Summer Favorites

It’s been such a beautiful and busy summer so far!

Canadian summer is simply amazing and I always want to make the best of it. It’s always a challenge, because on one hand I want to enjoy it for myself and on the other hand, it’s truly the perfect time to create stunning imagery for people, so I’m also very busy with work. So even tough I don’t normally drink coffee, this summer I’ve been starting pretty much every day with not one but two cups of coffee or green tea matcha!

Here are some of my favorites so far this lovely summer.

1. Southwest Ontario

I think it’s so important for creative professionals to take the time to get inspired. The reason behind our family getaway to Southwest Ontario was exactly that. I’ve never been to this part of Ontario, but Krystle’s Southwest Ontario Travel Guide made it so easy! We started our trip by visiting Bonnieheath Estate Lavender & Winery, then we spent a day at Point Pelee Provincial Park, we also had a great time in Leamington, Amherstburg, countless wineries and beaches in the area. I don’t think I need to add the house we stayed at was beyond stunning. I hope to do more photoshoots here for sure.

2. Little White Dress

White cotton or linen dresses are simply the best in the summer. They make our tan look stunning, they easily go with every accessory and they photograph beautifully. My love for white means of course I have way too many white dresses, but I simply can’t resist to get more…

3. Monsieur Big Mascara

In the summertime, all we need is some mascara and lip gloss. I’ve been struggling to find a good mascara that works for me for some time but this one has quickly become my favorite!

4. Art of Marina Kimono

Meeting and working with Art of Marina meant finally seeing her products in person. I’m not an online shopper but when I can see a quality product, actually feel it and touch it, I can become a loyal client. Marina’s kimonos stole my heart (I’m hardly the first one!). This cashmere one feels incredible against your skin, I love throwing it over a swimsuit when I’m ready to chill by the pool after a hard day of work.⁣

5. Formal Dress

Clients ask me all the time where to go shopping before their Personal Branding Photoshoots. My top answer is always Simons. In addition to a great variety of styles, the clothes are really good quality. This dress is the perfect example of why Simons is my favorite store. It’s elegant and timeless (finding a summer dress with long sleeves is not easy!), it also fits like a glove.

6. Prayer Beads & Mugs from Decor by Christine

Some time ago I had a chance to work with a great Interior Designer Christine Da Costa. Christine brought such amazing photoshoot accessories from her online store. I had to get prayer beads and mugs for myself, they are such a beautiful but also soulful addition to any home!

---

Want to find out more about working with us?

Book a phone consultation here

Follow us:

Art of Marina

Watercolour Artist & Kimono Designer Marina Billinghurst

What a treat it was to finally work with Toronto Watercolour Artist & Kimono Designer Marina Billinghurst!

Marina’s work is becoming super popular not only in Toronto but also across the world. We had the pleasure of photographing the artist herself in her stunning Junction studio before heading out to Pure Studios for more photos.

Marina’s dreamy watercolour patterns adorn not only wall art but also accessories and of course her stunning kimonos. It was time to photograph it all!

Marina’s photos are just like her personality: effortless, free-spirited, creative, dreamy!

Marina is super warm and you simply want to be around her, but this lovely spirit also possesses an incredible strength. When she suffered a horrible car accident and learned about her mom being diagnosed with cancer shortly after, she decided there was nowhere to go but up.

“ Life is short and we just don’t know when or why it’s our time.

But we do know when we have to do something.

And we do it.”

— Marina Billnghurst

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation HERE

Follow us:

Raj Girn

How lovely to work again with Raj Girn!

Raj is a multi-award winning media and events entrepreneur, brand strategist, marketing consultant, confidence coach and entertainment personality. This photoshoot was all about her new branding and new website. I can’t believe it’s been 4 years since Raj’s last photoshoot with us - time truly flies!

I always ask people to bring at least one white clothing item to their photoshoot. A white outfit is crisp and fresh, it will never go out of style and it’s a perfect canvas to show off your personality.

This time around, I finally got to photograph Raj in white!

When you love what you do, you want to do it all day, every day.

I could honestly photograph Raj for hours on end. The work our whole team did was so passion-driven. From incredible make-up by Shirley Wu to the help of Raj’s friend, designer Allia Qureshi.

---

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation here

Follow us:

5 years of solopreneurship

Hello loves! For those of you who are new to our blog and website, my name is Agnes and I’m a Photographer. My specialty is portraiture and personal branding photography for women. My superpower is making everyone comfortable in front of my lens and making them look their best.

I love sharing about my business/solopreneur journey and featuring other lovely fempreneurs on my blog. That’s because I’m very passionate about women empowerment. Things are changing in the world and I truly believe that We Rise Together.

With the 5th anniversary of my solopreneurship coming, there’s a lot of reflecting and strategizing for the future. I won’t lie to you - even though I didn’t struggle long to create a successful business, it wasn’t easy and it definitely took much more than just positive thinking. I gave it all I had!

Looking back, I can honestly say that investing in myself was the best choice I ever made. We all have talents but we also all have areas needing work and improvement. You need to spend time or money (or both) working on those areas or you will stay stuck. In my third year of entrepreneurship I finally invested into learning about marketing and business from a great mentor who also specialized in my niche. The true growth only started after that and oh my - was is fast! Things literally changed over a few months and grew from there.

It’s not easy, but I know one thing: everything is possible with a positive mindset, true passion for your work and the willingness to learn and work!

Wishing you a great week ahead.

xoxo,

Agnes

---

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation HERE

Follow us:

Spring Favourites

Spring Favourites!

Spring is here and I don’t know about you but for me it’s the perfect time to make some changes & do some shopping! I’m not a shopping addict at all, but when seasons change from winter to spring, I’m always inspired to refresh my wardrobe and my home. Here are some of my Spring Favourites:

DRESS

This dress is not something I would usually try on! I love pairing it with cute pantyhose, hats, it goes great with both jackets and coats. A good reminder to get out of your comfort zone and try something different.

ACCESSORIES

I purchased quite a few pairs of earrings from Simons. I photographed a very stylish Realtor Lara Stasiw a few weeks ago and she brought the most beautiful earrings to her photoshoot. It pushed me to refresh my neglected jewellery box.

PHOTO OF THE SEASON

This photo I took of Hair & Makeup Artist and Educator Tuhina reminded me of the Tale of Two Wolves:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

BOOK

My favorite book recently was “Sapiens”. It’s a grand overview of the history of humankind. I may not agree with the author on all his points, but I enjoyed it a lot, not to mention learned a lot as well. It really made me think about our species, what we’ve accomplished and where we’re going.

View fullsize

View fullsize

TV SHOW

I honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed (out loud!) so much watching a TV Show. Rachel Bloom, the creator and main star of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a breath of fresh air. Don’t let the title fool you, in addition to being extremely funny, this show is also really smart. I was surprised to see it was a musical - but the songs are absolutely hilarious, I think “I’m So Good At Yoga” and “Let’s Generalize About Men” are my favourites!

QUOTE

I think this quote says it all. Life can be a crazy ride and the only thing we truly have control over is ourselves and our attitude!

---

I hope you enjoyed my Spring Favourites and found them inspiring! Wishing you the most beautiful Spring!

xoxo

Agnes

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

Want to work with us? Book a phone consultation here

Follow us:

Tuhina

Meet an amazing Hair & Make-up Artist and Educator Tuhina! Tuhina wanted her photos to be iconic and timeless. She loves wearing black and gold, so she prepared great outfits in those colors. Props included a director’s chair and of course a make-up artist’s kit!

Through our gentle process, this beauty opened up during the magical afternoon of her photoshoot.

“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary”

— Pablo Picasso

---

Want to work with us? Book a phone consultation here

Follow us: