• I am so grateful to live in the same city as my family.
• I am grateful that, even though my parents are divorced, we all still get together on holidays.
• I am grateful for our universal appreciation of dorky puns.
• I am grateful for my niece’s big, round eyes when I try to surprise her with silly questions, before she realizes I'm joking and starts to giggle.
• I’m so grateful she loves holding hands for no reason.
• I am grateful that (when you’re four years old) one of the most exciting things in life, is simply to run as fast as you can.
• I am grateful to share these moments with my sister. We exchange a look and know we’re both smiling about the same observation.
• I am grateful to see my parents being nana & papa – to see how much joy that brings them.

Take 20 Seconds & Try This Out:

• Take a deep, loud breath, like a big sigh
• Finish this sentence: “I am grateful for…"
• Close your eyes & picture what you’re grateful for
• FEEL the gratitude in your body – breathe deeply into that feeling
• Now open your eyes.

Go ahead.  How was that?  Were you able to think of something? 

Was it coffee? Your comfy bed? Your parents’ health? The sound of your kids laughing? Pizza? Your good taste and sense of humour?  As you prepare for the rest of your day, take these 20 seconds for yourself.

If you're feeling grateful for this oasis in your day, sign-up for my newsletter! You'll receive my take on mindfulness for moms (and dads), self-care for brides (and grooms), and happy, healthy lifestyle tips for starseeds, lovers, seekers, and kitchen-dance-party aficionados alike. Plus, you'll receive first-dibs on popular photo dates, holiday promos, and anything else I can think of to serve you joy. Sign Up Here!

Check out more on gratitude lists in this post, where I reflect on not getting killed on my trip to Kenya. 

Learn more about what's included in my exciting and awesome newsletter right here!

In 2009 I lived on a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. For three months, I slept alone in a safari tent and every night a pride of lions gathered outside my tent and roared. I was lonely and scared. I made sure not to drink any fluids with dinner, so I wouldn’t have to walk to the bathroom hut after dark.

Last week I published my first official newsletter, and the topic was Gratitude. It’s Thanksgiving, so I thought I’d take the chance to expand on that a bit.

But first...

A pride of lions at sunset, waiting to see what mom brings home for dinner... I hope it's not me!

After a month of sleepless nights, the lions moved on and my terror subsided... Until one day I had to take a trip to Nairobi, by myself, on public transit. For non-getting-eaten-by-lion reasons, people traveling between cities didn’t move around after dark: car-jacking at gunpoint. An actual, for-real threat. Crazy, right? Again, I was scared. I left in the early morning; took my trip and was greeted at my destination by a friendly face. All went well, and at the end of my third month, I came home to Toronto. 

What does this have to do with Gratitude? 

Sometimes, when my mind is racing with the to-do list, current events, irritations, or worries about the future, I get out my journal and do a simple activity: I write five things I’m grateful for, and five things I appreciate about myself. 

Ten things is a lot, and sometimes I run out of ideas. And it’s in that moment, I find myself writing, “I am grateful for living in a safe city where I can move around freely, without threat.” Even though it’s something I hardly ever think about, when it comes up on my list, the feeling in my heart is an overwhelming WOW. I am so lucky. 

So what does gratitude have to do with weddings & family photography? 

Getting there! You see, it has to do with life. In my attempt to be proactive about emotional health, I got into this little gratitude ritual and discovered that it actually works! It’s great for any time… But if nothing else, times of stress are when it’s most helpful. And let’s be real: holidays, family time, and big life changes and events (i.e. weddings) are both WONDERFUL and STRESSFUL.

Try This Out: 

• Grab a piece of paper and write 1-10 things you’re grateful for

• If you can think of 1, 3, 5 or 15, that’s okay

• Try this at night right before you sleep.

Looking across the savannah, at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. One of the most challenging and transformative three months of my life. 

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to go to Kenya. Despite the fear and loneliness, I learned what I was made of that summer. My eyes were opened to issues ranging from global poverty, cutting edge environmental and community development projects, to what it means to have white privilege. At the same time, I made interesting friends and had indescribable adventures exploring the savannah.

