Toronto family photographer Archives

Baby Lennon | Toronto Newborn Photographer

March 4, 2022

Baby Lennon | Toronto Newborn Photographer | Lifestyle Family Photography

Man oh man. My heart is full.
I’ve had the absolute joy of photographing Courtney & Dan’s engagement, wedding, first baby Finn and now second baby Lennon. It’s been such an honour to document these beautiful, momentous milestones for this incredibly lovely couple.
They’ve become such natural parents – you can feel the love they all share.
Here are some of my faves from our recent session at their home. I love that we documented these where they live because they will be extra special and nostalgic for them to look back on in the future – especially since they’re about to completely renovate the house and it will soon look totally different! These photos will help them remember not just how small their kiddos were, but how it felt to be in their first home together too.
Finn seemed to be taking sharing the attention with a little sister pretty well. Yes, there were moments where he wanted a bit more attention but he seemed to get it when the spotlight needed to be shared. He even started taking care of a stuffed animal like his parents were taking care of Lennon – holding it, tucking it in, speaking to it. So cute.
So many great moments to remember from our time together, but one of my favourites was the adorable & heartwarming shot of Courtney helping Finn self-regulate his feelings during a mini-meltdown because he wanted more peanut butter on a spoon *immediately*. She helped him calm down through mindful inhales and exhales. It worked to calm him down and they could then negotiate when he gets the next spoon 😛
Parenthood is a chaotic, unique, absolutely remarkable journey.
I feel blessed to get to capture and immortalized some of the memories for families! 💛

Family Photographer Toronto | Hubers at Todmorden Mills

July 12, 2021

Family Photographer Toronto | Hubers at Todmorden Mills

Aah, the absolute JOY I feel when I get to keep seeing my amazing couples as they continue their life journeys! It’s been so amazing to see Kwan Yu & Jimmy go from engaged to married to expecting to parents! And their li’l bub Harriet is SO CUUUTE! I love the face she makes when she is super excited & happy! She is just lovin’ on life in some of these photos!

The drool shot with Jimmy is pretty hilarious too – Jimmy’s face when it was coming down made me laugh!
And she’s at a stage where she is grabbing at Kwan Yu’s hair a lot so I’m glad we got some images of that – little moments to bring these proud parents back to this season of life when they look back on these images.

I love that so much about photos – they have such a powerful impact, and remind us of even the simplest moments that can truly warm our hearts when we see them years later. That’s why I think it’s so worth it to make time to take photos. Time flies, things change so fast and so much. (Also remember to print them! Because technology also changes so much over time but prints can always be pulled out and held.)

It threatened to rain all morning and then it did so we temporarily rescheduled the shoot, but then it stopped after not too long so we decided to go for it anyway! The cool air after the rain was actually quite a welcome change after some intense heat the preceding couple of weeks. The breeze was lovely, the air smelled fresh, and the cloud cover actually created some really lovely diffused light.

I love these photos so much, loved spending time with this fam again!

Want a little blast from the past? Check out their wedding at Airship 37!

At Home Family Session | Newborn Baby Colette

November 12, 2020

I’ve been asked to do a lot more family sessions lately and I’m loving it.
Perhaps it’s because with Covid, as we’re stuck at home more, we’re forced to slow down and appreciate our loved ones.
… Let’s be honest, there’s also not much to do so a family session is a cool option for an activity together!
(But in all honesty taking photos as a family will never be something you regret. You will always be grateful to have memories together documented. Especially as the years go on.)

I think it’s really cool that each family – and child – is so unique. I love capturing the personalities, interactions, and love of each group I photograph. And in this case, a whole lotta spunk. (Look at the faces and energy of that toddler! She’s hilarious.)

This family already had a toddler, and they welcomed another baby girl, Colette, this year. I love that these photos show snippets of their every day life at home: hanging out reading in mom & dad’s room, feeding the new baby in the living room, playing/hanging out in the kiddos’ bedrooms… These images will be like time capsules in the future, bringing this family back to this precious time.

