Pamela + James | Kitchener Couples Photographer

I met Pamela + James at their chic downtown Kitchener condo to take some images with their beloved pets, a Great Dane pup and blue-eyed Siamese cat, before we headed out to capture some of the two of them on their own.  It is always a fun and unique challenge to include pets in a session, as they each have their own quirks and personalities to show off! Once the pets had made it clear that they had had enough, the three of us headed out to explore the lanes and alleyways of downtown, where textures and colours abound.  That is one of my favourite things about urban sessions, the abaility to change up the entire look and mood just by turning a corner!

Thank you both for braving the cold with me, it was such a fun day.  Can't wait to see these images up in your new home!

At Home Together | Kitchener Family Photographer

There is something so magical about photographing a family in their home.  In their every day space, comfortable and relaxed, leaving room for them to just be themselves in front of the camera.  Of course, there are still those little awkward moments, when people aren't sure if they should DO something for me, but those mostly I get to just follow everyone around and capture the magic that happens.  The little details of their abode, the way they make coffee, the glasses left on a shelf all make the story full and fantastic too. This year I really want to do more of these kinds of sessions, to tell the story of a family in their home and space and a Saturday afternoon session on a mild March day with one of my fave families was the perfect way to get kick it off!  I have known Martina (a brilliant wedding photographer who rocks film!) for about 5 years and she is one of my dearest friends and biggest supporters.  Her kind and wonderful hubby and spunky little red-haired girl are such a welcoming, fun family that I knew they would make my job pretty easy.  Not to mention their seriously gorgeous home in Petersburg (talk about #house goals) and lovely country property and we had a winning formula from the start!

I am excited to share these image with you all - get ready to soak up all the love and light that is the Wendland family!  And if this looks like exactly what you want your family photos to look like, we need to chat.  At home sesions are filling fast for this year! :)

M xo

Carl + Carla | At-Home Wedding | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

Sometimes I book a wedding having never met the couple in person.  Though I had chatted on the phone with Carla prior to the day, I still wasn't sure exactly what to expect, besides a small wedding taking place at her sister and brother-in-law's home just outside of Guelph. What I walked into was a warm, exceptionally welcoming family who came together to pull off a spectacular, intimate and beautifully-detailed wedding.  I met Carl and Carla's handsome little men, who brought laughter and a touch of rambunctious energy to the proceedings. Both of their families were kind and full of love and support and I knew that this was going to be a really amazing day.  Boy, was I right!

First of all, it is pretty hard to go wrong in a stunning home like this.  A really cool, dark bar, a brand new and unoccupied horse barn as well as elegantly appointed rooms throught the home made my job pretty easy.  Even their carport woodpile made for a simple and cool backdrop!

Of course, the bride in her blush pink gown and the groom in his crushed velvet smoking jacket were blowing the place up with how damn good they looked and their boys in bow ties and skinny jeans with converse were beyond adorable.  I also loved that they asked their guests to wear black, lending a really elegant touch and giving the whole day a real feeling of togetherness.  Despite the frigid January temperatures, we got some really lovely images and everyone was happy to be wrapped up in their furs and blankets for the outdoor fireside ceremony.  I was laughing and crying behind the camera, always a sign of a truly beautiful day.

Thank you Carl, Carla and boys for welcoming me into your wedding day and into your hearts, I look forward to many years of photographing you all!  Cottage this summer?

M xo

Krista + Alex | Kitchener Engagement Photographer

I met Alex & Krista at the beautiful location for their wedding this summer, Ball's Falls Conservation Area.  Yes, we laughed every time we said it, but seriously, this is a gorgeous location!  With historical buildings and forested haunts, we had plenty of room to roam. Even though they were nervous that they would be awkward or shy in front of the camera, these two brought their A-game to this session, snuggling and laughing and not taking themselves too seriously.  The BEST.  I think they even surprised themselves by how damn hot they looked together, but I knew that their chemistry and love for one another was genuine and authentic and that always shows through on camera.  High school sweethearts, this fab couple are perfect for each other.

