JAMES HODGINS PHOTOGRAPHY

When you look at this image you know that this couple are still in love.  You do not look at each other like this (especially when someone is taking your picture) if you were not.  I LOVE this image.  Not because I know the couple, but because I could feel the loving emotion radiating from this couple as I was creating this portrait.    I just can’t stop looking at it.  We would all be very blessed if we were still in love with our spouses so many years later.

“Wow, you guys have been photographing a lot of pets in the last few months haven’t you?”.  Yes.  Yes we have, and tonight was no different. When we met with Melanie for her wedding consultation we asked if her and Moe had any pets, and she informed us that they had two dogs.  “Well, bring them out for your engagement session then, we love pets!”.    Why should we break our portrait tradition this summer and photograph someone without their pets?  LOL.  Jesse & Tucker were two completely different dogs, but just like Moe & Melanie you could tell that they work well together.    All four of them seemed to be at ease in front my camera which made it very simple to create some great images.  Moe, Melanie, thanks again for the great session, we had fun.  We hope you bring your two furry friends to our Dog Day event this January.

It’s not something you hear the bride to be say in the middle of an engagement session, but heck, if you want a picture on the riding lawn mower, then who am I to disagree?  Of course, we will always throw in a little twist and creative lighting to bring out the best in our couples.

We just finished Matt & Julie’s engagement session out by long lake a few hours ago.  Another kickass property with loads of trees, shed’s, swings and of course riding lawn mowers.  I have known Matt for years as I was his boss back in my photolab manager days at the beginning of my career, and now I have the honor of documenting his wedding.  His fiance Julie is the quiet type, not saying too much, and a little shy in front of the camera.  Oh wait.  Sorry, that’s not her at all.  Julie seems to be the life of a party.  I mean, it WAS her idea for the shot right?  If she’s up for images like this on her engagement session, imagine what we can come up with on their wedding day!!

Julie, Matt.  Thanks again for the session and scoping out the location.  We had fun, and we look forward to coming up with some crazier images on your wedding day.  Cheers!

Krista & Rob are the type of couple that will tell you they don’t photograph well together but will prove you wrong with every click of the shutter.  We just love couples that manage to create their own moments in front of the camera without us prompting them in any way or they think I am fiddling with my camera settings when really I am just waiting for that right moment when they think I am not looking.  I have said it before and I will say it again, I LOVE the images of couples where they are not looking at the camera, acting like we are not around, cuddling together when they think we are not looking, those make the best “captured moments” images.  Krista, Rob, thanks again for a great session, the two of you “fit” well together, in pictures and out.  Congrats to the two of you again.

Jola & Eric wanted something more “Urban” for their engagement session tonight. What’s more urban than smack dab downtown Sudbury.  The skies grew darker a lot faster than we expected with the oncoming cloud cover, but that only enhanced the image that we had in mind.  Thanks again Jola & Eric, we had fun, and my cheeks are still hurting from laughing.  You two photograph amazingly.

Last night Jocelyne and I headed to the Valley to hook up with Tracy & Ryan for their engagement session.  Tracy was NERVOUS to say the least.  I have no idea why, she’s beautiful and has a gorgeous smile.  Paired up with her fiance Ryan we just couldn’t go wrong.  We immediately noticed that these two were not shy to kiss while being photographed.  As some couples swoop in for a quick “peck” like kiss, these two were the total opposite, and that’s what we love to see when photographing couples.  I notice that I am trying to capture those moments before I am actually about to take the image.  They might think that I am changing my camera settings or trying to find a new angle, but I am closely watching them waiting for that spontaneous moment where they are laughing, giggling or both.  These are the images that I LOVE to capture.

Next month we will be documenting the wedding of Cherish & Clint (on a Thursday, a first for us).  Over the past few years we have gotten to know and even hang out with this amazing couple. You have seen images from their maternity session and then their first family session from the past few years and last week we brought them out for a quick engagement session.  Their wedding should be a real blast as these two are so relaxed and easy going that I am positive the whole day will be the same.  Cherish, Clint, we look forward to hanging out and creating some outstanding wedding images for you next month.

Joce and I just finished the engagement session of Vicky & Larry this evening and  like usual we try to incorporate a little hodgy humor in some.  It turns out that Larry here is a huge Blue Jays Fan, Oh wait. I mean Maple Leafs fan (everyone knows how much I know about hockey eh?) and his soon to be wife is a huge Habs fan.  Vicky has been a fan since she was 2 and half years old, so I think it’s safe to say she’s a big fan (She even has Montreal Canadian seat covers in her car).   We thought we would do an image depicting the love between the two NHL fans showing who usually get’s the best of one another.  Vicky, Larry, thanks again for a great time, we look forward to playing some street hockey on your wedding day.

Well it wasn’t exactly a reshoot like you would think.  I didn’t screw up the first shoot or anything, I just had to “recreate” a shoot for my www.photographyschoolhouse.com webinar on the 5 Essential Engagement poses.  Kyle & Jasmine were kind enough to take time out of their lives and help me out with this Live Webinar and be my engaged couple again.  We already photographed their engagement a few months ago and were already feeling comfortable in front of my camera.    Thanks again you two for helping me out with this, I look foward to the next time I get to create images for you. ……the wedding.

We just finished the engagement session for Jovana & Bobby who are getting married next month (WOW! IT’S WEEKS AWAY).  We just met the couple face to face a few weeks earlier to go over the final wedding details and I must say, there was a big change from then and now.  Now don’t get me wrong, they are a great couple, smiling, giggling, you know, “the in love look” on their faces.   The meeting was great.   But Bobby was kinda quiet, and it’s the usual quietness that we see in grooms during consultations like this.

Tonight however……..was different.    We got to see the true side of Bobby.  True Bobby is FUN, and the more fun Bobby had the more fun Jovana had.  The whole time you could see them feed off each others energy.  The whole session was us laughing and being loud!  It was AWESOME and we can’t wait for their wedding next month.

Thanks again to the both of you.  We had a great time during the session.  My stomach muscles still hurt.

Using that May Sun to warm up the downtown background.

And this sums it up when you let them do whatever they want.  I love it!