a stunning momma-to-beThere’s something so powerful about capturing a mother-to-be surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Recently, I had the privilege of photographing a stunning momma-to-be in an outdoor maternity session, and the entire experience was simply magical.  With nature as our backdrop, we embraced the serenity and warmth of the surroundings, which seemed to echo the peaceful anticipation of this exciting new chapter. The soft light filtering through the trees, the gentle breeze, and the earthy colors created a perfect setting, enhancing her natural glow and adding a timeless quality to each shot and this momma-to-be radiated warmth, love, and the pure beauty of motherhood.  This mom-to-be exuded such a calm strength, and it was inspiring to witness her connection to both her growing baby and the natural world around her. As we moved through the session, it became clear that these moments weren’t just about capturing photos – they were about celebrating this incredible journey she is on. Thank you to this wonderful momma-to-be for allowing me to be part of her story. These are the moments that remind me how special this work is, and how beautiful it is to document the beginnings of new life in a setting as peaceful as nature itself.  the first weddingThe wedding dress is often considered one of the most significant elements of a wedding. It’s a symbol of a bride's unique journey, dreams, and the beginning of a new chapter in life.  This story begins 67 years ago when a young bride (my mother) wore a beautiful wedding dress on the happiest day of her life. This dress, with its delicate lace and timeless elegance, became a symbol of enduring love and cherished memories. The second Wedding: A Touching Tribute I decided to wear my mother’s wedding dress as a heartfelt tribute to the woman who had guided and supported me throughout my life. I was honoured to step into the gown and feel the overwhelming connection to my mother’s past and the legacy of love that the dress symbolized. The third Wedding: A Continued Tradition 10 years later, my sister also chose to honor ourr mother by wearing the same dress on her wedding day. Despite the passage of time, the gown retained its timeless beauty and elegance. The dress was carefully altered to fit her perfectly, yet it still held the essence of the original design. When my sister walked down the aisle in the dress, it was not just a continuation of a family tradition but also a celebration of the bond between us and our mother. The gown had now witnessed the joyous weddings, symbolizing the strength and enduring nature of family love. the tradition continues with a fourth wedding Fast forward to the present, and that same dress found its way to another young bride— the original owner's granddaughter and my niece. That's four generations of women in our family who have worn this dress as a symbol of love and commitment. It has held a special place in all our weddings and carries decades of history. Its significance is immeasurable. The beauty of this tradition lies not just in the dress itself, but in what it represents. It’s a story of love passed down from one generation to the next, a testament to the enduring nature of family, and a celebration of the dreams and hopes that connect mothers and daughters. The dress, worn by four brides, now holds a legacy of love, joy, and togetherness that will be cherished for many years to come.  Celebrating Love: A Fusion of Cultures in Indian WeddingsAs a photographer, I've had the privilege of capturing a multitude of beautiful moments, but there is something uniquely enchanting about Indian weddings. These celebrations are a symphony of vibrant colors, deep-rooted traditions, and heartfelt emotions. Recently, I had the honor of photographing a Canadian and Indian wedding, and it was an unforgettable experience that showcased the beauty of cultural fusion.   Indian weddings are known for their grandeur and elaborate rituals that span several days. Each ceremony is steeped in tradition, symbolizing the union of not just two individuals but their families and cultures as well. This particular wedding was a perfect blend of Indian heritage and Canadian influences, creating a harmonious celebration that was both unique and deeply meaningful. The Milni Tradition: A Meeting of FamiliesOne of the most touching moments in an Indian wedding is the Milni ceremony. "Milni" means "meeting" in Punjabi, and this tradition involves the formal introduction of the bride and groom's families. It's a beautiful ritual that signifies the coming together of two families as one. During the Milni, male relatives from both families, starting with the eldest members, greet each other with garlands and a warm embrace. This exchange symbolizes respect, acceptance, and the forging of new familial bonds. Capturing the joy and camaraderie during the Milni is always a highlight, as it sets the tone for the unity and love that will follow throughout the wedding celebrations.   Henna Handpainting: An Artistic Expression of LoveAnother mesmerizing tradition in Indian weddings is the application of henna, or mehndi, on the bride's hands and feet. This intricate handpainting is not just a visual delight but also carries significant cultural and emotional meanings. Henna artists skillfully create elaborate designs that often include motifs of flowers, paisleys, and even the groom's name hidden within the patterns. The process can take several hours, but the result is a stunning piece of temporary body art that enhances the bride's beauty and signifies joy, beauty, and spiritual awakening. The darker the henna stain, the more auspicious it is considered, adding an element of excitement and anticipation to the ceremony.   In the fusion of Canadian and Indian wedding traditions, there is a celebration of diversity and unity. The blend of cultures brings together the best of both worlds, creating a wedding that is rich in customs, yet uniquely personal. This particular wedding beautifully showcased how traditions from different backgrounds can come together to create something truly magical.