I am looking so forward to photographing their wedding in July, to celebrate their love and new life together as friends and loves.  I am so grateful to call them friends now and I hope they know they won;t get rid of me any time soon!

M xo

2015 Year in Review | Kitchener Family Photographer

I can hardly believe that 2015 is coming to an end. What a year! I don't know what else to say to you all but THANK YOU.  Truly, I feel so blessed to have been a part of so many beautiful moments of love, connection, laughter and fun.  Between simple, heartfelt weddings full of love and high-energy, laughter-filled family sessions, I hardly know how to count my blessings. This coming year promises to be another one full of great memories, moments of love and joy, and watching people let their happy shine.  The weddings I have this year make me giddy with excitement and I simply can't wait to see all of my favourite families, another year older but with the some love and laughter that holds them together. This year I want to explore those places and moments that make a family or a couple who they are.  You backyard, a favourite park, going for ice cream, a day at the beach - whatever it is that defines your life and love.  Because those every day moments are where some of the best memories lurk, just waiting to be captured.

So if you want to continue on this adventure with me, I can't wait to find adventure with you and those you love the most.  Let your happy shine and I will find a way to catch it for you.

See you all in 2016!

M xo

Welcoming Kiaan | Kitchener Family Lifestyle Photographer

I have been photographing this lovely family (now dear friends) since their oldest was just 4 months old and now they have welcomed a new son!  I was thrilled to meet their new addition and to capture som images of them in their Waterloo home with their new little man as a family. I loved watching his big brother hold him and give him tender (well, mostly tender) kisses and seeing his parents eyes light up when he looked at them with his big brown eyes.  Sure, those first few weeks are trying, sleep-derived, hard-to-adjust, all-new learning curve times, but I think it is so wonderful to get in there and have those first days captured so that when he is growing bigger and no longer wants to be held, they can look back and remember the way it was. One day, the perfect swaddle or hair spike or outfit will all be a memory, except for these photos.  That is something to cherish.

Love you all to bits and I can't wait to keep watching your handsome boys grow and flourish.

M xo

Fall Fun on the Farm | Kitchener Lifestyle Documentary Photographer

Well this is just one of my very favourite families.  They came to me first as clients but have quickly blossomed into friends.  I feel so lucky to have them in my life and also so fortunate that they are kind enough to send their friends my way for sessions.  I am blessed. I also happen to love going out to their beautiful farm, where locations abound and fun is never far behind.  Of course, after we had to have a leaf fight with all of the gorgeous orange maple leaves lying about, a fight that poor Mom lost quickly against all of her enthusiastic boys.  We also headed to a nearby woodlot to take some more...er, tame? shots of them all together, but with boys you never know what is going to happen.

Thank you all for being my cheerleaders, supporters and above all, friends.  I am so happy I am able to photograph the love you all have as a family.  Such a priviledge.

M xo

Love + Laughter | Kitchener Family Photography

I met this family by way of the fact that our kiddos attend the same school.  Leila is a member of the school council and our mutual friend was the chair, so we ended up working alongside one another on the year-end fun fair and got to know each other.  We had been planning a session together for awhile but just hadn't made it happen yet, but after they put in the winning bid on the session I donated to the fun fair last spring, we got the push we needed! Even though it was an early-morning meet up and we were all still a little groggy, we quickly got into having some fun!  These kids were some of the best listeners I have ever photographed and were more than willing to throw leaves, give piggybacks and just be silly, but only when I asked them to.  So awesome.

We lucked on such a beautiful, colourful day with tons of leaves and lovely soft light.  And I am so glad we did.

Thank you all for being the BEST.  We definitely need to do this again!

M xo

Ben + Melissa | Engaged | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

I was so excited when Melissa connected with me about photographing her wedding next summer.  She is one of my former students, from back in the day when I was a massage therapist and taught at a local massage therapy college.  I love keeping in touch with my students as they build their careers and grow their families.  I knew Melissa especially well as she was once part of my "Mandy Monday" student clinic crew and always stood out as a diligent, hard-working student. When she and Ben let me in on their plans for their wedding, I knew it was going to be right in my wheelhouse - backyard, candlelight, relaxed and intimate.  YES PLEASE!  We decided to meet up on a brisk fall evening in Stratford to take some engagement photos so I cold meet Ben and we could catch up a little bit.

