Jordan Lyall Photography. Fresh. Fun. Unique.

Julia & Brandon are having a baby! {Peterborough Maternity Photographer}

2011-09-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Julia and Brandon are expecting their little one in early October, and we were delighted that they asked us to help document this exciting time in their lives! We met at their family cottage, where we began with a few belly shots, and then tooks advantage of some of the beautiful scenery nearby....

Seriously, how cute are they? This kid is going to be adorable.....Finally, we ventured back to the cottage to get some sunset shots. Is Julia not a gorgeous mama-to-be?

This may very well be my favourite belly shot EVER.....

So sweet! Congratulations again to you both - we can't wait to meet your beautiful baby!

The C family!

2011-08-20T17:05:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun time with the C family this past weekend! I absolutely love working with families who have kids this age - our photoshoots feel more like a playdate. Case in point - these two kept us very busy!

We hung out with our good friends Baby and Joshua:

Hung out on the shoreline:

Had some hugs:

....and some giggles:

Gave mom and dad a moment of alone time...

[Editor's note - in addition to the kids, how cute are these two? Seriously!]

Went for a little run...

Checked out a cool bridge...

And generally had a good time...

This last one is one of my favourites - to me, it is a perfect snapshot of family life, in all its giggling, laughing, cuddling, crazy hand talking glory.

Thanks again to the C family for allowing us to capture these images for them - it was our pleasure!

Kora and Dan are married!

2011-02-10T19:40:00.001-08:00

Kora and Dan were married on December 29 at the lovely Viamede resort. We met up with them just as they were coming out the chapel on the resort's grounds...
...and started the session off with a group photo! Kora and Dan planned a small, intimate wedding, and it was obvious how important family is to both of them.

Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful day!

Happy New Year - a sale for you!

2011-01-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a wonderful year for us - the birth of our daughter, getting used to a new life at home with baby, and meeting and working with our amazing clients this year! We purposely planned a quiet season, and have so enjoyed getting the chance to be at home with our family.

We are looking forward to getting back into the swing of things for 2011, and thought we would get things going with a special offer!

Any wedding booked before March 30, 2011 will receive the following:

20% discount off photography fees
complimentary 11 x 11 fine art album

Pass the word! Any past clients who refer a new booking to us will receive a $50 credit, applicable to orders of prints, canvases, or albums.

We have limited spaces available, so don't hesitate!

Pssst - the annual best of the year contest is coming soon! Be sure to check back in over the next few weeks!

Jessica and Mike are engaged!

2010-11-24T18:26:00.001-08:00

We spent a lovely afternoon with Mike and Jessica. These two connected with us after winning a portrait session that we had donated as a prize for the Spring Sprint, a fundraiser for brain tumour research and a cause that is very near and dear to our hearts.

Loved how natural these two were with each other!

Thank you Jessica and Mike - both for taking the time to hang out with us and for supporting an amazing cause!

The F Family. {Oshawa Family Photographer}

2010-11-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

We spent a lovely afternoon with the F family in Oshawa. Their daughter, Miss L, is pretty much the cutest thing on wheels.

I love the look on Miss L's face here - she is walking with a purpose...

And we couldn't forget to get a portrait of mom and dad!

Thank you so much for sharing some time with us - you have a beautiful family!

Val and Norm are married! {Ottawa wedding photographer}

2010-11-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

Val and Norm were married in Ottawa - we started the day with Val and the girls as they got ready for the ceremony.

The wedding featured an evening ceremony, so we took advantage of the day light to get all the family and wedding party photos done. It was chilly, but these guys were troopers! We had a great time travelling to a number of different locations...

The ceremony and reception took place at the Hawkesbury golf club.

Married!

We had about 20 minutes to kill between the ceremony and the introduction of the newlyweds, so Val and Norm indulged us as we played around during our very first night shoot. I think we'll need to do it again sometime, as I loved the results!

And then it was back into the reception where there were lots of lovely details...

...there were speeches and dances...

...and then the guests hit the floor. I've said before that I love a full dance floor, and this crowd did not disappoint.Val and Norm had a slideshow playing all evening with hundreds of photos of them with friends and family at various points throughout their relationship and childhood - it was so much fun!Finally - ring shot, perfect pair style.

Val and Norm - thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day! It was beautiful, fun, and unique, and we had a grreat time!

Margie & Craig are married! {Lakefield wedding photographer}

2010-10-19T18:32:00.000-07:00

We spent a fabulous day with Craig and Margie. It all started off at Margie's parent's house, getting ready with the girls. There were so many gorgeous details to capture... ...the dress...

...the flowers...

...and the shoes! (Those are Jimmy Choo, ladies!)

And then on to the ceremony, at Wildfire Golf Club. I love how happy these two looked as Margie walked down the aisle with her father - they literally only had eyes for each other.

Married!

Wildfire has so many gorgeous spots for photos - these walls are what remains of the foundation of a barn that used to be on the property.

Margie and Craig are pretty cute too!

Loved the attention to detail at the reception! Each guest's plate had a lily and a personalized menu.

And, finally, nothing makes us happier than a busy dance floor!

Margie and Craig - thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful and fabulous day!

Baby Y is here! {Peterborough newborn photographer}

2010-10-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

We spent a fantastic afternoon with Baby Y and her parents. This teeny bean was such a cutie - just look at those lips! That hair! The adorableness, it kills me. :)

Safe in daddy's arms....

Finally, both Daddy and Grandpa are involved in racing, so we had to take a shot with the helmet. She seems pretty comfortable with it!

Kirk and Rebecca - married! {Peterborough Wedding Photographer}

2010-09-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

Kirk and Rebecca were married on an alternately sunny and rainy (but altogether lovely) day. We started out at Rebecca's parent's house, shooting the preparations, and I was pretty excited to start the day off right with my customary shoe shot.
PS - Isn't Rebecca a gorgeous bride? I was in love with her bird's nest veil.
Kirk also cleans up rather well.

The ceremony had to be moved indoors due to weather, but it was still beautiful.

The sun came out just in time to let us shoot a bit with the wedding party...

....and stayed out long enough to let us have some outdoors time with Kirk and Rebecca.

And then it was on to the reception - the theme was owls, which suited these two perfectly. The space, Lakeview Arts Barn, was decorated beautifully - there were so many details in both the layout and events that helped to make the day a constant reflection of Kirk and Rebecca as a couple.

There were 9 - yes, 9 - wedding cakes. Each was a family recipe made by someone special to Kirk and Rebecca. All I have to say is that I will be contacting them for some recipes in the near future. They were delicious.

Owls were worked in to all the tables - everywhere you looked there was something fun that added to the details.

Instead of traditional speeches, Kirk and Rebecca opted for an open stage concept, in which anyone was invited to speak, perform, or otherwise express themselves.

People sang...

Gave alternately hilarious and heartfelt toasts...

....and in between performances, they had their photos taken at a picture wall built by Kirk, decorated with family wedding pictures from the past.

One of the guests organized a trivia game in which the wedding party and the guests competed to get the right answers. Here, Kirk gives Rebecca a big hug moments after she admitted that she handles stage fright by simply imagining the audience naked.

Did I mention the cute children that abounded everywhere?

...a first dance backed by a fabulous band.

Finally, ring shot. Wise owl style.

Kirk and Rebecca - it was a beautiful day with beautiful people! Thank you so much for allowing us to be involved!

Kirk and Rebecca - engaged! {Peterborough Engagement Photographer}

2010-09-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

I spent a lovely afternoon with Kirk and Rebecca.....in November of last year. We had a wonderful time, but in the weeks after the session, I started to experience some nasty pregnancy side effects, and their blog post never came to be.

In honour of their wedding, which we shot last night, I thought I would give these images their due. Wedding blog coming very soon - but until then, enjoy!

Jen and Jake are engaged! {Toronto Engagement Photography}

2010-08-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Jen and Jake have one of the best "how we met" stories ever! Their eyes met across a dance floor at a wedding, and it was, as they say, love at first sight! They danced for hours and have been inseparable ever since.

We spent a lovely afternoon with them both in Toronto - in High Park, and then at the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion (which did not involve bathing of any kind, but did have an awesome fountain and wrought iron gates!)
It rained on and off all afternoon (and, if I'm being honest, it was more on than off), but these two were troupers!

Thanks again, Jen and Jake!

Melissa and Rian are Married! {Port Elgin Wedding Photographer}

2010-08-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

Take one canadian girl, and one australian boy. Have them meet by chance while travelling in the UK. Sparks flew over a dinner for two, and then those sparks grew into mutual attraction, a first kiss, a relationship grown and nurtured through letters and packages sent, long distance phone calls organized over multiple time zones, and, eventually, love, an intercontinental move, and, of course, plenty of travelling adventures thrown in along the way.

The wedding took place at Melissa's family cottage in Port Elgin, and, yes, the scenery was amazing!

Between the beautiful ceremony...

...the awesome wedding party......the reception filled with heartwarming and very funny moments......and the tiniest occasional embarrassing moment, depending on which side of the story you were on......to the dancing on the beach, it was a wonderfully perfect day.

Rian and Melissa - congratulations, and thank you for letting us be a part of your day! It is obvious that you create amazing community and a sense of home for yourselves wherever you happen to be (your international guest list is proof!) All the best as you continue on life's journey together.