I love the characters in this shoot – particularly big sis and her two kitties who were following the parents and baby around and wanting some of the spotlight. From jumping on the bed, to being straight up cute – look at the picture on the couch: big sis grabbed her dad’s chin and declared, “you’re SO handsome!”. It was too funny! We all laughed!

Such precious memories and stage in life to document! Glad I could be there to immortalize it for them!

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If you enjoyed this family session you’ll also enjoy the Galea family 2-sibling family/newborn session! Have a look! 🙂

In-Home Newborn Session | Baby Margot

July 9, 2018

In-Home Newborn Session | Margot

I always find it so exciting to photograph the baby of couples whose weddings I’ve photographed!

This one was no exception to that – I was *so* thrilled when Shelley reached out!

Shelley had what looked to be the most chill pregnancy, birth and post-birth experience. From our conversations, she and Dave were so calm, cool and collected, and they slipped right into their role as parents so naturally. It looked like they were seasoned pros.

We spoke about how Margot has tonnes of amazing facial expressions (including one where she looks like Popeye!), and it was endearing how they spoke to her as though she’s a pal who gets their jokes and is totally on their level. I wonder if that’ll translate into amazing communication skills as she grows?

In any case, we spent some time hanging out in the various zones they usually spend time in, and I got to document them doting on sweet li’l Margot. It was the sweetest.

So amazing seeing you both and meeting Margot, you two! Congratulations again!

Toronto Newborn Photography | Baby Carmen

July 9, 2018

Toronto Newborn Photography | Baby Carmen

Wow, time flies.
It seems like just last season that I photographed Catherine and Alex’s wedding.
Then I remember they had a baby named Simon 2 years ago!
And now, they welcome their second baby Carmen.
It’s been so amazing being there to document each of these milestones for them.

When I arrived I was so excited to see how much Simon had grown! Catherine and Alex mentioned that Simon is usually really shy with new people, but we got along famously. He handed me toys, wanted to check out my camera, held onto me as he tried to take off his shoes – and he kept flashing the most heart-melting smile.

Carmen was super chill. At this stage her personality hasn’t come out just yet but her family sure does love her. Including her big brother who thoughtfully brought a blanket to her from across the room when she lay down to nap – so, so sweet.

And Frank, the family’s pup, followed them everywhere they went. This is a tight-knit love-filled fam.

Here are some photos from our time together <3

Toronto Newborn Photographer | Baby Sophia

April 12, 2018

Toronto Newborn Photographer – First Days With Sophia

I received a phone call from Nick and Steph – They were home with their beautiful new baby Sophia and realized they really wanted to have photos of their first days with her. Luckily, since it was a less busy time of year for photography (Winter – brrr), I was able to visit them in their home two days later.

They had been home with Sophia for just over a week. They mentioned they were quite tired, but you could also see how much love they had for this journey they’d embarked on.

They held her gingerly, kissed her forehead, booped her cute li’l nose and marvelled at how small her hands and feet are.

During the first while as new parents I know there’s a lot to adjust to, so I’m glad I could visit them at home and help make getting photos of this time easy for them. And in the future I know it will be nice to have photos taken where they spend most of their time during these days.

Here are some frames from our sweet session together. Welcome to the world, baby Sophia!

Toronto Candid Family Photographer | The Millars

March 30, 2017

Monika and Dave have been supporters of my photography from the very beginning.
Back when Olive Photography was a side hobby, something I did for fun that made a bit of pocket change (I was pursuing teaching as a career at the time), they hired me to photograph Dave for his acting headshots.

Years later, they supported me once again by being models as I pursued photography more seriously and wanted to learn more about working with different lighting conditions. They patiently canoodled on demand as I fiddled around with my camera settings.

Now, I’m a full time photographer, and they invited me into their home to document the arrival of their beautiful baby Livia.

They wanted to also include photos with their parents, Livia’s grandparents, which I thought was such a sweet and meaningful idea. I loved the thought of having photos with the proud grandparents, surrounding this new life with so much love.

I arrived to them all hanging out in the living room, and we had a relaxed evening chatting, photographing, and relishing these sweet and fleeting moments.