I absolutely love this couple's playful, loving connection - they joke around and laugh together constantly, and have a spark that will surely lead to the fire of a super awesome marriage.  And we were so lucky to catch the leaves right at the perfect time for beautiful colour and rich texture, a bonus for sure.

Thank you both for being so open, honest and full of laughter, I can't wait to photograph your wedding in August! And Ben - I will do my best to keep your head in most of the wedding photos... ;)

M xo

Energy Abounds | Kitchener Family Photography

One thing I feel so grateful for is clients who refer me to their friends and family and this awesome family came to me as a result of the kind words of my friend Julie.  Thank you thank you, thank you! I met this lovely little family on a sunny, warm night in Stratford and after being prepared by Mom that her son was full of energy, I got right down to the business of chasing him as he climbed trees, found sticks, cartwheeled, tossed leaves, climbed the play center and generally had a blast!  His mom and dad are so devoted to him and you can feel all of their love so completely when they are all together.  I love when a session just flows from one thing to the next and this one did just that.

Thank you all for being so willing to get silly, covered in leaves and just have fun. See you next year!

M xo

Fall Colours | Kitchener Family Photographer

It is always fun to photograph the family of another photographer, since I know how hard it can be to remember to get in front of the camera when you are so used to be being behind the lens.  I met Heather and her family in Cambridge on a lovely Friday evening for some fun and laughter.  They were dressed perfectly to coordinate with the dreamy fall colours and even with a bit of wind to battle, we managed to get some silly, playful photos for them to replace the ones on the walls from our session a couple of years ago! I love seeing how kids grow and mature from session to session and her adorable kiddos were no exception - they were so awesome and great listeners, which makes my task exponentially easier.  Sometimes being a "photographer's kid" has its perks!

Thank you Bakers for being so fun and for not laughing too hard when I managed to fall over instead of running towards you... ;)

M xo

Kim + James | Backyard Wedding | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

When I met Kim + James for the first time in person at their engagement session, I knew immediately that I was going to have a blast photographing their wedding.  And I was right. Held in their gorgoues country backyard in lovely Orillia, it was a laid-back but beautifully-detailed affair, with their amazing friends pitching in to get the last minute decorations and plans completed before the ceremony, scurrying in and out of the tent, watching the skies carefully, fingers-crossed against the rain.

I loved watching the tender moments of this day unfold, Kim's dad seeing her in her dress for the first time and her friends presenting a hilarious and touching scrapbook of their adventures together.  James arrived with his gang of groomsmen in tow, looking nervous but ready.  The boys quickly found themselves put to work, wiping damp seats and finding extra umbrellas, as the rain began to fall shortly before the ceremony was due to begin.

But right when Kim was going to make her walk down the forest aisle, the rain let up and the skies cleared.  After they exchanged their vows (sealed with a kiss and a high-five), we gathered for a group photo, a few family photos and a speech by Kim's bestie before driving just up the road to begin the bridal party photos.  Beer and canapes made this go smoothly, with their great group of friends joking and laughing and just having a blast.  It is always such a relief as a wedding photographer to have a group that is willing to be relaxed and go-with-the-flow, much easier than stiff and nervous.

After we finished with the big group, we took a few minutes to capture the bride & groom on the beautiful old farm property (directly across from the famous Webers, a popular stop on the way to the Muskokas).  We hit the reception for a little while and then snuck out quickly to get the sunset shots the bride was dying for and the string-lights shot that I wanted.  Overall, it was a simply phenomenal day. One that I smiled about all the way home to Kitchener.

Thank you, Goose & Gander for your trust, your warm welcome and for just being plain awesome.