Fun with the F Family! {Peterborough Family Photographer}

2010-07-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I spent a crazy fun morning with the F family at Beavermead Park recently. These guys had tons of energy and kept us laughing non stop.

We started with a few slightly more traditional family portraits:

This pose was spontaneously struck by Miss M, and two seconds later, Mr. N followed suit and made like his big sister.

I love all our clients, but when photographing families, I will admit to a soft spot for the young kids. They are so full of energy, and so much fun! I love coming up with ways to some fun images while still keeping their interest!

During this shoot we ran...

...played in the playground...

...did some very serious posing...

...practiced our flying...

...drew some self portraits...

...gave mom and dad some alone time...

...and gave me my foot shot! (Love it!)

F Family, thank you SO much for spending some time with us - it was great to meet you and we had a blast!

Erin & Mike are married! {Millbrook Wedding Photographer}

2010-07-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember Erin and Mike from their family shoot last year. We were honoured when they asked us back this year - to capture their wedding! The day was a beautiful and intimate affair, filled with lots of personal touches.

The ceremony took place in the pavillion by the Millbrook nature trails. Erin wore a beautiful custom made dress with a renaissance feel. Don't you just love Miss F's wings?

Mike and Erin wrote the ceremony themselves, and it was a perfect reflection of their relationship and values as a couple. I loved that there were special components for each of their kids.

I think this is one of my favourites! Erin is absolutely glowing and looking gorgeous, and Mike is all "that's right. She's with me."

.....and have you ever seen such an amazing cake! Erin is a culinary school graduate and made it herself. She does amazing work - we loved that each member of the family was featured at the bottom!

Finally - ring shot. Guarded by dragon style.

Erin and Mike - thank you so much for including us in your special day!

An afternoon with Melissa and Rian {Peterborough wedding photographer}

2010-06-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely, sunny afternoon with Melisa and Rian. I actually found their location by accident - I passed it on the way to another place, and stopped in to ask permission on a whim. The barn that I had seen from the road was just the beginning - the property had a beautiful wide open field, and a completely abandoned farm house with some of the best retro wallpaper I've ever seen. Needless to say, we had fun!

The details we found in this farm yard were fabulous! Melissa and Rian were up for anything, which made for some awesome images. The light in this field was so, so beautiful. Absolutely perfect!

Did I not promise the best wallpaper ever?

A fitting end to a great day!

Thanks, Melissa and Rian! We had a wonderful time with you both, and we are so looking forward to your wedding in July!

Margie and Craig are getting married!

2010-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

We began the 2010 wedding season with an engagement shoot at Wildfire Golf Club with Margie and Craig.

These two were so much fun to spend time with - you would never guess that they had both just finished successfully defending their graduate thesis, and were prepping for an out of province move next week! (I got a little tired just typing that....) The grounds at Wildfire are just gorgeous - I saved a few spectacular locations for the wedding in September, and I can't wait to use them!

Are they not the cutest?

Ridiculously photogenic.

I was a little in love with Margie's shoes. She tells me that the ones for the wedding are amazing, so I am very excited to get some fun shoe shots in.

Margie and Craig - thanks for spending the afternoon! It was lovely to work with you both, and we are so looking forward to your wedding!

She's here!

2010-06-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce the arrival of our daughter, Harper. She was born 7 weeks early on April 18 (yes, I'm just now getting around to posting this - it's been a bit of a whirlwind!) With a birth weight of 3 pounds and 14 ounces, Harper is doing awesome - she's now almost 8 pounds! We've had her home from the hospital for 5 weeks now and life hasn't been the same - or more wonderful - since.

And because we can't go without some pictures:

Exciting news! (Read right to the bottom for best results!)

2010-04-06T06:51:00.001-07:00

This will be old news to people in our Facebook group, but Shawn and I realized that we have not yet made an announcement to the blog. (For shame!)

We are excited to let you know that we are expecting an addition to the family very soon! Our photographer in training is due on June 5, 2010. Things have been going well - both myself and the baby are in great health. However, I have had some strange complications that have kept me away from the computer more than I would like, hence Tip Tuesday not taking off as much as I had hoped. Nothing life threatening, just oddities like pregnancy induced carpal tunnel syndrom that makes typing difficult.

What does this mean for Jordan Lyall Photography? We will be taking a short parental leave from May 16 - June 20, 2010. We will respond to e-mails and phone calls as quickly as we can during this period, but there will be no shooting, and there may be delays in our response time as we get adjusted to the new little one.

After that, we are back in business. Current clients can rest assured that plans for childcare during their bookings are already underway, and future clients can also rest assured that our level of service and skill will not suffer. In order to maintain some balance as all of these life changes occur around us, we will be taking slightly fewer bookings than last year - so get in now to ensure we are available! If anyone is curious, we have started a journal for friends and family to keep track of our adventures with the baby - feel free to check it out by clicking here.

Finally, to celebrate baby land and the importance of capturing memories with family and friends, we are pleased to announce that anyone who books a wedding package with us before December 30, 2010 will receive a FREE 8 x 8 fine art album. Albums are such a beautiful way to display your images - we want everyone we work with over the next while to have the chance to own and enjoy one.

This offer is open to both 2010 and 2011 bookings - you simply need to have booked on or before Deceber 30, 2010!

Please don't hesitate to contact us for further information, or with questions.

Fun new toy!

2010-02-24T19:38:00.001-08:00

I heard about this site today on CBC radio - go and check out the code organ!

Type in any website address, hit enter, and the site will analyze the code. It then uses an algorithm to play music that is a representation of the site itself. Totally nerdy, yes. But also kind of addicting, especially once you start plugging in lots of different sites and hear some of the differences. Just remember to plug in www.jordanlyallphotography.com first and tell us if you think it fits! :)

Free wedding planning documents from Google!

2010-02-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

A bonus tip....

Just wanted to share a free resource for those of you who are busy in the planning stages. Google has created a library of wedding planning documents, including everything from a seating chart planner to an address book for invites. Click here to check it out.

Each document also includes some bonus planning tips from Style Me Pretty, a great wedding blog full of inspiration. Have fun!

Tip Tuesday - Choosing the photographer who is right for you.

2010-02-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

This post is the first in what will be a regular feature during the quiet season. Check back here every Tuesday for more tips and advice. We'll cover everything from planning for great images during your wedding or portrait session, to taking better pictures with your own camera!

Choosing a professional photographer to capture your wedding or a portrait session is a big decision. Not only can the options be overwhelming, but you are placing a lot of trust in the person you choose to do a very important job. Below are 5 tips to help you narrow down your search:

1. Think about personality.

Take the time to meet with anyone you are seriously considering hiring. Of all the vendors you hire for your wedding day, the photographer is the one you will spend the most time with. Is this someone who you think can handle your Uncle Bob's enthusiasm for camera shop talk, or your two year old's inability to sit still for more than 5 seconds? It is worth it to find someone that makes you feel comfortable and confident!

2. Think about style.

Every photographer is different - some people specialize in posed, more formal shots, while others take a strictly photojournalistic approach and simply capture things as they happen. Most professionals these days have a mix of both approaches. Think hard about the type of images you want to have captured. Do you prefer images where there is lots of movement and people seem relaxed? Do you envision updating the family photo album with lots of formal shots? Take time to look carefully through the website and portfolio of any photographer you are thinking about hiring, and ask yourself if their style is what you are comfortable with and what you want to see in your images.

3. Think about professionalism.

Anyone can purchase an SLR digital camera and take bookings. However, there is a big difference between a professional with experience and a hobbyist. A professional photographer will have:

-Professional grade lenses and cameras, and back ups for both in case of equipment failures.
-The ability to confidently answer your questions about how they handle complications like poor weather, schedule delays, and any other concerns you may have. For example, a professional should be able to competently use lighting equipment to shoot in indoor spaces, even if their preference is to use natural light outdoors.
-Planning skills. A professional photographer should be able to suggest locations and times of day that will produce quality looking images. They will work with you to create a shooting schedule that allows for enough time to get the images you want. They should also include scouting for locations ahead of time - either a visit to the site before the date of the shoot, or plan to arrive early to allow for set up and location selection.
-A full contract that details the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Contracts ensure that both you and the photographer have a clear understanding of what is expected, and protects you both. Good contracts have detailed information about cancellation policies, liability, ordering and delivery deadlines, and details about exactly what is included in the price you are paying.

4. Think about skill.

Remember when I asked you to look through the websites of anyone you were considering? go back and take a critical look at the portfolio. Warning signs that you may be looking at someone who isn't as experienced as they should be:

-poor lighting - dark shadows under the eyes, mixed lighting (highlights and dark shadows falling across the subject), or shots where the subjects are squinting
-strange colours - some people purposely process images that have faded or different colours to give them a vintage feel. This is different than colour casts, where every part of the picture, even the whites of eyes, seems to be a strange colour. Be especially wary of portfolios where the majority of images have a blue, yellow, magenta, or green cast - these indicate problems with managing a camera's white balance
-odd positions or uncomfortable expressions. Not every image a professional photographer takes will be perfect, but there should consistent examples of people who look comfortable and like they are enjoying themselves.

5. Think about price.

While everyone needs to work within their own budget, the most important point that I can make is this - consider all of the above points before you let price become a factor. Be wary of photographers whose prices seem too good to be true - you often get what you pay for.

Next week - the questions you need to ask when meeting a photographer!

And the winner is......

2010-01-30T21:26:00.001-08:00

We are completely overwhelmed with the amazing response to this year's contest. Thank you so much for taking the time to check out the blog and leave your vote!

And so, without further ado, our winner is....

However, in light of the amazing response, we couldn't just stop there! Barry and Darren will be receiving a 24 x 30 canvas (an upgrade from the original prize of 16 x 20.)

Our second place winner....

Natalie and Scott will receive the original prize of a 16 x 20 canvas.

And, for our third place....

Krista and Craig will receive a 16 x 20 print of their winning image!

Alrighty. I'm starting to feel like a game show host, so I will end it there. Thanks again for taking the time to vote!

Don't forget to contact us soon if you are intersted in a 2010 booking! Our schedule is already starting to fill up fast - we can't wait to see what this year brings!

Frequently asked questions....and the first Tip Tuesday coming soon!

2010-01-19T17:42:00.000-08:00

Want to vote in our best of the year contest?

Click HERE to go to the post!

Thank you so much to everyone who has voted so far! The response has been fantastic, and we are are loving seeing all the comments come in!

We've had a few questions come through from voters, and since it's tough to answer in the comments, I thought I would take a moment to answer some of them.

1. Quite a few commenters have mentioned that they wish the couple in picture #4 were closer together. Please know that when we made the choices for this contest, we chose our favourites, but also with careful attention to images that would look great on a canvas. The colours and grafitti were too fabulous to be ignored! Rest assured that there are many more shots where these guys were nice and close! In fact, feel free to check out the awesome that was their shoot by clicking here.

2. How far will you travel to take photos?
Ummmm.....anywhere you want to send us? Both Shawn and I love to travel, and we especially love exploring new places to take pictures in. All you have to do is ask!

2. Where is the backdrop in Picture #16?
Krista and Craig's engagement shoot was done in Port Hope, Ontario - that particular backdrop is the bandshell in the park downtown.

Keep the questions coming!

Don't forget that our very first Tip Tuesday will go up in early February. We've got lots of different topics lined up to write about, but I would really love to hear from our readers. Feel free to leave a comment and ask anything you like to know about wedding and portrait photography, using your own camera to take better pictures, or about Shawn and I!

And, because a post always needs a photo:

I had an awesome session with Kirk and Rebecca - their blog post (our last from 2009!) will go up as soon as the contest ends!

Our Second Annual Best of the Year contest.....

2010-01-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! Shawn and I have spent some time going through our sessions from this past year and we've chosen a sampling of some of our favourite images. As I'm sure you can imagine, this was no easy feat!

I'll say again how blessed we have been to have met and worked with so many wonderful people this year! Thank you again for all your support.

And so, without further ado, here is how it works:

-This post will stay up until January 31st, 2010. At that time, we will tally up the votes and declare a winner.

-Feel free to share the post with anyone you like - encourage family and friends to check it out and vote!

-The winning client will receive a 16 x 20 canvas of their image. (Canvases are mounted on a wood frame, ready to hang, and are a beautiful way to show off your pictures!)

Our year in pictures, listed in chronological order:

Thanks again! Have fun voting, and we can't wait to announce the winner!

Lakefield wedding photographer - Colleen and Amanda's weekend wedding o' fun!

2009-11-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

We spent a fabulous day with Colleen, Amanda, and their friends and family, as they celebrated their wedding at Camp Kawartha in Lakefield. With a long shared history of working at various camps and a love for the outdoors, the location was a perfect choice!

Instead of bouquets, the couple decorated canoe paddles to carry as they walked down the aisle.

They also included some wonderful readings during the ceremony, including "I Like You" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg, which I think is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Amanda's dad made the backdrop you see behind them for the ceremony - the design was based on a graphic from their invitation.
There were so many meaningful touches throughout the day. As the ceremony progressed, guests were asked to pass the couple's rings along, taking a moment to send a good wish or a blessing onto them. (Rings they made themselves, by the way!)

Camp Kawartha has so many beautiful spots for photos - I didn't even mind wading into the lake for this one.

Are they not the cutest?

The wedding party was made up of Colleen and Amanda's siblings - we had a ton of fun shooting with them!

The reception also had some fabulous home made touches - a make your own wine glass charm station, a decorate your guestbook entry station, a decorate your table station, and a trivia contest about the newlyweds (with prizes for both accuracy and most creatively wrong anwers!) run by the MC's.

Ah, yes. And dinner ended with a brownie buffet, made by and served by Colleen and Amanda. I may have had one of these babies. Or two. Can you tell a significant amount of guests worked at camp? :) The whole get the crowd's attention by raising your had thing brought back many memories for me. There were a number of heartfelt and very funny speeches, including a slideshow of the couple from childhood to present day.And the pink dress. This garment had quite a history - it allegedly made appearances at numerous camp dance parties - people would take turns wearing it as a running joke. (Keep an eye out for it in the dance floor photos below!)

And, finally - ring shot. Dessert style. Amanda and Colleen, thank you for including us in your fabulous day! We hope that you are settling into life out west, and we'll be talking soon!

Ottawa wedding photographer - Christine and Tristan are married!

2009-11-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

Christine and Tristan were married in the Ottawa area on a lovely Fall day. The ceremony was held in the chapel at A Valley Wedding. The ceremony was slightly delayed (but, as I always say, you need a few good stories to tell people in the years to come!) but it did nothing to dampen anyone's spirits. I love this shot of Christine's dad holding her bouquet for her as he patiently waits for things to get started.

Once everything got started, these two were all smiles....

....and literally only had eyes for each other.

Married! I love that you can see the officiant cheering behind Christine and Tristan as they kiss.

The chapel had this GORGEOUS field out front with perfect light - just waiting for some images to be taken! Thanks to all members of the wedding party for making your way through the mud, weeds, and thorns so we could get these shots!

And then it was off to Manderlay on the Green golf club for more photos and the reception.....where we again scored with some fabulous warm and glowy light! Christine and Tristan were so much fun and brought a great enthusiasm to their shoot. We are so lucky in that we always seem to attract couples who are excited about getting great images, and these two were no exception. You can always see it in the results!As dinner got started, Christine took a moment to thank everyone for coming, and let the guests know that since she was not a huge fan of PDA's, she had set some challenges in place if they wanted to see her and Tristan kiss. Guests could make a donation to charity or sing a song with the word love in it. This, of course, was not much of a deterrent. ;) And, yes, they are singing skinnamarink here! (Ah, Sharon Lois and Bram!)A great deal of kissing occured during dinner.After dinner, the bride and groom shared a very romantic first dance.... And then the party began!

And, to finish off the night - ring shot, guestbook style. :)
Christine and Tristan, thank you for inviting us to be a part of your special day! It was an honour to get to know you both a little and spend time with your friends and family! We're looking forward to showing you the rest of your images, and wish you a lifetime of love and happiness together!

Lakefield Photographer - A lovely day with the H family!

2009-11-22T20:37:00.001-08:00

Shawn and I spent a fabulous morning with the H family. They own a beautiful property outside of Lakefield that made our task of location scouting a breeze - everywhere we looked there were gorgeous backdrops!

We were also joined by some super cute family pets - I can't believe we managed to get all three of them looking at the camera here!

Loving the nod to American Gothic here.... And I got my shoe shot! Each of the girls had a pair of awesome boots that they wear when exploring the property - very fun!

Sisters, sisters..... (that was for you, L!)

This one was too cute not to post.

Thank you again for spending some time with us! Both Shawn and I enjoyed meeting you all and we are excited for you to see the rest of your images!

Port Hope Photographer - Good times with Krista and Craig!

2009-11-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

Shawn and I met Krista and Craig at Megan and Luke's wedding. We've gotten together a few times to discuss photography and plan for this session, and we have a ton of fun every time we see them! I was excited to have the chance to do some shooting in Port Hope - I've had my eye on some cool locations for quite awhile now.

The shot above is actually one of the first images we took - boom! Total comfort - we knew it was going to be a great session.

This is one of my favourites.

These two were up for anything, and so I knew they would be perfect for this experiment - I've been working on this image in my head for quite awhile!

I lied. This is one of my favourites!

Thanks again for a fabulous day, you two! We had a great time, and I can't wait for you to see the rest of your images....

Peterborough Wedding Photographer - Sarah & Ed are married!

2009-11-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

Sarah & Ed were married at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. We started the day off with the bride, taking some getting ready shots and portraits. Sarah, thankfully, allowed me to indulge my obsession with shoe shots.

Are they not the cutest ever? We were also able to steal a few minutes with Ed at the club just before the ceremony began.

Sarah and her dad walked down the aisle to Bob Marley's "One Love" - loved it!

I've noticed that I almost always manage to post a shot of the bride and groom walking back down

the aisle at the end of the ceremony. I think that I'm naturally drawn to those images because it's one

of my favourite parts of the day. The butterfly inducing ceremony is over, everyone is happy, excited, and geared up for some major celebrating!

We snuck the newlyweds away for some formals on the golf course.

....and then it was off to the reception!

There were so many smiles and moments of joy during speeches...

