a beautiful sunflower patch in full bloomWe are so lucky to have the space on our property to grow these majestic and beautiful flowers. I've always loved sunflowers and they are pretty easy to grow. It's such a treat to see the kids (and the parents) faces when they look up at these enormous beasts! It must be such a sight when you are a little one only 3 feet tall.  sunflowers are so majesticSunflowers make for a natural background for any type of photography. Baby photos, of course, look amazing among them.  And, of course, families are so cute in the sunflower patch as well.  a lower sun angle is perfectWe do all our sunflower sessions in the early evening, so there is a flat, soft natural light.  Peacock chair and sunflowersPeacock chairs and sunflowers just seem to go together so perfectly!      family fun with siblings and cousins at cobourg beachThe Moss family contacted us as they were looking for a local Cobourg Northumberland Photographer would could accommodate them at Cobourg Beach on a weekday. That was the only time all of them would be together as they come from various parts of the province and from the United States as well.  So we met up at Cobourg Beach to let the kids have fun in a natural environment while the adults chatted and we got organized into groups. The most important photo for this grandma Nana was one with all her grandkids!    The littles were good with posing, but only for a short time. So I like to let them play and be themselves, with only a little bit of prompting. These are the famous action or candid photos that photographers use to capture kids being kids!   Part of photographing a large group is breaking them down into smaller units, so individual families can get photos together as well.    Let's not forget the matriarchs of the family, who deserve some special photos just for them.   The earlier start to the mid-week day meant that Cobourg Beach was not that busy, so there was lots of choices for photos.      Lorraine gave michael a special surprise!When Lorraine married Michael 50 years ago, she chose her dress with great care and love, knowing that she will be wearing it once. BUT, 50 years later, on her 50th Wedding Anniversary, she surprised everyone (especially Michael) by wearing it again for their big celebration! Other than me, their photographer, no one knew her plan! She kept it a secret. I bet she was just bursting to show everyone!  Just look how beautiful she is.   Her daughters helped do up the buttons.    A big family celebration at a restaurantAfter a limo ride to the restaurant, they all enjoyed a beautiful meal. And Lorraine wore the dress all evening.   congratulation lorraine and michaelWishing you many more years of a happy marriage!  there's just something about a bride, a groom and a peacock chairWhen Abbie first contacted us to photograph her wedding, she said one of the must have things for her wedding photography was incorporating her vintage peacock chair in her wedding photos!  Of course, we both were so excited to use her one of kind peacock chair that looked absolutely amazing in all the photos!  Of course, having a good eye for decorating helps immensely.  cobourg marina for some wedding photosAnd then it was off to the Marina and Yacht Club in Cobourg for some more great photos. This is where Abbie and Troy met. So, of course, with their request for photos at their place they first saw each other, who could say no?  The Yachts in the background make a stunning backdrop, but of course, they only have eyes for each other.    It was fantastic to photograph them at the marina, giving them a wonderful memory of their wedding day.
including your horse on your wedding dayI was so excited to get photos of Abbie on her wedding day with her horse. Such a gentle beast who obviously loved her owner.   The horses posed for photos just like the brideAlong with the bride in her wedding dress, these two posed so nicely for their photos as well. I just can't get enough of how they both looked.         creating special memoriesThis beautiful family got together at a cottage for a family retreat for a heartwarming celebration of love, togetherness, and cherished memories. As their photographer, I had the privilege of capturing these precious moments for Oma and Opa, who are at the heart of this close-knit family. I was so honoured to witness the deep bonds of love that transcend time, the shared traditions that unite generations, and the joy of family coming together to celebrate their connection.       cobourg beach photo shootBeing able to capture some special memories for this large family is so special to me. Grandma (Nana/GeeGee) contacted me and we set a day time to get everyone together at Cobourg Beach. Some of the children were traveling from a distance. Nana GeeGee says it's great to get all the cousins togetherMaking these memories, not only for the grandparents and parents, but for the kids is so important so they can remember and reflect back in years to come. These grandparents have their arms full with active grandkids! Getting kids to stay still for a photo shoot is hard, especially when at the beach. So I used allot of candid and action photos.  Choosing Cobourg Beach is a great way to keep the kids entertained and active. And, of course, it makes for a beautiful backdrop. Choosing a time in the mid morning in the summer, before the crowds appear, was a perfect idea. A special moment for grandparents. Who says photoshoots are fun just for the kids! Look at these two!     A fun family photo session with these cuties!There are times when the most perfect family walk in to our property for a family photo session and give us nothing but the best time. These two little girls were the best to work with. Not very often do we get to use the Peacock Chair as not all customers want it or are suitable for it, so we save it for when we know it will prove to be an exceptional prop.  We are so lucky to have a large property in Cobourg that offers various backdrops, green foilage, trees, a pond and an island. And, of course, during fall, all of this turns into gorgeous fall colours.  We know that mom and dad will love and cherish this photo for a long time.     