Engagement Season - Here's Some More Of My Past Brides!

So it's THAT time of year again!  The time when EVERYONE seems to get engaged!  And therefore EVERYONE starts planning their wedding!  If this year is anything like last year then I'm going to start to get booked up VERY quickly...and I think it will be b/c I'll be honest I'm already starting to heavily book into next year..some Saturdays I already have TWO weddings booked on the SAME day!

So Toronto/GTA brides...if you're reading this and you're thinking "Man, I'd LOVE to have Jessica do my hair and makeup for MY wedding" then you better get on it!  I'm always shocked how many brides try to book an artist last minute!  If you really want someone it's NEVER too early to book them trust me!

So as to be expected for this time of year it is definitely quieter for weddings but that isn't to say there aren't ANY weddings.  In fact even during the "off-season" I usually book 3-4 weddings a mth.  This is also the time of year when I get to do a lot of  "catch up" work like collect pics from brides, update my site, organize my receipts for tax time :S etc.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post about how to get pics from brides and let me tell you - I have been following my own advice and it's DEFINITELY paying off!  In the past few weeks I've received pics from 6 brides!  Plus, a lot of them have even been kind enough to write me a review...always good for business!

So without further adieu I thought I'd share w/ you my latest collection of beautiful brides!

Some more beautiful work from Mango Studios.  Mariam's wedding was extra special b/c I had worked w/ her from the beginning on everything from her engagement photos, to her trial and then her wedding day!

I did all the bridesmaid's makeup...Candace French-Goodman did the hair!

Final touches on the bride's makeup!  Photos courtesy of Just Klik

It's a wedding day miracle...I'm actually smiling during a picture...I normally look so serious lol!

I really loved the way Mary's hair turned out on her wedding day.  We did it a bit more undone and textured than the trial and it was gorgeous!

I did ALL the bridesmaid's hair on this one...they did their own makeup.

Hair & Makeup - Photos courtesy of MKG Photography

So pretty and so sweet!  I love her smile!

One of the few weddings where I ONLY did Makeup - photos courtesy of Jamieson Dean Photography

Love pics like this when I can see how clean and tight my eyeliner was ;)

Stacey was VERY particular about her brows..I'm actually really proud that she allowed me to do them and I got them the way SHE likes (as a picky eyebrow girl I understand how hard this can be)!

Another wedding where I did Makeup Only - Photos courtesy of  Heaven Meets Earth Photography

Monique was such a stunning bride!  Monique told me after the wedding even her Hair & Makeup artist cousin asked who did the makeup b/c she was so impressed ;)

Monique and her Sisters!

I did both Jaclyn's Hair & Makeup - Sometimes I swear I have the MOST Beautiful Brides! Photos courtesy of Courtney and Graham @ Precious Photography

I did the bridemaid's makeup - Blake Arsenault did their hair

So as you can see I've DEFINITELY been keeping myself busy ;)

Engagement Shoot With A Gothic Twist!

I'm personally a big fan of engagement shoots for couples for a number of reasons.

1. If you or your fiance aren't comfortable in front of the camera it's a great practice shoot that can help get you comfortable in front of the camera.  It's like a test run...you'll learn you angles, get comfortable and figure out what works best for you so you can get the best pics possible on your wedding day!

2. It allows you and your photographer to start to develop a relationship.  Pictures always come out better when you're comfortable w/ your photographer and the engagement shoot is a great way to get comfortable w/ them and for them to get to know you and how to coach or communicate w/ you.

3. It's just a really fun way to create some memories w/ your fiance that you can cherish forever.  And you as a couple can really put your own personality into it and come up some really cute or cool ideas that showcase what makes you so unique as a couple.

I recently did the makeup & hair for an engagement shoot for one of my upcoming brides Mariam and let me just say it was probably one of the more unique or cool engagement shoots I've been a part of!  Mariam and her fiance both have a love for vampires (think Anne Rice not Twilight) and gothic times so they figured why not do an engagement shoot w/ those themes in mind!  Mariam planned the whole thing down to renting costumes and finding the perfect cemetery to shoot their pics in...yes that's right they did their engagement shoot in a cemetery - told you it was unique!

The pics were shot by one of my fav. wedding photography studios - Mango Studios (Nancy at Mango to be exact)...as you know if you read this blog I've worked w/ them on a number of weddings and their pics NEVER disappoint!  This shoot also gave me a great opportunity to work w/ Mariam and get a little creative as I did a very smokey eye and some intense lips...looked so good for the shoot!  Can't wait to work w/ her on here wedding b/c I know it's going to be fun!

So check out some of the pics...I think they are very cool!

These guys are such naturals I have no doubt their wedding pictures are going to rock!

Brides, Brides & More Brides

So recently I've been in contact w/ several of my brides and their photographers trying to hunt down some of the pics from their gorgeous weddings back in the Fall.  I LOVE seeing pics after the wedding day.  So rewarding seeing my work on these beautiful women and being part of their special day.  Plus it's great for my website ;)

I thought instead of doing a million (okay like 4) posts w/ different pics of my brides I'd just do 1 post w/ a collection of the pics I've received recently!

Laurel - Photos courtesy of Tyler @ Mango Studios

This wedding was actually on my b-day so you know it's kind of special for me lol!

I did all the Makeup & Ashley Readings my "Other Half" did all the Hair

Love how all the dresses are jewel tones but different!

Jennifer - Photos courtesy of Josh Cornell @ Naomi Studios

You may remember Jennifer for an earlier post.  She is going to be featured as a contestant on Canada's Four Weddings.  I think her episode airs in March.  I hope she wins!  What a fabulous group!

I did all the Hair!

Mona - Photos courtesy of Jenn @ Studio Studios

This was somewhat of a last min booking for me but I'm so glad I got to work w/ both Mona and her Maid of Honour

I did both Makeup & Hair 

Natsuko - Photos courtesy of Jag Photography

I did both the Makeup & Hair for Natsuko and she was so nice!  It was such a pleasure to be able to fit her into my schedule as I remember that was a crazy day where I had two weddings and a trial booked!