This guy. There is a small but important selection of great men in my life – he is one. If he’s in your life, you’re lucky…he’s likely also responsible for your sweet booty, knows all your secrets, and treats you like shit at least 3 days a week. I know multiple people who can attest to this. Cheers to Paul. Paul – you’re awesome.
Baby William Richard. You’re arrival is a little bit epic…is that even possible? You’re kind of a big deal around these parts.
Here are a couple of thoughts I’ve been wanting to share with you. First of all – I love your parents dearly. The whole Hartman Clan in fact. You and that Midland crew are a solid bunch of friends and I’m in love with each and every one of you. As you’ll soon learn I grew up with your mom and your aunty. They have become my summer sisters, my cottage people – some of my favourite chosen family. I think I’ve known them longer than I’ve known any other friends. My own sister and I have a long history with those two. A lot of messy summer memories. Some quite distant, from when we were just small people, others much more vivid from just days and weeks ago. I’m certain, as you grow up on the shores of Lake Bernard and Georgian Bay you too will find your summer family. Likely not summer sisters, as none of us have been able to produce more than a single, blond, precocious, little girl. You will find your summer brothers. You will all do things your mothers cringe at. You will sneak around, light fires, dig holes, ride to town, play on the raft, watch movies on rainy days, and learn to love this cottage life as if it is your very best life ever. I hope that you remember your cottage life as fondly as we do, our own.
What I want you to know is how deeply you are loved, from the moment we found out you were coming – you have been loved. I spent just 3 short hours with you and your parents this week and do you know what they did? They watched you. Just looking and loving. They watched you with an incredible sense of confidence, that I don’t often see in first time parents. The looked at you, then each other, and then back at you. They talked about who you look like and who you might be later on. They talked about whether you’d like basketball or volleyball. They agreed that it didn’t matter and that you could like anything you wanted…maybe you’d be an artist? Your parents are an impressive pair. They seem confident and calm. And let me tell you, if they can keep that vibe going (most of the time) you’ll be one happy kid.
So Will, I can’t wait to see you again. I can’t wait to photograph your family, as you and your cousins grow up. And I can’t wait to find out who you will be.
We love you, very, very much. xo
I am thrilled to be sharing this! The entire boudoir weekend at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto was awesome…but this session was particularly special. JH is also a photographer. In fact she is one the first photographers who introduced me to possibility of photography. That it could be something more, more wild than a snap shot, more interesting. It was through her support of many photographers, their expression, and all of our love for simply “taking pictures” that I began to see “interesting photographs” as something more than just a picture taken.
And, here she is. Way more than just a snap shot. totally sweet and wild! We shot for a long time. From just before sunset to long after the light was gone.
Thank you JH for allowing me to share some of your images. I’m thrilled with the entire collection. See you very soon!
New baby V and her momma. A little personal project I’ve had in mind. These two are always perfect subjects.
Until next time, V & E! Thanks you so much for this.
Such a contrast between our first meeting downtown Toronto and their wedding day at his parent’s Fishing Lodge on the Montreal River. It was a mini Destination Wedding (in Northern Ontario) and we loved it so much. For the first time in 2 years my hubby, Jay joined me in shooting a wedding. I knew if I was going to get him working again it better be for something pretty spectacular. Once wee baby Charlie arrived in January of 2011 Jay became a full time-working-stay-at-home-on-weekends dad. A wedding, on an island, in Northern Ontario, at a fishing lodge was just the ticket. It’s always such a pleasure to shoot over an entire weekend.
As I’ve mentioned before, Loni and Ben are sweet, kind and understated. They love being together in the most authentic way-a true friendship and it’s such a joy to experience. Loni is a city girl who’s becoming more and more curious about a northerner’s life and Ben, well…Ben is a diehard Northerner already, who happens to live and work in Toronto. Before I met Ben I was told about his dramatic love of his hometown, nature, wilderness, and the outdoors (if you know my hubby you now know why this was the event for him!). I was not lied to. Some would say I live in the North (Muskoka)…but no, not like this. There is so much more to experience in Northern Ontario and many fewer people. If you’ve been to Haileybury you know about the expansive fresh water lakes, epic fishing (Ben tried to trick Loni and I into fishing all afternoon once, weeks before the wedding), you know all about the massive rock cliffs, the spruce forests and (all along the way) each delicious chip truck!
This wedding day was all about their friendships, their loving families and supportive friends, and most of all their love of one another and the North. Married on an island, sleeping at Fishing Lodge and partying under a red and white circus tent. Such a great weekend!
Cheers to you, Loni and Ben. It was an honour attending and photographing your wedding day.
Muskoka and Toronto; Specializing in Documentary Cottage Weddings, Elopements, and Boudoir 