capturing a love storySome engagement sessions have an extra bit of magic to them, and this one by the beach was no exception. As a wedding photographer, capturing a couple’s love story is what I live for, and there’s something about the sand, water and sun's timeless beauty that makes these moments even more special. This particular session was filled with soft sunlight, laughter, and an undeniable connection between two people truly in love.  The Perfect Setting at Golden HourWe planned the session for the hour leading up to sunset, when the sun is low in the sky, casting a warm, dreamy glow over everything it touches. This "golden hour" light has a special way of highlighting the emotions between a couple, making each shot feel intimate and alive. The lower sun angles created soft shadows and a natural, radiant look that brought out the love in their smiles and the twinkle in their eyes. The colors of the sky, blending hues of pink and gold, felt like nature was celebrating alongside them!  Capturing Their Love Story by the WavesAs we wandered along the shoreline, it was beautiful to see how natural they were together. From playful splashes in the water to quiet moments shared as they walked barefoot in the sand, each shot captured a different layer of their love. They laughed, held hands, and even danced a bit in the shallow waves, giving us so many genuine, joyful moments. There were times when they’d just look at each other and laugh, completely at ease, and those moments were priceless to capture.  The Joy of Sharing Moments TogetherOne of the best parts of this session was the fun we all had together. Engagement sessions like these aren’t just about getting the “perfect” shot; they’re about creating a relaxed space where a couple’s love can truly shine. Between playful shots and the quieter, heartfelt moments, we ended up with a gallery that tells the story of who they are together. It felt less like a photo session and more like a celebration of their relationship.  This engagement session at the beach was a reminder of how special it is to capture love in a natural, beautiful setting. The sunset, the laughter, and their incredible connection made it an unforgettable experience. Thank you to this amazing couple for sharing their love story and for trusting me to capture these beautiful moments that will last a lifetime.    A young girl's photograph given a new lifeHave you found old photos but they are just not what they once were? With time, many of our prized family photos and memories can become damaged and faded. The prospect of restoring and archiving these photos may seem daunting, but at CatsMac Photography I can restore and bring them back to life.  someone's ancestor photo repaired for memoriesWhen working with old photos that may be damaged or drastically changed from their original form, digitizing them is an important first step in the preservation and restoration process. I scan then using a professional scanner and then upload the digital image into photoshop to repair and restore them. Then, I can email you the finished restored digital photograph. If you wish, I can also print it for you, in a size that you like, so you may frame it and display it proudly.  badly cracked and marked photo restored When bringing your photos to me to restore, it is important to not only organize your photos accordingly to how you would like them scanned, but also consider exactly what you want done to bring your photos back to life. Having a conversation with me about exactly what you want done to the photos is an important step to restoring your pictures. It might also be advised to turn a color original into a black and white digital file to help with touching up the photo to hide unwanted colour fades and damages the original photo might have. using scotch tape is never a good idea Remember, getting one of your cherished photos restored is a great idea for gift giving, especially around Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day and birthdays!
It's important to look your best for potential customersA good headshot is a great way of introducing yourself. Many businesses are online, and customers like to know who they are dealing with. A good professional looking headshot is a great way of selling who you are to the client. Another kind of headshot is a promotional headshot, this is a less formal headshot, and can be used on websites or magazines. A great headshot ensures you're making the best impression possible, which makes you feel good about your personal brand and what other professionals are thinking when they see your image. With actor headshots, having a good headshot is vitally important. It is said that a casting director spends about 2 seconds looking at photos, so an actor needs to stand out, for the casting director to remember who the person is. A professional headshot is important for your career because it creates a positive first impression, helps with networking, reflects your personal brand, enhances job applications, and meets local industry standards. It can give you an edge competitive job market.
