Antonia and Scott's Wedding

Why do I love shooting weddings? Because I get to meet people like the Antonia, who-- despite the cold, wind and rain on her wedding day-- followed her bagpiper through the streets of Old Montreal, wearing her wedding dress, white flip-flops and giant smile.

The wedding party eventually made it's way to the elegant Hotel Nelligan (106 Saint Paul St. W., Montreal) where the party soon got under way.



The photo at the top, of Antonia and Scott on the balcony sharing a private moment, was taken in the indoor courtyard of the Hotel Nelligan. The courtyard was created when two old buildings were renovated to make one hotel, in a kind of "Montreal-meets-the-Mediterranean," with exposed brick walls, wrought iron balconies and a skylight ceiling."

To read more about Hotel Nelligan, click here:

Hasidic Wedding

I shot a Hasidic wedding a few days ago, at Montreal's Chevra Kadisha-B’Nai Jacob Congregation, one of Montreal’s oldest orthodox Jewish synogogues.

It was a wonderful cultural experience for me. The family only wanted posed family photos of the women and children. They asked me not to take photos of the proceedings, but I did anyway-- exactly one shot-- because I couldn't believe they really didn't want ANY shots of the celebration.

It was a shot of the groom, flanked by the two fathers, on the way to the wedding ceremony. As soon as I took it, the rabbi immediately yelled at me to stop. Oops!

It's too bad, because it was like going back to the 12th century, complete with men in fur hats and knee socks, plenty of chanting and an open air ceremony in the pouring rain.

The kid photos are from the family photo session.

Baby Sarah's Christening

Baby Sarah was christened last weekend. She didn't think much of the experience (in fact she shrieked indignantly when the priest tried dabbing her with holy water) but her family and friends were delighted.

Sam dancing with the curtains

My son Sam, age 2, dancing with the curtains.

Lovely Leo

Leo, my youngest son, having a sun bath by the window.

How to make "How-to" pictures

I just couldn't resist...

The final assignment for my graduating class in the Commercial Photography program at Montreal's Dawson College this semester was to photograph someone doing something-- a manufacturing process (anything from building a violin to making a pair of shoes; an industrial process (people making things inside a factory); or simply a "How-to" (someone baking a cake, applying make-up or painting a room, etc. ).

Its' a fun assignment, and the students turned in some fabulous work. One student who's assignment came out particularly well, was Mathieu Viennet, who photographed his mom making apple pie with cheese filling: