A Fun-in-the-Sunset Family Photoshoot in Playa Carrillo, Costa Rica

I’ve met some incredible families throughout my photography work in Costa Rica, but this group took the cake.

They were gracious, friendly, happy, and fun - you can see it. Before I boast too much, I should mention, it’s hard to take a bad photo in Playa Carrillo, especially at sunset. It’s one of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot of beaches). But, you can’t hide love when it’s as abundant as it is with this family and it’s the thing I adore most about their photos (which has nothing to do with me).

It was so hard to choose a collection of sneak peeks from this session but I hope my new friends and ‘neighbours’ find the memories they were looking for in this first look. I certainly won’t forget this night and look forward to crossing paths with them again soon!

Emilie and Michael's Destination Wedding at the Majestic Elegance in Dominican Republic

On the morning of Emilie and Michael’s wedding, I said to Mike, “when you met me at work (my day job) over a year ago, could you ever of conceived that I would be standing here today photographing you getting dressed?!” Haha - a great laugh for my co-worker turned client and now a friend!

After two years of uncertainty, painful wedding cancellations, and everything the pandemic brought to this earth, this destination wedding at the Majestic Elegance in the Dominican Republic for Emilie and Michael was perfect.

Emilie, thoughtful as she is, thought of everything! All the gorgeous details and sweet gestures were all her. Mike brought tons of laughs and together, they brought an awesome group of people on a much-needed vacation and epic party!

A shout out to friends and family who joined us on this trip, I have never ever in my over 10 years of doing this, seen people get up and dance from the very first song and go ALL NIGHT! Well done, my feet are still sore so yours must be too.

Thank you, Emilie and Michael, for having me join you as your wedding photographer. This was one for the books. Much love to you both. xoxo

Melody and Pete's Wedding at the Fiesta Americana and Le Kliff Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

I could go on for days about the Destination Weddings I've shot. I have had so much fun and consider myself very fortunate. On each trip, with all the new friends I make, I'm often still travelling with some of my closest friends and family. 

I was over the moon to shoot Melody and Pete’s destination Puerto Vallarta Wedding for them. It was a week of fabulousness that included a beautiful resort (Fiesta Americana), a gorgeous wedding venue (Le Kliff Restaurant), perfect weather, lots of food, too much tequila, and truly one of the best groups of peeps I've come to meet... 

And boy did we party.

I just loved choosing this first-look collection, although it was hard to do as I'd give anything to do it all over again. For now, I'm just smiling because it happened (or telling myself that is enough until I actually believe it). 

Sweet Spot: Paddington's Pub, Grand Bend, Ontario

Sweet Spot: Highway Girl, A Finer Food Shop, Grand Bend, Ontario

It feels so good to be back in Grand Bend for the summer. Each year, my family waits with gruelling agony as April finally comes to a close and we enter into the final count down to “opening weekend” in this popular Lake Huron beach town.  

My father has been camping in the Bend in the exact same spot for over 50 years now. With about a seven minute walk to anything in town, it is by far more of a home to me than any other home I’ve ever known. 

I was just telling my hubs that I hadn't realized how important Grand Bend had become to me. As I've gotten older, the gratitude for all the incredible memories and fabulous times it’s afforded me in my life has deepened, greatly. 

Even with it's (historically) party-town nature, Grand Bend provides a nurturing environment and peaceful state of mind with it's beautiful fresh water coastline. 

I have recently undergone a massive transformation with my relationship to food and a quest to understand whole foods, healthy eating habits, and delicious nutrition. While providing more than enough outdoor exercise opportunities than anyone can ask for (hiking, swimming, cycling, etc), Grand Bend is a tad more complicated to navigate when you're looking for a quick grab-and-go-something-healthy post run, swim, hike, etc. 

Don't get me wrong, there are a ton of delicious eateries in Grand Bend and I I'll boast for many of them as they each create some of my most beloved dishes. But, last weekend we paid our first stop into: Highway Girl, A Finer Food Shop, perched at the corner of River Road and Ontario Street (a three minute walk from the strip). 

We walked in to live music and people having lunch in their indoor cafe. On one end of their shop there were handmade soaps, aromatherapy potions, art, pottery, and other gift-shopy items for sale. On the other side of their shop they offered vegan, gluten free, local, house made, and whole-heartedly-full-of-all-the-rich-stuff goodies fit for refuelling or for those seeking delectable treats to bring to their next BBQ. 

A friendly shop representative gave me a personal tour of their make your own yogurt parfait bar and a sandwich/quiche lunch menu that sounded delicioso (at the time of writing this post, we didn’t order anything from it).  

I chose a small snack of Sheepy Pesto and Seedy Crackers (both from Carmela's in London ON) to go with our Chive Goats Gouda we had just purchased at Hayters Turkey Farm in Dashwood ON, to take with us.

I downed a Peach Ginger Kombucha (Kombucha is my new favourite obsession, from the new local Grand Bend brewery Culture Shock Kombucha. And, in a last minute moment of weakness, I bought two gluten free chocolate cake (one of which was rolled in coconut) donuts which were to die for. Made fresh by Boho Bake Shop in London ON these donuts were so cakey, so dark chocolatey, and the silky coconut glaze “rounded” the whole devouring experience up with sweet vegan perfection. 

I have to make mention, I didn't try the house made goodies not because I wasn't sooooooo tempted, but it was more of an awkward time of day thing where I knew I needed certain snacks. The lovely shop representative who cashed me out did however share a sample of the house made sweet potato and avocado brownie with me and it was fudgey heaven.

I have full intentions of revisiting Highway Girl again and trying their house made foods. But overall, I just have to say, I'm so happy that my Grand Bend experience now includes the deep physical satisfaction of healthy, local, plant-based foods and good for you treats.