I love these two shots of Sarah and Ed during their first dance - one second they are off in their own world, totally in love, and the next they are laughing their heads off - very representative of the two of them as a couple!

And then on to the dancing, where, as you can see, good times were had by all....

Sarah and Ed, thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of your day! We had an amazing time, and I can't wait to show you all of your images!

Millbrook Family Photographer - Hanging out with the W Family!

2009-10-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I spent a fabulous Saturday afternoon with the W family. We wandered around some of the fabulous buildings in downtown Millbrook, and explored some of the trail system in the conservation area there.

Could these kids be cuter? I think not.

We like to always make a point of capturing mom and dad during some alone time at each of our family sessions.

Thanks for spending time with us - we both had a ton of fun!

Peterborough newborn photographer - Welcome to the world, Baby L!

2009-10-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to be able to spend a bit of time with Baby L and his family. The first few weeks with a newborn are such an exciting time - exhausting, full of ups and downs, and also full of joy and excitement. This little guy was surrounded by so much love - it was an honour to be a small part of it!

Love the face he's giving me here.

Andrea & Scott are married!

2009-10-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Scott and Andrea were married at the Elm Hurst Inn in Ingersoll - rain forced us indoors for many of the formals and the ceremony, but we were not lacking for beautiful locations, nor did it dampen anyone's spirits!

Andrea received this super cute gift while she was getting ready - she and Scott recently relocated to the Arctic for a job, so it was too perfect! We couldn't resist getting the rings in there for a cute shot!

Andrea - already looking gorgeous, and she's not even dressed up yet!

Andrea took a moment to write Scott a quick note amidst all the craziness - love his expression as he read it!

Andrea and Scott planned a very intimate day, and they were surrounded by so much love and joy! They had eyes for no one but each other as Andrea made her way down the aisle.

They obviously put lots of time into their details - I loved the pumpkins and other Fall themed decorations!

And to end the night - when I saw this old school pinball machine in the upstairs of the reception room, I knew it had to be included in a photo. Can you blame me for failing to resist the awesome?

Thanks to both of you for making us a part of your lovely day - Shawn and I had a blast! We're sending you best wishes for safe travels and lot of amazing memories as you start your new life together up north!

Sam, Mark, and le bebe.

2009-09-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

Some long time readers may remember the fantastic ness that was Sam and Mark's couple shoot last year. These two are expanding their family, and we couldn't be happier for them! We got together a few weeks ago to document Sam's ever expanding belly.

Pregnant women are so beautiful!

Congratulations again to the both of you! We can't wait to meet your little one!

Fun with the C family!

2009-09-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I spent a fabulous morning hanging out with the C family. Super cute kids, great people, lots of laughter - a lovely day!

Thanks again for inviting us to spend time with your beautiful family!

Chris and Emily - September 12, 2009

2009-09-16T22:33:00.000-07:00

Chris and Emily were married on September 12 at the Country Club in Woodbridge.

One of the first things we did upon arriving to the site was to check out

the reception room, and it was gorgeous!

The ceremony took place outside. Their officiant was so much fun - she really infused the ceremony with a sense of joy and had people laughing throughout.

Chris and Emily wrote their own vows. I loved watching their expressions as they spoke to each other - like there was no one else there with them!

After the ceremony we spent some time with the wedding party and then

took Chris and Emily out for a little session.

Emily demonstrates her mastery of the sassy pose....

The light out on the course was just fantastic!

And then it was on to the reception! I love the next two pictures of the first dance. The first one of Emily smiling up at Chris makes me happy and I love the drama of the second image.

After the dancing got started, some people got busy tearing up the floor....

Some people took advantage of the dessert table....

Some people made their own fun....

And some people called it a night. :)

Thanks again for inviting us to be a part of your day, Emily and Chris! We hope you are having a fabulous time on your honeymoon, and we look forward to seeing you when you get back!

Thanks for checking out the blog! Don't forget to leave a comment, or join our Facebook group if you would like to be the first to know about specials and new images.

Technical difficulties....

2009-09-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

We've been in the process of transitioning our e-mail system to a new server, and in the process we've discovered that not all of our e-mails have been sent or received properly.

The problem will be fixed tomorrow when our service supplier reopens. If you have been waiting to hear from us, we are so sorry for the delay, and will be getting back to you within the next day or two. If you have recently sent an e-mail and have not received a reply, please feel free to write again!

In the meantime, please accept this image of total cuteness as an apology from us:

Mr. C's blog preview will be coming later this week!

April and Brian are married!

2009-09-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

April and Brian were married on August 29, 2009. It was a beautiful day full of fun details and many thoughtful touches. We took a LOT of photos - I had a tough time choosing which ones to put in this preview, so settle in.

We started the day off with April and her girls as they prepared for the day.

Pretty ladies!

Then we headed off to the ceremony in Hagersville. April and Brian included a unity candle as part of their ceremony. It carried a special significance, as the candle holder they used is a family heirloom - a memorial to the mother of the bride's mother.

Married!

We then headed off to do some shots with the wedding party. Not only was this group a lot of fun to work with, but we found some awesome locations, including this abandoned mill.

Groomsmen shot, ninja style.

The forecast had been calling for thundershowers and heavy rain on the day of the wedding, but, with the exception of some drizzle in the morning, we were blessed with sunshine and a lovely breeze all day long. Still, these girls came prepared.

I loved the boots!

Are they not a gorgeous couple?

And then it was on to the reception in Jarvis....

In addition to a lovely meal and some speeches that were both funny and heart warming, April and Brian included many unique and thoughtful touches for their guests to enjoy.

Why, yes, that IS a make your own sundae bar!

For people who weren't so into the dance floor, there were lounge areas set up with comfy chairs and tables to take advantage of the cards and board games provided.

Not to say that the dance floor was underutilized....

Clearly, these people knew how to party.

April and Brian, thank you for including us in your day. We had a fabulous time, and send both of you the best possible wishes for a happy future together!

Looking forward to seeing pictures from your adventures in Europe!

(PS - whether you are new or returning, welcome! Thanks for visiting, and be sure to

leave a comment! If you would like to be the first to know when we post

updates, join our Facebook group.)

Red sky and some reminders.

2009-08-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

Taken at sunrise a short wander down the road from where we live.

Thank you to everyone for the great response to our Sunday portrait sessions!

We've been having a lot of fun with the shoots booked so far. There are still a few dates left:

August 30 - booked

September 6 - booked

September 13 - open (in the Brampton/Toronto area)

September 20 - open (in the Peterborough area)

September 27 - booked

October 4 - booked

October 11/12 - booked

October 18 - booked

October 25 - open (in the Peterborough area)

Also, don't forget that we are updating our prices on September 15, 2009. Anyone who books before then still has access to the current rates.

Thanks again to everyone for all your support!

Sara, Greg, and the awesome.

2009-08-16T19:51:00.001-07:00

Sara and Greg met up with us in Peterborough for a couples shoot. They are tons of fun, with a quirky sense of humour that meant we all got along swimmingly. As you can see, they brought the awesome to all their images.

I got to try out a few locations that I've been eyeing......

Including my latest graffitti find.

(I don't know who Meco is, but I can't help but feel he is in big trouble.)

They were also very patient while we played with our flash units. Shawn and I have been working on using off camera flash, so it was fabulous to have some willing models to work with.
And then, there was this. Greg actually wore this as a Halloween costume a few years ago.
It has become a running joke between the two of them, and it turns out that Greg has
always thought it would make for an awesome image. The best part is that Greg had
to change into the costume, and walk a block through downtown Peterborough to get
to this park, which was blocked by construction. Sara and I could not make eye contact -
we were trying our hardest not to burst out laughing.

Awesome.

Love this one!

More Awesome.

And, finally, some cuteness to end the shoot:

Thanks again for spending some time with us, Sara and Greg! We had a ton of fun!

(PS - Thanks for stopping by - don't forget to leave these two a comment!)

Jane and Tim are married!

2009-08-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Jane and Tim were married this past weekend. The ceremony took place at the Catholic Church in Young's Point....

...and was officiated by the priest who ran the church when Jane was a child. Loved that they could have that connection to their family history.

Everyone danced down the aisle at the end!

I love it when we get to shoot with kids! As you can see, the ring bearer took his job so

seriously he carried the empty ring boxes out of the church with him.

The reception took place at Alumni House at Trent University, and was

catered by Parkhill on Hunter. Yummy.

Shots with the wedding party.

And then we snuck away with the bride and groom for a few portraits.

A classical guitarist played while guests mingled.

Love the detail shots - gorgeous centrepiece flowers!

The bicycle cake topper is a nod to Tim, who owns a bike shop.

And, finally, a moment we caught during speeches. The newlyweds
needed a moment to confer with their notes.

Jane and Tim, thank you for making us a part of your special day! We both

thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and your families, and we send you

both best wishes for much happiness together.

Barry and Darren are married!

2009-08-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

Barry and Darren were married on August 1 at a private estate near East Gwillumbury. (Where, incidentally, the World's Greatest Carrot Festival takes place on August 22. We were a little sad that it wasn't going on RIGHT NOW so that we could do some shooting there, but such is life...)

The ceremony was attended by family and a few close friends, including Spike (above), who was delighted to learn that the car ride was over. The guys enlisted their moms in helping to get their boutonnieres attached.

