FIN

From a photographer’s stand point, boudoir photography is a really enjoyable genre to shoot. Boudoir has a much more editorial bent, more methodical and deliberate: everything in its right place. Krista made an absolutely beautiful subject and really committed to the poses, which gives her more strength of presence. Lauren Bartoli, our favourite make-up artist, did a stunning job; Lauren is terrific to work with and a must hire for anyone having professional portraiture done. There is a post dedicated to her here on the blog under “Let Them Eat Cake,” our preferred vendors list.

Boudoir makes a terrific wedding gift for your groom, but it is also terrific gift to give yourself. We view Boudoir as a celebration of your femininity. It can really be a boost to your self confidence to know that you can look absolutely striking and elegant. In fact, Krista (our model below) felt that she wasn’t “pretty enough” and was a bit intimidated by the girls in our portfolio! I have no doubt that her photographs now possess the impact that originally intimidated her.

We hope you enjoy the collection of stills,

– The Violets

FIN

You can contact Lauren at 613 532 4280

An abandoned  amusement park, horse’s and buggies, an enraged security guard, the pungent smell of motor oil, speeding go-karts, a rusty horseshoe, Skittles, and the infamous Queen’s Inn Fat City Burger are just a few of the scenes that flit through my imagination when recalling Alex & Matt’s Engagement Session. On account of the rather skeletal nature of the amusement park, we decided to make our own ride!  Enjoy : )

Thanks for the great time guys,

– The Violets

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN/ELEVEN

TWELVE

FIN

Stephanie Sokolowski’s is most defiantly one of my favourite wedding vendors, a girl after my own heart. Her boutique, Runway Bridal, in downtown Belleville, is drop dead gorgeous. Every detail is attended to: from plush rugs, full length mirrors, elegant fixtures, to the startlingly stylized restroom. Stephanie gives her brides-to-be the couture experience, treating each to private appointments – you get the run of the place, and boy is it fun!

Best of all, Stephanie carries unique gowns from many different designers. The dress is really the centre piece of the wedding; the gown transcends the category of garment and can be considered the physical manifestation of the brides femininity.   Finding a gown that resonates with your unique vision and expression of femininity can be incredible difficult and frustrating. Thank goodness for Stephanie and her boutique!

Needless to say we had a great afternoon in the shop. Ashley, our model, anxiously exclaimed as she left for her volley ball game, “let’s do this again!”  We look forward to it.

-The Violets

FIN

Runway Bridal

397 Front Street

Belleville, ON K8N 2Z9

(613) 966-0122

Sharon and Mike were kind enough to invite us into their home to photograph their brand new baby girl Karys (pronounced: care-us/ greek for Grace). Typically newborn portraits are done studio style, on a flat backdrop to isolate the subject; we decided to take a different approach for this shoot placing Karys in the context of her family home.

One of my favourite things about old family pictures is spotting all artifacts from my childhood. Some pieces of furniture, artwork, and miscellany are still part of our caravan others don’t make it. There is strange sensation to be derived from seeing a familiar object in a unfamiliar context, perhaps a painting that hung over the couch in the old family room now hangs in the rec. room in your new house gathering dust. Photographs preserve peripheral details and have the power breathe new life into artifacts from our past reminding us of the value we once endowed these objects with. There are also those pieces of miscellany that don’t make it to the next house, toys that have been given away, blankets and clothing that have been handed down, donated, or thrown away. Spotting these pieces of our past remind us of how far we have travelled and carry us back culling faded memories that are seemingly attached  to these physical pieces of ephemera – memories that might have been lost, had the artifact not made it into the frame.

For Sharon and Mike I hope this translates to memories of their first home and the beginning of their new family. For Karys, it is my secret hope that in 10 years time she will happen upon a box in the basement and be filled with questions about this first home and the circumstances that made up their lives when she was first born.

FIN

FIN

Melissa and I we’re extremely excited to take part in this event and we’re more than flattered when Alix Cronk of Fancy That approached us to document this event.

Dr. Dan Poenaru, formerly a surgeon in Canada, holds a PhD in Paediatrics and is putting it too tremendous use. Dr. Poenaru has taken his practice and expertise to Kenya operating on young Kenyan children born with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is commonly caused by a deficiency in folic acid during pregnancy. There are four different types of Spina Bifida, generally speaking this condition is a deformity in spinal development: a failure of the spine to fuse completely. Spina Bifida effects the child’s mobility and  causes a large fluid filled sac to appear on the child’s back. Dr. Poenaru manages Bethany Kids Hospital in Kijabe and preforms surgeries at over 15 clinics throughout Kenya; he is doing his best to correct as many cases as he can, but funding is always needed and appreciated.

The Rotary Club of Cataroqui Kingston, with the support of Fancy That, The Roundstone, Felicity & Fritz and many other local business, sponsored a fashion show/fund raiser to help support Dr. Poenaru’s efforts in Kenya. The Night when off without a hitch!  $10,ooo was raised for the cause through dinner and the silent auction. Many small business owners stepped-up donating a plethora of terrific auction items, go Kingston!

– The Violets

FIN

Fancy That

The Roundstone

Felicity & Fritz

Leanne & Marty, owners and operators of L.S.P. Designs, are definitely the people you want delivering your bouquet on the wedding day. Always brimming with smiles and exuding an aroma of positivity when they enter a room, their joviality is simply infectious!

Not only are these two terrific people to work with, but Leanne’s arrangements are by far the most creative, classic, and elegant around. L.S.P. Designs was published in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of the prestigious Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine: The Vogue of Wedding Magazines!

She was the florist at our wedding, a task not for the faint of heart : ) You see,  Melissa and I were married in an extremely, almost meticulously, well manicured garden estate: Spindle Tree Gardens. The Estate features: a pavilion replete with a bowling green (and hand made croquet gates), extensive walking paths straddled by beautiful shrubs and floral growth, and a traditional English walled garden (red brick exterior walls). So making the bouquet and arrangements “pop” in this context was far from simple. Thanks Leanne and Marty for your excellence and friendship : )

Without further ado, here is a glimpse of Leanne and Marty’s shop,

– The Violets

FIN

LSP Designs: 676 King Street West, Kingston Ontario, 613.545.0962

Grace Ormonde Wedding Style

Jennette brought her beautiful baby daughter Lauren into our studio today for some Little Violets Easter Portraits.  My-oh-my what a cutie, and was she ever animated. We caught some terrific expressions : )  Everyone have a wonderful and happy Easter!

Enjoy,

- The Violets

FIN