ALL THE THINGS

Real life is this beautiful.

Amanda & Matt's Wedding - The Doctor's House, Kleinburg

The heavens literally shone on Amanda and Matt, for their late November wedding at The Doctor's House in Kleinburg. The wind was cold, but that didn't stop this gang. Each and every member of the wedding party braved our early winter with non-stop laughter and smiles. Then, the sun came out and drenched everything in a most beautiful haze of golden light. Golden.

We wandered through Kleinburg's quaint streets and back to The Doctor's House for a night of celebration.

bridal portrait - magenta purple bouquet

Kleinburg railway station wedding photos

Newlyweds first dance, The Doctor's House

The Doctor's House wedding photojournalism

The Doctor's House wedding photojournalist

Congratulations Amanda & Matthew ~ I am so thankful that we were part of such a wonderful day!

Check out their Liberty Village engagement photos here!

Photographers: Kate O'Connor & Rudo Vacula

Thank you to the creative team!

Cake: Petal Dust Bakery DJ: VIP Entertainment Dress: Impression Bridal Event Planner: Viki Panagiotidis of Event Stylings Hair & Makeup: Krystieann Beauty Group Flowers: Sarah Smith Men's Attire: Moore's Transportation: First Student School Busses Venue: The Doctor's House

All Photography, WeddingsKate O'ConnorMarch 4, 2015The Doctor's HouseBridal, Christmas Wedding, Destination Wedding Photographer, fall wedding, Kleinburg, November wedding, The Doctor's House, Wedding Party, Wedding Photojournalism, Winter wedding

Meaghen & Travis' Autumn Wedding at Fantasy Farm

It's a cold, November day in Toronto and the air is heavy with the feeling of fall. I arrive at one of the Don Valley's loveliest hidden gems ~ Fantasy Farm. I'm here to photograph Meaghen and Travis' vintage-inspired fall wedding, and I am stoked. I met these two glowing souls through a friend, and knew instantly that we were in for good times. We storm outside for photos and Meaghen tosses her coat onto a nearby tree stump as snowflakes start to float down from a dusky sky. The energy and focus of my work keeps me warm, but I am bundled up; Meaghen and Travis on the other hand, well they're just in love: excited, laughing, high-fiving, making faces, ready for an amazing night. And though they claim to not be into the mushy, romantic photos that make my heart a-flutter... As soon as Travis wraps his arms around Meaghen - warming her up in her blue wedding dress and white Birkenstocks - they can't help but kiss.

Some people are just like magnets - they are meant to be together. They create their own world.

vintage wedding "the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return"

rustic wedding name cards, tree stump centrepieces

It's inspiring to be around people who can take old traditions and make them new. That is art. It frees the rest of us to be ourselves. Meaghen and Travis, thank you for sharing such an amazing moment in your life with me. I am honoured.

All Photography, WeddingsKate O'ConnorFebruary 23, 2015Fantasy FarmBlue wedding dress, Canadian Gothic, coloured wedding dress, DIY Wedding, fall wedding, Fantasy Farm, Kiss, Toronto Wedding Photographer, Vintage, Wedding Photojournalism

Amanda & Matt's Liberty Village Engagement Photos

Amanda and Matt are just a gorgeous pair. We met at Balzac's coffee shop, in Toronto's historical Liberty Village to do their engagement photos. It was a windy day, but they laughed together and kept one another warm... Actually it was a crazy windy day that had all three of us wondering if we shouldn't reschedule, but we decided to just do it! Whenever Amanda or Matt needed encouragement, the other was there to keep them (and me) going... And these two are no strangers to cheering one another on. Matt proposed to Amanda just after she crossed the finish line at the San Francisco women's half marathon! She was his champion.

Amazing.

Amanda & Matt, it's been fantastic working with two people who are truly inspirational. I am so excited to share your wedding photos soon!

