• We like wispy clouds against a bright blue sky. Holding hands and going for a walk. Cooking together in our teeny tiny kitchen. The sound of the wind through the leaves of a big maple tree on a summer's day. Talking for hours about our dreams and our fears while our lattes grow cold at the corner cafe. Laughing until our sides ache. The wind in our hair. Going on adventures, both big and small. Being inspired. Living simply, breathing deeply and loving often.

    For us, these are the important things in life. It’s about the people around us; the experiences that shape us; the moments that never leave us. The times of laughter; of creativity; of longing and overwhelming inspiration. It's these moments in which we feel most alive. And so this is what we photograph. This is what we want to capture for people. It's these moments that we want to help others remember.

    Thanks for making your way over to our little part of the universe today. We are Jenn & Dave, a husband & wife photography team based in Southern Ontario Canada, and we spend our days photographing amazing couples who love life and love each other. Welcome. Please stay a while. sometime, we'd love to chat. We hope you leave here today with a smile on your face.

September 3, 2010

FOR MOMENTS LIKE THESE

Posted in THE BUSINESS

A photographer friend of mine emailed me a while back and said something to me that caught me a bit off guard and stuck with me. She said that my photos were always so technically perfect, and that she admired me for that. First thing I wanted to tell her was, of course, a big fat thank you for making my day (and because I love this girl’s work so much) followed very quickly by a big fat “um, no they aren’t!” Let me explain. I mean, I think I’m pretty good with a camera. Otherwise I don’t think this would be a very good career choice! I think I’ve gotten better — I know I’ve gotten better — over the past months and years at figuring out how to make my camera achieve the effect I want and the type of image I have envisioned in my head. I’m always trying to get better, always wanting to learn more. But I think when you start thinking too much with your brain, it can, well, sometimes drown out the quiet voice of your heart.

Sometimes in a competitive industry like the one I’m in, it can be hard not to feel like a little sapling among a forest of great tall redwoods. It can sometimes feel like your voice is never going to be heard. And then I get emails like this:

JENN & DAVE!! JUST FABULOUS!!! I just finished looking at the photos and I’m all teary eyed!! You guys truly captured the day!!! Thank you thank you thank you!! The photos are gorgeous!!! Can’t wait to share the link with friends and family!! Can’t thank you enough for doing this for us! I have to READ the post now!! I cheated and just looked at the photos!!

And this:

Thank you so much for making this entire process so wonderful. We have enjoyed every time we were with you, from coffee in Streetsville, to the engagement shoot, and at the wedding. We too hope to continue getting to know Dave and yourself. If you are ever in the Newmarket are, give us a call! You guys are amazing photographers and amazing people. Hopefully we can connect at some point outside of ‘business’ (even though it never felt like that). Blessings.

And I remember what is truly the greatest reward about doing what I do. I love this quote that I came across today: “A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera”. I love taking photos. I strive to take the perfect shot each click of the shutter. But the camera is just the tool. It’s all about connecting with people for me. I’ve needed to remind myself of that often this week. And it’s for moments like these that I live for and care so much about what I do. Moments that are real and true and only last a second. Moments that will mean so much to a family a year, ten years, fifty years down the line. Moments like these when the quiet voice of my heart comes through.

- Jenn xx

We’ll be out of the office this Labour Day weekend, so if you’d like to be in touch we’ll get back to you as soon as we can next week! Have a great weekend!

(Edited to add: quote is by Dorothea Lange, photographer)

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September 1, 2010

KENDEL & BEN’S WEDDING

Posted in WEDDINGS

I couldn’t be more excited to share this gorgeous gorgeous wedding with you today!! Partly because Kendel is such an awesome girl that I’ve been lucky enough to get to know over the past little while (Ben is a pretty terrific guy too)…and partly because…well, their wedding was a little bit amazing. Like stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous. All the decor; the little details; all their wonderful family and friends; but most of all, gorgeous because of the love.

