This session was SO much fun.  A mix of intimate maternity photos and some documentary-style family fun, the entire morning was totally up my alley (who doesn't love brunch, amiright?!).  Dawne is such a gorgeous mama and wanted to document this pregnancy as they await the arrival of their baby girl.  She did such a fantastic job modelling and allowed me to get creative with some harsh lighting and I just loved the results!  Then we got together with the rest of the family and captured them preparing and enjoying a delicious brunch.  It was such a relaxed and enjoyable session and I can't wait to capture their baby girl when she arrives this month!

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To keep things consistent with my last post, another huge overshare here!  This fun family was getting ready to celebrate their littlest member's first birthday and thought a cake smash and sink bath session would be a great way to start!  Despite the fact that we messed with his nap times a little bit, James was in fine form and was a rockstar when it came to the cake smash.  He wasn't afraid to get his little hands dirty, and definitely ended up with a pretty decent sugar high! And, of course, it goes without saying that a sink bath makes me over the moon happy as a photographer.  It was so fun capturing everyone loving on and celebrating this sweet boy.  Happy first birthday James!

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I met this beautiful family on a gorgeous August evening in High Park.  Sweet little Sage was incredibly happy and easygoing which was a pleasant surprise since we were shooting very close to his regular bedtime!  We wandered around to a variety of spots in the park, but my personal favourite is under the willow trees next to the water.  Natasha and Sean came so well prepared with toys to entertain Sage and a picnic blanket to sit on.  It was a fun and relaxed evening with these three and an absolute pleasure for me to capture this stage in their family's history. 

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I met this beautiful family on a gorgeous summer night for their maternity session.  Jenny and Ryan are expecting their second baby boy next month!  I had a wonderful time capturing all the love and joy that holds these three together.  There was so much laughter, and the many fun antics from 3 year old Justin just brought this session to life.  His reactions to his parent's tickling him were so fun!  I can't wait to capture their first days with the baby behind Jenny's beautiful bump!  

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Hello friends!  Things have been a little crazy around here, but I couldn't wait to share this beautiful family with you.  Baby girl Emma surprised her parents, Peter and Madeleine, by showing up several weeks early.  We decided to hold off her newborn session a little while to give them time to settle in, and when I met Emma she was the sweetest, roly-poly 2 month old.  Perfect age for a sink bath, am I right?!  Her big brother was so proud and an excellent assistant to dad during her bath time.  I loved capturing this little routine and now I'm thinking sink baths may need to become a regular part of my sessions...I'm hooked!  I'll leave you to scroll through the images below and trust that you'll feel the love this family has for one another and their sweet new addition!

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I had such a fun morning with this little family of three in their beautiful, bright home.   They were super kind when I was 15 minutes late because I couldn't find their house (my dear friend Google Maps led me astray)!  Matthew found me knocking on the door to the wrong house, where luckily no one was home!   When I finally did arrive I met baby girl Kaya, who is only 6 months old and already sitting and crawling...she was always one the move! Her parents certainly have their hands full with this sweet little lady.  The combo of giant windows and her gorgeous eyes gave us some beautiful images.  Matthew and Vanessa were so full of love for their sweet and spunky daughter, and I just loved capturing these memories for this family. 

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Brace yourselves, folks.  There is a whole lot of perfect, chubby 8 month squish below this text.  His name is Abdullah, and along with the cutest role-poly little baby bod, he is also sporting a pair of gigantic, expressive brown eyes.  I'm actively holding back from writing all of those adjectives in CAPS LOCK by the way ;) Abdullah and his parents, Daniel and Sadaf, were in Ontario visiting family (they hail from Australia), and wanted to take the time to freeze this adorable and fun stage in their family's life.  Like my Levi, Abdullah is (or hopefully was by now!) a terrible sleeper, so Daniel, Sadaf and I bonded over mutual understanding of the tortures of long term sleep deprivation and I tried to pass on some hope that maybe he will start sleeping at 10 months like Levi did! I had such a fun morning with this laid back and loving family, and I'm now seriously contemplating making 8 month sessions a thing :)   

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It's been quite a while since I've posted any personal photos, so here is a little glimpse into our spring!  I haven't felt super motivated to shoot in our home since finishing my 365 in February, but I think the warm weather and spending time outdoors is bringing that desire back to me.  Watching Levi discover all the things the outdoor life has to offer has been a lot of fun, and has also had the added benefit of exhausting him so we are getting some good naps these days!  Also all this humidity is making his curls just amazing!  This spring we celebrated our second Father's and Mother's Days, took Levi bowling for the first time, spent the long weekend at the cottage and (one of us) started falling asleep in strange places.  One of my goals this summer is to learn to do video on my big camera, so stay tuned for some super amateur vides of Levi ;)

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I met miss Caleigh when she was 3 months old, and I definitely forgot what a sweet stage this is!  She's as beautiful as baby girls come, with a beautiful head of hair (complete with an endearing little bald spot in the back!), some gorgeous long eyelashes and cheeks for days.  I have to say I have been getting so lucky with all of the older babies I have photographed lately...they've all given me the sweetest sleeping shots, which are much harder to come by once the newborn days pass!  Caleigh was in her Fisher Price lamb swing when I got there, the same one we have, and it brought me back to the days when Levi was tiny enough to fit in his (insert crying emoji).  I never felt like each stage was passing as quickly as it did, and I still find myself thinking that the current stage will be much longer, but it never is!  Natalie and Justin, I hope you treasure these photos of you baby girl and that they will bring you right back to the days of bald spots and chubby cheeks.

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Photographing newborn sessions for first time parents is such a special privilege.  To be able to come into their home, witness and capture their first days as parents is an honour.  There is still a lingering sense of disbelief and awe that this is real life!  Jenna and Daniel were so enchanted by their beautiful baby boy, Hunter, and I think he was pretty amazed by them as well!  He spent some time just studying his mama's face at the beginning of our session, and it was the sweetest thing (exploding ovaries over here!).  If you're searching for some nursery inspiration, you need to check out Hunter's...bright and beautiful space with a monochromatic palette and adorable woodland accents. I had so much fun shooting this delightful family in their home and to witness their love for their newest family member.   

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It was a grey foggy morning when I pulled up to this family's home after a bit of a sketchy drive (because of the fog, not my driving skills!).  But as you can see there was nothing grey or dreary going on once I walked through the door!  I was greeted with so much warmth by Kassandra and Brent, as well as by the littlest cutie who was running around sans pants! Both boys totally ignored my camera which was a real treat, and we captured some beautiful, candid memories of them enjoying time together, with their parents and destroying a beautiful cheese board.  There was also a very patient kitty thrown into the mix somewhere.  It would be crime for me not to mention their gorgeous home...it was the perfect setting for an in-home family session and I will be stalking Kassandra's beautiful blog, Little DeKonings, for decor inspiration for many years to come!  If anyone has any suggestions for how to convince my husband to redecorate our entire home, please send them my way ;)

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Are you feeling it yet? That sense of impending doom when you realize that winter is really just beginning and is going to last foreverrrrr?! Well friends, fear not, because this family is going to show you how properly handle a freezing cold Saturday morning in the comfort of your own home. That's right, don your sweats and some cozy socks, break out an elmo snack catcher, cuddle up with your favourite people (and pets) and you're good to go!  If your favourite people are a squishy baby boy and a sweet-as-can-be toddler, even better.  Seriously though, Vanessa and Scott have the sweetest little guys and were the warmest and kindest people you could ask to spend a freezing cold Saturday morning with!  Here's to hoping the rest of the winter's in-home family sessions are this cozy! Keep warm friends :)

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