for?

Thank you all for welcoming me to your home and into your lives.  I had so much fun laughing with you!

M xoA big shout out to my awesome friend Lisa of Lisa Kwan Images, who tagged along to check out how I work with a family during a session and took a few behind-the-scenes photos of me in action!

Six Months | Kitchener Family Photographer

My lovely friend Michelle, from Miche L Photography, asked me to do a quick little session with her beautiful family this fall, to photograph her adorable baby girl around 6 months of age.  I love that 6-9 month age range, where babies are starting to sit, crawl, cruise and just develop the cutest personalities! We played dodge-the-rain for a few days and this day was not perfect, but the clearest we had in awhile, so we decided to make a run for it!  I am so glad we did, because the fall colours were just starting to come in and they made a lovely backdrop for this session along the Grand River Trail in Waterloo.

Miss E's adorable fly-away hair and her parents' adoring love were on full display and we laughed in between raindrops, having a wonderful time catching up and capturing the moment.

Thanks to you all for driving all the way from Kincardine to frolic in the rain.  So nice to get caught up!!

M xo

Personal iPhoneography 2014 | Kitchener Family Photography

Looking back through 2014, a few things come to mind.  Adventures in the woods.  Swimming, lots of swimming.  Skateboards and scooters. And family. This year was one where I put down the "big" camera and just brought my phone.  My phone, that I can slip into my pocket after the not-so-perfect-but-memory-capturing photo is taken and then engage in the moment.  Play with my girls. Kiss my husband. Pet my old dog.  These moments are what can get lost when my big camera comes around, as I struggle to get just the right frame rather than just the right moment.  That split second where my kids laugh a true laugh, or hit the water after a huge cannon-ball or stick out their tongues playfully.

Now don't get me wrong, lots of these images were taken with a vision or because the light was pretty or because I love me some Instagram and like participating in that community, but underneath all of that, this is our life.  And I love our life.  That is what I take away from these images as I reflect on the past year.

I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination.  And these photos are the proof.

M xo

Urban Family | Kitchener Family Photography

When I first met this family, the little man was just 4 months old.  He was a bundle in their arms and now he is an active, chatty 3-year-old.  Who loves Thomas the Train.  And always gives me a run for my money.  Literally, a run. ;) I love clients who become friends and I count this awesome family among that group.  We keep in touch throughout the year and look forward to getting together for our annual session.  This year, we decided to ditch the fields and forests and hit an urban area.  And I am so glad we did!  I have been dying to work in the city core again and this was the perfect family to plan a session with - stylish, fun and super laid-back.  We just worked our way around the block, finding different textures and colours and having a blast.

And I think the final shot of them walking in the glowing light is one of my favourite images yet.  I am going to miss the sun now that winter is on its way...

Thank you all for being amazing friends, clients and willing subjects!

Love ya,

M xo

Allan + Rachel | Engaged | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

Okay, I seriously LOVE this couple! When we met on a gorgeous August evening, strolled around Waterloo Park near sundown and splashed in the creek, laughing our pants off, I knew right away that these are my kind of people! This couple loves each other fully, completely.  You can tell that they are in love in the deepest possible way - best friends, lovers, partners-in-crime.  They make each other laugh, look into each others eyes and are connected in an almost visceral way.

We had such an amazing time together, I couldn't stop smiling even after I drove away.  And then I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw them strolling hand-in-hand back home and my smile got even wider.  I was beyond excited and ready to photograph their fall wedding - stay tuned in the next couple of weeks to see their simply fantastic wedding day!

Love you A + R!

M xo

2014: Year in Review | Kitchener Photographer

At the end of each year, it always blows me away just how lucky I am.  I get to photograph people who are full of love, laughter and joy.  I am invited into people lives, even if just for a couple of hours and that is so very special.  This year has brought many return clients, giving me the opportunity to watch a family grow and change, which is such a cool thing to witness.  And there have been new clients as well, whom I look forward to meeting, year-after-year to see those wonderful changes.  Like I told one of my recent wedding couples, "You're stuck with me now!  I am YOUR family photographer!" The bottom line is that without all of your smiling faces, I would not be able to do this job that I love.  It is all of you who keep me smiling, laughing and crying along with you.  THANK YOU. From the very bottom of my big ol' heart.  Truly.  You are what inspires me to get better and learn more and find new ways to help you see your happy shine.

