Jul 23, 2012 | Uncategorized
Back in January I donated a free photo shoot for one lucky Weddings in Winnipeg bride during their 31 days of giveaways… and Jenn was the lucky winner! She and her bridesmaids won a free styled photo session and after months of planning and coordinating, it finally came to life in early June. Jenn and her girlfriends showed up at one of my favourite St. Boniface parks and with the help of Danielle who decorated the scene and Melissa who did all the girls’ make up for free, we had a beautiful session in the the early evening light. We wanted the session to be fun, relaxed and gorgeous – and I think we got just that, thanks to everyone involved!
(and if YOU are in the market for a free shoot (who isn’t!?), stay tuned to my facebook page… a few things are in the works for the near future, and will be announced there!)
Congratulations Jenn – it looks like your wedding is going to be a blast with these lovely ladies… I wish you all the best!
Jul 11, 2012 | Uncategorized
Introducing Janna and Dean – a super fun couple with tons of energy and zest for life! It’s been wonderful crossing paths with them. I’ve had a great time getting to know them, having great conversations about life and love and relationships, and also just hanging out having fun while shooting their engagement photos. You really couldn’t asked for a more laid-back care-free couple! For their engagement session they decided to incorporate a game of Scrabble on a home-made denim picnic blanket at the park. Scrabble (and apparently chess as well!) is one of their favourite games to play together, and it certainly makes for some fun photos too.
We kept the session low-key – basically by wandering around in Dean’s neighbourhood, hitting up some parks and finally to finish with a long walk home in the rain… getting totally drenched! (my camera bag comes with a hefty rain cover, so it was all good!)
Thanks Janna and Dean for a memorable evening… only a few more sleeps before the big day! Can’t wait!
To view the vintage edited version of these photos, visit their facebook photo album here!
Jun 26, 2012 | Uncategorized
As a photographer I have the unique experience of being a part of so many different and interesting stories, events and projects. It’s such an immense honour to be able to take part in other people’s lives, especially their art, their passion and their life work. My latest photography escapades have opened up my eyes to the incredibly fascinating world of entomology – notably, butterflies. The project is still in the works, so I don’t have many more details or photos to share with you at this time, but I just wanted to post a peek into this great project. I marvel at the beautiful intricacies of butterflies and I would encourage you to take a second look the next time one flies by you. They are indeed amazing creatures.
Jun 19, 2012 | Uncategorized
A few weeks ago I ventured out to a park in Winnipeg that I hadn’t been to before with my friends Josée and Andrew. We walked along a long trail, explored some hidden corners and took some photos throughout. You could say this was a 2-year dating anniversary shoot (it was that milestone for them!) but this was actually a shoot that had been in the works for many months… a type of shoot I like calling a “just because” photo session, and it finally happened one lazy Monday morning. Sometimes you don’t need much of a reason to take some portraits of two people in love. Sometimes taking pictures “just because” is the right reason. It was with them, and I’m glad I was able to capture some of their love, laughter, goofiness and cuteness. Love it.
Jun 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
This family photo session reminded me, once again, how much I love doing this. There’s something pretty spectacular about watching a family grow, and now with a kid of my own, it’s completely mind-blowing and even more amazing being able to witness the beginnings of other young families. What a privilege, and the least I can do to celebrate the joy is to take photos of it all. We picked a location that worked quite well in the evening light and the kids were incredibly cooperative. They are adorable little munchkins and I have to say did really well at allowing me to take some great shots of them. With a third on the way, I’m just waiting at the edge of my seat for news of the birth… as soon as I get the green light, I’ll have camera on hand and more photos to share… so stay tuned for newborn photos!
Jun 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Bienvenue au monde petit Loïc!
About a month before this mom had a home birth, I had spent an afternoon at their house to take some maternity photos and family photos with their 4th baby on the way. And then, just a few short days after this little guy was born at home, I came back to their house for some newborn photos as well as photos of their new completed family of 6! I had a great time, as I did last time. The kids are so into the photo shoot and also so in love with their new little brother… it made the session an absolute joy.