Summer is here! And, before it can slip away, let's cherish it with some amazing SUNSET BEACH photos! Our beach sessions are a great way to update your family portraits or your children's portraits, They are great for maternity photos, pet portraits, and even a quick engagement or anniversary session. They are a shorter 30 minute session than our usual one hour session, and we are offering them at a reduced rate. Let us capture you amongst the natural beauty of the beach. Each session will be held right before sunset to capture the colourful skies. We book up fast for these sessions and spaces are limited. sunset cobourg beach & boardwalk photo sessions Cobourg Beach & boardwalk is the setting for this amazing sunset engagement photo shootIt was such a pleasure to meet Sarah and Ryan at the Cobourg Beach and Boardwalk for a sunset engagement photoshoot. The water was warm and the evening just beautiful and the soft warm sun was just perfect for some beautiful pictures. You can see that their love is so evident and their commitment to each other so strong. When there is love like this, there is no other. Congrats to them both on their engagement and upcoming wedding.       a very proud graduate going on to grade 1Congratulations to this little graduate who will be going on to Grade 1 in September. We enjoyed creating some fun photos celebrating his big achievement. Good luck in Grade one, Evan!     Olivia's 10th birthday session & outside cake smashYou are only 10 once. So why not have a "smashing" good time? Double digits here she comes. And what is the most fun is spraying silly string all over her mom and her mom spraying it all over her. This is one of the reasons I love outdoor cake smashes and birthday sessions as the clean up is easy. The silly string is biodegradable, and the cake, of course, gets eaten by the ants, chipmunks and squirrels. That is, if there is any left after 10 year old Olivia digs into it. This session is done here on our property in Cobourg, Ontario,            Abbie and Troy brought their beautiful dog to our photo session in Cobourg to celebrate their engagement. It was such a pleasure to see them both together interacting with their pup. He was a delight to photograph as well. Just look at the love they have for each other. We are so honoured to be able to photograph their wedding this year.      40th Birthday / wine / cake smash photo sessionWhy should babies get to have all the fun? Grownups should have the opportunity to eat cake with their fingers and get a little messy too! I was inspired to write this blog when I saw to a post on one of the local facebook buy and sell sites. The post was looking for a present for an adult who has everything. You know what I can almost guarantee no-one you know has? An adult cake smash! It is the perfect present for 19th/21st/30th birthdays and everything in between and beyond. Imagine a 90 year old cake smash, that would be adorable! In almost all cases, the celebrant is just turning one and being introduced to cake (and icing and all the goodies on top) for the very first time. In this case, however, we have Jenn who wanted to celebrate her 40th birthday with a cake smash – adult style! We were happy to make her birthday wish come true.            It's that time of year when students (big and little) are getting ready to graduate. Whether it is University/College or JK/SK, grad photo sessions are really popular. AND we provide the caps and gowns (in both adult and child sizes!) Either in-studio or outside, it's fun to capture such an important achievement. On campus or off, these memories will last forever.   What do we need to bring?We provide a flower crown for your child to wear. You will need to dress your child accordingly. Most girls are dressed in princess dresses, with flowing skirts. Boy are dressed in dress pants, some with bow ties and hats. Please bring your child in flat shoes, like ballet or strappy sandals. Bare feet also look amazing in the photos, so you can consider that. Please ensure your child is clean with a clean face and nails.  How long is the session?Our Unicorn photo sessions are 20 minutes long. There will be time allowed for interaction and fun with the Unicorn What is included?Beautiful faux flower crowns for children to wear on loan (we have two), five fully retouched, high-resolution files which will be sent to you by digital download about a week after the shoot. Additional digital photos will be available for purchase if you so choose, how do i book?Email us at [email protected]. or use our contact form. We will then let you know which time spots are available and you can let us know your preferred time. Please note, there is a retainer fee of $100 due at the time of booking. This holds your time spot just for you, and we will not book another client in your spot. We accept payment by etransfer only.  Where will the sessions be held?We are located on Slater Street in Cobourg, just north of the 401. We have 5 acres of property and lots of room for the Unicorn to meet and greet your child(ren) how much are additional images?Each additional digital image is $25. You also have the option of purchasing physical prints as well. Prices vary for the physical prints depending on the size you want. how do i print my photos?Once you have your digital photos, you may choose to send them to a printing place of your choice. But please be advised that we do not guarantee the quality of any other printing house, other than our own. We use a professional photo printing company called GTA Imaging in Toronto that use high quality archival paper.  What do we do if it rains?We will keep a close eye on the weather, and if it looks like an extreme downpour, we will reschedule. During your booking procedure, there will be an alternate rain date, which we ask that you make yourself available for. However, if it is cloudy or slight rain, the session will go ahead. can i pay less for a shorter time?In order for you and your child to receive the full Unicorn experience, and to allow us to work our magic with stellar photos, the full 20 minutes will be needed.  can my child wear two dresses?Due to time constraints, there will be a limit of one dress per girl for the 20 minute session. when will i get my photos?Your photo gallery will be ready in about a week and you will be able to chose your favourite 5 photos. At this time, you can let us know if you would like to purchase any more digital images. can i share them on social media?Yes, of course. We love seeing our clients share their photos. It means alot to us.  “You are the closest I will ever come to magic.”Maternity photo sessions speak to me. They speak to my heart. A time in life that is so fleeting and precious. So special and honoured. Getting to create life is beyond words.  