This year has seen a lot of firsts for my business, as I branched out into boudoir and wedding photography.  Now that I can make it through either of those without losing hours of sleep the night before, I am so excited to see where these paths will take me!!  I also worked hard to really bring out the storytelling aspects of my imagery, and to work in different locations that helped to guide these stories: the fair, the backyard, in the river, downtown Kitchener, in your home.  I am thrilled to keep moving in this direction of approach for 2015 - so get ready to have me storm your backyards and homes, people! ;)

Another huge part of this year was leaning on my amazing photography colleagues as I pushed into new and sometimes terrifying territory.  I probably wouldn't push myself nearly as far without their gentle nudges sometimes and having them to act as sounding boards is something I value beyond words and try never to take for granted.  To Hilary, the Oprah to my Gayle, the Scribsy to my Flash - I love being on the rocket ship with you and wouldn't want to be on this ride with anyone else. To Michelle B, Dana, Martina, Kate, Sandra, Lisa, and Michelle S - I love you girls so much and am so happy and thankful to have you in my life.

Thank you 2014, for being such a fantastic year.  Welcome 2015!

M xo

Scott + Melissa | Timeless Cafe & Bakery Wedding | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

After a beautiful, sunny engagement session with these two, I was so excited to photograph their wedding!  A small, intimate gathering of their closest friends and family, their wedding took place at the amazing Timeless Cafe & Bakery in Waterloo in their upstairs function space. As expected, the day was full of laughter and smiles and love, all set on the backdrop of the lovely cafe and the surrounding rustic beauty that is Timeless Material Co.  I loved that this wedding was short and absolutely sweet, with lovely details and tons of love.

Thank you Scott & Melissa for inviting me to photograph your day.  I felt so welcomed by you and your families and thoroughly enjoyed the day!

M xo

And Then They Were Four | Kitchener Family Photography

When I first met this lovely family, their little guy was on the eve of his first birthday.  I remember fondly singing Old MacDonald at the top of our lungs to get him smiling.  But this time around, we needed no such encouragement.  He was all smiles from the start, snuggling in his parents' arms and showing off his contagious grin. But we were not just there to capture his smiling face, but also his mama's bump, where rested his soon-to-be new sister.  It was such a beautiful warm night on the outskirts of Milton, where the summer sun filtered beautifully through the trees onto the boardwalk, highlighting that perfect belly and radiant happiness of this expectant family.  Here are a few from that night...

And then, a few short weeks later, she was here!  With a head full of hair and adorable button nose, she won over her unsure big brother and her wonderful parents.  I headed to their home to photograph the new foursome in her stunning nursery and to play some Wiggles guitar with big brother in between feedings.  I cannot wait to see this beautiful girl grow into her warm, welcoming, adoring family.  We already have her one-year session planned - I wonder if how much hair she will have by then??

Thank you all for welcoming me into your home and your lives.  I can't wait to see you in September to catch up!

M xo

aND T

Friends | Kitchener Family Photographer

Often as adults, we don't make many new friends.  We tend to tighten down our little circles - school friends, work friends, social acquaintances.  But sometimes, you get the chance to make new, real friends.  Such is the case with this awesome family. We first met when our oldest daughters attended the same Sparks group.  Claire and I attended a couple of events with the group and chatted a little bit. Our girls also went to the same school, we later realized, but on opposite kindergarten days.

Then my youngest daughter and their son started in the same kindergarten class.  They became fast friends and were mostly inseparable.  In fact, they were more like siblings than friends - rough-housing and plotting sneak scare attacks in whispers, laughing like loons when their plans worked.  Our eldest daughters also had class together and bickered and loved like sisters too.  I would often chat with Steve or Claire as we waited for the final school bell to ring and a friendship was born.  With our kids in the same classes, we kept each other up on the in-class dramas of our oldest girls and commiserated over the younger ones' lack of desire to learn to read.  And all the while, their littlest, a social butterfly, would be merrily sharing lots of stories with me about her day.  Fast forward through several field trips, backyard barbeques and more than a few beers, wine and coolers while playing Dutch Blitz you see a couple of families who can spend a few hours together with no fighting kids (okay, well maybe a few arguments here and there - they are like siblings, I tell ya!) and crack each other up on those early breakfast club volunteer mornings.

