CNE Engagement | Laura + Jay

He's a designer at Audi Konzept in Munich. She's a graphic designer in Toronto. They met on a designer platform online, fell in love, and date for two years before they met in person in Toronto. When Laura looked at Jason, there's admiration in her eyes. When Jay looked at Laura, there's love in his. Going to the Canadian National Exhibition (the Ex) was an annual family tradition of Jay's since he's small. Jay's visiting Toronto this time of the year and the two of them decided to have their engagement session done in this special place. I had only been to the CNE twice myself. Frankly, I used to think that it's overrated. Jay and Laura showed me a new perspective. It's indeed a place full of fun and joy and it's not because of the many game stations nor the revolutionary food offerings but the spirit of family and friend gatherings. Most couples felt somehow awkward with engagement sessions in the public. Jay and Laura were no exception given the fact that the CNE was especially busy compared to other places/ events in Toronto. But they were able to relax quickly and focused on each other's company. The bond between them was strong. At the end of the session as the sun was setting, I thought to myself what a romantic place CNE could be too. It's fun, joyful and romantic. What a unique location for engagement photos it was. Congratulations Jay and Laura. I will see you again when you get married!

xoxo,
Ally

Engagement Photo Ideas - Intimate Home Engagement

I'm writing a series on alternative engagement photo ideas.
Engagement sessions are something that many brides-to-be and grooms-to-be often struggle with. It's a love-hate relationships to some. They love to have some photos done but they feel awkward by the whole idea. 

Many of my couples share the same concern that they're not the most enthusiastic when it comes to having their photos taken. Many feel that engagement sessions are not necessary and even embarrassing. It's perfectly understandable that not everyone is comfortable of having pictures done in the public, not to mention being intimate when others are watching.

Home engagement sessions are intimate, romantic and relaxing. Engagement photos done at home are perfect for couples who want their intimate moments to be documented but might be too shy to do it in public. Although you still have to bare with me being there. making those photographs. I promise I will be as quite and unobtrusive as possible. 

Another benefit of an engagement session at home is that not only it can document the space you two have been living in together, the pictures also can be a piece of evidence of some of the details and routines in your everyday life. As simple as making a pot of Sunday morning coffee together to perhaps integrating your beloved dogs or cats in some of the images. It's surprisingly sweet when you look back to those moments. With a documentary approach, it's also more relaxing and natural for you as a couple to be photographed. Not every engagement picture has to be kissing and hugging. Capturing a subtle interaction between the two of you and an eye contact can be romantic and intimate as well. 

Click to see more alternative engagement photo ideas:

Toronto's One of the Kind Winter Engagement

High Park Engagement Photos// Stephanie + Jason// Cherry Blossoms and Much More

There's no bad weather for making good photographs. 

I have been praying for the sun and some beautiful cherry blossoms for this Spring engagement shoot with Stephanie and Jason at High Park. That's what Stephanie has been wishing for. After some scheduling and rescheduling, we were still out of luck. The day we've decided on was unfortunately dark and windy. Most of the cherry blossoms have been blown away after the storm the day before. I arrived early to scout for a good spot for some remaining flowers and found a couple other interesting spots at that were perfect for intimate and candid shots. There's no bad weather for making good photographs and sometimes the most unexpected situations are the most inspiring. Although during the shoot Stephanie was still worried that the gloomy weather might affect the quality of the photographs and also that her nervousness might show in the pictures, I think we captured some of her best moments with Jason. These frames turn out to be great and both Stephanie and Jason look natural and beautiful. It's always a good feeling coming out from an engagement session learning more about my couples and making them more at ease and confident in front of the camera. I can't wait to document their wedding in a few months.

Toronto Engagement Photo Locations | Nathalie + Alex | Kensington Market

"Ally shot our wedding and engagement and did a remarkable job. She's a talented photographer with a real knack for catching the moments when they occur and documenting events in a natural manner. Neither of us are great or comfortable with posed pictures but Ally put us at ease, rolled with our unconventional wedding and really represented us and our event in all her work, engagement shoot and wedding shoot. We cannot recommend her enough...she truly is one of Toronto's most talented wedding photographers and will surely gain the fame to match her talent in the near future! Get her if you can!" 

Thank you Natalie and Alex for leaving me such a sweet review on Google. Click to see their unconventional wedding.

From the get go, Nathalie and Alex warned me that they were unconventional and so would be their wedding. "That's perfect", I responded. 

Together, Nathalie and Alex made a super cool couple with distinct personalities and an open attitude to life. In this Spring morning, we started the engagement session at their home and moved our way to Kensington Market, one of their favourite places to hang out on the weekends. The neighbourhood was perfect for the couple. From the lively graffiti alleys to fashion district, from the crowded Chinatown to the multicultural Kensington Market, it's at the heart of Toronto and fully represented the city's openness to diversity.

I had a lot of fun documenting a typical weekend morning for Nathalie and Alex. I can't wait to see them again in their wedding and continue the illustration of their intimate love story with more photographs from the special day. 

Winter Engagement Photos | Jessica + Kelvin | Mill Pond Park

"You can't stop loving or wanting to love because when it's right it's the best thing in the world. When you're in a relationship and it's good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your whole world is complete." - Keith Sweat 

Jessica and Kelvin contacted me right away after seeing the photos from the e-session I photographed for Leayen and Anthony. Jessica and Kelvin rewarded me the opportunity to document their wedding story the first time we briefly met. Jessica and Kelvin have some fun travel photos on Facebook and some of those places they've been to get me excited and some make me jealous.

In my mind, we are deemed to have fun together working on their engagement and wedding photos.

We waited and waited for some beautiful snow and finally met on this perfect winter day to shoot their engagement photos in Mill Pond Park. The couple wanted some nature engagement photos. To add to the fun, we also had an outdoor skating rink and a small winter festival happening.

It's a -10°c photo day with a lot of snow, laughters, kisses and lovely moments. Stay warm and enjoy the photos!

Wait, there's more.

We wouldn't let this day ended without an additional touch of fun. Here's the episode.

-THE END-

xoxo

Engagement Photographers Toronto | Fall Engagement | Leayen & Anthony

"We were together. I forgot the rest." -Walt Whitman

Leayen and Anthony are lovers and good friends. It's always amazing to photograph two good friends who also happen to be in love. Although both of them are a little camera-shy, sometimes that is when magic happens. We are not all born models but we all have true emotions which, when captured, can be heart touching. It's fun to encourage couples to interact freely and passionately and try to capture those moments with true emotions. As the session progressed, I felt like I was witnessing the two falling in love all over again in front of the camera. Their abandon of love for each other trumped their hesitation to express their feelings freely in front of the camera. Leayen would give Anthony random kisses. Anthony would hug her from behind and talk softly into her ear. Then they would both burst into laughter. Love conquers everything. Love conquered the fact that I was there giggling sharing their joy and clicking away the shutter. 

You two made it a fun session. I am happy for your friendship, love and now commitment to each other. I will see you next year at your wedding!