As a photographer, I don’t create personal work often. However, when I do, I noticed that it’s all about the people and the experiences that are dear to me. Whether it’s documenting the time our family spent at the Prince Edward County or candid family portraits I took when we all got together for Thanksgiving, these photos remind me of something very important. They tell me that I’m loved and that I’m so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people in my life.

That is why I always try to print all the photos that I took throughout the year. It became a sort of a tradition in our household! I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you as we are heading towards the Holidays.

Here are some of our favourite photo traditions to embrace as your own this season, and potentially to bring into the years to come!

Tradition #1: Share your photographed stories in person.

Nothing spurs a story like a photo, and it’s those stories and little anecdotes that bring those pictures to life! We met up with Evelyn and Chester whose wedding we photographed back in 2013 (and who since then became our good friends!) and showed their little daughter, Amelia, her parents’ wedding photos that we took back in the day. Her reaction was priceless!

Tradition #2: Create a parents album

A lot of you got married this year (and you know who I’m talking about!) and joined the ranks of the MANGO family. Whoohoo! Make permanence of this joyful and magical occasion by printing a parents’ album to surprise your folks on Family Day. The day you got married is one of the best days in your parents’ lives, and I cannot imagine anything cuter than gifting your parents with a parents’ version of your wedding album. Inquire about creating a beautiful photo album with us HERE.

Tradition #3: Take a family photo/ (with you in it!)

It’s all too easy to take dozens of iPhone photos of your holiday brunch or the fantastic Christmas tree at the Distillery District, and quickly forget to gather the WHOLE family around for that one photo you’ll want to hang on the wall. This season, don’t forget to capture those meaningful family moments by hiring a professional photographer (did we mention we LOVE to take family photos?) – and give yourself a frame of happy smiles to look back on each year.  You book your family photo session:

Book a family photoshoot HERE

Tradition #4: Print a resin piece

After an entire year of snapping and saving, there’s nothing wiser (and more worthwhile) than turning your photos into epic works of art. It could be your best family portrait or a stunning landscape picture from your wedding day. Once printed, your memory will take on a life of its own and will get preserved in the most beautiful way possible. Our team will be happy to make a mockup of your custom resin piece so you could visualise it with your interior decor.

Psst, you can purchase a MANGO gift card to use towards a gorgeous resin piece and surprise your loved ones on the Christmas morning! Contact us HERE to get your gift card in time for the holidays!

Tradition #5: Set your photo goals for the next year!

Whether it’s a promise to take more family photos or printing pictures from your travels, staying committed to photography can transform your year! Setting your photo goals for the next year will help you keep your eyes open to what’s around you and gives you a perfect outlet to tell your year’s story in pictures. By this time next year, you’ll have many more amazing photos that capture the big, the little, and the in-between. The most rewarding part? Bringing them to print because nothing beats holding those memories in your hands.

The post Top 5 Photo Traditions to Embrace This Holiday Season appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

1. What to wear?

First, come up with a family activity. What do you do in your every day as a family? Do you like cooking together? Reading bedtime stories? Going for a stroll to a neighbourhood park? Boardgames? Playing a game of volleyball soccer?  In the winter months; making a snow man or going for hot chocolate.

We always suggest coming up with fun and lighthearted family activity so that you feel comfortable and natural doing it.  This is the best way for us to be able to capture those awesome candids.  Once you have the activity figured out you should wear complementing clothing to that activity and complementing colours.

2. Any suggestions on where to shoot?

Your home:  for that cozy, intimate, relaxed feel;  See sample galleries

On location: If your neighbour park isn’t making the cut; See Sample locations

In our Studio: Always a safe bet with our all white wall studios; See sample galleries

3. How do I  change my shoot date and/ or location?

No fees or penalties to change 24 hours before shoot date.

If you have already been in contact with your photographer you may confirm with them directly or you can email

info@mangostudios.com / 416-36647-23

Past 24 hours shoots are non-refundable/transferable

4.  It looks like it might rain for my outdoor shoot.  How do I  change our photo shoot date?

No fees or penalties to change 24 hours before shoot date.

If you have already been in contact with your photographer you may confirm with them directly or you can email

info@mangostudios.com / 416-36647-23

Past 24 hours shoots are non-refundable/transferable

5.  Who is my photographer?

We’re a small team of only the top photographers in Toronto. We pair you up with the right individual for your needs. Each photographer has their own personality, but the approach and style are consistent across the portfolio.

If you have worked with someone in the past and wish to do so again please email info@mangostudios.com or call 316-366-4723 to put in your request.

