Selena and Zack's Engagement Shoot at Riverwood Conservancy

Hello Hello Hello!

Welcome to my latest blog post! It is May and am just happy to be enjoying one of my favourite months and the amazing spring season! I know I say this all the time but where is the time flying to? Whew we really are almost halfway through the year!

Today I get to share the engagement shoot of one of my summer clients!

Selina and Zack are such a lovely couple. Selina is of Eritrean heritage (like me) and Zack is of Caribbean heritage so am excited to be covering another multicultural wedding with Habesha elements! Eeeehhh can you feel my excitement hehe.

We took these engagement shoot images at the beautiful Riverwood Conservancy and I love how naturally beautiful everything looks!

When it comes to engagement shoots, finding a location that perfectly captures the essence of love, nature, and timeless beauty can be a challenge. However, Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga offers the ideal blend of lush landscapes, charming architecture, and serene vibes, making it a perfect spot for capturing those precious moments. Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them!

Tips for a Perfect Engagement Shoot at Riverwood Conservancy

1. Timing is Key: Opt for the golden hours of early morning or late afternoon when the natural light is soft and flattering.

2. Seasonal Beauty: Each season offers its unique charm, so choose the one that best reflects your love story. Spring and summer are lush and vibrant, autumn is rich and colorful, while winter brings a pristine, quiet beauty.

3. Wardrobe Choices: Complement the natural surroundings with lovely tones and soft fabrics. Flowing dresses and comfortable, casual attire often work best to enhance the natural feel of the setting.

4. Explore and Experiment: Don’t stick to just one spot. Wander through the grounds, go shoot by the barns, and explore the gardens and architectural features to capture a variety of beautiful backdrops.

5. Stay Natural: The essence of Riverwood Conservancy is its natural beauty, so let your poses and expressions be as genuine as possible. Interact with each other, share stories, laugh, and let the photographer capture those candid moments.

Other Vendors:

Selina’s M.U.A: Faces by Pureness

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Thank you for joining me on another edition of my blog post! Hope to see you back here next time! or better yet, that we get to work together!

-Karimah

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Kristoff and Britny's Engagement Shoot at Dundurn Castle and Mill Race Park

Hello Hello Hello! Happy Valentine’s day and welcome to another blog post on my website! Today I feature the engagement shoot of Kristoff and Britny!

Love is a kaleidoscope of colors, each hue representing a different facet of the bond shared between two souls. In a world where love stories are as unique as the individuals themselves, capturing the essence of that love becomes an art form and one I try to showcase via my photography. Last year, I had the privilege of photographing this engagement shoot that was nothing short of magical, set against the picturesque backdrop of Hamilton's Dundurn Castle, and in addition to that the rustic feel of Mill Race Park in Cambridge.

The first thing I noticed when we began the shoot was the outfit colour choice of the couple. The turquoise/ aqua colour was quite unique! I saw them and I immediately loved it. The couple brought along Kristoff’s family dog and it was nice to capture some images of the dog with them!

Throughout the shoot, the couple's genuine affection for each other shone through in every smile, every stolen glance, and every loving gesture. Whether they were strolling through the castle's outdoor areas or sharing a quiet moment on the castle steps, their connection was palpable, and it was an honour to witness and capture it.

The second half of the shoot happened in Cambridge at Mill Race Park. We had just gotten to the location and we had all of five minutes before the rains fell down on us and unfortunately we had to cut the shoot short. But I was still happy with images we managed to get! My favourite is the one of the couple embracing the rain! Oh and of course this stylish couple had a neat choice of second outfit, which fit the scenery nicely!

In the end, what struck me most about Kristoff and Britny's engagement shoot was not just the beauty of their matching turquoise outfits or the stunning backdrop of Dundurn Castle, but the undeniable love that radiated from every image. It was a reminder that love knows no bounds – not even those of time or space – and that it is, indeed, the most beautiful color in the world.

As I packed up my camera gear in the rain and bid farewell to Kristoff and Britny, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their love story (if only for the period of the shoot). Their engagement shoot at Dundurn Castle and Mill Race Park was a testament to the enduring power of love, and I have no doubt that their journey together will be just as vibrant and beautiful as the outfits they wore that day.

I am very much looking forward to covering their wedding next month!

Vendors:

Kristoff’s Suit: Malcolm Xclusive

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Thank you for joining me on another edition of my blog post! Hope to see you back here next time! or better yet, that we get to work together!

-Karimah

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Sinit and Alex's Eritrean Ecuadorian Wedding at the Royalton and Glendon College

Hi Everyone! Welcome to another blog post on my website. The first one I get to post this year is the beautiful wedding of Sinit and Alex!

I met this couple back in 2022. when I had the pleasure of covering their engagement shoot that year. You can see that shoot HERE!

In June of 2023, I was fortunate to cover their beautiful wedding! I have to say this couple is one of the most down to earth, easy going and and fun loving couples that I have ever had the pleasure of capturing.