I can remember the day they got engaged. Kendel came back from a day out with Ben with an album on facebook with photos of a plane ride over Niagara Falls, Ben playing her a song on his guitar, and a lovely ring on her finger… And it was an honour (truly it was) to be asked to be the photographer at their wedding. See, Kendel is my photography buddy – we first met working at a summer camp where she was in fact, hired as the photographer. I can remember I was just starting to get into photography back then, and whenever we’d run into each other we’d chat about that and of course, LOST (of course.). Then Dave and I moved away…we lost touch for a bit…until a little while later when we both found ourselves starting up our own wedding photography businesses right around the same time. We speak regularly offering support and advice as we navigate our way through this crazy journey and we try to get together whenever we can to shoot together and learn.  Kendel is so full of lovely, creative, and inspiring ideas. I followed her wedding planning journey on her personal wedding blog and just kept getting more and more excited for their wedding day with each new post. Mason jars? Wildflowers? Strings of lights across the ceiling? Oh I knew it was going to be beautiful right from the start.

After the ceremony and being seriously pelted with birdseed by their “well-wishing” (…not so well-wishing?!) guests as they exited the church, Ben and Kendel jumped into the back of a vintage red Ford truck and it was like a scene from a movie. When we arrived at Balls Falls Conservation Area, I snuck a peek inside the barn as it was being set up and my jaw almost hit the floor. I could have photographed in there for several hours, quite happily. All of it was Kendel’s vision, and with the help of Ben, and loads of family and friends, it came together so so beautifully, from the homemade wedding cake topped with little Ben & Kendel figurines, to the jars of honey and Mad-Lib games on every table; their wedding was just so so them.

Towards the end of the night, Ben got out his guitar, sat down in his chair at the head table, and played for Kendel the song he had written for her while they were dating. Ben is so the sweetest guy…a few verses into the song, he stopped suddenly, closed his eyes, smiled, and said a quiet “shoot…” as he tried to remember the next chord. Kendel then laughs and turns to the rest of us, saying “this so happened when he playing it the first time too!” and Ben shakes his head. He continues to sing: the other day I dreamed of a girl with hair that flowed and a face that glowed. The other day I dreamed of a girl, just like you…you’re my dream coming true.

BRK; Thank you, thank you, thank you. If I were to do it all over again, this is what how I would want it to go, and I would fail miserably at seeing my vision into reality and would come nowhere near as close to pulling off a wedding day with such absolute perfection as you did. And so you gave me the next best thing: the privilege of photographing it. And for that I am so grateful. Thank you for entrusting us with such a meaningful part of your day. May these photographs join the hundreds already in your collection, and the hundreds more that are still waiting to be taken.

And now the photos – Enjoy Ben & Kendel’s so-perfectly-them wedding, filled with lots and lots of love…

- Jenn xx

Ceremony Venue: CALVARY PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, Cayuga, Ontario | Reception Venue: The Big Barn at BALL’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA, Vineland, Ontario | Photographers: Jenn & Dave Stark of JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS | Kendel’s Dress: MAGGIE SOTTERO (Camden style) | Kendel’s Shoes: PAYLESS | Flowers: Melissa of BELLA’S FLORAL BOUTIQUE | Catering: Dave & Diane of Creative Cuisine Creations | Kendel’s Hair & Cake provided by friends: Karen Elgersma & Wilma Minor | All decor was either thought up/created/collected by the bride & groom, with help of countless amazing friends.

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August 30, 2010

MONDAYS WITH CLEO

Posted in OUR LIFE

There are a few things I absolutely hate about working from home.  Like when the building decides to turn off all the water, and I forget, and I end up with soap all over my hands, staring dumbly as not even a trickle of water comes out of the faucet. The blur between office hours and home-time-hang-out-with-the-hubby hours. The small windows that are too high that I can’t sit and stare out of. The hot days with no air conditioning. Getting distracted by something that needs cleaning. There are some days where I dream about owning a studio – a little top floor space with exposed brick walls, industrial concrete floors, cool retro furniture and huge windows with lots of light just pouring in. I’d have the pot of coffee going and people would come in to meet and just hang out and talk and it’d be oh so much cooler than the Second Cup around the corner. But there are other days where I feel just oh so fortunate to be working from home. I roll out of bed and turn on the computer, whip up a smoothie and do one important thing to get my day started before even having a shower or going for a morning run. I make boiled eggs for my lunch. Take a fifteen minute walk into town to meet up with a friend for coffee. And the thing I love the most is I have the best office companion who keeps me company every single day of the week. Seriously, if I ever do get my top floor, exposed brick office space, I’m bringing her to work with me every single day. I’ll become known as the crazy woman who carries a meowing cat in her oversized purse to work in the mornings… it will be awesome! Honestly though, I don’t know how I could make it through the day without the random meows, the breaks to throw pieces of crumpled paper down the hallways for her to chase and the warm body falling asleep in my lap as I work.

