I met Heather and Byron last year through a referral from our clients, Melissa & Johnny. I knew the minute that I met them, that Heather & Byron were the perfect clients for us. They are fun and so in love with each other, that it shows in all of their photographs.

They had really wanted a fall engagement session because their wedding is planned for the fall of 2012. When we were trying to decide on a great location, I came across a recent post from one of my friends who shot a session at the Adamson Estate in Mississauga. This waterfront park is also home to the Ontario Royal Conservatory of Music. The minute I saw the grounds, I knew that this was a fabulous location for what we had planned for their portrait session.

The weather was warm and sunny with a beautiful breeze blowing in off of Lake Ontario. It was a pleasure to outside doing with I love — photographing people, and in particular, on this Sunday morning — Heather & Byron.

Here are just a few of my favourites.

After the session, Heather was off to bridal gown shop and Byron was off for lunch with his dad.

Thanks so much to both of you for selecting NightinGail Photography to work with you. I cannot wait for your beautiful fall wedding.

We were delighted to meet with Cherie & Clement earlier in September! It was a beautiful warm fall day and they had picked Edwards Gardens for their photo shoot.

Here are just a few of my favourites from our two hours together walking through Edwards Gardens and avoiding all of the wedding parties that were having their photographs taken on this beautiful Saturday afternoon.

They are both pharmacists who enjoy running as one of their activities. They are planning a beautiful May 2012 wedding which will include a Tea Ceremony (which we absolutely love to be a part of), the usual games for Clement to win his bride, a Canadian wedding ceremony, and a many course reception.

Congratulations! We’ll look forward to seeing you in the spring.

Labour Day 2011 has dawned cold, windy and gray. There’s a cold breeze blowing in off the lake which means that summer 2011 has come to an end. It’s also a new beginning for the fall season for us.

We received our new redesigned business cards on Friday. Vista Print did a fabulous job once again with the front side being a beautiful glossy finish to showcase the three coloured photographs on the front. This time, since I write notes on the back of business cards, we decided to leave some white space on the back of the cards for clients to jot down a few notes if they wish.

We thank our clients who have become our image for 2011/12.

We also received our latest albums from Album Epoca. Once again, our supplier has outdone themselves with the quality of the images and the construction of the Italian leather cover. The photocover was stunning and the duplicate parent albums will surely make our clients and their parents relive their wedding day all over again.

We’re also excited about all the weddings and portraits that we will be photographing throughout Central Ontario in September and October. We will be in Barrie, Newmarket, Oakville, Toronto, and Muskoka. We will be at Belcroft Estates, Taboo Resort and Deerhurst Resort – three very different venues but extremely beautiful and client-oriented.

As a future note, we will be available for beach weddings and portraits within Fort Myers, Florida area beginning after November 15th through April 15th, 2012. We are also available for destination weddings throughout the Caribbean upon request. Any of these collections will receive a 10% savings if the date is booked before October 30, 2011. Contact us for more details.

Jaclyn & Chris booked NightinGail Photography for their upcoming October wedding earlier this year! After just chatting with Jaclyn on the phone, she knew right away that I was the right photographer for her and I knew that they were a fabulous fit for us. She booked with us right then and there. As a both a Canadian and international destination wedding photographer, this happens more and more.

When Jaclyn e-mailed me to let me know that they were going to be in Huntsville meeting with their other vendors; I jumped at the chance to to drive over to Deerhurst Resort to meet them in person. As an engagement session had not been included in their collection, I really wanted just to take a few pre-wedding photos as these give me an idea of how both Jaclyn and Chris react to the camera and the BIG question — are they blinkers?

Within seconds of our initial face to face (by the beautiful stone fireplace in the Deerhurst lobby), I was even more convinced that Jaclyn & Chris are great clients for NightinGail Photography. We went over the initial details of their day, required family photos and had a chat about some very special shots that they really want to incorporate into their wedding day. I CAN’T WAIT!!!

They were good sports and let me take a few shots of them and here are just a few of my favourites…

Of course, what Muskoka event would be complete without the famous chairs! As Jaclyn and Chris gazed out over the beautiful golf course while sitting in the sunshine on the back deck at the main building of Deerhurst Resort, I could only imagine that they were dreaming about their fall wedding in the Muskokas.

I am so looking forward to being a part of their day! Congratulations again and we’ll see you in just a few weeks.

I have known Jill since early in 2011 and finally met Ryan a few weeks before their wedding. They are an absolutely lovable and loving couple and their entire day was just an amazing tribute to them by all of their family and friends! We started the day in Leamington at Jill’s mother’s home, then off to Meadowbrook Fellowship for a wonderful ceremony including the “blending sand” which I find to be so symbolic of the joining of the two families!

