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Judy Jakusz Photography Blog bio picture

My name is Judy Jakusz and I'm a wedding and lifestyle portrait photographer based in Toronto, Ontario.  I specialize in wedding photography, destination wedding photography and in on-location, natural light portrait photography of maternity and baby, children, seniors and pets.  You'll find the latest and greatest here -- my client previews, my news and doings, and my take on life and my favorite things.  So don't just stalk - leave a note and say hi!  I'm glad you stopped by -

Ainsley [toronto newborn photography]

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2010! 

Didn’t it seem the holidays just flew by this year?  It was so wonderful to have a full week before Christmas off with both Keith and Caitlin at home, as well as home during the Christmas/New Year week.  So much nicer than having no time before Christmas and then all that time after the new year for the Christmas break. 

I’m super excited for everything I have already planned for 2010 , and can’t wait to start unveiling all the new looks to the website and blog I’ve been working on for the last bit of time. 

Catching up on posting and blogging all the wonderful sessions I worked on over the past several months has been a big project and is one of my top New Year resolutions.  It seems that October through mid-December was busy-non-stop.  Thanks to all my wonderful clients for coming back for portraits, and spreading the word to friends and family as well.  I’m so looking forward to seeing many of you all again this year too. :) 

Now to start off with one of my last sessions from 2009 ….

Sweet baby Ainsley was such a cutie pie to work with — even though she didn’t want to leave mom’s arms for just about the entire session.  That’s okay — newborns don’t come with instruction manuals, and usually call the shots during their photo sessions!   It’s probably the first reason why I always plan for lots of time when I schedule for my newborn portraits.

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I love this pic of mom and daughter.  Mom and Dad have just moved into a brand new house, and our session that day was taken in their previous home -  just before the move.   Isn’t this so what custom photography is all about — memories of your first home, with your baby in your arms.   

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I loved Ainsley’s toes — oh alright, I’ll admit it — I love baby toes in general!  

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Had to get a shot of big brother Buster!  He kept jumping on the bed wanting to be right in the action. 

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Ainsley stayed awake throughout most of the session, but she definitely wore herself out by the end of our time together — so I quickly took a number of sleepy mood shots before I left her and her mom.  Even though it was mid-afternoon - the sunshine was casting a glowy and warm look in the room, and I loved how it helped to create the vintagy feel to these photos.  A little bit of vintage finishing didn’t hurt either — I wanted that dreamy effect that doesn’t always happen when my babies are wide-eyed and ready to rock during their photos!  :) 

I think one of the things I love most about doing newborn sessions is that none of them — not a one — ever seem the same, or ever turn out the same.   The lighting, the day, the room; all of those things together go into the photos that come out of your session.   That’s what makes them so much fun to plan and create.  :) 

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Julia and Nicholas [Burlington child photography]

A few from my fun session with little Julia and Nicholas — just a little over 6 months old now.  How those twins have grown, and  I’m positive that since we took these photos, Nicolas has grown another inch longer!    It was so good to see Kim, Alex and their wonderful family again!  :)    The location for our photos - the grounds at Ireland House here in Burlington, along with the park at Tansley Woods - both beautiful spots — just filled with fun places to run!  :)

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Comments = cans [Burlington and Toronto photographer]

I know I haven’t been the best on up-keeping my blog, and we won’t even begin to mention all of the changes and updates it needs  :)  — but I’ve discovered one thing over the last months, and that’s a neglected blog seems to promote lots of spam, and the last thing I like to see every morning is a box filled with spam comments.  Not a happy way to start the AM….

So we’re going to fix that little problem today –

and hopefully help out a bunch of people along the way. 

And to celebrate Thanksgiving back home for my American friends and family, and to help my Canadian friends get into that holiday spirit even more, we’re going to get busy! 

Starting today, and through December 4th, for every comment on my blog posts I receive,  I’ll donate a canned or boxed item to our local Burlington food bank   So, scroll through the posts, check out the pics and leave me some blog love  :)  and I promise to give you all lots more to keep you inspired over the next week!  I’ve never done this before, and I’m not sure how many comments I’ll even get — but I’ll keep you posted as we go. 

Like to go the extra mile yourself?  Contact your local community organizations like the Salvation Army or your local community churches to get you started.   If you’re up my way in Ontario, here is a link to food banks throughout the province. 

http://www.oafb.ca/members.html?letter=ALL

While many of these organizations benefit the most at the holidays,  we all know that assistance is needed all year long. 