Spring is the time for birth and growthIt was such a tremendous pleasure to have everyone come out and enjoy the little animals at our Easter and Spring photo sessions.  I must admit that both Jenn and I were pleasantly surprised at how gentle our little clients were. Even as children themselves, there seems to be a built in knowledge that handling baby goats and baby ducklings is something special and must be done gently.  Some children were a bit hesitant as they had never seen baby goats before, and some were very comfortable around them. We, of course, monitored the kids (the human kind) closely so as to not startle the kids (the baby goats kind) and the ducklings.  And we learned alot too! We had the goats in our backyard shed for over a week, and we truely came to love them. They would follow us around like little puppies. And were very comfortable around our dog.      Improving old memorable photosI've recently had a few people email me and ask for some photos to be restored as gifts to family for Christmas. I'm happy to quote on anything needing doing. Check out my restoration page on this site at http://www.catsmac.com/photo-restoration.html Restoring these photos brings me satisfaction and joy knowing that my clients will cherish these as family history.     these twin brothers enjoyed their photo sessionHow cute are these two? They came out with their parents for a special Christmas photo session and they were, by far, the happiest, joyful babies we've seen in a long time!      give the gift of memories🌟 Capture the Joy of Giving and Give the Gift of Memories this Christmas with our exclusive Gift Certificates 🌟Perfect for Every Occasion: Whether it's a family portrait, a couple's session, or a personal photo shoot, our gift certificates can be customized for any photography service we offer. 🌟 Instant Delivery: No need to wait! Our digital gift certificates can be delivered straight to your inbox, making last-minute shopping a breeze. 🌟Flexible Scheduling: Life is busy, and so are the holidays. Our certificates come with flexible scheduling options, ensuring that your loved ones can capture their special moments at a time that suits them best. 🌟Gift Happiness: In a world filled with things, give the gift of moments. Let us freeze time and create memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. This Christmas, make your gift stand out! a unique and thoughtful gift Some photos that i've been working onI'm happy to provide these restored photos back to their families! Imagine the memories and family history that repaired photos will provide in years to come! Repairing creases, rips and tears, as well as general clean up, sharpening and, in the case of the first photo sample, colourizing, make them come to life.    Makes a unique & thoughtful christmas giftPreserve your family history! Family photos are truly irreplaceable and, unfortunately, they can be lost due for various reasons. Restoring your photos is important if you want your old family photo history to survive for many years. By using different digital restoration techniques I can remove damage, fix flaws due to aging, or yellowing due to external sources as uv light, acidity from air, paper, or chemical residue left from photo processing. I will set right the contrast levels, fine-tune the colors and tones, remove dust, grain, restore rips, cracks, tears, creases, cuts, imperfections, improve exposure levels, restore faded photographs, rejuvenating life back into the photo. You provide me with the original photograph, I will scan and repair the photo digitally and then you will receive the original back, along with the digital copy of the repaired photo. You can print out your photo at a printing place you choose, or you may choose to have me print for you. There is an extra charge for me to print out your photo. Prices start at $20 a photo and go up from there depending on what needs doing and how damaged it is. Link to my website for more information. http://www.catsmac.com/photo-restoration.html      dogs are welcome in our sessionsThere are times when we get asked if we photograph dogs. Our answer? Of course! They are so much part of the family and we love including them in family photos. In this photoshoot, Jaclyn wanted the photo session to be about her dog, Benjamin. And he was such the perfect subject.  Benjamin loved roaming free, and was such a good boy. He came to his "mom" when called, and sat nicely for the photos.   When you see the love between them, you know that Benjamin is the most cherished dog and the apple of Jaclyn's eye.   two awesome sets to choose fromWe are always trying to give our clients something different. And this year for Christmas photos, we are offering indoor session with Santa or outdoor with a red truck. Plus other props that we always do. The inside Christmas sessions are scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd and Sunday, December 3rd. They will be held in Cobourg, on Division Street. The outside Christmas sessions will be held on Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th at our property in Cobourg, just north of the 401. These sessions are designed as mini shoots and will be about 15-20 minutes long with 10 digital images. We love to see everyone there and especially like to see the look of enjoyment on the children's faces!  