And then it was time for the ceremony! Barry and Darren worked with their officiant to write the vows, and it was a lovely reflection of their personalities and style as a couple.

Saying their vows - love how happy they both look!

All of the guests gathered together - isn't this a pretty location for a wedding?

Family portrait with Spike the Wonder Dog.

I rode back to the party with the newlyweds, who indulged my photographic whims by pulling over for some shots whenever I asked them too. (Thanks, guys!)

Ring shot, still life style.

Barry and Darren, thank you again for inviting me to be a part of your wedding. The day was lovely, intimate, and fun. Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon and looking forward to seeing you both soon!

Trip to BC! Part Two...

2009-07-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

We have been so busy lately that I've completely neglected this particular blog post. I started posting images from my trip to BC a little while ago - part one can be seen here! After spending a few days in Vancouver, we took the Ferry across the water to Vancouver Island. We landed in Nanaimo, rented a car, and started exploring.

First stop - Chemainus! City of Murals! You can actually take a tour of the almost 20 murals detailing the history of the region. They also have a fabulous visitor's centre with wonderful staff.

Next stop - Cathedral Grove. These trees were BEAUTIFUL, and unlike anything I've ever seen before in my travels. I think on my next trip I'd like to head further west on the island and check out more places in this region.

Thanks to the tourism office staff in Chemainus, we took a detour off the highway as we headed south to Victoria. Our scenic route took us past beaches....

Into this fishing village......
And finally right into Victoria, where we checked into our hotel. This was the view from our hotel balcony. The next morning we saw a seal playing in the little section of water between the buildings to the left. No joke. I actually took a walk along the waterfront docks the next morning in hopes of seeing him or some of his friends, but didn't have any luck.

We took a walk through the downtown and saw the legislative buildings, which were lovely.....

....and checked out the BC museum.

We stopped at the Empress Hotel (and pretended we were staying there).....

......while we had a fancy drink in their lounge. This is my mango-cilantro sling. It was delicious.

Victoria's inner harbour.....

And finally, I went whale watching!!! I was very, very grateful for my telephoto lens, as we didn't actually come this close to the whales. Victoria has 3 resident pods of orcas, and we spotted two of them. Each pod had at least one baby with them, which meant they were not as interested in checking out boat out.

Still, though - whales! In the wild! It was pretty amazing.

Next up - we head back to Vancouver for more fun and excitement, and I'll post images from the lovely wedding we attended in Victoria.

Megan and Luke got married!

2009-07-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Megan and Luke were married on July 18 at Hockley Valley Resort. Shawn and I had so much fun with both the bride and groom and their guests - prepare yourself for lots of images, as it was really hard to choose!

We began by spending some time with the guys and girls as they were getting ready....

The ceremony was held on the patio at the resort, which is beautiful. The flower girls were absolutely adorable, and held teddy bears dressed like a bride and groom instead of flowers - such a cute idea, and perfect for little ones!

Both Megan and Luke were overcome by emotion as she began her walk down the aisle.

Love this shot that Shawn grabbed!

Married! The patio is actually beside the resort's pool, and Megan and Luke got a huge round of applause and cheers as they exited the ceremony area from all of the hotel guests sitting there.

Fun with the wedding party.....

And then off for shots with the bride and groom. Megan and Luke clearly had no problem bringing the awesome to their session.

Hockley Valley has some very cool interiors that were a lot of fun to work with!

Megan and Luke have both travelled extensively, and spent a lot of time teaching English in Singapore. Their time and experiences there became part of the theme for the day.

The Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a cause that is close to both the bride and groom's hearts, so guests were asked to make a donation to the cause in order to get them to kiss.

Megan's dad, who was the MC for the evening, demonstrated the procedure....

Guests made a donation, rang the bell....

And the newlyweds kiss! I thought this was a fabulous idea, and a lovely way to raise money for a great cause.

I love candids....

And a few more detail shots to finish things off! Luke is an avid soccer player - Megan said during her speech that wherever they've lived during their travels, he has always found a group to play with, and they've made lifelong friends along the way. Many of those friends were at the wedding, and they gifted Luke with a special soccer ball.

And, finally, a ring shot to end the day!

Megan and Luke, thanks again for allowing us to be a part of your day! It was a blast, and we look forward to chatting when you get back from Spain!

PS - don't forget to check out our website - we'll have more images posted from the wedding there nex week! Or, if you'd like to see sneak peeks from upcoming shoots and be the first to know about sales and specials, join our Facebook group!

Trip to BC! Part One...

2009-07-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember that I took off at the end of May for a little vacation - I had so much fun visiting a dear friend and seeing a part of the country I've never been to before....

Prepare yourself for a whole lot of images....I took so many photos that the plan is to break the trip up into a number of posts over the next week.

After arriving (first thing in the morning, I might add - you don't even want to know what time I had to leave Toronto....), we took the Sea Bus over to North Vancouver, where I took some time to explore.

One of the things I loved most on this trip was the fact that I was constantly surrounded by water. I found it so relaxing to be able to wander the waterfronts and harbours.

I was also jealous of the amazing fresh produce - residents of the Toronto area, you don't even want to know how cheap seafood is out here.

This market had quite possibly the best trashcans I've ever seen.

I then headed back to the city and set off for Granville Island. On the way, the fisherman's market caught my eye. Clearly I am a sucker for public food sales.

People would wander down the docks and buy fresh seafood right off the boats.

Finally I managed to make it over to my intended destination.

Granville Island is just beautiful - full of more markets, artisans shops, and gorgeous artwork. Literally everywhere I looked there was something interesting!

Oh, how I would love to someday do a wedding or engagement shoot around here!

Next stop - Vancouver Island and Victoria!

On a stroll.....

2009-07-03T22:28:00.001-07:00

While there are moments when I don't love living outside of town (winter driving, anyone?), summer always reminds me about the little things I love. These images were all taken within 3 minutes walking distance from our house....

So pretty!

Kaelin and Jordan's wedding in Niagara Falls. June 13, 2009.

2009-06-16T21:46:00.000-07:00

Kaelin and Jordan were married at the Legends on the Niagara Golf Complex in Niagara Falls this past Saturday. Shawn and I jumped right in, getting busy with some fun detail shots, like Kaelin's shoes.....

....and the super pretty table settings in the reception room....

There was a hint of rain in the morning, but all cleared up, and the sky was gorgeous by the time the ceremony began. A friend provided live music for the entire proceedings.

Loved the hot pink and black colour scheme throughout the day!

Kaelin and Jordan were so in tune with each other the entire ceremony - I got quite a few of these private looks shared between them!

First kiss as a married couple - I love the way the wind grabbed Kaelin's veil just so in this image.

Immediately following the ceremony we gathered all of the guests together for a group shot.

After completing the family and wedding party shots, we stole away with the newlyweds for some portraits.

Love this sunflare shot that Shawn captured while I was shooting the newlyweds by the fence.

Ring shot, superhero style.

Kaelin also gets some props for carrying around her beautiful but huge bouquet for most of the afternoon. I held it for her a few times while we were setting up shots, and holy moly it was heavy!After finishing up our shots, it was back to the reception. Kaelin and Jordan had set up a mini putt on the dance floor. Anyone who wanted the bride and groom to kiss had to get a hole in one.

It was swarmed by a number of the kids in attendance who quickly set about improving their skills as fast as humanly possible. :) Kaelin and Jordan kissed alot. It was pretty cute.

A little later in the evening, we noticed the gorgeous sunset happening on the patio just off the reception room and snuck these two out for a few quick shots.

Finally, the first dance. So lovely.

Kaelin and Jordan, thank you for allowing us to take part in your day! We had a blast!

Jordan Lyall Photography offers a fun, fresh and unique blend of photojournalism and fashion inspired portraiture for your wedding images. Based in Peterborough, serving the Kawarthas, Durham, Toronto, and Ottawa area, available for travel worldwide.

Kaelin and Jordan are married!

2009-06-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I had so much fun at Jordan and Kaelin's wedding in Niagara Falls this past weekend! A full post will be up in the next few days, but until then, check out this sneak peek!

This is a variation on a bouquet shot we like to do with our brides - the ring bearer was so fantastic! (As you can see, he was just a little excited to be involved.)

News and Updates!

2009-06-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

Some of the exciting going ons here at Jordan Lyall Photography:

1. Have you checked out our website lately? We've got all kinds of fantastic new images up from recent shoots, including some from Natalie and Scott's wedding that haven't even been shown on the blog yet! Also - a whole new gallery featuring our event photography is coming soon! Click here to check it out.

2. We have only TWO dates left for all of 2009, and we are now booking dates for 2010! Please spread the word - we will be offering 2009 prices to any wedding couple who books with us before September 15. After that, all bookings will be subject to our 2010 pricing.

And, because we always need a picture, here's another from Scott and Natalie:

Thanks for dropping by!

Natalie and Scott - May 30, 2009

2009-06-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

Natalie and Scott were married at Camp Kawartha this past weekend. It was a day of love and laughter, full of beautiful personal touches. I know that they are both eager to see some images, so prepare yourself for a long post!

We started out by taking pictures with family and the wedding party. The bride and groom decided to see each other before the ceremony, leaving us lots of time to have fun and be relaxed while we took portraits.