I said it last time, and I’ll say it again, what a beautiful family! Quelle belle famille! Félications!
Jun 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
Small and intimate at home weddings don’t happen very often, so when Gerry first contacted me about their upcoming marriage ceremony set to happen in Winnipeg, I jumped at the occasion to be their photographer. Having never met before (all correspondence was done via e-mail as we were provinces away!), I showed up at the house the day of the wedding only to be welcomed by the most gracious and welcoming group of people ever. Fern and Gerry are surrounded by the warmest & kindest friends and family and it was the perfect backdrop to their beautiful wedding ceremony.
I was only there for a short hour, but it was enough to witness a lifetime of love and connectedness between these two. I’m grateful that our paths have cross and I wish them nothing but the best for many more years to come! Congratulations you two!
Jun 6, 2012 | Uncategorized
Meet Natasha Boone – a talented Winnipeg artist with a unique style and a quirky approach to art. This series of photos features her life as a home-based artist who is currently working on an ambitious auto-biographical graphic novel. Natasha is a good friend of mine and her work as an illustrator has always been something that intrigued and fascinated me. I wanted to capture a piece of her life as an artist and this series of photos is a result of that. I spent a couple of hours at her place back in April. We had tea, chatted a bit, and I snapped away with my camera as she went on with her regular day-job. Oh the life of an artist! I love her work. I have some of it up in my house and have gifted it to friends as well. Good art is meant to be passed along.
You can follow her work here. And you can read about her graphic novel project here. She also currently has some of her artwork exhibited here in Winnipeg. For more info, click here.
May 29, 2012 | Uncategorized
Having fun at a family photo session is pretty high on my list of must-haves for a shoot… so when the fun level gets kicked up a notch with extra silly props, you can’t help but smile a little bigger and, in my case, take a few extra shots of all of it! Kellie’s family was all of that… PLUS they all looked fantastic dressed to the nines. We even had quite the entertainer – Kellie’s 4 year old nephew, showing off all his fancy dancing moves. (and I have quite a lot of photos of that too! It was actually quite impressive for such a young little guy!) The whole shoot took place at Level 3 Studios in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, but we also got a few quick shots outside on the cobblestone. A big thanks goes out to this family for a fun photo session!
May 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
Larissa and Daniel were married in Winnipeg on the May long weekend and as luck would have it, we were hammered with delightful weather: a hail storm on the Friday and a cold and rainy Saturday! Although originally from Toronto, Larissa has been living in Vancouver for the past 15 years and thought she’d be safe with a wedding in Winnipeg – anticipating sun, mild temperatures and clear blue skies. Alas, it would not be! At least, not until they sat down for dinner at the reception (aaah… a little too late). But we made the most of it (umbrellas to the rescue!) and in the end, it certainly didn’t stop them! They made the most of it, and with a wedding party as fun as theirs and with a couple as in love as they are, the bad weather didn’t take away one sweet bit from this wedding day.
It was an absolute pleasure being able to photograph their wedding – with Daniel being my cousin, it was a huge honour being asked to be their wedding photographer. I was able to witness their beautiful wedding from the best vantage point ever: the photographer’s view! But especially for this wedding… I might sound biased because we’re family, but I truly do believe that these two definitely have something special together. As the day progressed, I couldn’t help but notice how much they are connected to each other. The way he would look at her when she wasn’t aware… the way she’d smile as he’d come near her… not to sound sappy, but it was incredibly heartwarming to see! It felt real, it felt comfortable and it felt rich. And being there to photograph it is what brings me most joy as a photographer.
And so here are their wedding photos, and I am incredibly grateful to be able to share it with you. Larissa and Daniel – you have a solid ground together and an incredible circle of friends and family that surrounds you. The love your share together is immediately apparent and I know it will only grow and grow in the years to follow… thank you for sharing it with us and allowing us to believe it with you. Félicitations vous deux!
For more photos from their wedding, visit the facebook image gallery here.
