Charlotte

It was a pleasure to work with beautiful Charlotte again!

I met Charlotte over a year ago and photographed her in the fall for the first time. For her second photoshoot and with her birthday coming up, she wanted to experience something really special. There was no holding back with this project. We captured truly unique looks and our inspiration for the photoshoot was mostly incredible Helen Mirren.

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Christine

Interior Decorator Christine Da Costa

This summer photoshoot with Christine was so blissful!

Christine of Decor by Christine is incredibly fun to work with and the entire project was lovely, starting with decorating the spaces with her decor products and ending with some rose at a pool.

In addition to offering interior design services, Christine also has an online store on her website with accessories hand picked by her. It was the perfect time to capture new collections.

If it was possible, I would gladly post all of Christine’s photos! :D

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“A couple of weeks ago I worked with the fabulous photographer Agnes from Pure Studios to take some professional photos of me & I just got back from her studio after the Reveal. I couldn’t be more ecstatic over the images she was able to capture of me. The interior design industry is all visual and that includes pictures of yourself. I am my brand so damnit I better look good, right? With any service company you are basically representing yourself and what your company stands for!”

— Christine

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Summer Favorites 2020

My favourite season is here and it’s HOT!

Our studio is open again and we’re slowly getting back into our groove. It’s a challenging time for everyone so I’m grateful my favourite season is here. I always feel super creative in summer!

1. Outdoor Studio

Several weeks ago I fell in love with the idea of an outdoor studio. It looks so breezy and unique, it also has a bit of that ‘behind the scenes’ look. I’m beyond excited to start shooting here and will share outdoor studio photos with you soon.

2. “Normal People” by Sally Rooney

It’s been my first book by Sally Rooney and I can’t wait for more. She has an incredible way of writing about everyday events. I think Maureen Corrigan has said it best: “Sally Rooney could write a novel about bath mats and I’d still read it. She’s that good and that singular a writer”

3. Art of Marina accessories

Marina is a watercolor artist and her accessories are DIVINE for summer! This soft palm pattern is my absolute favourite, so I got a kimono, a phone case and a pillow too.

4. Summer Outfits

My favourite outfits this summer include a white dress and a unique shirt. My wardrobe is very classic but I always look for little details that make the clothes special. The shirt I found is obviously very different and I love it! The white lace dress is perfect for HOT summer days and very comfortable.

5. Keto Creamer

My diet is usually a low carb/keto hybrid however I’ve been giving to unhealthy cravings way too much recently. I’m glad the weather is hot now and I don’t feel the need to eat unhealthy foods so much anymore. I’m diving back into healthier options and this keto creamer is perfect for coffee!

6. Decorating with plants

I love plants and I think they are so photogenic! Cactuses and pampass grass are my summer favourites.

7. “When you find out the world is against you (and other funny memories about awful moments)” by Kelly Oxford

If you’re looking for a great, funny book to read by the pool or on a beach - this is it! Canadian Author Kelly Oxford shares her life stories and failures in a way that’s super heart-warming.

“Kelly Oxford’s writing is hilarious and fearless. She’s the badass Canadian sister I never had”

— Mindy Kaling

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Spring Favourites 2020

Spring Favourites!

Spring is here and even though we’re going through difficult times it’s hard not to feel better with warmer weather and nature waking up to life.

Since I haven’t gone shopping for clothes lately, Spring Favourites this year will include a lot of books, computer games and even my favourite meal.

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WHITE SHIRT

Many women want to wear a classic white shirt for their branding photoshoot and are surprised to hear that cotton shirts are not the most photogenic. I always suggest viscose shirts like the one I’m wearing in the photo below instead of cotton shirts. Viscose shirts usually look way more elegant and luxurious, they flow nicely and have minimal wrinkles.

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PHOTO OF THE SEASON

I’m so grateful I got to photograph Penthouse Queen Claudine Montano again. We were able to create several iconic photos that look like postcards. They show the strength and determination of a woman with our beautiful Toronto as the background.

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BOOKS

Having had way more time to read recently, I reached for several great books.

Let’s start with:

The Bravest You by Adam Kirk Smith

In this book, Adam Kirk Smith explains the five stages of the bravery process and he also goes into detail in explaining different fears: the fear of inadequacy, the fear of uncertainty, the fear of failure, the fear of rejection and many other fears we encounter in our lives.

