Sex(ton) in the City

When I was just getting started in photography, I helped style a high profile shoot with a friend so I could find out what really goes on behind the scenes. It was a long 12 hour day and I got to meet some amazing models, photographers and a wonderful makeup artist name Natalie. Nat has an infectious personality and we hit it off instantly. 

Fast forward a couple of years and Miss thang has her own style blog which is regularly featured on CHCH, and has launched her new line of makeup. She sent me a sample of a lipstick yesterday in the mail and I loved it! I also follow her personal style on Pinterest....she inspires my outfit selections daily!

Check her out at:

http://sextoninthecityboutique.ca/

and

http://sextoninthecity.blogspot.ca/

Thanks for the sample Nat! You rock girl!

xo

The Social Club

There's a new gym in town and I am so proud of my childhood friend Amber for opening it! It's called The Social Club. It's different. It's quaint. There's chandeliers and towel service. Bollywood and Kettle Bell. Barn doors and boutique service. Zumba, TRX and Piloxing.

The Grand opening is Sunday February 3rd and there is no enrollment fee for the month of February.
$32.99 bi-weekly and all equipment and specialty classes are included.

Their mantra is a welcoming atmosphere that encourages progress, not perfection.

Her dad once told her that if she didn't do it, someone else would. And so he saw it through the process and tragically passed away before the club even had a chance to open. She always imagined him coming in and joking around about being the towel boy and yet now he is gone, and the dream still exists. She told me that she can't fail and let her dad down. Failure is not an option for this young lady. Everything she has a part in is classy, elegant, cozy (and expensive ha ha!) What can  I say? She has great taste!

Am, I am so proud of you and I know your dad is too.

Head on up to Binbrook and say hello to Amber! And if you so desire, join a gym that offers the best. And nothing less.

Love,

Wendy

Baby Luca: A 2012 Christmas gift

Welcome to the world, beautiful baby Luca! You decided to start your journey here after Christmas dinner and enter our lives on Boxing Day! What a perfectly wrapped present. We were a few weeks later than we normally photograph newborns but he was an angel, slept for most of the time and smiled during the remainder.

Your mommy would like us to document your life events so you'll be seeing a lot more of our big, black and loud clicking cameras but you seem to already own the show in front of the lens.

Thank you for blessing your parent's lives with pride, joy and sheer adoration.

You were an excellent model today! :)

Love,

Wendy

Buttercup.

There are moments in life that you hope for but can't really describe. Like, one time I remember being at a ski chalet with a group of my boyfriend's friends. I didn't know the girls very well but I am pretty good at fitting in and getting along with just about anybody. But it can be quite exhausting, especially if you aren't jiving naturally.

I remember an old friend telling me that her sister saw me on the slopes with a group of people. And that it didn't look like I really knew them very well. How very observant on her part. Was it that obvious?

Last night we got together with two sisters; one who first hired me ten years ago at my office job and we have since been reaquainted as friends. The other, her sister Kate who I have come to adore. You know the kind of people you can just be yourself with, have so many laughs and feel zero judgement, even after you wake up the next morning from a drunken stupor the night before.

It was so nice to not be the ones hosting. We arrived to appetizers paired with the proper drink and we chatted over a nicely prepared meal. Amy announced: We are going out!

In t-shirts and sans jackets, we stood on the front porch waiting for a cab in unheard January balmy double digit temperatures. Patios were open and convertibles were cruising by. It was a bit surreal.

We first headed to Barchef on Queen where we were promised any drink we wanted. Their bar was unreal and the ambiance perfect for an impromptu night out in Toronto. It was packed, dark and full of candles. My type of place. Living in a small town, I forget how alive the city makes you feel. Earlier we walked through Bloor West Village, had lunch and did some shopping. We bought some flowers from the local market, and picked up a steal of a deal for usually overpriced Betsy Johnson jewellery.

Our drinks arrived and through the Saturday murmer of the crowds, my ears perked up to a familiar song. Whyyyyyy do you build me up, buttercup baby just to let me down, and mess me around?

The four of us belted our hearts out. It was not karaoke night. Nor did anyone even look twice at us. I love that about big cities. Nothing is crazy. Nothing is new or hasn't been done before. Nobody gives a shit. I mean that in a good way. This time.

I distinctly remember being younger, with fairweather friends, and longingly gazing at other groups that seemed so close. And I wanted that. Genuine fun, laughter and having each other's best interests at heart. And even though it seemed nobody noticed our live performance last night, there could have been someone who was watching from the sidelines, like the time on the ski slopes, but this time wishing for the same thing that I once did. And now I have. Like the two girls in Anne of Green Gables. Or Thelma and Louise. Laverne and Shirley. You get the picture.

Michael worked with someone who is now part of a travelling band. We went to see them at La Palette at almost midnight and dinner was still being served. I love that about Toronto. When half the world is sleeping, the other half are just coming alive. I was confused as to where they would play at such a small venue. We watched on as they set up a piece of wood, obviously custom made over top of the kitchen area. Yes, the 12 piece band were standing on top of the kitchen. And the bar. And the tables. You make up a name to a song, and they invent it. Right there. Like a huge big jam session. The front windows were wide open and the street packed as everyone looked on....errrr...up. So much fun.

Two or three cab rides later, a lot of money spent and some really really great times, we ended back at Amy's gorgeous west end home and dancing around to the same song. Over and over again in our pj's. We awoke this morning to breakfast and were sent off with a gift bag of our favourite rum infused hand soap.

I am by nature a planner. And usually plans don't work out. Or I cancel. Or they cancel. Or someone isn't in the mood. Or weather is bad. Or whatever. But sometimes, in the middle of an ordinary January, magical memories are made, and you find yourself smack dab in the middle of a friendship that you always wished for but never thought you would find.

And I wonder what that observer at the ski slopes would report back with, had she saw us last night, or the memories we have made this past year with some very amazing friends. For the record, I am no longer acquainted with such a person who felt the need to point out my obvious awkward situation anyhow. Those kind of people don't matter.

What matters is, saying goodbye, waving madly, with a SEE YOU SOON!! And really meaning it.

I am not a perfect friend. Sometimes I'm grumpy. Sometimes I cancel. Sometimes I have an off day. But I will always be real, authentic and give you all the love in the world that I have to offer. To have a friend, you have to be a friend. It's that easy.

Happy Sunday, lovely people. May your lives be filled with the friends you deserve.

xo

Wendy

Ashes to Ashes

Ashes to Ashes. Dust to Dust.

It was like a scene from a movie. Only we were not the actors nor the viewers. We were entrenched in it, chilled to the bone on a cold yet sunny afternoon, our tears noticeably flowing.

Yesterday was the funeral service and celebration of life for our dear Uncle Jim Drysdale.

I found myself sad but later at night, sobbing for uncertain reasons, other than the obvious loss of a wonderful man.

I cried for the pain of my elderly and quickly ailing aunt who in a span of 10 minutes asked us who we were about 20 times. I cried for the flowers that were bought for her at Christmas from my Uncle and still beautifully alive. I cried when I saw his tattered and worn slippers, a sign of a man with simple needs. I cried because in four years of them living in their apartment, this was the first time we had visited. I cried for the great  pain my mom was in losing a beloved uncle who treated her like a father would. I cried for my aunt who was unfairly inflicted pain at an already painful event. I cried for our quickly crumbling family and the drama that never seems to stop, even at a funeral. I cried for a generation lost and the generation which is and will be. I cried for a man who never asked for help, who always offered a hand and was never too busy for those in need; be it strangers, family or the church.

I often wonder why I look at people on their devices or when I see my husband watching tv, why my blood boils inside. I understand social media has it's benefits. I'm sure without it, my business would still be finding it's way in a sea of already established photographers.