6.  How do I  add additional time?

You can add additional time any time with your photographer by confirming with them directly or emailing / calling

info@mangostudios.com / 416-3664723

The post Top 6 tips on How to make your Family Photo Shoot a Success appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Planning and styling- Sincerely Yours Events, flowers
Decor and styling –Rachel A. Clingen Wedding & Event Design
Catering – Elle Cuisine
Cake – Fuitilicious Cakes
Picnic tables – Divine Furniture Rentals,
Place-settings – Splendid Settings and  Plate Occasions 
Stationery – Paper & Poste 
Balloons – Balloons By The Sweetest 
Pink and white cart – Plate Occasions
Cotton candy gift bags – Fancy Pufs

The post Sweet 16 Birthday Party Photography appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Great family portraits never go out of style. The hairstyles or fashions from your old family photos may be dated, or one of your family photoshoots may have produced some hilariously awkward results, but the idea of taking family portraits has remained a beloved pastime since the dawn of photography. People always want to preserve memories of their loved ones and we love creating them 🙂

For more information about how to book your Family Photography Session CLICK HERE

The post Enjoying the last bit of summer with this Family Photo Session appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

         

To book your Family Photo shoot Click HERE

Is it just me, or does everyone seem to schedule their summer family photo shoot these days? With the warm weather finally here, I think it’s a perfect time to get outside for your family photo session!

How do you get those Pinterest-worthy airy family pictures? Friends, I’ll let you in on a secret. As with any shoot, the key is collaboration. Our goal is to capture the light-hearted, candid moments of your family while making them totally frame-worthy. That’s why I would sit down with you and discuss how you would use your family photos to make sure we are capturing the right images. Will you make a photo album? Your photos will be mostly landscape to make sure they fit nicely in a final album design. Will you hang them on your walls? Then, I would ask you to send me iPhone pics of your home, to get a sense what colors and styles would suit your lovely house. This way we ensure the photos will look organic with your decor and complement your interior style.  

For Brittany and Kris Versteeg of the Calgary Flames, I worked closely with them on the styling and location to make sure their photos could be artfully hung amongst their neutral and airy home. I felt Woodbine beach was the perfect location for their shoot with its dark blue water and grey pebbled shoreline. I asked them to wear light, cool tones to softly contrast the warm sun and leafy trees in the background. The result shows how the styling is key as all the colors are neutral and the images will look great amongst their home decor.

I’m a strong believer that the family photos should feel genuine. The candid, genuine interactions between Brittany, Kris and their two boys speak volumes about the warmth they share with each other.

I absolutely love it when I get to capture the family running around, interacting as they normally would on a sunny day at the beach. Their family photo shoot feels light and airy, just like the happy memories of a day by the shore. While Brittany and Kris’s boys were busy, I snuck in a few portraits of the parents together – capturing some beautiful images of them alone. I also made sure to have a variety of compositions, so the images could be arranged a number of ways for a collage wall.

Having said that, I LOVE the uniqueness of each and every family I photograph as I get to see their personalities shine through during the shoots. I love the family dynamics when everyone gets together to have a good time. That’s what I want to create with you during our photo sessions. Whether our session includes camping in your backyard, a hike to your favorite park or even a trip to the beach – I want to capture you, being the awesome family that you are.

Brittany and Kris, thank you again for spending the sunny afternoon with us! Everyone in the studio still raves about your gorgeous wedding. It was great to see you again and meet your lovely children. We wish you many joyous family moments together!

To book your Family Photo shoot Click HERE

The post The Waterside Family Photo Shoot That Will Give You All The Feels appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

It’s only natural that family and wedding photography go hand in hand.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to photograph a very special, fun-loving and charming family. I couldn’t be happier with the photos! I was so excited for this shoot since the mother, Zeina Esmail is a sought-after fashion director and Editor-at-Large for FASHION Magazine. She is notorious for styling some of the best fashion covers featuring Gigi Hadid, Taylor Swift, and other celebrities. With an impressive roster of clientele working on award-winning campaigns and international publications, Zeina’s distinct aesthetics has her in high demand.

For their family photography session in our airy studio, Zeina approached it with a true-to-her mindset, putting together a fun, chic and ever-so-fashionable photoshoot. What could be better than photographing an easy-going and fun-loving family dressed to the nines? Nothing!

Zeina envisioned a simple, yet cool dynamic for her fun family portraits, This is exactly what I think any family photoshoot should be. I am a firm believer that all family photos should be exactly that: fun, stress-free and effortless while showcasing that unique family bond and dynamics you share with your loved ones. Isn’t it something we all want? No one wants their family photography to be dull or awkward. Every family is unique and there will be different dynamics amongst family members. That’s totally cool! If your kids are not in the mood to stand still and prefer to run around like turkeys. I’d love to capture that playful, care-free side of them. I always strive to show that unique relationship and personality in every single family photo, whether it’s a fun and relaxed in-studio session or a formal family photo shoot on your wedding day.

Here’s how to do it:

To create emotionally rich, fun and dynamic family photos I start by getting to know you first. Because every family is unique I want them to end up with images that feel like them. Some people laugh more, some less. Some people are shy and introverted, and others are loud extroverts. Therefore, I always remind myself to show up on the set with a flexible point of view. This is what I tell my couples and clients, too. Come to the shoot with no other expectation other than having fun. If you try to direct children (or anyone, really!) into cozy, calm poses, it only takes a second before they start tickling each other and making funny noises, you need to adapt. I always let my couples and families steer the mood for the shoot and not the other way around. Otherwise, you might end up with photos that feel forced and foreign.  That’s why I play into it when I see the family I’m photographing is goofy and tends to burst out into laughter. Alternatively, if they are quiet and calm, I let them sink into it. By adapting and embracing personalities and unique relationships, I’m able to create compelling family photographs that are alive, authentic and stay true to self.

