When we have professional photos taken, there’s usually a driving cause behind it…an engagement, a wedding, a family reunion, etc.
But there is one milestone that is such an incredibly special time in our lives that calls for a professional photo session to commemorate you. This is your university or college graduation. Right after finishing College or University, we are at such a unique time in our lives, emotionally and physically. In a way we are at one of our peaks in life, having just completed years of education, navigated our young adolescence, and just begun to get a sense of who we are and where we fit in the world. We’ve changed drastically since the last time we were photographed, which was likely high school graduation, and there’s some time until the next large life event which is usually getting married.

 It's important to capture this beautiful time in your life. You’ve grown into yourself tremendously since high school and will continue to change so much. You are just on the cusp of adulthood, which is a small window of time that will be so fun to look back on in 10, 20, and 30 plus years. This is an opportunity to document who you’ve become and the idea of who you will be. We will custom design your session to fit you, and capture you in a way you’ll love. These images will serve you not only professionally, but personally. Our photography session will be at either Fleming College or Trent University, depending where you are graduating. We use the natural environment to capture you in. Friends and family are more than welcome in your photos. After all, they are celebrating with you!

Every couple imagines the weather on their wedding day will be perfect: 25 degrees, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. But what if it isn’t? It’s best to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way, be it rain, sleet, snow or shine. After all, you can’t control the weather no matter how hard you try. So, if you’re confronted with an off-weather day, don’t let it make you feel, well, off. Here are some tips and tricks to help make sure your backup plan is just as good as the original!

​Talk to your venue.  Before you book a venue, find out what their Plan B offerings are. Do they have an indoor space available? Do they provide tents or some other type of temporary structure? While you were probably drawn to the venue for its primary spaces, you want to understand what you’ll get if the weather doesn’t cooperate. If the backup options are not what you want (or there isn’t one), you may want to consider another venue or figure out if you can bring your own backup.

Secure a tent. If you’ve fallen in love with an outdoor venue that doesn’t have an adequate contingency plan, find a solution for yourself. Some venues won’t provide you with tents, cooling units, or heaters themselves but will allow you to bring those items in through properly vetted outside vendors. Ask your venue what the rules are and if they have any recommendations of places to contact. Research local tent companies and put a hold on a tent just in case; it will be worth EVERY penny if you wake up on your wedding day to bad weather. Even if you don’t end up using the tent, if it relieved any of your weather-related worries, it’s money well spent.

Give yourself time. Don’t wait until the week of the wedding to figure out what you’re going to do if bad weather strikes. Even contingency plans take time to pull together. You’ll want several weeks (if not months) to be able to think things through and make sure you’re covering all your bases, whether you end up putting the plan into action or not. Make sure to get your backup plan in place well before your wedding date shows up on that ten-day forecast on the weather app on your phone to avoid any unnecessary last-minute stress. Hopefully you won’t have to implement the contingency plan, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
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Write it down. To be able to pull off your backup plan without a hitch, everyone involved needs to be on the same page. Sit down and write out a step-by-step call to action for your big day backup plan. Get your venue and your wedding planner (if you have one) in on the brainstorming session so that you don’t overlook any little detail. Once the contingency plan is set, pass it out to all your vendors and any guests of honor that need to be prepared for last-minute changes in travel time and setup arrangements. Include alternative directions and timelines.

Be prepared for all kinds of weather. While rain is typically what couples are worried about, it isn’t the only weather condition that should be on your radar. Think through every scenario, from an extreme heat wave to an unexpected snow storm, and ask your venue what options are available to you. Will they supply fans or cooling units if there’s a heat wave? Do they have a generator to counteract any power outages? Will they clear the snow around the venue so your guests can make their way inside? All of these questions are important to have an answer to before you sign a contract. Don’t leave anything to chance!
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Prepare your guests. If you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding, make sure you let your guests know what they’re up against. Consider including a note on your wedding website (or include a “rain card” in your invitation suite) that tells your guests that you’re hoping to be able to have your ceremony, cocktail hour or reception (or maybe all three!) outside. Remind them to dress appropriately for the weather so they can pack their bags accordingly. The more your guests know ahead of time, the happier they’ll be. And if your guests are happy, you’ll probably feel better about taking the alternative course of action on the big day.

Some photos from the first day of our Easter Mini Photo Sessions!  In the weeks leading up to our sessions, I was busy brainstorming ideas for our two day event and creating our sets. Oh! The FUN we had planning these sessions!! Our set is decorated with a real rustic picket fence, lots of flowers and Easter themed props to match.  We found some really cute signs and accessories from one of our favourite stores, Michaels.  But our mini sessions would not have been complete without a real, live baby chicks. The chicks are on loan from Woolley Wonderland's Critter Visits.  I picked up the chicks at their farm in Lakehurst, just north of Peterborough. They had just been hatched!  We keep them in a warm location with a heat lamp, and the children love looking at them. After the children have had their Easter photos taken, we allow them to hold one or two chicks. If the kids are really little, then we put the chicks in a small basket. We have never had any of our chicks hurt and we watch the children carefully, making sure they are comfortable and gentle with the chicks. We provide hand sanitizer and a bathroom to wash up in afterwards. With a few pooping accidents here and there, I was lucky to have my gentle animal handler, and partner, Jenn, close by to assist in clean up while I photographed our adorable little clients.  My favourite moments were capturing each child interact with these beautiful creatures.  I was just thrilled to have been able to include them. I will be honest though, it will be hard to return our little chicks to their farm home next weekend, after our sessions are over.  Thank you to all the families who visited us this past weekend. Some even travelled to Peterborough from Lindsay and Cobourg. We are looking forward to our second sessions next weekend and meeting some awesome people as well as welcoming back friends who have visited in the past! I’m truly honoured you’ve chosen Jenn and myself (Cathy) to capture these special moments of your children.