Jennifer and David asked if I had any suggestions for a spot for their engagment shoot, and for some reason, of all the parks and open areas where I've ever shot, my first thought was Dow's Lake.

Jennifer instantly agreed and said that it was the perfect spot since they walk their puppies there almost every day! They actually met just around the corner, oddly enough.

I loved every single frame from this session, it was actually impossible to narrow it down...!

See what I mean? They were amaaaazing subjects...




Ladies, please take a second look at those leashes. Yes, yes they are...Coach.



Fave sequence right here:


David proposed with a gorgeous canary diamond ring...exactly what Jennifer wanted :)






Ughhhh ....♥


So if it's not 100% clear at this point... I LOVE this couple, and I LOVE this shoot!

Colleen...thanks for making my job a BLAST on this lovely Winter day!

I've never been one for making Christmas wish lists, but this just might be a MUST HAVE...!


Now all I need to do is find someone who can knit me a pair! This task would go hand in hand with some homemade Christmas sugar cookies...! Just sayin'!

Sunday was mayhem. The styled shoot completely occupied my life for the day, but it was fabulous. I'm proud of myself for still taking the time to call Beans at home and make sure he ate breakfast and lunch, though.


Monday was insanity. It was the first opportunity most of my new clients had to shoot me an email and book their appointment. Google calendar occupied by life from morning to night.

Tuesday was nice. The emails dwindled down as the calendar filled up, and I got to spend the evening with Melanie & Michel to design their wedding album. Oh, and no big deal but they brought something home for me, all the way from Morocco (the amazing bangle you'll see below). I am seriously blessed with unreal brides and grooms.


Wednesday was divine. Some lovely confirmation emails came in, and I spent the night relaxing with a glass of wine and two of my favourite people.

And today... is alright. But I'd rather be at home watching Thirteen for the thousandth time...

So there's this girl, and she's kindof awesome. Her name is Laura. And I promise, it's not me. Her and I have been two peas in a proverbial pod for about 2 years now, although we've never actually met.

She is my twin from another country. She happens to have this amazing company called Paper Taxi, which she started at almost exactly the same time as I started LKP, and her work just amazes me. So much so that I asked her to design my wedding invites and she seriously ROCKED IT OUT.

It's a blissful little reminder that Christmas is on its way :)

I have decided that my Christmas gift to myself is 2 days OFF, and I plan to enjoy them like crazy!

It's something that I've had in my mind for awhile now. Every once in awhile I'd think, hmm...I wonder how hard it would be to organize my very own styled shoot. I wondered if people would be willing to participate.

In a moment of confidence, (I believe the moment occured at a spinning class, where most good ideas happen), I decided that I could totally pull it off.

First thing's first? I'm going to need a venue. Oh, and a model. Oh, and of course a dress. And hair, and makeup, and flowers, and props, and a cake...and a second pair of hands.

After months of preparation, somehow...it all came together.


During that moment of confidence I mentioned above, I stumbled across Barbara, from At The School House, a perfectly quaint and elegant wedding venue that completely stole my heart.

Speaking of things that are wonderful...

I was left completely speechless when I saw the amazing cake by Chrystal's Baked Goodies. She took my ideas about the cake to a level I didn't think existed. Oh...and that flower? Yeah, it's handmade.

Mind = blown, right?




This breathtaking gown, immaculate headpiece, and gorgeous set of pearl earrings are from Ashton Station Bridal. It was such a pleasure to work with the team at Ashton Station...without them there would be no shoot.

Actually it just would have been a boudoir shoot...


Caroline, my dear, you are stunningly gorgeous. I would thank you endlessly for agreeing to be my bride in this shoot but...I'm pretty sure you would quit your day job if it meant you could sit around in Rivini wedding gowns all afternoon...

Could NOT have done this without you, ♥


My vision for the antiques is all thanks to the crew at A Fine Thing, and their supply of amazing pieces, which made the shoot a blast to photograph.



Caroline's mother offered her engagement ring for the shoot, and it was love at first sight. The sweetest touch to the shoot if you ask me!


I am so lucky to have worked with Tracey from Coordination Wedrose on this project. Not only did she assist me mentally throughout the process, but she also graciously provided the flowers.

The flowers...

My vocabulary isn't vast enough to try and describe how much I adored the floral arrangements she created.






I kept thinking that at the end I would say... we survived. But as cliché and tragic as this sentence is, I think we thrived on it, and I am so pleased with every single piece of this big puzzle.

Word on the street is...there's going to be another Styled Shoot next summer...!

Vendors:
Model: Caroline Smith
Hair & Makeup by: Tracy D'Silva tracy_d@rogers.com
Coordination by: Coordination Wedrose
Wedding Gown and headpiece by: Ashton Station Bridal
Jewellery by: Ashton Station Bridal
Venue: At The School House
Florals by: Coordination Wedrose
Cake by: Chrystal's Baked Goodies
Antiques by: A Fine Thing
Photography: Laura Kelly Photography
Therapist during the stressful times: Beans