{i.heart.summer...}

"Then followed that beautiful season...Summer...
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created all the freshness of childhood."
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

More of Sarah & Greg's engagement session coming soon!

{dennis & naomi: engagement...}

Have you ever noticed how the longer you live in a city, the less you tend to know about it?!?! Perhaps this is an oversight that only I make but I certainly have a tendency to take my home town for granted and overlook all the amazing attractions that I pass by every day.

I grew up in London, Ontario...a city, which as far as I'm concerned, is completely charming. When it came time to choose a university, I decided to move to Ottawa...an equally endearing place. Like most teenagers, I longed to get away from the only place that I had ever really known and to see the world through my new independent eyes. And in doing so, I fell love. I fell in love with both a cute French boy and with this amazing city! Not surprising, the French boy didn't last...but my love affair with Ottawa certainly did!

The thing is though that since I find myself fully emerged in Ottawa life every day, I never fully get around to appreciating its history and heritage. I never do take the tour of Parliament or hop on the double decker bus to make a visit to the RCMP stables. "One day", we always say, as countless visitors come through our city every year and learn more about our home than we likely do. Sad, I know!

With much of our family now living out of town, it has given us the opportunity to make room for being a tourist in our own city and I have to say...it has made the love affair that much better. Finding out that Ottawa was once considered the most dangerous city in North America or learning about the amazing efforts that went into building the Rideau Canal is almost like bringing home the rebel on a motorcycle that you know your parents won't like!!!

When Naomi and Dennis first contacted me about doing their engagement pictures, they were clear that they wanted it to not only be about them but they wanted it to be an ode to our lovely city as well. I, of course, was thrilled. "My kind of couple" I thought...

So off we went...from the National Gallery of Canada to the Library of Parliament, we made our way through the landmarks that define our city and in many ways, defined them as couple...

~~~

The beautiful National Gallery of Canada...

Major's Hill Park...

Our recently completed and beautifully restored Library of Parliament...

And lest we forget the beautiful couple...

Thanks so much guys for reminding me why I choose to call this glorious place home...I really never do getting tired of setting my eyes on her!

{trailing behind...}

Okay...I'm am BEYOND behind on my blogging! Where are the handcuffs?!?! But at least I'm not behind because I'm being a slacker! I am growing a tiny little boy after all!!

Aside from that though, I'm pleased to say that I've been rocking out with camera busy-ness lately and it's kept me happily bouncing from one photo shoot to another with a bunch of consultations in between! Hello gorgeous winter weddings!!!

So bear with me a bit longer if you can as I wrap up a few things before I find my back on the blogging track! Here's a little bit of what is yet to come...

Yeah...if only all days included gorgeous couples and gorgeous Clydesdales!

{courtney & josh: engagement...}

Blind dates…I have a hard time deciding what I think about them. On the one hand, they are completely agonizing; as if first dates aren’t gut wrenching enough all on their own without adding the “blind” factor into them. But, on the other hand, my husband is essentially the result of a blind date so who am I to complain given how nicely that worked out for me?!?! So I guess that leaves my views of blind dating much like my views of any other kind of dating…it’s really hit or miss! Or as Carrie Bradshaw so eloquently puts it; “the only reason people still endure the potential misery of a first date is for the potential magic of a first kiss!” Amen!

Anytime I get a new client that I’ve never met before, I feel somewhat like I’m preparing for a blind date; We’ve chatted a bit - either by phone or by email – we decide to finally meet and sure enough, it takes more time than usual to pick out an outfit! Then of course, there is the inevitable waiting to see if the first date warrants a second date or better yet…a date with camera in hand! It’s all very romantic and lucky for me…I’ve always had exceptional taste when it comes to dating!

When I first made plans to meet up with Josh and Courtney, we decided on a Starbucks near their house. I told them to look for the girl with dark hair that was tied back who was working on her laptop. I didn’t realize that there would be more than one of us who could fit the bill but really, what blind date would be complete without a slightly awkward introduction?!? But we endured! We talked about their upcoming wedding, their families, what kind of pictures they would like and before long…I was hooked! That’s right…full on head over heels! Maybe it was their charm, their signature smiles or the adorable way that they looked at each other, but whatever it was…if they could find a way to bottle it, they’d make a fortune (and I’d be the first in line!!!!)!

Josh and Courtney are an exceptionally awesome couple! They are the potential magic that make the potential misery worth enduring! They not only make my job easy…but they make my job fun and when I met up with them at the National Gallery of Canada to do their engagement pictures, it definitely ranked up there as one of the best second dates ever!!!

As I was going through their pictures afterwards I kept thinking to myself, “Wow…I can’t believe that I get to photograph these two on their wedding day” and then just moments later…the panic set in…

Oh my gosh…what am I going to wear?!?!

Josh and Courtney, thanks for giving me butterflies! I can’t wait to see you again in a few days for what will undoubtedly be a date to remember!!

~~~


Josh and Courtney actually got engaged right here, at this very spot!!

best.kissers.ever.

This picture makes me smile every time I look at it...they are just so much fun!!

To see the rest of their engagement shoot, click here.