A boutique fashion photography and branding studio. Adorable print shop too.
I remember bringing my business license home like it was yesterday. I poured myself a cup of tea and I sat down at my breakfast bar while the piece of paper that declared I was going to attempt to be my own boss trembled in my hand. Running a business seemed out of reach, mysterious and other worldly. I remember wondering, desperately, how others made it work? What were their secrets? Today, if you’re interested, I would like to share five of my personal secrets for running my business. (more…)
“Slip into something that makes you feel alive. A touch of rouge, a dab of lipstick, a gown that wraps tightly around you in every direction smothering any trace of self doubt or anxiety, at least for a time. Move as if the world were a painting, an exquisite piece of art still trapped within messy creation, its final form forever dictated by where you step and the path you choose.”
Take a peek at the rest of this moody evening Toronto fashion editorial after the link!
Here at Gooseberry Studios, I have a theory about engagement sessions. It’s not about what you wear or how you do your hair. It’s not about being super styled or overly planned. The best engagement sessions are about being present with each other on camera in a single simple setting that holds sentimental value — and (the secret ingredient) not being afraid to really laugh. This wonderful couple followed this exact recipe for their sunset engagement session in Waterloo earlier this week and the results are… well, take a peek and this sneak peek and see for yourself. (more…)
This past spring I had the tremendous pleasure of working with the lovely Erica Fox on a fashionable branding project. For our first shoot, we set about capturing creative corporate looks out and about in the city that are suitable for the office, yet bursting with unique personality. We focused on a modern, bold and bright aesthetic and here are some of the results.
On Friday Gooseberry joined this lovely Irish couple for a bubbly outdoor wedding celebration! To add even more emotion to the day, the pesky weather report kept threatening a storm so we raced around beneath the clouds with our fingers crossed hoping for sunshine. And luckily enough, the heaven’s came through! We visited the iconic Toronto skyline to document this international love story, we witnessed beautiful vows exchanged beneath a shady canopy and we danced the night away, watched over by twinkling chandeliers. Here’s a sneak peek from the day if you’re interested. (more…)
The other day I met this lovely family to welcome their brand new baby girl into the world with a natural outdoor newborn session. I’m so thankful that the warm weather is finally here, because capturing new babies, new big brothers and doting parents in the fresh air is a wonderful way to spend a morning! Here is a little sneak peek from this sweet session if you’d like to see! (more…)
When you arrive to capture a simple spring wedding and the bride’s bouquet is bursting with rich vibrant peonies (your favourite flower) you know it’s going to be a fantastic celebration! After a lovely ceremony in a darling chapel, we frolicked around in a wee secluded park and were then whisked away into a fantastic romantically lit dinner followed by dancing. It was a lovely way to tie the know and here is a small sneak peek from the day! (more…)
You know what I love most about fashion photography? More than the clothes and the creative process, more than the various tones that fashion photography can be captured in and the opportunity to play with light and shadow, I love the idea that the women I photograph will one day, perhaps in their retirement surrounded by great grandkids with a million laugh lines crinkling around their eyes, look back on these images and think, “Wow. I was a total babe!”
There is a saying that youth is wasted on the young, which has only started to resonate with me as I prepare to exit my twenties. As women we spend too much of our youth deeply criticizing our bodies. Our looks are somehow paramount, even to ourselves, and we waste hours putting on makeup, deciding what to wear, and after all that effort still not being satisfied with what we see in the mirror. Fashion photography, however, has the power to capture a woman at her most confident and creative. That is something truly precious. (more…)
Engagement sessions that incorporate things the couple are naturally enthusiastic about are always the most memorable. For this Toronto engagement session we wandered the iconic St. Lawrence Market, thus capturing the couple’s affinity for local food, coffee and urban style! Simple, style and sweet — everything a modern and meaningful engagement session should be. (more…)
Spring weddings are light and dreamy, breathy and beautiful — but also constantly teased by the lingering possibility of rain. This gorgeous couple’s celebration on Saturday was such an affair, but love conquered all — even the weather! Rather than let a few raindrops get them down, this lively bride and groom busted out some umbrellas and a wonderful sense of humour to make the most of their day. Laughter, laughter and more laughter trickled throughout the entire celebration. Here’s a sneak peek! (more…)
When a baby reaches six-months-old it is a big deal, not only because they are in fact bigger than they were at their newbon stage (obviously) but also because their sweet personalities are beginning to really take shape. One of the biggest regrets I hear from parents is that they didn’t take the time to capture their little guy or gal at the six months stage. Once they hit a year, they are completely different again and practically a toddler! This little girl and her parents and I spent a lovely morning playing around and here is a sneak peek of the results! (more…)
No matter how little you are or how grown up you get, a gorgeous natural portrait with Mum never goes out of style. Not just for little ones, Mama & Moi Mini Sessions are ideal for mothers and kids of all ages — and yes, dads can join in too! These Mini Sessions are designed to capture real, unscripted moments with your kids. They’re not about looking at the camera and saying ‘Cheese!’ They’re about preserving moments of play, squishy embraces, mad giggles, and the loving looks your little one gives you. This Mother’s Day let Gooseberry give your family real moments in photographs that look like beautiful stills from a movie. (more…)
You created a business. You nurtured it. You watched it grow, but then something shifts. You realize, with a pit of dread forming in your stomach, that the brand you worked so tirelessly on no longer suits you and you’re left grappling the question, “How on earth can I rebrand without losing what I’ve already built?”
Rebranding can be an intimidating process, but it can also be a healthy development for a growing business on its way to new levels of success. However, there are a few things that I would recommend keeping in mind to help make your rebrand as effective and efficient as possible. (more…)
Fashion is everywhere in this city and being a Toronto fashion photographer is one of the aspects of my business that I love the most. No two fashion shoots are the same. The creativity in the clothes, the people, the photography side of a shoot, the city itself is all so gorgeous that I always come away from a shoot feeling invigorated and freshly inspired. This shoot features the lovely Style Me Marina, a talented Toronto fashion blogger who has impeccable style and a flair for putting together outfits that truly stand out. (more…)
I have this trick that I would like to share with you for boosting productivity and making any work day far more accomplished. It is the easiest thing in the world to master and a ritual that is an essential part of my day-to-day. My trick is…. (more…)
Running and relying on your own business is exciting, but also petrifying, which is why today I would like to take a moment and share 21 things that I wish I had known before starting my own business many moons ago. In other words, this is a list of things that I wish my younger self had been told. So here it goes! (more…)
You wouldn’t guess it to look at this shoot, but this was a freezing day! However, partnering with the warm, energetic personality of popular Toronto Instagrammer, Nafisa’s Closet, made this an exceptionally fun photoshoot! Her website will be launching this fall with all sorts of incredible fashion finds and couture garments! It is always a pleasure creating a shoot that captures various aspects of a client’s personality and this chic spring photoshoot brought together vibrant colours, comfortable clothing and superb styling! (more…)
If there is one piece of advice that I cannot stress enough to budding and established entrepreneurs alike it’s this: write a business plan. Even if you aren’t actively looking for investors, a business plan is a fantastic exercise to help you understand your company inside and out, as well as its position in the marketplace. (more…)