I loved this book a lot and whenever fear creeps in, I remember this quote: “far too often fear told me that I wasn’t prepared enough, or wasn’t smart enough, or wasn’t good enough, I let fear take the leading role. Far too often fear told me all the reasons that I couldn’t because I didn’t allow for bravery to tell me all the reasons I could”

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Atomic Habits by James Clear

If you want to learn about habits, James Clear is your man. He breaks down the process of creating new habits in a way you will stick with them and he also explains how to drop our bad habits. I already implemented this technique to start doing strengthening exercise for my back every day.

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Everything Is F***: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson

I loved Manson’s “The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F***” and this book doesn’t disappoint! It’s a book about hope and about becoming your best self in a world that’s challenging.

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COMPUTER GAMES

I’ve been a fan of computer games since my teenage years but obviously I didn’t have the time to play them recently. Stay at home order allowed me to enjoy this hobby again! So far I’ve played:

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider follows adventures of archeologist Lara Croft. Recent games show a younger, vulnerable Lara as she becomes a fierce heroine we know and love. It’s a survivor storyI truly love. As Lara says, in challenging times “we become who we’re meant to be”

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The Witcher

Witcher Geralt of Rivia is the main character in Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. Growing up in Poland, I knew about Witcher books for a while now but it wasn’t until Netflix’s show that I finally became a fan as well. Since we still have to wait for season 2, I played Witcher 2 and I’m starting Witcher 3 soon! I highly recommend these games!

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KETO MEALS

Keto stir fries are one of my favourite meals because they are very easy to make and very nutritious. This stir fry contains lots of healthy fats. I make it using coconut oil and I add cauliflower, kale, bell pepper, mushrooms, onion and pumpkin seeds. Instead of potatoes, fries or noodles, I put avocado and cheese on the side. Yum!

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I hope you enjoyed my spring favourites and that they will help you enjoy your spring more as well!

Sara, Hair & Makeup Artist at Elegant Makeup

Elegant Makeup Hair & Makeup Artist Sara

Meet Hair & Makeup Artist Sara!

Sara is actually one of our hair & makeup artists and helps us during countless photoshoots. We offer hair & makeup services so your photoshoot day is stress-free (no need to run around town for different appointments), you can feel your best and leave pampered, empowered and also you can go out in the evening!

What Sara loves most about her work is turning women into the most stunning versions of themselves. We love working with Sara, because her gentle approach allows to create a look women truly want, so they can rock their photos.

In her free time, Sara loves to meditate, work out, read and cook.

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Winter Favorites

Aah, winter!

I definitely have a love-hate relationship with this season. It’s so photogenic, so the photographer in me truly loves it. However, winter in Toronto is veeery long which is challenging for many. My work has been so busy that I haven’t got a vacation yet and I’m not sure if I’ll get one this winter. So for now, these are some things making this winter better.

1. Animal Print Sweater

The first of my winter favorites is this red animal print sweater.

Cozy sweaters are a must for winter and this one is especially nice to touch. I like the whimsical animal print!

2. “Brave” by Rose McGowan

I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite some time now and the title obviously couldn’t be more fitting. I feel so much respect for women who bravely and openly tell their story even though it would be easier not to.

“Brave is the story of how I fought my way out of the cults and reclaimed my life. I want to help you do the same” - Rose McGowan

3. Pampass Grass

I simply fell in love with pampass grass for decorating. I love fresh flowers (especially in winter, they add so much life to the house), but if I don’t have the time to pick them up or I’m having a busy week, pampass grass always does the trick!

4. White Blanket from Urban Barn

White, chunky and warm! I’ve been not only using this great blanket as a prop for photos but I’ve also wrapped myself in it on many cold, winter nights.

5. Schitt’s Creek

I know, I know…

I’m jumping on the bandwagon late but I still want to include this amazing show in my winter favorites because it’s been definitely one of the highlights for me. This truly hilarious and heartfelt story about a wealthy family forced to start from scratch is FULL of not just laughs but also life lessons. My favorite character… David! Just seeing his facial expressions makes me laugh out loud.

6. Nuttybutter Cafe

It’s so nice to find cozy cafes in winter.

Nuttybutter Cafe brings Paris to Hamilton (the owner actually lived in France for some time). It’s a beautiful space with great coffee, tea and desserts. We had a blast taking some photos in the cafe with Christie Ressel.

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7. Quote

I couldn’t agree more with this quote from ROOP Creative Agency. The fear of being criticized and always worrying about what others think does NOTHING for our life. It’s good to have a few trusted advisors but it should be a priority to listen to our heart first :)

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I hope you enjoyed my winter favorites! Let’s keep fingers crossed spring comes early this year!