The post These Photos Show That Family Photography Is Fun! appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

1. Photo Equipment

There is no need for a fancy new camera to document your fam.  In fact, stick with what you know.  These days even a smartphone can take decent photos!  Whether it is a smartphone, a point, and shoot or a fancy DSLR if you practice and know how to use it and manipulate the settings then go for it!

A tripod and a camera that has a timer or a remote control though are pretty important if you plan to take your own family photos.  Smartphones also have these settings.

I set up our family shots with my DSLR on a tripod and then I used a 10-second timer to take the photos.  If I don’t have my DSLR with me I prop up my iPhone and set the timer.  The iPhone camera timer is found in the native camera app, located at the top of the screen.

2. Location and lighting

Find a location you want to shoot at that fits your style.  Keep in mind what you want to do with the images afterward.  Would you like to print them out, frame them, and put them on a wall?  If so,  keep that in mind when selecting a location.

Is there enough natural light?  If I ‘m not shooting outdoors I  prefer to set up right near a window during the day so there is a ton of natural light.  Declutter the space.  Now it’s time to move around some furniture, tidy up and keep the area clean and simple.   A simple white wall can also be super sleek and modern.

3.  Get Moving

Set the timer on your camera, prop it up on a stand, tripod, or whatever you can use and have your family sit/ stand within the frame.  Now get moving!  Put on some music and have a dance party, crack some jokes, and enjoy each other’s company!  Keep close together and just have fun.  Don’t worry about making each shot perfect.  The point of a family photo is to capture your personalities so remember the images don’t have to be photo perfect.  They should capture the essence of your family dynamic.  If you would like some more direction Here is our Family portrait posing guide CLICK HERE

4.  Editing tools

Once you’ve captured a series of images it’s time to start narrowing down your faves.  Once you’ve selected your favourite images there is a ton of super easy to use editing apps and tools.  I  like to use any of the following apps

• Lightroom presets
• VSCO for editing
• Pic Collage- to create collages

If you’d like some professional help documenting your family during COVID, we offer social distancing photoshoots.  You can check out the Link below

More Info to book a Family Photography session HERE

The post 4 Tips on How to Take Your Own Family Photos During Covid-19 appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Not only are they receiving far fewer snuggles and kisses as relatives and friends must socially distance themselves, but some very precious moments are being missed. Newborn photo shoots are among them.

These are trying times for us all.  We typically do a ton of newborn and family photoshoots around this time, however due to Covid – 19 all of our photography sessions have had to be postponed meaning those very special first few days of a newborn’s life cannot be documented like before.  Soooooo….. we had to figure out a way.  When our beautiful niece was born on April 24th we did the one thing we do best.  We packed up our gear and headed over to photograph Rumi during her first few days in the safest possible way while respecting the social distancing guidelines.  We photographed proud new Mom, Dad and baby girl inside their home while we shot outside through a window.  If interested in one of these window  or door step social distance photoshoots please get in touch with us.  More info in the Link below.  Sending all the new Mamma’s,  Pappa’s and Grandparents out there a big virtual hug.  Hang in there, we will all be together soon. 

Check out the sweet moments below.

Click LINK to book your shoot

The post Babies Born During Corona Virus are Missing out on Newborn Photo Sessions appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Tis the season for Holiday Family Portraits!

In anticipation of our favorite time of the year, we are offering Holiday Family Photos to capture you, being the awesome family that you are.

What is Included?

• 45mins in-studio or on-location photography session
• 50 High resolution photos
• Both set of colour and black and white images
• Ready to share online gallery
• Easily add extra time, Photo Albums, Or Art Prints

Delivery Time
Your images will be ready 3-5 business days after your shoot date.

See available time and book your 2020 shoot

HERE

The post Tis the season for Holiday Family Portraits! appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Michelle and Jesse are one of our power #MANGOcouples. He’s a successful marketing director and she’s an accomplished real estate agent. Together, they had a modern, fun and amazingly stylish Malaparte wedding too pretty for words. From the moment they walked into their very first wedding consult, I knew we are going to hit it off right from the start. There just was such an incredible connection between us and working with them was so much fun.

A couple of years later, and Michelle started arranging their very first family session together with Blair, their almost 1-year-old daughter and Wilco, the Boston Terrier. We had just opened our new studio space and I really wanted to do something fun there. Knowing their personal tastes and design preferences (I’ve been to their ultra-modern loft and knew what kind of interior design they love) I suggested they keep their wardrobe chic, yet casual – something they would wear every day and still feel polished and put-together. I also sent them a few colour palette examples which were really just abstract paintings by Christina Moody! Funny thing, Michelle and Jesse happened to own one of her prints and were so excited to dress in those earthy tones. I believe wearing complementary colours is such an important component to great family photography, and these guys really nailed it.

We hope you enjoy these candid and lighthearted pictures! Michelle, Jesse, it was so much fun to reunite with you after your wedding day. We wish you and your family nothing but all the happiness in the world 💕

The post In-Studio Family Photography That Will Surely Make You Smile appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.