and having so much fun too!Are you planning on updating your family photos? Then consider making it fun! Look for a location like a beach or, as this family did, an apple orchard! Being able to let the little kids run, play and have fun makes a family photo session allot easier and more memorable. The children will remember this photo session as fun. And future sessions will be easier with them.  capturing some candid photosCandid or photojournalistic photographs on your wall look just as good as posed photos.   Piggy Back rides are funOf course, piggy back rides make for some giggles and laughs from the kids and adults as well. Tickling and smoochy kisses create a different kind of photo, those that look posed, but are not. Just plain old fun to do.    Kids love climbingLetting the kids safely climb into something, like this wagon, makes them think they are getting to do something special. These brothers, sisters and cousin loved doing that. Again, making a memorable time fun.  Consider a location with props!This apple orchard offered different items as props making posing fun.  And who said only kids get to be silly and have fun!!!  A compilation of some fall family photosWith a beautiful fall in progress, we've had many families out for their fall family photos. Many families use these photos for their yearly holiday newsletters or cards or to update their family photos. This year, we've had some great weather.  With our own pumpkin patch on our property, our clients and take their time and play among the pumpkins. And, each child gets to take home a free pumpkin to carve for Hallowe'en.  What's cuter than a little baby lying among the fall leave so full of colour?   My favourite photo of these twins pulling their pumpkin in a wagon. Action or Candid shots are sometimes the best type of photography, especially with kids present.     Again, more action photos of these two running through the pumpkin patch.   as always, family pets are more than welcomeBecause we run our fall photo sessions on our own property, dogs are more than welcome. And, if they are good off leash, we can get some great photos.   We do have a large pond, so any dogs that like to go in the water might be best to be kept on leash until after the photo shoot, when they can get as dirty and wet as they'd like!      Some thanksgiving weekend funEvery Thanksgiving this family invites me to their beautiful island cottage on Stoney Lake to photograph their growing family. It's so nice to see the how much the kids have grown over the previous year. And having fun is their motto! Lots of laughs and fun poses to bring them great memories.         saying "i do" among family & friends"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." Surrounded by family and friends, and among a beautiful backdrop of a cornfield with lots and lots of flowers, Jaycee and Jesse were wed.  The cutest little flower girl ever. She was such a dream and loved her job!  Jesse looks so proud as his wife-to-be walked down the aisle.  Exchanging rings is my favourite part of a wedding ceremony. These two had tattooed rings on their fingers, but also gave each other wedding rings.    And...the ring bearer took his job seriously too! Look at him helping straighten the bride's dress. Now that's dedication to his job going above and beyond!   I totally love the colours of this fall wedding.       When we are working out the details of a shoot with a client we inevitably get asked “What should I wear?” The answer to this question differs from shoot to shoot since some of what we shoot is themed (i.e. vintage portraits in the park or Christmas sessions), but there are a few “rules” that we, and many other photographers, generally stick to. 1. Keep location in mind If we are going to the beach then heels are probably not the best choice. Likewise, flip flops are not wise if we’ll be traipsing through tall grass. Those are practical choices that are sometimes forgotten when we are deciding which shoes look cutest with our outfit at home. On a similar note, wearing beige to the beach or green to a forested location might also be unwise. 2. Coordinate without matching 3. Keep pattern and contrast in mindRather than explain this one I’m going to just share some great graphics from Pinterest to show patterns and contrast and how to mix darks with lights, brights with neutrals, and patterns with solids. Choose one person to wear the “anchor” outfit (i.e. the pattern) and coordinate from there.  4. Make a photo interesting and unified with accessories |
AuthorCathy & Jenn of CatsMac Photography, Cobourg, Ontario. Archives
January 2025
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CatsMac Photography
2012-2025
Creating Memories with Custom Photography...Because Life is Beautiful
Professional photographer based in Cobourg and serving Northumberland County, Peterborough, Quinte, Durham Region, including Trenton, Belleville, Brighton, Newcastle, Bowmanville, Courtice, Oshawa
2012-2025
Creating Memories with Custom Photography...Because Life is Beautiful
Professional photographer based in Cobourg and serving Northumberland County, Peterborough, Quinte, Durham Region, including Trenton, Belleville, Brighton, Newcastle, Bowmanville, Courtice, Oshawa
