The adventures of little Owen in England
Traveling is always such fun, but whenever I have the chance to spend quality time with a very dear friend, it all becomes even more special.
Anne and I go a few years back. We met in Toronto and then she moved to England, her home country.
A bit over 4 years ago she had Owen, a lovely little boy I only saw in photographs. Finally meeting him this year was thrilling. We spent a lovely time together in London and then Yorkshire, I got to enjoy his sweet little spirit, we did a lot of fantastic things. One of my favorite activities was the visit to the incredible Kirkstall Abbey (Leeds), a great example of a medieval Cistercian abbey in Britain. Owen loved it there and he ran around the beautiful old walls exploring every corner, playing in the snow and pretending to be the brave defending knight of a plastic, strategically placed kids’ castle.
I still smile to myself looking at the photographs we took, they bring back incredible memories.
I hope to visit again very soon. M
Elegant fall wedding at Toronto’s Sassafraz
This past October Donya and Richard had their wonderful intimate wedding at the elegant Sassafraz restaurant downtown Toronto.
They saw each other for the first time that day in the lobby of the lovely Victoria hotel downtown and then we headed to Sassafraz for the ceremony.
It rained that day but they did not seem to mind. We still had a few photos taken outside around Yorkville and then decided to hop on a cab and go to the Novotel hotel for more fun. People there were extremely accommodating and allowed us to shoot inside. We took advantage of their modern interior and incorporated a lot of colour into our collection. We had lots of laughs and simply played around. On the way back I left my hat in a Beck cab and the kind driver came to my home next day to give it back to me. It feels so good whenever one comes across good deeds. Makes the heart expand 
This is the kind of day we had together. I also really enjoyed myself with the kitchen staff at Sassafraz (have to say, everybody there is so professional and friendly!) and took photos while they were plating their wonderful, super tasty dishes.
I should also mention the couple’s guests: what a nice crowd! Friendly, caring, entertaining and more!
Donya and Richard, hope your fantastic honeymoon in Argentina is fabulous and can’t wait to hear your stories! Congratulations and may you enjoy lots and lots of travels!
Hugs, Manuela.
Lindsay and Robyn’s fall engagement photos
As a wedding photographer I have the chance to travel outside of Toronto often, which I love. It is refreshing and inspiring.
Lindsay and Robyn will get married next September at the Inn on the Twenty in Jordan, Niagara.
They recently moved to Bradford and they go to the Scanlon Creek Conservation Area almost every day. No wonder they love it there: it is a beautiful retreat in nature with plenty of different trails and some enchanting views. A great way to disconnect from the daily pace.
It made sense for the two of them to choose its backdrops for their engagement pictures. Even though many of the leaves were already gone, we could still take full advantage of the warm colours brought to life by the soft October light. We had much fun and I got back to the city rejuvenated.
L+R, it is a pleasure to know you and I look forward to more adventures together!
Enjoy life and be well, Manuela.
Downtown Toronto Iranian wedding with colour and style
Iranian weddings are intricate and rich in meaning. I have always been fascinated with the Sofreh (the display used during the Iranian ceremony) which holds together items that symbolize love, abundance, a sweet life, fertility. It is a beautiful way for the couple to be wished well and sent off on their new journey.
Yasmine and Reza have minutely and elaborately chosen the details for their big day. Starting with the colourful rooms at the Park Hyatt for their getting ready photos and ending with the reception held at the quaint Arta Gallery located in the Distillery District. All in all, the day has been colourful, eventful, emotional. And filled with a lot of high energy.
Their guests greeted the couple with a lot of clapping and singing which made the ceremony feel even more festive. The rhythms were truly exhilarating.
The reception that followed was lots of fun, with nice surprises the couple had reserved for their guests. A joy to witness!
Yasmine and Reza, congratulations to you and may your new life together be nothing short of sweet and abundant!
Manuela
Elegant wedding at the Miller Lash House, Toronto
This past summer I had the great pleasure to photograph a beautiful wedding at Toronto’s Miller Lash House.
Georgia and Gabe are one of the coolest couples I have ever met. Relaxed and laid back by nature, there was nothing on their day that could prevent them from thoroughly enjoying themselves on their big day. Just the way it should be.