Yes, I am one of those obsessive cat lover people. 100%. But come on. With a face like that, how could you not be?!

Images: 1. When I’m in my office chair, she’s in hers. 2. Bath time in the living room. 3. We gave her a real bath yesterday, with shampoo and everything. She was not too impressed with all the licking she had to do afterwards. 4. Favourite sleeping spot. We’ve had the computer that came in this box for a few months now. 5. Going to find a patch of sun.

- Jenn xx

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August 29, 2010

MELINDA & MATT’S SNEAK PEEK

Posted in WEDDINGS

I wanted to get Melinda and Matt’s sneak peek up today before they head to the airport to jet off for what sounds like a lovely two weeks in Paris and driving through the French countryside for their honeymoon… and no, I’m not jealous at all! Yesterday was a beautiful day in each and every way – these two were just so happy and their happiness stayed on their faces absolutely all day. It was a joy to be a part of it. More to come soon.

- Jenn xx

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August 27, 2010

A RANDOM FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Posted in OUR LIFE

I’m sitting at my desk listening to the never-ending sounds of construction outside the window. I’m sat with my feet tucked under me and my hair still wet on the back of my neck. Dave’s in the kitchen doing something with a frying pan on the stove and whatever it is, it smells pretty yummy. I made a smoothie and just realized I left it on the kitchen counter, practically untouched. I was chatting with of my 2011 brides last night on google chat and she sent me a link to the dress she is having made for her wedding day and I almost fell off my chair it was that gorgeous and just so completely her. The air’s getting cooler, the nights are coming a bit quicker, and Starbucks just sent me an email letting me know that pumpkin spiced lattes are back, now available at a store near you, and I realized that it’s almost September. Dave just came in and told me about my forgotten smoothie and he’s wearing a hoodie with the hood up and I realize even more that yes, I’m looking forward to a season of walking through fallen leaves, scarves, boots, and seeing your breath in the night air. As dreary as the months of January – March are in this part of the world, I couldn’t live away from the constant reminder the ever-changing seasons give me that life is about renewal, death, and rebirth (Repeat.).

And then I realized that I had more to say than to just quickly hit publish and send this post out into internet-land. So I took a break to join Dave in the kitchen, drink my smoothie and watch as he ate a turkey bacon, tomato & lettuce sandwich (hence the good smells from the frying pan).  I’ve been listening to an online web-inar (ie. seminar on the web) for the last couple of days while I work. I do this all the time – photos in front of me, earphones in listening to a motivational speaker or a photographer speaking or teaching – and it’s the best. I’m always looking for new things to listen to, so if you have any recommendations, please let me know! Anyway, this particular web-inar sparked huge controversy when it was first announced and even I didn’t know what I thought about it at first. Really? Really? You’re going to shoot a real actual wedding and stream it live to the whole internet? But can I tell you something? I have never felt more inspired. She was one of the first “big names” I became aware of when I started into wedding photography. And she is completely different from me; she takes amazing photos that are totally not my style. But you know what? She completely owns it. What I love about her is that she knows what she wants and she goes out and gets it. I’m finding that the more I grow in my art the more I am finding myself completely inspired by other photographers who are, actually, nothing like me or what I want to be. What I am inspired by is that they have identified their goals, and they have gone out and achieved them. Their work is a testament to who they are. There’s no greater truth out there that I am in love with so much as the simple fact that we are all completely different. Inspiration lies in finding what makes you unique and running with it, completely unashamed to just be yourself. That is when inspiring stuff happens.

If you’re interested at all in watching along, the program is called CREATIVELIVE and Jasmine Star is nothing like me but is completely completely herself. And I find that inspiring to the nth degree.

And a post without a photo is like peanut butter without jelly. Not absolutely necessary, but so so much better. I’ve got a wedding on Saturday and I won’t lie, I’m pretty excited. Especially excited that it is not being broadcast to thousands of viewers! Because seriously – this is how cool I look while I’m shooting:

- Jenn xx

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