The wedding day started out at a downtown tower, where I arrived at 8.00 am and was super happy to find both the bride and groom ready to go in their separate suites for the getting ready images. The bride’s beautiful makeup was done by talented M.U.A Tracy K and her hair was styled by BBN Studios.

The church ceremony took place at St. Basil’s Cathedral (part of St Michael’s college at the University of Toronto). You can imagine my happiness when I found out it was only a 5 minute walk from the getting ready location so there was virtually no chance of any of the wedding party or vendors being late/ stuck in traffic.

It was a heartfelt ceremony and I found myself crying with the bride and groom, as they saw each other for the first time while the bride walked down the aisle accompanied by her father. After the church ceremony there was the usual chaos and exuberant joy of family and friends exiting the church behind the bride and groom, however as I had already attended the rehearsal and gave some tips for this portion of the day the bride and groom were ready for the family portraits at a location we selected at the rehearsal. Everything went so smoothly (well except for the fact that the sun decided to be dramatic and change directions every two minutes. I think it just wanted to serenade the couple and their guests with light because it was such a joyous day).

Having spent time with the bride to prepare the photography schedule ahead of the wedding day, we did the photoshoot on the stunning grounds of Glendon college! We made sure to put enough buffer time for the large wedding party and am glad my advice of sticking with the buffer time was adhered to. The bride and groom have such wonderful friends who really made the experience a fun one for the couple. Adding a lovely element to the “lifetime of memories experience”.

The reception took place at the Royalton Banquet Hall. I fell in love with the decor the minute I saw it! A beautiful setup by Babylon Decor!

My personal favourite moment of the evening was the traditional Eritrean entrance, complete with men holding swords and the women drumming away. That was a sight to behold whilst the wedding party were escorted in to the reception hall. I loved it! Well I will let you take a look at the images below and see the beautiful happenings of the day! Please do check out the following vendors as well!

Vendors:

Reception Venue: The Royalton

Ceremony Venue: St. Basil’s Church (part of St. Michael’s College at UofT)

Portraits Location: Glendon College

Melse Venue: The Lithianian Centre

Videographer: PhotoBerhan

Florals and Decor: Babylon Decor

M.U.A: Tracy K

Hair: BBN Studio

Bride;s Dress: The bride’s choice official

Groom’s Suit: The Suit Supply

Wedding Bands: Bobby Ll Toronto

Catering: Tsehaye

Cake: Tatiana Treats 2.0

DJ: Andre Clarke

Second Shooter for Karimah Gheddai Photography: Ali Haider

Assistant for KGP on the Day: Raghav

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

The Melse is the traditional Eritrean event that follows a wedding. This Melse happened the day after the wedding. Starting at the getting ready suites and the celeberation venue being at the Lithuanian community centre.

Thank you for stopping by to read my latest blog post. I hope you enjoyed looking through the images as much as I enjoyed covering this event and putting together the post. Until next time I hope to see you back here or better yet that we get to work together!

-Karimah

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Rochelle and Jermaine's Engagement Shoot at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa

Hello beautiful people! Welcome to another blog post on my website! Today I feature the engagement shoot of Rochelle and Jermaine at the fabulous Parkwood Estate.

Shooting at Parkwood Estate is always a delight and I love to challenge myself to shoot it in different ways! The couple were gracious in letting me get creative with the imagery and I loved working with them! After a lovely session at Parkwood, we ended the shoot with a casually styled shoot at a nearby park. I loved the couple’s choice of wardrobe for the Parkwood portion! It was so elegant. The colourful bouquet was a neat touch. As well, their casual wardrobe choice for the second half of the shoot was great.

I look forward to shooting their wedding next year!

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

As always, thanks for stopping by my page! I hope I get to see you back here or better yet that we get to work together in person!

-Karimah

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Luna and Michael's Crystal Garden Engagement Shoot at Preto Loft

Hello Hello Hello!

Welcome to another blog post on my website. I am always so excited when I get a chance to post here.

Engagement photo shoots have a way of capturing the essence of a couple's love and personalities, freezing those beautiful moments in time. Recently, I had the privilege of documenting an engagement photo shoot that was nothing short of being simply gorgeous. This particular shoot took place at the lovely Preto loft when they had their “Crystal Garden” setup. The studio had a luxurious arrangement adorned with lush greenery and elegant chandeliers. For those seeking for this setup for their own shoot, unfortunately Preto Loft has already taken it down (as it was a temporary feature) however Preto Loft has always been an amazing place for me to shoot at. I simply love the quality of light that hits the studio on bright sunny days. I do feel so lucky however that we got to do the shoot here with the “Crystal Garden” backdrop and I do hope they return it in the future because it is just chic!

My clients were a stylish couple and I genuinely enjoyed working with them. This was definitely one of my favourite shoots to have covered this year. I am grateful they chose me to document their engagement shoot and wish them a most beautiful wedding ahead!

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!

Until next time thank you for joining me on another blog post! I hope to see you back here! or better yet that we get to work together!

-Karimah

If you would like to book me for your 2024 Engagement Shoot, Wedding or Event then get in touch HERE!