May 26, 2012 | Uncategorized
A few weeks ago I met little Oliver – the cutest little addition to Sabrina & Scott’s beautiful family! Oliver was such a sport – he was super engaged, very intrigued by the big black camera that went “click click click” and equally as intrigued by the big bright windows in the studio. He stayed wide awake and cooperative for quite a long time so we got lots and lots of photos (too many to choose from!). We also captured a few more darling photos with his parents as he peacefully slept at the end of the session (obviously exhausted from being such a supermodel!). Thanks Sabrina and Scott for sharing your newest little bondle of joy – he truly is a delight! Congrats!
For more photos from this session, check out the album here!
May 20, 2012 | Uncategorized
The month of May is almost over and I can’t believe I haven’t blogged in almost 3 weeks! Evidently, things have gotten busier lately, and I’m catching up on all this shooting, editing and posting online (not to mention, trying to get all these photos out to my clients at the same time!). The last few weeks have brought some great people into my life and I’ve had many new opportunities to photograph love, family and all the fun that’s had when it’s experienced and celebrated. I had the pleasure of photographing a small and intimate at-home wedding ceremony with Fern and Gerry, followed by a larger wedding celebration at Fort Gibraltar yesterday for my cousin and his beautiful bride. I’m one lucky girl to be able to capture it all in photos! I promise more photos are coming soon… here’s a sneak peek from the last 2 weddings:
May 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
Meet Joël Cyr, a super passionate and talented Winnipeg chef whose culinary creations take you out of this world! Last week I had the absolute pleasure of being invited over to his house with my husband for what was one of the best meals I’ve ever had… (not exaggerating!) Just take a look at this menu and photos… if that doesn’t make you salivate, I don’t know what will!
SOUP – Veal Consommé, Shaved Shiitake Mushrooms, Julienne Carrots, Chives
SALAD – Cilantro-Lime Quinoa Salad, Poached Egg, Spicy Paprika Oil, Cucumber Basil Purée, Shaved Cucumber and Radish
APPETIZER – Spinach and Cheese Ravioli, Tomato Shallot Cream Sauce, Lobster Tail Poached in Clarified Butter, Balsamic Glaze
MAIN – Duck Breast, Fig Syrup, Mushroom-Leek-Parmesan Risotto, Roasted Asparagus
DESSERT – Root Beer Marshmallow, Vanilla Bean Tuile (wafer), Chili Chocolate ‘Crémeux’, Salted Chocolate Crumble, Strawberry Basil Coulis
GASP! SO DELICIOUS! Check out the small sampling of photos, and continue on to read his bio and some interesting facts about the process behind this gourmet five-course meal:
Home-made marshmallows! Can you believe it? So creative!
THE BIO: Joël Cyr is a Winnipeg culinary artist who is currently working as a sous-chef at the Grove Pub Restaurant. His experience in the kitchen started as a pastry chef for Le Croissant and eventually led him to working at Chop Steakhouse as a sous-chef (where he also gained experience in kitchen & restaurant management). He obtained his red seal in 2010, and wanting to break free from the corporate community, left his job at Chop and transistioned over to the Grove. And good news for you: you also can enjoy some of his fine talents by visiting the Grove! I highly recommend it! (my cousin also works in their kitchen, so I can double-garantee you’ll enjoy your food!)
THE TIDBITS, as quoted by Joël:
Inspiration for soup: “Consommé is a classic french soup that you don’t see much anymore because of the long process involved in preparing it but, in my opinion, should still be part of every chefs repertoire. Achieving a clear rich consommé requires time and patience but the payoff is worth it. Plus it photographs well!”
Salad: “When I think of spring I think of this salad. Fresh. The cool crunch and tart citrus of the salad is tamed by the warm oozy yolk of the poached egg.
Tip: Splurge on paprika. Don’t compromise. You won’t go back to the supermarket stuff once you’ve had a good smoked paprika.”
Appetizer: “Instead of cooking the lobster in boiling water the shell, I removed the meat from the shell and cooked it in clarified butter which gives it a ton of flavour.”
