I had the pleasure of meeting Mandace and Terry a few months back - you guys may remember them from their engagement shoot that I did last Fall.  In case you missed it, you can have a look by going here.

I put together a slideshow to their song, the song to which they had their ‘First Dance’ - Blue Rodeo’s ‘Lost Together.’

I’ll be back with more details from their wedding!

Enjoy!

I had the pleasure of photographing Banoo and Ilyas’s wedding this past summer and boy was it a beautiful affair! Banoo planned the entire wedding from New York..I know that can be quite challenging..but she did an amazing job! Today I’m going to be sharing pictures from Banoo and Ilyas’s Mehendi event. This event was full of beauty, intimacy, love and lots of laughter! Banoo and Ilyas had a lot of family come in from out-of-town and I could tell that they really wanted to spend as much time with them as possible, and I think this event was the perfect start to the wedding festivities! So let me take you through the pictures.

This was the main stage where the Nikah was to take place the following day - Mufaddal did an amazing job decorating it! For anyone getting married this year, definitely get in touch with Mufaddal - he designed the Stage for all of Banoo and Ilyas’s events.  I’ll post his contact info at the bottom of this post.

Banoo and Ilyas - two of the most genuine people I have ever met. I totally felt as if I was part of the wedding festivities and not ‘working’ - thank you guys for making me feel so welcome in your families.

There is a custom in Banoo’s family, that I thought was just wonderful - The families gather around these huge ‘Thals (trays)’ and eat food together, so it’s basically like you are sharing a plate with 8-10 other people. I think this creates a bond of love and shows respect for one another. Just beautiful! oh and the food looked SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

These 2 cuties quickly became my friends! and I was especially fond of the one on the left…her name being AMNA and all

Another cutie pie! this is Ilyas’s Niece. Super CUTE I tell ya!

okay so before you start raving about the Mehendi /Henna - let me introduce you all to Asma! She’s one of the most sweetest and most down to earth person I know! Even though this was the first time I was meeting her, we quickly became friends and were chatting away - and she does an AMAZING job at the mehendi/henna! Just beautiful! Asma my friend, you are truly a beautiful person, inside and out and you have a gift that’s just as beautiful! I will be posting her contact info below also

This is Banoo’s grandmother who also happens to be Banoo’s namesake! She is such a beautiful person - constantly smiling - You could totally read her emotions from her eyes and the way she would look at Banoo, just totally makes your heart melt! Banoo you are super lucky to have such a loving and lovely grandmother!

Now on to some more traditions, Sweet feeding time!

Okay so this had to be my most favourite part of the entire mehendi/henna event - 4 of Banoo’s close family members (females) sit around  and had to grind some herbs. Once ground, they mixed in some jasmine oil and normally they would’ve put those little balls outside Banoo’s new house in her flower beds to make her new life fragrant, bring her luck and love. I loved how everyone got so into it all and was totally enjoying themselves!

One of Banoo’s cousins was having a hard time since she had henna on one hand, so her father who happens to be Banoo’s maternal uncle who happens to be a pharmacist stepped in to save the day! Just so much fun!!

Here they are mixing jasmine oil, to make little balls - I think you can even spot one on the floor.

I loved this moment where Ilyas’s grandmother was showing her henna to one of Banoo’s cousins.

and what’s a Mehendi without a henna shot of all the girls and their hands! Asma you did GOOD!!!!

Ok so now as promised, I’m going to provide you with Mufaddal and Asma’s contact info! I’ll be back with more pictures guys so stay tuned!!

Mufaddal - mufdee@hotmail.com

Asma - asma.husainy@gmail.com

2010 started off with such a bang for me(in a good way)! Mystic 5 followed by my first Florida Wedding (which I’ll be blogging about soon)!

Mystic 5 (an annual photographers convention of sorts, held in Mystic, CT) is Walter Van Dusen’s Project to bring together so many amazing photographers and give us a chance to learn from each other.  I finally got the chance to meet so many of my favourite photographers who I have been following and learning from so in a way it was totally like getting a chance to go crazy at candyland..except this was all photography related.  There were about 300 of us who attended and the line-up of speakers was just phenomenal. Each speaker shared such a plethora of information that it almost seems surreal that I was actually there. David and Quin shared amazing tips on going paperless and their guerilla lighting techniques, Mike and Cody of Tricoast shared their wealth of Lighting techniques, Storey totally moved everyone with her presentation, I don’t think there was a single dry eye there.  Andy Marcus, David Williams, Joe McNally, Michelle Turner, Stacey Doyle, Jason Groupp, Jerome and Jennifer Braga all had so much to share! One of the highlights had to be my experience with Jerry Ghionis! The guy is a legend when it comes to photographers.  His 3 hour presentation ended up running to 5 and half hours and not a single person wanted it to end.

Walter, thank you so much for organizing this fabulous event! I’m already looking forward to Mystic 6!

Hi guys! I’m heading back to Ottawa tomorrow….can’t wait to get back so I can update you all on what I’ve been up to!!  2 weeks ago I left Ottawa and made stops in the following places; Connecticut, New Jersey, Fort Lauderdale & Miami, Florida, New York

But today I’m going to share the slideshow which was played at Bela and Khurrum’s Valima Reception in New York. I just fell in love with this family and can’t wait to share all the other pictures and fill you guys in on all the fun we had!

Love,

Amna

I can’t wait till the day when I get to photograph a wedding at this church. It happens to be Ottawa’s oldest church and is known as the Notre-Dame Basilica. I happened to walk by it the other day and knew I had to stop and get some pictures (for the 959th time or so).