Then it was off to Lakeside Park in Kingsville for the formal photo session. In spite of the overcast skies, we managed to capture all of the photos without getting Jill’s dress even a little bit wet! A big thanks to all of the bridal party who worked with me to make sure that everything went off without a hitch!

To top off this great event, off we went to the Kingsville Golf & Country Club for the family photographs and the reception. What a beautiful venue for both! And the food!!!! Scrumptious, yummy, delicious … I could go on and on!

Having such a fun group to work with, at fabulous locations, there are so many favourites from their wedding, here are just a few of my favourites.

Jill & Ryan’s fabulous vendors for their special August wedding:

Gown – Here Comes The Bride
Bridesmaids Dresses – David’s Bridal
Hair – Hair Traffic
Groom’s Wear – Merlo Formal Rentals
Flowers – Oak Farms
Cake – Krista-Leigh Lutes (Jill’s sister-in-law) (She also made the YUMMY cake for dessert!)

Congratulations, Jill & Ryan, on a wonderful wedding day. We wish you all success and love as you start your lives together (and on your upcoming special event). Can’t wait to meet your brand new arrival!

We met Kaley and Jamie a couple of years ago when they were looking for a reasonable wedding package with a photographer who goes with the flow and makes sure that their dreams are translated into wonder images from their wedding day. They chose NightinGail Photography and we were thrilled to be a part of their day! We’d also like to give a big thanks to all of their family and friends who were a part of their big day!

We had a ball photographing Kaley & Jamie in a variety of locations around Barrie and here are just a few of our favs from their day.

Once again, my fabulous second shooter for the day was Michelle. Thanks again, Michelle, for working so hard with me on one of the hottest Saturdays of the season.

Kaley & Jamie’s vendors of choice for their day were:

Venue: Fendley Hall, 565 Bryne Drive, Barrie, ON 705-727-3772
Officiant: Rev. Dan Zorgal, Anytime Weddings 705-321-3325
Gown & Bridesmaids Dresses: Gown Go Round 905-898-4869
Hair & Make-up: Pro Image Hair Academy 705-735-2558
Guys Wear: Tuxedeo Royal, Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket 905-853-6962
Beauty & The Beast Cake: Papa’s Cakes 705-719-0043
Flowers: Flowers and Sense 705-733-3355
Bride’s Shoes: Shiekh Shoes 888-574-4354

We loved working with all of these great vendors.

Congratulations again, Kaley & Jamie, on starting your new family together this year with Lily and Alex.

For One Day Only – August 26, 2011

NightinGail Photography will be on location in High Park, Toronto, Ontario

Limited sessions available.  30 minute increments

10 a.m. – 12 noon

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Timing is based on first come, first serve.

Book your session today!

We met Tammy a couple of years ago when she was first planning her wedding. She and Bill are one of our older (but young at heart) couples for this year and we were delighted to have been chosen for their big day. There’s been a lot going on since we first met her and we didn’t actually meet Bill until the wedding day.

They put together a wonderful celebration with family and friends (in spite of it being just dripping with humidity)! Everything went off without a “hitch” and at the end of the day, it turned out absolutely beautiful.

Here are just a few of my favs from their day…

Their full gallery will be available shortly.

Thank you again, Tammy & Bill, for selecting NightinGail Photography to be a part of your day.

We are now operating out of our cottage country location (and enjoying every minute of it, by the way!). We are pleased to share our first “Cottage Country” newsletter with you.

Our newsletters will now be posted on our Facebook page as well as here. If you’d like to be notified of our specials and other upcoming events at NightinGail Photography, just email hidden; visit post for email; requires java script.

Last night was a great evening to be outside and photographing this wonderful couple who are going to be getting married in early August! I have known Jill for a while but only recently met Ryan. They are such fun and were up for anything that I asked them to do for their engagement portraits! Just wait until they see what I have planned for their big day.

There were so many favs for me.. here are just a couple along with a brief slideshow…

Kingsville Love Session with Jill and Ryan from NightinGail Photography on Vimeo.

Thanks so much for choosing us to work with you on your upcoming wedding!

Again, congratulations, Jill & Ryan!

NightinGail Photography is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011

Muskokas, Barrie & Toronto, Ontario, Canada – July 5, 2011 – WeddingWire, the country’s leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that NightinGail Photography is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for Wedding Photography. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding.

NightinGail Photography has ten plus reviews on WeddingWire. Reviews by our newlywed clients include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with our business and staff. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making the most informed decisions for their big day.

“We are delighted to unveil the 5th annual WeddingWire Rated program,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. “NightinGail Photography has made a commitment to capturing their clients experiences on the nation’s leading wedding review site.”

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available. The WeddingWire Rated program provides NightinGail Photography with a simple platform to capture customer feedback from their wedding planning experience. Newly engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews for NightinGail Photography on WeddingWire.com. We would like to thank our newlyweds for our WeddingWire Rated 2011 recognition.