Main: “I love the exotic old world flavour of the fig syrup contrasting the rich savoury duck breast. I found a recipe for a similar sauce in a magazine and I’ve since made it my own. I also like serving it with pistachio-crusted pork tenderloin.”
Dessert: “After discovering that many chefs were serving marshmallows for their dessert course I began exploring and found that the possibilities are endless! So I decided to try this root beer marshmallow for the first time. I can’t wait to roast one on an open fire.
The chocolate crémeux is a recipe I’ve been making for a long time. Just as I was making it this last time i decided to throw some chilies in the cream and let them steep. The result? Slightly spicy chill chocolate cream. It’s definitely a keeper.”
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS MEAL, CHECK OUT THE ALBUM ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE!
Merci Joël, on se reprendra bientôt, ok? 🙂
Apr 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
It’s not very often that I get the chance to photograph a family of 3 kids going on 4… so I was pretty excited about taking some casual family portraits at home for Natalie and her lovely family! I also grew up in a large family, so when I see a modern-day family with lots of kids, it brings back great memories of having fun with my siblings. These kids were full of energy and adorably cute! Especially little Everett, who had just woken up from his afternoon nap… groggily came into the living room and slowly integrated into our photo shoot. Sleepy eyes and small yawns – a dozy toddler is always so cute!
We took a few maternity-style photos (will be blogged separately), but for the most part we focused on letting the kids have fun and taking candid photos of the family. It was a beautiful April afternoon, so we also went to play out in the back yard. Lots of fun, and of course excitement over the soon-to-come newest arrival to the family! I love large families, they have all the fun!
These photos were taken a few weeks ago, and now Natalie is due any day now. So stay tuned for newborn photos, hopefully coming soon in the next couple of weeks! Félicitations Natalie, tu as une belle famille!
Apr 22, 2012 | Uncategorized
Meeting Mark and Char’s lovely little family was an absolute delight! As you can tell, I was thrilled to have a super adorable baby in the studio… what a cutie! I think there may be more photos of him than anyone else! But other than all the cuteness, there was also a lot of loveliness – a beautiful family full of life and laughter – which makes my job super easy. Thanks guys for such a great session – you share something special together, and I was happy to capture a small part of it!
Check out Gabrielle Touchette Photography on Facebook!
Apr 20, 2012 | Uncategorized
I have the best clients ever — I met Cassandra a few weeks ago to do some actor headshots for her and I have to say that, yet again, I was fortunate enough to work with such a sweet and talented young lady. Great personality, super easy to work with, and of course, absolutely gorgeous. Look at those eyes!
And if you’re going to be checking out Footloose at Rainbow stage this summer in Winnipeg, keep an eye out for her! She definitely lights up any room (and stage, I’m sure!).
Good luck Cassandra and all the best in your future endeavours!
Check out Gabrielle Touchette Photography on Facebook!
Apr 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing a not-so-common maternity session… one with 3 pregnant ladies who all happen to be sisters! Charity contacted me a few weeks ago to say she was coming to Winnipeg for a short visit. As a surprise mother’s day gift to their mom, she decided to put together a portrait session with her and her siblings. The unique twist was incorporating the fact that they are all soon-to-be-moms themselves! Of course, their brother also came along for the session and we had fun snapping a few shots with him as well. He felt a little left out in the belly-department, so we got him to play along for one of the shots. Ha! (check it out below….)
Congratulations all of you! Babies galore… I love it!
The due dates!
The belly shots! 🙂
Apr 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
Being new to Winnipeg, Claire and Dylan decided to tie the knot at the courthouse. Nice and simple: they signed some papers and then were married! But their new union needed a bit more of a commemoration, so they decided to hire a professional photographer to capture them as newlyweds in a simple, yet elegant wedding portrait session. I jumped at the occasion to work with them – and so we chose a quiet winter afternoon at the studio to do an easy-going laid back photo session. Claire was beautiful in her elegant champagne wedding dress and Dylan was pretty spiffy himself wearing all black with a brown tie. They were lovely to photograph and it was an absolute delight to be able to capture new love in a simple and intimate setting. Congratulations you both!