This group was tons of fun and up for anything! Stay tuned to the Facebook group for a picture of the whole group with a giant canoe. As I said, up for anything.

Then it was time to get ready for the ceremony, which took place right beside the waterfront. There were so many cute kids involved, it was ridiculous.

Scott and Natalie wrote their own vows, which made for a beautiful ceremony.

I especially loved the readings, including one from the Velveteen Rabbit.

After the ceremony, we stole away with the new Mr. and Mrs. for some fun portraits while guests relaxed before the reception.

Awesome ring shot, courtesy of Shawn.

Ring shot. Gangster style.

And do you remember the details I mentioned earlier? Um, yes - photographer heaven!

There was so much thought put into every detail and moment - I felt like everywhere

we turned there was something to take a picture of!

From the flowers....

...to the shoes...

...to the cake...

...to the table settings...

...to the wishing tree guest book...

...to the self serve cookie bar.

Finally, I may have mentioned it once or twice in a previous post, but I LOVE dance floors. Shawn and I always have so much fun when we get to stay a little later and capture the candid moments.

And finally, one last shot of the newlyweds...

To Natalie and Scott - thank you so much for allowing us to spend the day with you. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and laughter!

Thank you so much for visiting the blog - don't forget to leave a comment!

Scott and Natalie are married!

2009-05-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I had a fantastic time with Scott and Natalie this past weekend. I can't wait to tell you more about - full preview coming very soon!

Until then:

Heading off!

2009-05-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

I am off to Vancouver from May 14 - 20! Access to e-mail will be limited, but I will return messages ASAP upon my return.

Be sure to check back next week for another post from our first wedding of the season:

Take care, and happy Victoria Day weekend to all the Canadian readers!

More from the Spring Sprint! (and a slideshow!)

2009-05-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make sure we posted a few more images from the Spring Sprint in Hamilton. If you have a moment, be sure to visit the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada's site to read about some of the amazing work they do. This cause has become very special to me over the last few years, and I would like to say thanks again to the organizing committee for allowing us to get involved!

Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post to see way more images in the slideshow we've created!

The day began with a few speakers. (By the way, you may notice that people are wearing different coloured shirts throughout the slideshow. Participants wore white, volunteers were orange, and survivors wore blue.)

And the walk begins! So many fantastic and inspiring people....

There were ridiculously cute kids and dogs everywhere!

Just one of the many teams involved in the event:

I had to almost lie down on the pavement to get this shot, risking my well being. Thank you, Oakville Trafalger High School Girl's Rugby Team (and coach!) for not trampling me!

Finally, please take a few minutes to watch the slideshow - I promise you will enjoy it!

Hamilton's Spring Sprint

2009-05-03T19:00:00.001-07:00

Shawn and I were honoured to provide photography for Hamilton's Spring Sprint this past weekend. A fundraiser for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, this amazing (and incredibly successful - way to go!) event was attended by hundreds of incredible and inspiring people.

I will do a full write up with lots of images very soon, but until then, I wanted to post a preview for everyone....

We're off!

2009-05-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you know that we are away this weekend on an event photography assignment. (Photos coming soon!)

We will respond to any e-mails and phone calls on Monday!

And, because I can't post without a photo, here's another from April and Brian's session:

Fun with Ice.

2009-04-24T07:58:00.001-07:00

These images have been sitting on our hard drive for quite awhile now, and I thought I would post them before images of ice and snow started to feel a little silly.

The backstory: Shawn and I like to go out from time to time and just experiment with diffeent textures, colours, etc. It's not uncommon for one of us to call the other on the way home from work, saying something along the lines of: "did you see the colours in the sunset?? I'll meet you at the bridge!" Whoever is closest to home will grab the cameras and we'll go out and play.

Ages ago, not too long after my accident, Shawn picked me up at work with the cameras in the back seat. Promising me pretty things for pictures, telling me it's pretty close by, we set off. Half an hour later, he pulls over at the side of the highway. There had been an ice storm that morning, and this one area in particular had very little shelter from it, leaving the trees covered in a thick layer. The sun was just beginning to set, and the colours were so pretty!

Of course, while walking across the field to get these images, I managed to find a sink hole and sink into snow up to my waist not once, not twice, but three times. I probably could have stopped myself from sinking quite so deep, but I had a camera in my good arm and the other was still in a cast. Fortunately Shawn was there to pull me out. The things we do for our art.

April and Brian are engaged!

2009-04-09T07:55:00.001-07:00

We spent the afternoon with April and Brian in St. Mary's. These two were so much fun to spend time with, and were so clearly in love - you couldn't help smiling!

I love how cinematic this shot in the ivy feels.

We headed over to the train station next and took full advantage of some of the funky graffitti there.

I love graffitti in portraits. And also signs. I know, it's a problem. I'm seeking help.

Are they not the cutest ever?

I love sun flare.

I also loved that April and Brian were willing to climb up here. Commitment to the cause? They has it.

When April mentioned that the bridge Brian proposed to her on was close by, we clearly had to make a stop.

Thanks for a great day, you two! We are so looking forward to your wedding in August!

1st wedding of the season - scenes from the day.

2009-03-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

So, I promised a full write up for this wedding. It's just that Shawn and I took so many pictures......I'm going to need just a bit more time to sort through them all before I can do a complete post. Yes, I know. I am a tease. In the meantime, I pulled a few snippets of the day together to start building a picture of this fantastic wedding!

Gorgeous bride!

The bride's grandfather walked her down the aisle so her father could play live music especially for the ceremony. Just before everything got started, her grandfather saw her for the first time in her dress. He was totally overcome with emotion - such a sweet moment!

I love me a full dance floor!

Our new website!

2009-03-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

It's finally up and running! Visit us at Jordan Lyall Photography's website!

To celebrate, we are offering 25% off any wedding packages or portrait bookings reserved before May 31, 2009. Your session or wedding date can be taking place any time in 2009 to take advantage of this offer, but you'll need to book with us before the end of May.

First shoot of the season!

2009-03-15T05:16:00.001-07:00

Shawn and I went for a walk with C last weekend, marking my first shoot since breaking my arm. It felt so nice to hold a camera again. As you can see, we had lots of fun looking for some fun places to shoot!

I asked him to hang out in front of this door for a second, and this is the pose he gave me - what a face!

One of my favourites. This brick wall was so pretty and at this point C was warmed up and having lots of fun!

Thanks for a great afternoon!

Ontario Badlands

2009-03-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! The snow is finally starting to thaw and I feel a bit like I'm coming out of hibernation myself. I didn't make a big announcement about it, but I broke my arm in January, and so my energies for the last while have been focused on healing. Fear not, though! I'm feeling much better, and have even begun to pick up my camera and start shooting again after this short break. No need for any brides to worry that we won't show up ready to go. :)

It's been far too long without a post, so I thought I would put up some images I've been holding onto for awhile now. Back in October, Shawn and I spent part of our Thanksgiving weekend exploring the Ontario Badlands. I know that most Canadians, including myself, think of Alberta when they hear the work badlands, so it was a huge surprise to find out that this little patch of land existed here in this province! These badlands are a small patch between Brampton and Orangeville, and they really are beautiful! Don't wear any clothes you don't mind getting dirty, though!

You'll have to drive over some back roads to get there, and it's the strangest sensation to see it smack in the middle of GREEN farm land and forested areas, but it's very pretty:

Shawn snapped this image of me shooting. As you can guess, we were filthy by the end of it all!

The resulting image.

I absolutely loved this tree!

If you are local, or due to pass through the area, it is certainly worth the trip!

I would LOVE to shoot an engagement or trash the dress session here.

You know, *hint*, if anyone's interested.

We have a winner!!

2009-02-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

And the Best of 2008 title goes to.........

..........Image 5!

Thank you so much to everyone who voted - we loved hearing everone's thoughts, as Shawn and I would have been hard pressed to pick our favourite.

We are looking forward to another great season - don't hesitate to contact us for wedding or portrait photography, as 2009 is starting to fill up already!

First Annual Best of the Year Contest

2009-01-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all! Shawn and I hope that you enjoyed New Year's Eve, and that 2009 is filled with much love and joy. It's been a bit of a crazy year getting this business started, but it's also been such an exciting and rewarding journey. We are so grateful to our clients and all of our friends and family who have supported us along the way. It is an amazing thing getting to do something that you truly love! We can't wait to see what 2009 is going to bring.

With that in mind, we would like to introduce our first annual "Best of the Year" contest. We've chosen some of our favourite images from 2008, and we want you to help us choose the best one! The image with the most votes will win a free 16 x 20 canvas of their image. (A $300.00 value!)

The fine print:

-You can vote for your favourite image by leaving a comment below.

-One vote person, please. No anonymous votes or fake e-mail addresses.

-Feel free to pass the word on and get your friends, family, and coworkers involved!

VOTING WILL CLOSE AT 10:00 pm ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 31.

Finally, one last bonus for anyone who votes - if you book with us for a portrait session in 2009, you will receive a free 16 x 20 print of your choice from the images we create. (That's a $75 dollar value, in addition to the $100 credit already included in your session fee!)

To be eligible, your session can take place any time in 2009, but it must be booked before the contest is over on January 31.

