Studio J

This is Stefane and Nathalie.  They’ve been married for years.  They’re in love.   They’re adventurous.    ….. and they’re up for something completely different from traditional wedding portraits.      ….. So we set out to capture interesting, creative images that reflect their personalities and their bond.

Why Trash the Dress??

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Trash the Dress is a wonderful wedding photography movement that inspires and encourages brides, grooms and photographers to try something new;  let go of the comforts of tradition,   …. and create something more meaningful, more expressive of yourselves.

It’s not about destroying the gown –>  it’s about creating images and memories that are interesting, artistic, passionate and fun  ….. without worrying about what it’s going to do to your dress.  Approach this session with care free abandon and your gown will get dirty  …. and probably wet too   -  but you will be making beautiful, expressive images that you will pull out again and again (unlike the dress, sealed up in a closet for decades).

This preserves your dress in a way you can actually enjoy:  in photographs.   Marvel at just how fabulous you looked in your diva gown.  Use great locations you couldn’t try on your wedding day.  Have imagery you could not possibly dare to get done on your wedding day.

This dress was not destroyed.  After a cleaning, it can be sealed in plastic, pristine and spotless – to never be used again! ….. or it could be sold,  or donated.

For something really interesting at your wedding reception, why not choose to have your trash the dress session done several weeks before your wedding?  –> then clean the gown back to brand new condition for the wedding day   ….. and have us project a large screen video slideshow  of your stylish, edgy, creative images at your reception!

In the end, you’ll have images that are far more valuable to you than that dress on a shelf.

Here’s the video slidshow of their session:

No kidding,  ….. and it’s not photoshop.  A real rainbow made an appearance at Grace and Deb’s wedding reception.  How perfect!   This wasn’t the highlight of the wedding though.   This was a very emotional event.  The ceremony took place at the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto.  Wedding guests were clearly moved  …. it was like everyone was close family.  I saw the same thing again through the reception.

These two are genuine, compassionate ladies who show a deep understanding of themselves and of others.  Something I notice is that they never take each other for granted.  A hand on Grace’s back,  ‘Can I get you something?’,  … an obvious sense of appreciation and enjoyment with each other.  They still have that after 6 years together.

The reception was held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington.    ….  champagne in the meadow …

A video selection of images from the wedding:

I’m nervous.  I’ve been looking forward to this as my biggest day ever, as a photographer.

My first wedding.  I’m shooting a couple I have come to admire and respect so much.  They were both helping others when they met.  … that’s a steady part of  their lives, before meeting each other.

Jeff, it’s rare that I meet someone who makes such a strong 1st impression as you.  As articulate as you are, that strong impression comes more from your calm self assurance, the small things you do for others – and some kind of non-verbal mojo that says “trust me”.  If I could point to someone as a poster child for how to connect with others – how to be sincere, authentic, caring and interested in others – and to enjoy yourself along the way – that poster child would be you Jen!

In a gathering rich with open, kind hearted and talented people, there was genuine celebration and joy that these two remarkable people have found each other.  I hope I have captured some of that.

Jen, her father and sisters all performed at the ceremony.  I loved it!

Fantastic 1st dance!

Jeff broke into spontaneous Ukranian Cossack dancing – this was the real deal!

A video showing a selection from the wedding:

I had a great deal of help from fellow photographer Heather Guy, who joined me on this wedding. Heather saved me on several occasions with timely reminders about what I needed to do next! When she wasn’t running my lighting and lugging heavy gear, she had a few moments to fit in some second shooting duties. Here are a few from her: (Thank you Heather!!)

Heather shooting in our ghetto-fabulous studio on wheels –> she had her butt perched on the dashboard and seriously contorted her body to get these shots. Fantastic!! :