Click Connect below to let me know what you think and read a description of my newsletter offerings right here. 

Hello friends,

I wanted to give you a heads up that I've started a newsletter! Yes, indeed, I have lots to say. :) If you're curious about the content, here's a link to past issues, here's a link to subscribe, and below are my reasons for this endeavour: 

There are two phrases I constantly hear in my work:

“The whole wedding day went by in a flash – I can’t even remember it!”

“Kids grow up so fast – I can’t believe they started school this year!”

Both of these express the same concern: being present and experiencing life as it’s happening.

I created the newsletter with tips to help you Be in the moment during life's big (and small) moments, and not miss out.

Whether you’re worried about being too stressed to enjoy your wedding, or shocked that your child isn’t a baby anymore, I got you. Using simple techniques of reflection, gratitude, breathing, and photography, you can be there to appreciate all the stages of life. 

Subscribers to the newsletter also get exclusive access to printed gifts and promotions, as well as first rights to popular session dates throughout the year. Pretty awesome, right? If you're thinking, "Yes – I'm into this!" then here's what to expect...

Two short letters per month with:

• Right of first refusal to popular weekend sessions
• Concise tips on mindfulness & emotional presence
• Exclusive package offerings, printed gifts & promotions
• A link to new work or a few photos to brighten your day...

The laws of the land: 

• Only 2 emails each month
• I will never share your contact info
• Opt-out any time by clicking unsubscribe

Judgment-Free Territory

If you no longer want to be a "citizen" of Sweetheart Empire, just unsubscribe. I'll still think of you as a citizen of though, because that's just how I roll. Also, I don't judge because inboxes are cray-cray so only say yes to what brings you Joy (at least for newsletters).

Mel & Roy got married at St. Paul's Cathedral, and chartered their own streetcar to cross Toronto with their best friends. The stopped in at SPiN to play some ping pong, and then finished off with a gorgeous reception at Luma. Here are their words on the wedding day:

"When we first met Kate we told her, “we want our photos to feel like ‘us’”. Kate took that impossibly vague request and surpassed our wildest expectations. She took the time to get to know us, listen to our concerns, and help us feel calm and confident. Her attention to detail and friendly nature made our sessions a breeze. Our engagement and wedding photos were exactly what we hoped for: authentic – joyful – and filled with love."

– Mel & Roy

Click here to read more reviews!

Daniela & Manny eloped from Germany to Toronto, to get married at City Hall! It was a lovely spring day, and here are their thoughts: 

"Coming from Germany to get married in Toronto, we haven't had a lot of time to get to know different photographers, what made me a little bit nervous - but Kate made that nervousness disappear right away! 

The contact via Email was very professional and she offered a first meeting up front the wedding photo shoot to get to know each other a bit better. Kate was very easy going, but also very professional. She made us feel comfortable right away. Kate wasn't pushing and the shooting felt more like a teamwork. It was visible, that she's got a lot of experience with calming down and making nervous brides (and grooms) feel comfortable :) We've laughed a lot! 

It was important for us that the pictures look real - and they do! Kate didn't make us pose - shes very creative with how to make the best natural pictures, gave us different themes to talk about, made us think back to different situations - we've had so much fun! And while talking, walking and laughing, we almost forgot that she's taking pictures. 

Also during our a little bit chaotic "friends shoot", Kate was relaxed and took the best pictures ever! Our friends were impressed by her! We love that she's captured even the different characters of our friends in those pics - AWESOME!

Somehow it seems Kate knows exactly how to catch feelings in her photos.
She's a very lovely, friendly and funny person and it's obvious that she loves her job. She made our special day even more special and we've been very happy that we got the chance to meet her. 

She's a great photographer with a great personality! Highly recommended!"

– Daniela & Manny

Click here to read more reviews!

More small, intimate weddings:
Shannon & Andrew's Review – The Briars, Georgina, Ontario
Laura & Jeff's Review – Wards Island Beach Wedding