Bayshore Photography

February 1, 2012

Lorraine & Nathan’s Remembrance Day Wedding!!! – Cambridge – Parry Sound Wedding Photographer

Filed under: Weddings — Tags: Royal Botanical Gardens, Wedding Photography — johnbrisbane @ 8:15 am

Remembrance Day, November 11, 2011, will always have a special place in Lorraine and Nathan’s hearts. It was their wedding day!

I first met Lorraine and Nathan early in the summer of 2010 when I did their engagement photos at the family cottage and diving rock on Lake Shebeshkong, a short distance from my Georgian Bay/Parry Sound studio. Some of the couple’s favorite images from that session ended up in a custom designed guest sign in book I did for their wedding day.

Fast forward 1+ years and we were gathered in Hamilton for Lorraine and Nathan’s wedding. Lorraine and the gals in the wedding party got ready at Lorraine’s folks place on Hamilton’s “Mountain”, about a 40 minute drive from my Cambridge studio. You can never be sure what weather you will get in mid November and as it turned out the day was cold, with scattered showers mixed with snow flurries and the occasional glimpse of the sun. I worked with the girls a bit and then caught up with the guys who were getting ready about a 10 min. drive away. Soon I was back with the girls as they were putting on the finishing touches. One of my favorite images from that part of our session was one we took in the front hall, just before we headed out the door. Lorraine with her two pet ferrets.

As we were doing most of the wedding party and couple images before the ceremony we did a “first look” session at a nearby park at a spot we had picked out a few weeks earlier when we had done a walk about of the key sites. We followed that with some shots of Lorraine and Nathan with the parents and the wedding party. Lorraine had outfitted the wedding party with red umbrellas, to help ward off the rain and snow so we used them and the park playground equipment for some of the images.

Then were were off to the Royal Botanical Gardens, in nearby Burlington. I had photographed a wedding at RBC earlier in the year and was familiar with many of the indoor and outdoor backgrounds it offered. As well, we had scouted out several spots when we had done a walkabout a few weeks earlier. We quickly discovered a lot had had changed in those few weeks, most significantly the leaves were nearly all down and the remaining fall flowers were finished. Not to be deterred we started off in the Mediterranean Gardens and the warm, indoor location proved to be a great spot with lots of exotic plants and color. Then we headed outdoors and did a bit of a hike, cherry picking some of the spots on the grounds that offered some interesting backdrops. We made good use of the long tall grass and wooden walkway through the forest.

The ceremony and reception was at the Olympia Banquet Centre on the east side of Hamilton and it too proved to be a great location. A nicely decorated ceremony area with gentle, low level lighting and a huge. well appointed, main reception hall brought everything nicely together.

Nathan’s Grandfather put a special touch on the day. He had served in World War II and was proudly wearing a striking array of medals. Very fitting for his grandson’s Remembrance Day wedding!

Near 10 in the evening as I was getting ready to leave and the dancing was going strong I was impressed to see Nathan’s grandfather dancing up a storm.

The last shot I took that evening was of Lorraine and her maid of honor, Alyssa, just outside the entrance to the reception hall. They were with their mothers, who just happen to be twins. Suddenly Lorraine and Alyssa, looked over at each other, grinned, nodded, and then swept their mothers off their feet!

January 25, 2012

Ann & Kevin’s – We love country living – family – Cambridge, Parry Sound Photographer

Filed under: Portraits — Tags: Baby and Child photography, Kitchener Waterloo, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 10:05 am

In late October I had a fun portrait session with Ann, Kevin and their two sons at their home in rural North Wellington County. I had met Ann and Kevin several months earlier when they did an awesome job installing new kitchen cabinets on our Cambridge home. Over the few days of the install Ann and Kevin got a tour of my Cambridge studio and were impress with the images on display. A few months later Ann contacted me and we worked out a date for a portrait session at their property.

Ann and Kevin have an great spot. At the end of a country road, surrounded by fields and right next door to a vast stretch of Luther Marsh Conservation Area. While Ann was rounding up the boys, Kevin gave me a quick tour of the property and we we selected a number of spots that had some nice lighting and backdrops. Besides being ultra-talented cabinet installers Ann and Kevin operate a boarding stable and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ann had told several of her clients about the photo session, so as it turned out I ended up doing portriat sessions with five different groups that day!

Below are a few of the images that I did with Ann and Kevin and their two boys. As I worked with the boys I could really see what an wonderful spot it was for them to grow up… lots of open space, fields, forest and of course, horses!