Apr 1, 2012 | Uncategorized
A few weeks ago (when Winnipeg in winter actually looked like it!) I did a family portrait session at Pineridge Hollow in Birds Hill Park. I really like the idea behind this photo session: getting some candid photos while the family enjoyed lunch and conversation and then we did some group family shots afterwards (both inside and outdoors). It was a lovey winter day and I was thrilled to have such a beautiful sunny sky to compliment the shoot. I had a great time with these guys – a family full of life, love and of course, tons of laughter! I’m glad they were game for a casual session mixed in with some outdoor winter portraits. Thanks everyone for trudging through the snow and bearing the bright winter sunlight!
Mar 18, 2012 | Uncategorized
Big news! Sabrina and Scott are expecting their first baby! And yes, it’s with that t-shirt that Scott broke the news to their friends. I love these guys – it was a ton of fun to photograph their session, and definitely never a dull moment when I’m with them. Scott has a great sense of humour and Sabrina can’t help but love him for it. They are adorable together and that’s why I’m so excited for them to start a family! Not to mention, Sabrina is a good (old!) friend of mine (dating back to the early 90s!) and it’s been great to see her growing on her journey with Scott, and now growing with a new addition to their beautiful family. Sab – you’re going to make a lovely mom – je suis tellement contente pour vous!
Stay tuned for the newborn photos… she’s only a week away from her due date today!
Mar 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
When Sylvie first told me she had all these ideas and plans for their engagement photo session, I had no idea to what extent she meant until I showed up at our location! Sylvie is a super creative individual who came loaded with ideas, styling and tons of DIY props. I was asked to bring a chair and some stringed lights, and the rest was all ready to go when I arrived. It was great!
We started off with a super romantic table for two with red wine and warm candles… then we had a love equation, a DIY save-the-date banner, chalkboard frames for them to write the qualities they love the most in their partner, a ringette game on the ice, finished off by a DIY save-the-date stencil shadow shot! We even got a sprinkling of winter rain (yeah, I know, unusual for Winnipeg!), which was PERFECT for our last photo. Check it out at the very bottom of this blog post!
I had such a great time with them both – they’re enthusiastic, playful yet completely enamored with each other – so comfortable with the love they share together. It was such a treat being able to photograph their engagement session and I certainly cannot wait for their wedding this summer! Félicitations vous deux!
Mar 2, 2012 | Uncategorized
Welcome to Rachelle and Darryl’s romantic winter wedding in Winnipeg’s own famous Fort Garry Hotel! They put together a small and intimate wedding celebration: elegant, beautiful yet fun with a touch of spontenaeity. They were married in the Vice Regal room surrounded by their immediate family and then we had the run of the hotel to take their wedding portraits. Having one-on-one time with the couple is one of my favourite aspects of wedding photography, and sharing these moments with them was extra special. These two have a kind of harmony that’s rare to find, a harmony that’s uplifting and comfortable. There’s a natural connection that these two share, and it goes beyond words. Their care for the love they have cultivated is evident, and the quiet exchanges between them were beautiful to observe, and much more inspiring to capture on camera.
Congratulations Rachelle and Darryl – may you always grow in that love you celebrated on your wedding day!
Feb 28, 2012 | Uncategorized
I’ve been working on the last little bit of editing from my engagement photo session with Sylvie and Justin and I just couldn’t resist posting a little bit of this sweetness. Aren’t they just the cutest? You bet I can’t wait for the wedding!
Sylvie arrived with loads and loads of creative ideas (as well as tons of DIY props for the engagement session!) and you can imagine I had blast working with these guys. It won’t be long until I post more photos, so hang in there.
Sylvie + Justin = LOVE
Feb 28, 2012 | Uncategorized
Meet Christi, a lovely young lady with whom I had the pleasure of taking her actor headshots earlier this month. Christi drove in all the way from Brandon for our shoot and I’m so glad she made the trip – she was awesome to work with, had such a natural and comfortable demeanor in front of the lens, not to mention being a true beauty, both inside and out! She’s just starting her career in acting, and with a bit of experience behind her, she’s now heading off to Toronto to pursue a full career in acting. I wish her all the best as she embarks on a new life adventure! Good luck Christi!