We planned a little session together way back in June but I was waiting to blog these until their Christmas cards were sent, since I knew she was planning on using a few from the session as a surprise for long-distance relatives.  It is amazing how looking at these now, a few months later, you can almost forget the swarm of mosquitoes that was eating us all alive before the bug spray arrived, or the sensation of my hand coming up wet out of a fresh puddle of dog urine...almost.

I have to say, my very favourite part of this session was when we headed back to their house near the end, to capture some images in their backyard and on their front porch.  I think this has to happen for EVERY session from now on.  The home is where the heart is and to have those memories of the life they are creating together in that home are so precious.  Get ready for me to come to your house, people! ;)

Our family is so lucky to have found such wonderful, kind and hilarious friends and we look forward to many more years of laughter and friendship.  And chili with lots of corn.

M xo

Jody | Kitchener Boudoir Photographer

Boudoir was a type of photography that wasn't really on my spectrum until last year.  Mostly because I wasn't entirely sure that I could pull it off.  Sure, it seemed a natural fit given my history as a massage therapist and massage therapy instructor.  Boudoir is practically modest compared to massage! The challenge for me wasn't so much related to technical execution or comfort around nudity, but rather the responsibility I felt to make my subjects feel as comfortable as possible in their own skin while also creating images that were in keeping with my style. After some gentle persuasion from my inner photography circle, I decided to give it a whirl and quickly found that I really enjoyed this unique style of photography.  As with most things in my life, I found that I approached boudoir sessions with equal parts humour,  determination and self-competition, challenging myself to make my subjects feel confident, sexy and relaxed throughout the session. A little wine and music may have aided in keeping the mood light too... ;)

I have actually done a few sessions over the course of the past year, but often my clients prefer to keep the images to themselves and I respect their privacy.  But Ms. Jody was happy to allow me to share a few from her session to help spread the word that boudoir is now on my list of reasons-to-hang-out-with-Mandy-for-an-afternoon... er, photography services.

I am booking a limited number of boudoir sessions for 2015, and they can be done in the comfort of your own home (if lighting permits) or I can arrange for the use of a studio space here in Kitchener. Couples and men welcome, it's not just for the ladies!  Connect with me at info@mandyblakephotography.com to plan your session.

M xo

The Last Days of Summer | Cambridge Fall Fair | Kitchener Family Photographer

This super cool family met me at the historic Cambridge Fall Fair on a gorgeous late summer night for some rides and smiles.  I loved the idea of heading to the fair - the lights, the roller coasters, the small of cotton candy, popcorn and caramel apples in the warm air, the laughter of delight and screams of terror, all underscored by a local band rocking the main stage.  A perfect end note to summer. I really wanted to do my best to capture this awesome family as they truly are, loving, kind and truly bonded.  They had a blast carnival games and riding the various amusement rides, stopping for a few quick photos in front of the fun house and then wrapping it up with some cotton candy and a few more stomach-twisting turns on the Tilt-a-Whirl as the fair's bright lights started to light the night sky.

Thank you all for being such great sports and for spending a great evening with me at the fair.  Enjoy the images!

M xo

I have started taking my iPhone along to my sessions, capturing a few extra images to show some of the little moments that just seem to  be better translated through a less obtrusive lens.  I am loving the results!  Here a just a few of my faves from my phone:

One Frame | Allan + Rachel | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

Cell Phone Photography: A Guide

Click here to view or download the Cell Phone Photography Course Companion Guide! 

Tony + Heather | Waterfront Wedding | Tobermory Ontario Photographer

I almost didn't photograph this wedding and I will tell you why:  Weddings scare me  a little bit.  One chance to get things right just doesn't suit my perfectionist personality. But this lovely couple are long-time family friends and they were ready to beg me to photograph their big day.  I told them we could do an engagement session and just see how it might go... And then MAGIC.  These two are so amazing together as a couple - naturally connected and so in love - that I couldn't possibly miss the chance to photograph their wedding.  The contract was signed and we were on the countdown to September.

And then I got a message that they had decided to elope in June, they just couldn't wait any longer!  My romantic heart was ready to be there to capture their fantastic day.  And plus, for any of you who are familiar with Tobermory, it was the Chi-Cheemaun Festival (affectionately know by locals as "Cheech Weekend"), an event that my family refuses to miss.  They were planning their ceremony between slo-pitch games, a plan that I understood completely.  You don't mess with the JP Johnstone Memorial  Slo-Pitch Tournament.  You just DON'T.

