verve photo co.

Brooke and Fuad ❤️ Day 1 of 4.
It all started with an intimate civil ceremony at Toronto’s City Hall. It was cute, simple, and the perfect micro wedding of 4 + me. (Shout out to the best witnesses, Camille and Richard) I actually LOVE shooting at City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. It’s all hustle bustle and concrete jungle, but there are so many amazing nooks and crannies. Brooke and Fuad trusted my instincts and permitted me complete artistic freedom. With their charisma and my camera, we created some of my all-time favourite photographs. As a wedding photographer specializing in documentary and editorial styles, being given the time and freedom to interpret the light and environment in my own time makes all the difference. Can’t wait to share more of their wedding events soon!

Is anyone else tired of the grey gloom outside? I feel like Spring just can’t get going and I am READY for some rays! As a photographer I have to adapt to whatever Mother Nature brings. Whether that be dark grey skies or torrential rain, the key is to pivot and never make my clients feel stressed about iit. There is beauty to be created, you just have to trust me.

Drop me a ☀️ below for some sunshine this weekend:)

Considering a smaller, more intimate wedding? Here are some quick insights from my 20+ years as a wedding photographer…

Your venue sets the mood. Opt for a venue that reflects your personality and style. Natural settings often create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Keep the guest list intimate. Surround yourself with your closest loved ones, so you can connect with each of them throughout the day.

Consider having an unplugged ceremony where guests are encouraged to put away their devices to be fully present in the moment.

And lastly, stay flexible. Allow room for unexpected moments and go with the flow. Candid shots often capture the true essence of the day so trust me as your photographer to ensure everything is captured beautifully.

Are you considering an intimate wedding, or did you have an intimate wedding? Let me know in the comments below. I’ll go first…

Happy International Women’s Day! I’ve been blessed to photograph so many incredible women over the years.

In honor of today, I’ve chosen to share some motherhood portraits. So often we strive for success and achievements in the outside world when in reality some of the hardest and most rewarding moments happen behind closed doors. Thank you to all the amazing women who’ve graciously shared these precious moments with me. Happy International Women’s Day!

When Mother Nature brings the drama and Lily brings the beauty… from torrential downpour to sunshine to torrential downpour to sunshine - we definitely had to pivot a few times. But - with a sky like this, it was worth it!

Let me know in the comments below if you think rain on your wedding day is good luck?!

As spring and summer approach, it’s nearly time to venture back outdoors for all your photo sessions. If you’ve been following my work, you’re likely aware of my love for playing with light and capturing the beauty of the natural environment.

However, even with the sun shining and the weather perfect, I still hold a deep appreciation for in-home lifestyle sessions. There’s something special about the intimacy of indoor settings that I can’t get enough of. So, if you’re seeking a relaxed, low-key atmosphere for your photoshoot, don’t hesitate to extend me an invitation to your home. Are you a team outside or team inside? Let me know in the comments below ⬇️

A cute story to share…⬇️

My client’s mom had always admired the photos I took of her daughter’s family and mentioned how she would love a family shoot one day, despite the fact her 3 kids are adults. The kids had arranged a family dinner at a restaurant but kept the photo session a surprise. It was THE BEST. Their mom was so genuinely happy and grateful that she cried a few times throughout. I share this to remind you that family sessions aren’t exclusively for new moms or young families. We often share our family photos with our parents or grand-parents as gifts, but why not include them in the session. If you are questioning what to do for Mother’s Day this year, consider a family session for the matriarch of your family. It’ll be a wonderful surprise:)

…and how cute are these three siblings?!

❤️

Let’s talk Haldi!

For those of you who don’t know, this is a pre-wedding tradition where the bride and groom-to-be are painted with Tumeric or other paste. This ritual symbolizing purification, blessings of love and prosperity, and protection against evil.

Ajay & Lily’s Haldi in Mexico was such a loving and playful event. I knew it was going to get a little messy in the end, but it got A WHOLE LOT messy! Just when you think it is over, the mischievous ones step forward to take it to the next level. Ajay and Lily were such great sports and concluded the Haldi with a rinse off in the ocean.

I always recommend taking a little bit of time before the start for a few photos. The narrative will always be told by the documentary photos of the event, but it’s nice to have a few photos of yourselves before the beautiful chaos begins.

Let me know below if you enjoy the blend of candids and portraits in this post ⬇️

This picture almost didn’t happen.

The elevator wasn’t responding so we decided to take the stairs - and I’m so happy we did! As a documentary photographer, I never stop observing the surroundings for little moments. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE taking beautiful portraits, but documentary photography fills in the narrative of your wedding day. This photo of bride Lily going to meet her groom-to-be is such a simple yet graceful stand-alone picture. I’m so happy we took the stairs.

Do you enjoy a mix of portraiture and candid/documentary photographs?

Finding that beautiful light during your wedding day portrait session is my obsession. The right light can make a simple photograph extraordinary. Not all wedding days are blessed with beautiful sunshine, so when the magic happens and that light hits just right, it’s go time! Anyone else obsessed with that glowy evening backlight?

Beautiful sunlight in the morning for I & H’s maternity session at the lake. Living in urban Toronto it’s easy to forget that we have so many nature parks and waterfront locations so easily accessible. With baby set to arrive this week, we couldn’t have asked for a better morning if we tried. Looking forward to sharing more of this session soon!