Feb 27, 2012 | Uncategorized
Meet Seanster – and his monsters… the quirky new Winnipeg kids band put together for your listening (and viewing) pleasure! Although predominantly geared towards kids, these guys will entertain even the grumpiest of adults. Sean is a good friend of mine, and a super talented musician – he’s entertained countless munchkins in the past with his former band Alphabet Soup and is now jumping into this new project with lots of enthusiasm, spunk, and of course, never-boring facial expressions. These photos were taken at their recent concert at the Children’s Museum at the Forks — and if you ever get a chance to see these guys live, GO!
Feb 26, 2012 | Uncategorized
Katie came down to my studio a few weeks ago to shoot some promo photos for her upcoming album and website. I love working with talented local musicians here in Winnipeg, and it was an ever greater pleasure working with Katie a second time around! She has a distinct vision and I love that she is such a creative individual. With the help of her wonderful assistant (her sister!), we pulled off this shoot and got some great results. I can’t wait to see the photos in the finished product when her next album comes out! Thanks again Katie for the lovely photo session – it’s always a pleasure working with you!
You can catch more of Katie’s musical happenings over here! Enjoy!
Feb 18, 2012 | Uncategorized
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting these two young ladies at my studio for some kid actor headshots. They were absolute sweethearts with beautiful personalities and such an ease in front of the camera. Their smiles definitely light up the room and I was happy to be able to get some great headshots for their portfolios. They have a few projects on the horizon and I wish them all the best as they pursue acting here in Winnipeg!
Feb 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
One of the more exciting parts of being a wedding photographer is getting the news that past wedding clients of mine are now expecting their first baby. It seems to be happening a lot lately, and I totally love seeing everything come full circle… the love of two people now transitioning into the amazing world of becoming parents. It’s a whole new dimension of love – one that you cannot prepare for and one that you cannot fully appreciate until you’re right in the middle of it. Having recently experienced it for myself, it’s totally way beyond anything my husband and I could have ever imagined and it’s nothing short of mind-blowing. And to photograph it for other parents is truly a huge honour.
Introducing Gemma – this beautiful little pink bundle of cuteness is the pride and joy of Courtney and Cole. Their love is growing into a new dimension and it was awesome being able to capture it for them. Congratulations you guys, she totally lit up the room!
Feb 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
When my daughter turned 1 year old, we did a fun photo session at the studio to mark the occasion. After we had finished our “main” photo session (seen here), we were getting ready to leave and I just couldn’t resist catching some of these candid moments in her little white diaper shirt. She is so unbearably cute – and YES, even though I’m with her practically 24 hours a day, her cuteness just never gets old!! These photos are from a while back, but as part of my catching-up-on-blogging goes, these get posted today, on Valentine’s day. She has my heart. Je t’aime beaucoup, beaucoup, beaucoup.
Feb 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
In the past year and a bit I’ve had some new opportunities to photograph my aunt’s family. My aunt (who’s married to my mom’s brother) is the type of person every family needs. She’s got spunk, she says it for what it is, yet she’s sensitive to people’s needs and has a heart full of grace. And, in the past year, it’s like she “discovered” me as a photographer and has been hiring me for several family shoots on her side of the family! I know she’s always been a fan of my work, but it’s just lately that she’s been planning all these awesome photo shoots. And never a dull moment with them! I love it!
This was a multi-family photo session at the Legislative building on Christmas Eve, and although I have many, many photos I’d love to blog, here is a small(ish) preview. Let’s start it off with my “cool” uncle and his understanding boys. (Um, or should I say men? Those are my KID cousins and now they’re in suits and are all clean-shaven! I remember holding the tallest one as a baby and babysitting them! Ack! Am I old or what??!)
I hope you enjoy. And I hope to have a chance to photograph these guys many more times. Love you all!