All Photography, Couples, LifestyleKate O'ConnorFebruary 17, 2015Balzac's, Coffee Shop, Couples Photography, Engagement, Engagement Photos, Liberty Village, Marriage Proposal, Street mural, Toronto Comment

How to Take a Great Group Photo

ASSIGNMENT: "Teach us something that you do well." I can do that!

Here are a few simple tips for how to take a group photo!

Background

Pick a spot where your group can either be in front of a plain background, or far enough away from their background that it will fall out of focus in the picture.
Pro tip: If you can back up far away from your group and zoom in with your lens, that will make the background even more blurry and beautiful!

Lighting

Try to be in open shade (that is, in the shade, but when the subjects look up there's nothing above their heads), or with the light coming from behind them - so that it's illuminating everyone evenly and not shining in their eyes, making them squint.
Pro tip: soft, reflected light is flattering, so if your subjects are facing (or close to) something large and neutral - such as a wall or sidewalk with the sun shining on it - that is an added bonus!

Coordination

Everyone should stand in a straight line, not a U shape. People have a tendency to get into a semi circle but you want them to be on the same plane, to keep everyone in focus.
Get everyone to angle inwards slightly, towards the centre of the group (it's slimming and you can fit more people in).
Clean up the look by having folks do up the top button of their blazer, and put dangling hands in their pant pocket.
Pro tip: make sure people's chunky wallets, cell phones, lunch, or other random paraphernalia are taken out of their pockets, to avoid strange impressions in the trouser area.

Angling your toes towards the centre of the photo is flattering, and fits more folks into the shot.

Happy Smiles

"Happy Happy"
- The most successful prompt I've been using for years, I got from my friend Rudo Vacula, of Toronto Wedding Studios. It works 98% of the time: Happy happy!
- That's right, you - the photographer - say, "Okay everyone, looking right here," (or whatever you want for that part) and then you say, "HAPPY HAPPY!"
- It's amazing - it always makes people laugh.
"Mommy"
- In an emergency I have another one that I mostly use for groups including a surly teen or crotchety family member, and that is: "On the count of three, I want everyone to say the word 'MOMMY!' One, two, three..." and that totally works too.

Even the most serious subjects burst into smiles when they look at someone they love. Eye contact for a natural smile, every time.

"Look at each other"
- For a group of two I'll often take a few snaps, then get people to look at each other. I photograph that too, if they happen to have a nice moment together.
- The beauty is, after looking at each other, I get them to look at me again and take a few more photos, and this time their smiles are real.

Have fun practicing taking great group photos, with happy natural smiles!

All Written Works, JournalKate O'ConnorJanuary 23, 2015how to take a group photo, photography, Photography tips, portraits, portraiture, Seth Godin, What to do when it's your turn, Your Turn Challenge

2014 Year in Review

I often hear myself telling people, "I have the best job in the world" ...So, yesterday I compiled a slideshow of images I shot in 2014, and it's confirmed: I do have the best job in the world! The exercise of making a 2014 year-in-review struck me with a simple truth: we are surrounded by love. I know, I know - so cheesy. Well, I don't care! It is true, and it's beautiful. Once you see all the things I witnessed in one year - the faces, the laughter, the tears, the eyes with that spark of light - of hope - from the very first days after birth to the late years of a great-grandfather... You'll feel it too.

Life is a collection of fleeting moments. All we can ask is to notice them as they happen. To feel our feelings and not be numb. To shriek with laughter, to cry from sheer joy, and to confront the crush of sadness - the loss inevitably tied to love, that knowledge that someday life will take the ones we let ourselves love. This year I learned something else though. (And now you'll Really think I've gone off my rocker.) We are together.

We are in this crazy world, humans all sharing our lives. And so we are connected, not alone. So go ahead - feel the things that hurt so good in your heart, and let them be. I am with you. And let me see you - let the world see you - it's okay to be afraid. Because something amazing could happen: I could love you.

I already do.

I feel so so incredibly privileged to experience these deeply personal moments with the people around me. Thank you to each and every glowing soul who shared a part of your life story with me in 2014. I wish you adventures, love, and even more laughter for 2015!!