I have been a part of this beautiful family’s journey for many years. I first met Shobana many, many years ago collaborating at both weddings and editorial photoshoots. I have photographed her as a bridesmaid in Mexico, and a bride in both Nova Scotia, and India. I photographed her baby shower, both daughter’s 1st birthday parties and family sessions at the beach. She’s a beautiful person inside and out. Mike is equally awesome. We have a running joke about all the photo shoots he’s been subjected to over the years, but he’s such a good sport, and together they make a great team. I’m sharing this because I want to share how incredible it is to be a part of so many memories for so many families. I want to be the photographer and friend you call upon year after year. Every photoshoot feels like a reunion and that’s why I LOVE what I do. Are you interested in booking an engagement, maternity, family, newborn or wedding shoot with me? Let’s start this friendship!

Family photography sessions on the beach are my favorite, especially when you get to spend time with friends while doing it. I love capturing the sweet little moments despite all the beautiful chaos that happens when photographing young children. The best bet is to enjoy the family time and simply go with the flow. I promise that there will be magical memories captured for you to love and cherish for years to come.

Excited to photograph these two friends tonight. Since their wedding in India and Halifax, they have welcomed two sweet daughters into their lives. I always look forward to these reunions (although we have seen each other twice at other shoots recently.) Looking forward to making some beautiful family memories for them tonight❤️ Let’s hope we don’t all melt in this heat! Have a great weekend!

Every newborn and family photography session holds a special place in my heart and this beautiful family is no exception. Charlene is the owner of an animal rescue and adoption organization on the island of St. Lucia called Helpaws. is the rescue I have adopted my own two dogs from and have fostered 7 sweet puppies this past year. When the opportunity to photograph her and her family came about while she is here in Toronto, I knew these photos had to be extra special for her. Charlene has selflessly helped thousands of deserving animals find a better life in Canada, the UK and the US. I admire her strength and devotion when times get tough and her positivity and realness inspires me to do more and volunteer more. It’s also Charlene’s birthday today (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)
so I wanted to share a few special moments from our recent shoot. If you are considering adoption or fostering, please visit their site to see all the sweet available pups looking for their happily ever after. Also, donations (no matter how small) help care for the many dogs in their care, so please consider a donation to this wonderful organization.

Happy Friday friends! I’m shooting tomorrow, then off for the remainder of the weekend with my family. Looking forward to a campfire, fireworks and swimming (if the weather permits). I hope everyone has a fun and safe Canada Day weekend with the ones you love most. Also, if anyone else is getting married on a private island in the Muskoka’s like these two pictured here…📞 me!

We mothers whisper promises in the little moments of quiet and wonderment. We set our intentions and we believe in all that is beautiful for our sweet babies. Each day, an opportunity to make good on those promises and to experience true love and sacrifice like we’ve never imagined. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.

I’ll never forget the special moment when my bride Andrea shared the father-daughter dance with both her birth father and step-father. I too was raised in a split family and I was lucky to receive the extra love of a step-parent. Fatherhood looks different to different people so let’s celebrate all the great men out there who love and support us unconditionally. Happy Father’s Day!

“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.
-George Eastman

It may be a tough sell, but let’s bring back high quality and a clean aesthetic to wedding photography. Let’s bring back true color and skin tones that reflect our differences and beauty. Trends come and go, but if you know light, you know the key to creating photographs that never outdate themselves.

Engagement photo advice. Stop scrolling and read this!
Unlike your wedding day where timing is somewhat fixed, your engagement photos session allows for the flexibility of time. With that flexibility comes the opportunity to photograph when the lighting is most optimal and beautiful. I will ALWAYS recommend evening light (usually about 2 hours before sunset) as it is soft and glowy and simply gorgeous. Also, the lighting at the Scarborough Bluffs in the evening is unmatchable. Interested in an evening shoot at the Bluffs with me? Let’s chat!

I never imagined I’d become a family and newborn photographer. My love has always been wedding photography but since becoming a mother my interests have shifted to include other niches. Many of my wedding clients have also gone on to start their own families so it has been a natural progression for my business. I love photographing my clients year after year to see and document the growing changes in their beautiful families. Looking forward to catching up with all of you soon now that winter and rain season is FINALLY over!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! If you are looking for the perfect gift there is still time to book your motherhood or family photography session for the upcoming weeks of Spring. The lilacs probably need another week or two for full bloom. Check todays stories for a behind-the-scene peak at this location…it’ll surprise you!

Graydon Hall Manor Is one of my favourite wedding venues in Toronto. Not only is it a historical Georgian manor offering a boutique reception facility, but it’s terraces, gardens and fountain courtyard lend for the most gorgeous photography backdrop. The upstairs bridal suite (pictured in this post) has the perfect little Juliette balcony - a go to for bridal portraits. The balcony also allows the bride and her bridesmaids a sneak opportunity to peak on the groom and gathering guests below. As a wedding photographer who’s been to countless venues across the country, I can honestly say this venue has it all. Would you consider Graydon Hall Manor for your wedding? Also – the food is SPECTACULAR!

My favorite part of an engagement session in High Park is searching out all the beautiful nooks and crannies to photograph. Yes, there’s the ethereal cherry blossom trees in the Spring but there’s also woodlands, waterways and a rare Black Oak savannah. Let’s forget we are in the urban jungle of Toronto and escape to the wilds of our eclectic surroundings. Would you be interested in exploring High Park with me during your couples, maternity or family photography session?