They decided to host all the events in one spot and chose the quaint Miller Lash House. Surrounded by a fair number of family members and friends, they celebrated with joy, laughter and a lot of dancing! Once the Jewish Hora started, the crowd was drawn into a vortex of high energy and this has not stopped for quite a while. Hard to keep up at times! There were so many things happening on so many levels and everybody seemed to constantly come up with extremely creative ways to entertain the couple and each other. A riot!
Picking a few shots to depict the atmosphere was quite tough, there are so many more in there that did not make it for the blog, but at least the couple will be able to enjoy a visual series that will surely bring them back to those fun moments.
Georgia and Gabe, big Congrats to you, keep the fun going and thank you for having us witness such an amazing day!
Best, Manuela & Co.
Featured on CityTV on August 28th
I am deeply honoured and humbled to have been part of CityTV’s story around the tragic event in Quebec following a trash the dress photo shoot.
For those who missed it, here is the link.
Toronto engagement photo shoot with a lovely couple
Georgia and Gabe are one of the most relaxed couples I have ever met.
With only a couple of weeks away from their wedding, they are taking it all easy, enjoying the process and having fun with each other. They aim for a nice party with family and friends who, as they told me, have a very similar approach. Can’t wait!
They live around Churchill Park therefore, even though we originally thought of going to the Brickworks, it made more sense to have some photographs taken at the park. Which I also happen to live close to and love. Every time I go there for a creative project I am amazed at the way I can see it with fresh eyes. This gives me much joy and sparks my inspiration.
The session was a lot of fun and they really were up to anything. We shared some good laughs which made it all even more pleasurable.
Georgia and Gabe, so happy to have met you and I look forward to seeing you again soon on your wedding day!
Manuela
Claudia and Thomas’s fun wedding at the Old Mill, Toronto
Claudia and Thomas’s wedding at the Old Mill in Toronto was nothing short of fun, elegant, laid back, emotion filled. A beautiful celebration with friends and family wrapped in high energy. Simply a delight to capture.
We connected really well from the moment we sat down for the initial consultation. I really enjoyed chatting with them and hearing everything they had to share about their vision of the wedding day. It is always a great pleasure for me to work with such great people and to be there with and for them while they experience some of the most memorable moments of their lives.
Claudia and Thomas, hope you are enjoying your last days in Europe. May these images help you relive your day and always remind you of the joy you have shared.
Congratulations! Manuela & Co.
A day in the life of Mary-Ann and little Dudley
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure to spend some time with lovely Mary-Ann and her cute little companion Dudley, a Coton de Tulear from Madagascar.
I showed up at their home with no particular agenda other than capturing a few moments from their day. I was immediately inspired by the elegance of Mary-Ann’s interior, a beautifully decorated space literally inundated with natural light: the best studio setup ever.
Each room had a different colour, it was amazing to play around and find exciting shooting opportunities in every corner. Not to mention Mary-Ann’s exquisite collection of hats which inspired both of us to go for an impromptu fashion shoot, while giving little Dudley a well deserved break. This little creature has been so easy to capture through my lens, as he seemed at ease and enjoying himself in the process. We let him be, he even napped for a few minutes and then we took him to a little park nearby. He ran in the grass and displayed a series of cute little jumps rewarded, of course, by tasty treats.
Mary-Ann, thank you for offering me a glimpse into your life, I hope the series below will always bring a smile on your face.
Best, Manuela.
Trash the dress near the Grand Palladium resort, Jamaica
Destination weddings are a lot of fun to begin with but the experience feels even more rewarding whenever it is followed by a shoot that is more relaxed, laid back, casual: the so called ‘trash the dress’ photo session that usually does not have much to do with spoiling the dress. Even though many times brides choose to go into the ocean with their gown, nothing really happens to it. It can still be kept in its original shape.
Shivani opted to wear a light summer dress, very appropriate for the beach. That was a great idea considering the elaborate outfits she wore the day of. It was perfect for the purpose of our little creative adventure and she did not have to worry about anything.
By the time we made it to the beach the sun was already going down but we still had a little time to play. The beautiful cove had so much to offer: plenty of colourful backdrops, boats, a wonderful beach with super warm water. I think we were quite able to take advantage of all this while fully enjoying ourselves in the process.
The result: another lovely series to be used as a forever reminder of a good time shared with some fantastic people. Enjoy!
Hugs,
Manuela