M xo

One Year with Pigtails | Kitchener Family Photography

Miss Kate is ONE!  I met up with this family to photograph her in mama's tummy, just after her birth and now she celebrated her first year, all chubby cheeks and pigtails.  We had an absolutely gorgeous night romping around the Adamson Estate, after Mom proposed that we duplicate a few of their favourite wedding photos taken there a few year before (and now significantly different with two kiddos in the mix) as a neat comparison of their lives before and after their family grew. The light was gorgeous, the sun beamed down and the snacks were eaten with relish.  But when it gets down to it, we just plain had FUN.  We ran and laughed and acted silly, eliciting smiles and a few odd looks to be sure, but in the end the true love and happiness this family shares shines through.  And I am all about letting your happy shine. :)

Thank you all for your kindness, laughter and for trusting me to be there for the important moments in the life of your family.  And for the pumpkin "cakies" - they made the trip home delightful.

M xo

Built with Love | Kitchener Family Photography

What can I say about this wonderful family?  I have been welcomed into their home and hearts since I was eight years old, my friendship with Jaime spanning 28 years and the ups and downs of middle school, high school, university, marraige, babies and all that life has thrown us in between.  When she asked me to photograph her entire family in celebration of her parents being wed for forty years, I was so thrilled and excited.  There is something so special about photographing the family that two people have built with their love and commitment to one another over that period of time. Of course, photographing friends that you have known and loved for years comes with its own special set of challenges, namely that she and I can't keep ourselves from dissolving into fits of laughter at the drop of a pin, joking easily and slipping into our high school-selves at times.  Fortunately, her parents, sister, kids & nephews know me well enough to laugh along with us or roll their eyes at our silliness.

We met on a perfect, warm evening at nearby Rockway Gardens in Kitchener, a special location for Mr & Mrs B., who had their wedding photos taken in the same spot 40 years before.  As the sun dipped behind the beautifully-tended gardens and walls, we hugged and reminisced and played with the kids, all trying to make sure that we did what were there to do and not just visit.  We only had to take a couple of breaks, one specifically when Sam managed to get poked in the eye and Nana came to the rescue with a cold water bottle, and one when Jaime and I got laughing so hard at her foray into the leafy jungle that we couldn't breathe.

Thank you Brunens for always being a part of my life and for being another family to me.  And for paying for ice cream after the session.  That was a pretty awesome surprise.

Love you all,

M xo

Kim + James | Engaged | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

I met up with Kim + James while we were both on a mini-vacation in beautiful Tobermory for their engagement session (well, my family's cottage is up there, so it was more like an overnight getaway from the city for me).  We headed to nearby Singing Sands on Dorcas Bay Road to enjoy the beach, water and sunset as we explored and photographed. I had never met either of them in person before this evening, just emails back and forth to set up dates and times and talk about their wedding day, but I knew right away that they were my kind of people.  Laid-back, kind and warm and not afraid to get pine needles in their pants changing in the woods.  We were going to have fun.

And we did.  We hung out until the sun was nearly set and walked away slightly damp, sandy and smiling, all good signs as far as I am concerned.  They are such an amazing couple and I couldn't wait to photograph their September wedding when we parted ways.

And let me tell you, I was right to be excited - their wedding was FABULOUS.  Those images will be comin' at ya in an upcomoing post, but for now, enjoy a little kiss of summer sun.

M xo

Last Light of Summer | Kitchener Family Photographer

It makes me so happy to see these faces each year, to see little Miss E grow and change and laugh and play.  Last year she was barely able to sit on her own and this year she was a walking, talking toddler.  My goodness! Seeing little ones this age reminds me just how far away I am getting from each stage of childhood as my own girlies grow, a feeling which brings equal parts relief and heartache. We met up on a gorgeous late summer's eve at Grey Silo and the Grand River Trail in Waterloo to chase this adorable girly around and do our best to convince her that standing still was a good idea - at least for a few seconds! Eating leaves, munching snacks and exploring new territory, she kept us busy and in stitches!  We also had some pretty spectacular orange light by the end of the evening, which made for an extra special night.