For more information, please visit NightinGail Photography on WeddingWire.

NightinGail Photography specializes in wedding photography worldwide and is based in the beautiful Muskokas and provide local services from Toronto to North Bay. Internationally, we are available for Florida and other popular wedding destinations.

For more information on WeddingWire Rated 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including ProjectWedding.com, MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Weddingbee.com, and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

We had the utmost pleasure in photographing  Melissa & Jason’s awesome wedding adventure recently at our favourite venue, Belcroft Estates, just north of Bradford, ON.  We also photographed their engagement session at the estate last fall — this is something new for us — but you have to book your wedding there in order to have the e-session!

Of course, it was pouring rain in the morning and as the Irish say “it’s a good omen for it to rain on the wedding day.”  By the time that we arrived, the sun was peeking in and out of the clouds so as luck would have it.. we didn’t get a bit of rain!  But the grounds were really mucky so we kept to the groomed driveway and paths so that the girls wouldn’t lose their high heels.  The entire wedding party was a complete blast and just so much fun to work with.  Thanks again, everyone, for being such good sports.

I have so many favourites from Melissa & Jason’s very special day that it was difficult to pick just a few to share.  So, here a quick slideshow of just a few of them:

The Love Story of Melissa & Jason from NightinGail Photography on Vimeo.

Fabulous Vendors Chosen by Melissa & Jason:

Venue:  Belcroft Estates

Dress:  Maggie Sottero “Carrie” – Helen’s Bridal

Shoes:  Touch-ups Dyeable – The Shoe Company

Make-up Artist:  Jenn from Jenn’s Esthetic Escape – 705-796-0233

Hairdresser:  Vanessa Jardine, Envision Hair Studio, Barrie.

Groom’s Attire:  Collins Formalwear

Flowers:  Midvalley Gardens, Holland Landing – 905-775-2487

Officiant:  Rev. Stephen Ongo – 705-721-5922

Caterer:  John O’Brien, Wildwood Hospitality – email hidden; visit post for email; requires java script

Music/DJ:  Keep Them Dancing – Michael Bullock – 705-722-6469

Cake:  Cakes by Julie – Julie Harris – 705-718-1267, email hidden; visit post for email; requires java script

Here are some of the Guidelines that may help you choose the photographer that’s absolutely right for you!

Personal Referrals

Start by building a list of several wedding photographers.  Begin by asking friends and relatives for recommendations.  People who have had positive experiences with their photographer are always glad to share the names with you.  Then, when you meet with the photographers, you will have an immediate frame of reference to start from with your discussions.

Visit the Websites

Make sure that you visit each photographer’s website.  Take the time to review their portfolio. Ensure that you are concentrating on the photographs and not the flashy website design.  Good photograhers normally show a lot of their recent wedding work on-line.  Create the list of the photographers whose style, photos and information really appeal to you.  If you like a more photojournalistic style, don’t short-list a photographer who has a more “traditional”  style.

Interview

Call or e-mail the photographers on your short-list.  This will provide you with some basic information such as the photographer’s availability on your wedding date, their photographic specialities (i.e. candid, photojournalistic, free-style or traditional), and a rough idea of their rate and what you receive for that fee.  It will also tell you something about the photographer’s personality and whether or not you “click.”  This is important!  The photograhper will be one of the integral parts of the most important day in your life, so make sure that you select the person that you feel “good” about.

Appointments

Make appointments with the photographers who sound promising so that you can view their portfolios and discuss the details.  You and your fiance should both attend the meetings and, if possible, the bride’s parents or anyone else who may be involved in paying for the work or being closely involved with the photographer, i.e. wedding planner or coordinator.  Write down all of your questions before you arrive for the appointment and take notes during the discussions.

Get Specific

The more questions you ask up front, the more confident and relaxed you will feel on and after your wedding day.  If in doubt, ask!  Professional photographers are used to being asked all kind of things during these appointments.  There is no such thing as a dumb question!