When Livia was feeling unsettled, unconsolable in her crying (as babies can often be), Dave brought her to be bounced on the big bouncy ball, which for whatever reason helps settle her down again. I definitely had to capture that – they’ll look back at the photos with that bouncy ball and tell her stories about how that was her favourite thing when she was crying.

And one thing that made her smile – a new development – was saying, ‘oouuuOOUooou!’ – So I clicked away as they did that too.

Love capturing real stuff like that.

Here are some of my favourite snapshots from my time with them that evening.
Thank you for asking me to photograph this for you, Monika and Dave. It was such an honour and I hope you guys, your parents and Livia cherish these through the years!

Feel free to explore more lifestyle family photography, get in touch, or follow me on Instagram – where I also post lots of behind the scenes stories!

The Duggans – Candid Toronto Family Photography

March 14, 2017

Rose e-mailed me because she wanted to take photos with her siblings, nieces and dad – They were all in Toronto and it’s very rare for them to all be in the same place at the same time.
Recently, her sister just moved back to the city and soon, her brother would be leaving for school in Australia.
Of course I was excited to photograph them all being together. I love being able to document people with the people that matter most.

We went to Cedarvale Park, and basically just walked around and spent some time together. There were a few posed portraits, and there was a lot of observing and capturing them as they are.

Goofy faces, accidental falls, slobbery kisses and all.

My heart was really full being present to photograph this for them.
Truthfully, I get a bit teary-eyed thinking about their future selves looking back on this rare day they had together with these photos.

Duggan family, thank you for inviting me to spend the afternoon with you. It was an absolute joy and privilege.

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See more candid family photography here, or get in touch to book your very own <3

And if you’d like to see all the behind the scenes stuff I post regularly in my stories, follow me on Instagram

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Aah, this session makes me so happy.

Toronto Family Photographer | Ali, Marijan, Oskar & Luka

December 29, 2016

Ali, Marijan, Oskar and Luka are the sweetest family.
This session was a family and engagement session rolled into one – I love that they wanted to include the boys in their engagement photos since they are such a big part of their lives.
We went to Toronto’s High Park during the heigh of fall, as the leaves were changing to brilliant hues of yellow and orange. The leaves had started falling off the trees, coating the ground in colour. It was a perfect day for a fall family session!

Of course the inner child in me HAD to suggest playing with the leaves. And of COURSE the boys were excited about that.

We walked around, and took photos as we played – it was such fun.

I really love family photography – it means so much to me that I get to capture such happy memories.
Hope you enjoyed checking out some of my faves from this session!

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If you enjoyed this family session, perhaps you’ll also enjoy this one, or this one!

Toronto Family Photography | Baby Simon

July 29, 2016

Guys, today was really special.
Today I met Simon.
Simon is the absolutely *precious* brand new baby of Catherine and Alex, whose engagement and wedding I photographed last year.

Sibling to @pugfranktravels (Frank was so patient and sweet with him!), Simon is the perfect combination of his two parents.
At first I was amazed at how much he looks like Alex, but then he changed his facial expression and all I saw was Catherine.
So cool how one person can look so much like the two who made him.

I asked them, “What’s been the coolest thing so far?” Catherine said it’s the fact that she was able to grow this little human inside her. Alex agreed.
Clearly they are so enamoured with their mini-me.
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I decided to take a more doumentary/lifestyle approach for this session – I wanted to capture life as they were living it right now, as their baby was 8 days old.
When Simon started crying, after the effectiveness of Alex’s helpful dips was waning, I asked what they would normally do at this time — Catherine said she’d feed and try to settle Simon while Alex would work on dinner, firing up the BBQ.
I wanted to photograph that, along with spending time in his nursery, so they can freeze these quickly fleeting moments and re-live them in the future.

Catherine’s parents had been visiting and helping, and I thought it would be so wonderful to include them in some photos as well.
Having grandparents in this family session gave me the feels, y’all.
I got teary-eyed when Catherine’s mum recounted how she was present during delivery. You could tell she was SO proud and excited.
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Thanks so much for inviting me to photograph yet another beautiful time in your lives, you guys. It’s always so wonderful to see you and words can’t express how happy I am that I got to meet your amazing li’l guy <3