Summer Favorites 2020

My favourite season is here and it’s HOT!

Our studio is open again and we’re slowly getting back into our groove. It’s a challenging time for everyone so I’m grateful my favourite season is here. I always feel super creative in summer!

1. Outdoor Studio

Several weeks ago I fell in love with the idea of an outdoor studio. It looks so breezy and unique, it also has a bit of that ‘behind the scenes’ look. I’m beyond excited to start shooting here and will share outdoor studio photos with you soon.

2. “Normal People” by Sally Rooney

It’s been my first book by Sally Rooney and I can’t wait for more. She has an incredible way of writing about everyday events. I think Maureen Corrigan has said it best: “Sally Rooney could write a novel about bath mats and I’d still read it. She’s that good and that singular a writer”

3. Art of Marina accessories

Marina is a watercolor artist and her accessories are DIVINE for summer! This soft palm pattern is my absolute favourite, so I got a kimono, a phone case and a pillow too.

4. Summer Outfits

My favourite outfits this summer include a white dress and a unique shirt. My wardrobe is very classic but I always look for little details that make the clothes special. The shirt I found is obviously very different and I love it! The white lace dress is perfect for HOT summer days and very comfortable.

5. Keto Creamer

My diet is usually a low carb/keto hybrid however I’ve been giving to unhealthy cravings way too much recently. I’m glad the weather is hot now and I don’t feel the need to eat unhealthy foods so much anymore. I’m diving back into healthier options and this keto creamer is perfect for coffee!

6. Decorating with plants

I love plants and I think they are so photogenic! Cactuses and pampass grass are my summer favourites.

7. “When you find out the world is against you (and other funny memories about awful moments)” by Kelly Oxford

If you’re looking for a great, funny book to read by the pool or on a beach - this is it! Canadian Author Kelly Oxford shares her life stories and failures in a way that’s super heart-warming.

“Kelly Oxford’s writing is hilarious and fearless. She’s the badass Canadian sister I never had”

— Mindy Kaling

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5 Important Uses for Your Branding Photography (that most people forget about)

In today’s online world, using your personal branding photos correctly is very important.

Your photos are a strong, visual voice, they should tell the story of who you are and what you do so you can communicate the value of your work and connect with ideal clients.

HERE ARE 5 IMPORTANT USES FOR YOUR BRANDING PHOTOS:

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1. Your e-mail signature

   A great e-mail signature goes a long way. It should include your headshot for the purpose of building a connection. People always like to see a face behind a business. Your clients will also remember you better when they see a photo of you.

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2. Your business card

Please don’t forget about putting your photo on the business card. If you have a more modern card, you can easily put the information on one side of it and your photo on the other side for a clean look. When giving out business cards, majority of people won’t even remember you unless there’s a photo on the card.

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3. Your newsletter

A newsletter is a fantastic way of staying in touch with your clients, sharing value and expertise. It really is a must if you want to have repeat clients. Use a photo of yourself in the footer of the newsletter to better build a connection with your recipients.

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4. Your client presentations/Your price list

Present yourself as a valuable professional by subtly using your photo in client presentations.

I really do hope you’re taking the chance that is a value-packed client presentation or price list and that you’re not just sending some naked numbers to potential customers.

Omitting this step is one of the biggest mistakes business beginners make.

Use two photos (one in the beginning of the presentation/one at the end) or just one photo at the end of the presentation.

You can include a short bio that tells the story of your passion!

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5. Your Instagram

Please remember that if you want people to remember you and know who you are, it is simply not enough to only show your face in your profile photo.

When building a personal brand, use a photo of yourself at least once every 9/12 posts (preferably 9!).

For high end businesses, use mostly or only professional photos. Otherwise, you can mix both professional and phone photos (still looking nice and on brand though!)

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Use these tips and make a difference in your marketing today

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation here

Spring Favourites 2020

Spring Favourites!

Spring is here and even though we’re going through difficult times it’s hard not to feel better with warmer weather and nature waking up to life.

Since I haven’t gone shopping for clothes lately, Spring Favourites this year will include a lot of books, computer games and even my favourite meal.

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WHITE SHIRT

Many women want to wear a classic white shirt for their branding photoshoot and are surprised to hear that cotton shirts are not the most photogenic. I always suggest viscose shirts like the one I’m wearing in the photo below instead of cotton shirts. Viscose shirts usually look way more elegant and luxurious, they flow nicely and have minimal wrinkles.

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PHOTO OF THE SEASON

I’m so grateful I got to photograph Penthouse Queen Claudine Montano again. We were able to create several iconic photos that look like postcards. They show the strength and determination of a woman with our beautiful Toronto as the background.

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BOOKS

Having had way more time to read recently, I reached for several great books.

Let’s start with:

The Bravest You by Adam Kirk Smith

In this book, Adam Kirk Smith explains the five stages of the bravery process and he also goes into detail in explaining different fears: the fear of inadequacy, the fear of uncertainty, the fear of failure, the fear of rejection and many other fears we encounter in our lives.

I loved this book a lot and whenever fear creeps in, I remember this quote: “far too often fear told me that I wasn’t prepared enough, or wasn’t smart enough, or wasn’t good enough, I let fear take the leading role. Far too often fear told me all the reasons that I couldn’t because I didn’t allow for bravery to tell me all the reasons I could”

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Atomic Habits by James Clear

If you want to learn about habits, James Clear is your man. He breaks down the process of creating new habits in a way you will stick with them and he also explains how to drop our bad habits. I already implemented this technique to start doing strengthening exercise for my back every day.

