I’m a friend of Jen Jackson – realtor headshots

Jen Jackson and I go way back… so far back that her wedding photos pre-dates my blogging days and I unfortunately have nothing to link to for her wedding!  I titled this post “I’m a friend of Jen Jackson” because back  in our pub crawling days with the rugby team, that’s what half the attendees would say when we would ask them how they found out about the event.  Jen and I reminisced about those good old days during our shoot, and what’s funny is that the referral network was so deep that one of the attendees told Jen Jackson, that she had heard of the event from Jen Jackson!

I have a feeling that Jen will bring the same sort of magic to her new career as a realtor.  She is targeting her initial marketing at her building on Bay street which is why we made use of the distinctive sculpture.  We also tried a couple of wardrobe changes and I really loved the leather jacket look as well as the striped T under the blazer.  The collared shirt under the blazer was old-fashioned and way too cliche for someone like Jen.  Here are two of my favourites from the day.

My loves

Toronto Dragons Rugby Baby

I was inspired to write a bit about rugby, one of my great loves after hearing U of T’s new dean of phys ed Ira Jacobs speak last night at the football alumni golf tournament.  Jacobs stressed the importance of competitive sports in the university life and that many varsity athletes and alumni would consider their experience in sport to be as important as their academic experiences in the lecture halls and labs.  I couldn’t agree more.

For many years rugby was a big part of what defined me.  I started playing in my hometown of Burlington for the Centaurs, thanks to my best friend Karen dragging me off the couch and to a beginner’s clinic during the last year of high school.  I fell in love with the challenge of a new game, and the pure physical joy in exerting myself.  There was something about scrumming down, making tackles and running in the open field that the more traditional high school sports could not fulfill.

I went on to play varsity rugby for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and a whole other aspect of rugby opened up for me.  Being a part of a team creates an instant network of mentors, study partners and lifelong friends.  It was a home-base among the overwhelmingly large student population.  I got involved in managing the team, leadership at the athletic department and later leadership at my summer club team, the Toronto Saracens.  I continued to play after university and stopped about six years ago once weddings started taking over my Saturdays.

The rugby social network casts a wide net and it was because of it that I first met Fred.  Although back in those days he wanted no part of me.  I was that (very  young and very stupid) girl who jumped on the field to play intramural rugby with the men!  (Really, what was I thinking).  Fast forward almost 15 years and the two of us are now three, with Amira as the littlest Toronto Dragon.  My non-wedding summer Saturdays are usually spent taking in the game from the sidelines surrounded by my greatest loves; Fred, Amira, and my dogs Kafrey and Six.  Thank you rugby.

Gaby & Jeff’s engagement shoot at Humber Bay Park – Toronto west end

So you think you are organized?  I would be confident in betting that you may come in second to Gaby, today’s featured bride-to-be.  At our first meeting in January (before they had even signed the contract) Gaby presented me with an itinerary for the wedding day.  And seven months later, we had perhaps the shortest post-shoot-logistics-talk in which she just confirmed that yup, itinerary still stands.  Awesome!

Before I go on, I need to thank the ever so kind Adele and Kevin Shaw for recommending me to their good friends Gaby and Jeff.  I have come by so many wonderful clients through Adele, including her brother and mother, and most of them before I had even shot Adele and Kevin’s wedding!  I could go on.

I met up with Gaby and Jeff at the beautiful Humber Bay Park (Lakeshore and Parklawn) on a sunny summer evening a few weeks ago.  (We had fortunately rescheduled from the original date at the beginning of July – during that first heat wave.)  Gaby and Jeff showed up dressed perfectly for a summer engagement shoot.  I thought it was truly inspired for them to wear complimenting colours of the same lightness.

Thanks for being such a sweet couple and so organized!  Looking forward to your October wedding.

Good neighbours

Good neighbours, Fred, Jing, Amira, Michael, Tessa, Danielle and Scarlett. Photo by Star photographer Keith Beatty.

Check out today’s article in The Star! We are proud to have such great neighbours in Michael, Danielle, Tessa and Scarlett and our story seems even better nestled among the bad neighbour stories in this article. I love the photo of all of us – I wish I knew that Keith was shooting so wide, I would have done a better job clearing our porch! The photo was taken the day we were leaving for our New Brunswick road trip, which the open cooler betrays.

The article is written by Denise Balkissoon and the photo taken by Keith Beatty. I’ve linked to the article on the Star’s mobile site because the photo is not cropped like it is in the full web-version.

Semi stories: What life is like when you share a wall (http://www.thestar.com/iphone/news/gta/article/844192–semi-stories)

Anna & Brad are getting married soon! | Engagement photos at the Beaches Toronto

Official online congratulations on Imajing dot com for Anna and Brad’s engagement are way overdue – in fact they are getting married in just two weeks! So congratulations guys! I’m looking forward to shooting your wedding in a couple weeks in Oakville and at Piper’s Heath Golf Club.

I’ve gotten to know Anna and Brad over the years through our mutual friends Tony and Agnes. In fact, they first caught each other’s eyes at Tony and Agnes’ 2006 wedding. They were groomsman and maid of honour and I was also the photographer.

We had the engagement photo session down at the beach in Toronto’s east end. Brad and Anna had their first date at the Beach’s Jazz Festival so it was fitting to return to the site for their photos.

We warmed up first with the team-building task of balancing rocks…

And ended the evening with some shots by some of the stately trees lining the boardwalk. See you soon!