But I stopped to think of my own funeral and the packed house of God yesterday. A church full of able and not so able-bodied people. A mixture of young and old, sick and healthy. Standing to honour a man for the ages. The "go-to" person in life. The kindest and most generous man. And the greatest loss is ours.

Do you ever wonder if you've made your mark on the world? What would people say at your funeral? That you have so many instagram followers? That you spend your time with your face buried in your cell phone instead of socializing with others with the limited time we have? That you participate in online bullying with your Facebook rants and raves? That you've successfully caused drama with the only family you've been given? That you don't work and are proud to use the system? That you tweet, text, message and pin every spare minute you are given?

I certainly am saddened and scared for what's to come. My girlfriend and I were discussing this morning about the changing times. She said her entire street is full of kids and yet their court remains quiet and empty. No longer are the days when children play outside. They lack imagination and magic. Where's the magic? Remember the feeling of building a fort as a child out of pillows or snow? My friend said she will never forget the expression on her kids' faces as she hid Easter eggs in a forest and they ran around finding them. And that it angers her that her daughter doesn't know how to ice skate. Because we as adults barely have enough time for ourselves. We are so busy working longer hours to try and make the all mighty green dollar to buy nicer things and then what? End up spending less quality time on the things that matter, and our greed getting us a house full of stuff, and a heart full of nothing. A lot of money does not make you a nice person. If you can't even take the time to lift your head and say hello, how rich are you? Fuck it. I'd rather be poor. And have manners.

I never really put conscious thought to pen to paper as to why I would feel happy seeing people read books in Chapters. Or the joy it gives me to see my dog run in an open field. Or why I feel so grumpy sitting inside in front of my computer all day long. Day after day. And now that I have...what's to be done? We live in a fairly small town. Small towns in my mind, equate to old fashioned values. But we can't escape the way things are headed. So what are we to do?

My Uncle Jim's brother stood up to pay respect in the form of a poem and stories. He told the story of a young man who worked for every penny he had, who was always impeccably dressed and proud. He was a gas station attendant to lawyers, mobsters and doctors. And they all knew him and admired him for his services. He wasn't a bragger. He wasn't a scholar. We had rarely seen him without a tie. He was one of the first to have a car. A car in the 1940's was a big deal. And he used to drive from Hamilton to Toronto which was an even bigger deal. He would drive whoever needed a ride. One time he bought a new shirt. And he caught his brother Fred wearing it. He pulled up beside him, and told him firmly: take off my shirt. He later invited him into his room and let him have whatever shirts, ties and socks he needed. The moral of the story was, don't steal from me. I will hunt you down and get what is rightfully mine. But I will always share with you whatever I have.

Can you say the same about yourself?

Still motion.

I've often heard photographers grumble about the current trend of "everyone being a photographer these days." We as professionals have to stay ahead of the curve, recession proof our business, focus on areas that not everyone can master.....things like creative lighting, off camera flash, post processing, video, creatively thinking outside of the Pinterest box, and most importantly just being ourselves. There is room for all of us in this business; amateurs, pros and those in between. We all started somewhere. There is years of knowledge that goes into "mastering" photography, if there is even a time that you can call it that. Just ask anyone who buys a new camera and calls you in frustration because their photos don't look like yours. Everyone may have a DSLR these days, but nobody can be you.

With that being said, I am excited to have started the very long process in learning the video aspect of our business. I have no idea where this will take us, but I do know that there is a lovely feeling that comes over me when still images come to life.

My husband posted a link to our very own TTD (Trash the dress) in Mexico which took place the day before our wedding. Keep in mind, we were very nervous and it was a rare 6 degree cold spell in Mexico that week. I bought a tacky dress with this shoot in mind as I couldn't stand to wreck my own.

http://vimeo.com/57089618

It makes me smile :)

xo

W.

Alyssa

Alyssa and Jorge just had their first baby together. They were given a photo session with us as a shower gift and when I showed up to their door, I couldn't believe she was about to give birth. Like literally days after our shoot. Isn't she gorgeous?

Welcome to the world baby Luca!

xo

Wendy