Creating these memories for this beautiful momma is so important to me as a photographer. She will have these photos to look back on in years to come.    wear clothes that make you feel like you!It's important for a you to feel at ease with the outfits that you wear for your engagement session. If you typically prefer wearing T-shirts and jeans, it's not a good idea to suddenly switch to a beaded ball gown and tuxedo. The goal is to show your comfort zone could result in you appearing and feeling uncomfortable in photos.  complement - but don't matchWhile it's good to coordinate your outfits with your partner, matching patterns and prints are not recommended for portrait sessions. Instead, opt for solid prints and colors that complement each other. It's best to avoid busy patterns or prints as they can be a needless distraction in photos. When choosing what to wear for a portrait session, focus on finding complementary colors and simple prints.  pay attention to colours To ensure that you and your partner stand out in photos, it's best to avoid neon colors that can make you appear like a flashing sign. Additionally, orange is not the most photogenic color, while red tends to draw the viewer's attention immediately. Therefore, it's not ideal to wear clothing that will be the focal point of the photograph, as you want the focus to be on your faces and the love you share. Opting for more muted or complementary colors will help to achieve this. Wear pastels, muted colours, and then consider adding something bright with an accessory. use a colour scheme to tie everything togetherAfter deciding on the colors for your engagement shoot attire, think about how these colors will appear throughout the entire album. The goal is to achieve a sense of harmony rather than a collection of disconnected images. One way to do this is to pick a color, like light blue, and have one partner wear it as a dress or jumpsuit for one look. Then, in a subsequent outfit, have the other partner incorporate the same color to create a cohesive look without being overly matched. This will help to create a more visually pleasing album overall.  use at least one accessoryAdding accessories, such as a fashionable scarf or a chunky necklace, can add a touch of flair to your engagement attire. These accessories are also versatile and can be easily added or removed, allowing for a range of different looks. For the ladies, incorporating at least one accessory per outfit is recommended, while for the guys, layering clothing can enhance the overall appearance of the photos. Both of these techniques can create more visual interest in the looks and make the images more captivating.  for fall & winter sessionsWhen it comes to winter engagement photoshoots, don't hesitate to layer up. A useful tip is to wear fleece-lined tights beneath jeans or pants to stay warm. Winter accessories, such as scarves and hats, can also add a stylish touch to your outfit. Moreover, dressing appropriately for the season will make the photoshoot appear more cohesive, particularly if it's taking place in a snowy location. Even if you're not in the woods, having a winter-themed photoshoot in the city can be just as breathtaking.  spring & summer sessionsIf you're wondering what to wear for engagement shoots in warmer seasons, embrace summertime vibes by opting for beachy or pier-inspired looks. Consider going barefoot on the beach or sharing an ice cream cone in shorts and sandals. For attire, soft floral prints and pastel hues are perfect for the season, with the added benefit of being subtle and romantic. A statement necklace paired with a maxi dress or a denim jacket paired with a sundress can also create a lovely and charming look. With love in the air and flowers in bloom, your outfit will beautifully complement the season.  Long ago, an ingenious individual combined the words "cake" and "smash" to create a charming tradition for a child's first birthday. This tradition, known as the cake smash, has become my absolute favorite way to conclude a significant birthday photography session. Either in studio or outside, it's the best way to celebrate!   how to prepare for YOUR cake smash SESSION
   What kind of SMASH CAKE should i buy?Due to the increasing prevalence of food allergies such as dairy, wheat, and sugar, I always advise my clients to bring their own cake. This way, you have complete control over what ingredients are used in the cake. I highly recommend purchasing a smash cake from a professional bakery, as homemade cakes often turn out dry with hard icing. A "naked cake" with white icing is an excellent choice for any theme, as it is simple and has soft icing. For size, a 6-inch cake with 2-3 tiers is perfect. Anything larger may not fit on a cake stand or between your baby's legs. Additionally, ensure that the cardboard base is not significantly larger than the cake itself, with a difference of no more than an inch or so. Fondant is beautiful, but it can be hard to chew and pose a choking hazard, so be extra cautious if your cake has any decorative details such as toothpicks or wooden dowels.   LET’S SPLASH AFTER THE SMASH!t’s true, a lot of babies aren’t a fan of the cake. But, not to jinx anything, I am at about a 90% success rate with the bathtub. Getting greasy icing all in your toes may not be fun, but everyone loves to splash!   best adviceMy best advice to any mom or dad planning a cake smash session is to remain calm and relaxed. Infants can detect tension, and we want them to feel comfortable in a happy, optimistic atmosphere! It is typical to have plenty of extravagant ideas for your session after browsing Pinterest, but remember that the baby is in charge. Some one-year-olds adore immersing themselves in icing, while others dislike getting dirty. They may even dislike the taste if it is their first time having something sweet like cake. This is completely normal, and every infant is unique! If we do not achieve the response you were hoping for, do not be discouraged. We will still capture lovely photos that document this significant milestone and reveal your baby's personality.  |
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July 2024
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CatsMac Photography
2012-2024
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
2012-2024
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
