Julia Weddings...

For an ad in the January/February issue of Grand, Becky and I went to see Julia Weddings, showcasing a very romantic reception set up. They did a brilliant job of making it look rich and ornate. However, I had to laugh because in a write up in the most recent issue of Grand they titled it “Pretty & Simple” and they are anything but simple. What set them apart to our eyes was some of the gorgeous and unique touches they included, adding layers of luxury to their wedding décor.

Sisters Stella and Sophia, the owners of Julia Weddings were fantastic and fun to work with and showed us impeccable attention to details. They definitely go above and beyond for their clients. Whether you have a vision or are unsure of what you would like to do they can definitely point you in the right direction! In our opinion there’s no way you’ll be disappointed with them!

Fur and Ice...

This past month, I did a photo shoot using some of FAB's beautiful accessories! Becky and Shannon did an awesome job modeling. Shannon is a very talented model from Gemini and made a great ice princess & Becky is just talented by nature and was happy to dress up and play in the snow. She also happens to be one of Machado Photography's assistants and she rocks!

For this shoot I wanted to use the ice & snow outdoors to play of the icy sparkle of the accessories so we decided to take shoot at the Grist Mill in Uptown Waterloo. We were glad we also incorporated some gorgeous furs as it was a very cold Sunday at the end of January…so cold that Shannon was tearing up in some of the shots! It was a natural reaction and that's what I love to capture! Una from Diva Salon did an incredible job on hair. Thank you so much for all your hard work everyone!

Little Jayvin...

On September 11th, 2010 little Jayvin was born! He's is such a little character, and so much fun to be around. Lucky for me I get to visit with him once a month to take his photos for his first full year!

When I first started taking Jayvin's photos he would be great for ten minutes and then he would start to cry. We thought maybe he was hungry, maybe he needed his diaper changed or maybe the room is a little cool. Two photo sessions later I figured it out! Little Jayvin is very sensitive and is not too fond of my studio lights. It seems he much prefers to have his photo taken in natural lighting conditions.

This last session I noticed a very big difference in Jayvin; he's laughing, smiling, and, making all kinds of faces. The fact is every baby is different and you have to figure out what makes them the most comfortable to be able to get all of those great moments out of them. I'm so happy I figured out the secret and now he really does like me!

Una and Alex's Engagement...

This past fall, I had the pleasure of meeting Una and Alex for the first time. After Una contacted me she asked if we could sit down and discuss wedding packages. I said for sure! I asked Una how she found out about Machado Photography and she told me that her best friend Natasha, who happens to be one of my brother’s good friends had mentioned checking us out.

When we met I asked Una how she and Alex started dating. She said that they had mutual friends and knew of each other before. There was a party and Natasha had Alex pick Una up at home. All of their mutual friends were there so it was pretty comfortable. From then on they continued to hang out on a regular basis. There was another party in Toronto that they went to and Una started to have stronger feelings for Alex. She said she was hooked! They were invited to a mutual friend’s barbecue. Alex asked Una to go up to the roof with him! She told him he was crazy, but after a few drinks she got the courage to do it. They climbed onto the roof and the rest was history. They kissed for the first time and when they came down from the roof they couldn't let go of each other.

Una and Alex are such a great couple. Their personalities really compliment one another, and of course I'm a sucker for a good get together story…and weddings in general. What can I say I'm a girly girl! I loved their story so much I asked Una if I could blog about it! Asking these questions helps me get to know a couple better before I shoot their wedding and it helps them feel more comfortable with their photographer, which always makes the big day more fun.

Chris and Sarah's Wedding...

Chris and Sarah decided to have a two part wedding starting with a wonderful Civil Ceremony in Galt on October 8th for parents and grandparents followed by an evening ceremony at the butterfly conservatory on October 16th for extended family and friends. It was a great idea; very personal and memorable.

Right after the Civil ceremony we took photos around Cambridge City Hall. If you have never been to the city hall in Galt it's a very beautiful spot, lots of old doors and stone and tons of other great little spots for photos in the heart of Galt. Before the ceremony at the Butterfly Conservatory we took photos at Rockway Gardens in Kitchener which is another great place I love to take photos! Being at Rockway and the Butterfly Conservatory felt like it really spoke of the very outdoorsy side of Chris and Sarah. It wasn't too long ago that I did their engagement photos in Glen Morris. They wanted them done there because that's were Chris proposed and it's a place they love to bike and be active.

Chris and Sarah also love the video game Portal! I have not played it personally but it was interesting how they tied it all in to the evening portion of the ceremony. The cake was a Portal cake, Sarah's best friend who performed the ceremony was wearing a bit of Portal, Chris's cuff links were Portal, and Sarah made herself a corsage that had a Portal symbol on it. It was fun and unique to them and really spoke of their personalities.