Image ONE:

Image TWO:

Image THREE:

Image FOUR:

Image FIVE:

Image SIX:

Image SEVEN:

Image EIGHT:

Image NINE:

Oh, and also? You may notice that we've gone with a new layout for the blog. It gives us a bit more room to showcase our images - we'll have to spend a bit of time jazzing it up, but it's nice to be able to prioritize the pictures!

Oh, right. I have a blog.

2008-12-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

So, it's been awhile. Between getting ready for Christmas, and starting a new day job, I have been neglecting my blogging duties!

Althought it's been awhile, my next few entries will cover shoots that happened awhile back and just didn't have the oportunity to be covered on the blog. Hopefully the lovely sunshine in these shots will help you forget the snow covering the ground right now for awhile. Unless, of course, you like that kind of thing.

Shawn and I also do event photography, and we were delighted to be hired by the Peterborough Arts Umbrella to cover the street festival that runs during Artsweek. Artsweek is an amazing event, highlighting local artisans and organizations. It was so much fun to see the turnout for the street festival, especially the may kids who all seemed to be having a great time!

Baby A is here!

2008-11-19T20:02:00.001-08:00

Remember the cuteness that was Miss A? Well, she is officially a big sister. We headed up for a shoot with her wee brother, Baby A, on his 10th day out in this world. He is a very relaxed baby, and although he wasn't too sure about what we were up to at first, he settled in and gave us some great shots!

One of my favourites!

Thanks, as always, to mom and dad for welcoming us into your home to capture this amazing time for your family!

New product - guestbook albums!

2008-11-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about these albums! New to our product line, these guest books are a fantastic way to display the images from your session! Engagement session images can be turned into a guest book for your wedding......or your maternity/newborn shoot can be transformed into a book for the guests at your baby shower to write good wishes and thoughts.

Each page displays an image on the right, and either black or white archival quality writing paper on the left. These albums are available in either 5x7 or 8x10, in your choice of landscape or portrait orientation. With a choice of 10, 20, 30, or 40 images and over 60 materials and colours to choose from for the cover, we are excited to offer these to our clients!

Both sizes can be further personalized with lettering on the front, and the 8x10 can even have a cut out added to display your favourite image on the cover.

[Image courtesy of Finao's website - I've ordered a sample that I'll fill with images Shawn and I have created and post pictures soon!]

If you've already received your product ordering information, contact me for an updated list. Otherwise, our product information package now has these books listed.

Kaelin and Jordan's engagement shoot

2008-11-05T10:32:00.000-08:00

We met up with Kaelin and Jordan just outside of Uxbridge for their engagement session. Considering that it was the first weekend of November, we lucked out big time with some gorgeous sunshine and warm temperatures. (Not to mention some amazing subjects as well!) Shawn and I had a great time scouting some fun locations to shoot at, including this beautiful old barn and a railway station.

Aren't they a cute couple? These two were fantastic to work with!

A photographer whose work I enjoy said recently "it's not a real photoshoot if you don't get kicked out of somewhere." With that in mind, I am proud to say we were asked to vacate this abandoned car within a few minutes of getting Kaelin and Jordan into it. We still got some cute shots before that happened, though.

Thanks you two! We had a wonderful time, and we can't wait for your wedding in June!

More entries coming soon!

2008-11-03T22:22:00.001-08:00

Shawn and I had a busy weekend - there are more posts coming! In the meantime, I just wanted to post a quick preview for mom:

Andrea, Scott, and the ladies.

2008-10-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

We met up with Andrea and Scott last weekend for a shoot at Trent University. Andrea is an alumni of the university, so she knows campus very well! This was Scott's first time visiting, and we had a great time showing him around and discovering all kinds of fun places to shoot in. Also is attendance were their two golden retrievers, Kacie and Bella.

Scott and Andrea made some mention about not being so sure in front of the camera, but I'm not so sure, as we captured this image within the first 30 seconds:

Aren't they a gorgeous couple?

Kacie and Bella were also pros in front of the camera!

Andrea and Scott also get bonus points for agreeing to follow our crazy photographer demands - between lying down in the forest and braving a patch of thorny bushes, they were willing to do what it took to get the shot!

Thanks, Andrea and Scott - we had a fantastic time, and we hope you enjoy your preview!

Hanging out with Miss A

2008-10-20T21:22:00.001-07:00

We spent a Sunday afternoon with the adorable Miss A and her parents. A is the cutest toddler I have had the pleasure of spending time with in quite awhile. She's also got personality to spare - I was laughing as often as I was taking shots. A's mom and dad are expecting their second baby in a very short while - I can't wait to meet their newest little one!

Some of our favourites from the day:

Shawn and I picked this chair up in a local antique shop, with the goal of adding something different to some of our outdoor locations. A wasn't so sure about sitting on it, but we had fun playing peekaboo around it!

I think it should be legislated that all children under 5 are required to wear super cute hats at all times. The world would be a happier place.

One of our last shots of the day, and one of my favourites:

Thanks for spending the day with us - we had a fabulous time, and we hope you enjoy the preview!

Sam and Mark - couple's shoot

2008-10-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

Sam and Mark hung out with us for awhile on a Saturday morning in Peterborough for a couple's shoot. As you will see, we had a ton of fun together - they were up for anything! (They also get bonus points for not blinking an eye when, first, we asked them to climb up a brick wall, and then, second, I climbed a tree to get an eye level shot of them on said wall.)

The love between Sam and Mark was so easy to see - in the way they look at each other, the easy way they touched, the fantastic sense of humour they both possess.....I think that those qualities come through in these images as well.

Thanks again, you two, for your time - it was a pleasure. Enjoy your preview!

One of my favourites from the day:

One of my favourite out-takes from the day:

Ah, the green door. I also love this location, although we do our best to keep as much variety as possible with our location choices. We tried to put a different spin on the door in this shot:

I love this one, too! Is there a limit on the number of favourites I'm allowed?

Blog It! Promotion

2008-10-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I hope our Canadian readers enjoyed their Thanksgiving long weekend!

I am still working my way through all the amazing images we took over the last few weeks. You can look forward to these posts within the next week:

One last post from Kevin and Cindy's wedding before I finish the images
A post of their very own for Sam and Mark's couple shoot, and more of Miss A's adorable shoot
A sample of some of our event photography from the Artsweek street festival here in Peterborough
Some personal shots from our travels over Thanksgiving, including a hike through the Ontario Badlands near Brampton

In the meantime, I wanted to announce a new promotion here at Jordan Lyall Photography - our Blog It! offer. We love sharing new work on the blog with our readers, and we love comments!

So, when your session preview goes up on the site, pass it on to your friends and family. If you get 10 or more unique comments on your post, we will give you a $25 credit, which can be used towards any of the prints, albums, or canvases we offer. Previous clients can feel free to take advantage of this offer as well!

And, because a post always needs an image, this is one of the shots we took during the Artsweek street fest:

Sneak Preview from our weekend of photos - Oct 4 - 5, 2008

2008-10-06T21:06:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to give a sneak preview of the awesome we will be posting over the next week or two. Each of these will soon get their very own write up with extra pictures, and I hope to also blog about the event photography we did for Artsweek here in Peterborough - we just need to confirm permission with some of our subjects.

First off, we met up with Sam and Mark on Saturday. As Shawn will tell you, I have been a little obsessed with this wall - we've tried it a few times, but the sessions were always a little too late in the day to get the right light. As you can imagine, I was pretty excited to finally get some shots here.

Aren't they super cute?

We had a session with Miss A on Sunday afternoon. She was so much fun to hang around with!

Yep - cutest toddler on the planet! Mom and dad are expecting their second next month - I can't wait to meet them!

Stay tuned - more photos on the way soon!

Cindy and Kevin, continued

2008-10-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post a few more shots as I continue to edit. Enjoy!

Cindy and Kevin - September 19, 2008

2008-09-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Cindy and Kevin were married on a beautiful, bright day in Belfountain Conservation area. Belfountain is a really lovely location, with lots of little spots for us to shoot in. The ceremony was held overlooking the Credit River, which runs through the park. The love that these two have for each was obvious to everyone in attendance - they couldn't even wait to the end of the ceremony to start kissing!

I had a great time shooting formals with both them and their family - they were up for anything! Afterwards, Cindy and Kevin stole away with me to do some shots of just the two of them. I love how in tune they were with each other - it shows through in the shots just beautifully! I've posted a few of my favourites below:

Congratulations, you two!

Kayla and Rob, continued

2008-09-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

We're almost finished editing, so I thought I'd share a last few shots from Kayla and Rob's reception. The reception where no one was having any fun. Nope, no fun at all here.

Okay, you knew that was a joke, right? I'm having fun just editing these!

As a note - our website is nearly ready for release! We are very excited about this new development, and are working hard to take care of the last few technical glitches.

Kayla and Rob, Part Two

2008-08-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

We are busy editing photos from Kayla and Rob's day - we took a lot of shots! Just wanted to share some of my favourites so far:

Fall Availability

2008-08-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

Fall is starting to book up fast!

Remember that if you are interested in taking advantage of our portfolio building offer, your portrait session must be scheduled to take place before November 15! If you are interested in wedding photography, you need to book your date (with deposit) before November 15 to take advantage of the sale.

We are now working from our 2009 price list, so please feel free to contact us for more information.