Questions You Should Ask

1. How will we see the photographs to choose from? (i.e.  on-line gallery, printed proofs/book  or contact sheet.
2. Will you help us select the final photos?
3. How easy will it be for our family and friends to order reprints?
4. What are the costs with the various levels of coverage?  Are there different options for the coverage?  What’s included in each level?
5. How much are the extras or additional options?
6. What type of album comes with my coverage?  What is the cost?  Are there alternate choices available and if so, are they an extra charge?
7. How much money am I likely to have to spend before I’ll be happy with my wedding day coverage?
8. What is your photography style? (photojournalistic, traditional, candid, free-style, etc.)
9. What is the costs for duplicate prints, albums, enlargements, Thank You cards, etc.?
10. Do we receive the digital files?
11. What is the timeframe for receiving our proofs after the wedding?
12. How long do I have to select the prints for the album, Thank You cards, enlargements, etc.?
13. How about an engagement session?  Is it necessary?
14. How long have you been in business?
15. How long do you plan on staying in business?
16. What is your philosophy about photographing weddings?
17. Do you charge travel fees?  What if you have to stay overnight?
18. Will you have a second photographer or assistant at my wedding?
19. How much is your overtime rate?
20. Do you have a backup photographer?
21. What is your payment policy?
22. Do you give any guarantees about service and photographs?
23. Will you be shooting my wedding personally?
24. Do you have a contract?
25. What do you plan to do at my wedding that will make my photographs unique and personal to me?

There are numerous more questions that you can ask your photographer.  Most professional photographers will provide you with very clear explanations about their services before you even ask the question.  Many will have full packages or collections that include number of  hours of service, digital files, prints or albums, enlargements, etc.  This will make it very clear about what level of service and products that you should expect.

Once you have narrowed down your list to one or two wedding photographers, ask them to show you the complete coverage of at least one entire wedding.  This will give you a much better idea of what you should expect than just a collection of the best shots from several weddings.  Look at whether or not the photographer captures individual characteristics and personalities in the images.  Do the pictures show feelings or are they just standing around looking self-conscious (one of the best ways is to look at the family photos)?  Do people look natural?

A very useful trick: Ask the photographer to analyze your face.  Most professional photographers do this automatically when they meet you, although they may not mention it during the interview.  It helps them achieve the most flattering images with the best angles and so on.

Cost

Price is often the one obstacle that prevents wedding clients from selecting the photographer who can give them the best value.  Problems usually come up when “within the budget” is misunderstood.  It is tempting to spend “a little more here and a little more there” but the financial limits must be in place.  Within the framework of the entire wedding day, it makes sense to evaluate the photography budget in relation to the money being spent on flowers, food and music, when, at the end of the day, pictures are the one thing that you’ll have after the day is over.

Rates vary significantly according to experience, talent and technique.  In general, fees for competent photography will begin around fifteen hundred dollars.  Spending less than this is a gamble.  A true wedding photography specialists, one with a reputation for consistently delivering the best, might begin at two to four times that amount.  International destination wedding photographers will be significantly higher than this.

There are also significant differences in how photographers price their services.  Some offer a basic package with a specific number of hours for a set fee; others may have a fixed price for the entire wedding day and charge for all the extras; still others may offer a package that provides the wedding day coverage with prints, albums, etc.  Make sure that when you are comparing photographers, that you are comparing “apples to apples” or “oranges to oranges” and not “apples to oranges”.

Make sure that if you are planning on giving prints to the family, that you include this cost into the wedding photography budget.  As a rule, most wedding clients end up adding additional prints to the original package and spend a little more than the original budget because they liked the photographs so much.

Commit

By this time, if you have asked the good questions, you’ll know if this is the photographer for you.  You’ve probably spent a great deal of time communicating with your photographer.  Keep in mind that photographers are trained professionsals and that they deserve to be treated as such.  Go to your meeting prepared to leave a deposit and sign the contract to reserve your date.  You may want to ask a few more questions about the last-minute details.

1. What is the policy about wedding date changes?
2. What happens if the photographer is not available on the alternate date?
3. What is the policy about an unforseen cancellation?

If the photographer is right for you, and is available, and if you’re convinced that it’s worth their fee — make the committment and relax.  This is one of the best and most intelligent decisions that you’ve made in planning your wedding.

Bottom Line

Years from now, the money that you spent on your wedding photographs will be irrelevant.  What is important is getting great images that capture the joy and love of your wedding day in a medium that will last long after the gown is cleaned and put away, the food is eaten and nobody remembers the music.

(Article published June 30, 2011 on Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada)

Congratulations to Anna & Paul who celebrated their wedding recently in downtown Toronto. They love Paris and France so they were planning a French-themed wedding for a select few of their families and friends at Le Select Bistro. This is a small intimate restaurant just off the Lakeshore in Toronto.

On the morning of their big day — well, it just poured! Buckets and buckets of rain — but we were not deterred. The Select Bistro staff pulled together as the planned outdoor garden wedding just wasn’t possible with the amount of rain and the high winds that created havoc with the awning. Anna and Paul, being so laid back about everything, just went with the flow. The ceremony got moved inside. We did their portraits before the actual ceremony and a lot of candids afterwards.

Here are some of my favourites of their romantic French wedding.

Once again, my fabulous second shooter for the day was Shiri. Thanks so much for stepping up and filling in for the last hour. A big thanks to Anna & Paul for allowing NightinGail Photography to be a part of their big day!