January 18, 2012

Kristy & Phil are getting MARRIED!!! – Engagement Session at Sherman Falls, Ancaster – Cambridge – Parry Sound Wedding Photographer

Filed under: Engagement — Tags: Engagement, Kitchener Waterloo, Parry Sound, Portraits, Sherman Falls — johnbrisbane @ 7:31 am

It was a beautiful fall day in late October, 2011, when Kristy, Phil and I got together at Sherman Falls, for their engagement photo session. Sometimes known as Angel or Fairy Falls, this fabulous 17 meter high waterfall has quickly become one of my favorite spots to do engagement sessions in the Hamilton/Ancaster/Dundas area. On the Bruce Trail, near the Dundas Valley Conservation area, and only steps from downtown Ancaster, the falls and the expansive forest of huge oaks, beech and maples that surround it provides a wonderful, secluded, refuge from the hustle and bustle of the nearby urban environment.

I first met Kristy and Phil in the summer of 2011, when they visited my Parry Sound area studio, and booked me to do their wedding photography, in June 2012, at the Stockey Centre in Parry Sound. I was immediately struck with how good a fit these two seemed for each other and I had the sense that they would be a great couple to work with. With a home in Milton and busy careers it made sense to to try to do their engagement session somewhere close to Milton, so a few months later, as Kristy were talking about about potential spots of their engagement photos I suggested Sherman Falls.

As we made our way into the falls Kristy was explaining how she was always nervous about getting her picture taken so Phil and I made it our mission to ensure that Kristy relaxed and had fun. About an hour later we had achieved our goal. All three of us had a blast and we got some great images of Kristy and Phil near the falls and in the nearby woods.

I used several of Kristy and Phil’s favorite images from the engagement session in a custom designed guest sign-in book I created for them. I am looking forward to working with these two again this summer.

January 11, 2012

New Business Portraits for Kevin Whetham – Parry Sound, Cambridge Photographer

Filed under: Portraits — Tags: Business Photography, Parry Sound, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 9:18 am

Kevin Whetham, a broker with Remax Parry Sound Muskoka Realty Ltd, in Parry Sound contacted me in October and then dropped by my Parry Sound area studio to do some updates of his business portraits.

It had been a while since Kevin had his portrait taken and he was a bit nervous as we got underway. As we talked about his background and experience in the real estate business in the Parry Sound area Kevin began to relax. While Kevin updated me on local market conditions I kept shooting, while giving a bit of gentle coaching for some of the poses.

As with most business portriats sessions, I had asked Kevin to bring a couple of changes of clothes so he would end up with a fairly diverse range of images to use in promoting his business. As with wedding and portrait photography, word of mouth and a solid on line presence are important in Real Estate.

Kevin is a life long resident of the Parry Sound area and has several years of experience working in the Parry Sound area real estate market, so if your looking to buy or sell a property in the area you should touch base with Kevin and see how he can help you.

January 4, 2012

Jenn & Brent’s Muskoka Wedding – Parry Sound – Wedding Photographer

Filed under: Weddings — Tags: Muskoka Wedding, Parry Sound, Wedding Photography — johnbrisbane @ 7:28 am

It was October 15th, the weekend following Thanksgiving and the weather did not look promising as I headed over to Gravenhurst to photography Jenn and Brent’s wedding. I first met Jenn and Brent well over a year before when they had booked me to do capture their special day. At the time they both were working at the Rosseau Marriott, near Minett. I photograph weddings at the Rosseau, quite often and I was happy that when it came time to choose their wedding photographer, Jenn and Brent chose me.

As Jenn had a number of last minute work commitments I met with Brent and one of the members of the wedding party in Gravenhurst a few days before the wedding and we did a walk about of the ceremony site at the Regatta and Residence Inn – Marriott in Gravenhurst where Jenn and Brent were getting ready the day of the wedding. We found some amazing Muskoka backdrop spots for post ceremony images of Brent, Jenn and their wedding party. As the weather forecast was not looking great for the wedding day we also scouted out several indoor sites that we could use if the weather prevented us from doing the outdoor shot we had planned. As luck would have it that proved to be a very worthwhile expenditure of our time.

When I arrived at the Marriott in Gravenhurst the rain and wind showed no signs of backing off, even a little bit. Jenn and Brent refused to let the weather put a damper on their day and were happy and upbeat. I worked with Jenn, her sister’s and mother, the flower girl and ring bearer as they were in the later stages of getting ready and also caught up with Brent and the guys for some shots of them.

The ceremony was on the back deck at the Regatta, overlooking a scenic part of Lake Muskoka and Gravenhurst’s wonderful waterfront. Fortunately the outside deck has two tiers with the top deck providing sufficient protection from the weather over the bottom deck that the outdoor ceremony could still be a reality. As the ceremony ended and we moved on to the family images the weather worsened and we were faced with 90 km per hour winds and hard, driving rain as we finished the family shots. After a brief consult we loaded the wedding party, and Jenn and Brent into the stretch limo and headed over to the Marriott where we used their well appointed interior for our session with Jenn, Brent and the wedding party.

The reception was in the Sagamo Banquet Room at the Regatta and everyone was in high spirits when we joined them. After getting coverage of the grand entrance and key speeches I packed up my gear and headed out into a torrential downpour and I recall thinking how Jenn and Brent’s positive outlook had shone though all day long reminding me yet again of the power of love.