Thank you all for making the trek to see me each year, it make my heart so happy to photograph your little family!

M xo

Emily + Todd | Wedding | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

When Emily first connected with me, we clicked right away.  A fellow photographer, she is warm and friendly and she had some pretty huge plans for the day she and Todd would exchange their vows.  She was crafting busily, making backdrops, props and just generally glitter-bombing their apartment in preparation, while her parents readied their lovely property near Breslau and her future mother- and sister-in-law were whipping up not one but FIVE cakes! And then... it rained.  Not a little bit, but poured buckets and the wind howled.  Well, crap.  There was so much beauty in the carefully-made and colourful decor that it was a terrible disappointment, but everyone rallied and my second photographer Kayla and I did our best to capture as many of the details as we could for posterity.  And we did manage to nab the one shot that the bride had planned as a surprise for her groom and wedding party - smoke bombs!

Fortunately, we had a back-up plan for the photos - a colourful paper-flower backdrop for the bridal party (including 9 kids!) and Belgian Nursery's cactus room and greenhouse for some portraits of the bride and groom.  Phew!  Once the ceremony was over and the delicious tapas-style dinner of comfort food was served, everyone hunkered down in the soggy tent to listen to heartfelt, hilarious speeches and watch the multiple cake cuttings.  We snuck outside for one final shot in the (literal) dark, where Emily & Todd gamely mimicked blowing away with their balloons in a humourous nod to the weather demons. I can only speculate about how much fun everyone had stomping on the wet dance floor in their high rubber boots after I left, but it sounds like the party was pretty good.

Thank you both for being such good sports and for letting me have some chocolate ice cream from that awesome ice cream truck.  Best day ever when you get free ice cream and photograph a spectacular wedding.

M xo

Nikki + Matteo | Wedding | Kitchener Wedding Photographer

Nikki + Matteo had the sweetest, most intimate little backyard wedding in August.  Despite the extreme humidity and beaming sun, those gathered on her parents' lawn to witness their love become a lifelong commitment barely took notice.  And as you can see, the animals had no problem joining the proceedings as well, with Willie the cat eventually finding a spot to lounge behind the platform and Enzo the dog lazily yawning through the vows. After a champagne toast with their newly joined family, we braved brief moments in the heat to forever encapsulate the memory of the day that they made their vows to each other through photography.  We were fortunate to have the oasis of a riverside home with beautiful trees and a lovely bee meadow so we could stay nearby and pop back into the house for air conditioning breaks!

Thank you both for being so welcoming and patient and for bearing with a steamy August afternoon!

M xo

Summer Fun Night | Kitchener Family Lifestyle Photography

You know sometimes everything is just awesome?  Yep.  This was one of those nights.  I love this family so much and I am so glad we had this time just to play, be silly and get soaking wet together. The evening started at the park, where were ran amok and layed on the ground and just generally acted crazy.  My favourite.  After a brief interlude at the froyo shop (where we took pictures, but seriously, this post is already enormous and I knew I would lose you), we trekked over to the nearby schoolground for a good, ol' fashioned water balloon and water gun fight.  Soggy mayhem ensued, along with some of awesome photographic moments.

Thank you all for being so enthusiastic, funny and up-for-anything.  I loved every minute of this night with you.

M xo

Waiting for Baby | Kitchener Family Photographer

This family is one of the good ones.  The kind that are loving, playful, extremely kind and always well-dressed. The kind that come to see me year after year and continually make me remember why I love this job. I was so very excited when they messaged to say that a new little one would be joining them for their annual fall session and even more thrilled when they decided to do a maternity session to celebrate their last few weeks together as a family of three.

We lucked out with a beautiful, sunny night that wasn't too hot and had jut the right amount of wind to make this gorgeous mama's lovely locks blow in the breeze.  We picked flowers, romped through the golden rod and generally had a blast as usual!

Thank you all for continuing to trust me to capture all of your life's moments.  I cherish your friendship and our time together.  Can't wait to meet your babe!

M xo