Toronto Lifestyle & Editorial Portrait Photographer Jessica Blaine Smith

Real Family Portraits

Toronto Family Portrait | Jessica Blaine Smith

I love making real family portraits. I’m talking about portraits taken at your home or another familiar space. Ones where maybe your hair is sticking out in a funny way and your kid is making a silly face but the moment that is captured truly represents your real life. How you are together, as a family. Real family portraits. Forget perfection. Forget sitting up straight with the perfect smile staring at the camera. These are true moments captured for eternity. Ones that you will look at years from now; allowing you to remember just how small those humans that you created were, to remember how they felt in your arms, to remember the giggles, to remember the beginning. Toronto Family Portrait | Jessica Blaine Smith

Mildred’s Temple Kitchen Wedding | Vince & Scott

When you surround yourself with incredible and loving people, you have no bad days. Vince and Scott have succeeded in this. These two are encircled by some wonderful family and friends who have become family to them. Their wedding was all about this and about capturing those beautiful candid moments. Vince and Scott both got ready at their home that was chock-full of people to guide them along the way. I spent my time running up and down the stairs to photograph it all. We then headed over to Mildred’s Temple Kitchen where their ceremony and reception took place. In case you cannot tell by the tons of images in this post: I absolutely love Mildred’s. The space is beautiful, the staff are top notch and the food is ridiculously good. It was the perfect venue for these two to officially tie the knot. A couple of special moments that I loved from their wedding was when Vince’s brother styled Scott’s sister’s hair and, of course, the double Mother-Son dance. Congratulations Vince & Scott! It was an honour to be a part of such an incredible day.

Toronto Newborn Portraits at Home

I love photographing newborn sessions at the homes of the people in the images. At such a wild time in their lives, everyone is often most comfortable there. This session is even more special because we did it in the Mom’s childhood home. We began the session in the bedroom where she grew up, in a home surrounded by some pretty incredible things.

A Beautiful Thompson Hotel Wedding, Toronto

When I am excited about something, it’s hard for me to contain that energy. I just want to scream it from the rooftops – and really, there is no better rooftop in Toronto than at the Thompson Hotel where Cherise and Ed’s wedding recently took place. You may recognise this crew because last summer I photographed her brother Rachid & Christie’s wedding and a few years before that, it was Faisal & Laurie’s big day. At this point, I feel that these people are an extra family of mine and it’s pretty awesome. Cherise and Ed make my heart melt. These two have that love that you often only see in the movies. They are in it together, holding hands and laughing the entire way and it is such a beautiful thing to witness (and photograph!).

The one thing that you cannot control on your wedding day is the weather and I always tell that to my brides and grooms. It will work out, I promise them, and it really usually always does. On Cherise & Ed’s wedding day, we were set to have an outdoor ceremony with that beautiful Toronto skyline as the backdrop. As the bridal party walked down the aisle, the raindrops began. No problem – it just gave us all an excuse to get closer together and have a truly intimate wedding ceremony which made the day all that more awesome. Cherise & Ed, you two are incredible people and I am so excited for you and this next adventure that you are on! x

Officiant: Brian T. Fairbrother
Flowers: Ladybug Florist
Cake: Prairie Girl
DJ: D&W Entertainment
Dress: Avenue 22 Bridal
Makeup & Hair: Sarah Rodrigues

A Beautiful Langdon Hall Wedding, Cambridge

I have always dreamed of photographing a Langdon Hall wedding and thanks to Jennifer and Adam, that dream recently came true! They hosted a beautiful intimate wedding here in June with their nearest and dearest and I loved every moment of it. There is no shortage of locations to take photos at here, from the stunning main building to the lawn with a setting sun. Langdon Hall is beautiful!

Venue: Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa
Flowers: Rachel Clingen
Makeup: Jenna at Lucky Life Beauty
Hair: Heather Burnell
Rabbi: Rabbi Wayne Allen
Cake: The Cake Box