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Everything Is F***: A Book About Hope by Mark Manson

I loved Manson’s “The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F***” and this book doesn’t disappoint! It’s a book about hope and about becoming your best self in a world that’s challenging.

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COMPUTER GAMES

I’ve been a fan of computer games since my teenage years but obviously I didn’t have the time to play them recently. Stay at home order allowed me to enjoy this hobby again! So far I’ve played:

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider follows adventures of archeologist Lara Croft. Recent games show a younger, vulnerable Lara as she becomes a fierce heroine we know and love. It’s a survivor storyI truly love. As Lara says, in challenging times “we become who we’re meant to be”

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The Witcher

Witcher Geralt of Rivia is the main character in Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. Growing up in Poland, I knew about Witcher books for a while now but it wasn’t until Netflix’s show that I finally became a fan as well. Since we still have to wait for season 2, I played Witcher 2 and I’m starting Witcher 3 soon! I highly recommend these games!

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KETO MEALS

Keto stir fries are one of my favourite meals because they are very easy to make and very nutritious. This stir fry contains lots of healthy fats. I make it using coconut oil and I add cauliflower, kale, bell pepper, mushrooms, onion and pumpkin seeds. Instead of potatoes, fries or noodles, I put avocado and cheese on the side. Yum!

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I hope you enjoyed my spring favourites and that they will help you enjoy your spring more as well!

Best Toronto Brands Created with Our Photography

We love empowering women through photography and we love to be a part of brand creation!

Here are few of our absolute favorite Toronto brands.

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Women Rocking Real Estate

Jennifer Percival is an incredible real estate mentor who teaches how to attract clients through service and expertise rather than aggressively pursue them.

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Website: Women Rocking Real Estate

Instagram: Women Rocking Real Estate

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Fashion Translated by Christie Ressel

Fashion Translated is an international image consulting firm and community. It is run by Christie Ressel who is passionate about women embracing their bodies, feeling confident, and having fun creating their style while they rise to their highest and best self.

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Website: Christie Ressel Fashion Translated

Instagram: Christie Ressel Fashion Translated

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Penthouse Queen

Claudine Montano is not only a penthouse & luxury home expert but such an inspiring and positive person to be around!

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Website: Penthouse Queen Claudine Montano

Instagram: Penthouse Queen Claudine Montano

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Raj Girn

Raj is a multi award winning media and events entrepreneur, brand strategist, marketing consultant, confidence coach, #1 best-selling author and entertainment personality.

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Website: Raj Girn

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Roop Creative Agency

Puja Malhotra is one of the most talented Toronto branding experts we’ve met and it’s been a pleasure working on multiple projects with her.

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Website & Blog: Roop Creative Agency

Instagram: Roop Creative Agency

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Femme by Fareen

Fareen is a Dating, Mindset and Wealth Strategist that will help you attract dream love and empower you to achieve independent wealth, find purpose and vision in life.

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Website: Femme by Fareen

Instagram: Femme by Fareen

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I hope these beautiful brands inspire and encourage you!

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation here

Winter Favorites

Aah, winter!

I definitely have a love-hate relationship with this season. It’s so photogenic, so the photographer in me truly loves it. However, winter in Toronto is veeery long which is challenging for many. My work has been so busy that I haven’t got a vacation yet and I’m not sure if I’ll get one this winter. So for now, these are some things making this winter better.

1. Animal Print Sweater

The first of my winter favorites is this red animal print sweater.

Cozy sweaters are a must for winter and this one is especially nice to touch. I like the whimsical animal print!

2. “Brave” by Rose McGowan

I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite some time now and the title obviously couldn’t be more fitting. I feel so much respect for women who bravely and openly tell their story even though it would be easier not to.

“Brave is the story of how I fought my way out of the cults and reclaimed my life. I want to help you do the same” - Rose McGowan

3. Pampass Grass

I simply fell in love with pampass grass for decorating. I love fresh flowers (especially in winter, they add so much life to the house), but if I don’t have the time to pick them up or I’m having a busy week, pampass grass always does the trick!

4. White Blanket from Urban Barn

White, chunky and warm! I’ve been not only using this great blanket as a prop for photos but I’ve also wrapped myself in it on many cold, winter nights.

5. Schitt’s Creek

I know, I know…

I’m jumping on the bandwagon late but I still want to include this amazing show in my winter favorites because it’s been definitely one of the highlights for me. This truly hilarious and heartfelt story about a wealthy family forced to start from scratch is FULL of not just laughs but also life lessons. My favorite character… David! Just seeing his facial expressions makes me laugh out loud.

6. Nuttybutter Cafe

It’s so nice to find cozy cafes in winter.

Nuttybutter Cafe brings Paris to Hamilton (the owner actually lived in France for some time). It’s a beautiful space with great coffee, tea and desserts. We had a blast taking some photos in the cafe with Christie Ressel.

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7. Quote

I couldn’t agree more with this quote from ROOP Creative Agency. The fear of being criticized and always worrying about what others think does NOTHING for our life. It’s good to have a few trusted advisors but it should be a priority to listen to our heart first :)

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I hope you enjoyed my winter favorites! Let’s keep fingers crossed spring comes early this year!

Marta Herman

Opera Singer Marta Herman

It was such a pleasure to capture lovely Marta Herman again. Marta is an Opera Singer based in Staatstheater Kassel in Germany. For her third photoshoot, she opted for moody and powerful portraits.

“I really appreciate the detail you put into your beautiful work :) Agnes creates exactly the right atmosphere to match each person she photographs”

— Marta

Want to find out more? Book a phone consultation here

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