This one started with a simple but really lovely observation.
Stephen's wife was pregnant, and like any expectant mother, she was documenting her changing body throughout with beautiful portraits to mark one of the most significant chapters of her life. (If you're looking for maternity photography btw, check out our wedding / family biz Rosewood Studios hehe) Stephen looked around at all of these images being made and realized something: he didn't have many recent photos of himself. And with a daughter on the way, that felt like something worth changing.
He wanted portraits that would mean something, not just now, but later. Images he could share with his daughter one day, so she could see who her dad was at this particular moment in his life. He put it simply during our session: he talked about how people used to photograph everything, constantly, and how that's why we have all of those photos of our parents and grandparents that feel so precious now. He wanted that for his daughter too And no, it’s not quite the same thing as taking a few selfies on your front facing phone camera and calling it a day.
We met one morning at Wychwood Barns in Toronto's Wychwood neighbourhood, a spot Stephen knows well and genuinely loves. From the start he took the lead, bringing us to quiet corners of the park and the surrounding streets that hold meaning for him. Places he passes regularly, spots that spark something. That kind of local, personal knowledge added a layer of warmth and sentimentality to the images that direction alone never could have.
Our role was to keep things moving and offer guidance along the way but largely, we just followed his lead and let the location do what it does. The result is a set of portraits that feel genuinely representative of this chapter of his life, right now.
Personal portrait sessions are something we love doing for any reason, or no reason at all. If you're interested in lifestyle portraits in Toronto or Vancouver, we'd love to hear from you.
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