And, because, it's not a post without a picture, I bring you something fun from our archives:

Shawn and I often get an idea for a picture in our heads, and then experiment with it until we can create what we've been thinking about. This was achieved by having Shawn walk slowly across our living room while dragging the shutter under low light. That's right, we're nerds. Veritable photo geeks.

Kayla and Rob - August 9, 2008

2008-08-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

Kayla and Rob were married on a drizzly day day in August, but the weather did absolutely nothing to dampen anyone's spirits! The day was filled with lots of love and laughter, making for an amazing wedding! Shawn and I took a whole lot of pictures - it was tough to choose just a few for this preview!

I started out with the bridal party at Kayla's mom's house, where the sun made a brief appearance and we managed to get some fun shots:

Aren't those flowers gorgeous? Shawn and I both solemnly swear that they really were that vibrant and colourful - no Photoshop was used in the making of these images.

The ceremony was held at George Street United Church.

The oldest church in Peterborough, it is an absolutely gorgeous location.

These smiles did not leave their faces for the entire ceremony!

Married!

We headed over to Trent University, where the reception was held, for some portraits. Despite the rain, we managed to get some great shots with Kayla and Rob.

Both Shawn and I were struck by Kayla and Rob's mindset through the entire day. Wedding planning can be stressful, and many people might be upset to see rainstorms and dark skies. But, as Kayla said, "we are embracing the rain" - and it showed! They were completely adventurous and unafraid to run around for awhile while we shot portraits. The love these two share was obvious every time they look at each other. I think this shot summed up the theme of the day well:

For anyone not familiar with Trent University, it's very common to see messages about upcoming events and important news chalked onto the bridge in the centre of campus. We thought it was appropriate for a portrait.

The Great Hall in Champlain College was set up beautifully for the reception:

The bride and groom had a little surprise for everyone at the reception, stopping early into their traditional first dance...

.....to bust into a decidedly more funky one, set to "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

I love a full dance floor at a wedding! We didn't get as many shots of the wedding party as we normally would with the weather, so we thought it would be fun to make up for it a little as the party continued:

Congratulations, Kayla and Rob! We hope you are having a fantastic honeymoon, and we'll have more photos ready for you when you return!

Exciting news and updates!

2008-08-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

Lots of things have been afoot lately....

1. We've set our pricing for 2008, and we are excited to be offering some big savings while we continue to portfolio build:

50% of all sessions booked to occur before November 15, and all weddings booked byNovember 15
20% of all products - prints, canvases, and albums ordered before December 1

2. We've been busy creating a website, which is set to go live on September 1st - we'll be offering some exciting giveaways, so be sure to check it out! We will announce the address on this blog and to members of our Facebook group.

3. Finally, our canvas supplier is offering a sale for the month of August so we are passing the savings on - any canvas print ordered before August 30 is 25% percent off, instead of the current 20% we are are offering until December.

Please don't hesitate to contact us at jlyallphotography@gmail.com with any questions or to make a booking!

And, because it would be silly to post in a photography blog without a picture - this is another out take from the Urban Photo Safari. This little girl was so patient as the crowd of photographers milled about her!

Finally, we've been delighted to notice that the blog is getting more traffic. Welcome to all of our new visitors, and thanks so much for taking a look! Feel free to leave a comment - we'd love to hear from you!

Peter and Mary's Wedding - July 5, 2008

2008-08-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Peter and Mary's wedding - it was held at Country Wedding Gardens, which was a gorgeous and very unique location. Mary and Peter had obviously put a lot of work into the details of the day, from the favours to the bonfire complete with smores later in the evening, and it all came together into a day that was fun, beautiful, and very them.

We're on Facebook!

2008-07-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to announce that we at Jordan Lyall Photography are now Facebooking! Feel free to check out our group.

We'll be posting sneak peeks from upcoming shoots, updating with exciting news, and letting people know when we are travelling. If we are already headed to your area for a session and you book us as well, we'll waive travel fees for everyone!

Kayla + Rob = awesome engagement shoot

2008-07-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

Shawn and I had a ton of fun shooting with Kayla and Rob for their engagement session today. Just a quick sneak preview for now - we're so excited to shoot your wedding in August!

Urban Photo Safari

2008-07-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

My partner Shawn and I took a course with noted children's photographer Susan Robichaud in Ottawa this past weekend. Susan is a lot of fun to spend time with and has some amazing experience to share! We had a fantastic time, and I can't wait to apply some of what we learned
to future sessions!

Some of the shoots from our two photo shoot sessions - we took so many pictures!

A quick look "behind the scenes" - it was raining, so we crammed 4 kids, their parents, and 11 photographers in the small locations we had!

Deb and Barry - June 7, 2008

2008-06-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

Deb and Barry were married on a sunny, hot, humid day, but the weather did nothing to dampen anyone's spirits. The day had a medieval theme, complete with period dress for the wedding party (and even some of the guests), a traditional handfasting during the ceremony, and a meal served with mead. Deb wore a gorgeous golden yellow dress with plum and amethyst accents, and Barry surprised his parents with a kilt made from their family tartan.

The entire event took place at the couple's beautiful property, complete with a gorgeously aged barn that I was quick to snap up for a background during portraits. (Love the colour and texture!)

I love that both Deb and Barry made their day a true reflection of their interests and personalities - it was joyful, relaxed, lots of fun, and filled with their love for each other, their family and friends! Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

Sunday Afternoon Photo Shoot

2008-05-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

You may remember C from an earlier post when I took some shots during his 3rd birthday party. We had another session yesterday afternoon.

in conversation with bill bissett

2008-04-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia:

bill bissett (born William Frederick Bissett, November 23, 1939) is a Canadian poet famous for his anti-conventional style. He purposefully does not capitalize his name.

bill bissett visited Peterborough for three days in March, a guest of the Cooked and Eaten poetry festival. He held open office hours during the afternoon at the Market Hall, available to visit and discuss poetry, life, and pretty much everything else with anyone who cared to stop by. I went for a visit, and, of course, to take some portraits.

bill is a character - in the short time we spent together our conversation trailed its way from different approaches to poetry, the arts scene in Canada, movies, Ryan Phillipe, high school, Peterborough, travelling, and words. In fact, he never stopped talking long enough for me to ask him to pause and smile, so I've simply titled this series "in conversation."

Trent University, round two.

2008-04-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

I have been spending way too much time taking pictures in this beautiful weather, and not nearly enough time posting pictures! I went back to Trent University for another round of shots. The campus still looks a little stark - it takes awhile for the foliage to bloom again, and all the dirt left behind after the snow thaw to wash away, but I loved the warm light we're finally getting now that Spring is here!

Market Hall, Continued

2008-04-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of working with some of the folks from mysterious entity, the resident theatre company at Market Hall. A new company, mysterious entity works under the Artistic Direction of Em Glasspool and has planned an ambitious season, with 3 productions planned for the next year. I stopped in to take some shots during a rehearsal for the Black Diamond, running from May 14 - 18, 2008 here at the Hall.

The cast from the Black Diamond. More shots to come soon!

C turns three!

2008-04-03T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to be invited to C's third birthday party for some pictures! As you can see, he had a great time.

Heather and Will got married!

2008-03-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well, Heather and Will got married late last year. It was a beautiful day, full of laughter and love and lots of little unique touches that really reflected their personalities - I was honoured to be able to attend. Congratulations to you both!

Their beautiful church.

N, the groom's niece, was the flower girl. She is adorable and quite the character!

The couple's first dance.

Heather's gorgeous dress, the day after.

Portraits for Market Hall

2008-03-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am working on a project to create headshots for the staff at Market Hall. It's work in progress, but here is a sneak peek:

Touring in Wine County

2008-03-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

While the Niagara region is seen as the main wine producer in Ontario, Prince Edward County is quickly establishing itself as a new region. We took a tour late last year, and had a fantastic time!

Trent University

2008-03-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

In preparation for a photo project, I've been wandering on campus at Trent University and taking shots.

A Walk in Selwyn Park

2008-03-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about living in the Peterborough area is the amazing scenery. These were taken on a walk through Selwyn Park, near Bridgenorth. I'm more then ready for spring to get here, but winter has it's prettier moments.

Portfolio Building

2008-03-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce that I am building my portfolio!

I will be booking sessions at a heavily discounted rate from now until the end of 2008 with the goal of building a catalogue of shots to be used for marketing purposes.

What you get......

-a 2 - 3 hour session in multiple locations

-up to 20 proofs to choose from

-complimentary editing (both colour and black and white where appropriate, cropping, and simple cosmetic retouching)

-2 complimentary 5 x 7's to say thank you!

-preferred pricing on additional prints

Cost: $40 sitting fee for up to five people
$5 per additional person

I require all clients to sign a standard release form allowing me to use the images on my website and in promotional materials such as business cards, brochures, etc.

I am happy to answers questions or talk further about how we can create some beautiful images for you! Feel free to contact me for more information at jlyallphotography@ gmail.com.

Trying out my new lens

2008-03-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

We decided to try a fixed focal length lens a few weeks ago. To say I was a little unsure would be an understatement....I am a die hard zoom lens kind of girl. Having said that, I really, really love what it can do with available light. In the absence of human models, my cats kindly stepped in for these shots.