Union Photography Blog » Wedding, Portrait, Maternity and Lifestyle Photography by Jon Thorpe

I had heard about Cabo Mexico before. My first majestic glimpses of this ocean-front paradise were limited to Google images, but even that was enough to win me over completely. Strikingly beautiful seaside cliffs, long stretches of sandy beach, a dry sunny climate and Cabo Wabo, the infamous bar owned by Sammy Hagar of Van Halen… what more could a photographer ask for! So when Jennifer & Vandy approached me about coming along to photograph their wedding there, I took up the offer without hesitation! The chance to travel to Cabo with this hip, stylish couple and their close-knit family was destined to sweeten the deal in ways I didn’t expect.

One of the best features of a destination wedding is the chance to spend time and share a whole week’s worth of amazing experiences – and images! Some great moments included strolling along the beach with the pounding surf striking the shoreline, a private boat cruise with the entire wedding party, ATVing across the desert, partying in town and of course, Vandy making his first comedic stage appearance.

This wedding was a very special one to not only to Jennifer, Vandy and their guests, but also special to me, as I forged new friendships and shared experiences with a loving group of close-knit family and friends. It really was a once in a lifetime experience for me to be there!

To Jenn, Vandy and everyone who attended – Muchas, muchas gracias! Thank you!

Energetic, fun, vibrant, stylish… these are all words that I use to describe Jill and Dan. They are the kind of couple that you easily fall in love with and can’t stop photographing. It was definitely the case with this “Extended Play” engagement photo session!

You may also notice that I love shooting well into the evening. By doing so, I am able to capture a range of playful and sexy imagery, spanning different lighting conditions and scenes. It really gives my couples a lot of variety in their images and goes well beyond the realms of a typical engagement session.

I am not able to post everything from the session right now (It’s kinda crazy here at the studio this week) so I will leave you with these awesome teasers. Be sure to come back for the main course later on! Please comment!

### UPDATE###
This stylish and cute engagement shoot has now been featured on The Wedding Co. daily news. Click here for more photos!

I love weddings that take place in the country! It’s a fantastic break from the hustle of the city and the picturesque landscapes make for truly fantastic backdrops for portraits.

Autumn and Alex’s wedding took place on a cute little piece of property outside of Newtonville Ontario. I’m glad that they provided me with directions too – because the location didn’t even show up on Google maps!  Things started off inside the country home as Autumn prepared for the big day and then, for the ceremony, transitioned to a beautiful gazebo overlooking a pond.

I had my good friend Sebastian as my assistant photographer for the day and he did a fantastic job of gathering the details of the event. Thanks!

I love the photo of Autumn spinning in her beautiful dress!! The flower details on her shoes also looked fantastic. Flats were definitely the smart choice, as the dancing was pretty intense later in the evening!

The afternoon light was just starting to soften up as we headed out for some quick portraits on a quiet side road. They both love their Sky convertible and I just had to squeeze it into one of the shots for a bit of play!

The mix of color temperatures really punched up the vibrancy of the above images. The pond made for a perfect reflecting pool with the mist just starting to dance across the surface.  In the last image, I am actually catching a guests camera flash – one of those unexpected treats that I sometimes get when sorting through the days images!

Enjoy!

Fresh air, the scent of pine and a scenic vista set the scene for Sarah and Russel’s wedding at Horseshoe Resort, which is just outside of Barrie, Ontatio.

Some may recognize Sarah and Russel as the “Rockin’ Couple” from a Lifestyle / Engagement shoot that I did last year, which came complete with guitars and amps. Oh yes. Needless to say I have come to like this couple a lot and was excited to finally be photographing their wedding!

We found some fantastic locations for the ‘not so formal’ photos, including a vibrant canola field which made for a fantastic backdrop for Sarah in her beautiful dress!

I also have to thank Ryan Rowell, of Rowell Photography, for being an awesome second photographer and for putting up with the ridiclous amount of gear that I made him carry. I swear, I am learning to pack lighter!

~ Never thought I’d be on a boat. Its A Big Blue Watery Road. I’m On A Boat! ~

Okay enough with the SNL references, but I actually have never shot a wedding on the high seas before, so when Kristy and Tyler mentioned that they would be exchanging vows on one of Toronto’s Tall Ships, I was pretty excited! The Empire Sandy was first put into service during the war as a tug boat, tasked with aiding battle damaged ships in the deep sea – quite a contrast to it’s modern day usage as a tour boat, plying the waters of Lake Ontario!

Kristy and Tyler are such a cute, fun couple and were a total pleasure to work with throughout the day! Enjoy the teasers!

Okay, so I am finally getting through all of the blogging backlog. It’s just amazing how quickly you can fall behind when busy shooting, editing and… enjoying a little sun! Even photographers need rest on occasion.

Richelle and Mark’s wedding was a few weeks back and I could not wait any longer to share these photos with all of you! They are just too fun!

I have been to a lot of weddings and it always surprises me how I am continually blown away by the uniqueness and creativity that each couple infuses into their celebrations in order to give them unique and everlasting flavor. For Richelle and Mark, this meant having their wedding at a spectacular vintage venue in the city, complete with a paper boy belting out “Read all about it!”, large custom movie posters bearing the title to their love story, live music and much more! WOW! What an evening that was!

You guys did such a fantastic job and I can’t wait to show you the rest of the photos! Stellar!

Some of my fondest memories as a child were those of when my parents would take me out to the many local attractions throughout Southern Ontario. The CN Tower, Niagara Falls, The Science Center… But one that always stood out was the Miniature Village at Cullen Gardens. Feeling like Godzilla as we wandered amongst the highly detailed mini-buildings was a real joy. The gardens were spectacular and the flowers gave the air a sweet scent. It was one of those magical places that many share in their memories.

Much has changed since those childhood days. The miniature village was auctioned off and the gardens are a little smaller than what they were – but the spot still has its magic.

I really have to thank Kristen and Daryle for holding their summer wedding at such a fun location. It brought back memories and left me with many new ones of their fabulous wedding day amongst family and friends. There were so many fantastic moments woven throughout the day and into the evening – it made my job and easy one as they were in such abundance! Thank you!