December 31, 2011

So Long 2011 – Welcome 2012 – A few of my fav personal family images from 2011 – Parry Sound – Cambridge Photographer

Filed under: Portraits — Tags: Georgian Bay, Kitchener Waterloo, Parry Sound, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 9:12 am

As 2011 winds down and we welcome 2012, I want to pass along a big THANK YOU to my own family members as well as to all the individuals, couples, families, businesses, and peers who I met and worked with during 2011. You all played a big role in making 2011 a wonderful year. I wish you all the best for 2012!

Regular followers of the Bayshore Photography blog will know that I try to do weekly posts on the various weddngs, portraits and business sessions I shoot and I will continue with 2011 shoots in the coming months. Once a year, however, I like to post a few images of my own family that I shot over the year. A couple of my favourites from my family from 2011 are posted below.

Have a Happy, Safe New Years Eve and a Great 2012 Everyone!

December 29, 2011

John Campbell New Business Portriats – Parry Sound – Cambridge Photographer

Filed under: Business Photography — Tags: Business Photography, Parry Sound, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 10:11 am

Last summer when doing some family portraits for Lori Lahti, of Dentistry on the Bay and John Campbell, Royal LePage Team Advantage Realty – Parry Sound, we ended the session by doing some images of John, alone.

John is a well know real-estate agent in the Parry Sound area and it had been quite a while since he had updated his business photos so we used the white key set up I had been using for some of the family images and got a range of shots for John’s business use.

John is a life long resident of Parry Sound and his friendly, outgoing nature serve him well in chosen profession. If your looking to buy or sell a property in the Parry Sound area give John a call.

December 24, 2011

A Holiday Wish from Bayshore Photography

Filed under: Landscape Photography,Portraits,Weddings — Tags: Georgian Bay Landscape, Kitchener Waterloo, Parry Sound, Portraits, Wedding Photography — johnbrisbane @ 8:32 am

Grace and I wish you and yours a very happy, safe and healthy Holiday Season!

December 21, 2011

Christmas Portraits – Getting together with Great Friends – Wedding and Portrait Photographer Parry Sound – Cambridge

Filed under: Portraits — Tags: Cambridge, Parry Sound, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 5:55 am

The holiday season is a great time for getting together with family and friends and a few weeks back Grace and I had a wonderful evening with some very good friends. While we were prepping for the evening Grace suggested that I should ask if our friends would like to do a mini studio portrait session while they were here. I was hesitant. I think my initial response was something like …”I don’t think so. I don’t want them to be afraid to visit us!” Having said that I reconsidered and told Grace that if she and the girls wanted to do it I would be happy to oblige. After the girls (many of our friends are female!) arrived and we had relaxed with some h’ordourves and a couple of Astrid’s famous Mojitos, Grace gave the gals a tour of our recently renovated digs, including the studio. Much to my surprise the gals were all keen to have go at a mini studio portrait session. Not wanting to high jack the evening I worked quickly and did several images of each of the gals in rapid succession using a favorite backdrop from Serendipity backgrounds, one of the new, bright red, swivel chairs from the consult section of the studio, and a couple of Paul Buff Alien Bees with accompanying diffusers and grids. Just as we were finishing up, Grace called out the dinner was being served and we continued on with a great evening of food, fun and friendship. Life truly, truly, is good and having some absolutely wonderful friends is a big part of that!

A few of the images from our mini portrait session are posted below.

Grace and I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and are able to enjoy it with friends and family.

December 14, 2011

Blenkarn-Campell Family Portriats on Georgian Bay – Parry Sound-Cambridge Photographer

Filed under: Portraits — Tags: Georgian Bay, Parry Sound, Pointe au Baril, Portraits — johnbrisbane @ 7:54 am

It was early on Thanksgiving Saturday when I meet up with the Campbell family at Desmasdon’s Boat Works in Pointe au Baril. After some introductions we boarded one of Desmasdon’s Georgian Bay worthy watercraft and headed out to the Blenkhorn Family cottages on a beautiful Island just beyond the Pointe au Baril lighthouse. There we met up with Tonya, Andy and their two boys and Shelagh and David, Andy and Wendy’s parents. Tanya and Wendy had organized the photo session as a gift to the Shelagh and David a few months earlier. After David gave me a quick tour of their piece of paradise we picked out several sites for our session and I started working with Tonya, Andy and their boys while the others were in the last stages of getting ready.

Although we had started early the day quickly become exceptionally warm and bright of mid October on the Bay. We used several spots on the property and ended the session with an image the grandkids perched on the branches of one of the huge white pines behind the cottage.

Tanya and Andy have operated Desmond’s Boat Works for several years and have a great selection of wonderful watercraft perfectly suited to Georgian Bay. Check them out if you’re in the market for a new or lightly used boat.

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