Now before the copy police come out in full force — let me just say — this idea was NOT my own — but I absolutely love it!   And I challenge all of my other family, friends, readers, and fans out there with blogs to do the same.  Thanks so much to all of my Canadian and American photographer friends for sharing this idea on their own respective blogs — between us all, it really shows what a difference we can make every day!  :)

November 25, 2009 - 11:16 am Lauren - Hey Judy! I think this is such a great idea! I don't know if I am the first to leave a comment, but hopefully this is one of many! What a wonderful gesture for the holidays! -Lauren :)

Burlington Family Photography [Burlington and Mississauga Photographer]

Another catch-up post today —-

Carolyn’s family session from Paletta Lakefront Park.   From a few weeks back when we still were in the peak of our beautiful fall golds!  :) 

I hadn’t seen Carolyn’s little ones since Mikaela was born — she has graced my blog and site before, wrapped up in a bundle on mom and dad’s bed.  It’s hard to believe she’s now a girl on the move, who knows how to hold her own with  big brother Alessio.  :)    Such cuties — and Carolyn, it was so good to see you all again!  I’m so glad I was able to catch a few of these two together — in between crackers and snacks and Alessio’s discussion of Halloween costumes!  :)

Enjoy!  :)

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Worked really hard for this shot!  :)  But had a lot of fun finding these next ones…

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This one above is my hands down favorite!  :)

18 month pics [Burlington, Toronto, Ajax Family Photographer]

Time for more blog love today – and the stack of sessions to be blogged could create blog posts from now till Christmas! 

A few of the very energetic Cole from this weekend - and I’ll tell you — he was a little man on the move who stopped for nothing!  I want his energy most days!  I had an awesome time with him, as well as weith mom and dad who drove all the way in from Ajax for our photos on Saturday.    These were shot at Palleta Lakefront Park here in Burlington, which is probably one of my favorite outdoor places in Burlington to hold nature sessions.  There are so many places to wander, you don’t ever have to make it look the same!  In fact, that’s one of the things I love most when I have clients that want to shoot at Paletta; the challenge of making their photos look like they aren’t at Paletta!  Making pics look unique and special even though it has to be one of the top locations used by almost every photographer in the area isn’t always easy, but it’s such a fun challenge !  :)  

I’ve got lots more to work through for the gallery, but here are just s few of my faves from the afternoon.

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Sneak Previews Tonight [Toronto Ontario portrait photographer]

Yikes!!!  I owe soooo many sneak previews — so I figured the easiest way was to preview everyone who needs one — and then blog each of y’all later this week!  :)   So here goes —-

First up —-  Christine and Ben (back from when we still had fall colors!) and their fabulous outdoor e-session up on the escarpment at Mt. Nemo!  :)   There’s definitely a blog story behind these photos.  ;)

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Then we have the beautiful vintage glam of Jessica and Jamie’s wedding here in Burlington at LaSalle park.   :)

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And finally, just a very quick peak at Andrea and Adam’s edgy and urban e-session out at The Brickworks in TO.  :)

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Much more still to come!!!  :)  And thanks so much to all of you who have been so very patiently waiting on your galleries and blog posts while the busy October portrait season was in full swing over the past several weeks!  :)

Michelle + Paul [Hamilton Ontario Wedding Photographer]

Back to the previews again — it seems forever since I blogged last.  Over the past several weeks I’ve been working furiously on my last three September weddings.  I’m also in the midst of fall portraits, and senior portrait rep pics, so between the days of sessions and edits, the blog has been greatly neglected.  Goal for next year — blog better, and definitely get myself an assistant for those summer wedding edits!  :) 

My post tonight is for you Michelle—   Michelle has been waiting very patiently since her return from that Mexican honeymoon for any sort of preview on the blog!  :)  It seems like so long ago since we had a beautiful summer into fall day — and Michelle and Paul’s September day was just that.  After a morning ceremony in Waterdown at Michelle’s family church, we headed to Brantford for their brunch reception at the Brantford Golf and Country Club

Here are just a few from the day and it’s details.  :)

 

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Michelle carried a special engraved charm with her and Paul’s initials and their wedding date in her bouquet - I thought that was so neat!  :)

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Love this pic of Michelle!  :) 

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Thanks guys — for letting me try this shot!  :)

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More portrait posts and e-sessions on the go for the next several weeks, and one last wedding for 2009.  So definitely more pics to come.  :) 

Happy Fall!

Jen + Joey [Ontario wedding photographer]

It’s such a cold and rainy day here today — I figure it’s time for a teaser post tonight for Jen and Joey from their beautiful, and much warmer, Northern Ontario wedding day in Iroquois Falls a few weeks back.  

You both have been waiting so patiently for your gallery, and I promise more previews to come, so keep checking the blog and Facebook pages over the next week or so for more from their fab wedding!

In the meantime — check out a few of their gorgeous couple shots ! 

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I love, love, *love* (did I say love?) this next pic!  :)

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Now back to more wedding edits tonight!  :)

Nine Month Baby Session [Hamilton and Toronto Baby Photographer]

More catch up as I process through weddings.  Next on the blog I promise are weddings!  :) 

This morning’s post is for you Krista  —- 9 months already for adorable Carson! 

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I just love this one above!  :)

I have all these pics with Carson grabbing his toes — I think it was his new discovery that day!  :)

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Grad Pics - [Burlington and Hamilton Ontario Photographer]

 She borrows my clothes, my shoes, my jewelry, usually without asking first!  

She’s an only child, like me, and she shares when she wants to, like me too.  :)

She has her own sense of style, but when she saw these out of the back of the camera, the first thing she did was roll her eyes and say she looked like me!  I don’t recall when I *ever* looked so good in 8th grade. 

It’s her grad year  — already…….

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