They chose ridiculously beautiful Mermaid Cove in Tobermory, Ontario, as the location for their ceremony, along the rugged shores of Georgian Bay.  The day could not have been more beautiful, blue skies and sunshine, champagne and strawberries for the gathered guests.  After the ceremony, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at the renowned Grandview Motel and then we planned to meet up in the evening to take a few more images in the falling sunlight.

All in all, we could not have had a better day, with amazing friend and family surrounding this couple with love.  I enjoyed every minute of this wedding.  And I was only a tiny bit scared. ;)

Love you Tony & Heather!  Thank you for allowing me to share your beautiful wedding day.

M xo

Summer Nights | Cambridge Family Photography

I met this wonderful family at the gorgeous Dumfries Conservation Area in Cambridge, Ontario for a session on a sunny summer evening.  Mom is the talented photographer behind Melissa Avey Photography and she did an awesome job dressing her family in a stylish way that really suited the summery weather! We headed out with the goal of getting a photograph of the entire family together, something that can be easily overlooked in the home of a photographer, since we are used to taking the photos rather than being IN the photos.  I was determined to give her this image, even if it meant crawling on my belly, making crazy noises and even a little bit of begging... ;)

We did have success in getting everyone in the frame, as well as having a bunch of fun and making lots of silly faces.  I think these images show the essence of this family - fun, caring, goofy and ultimately, really full of love.

Thank you Melissa and Brendan and kiddos for choosing me to capture these moments and memories for you.  It was a good night.

M xo

Seven | Kitchener Photographer

Seven years ago today, I was welcoming my second child.  The one who had given me heartburn and ceaseless rib kicks and whom I was convinced was a boy. But then she arrived.  Another daughter, with a thick head of dark hair and the chubbiest cheeks.  And also immediately starving.  Little did I know that this was neither the first nor the last time that I would be meeting her never-ending nourishment needs...

She is the comedian - always being silly and saying things that crack us up - but quick to tears if she didn't intend to be funny.  She has the kindest, gentlest heart, the first to help you if you are injured or sick.  Thank goodness she keeps a calm head, effectively balancing her sister's tendency to overreact dramatically.  She is grounded and laid-back, much more her father's daughter in that regard.  Her smile is infectious and seen often, and when she laughs hysterically it is a sound that is indescribably happy.  She is fearless and tends to leap before looking, always the first one down the hill on her snowboard, laughing wildly as she showers me with snow at the bottom.  She is a klutz and is well-known in the school office, with an ice pack ever-at-the-ready in case she should happen to smack head-first into a wall, since she prefers to walk forward while looking backwards.  She hates ketchup and loves pickles, is always STARVING at bedtime and has been known to polish off two quarts of raspberries and half a cantaloupe as a light snack.  She loves to draw and paint and can play for hours on her own, living in her imagination.  She is the worst person to watch TV with, since she cannot sit still for a minute unless it is Animal Planet.  She rocks her own stye and couldn't care less if you think that stripes, flowers and paisley don't go together - she is wearing that outfit!  She taunts me with her hot-dog tongue and has never managed to control the impulse to stick it out at me when she is annoyed. Quick to apologize for any wrongs and the first to stick up for her sister (even if her sister is getting in trouble for bugging her), she is friends with everyone.  She has a scowl that would melt stone and a pouty lip that she can quiver just perfectly to melt her Daddy.  She brings laughter, comic relief and joy into our home and to our family each and every day.  And even at seven, she is a tiny anchor who can bring us all back down when we lose sight of the humor of daily life.

I love you my Emery and I am proud of the girl you are growing into each and every day.  Thank you for always bringing me a cool cloth when I have a headache and telling me to go to bed when I am tired.

Happy 7th birthday!

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, Brielle + Charlie xoxo

And of course, a photo for each of her last 7 years.

Birth. Our first family photo, taken minutes after her birth at home.

Newborn goodness.

One. Piggy tails and a toothy grin.

Two.  She never sat still long enough to get a focused photo.

Three. That smile.

Four. That crazy tongue makes an appearance.

Five. She is just pure sweetness most of the time...

Six. She CRACKS me up!

Seven. I am in awe of her.  I can see her maturing every day and I feel so fortunate to be her mother.