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documentographer bio picture

documentographer photo blog

Hello, welcome!  I'm Catherine Farquharson.  I'm a professional photographer, using photography as a way to expand, connect and create.

For my clients and subjects, this means what we do is real, and fun.  I shoot creative editorial portraits for publications, sometimes of well-known names like Clare Danes and Sarah Slean.  I also work with emerging artists and people-of-note to-be, as we develop branding, image and feelings that photos can portray and evoke through their portraits.

As a documentarian, I tell photo-stories from all over the world, including the recent first interracial prom in Charleston, Mississippi, where my photos were published in Oprah's magazine, the National Post, NPR.com, Seventeen magazine and more.

I especially revel in covering important life experiences, including weddings, relationships, and natural lifestyle portraits.  Those moments and events are what we remember and hold onto, and I am honoured by the opportunity for my photos to be the touchstone for those memories and feelings.

For me, photography of people is the capturing of their essence, and sharing back what I saw and felt.  Wherever, and whomever they are. Everywhere and anywhere. Connecting, understanding and sharing. 

Monthly Archives: July 2010

Wedding of a Lifetime

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I know this might seem risky to say, but I can pretty much guarantee that you have never been to a wedding like this. I am willing to put it in writing. Right here on my blog.
I can’t even say more, as it’s been almost a month, and I am still blown away by Tiffany + Jeff’s nuptial nirvana. You just have to watch this slideshow below, and see with your own eyes.

Here’s what it includes (*warning: spoiler!*):
- a gorgeous couple totally in love (goes without saying)
- Vera Wang dress going to Kensington Market and Chinatown
- Bride as mannequin in Vera Wang store
- Bridesmaids and Groomsladies
- Ceremony + reception at the Royal Ontario Museum
- Bride + Groom MC’ing their own wedding
- All guests sitting at one long table
- Bride and Groom rotate seats for each course
- Steaks for dinner with ‘Tiffany & Jeff’ branded on
- A little visit to the ice cream truck outside

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And so much more. Just watch it.
(Press Play, then Pause, let it load, and press play again to watch without buffering issues)

SLIDESHOW HERE:

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I have a few other things to say about this day.  First of all, Bravo to the infamous Event Planner Machel Reeves, the mastermind behind this extravaganza.  There is nothing this woman can’t do.

As well, Tiffany’s exquisite hairdo was by Al Fortier from A List Beauty. And her make up by Miriam from Toronto’s coveted Gee Beauty. Oh, and the bouquets and stunning centrepieces, those were created by Fiori.

Lastly, this wedding was a special treat for me to shoot because my photographer friend Elizabeth Lloyd flew in from NYC to shoot with me for the occasion.  Thank you Beth, what a team we were!!!  Any my goodness, thank you for your beautiful shots.  Like this one :

tiff-1-4Tiffany + Jeff, thank you for sharing this perfect perfect perfect day with me.  It was full of all things I relish — fun, imagination, supportive and loving family and friends, fabulous speeches, style, and a couple celebrating every second.

Get up, get down, it’s party town

Did you hear the shaking up at the Weston Prince Hotel on June 27?  It was rocking, you might have heard it.  It wasn’t G20, it was Sari + Daniel’s wedding.  A celebration that was really like no other.  If you weren’t there, I’m sorry to say, you missed out.

I guess that kind of fun is what is bound to happen when you decide to have 15 groomsmen and 10 bridesmaids.  By the laws of the Universe, you have declared yourself a wicked wedding — no debate.

Can I just say how much fun this was to photograph?  Every where I turned, there was activity.  Enjoy the slideshow below — I bet you will find yourself bopping in your seat…

(To avoid buffering, press PLAY in the bottom left corner, then PAUSE.  Let it LOAD.  Then press PLAY again)

You can’t have a party like this without an amazing planner.  Standing ovation for Judy Stein of Judy Stein Consulting.

Beautiful flowers created by Wildflowers and Company.

And the band, this ferocious band, my new hands-down favourite band, Soular.

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“the best camera is the one that’s with you”

This is what Chase Jarvis says, making his iPhone photos so famous recently.  I admired this saying since I heard it, never thought much of it because the camera that is with me is always the Canon 5D mark ii (AKA the Best Camera).  This weekend I brought my trusty camera to a cottage for an engagement shoot.  My clients/now friends invited me to join them with their close friends to enjoy the weekend.

When shoot time rolled around on Saturday afternoon, I turned on my camera, only to find it completely malfunctioning.  It was shaking and clicking and flashing “Error! Error!” all on its own, even when I had the switch to Off.  This was disturbing, needless to say.  At weddings I always have a second camera with me, but on engagement shoots, I haven’t — until now, that is!  (Don’t worry Jer and Suz, I’ll have at least 8 cameras at your wedding!!)

We were so disappointed. The shoot seemed to be a bust. Oh, and they looked so good, they needed to be photographed!

It was then that we figured all was not entirely lost.  One friend had a point and shoot camera.  I thought, just for fun, even if we re-take the photos another time, let’s take the shots today anyway.  It’s not the camera that takes the photos, it’s the photographer and the subjects.  So, if that’s true, the camera shouldn’t matter.  Technically.  So, I picked up this camera that I could not control in any way — not the settings, the exposure, the shutter speed, nothing, and we started out. It was an experiment.  What can we do, here?  Can this work?

And this is what we did.  Grand success, don’t you think?!

JerSuz-1-2JerSuz-3JerSuz-2JerSuz-7JerSuz-4JerSuz-5JerSuz-6JerSuz-1-3Next engagement shoot I’m taking with my iPhone.  Move over, Chase!  Just kidding.

Love without borders Part 1

Abigail + Gustavo are international lovers.  They were married on June 26 in Toronto.  They will be married again in Rio on August 21.  With the Toronto version of their wedding being this much fun, I can’t wait to see how much fun the Rio version will be!

Stay tuned…

Enjoy this slideshow by pressing PLAY in the bottom left corner, then PAUSE immediately.  Let the show load, then press PLAY again.

Even though this day went seamlessly, it was an extra challenge with the G20 occurring just blocks from this party.  Jodie Katz of Social Butterfly orchestrated it all so well, you’d never know there was anything other than celebration happening in the city!

Hair + Makeup by none other than the amazing Ivy Lam.

reception perception

I love all the goodies to be found a receptions.  It’s an evening of moments — in particular, romantic moments.  Here are just three from Alison + Matt’s reception at the Manor in Kettleby.

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_MG_2738By the way, Alison did an amazing job putting together the details of the reception.  It was beautifully themed, decorated and co-ordinated — the likes of which I have only rarely seen without the help of a wedding planner.  Second career perhaps, Alison?

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a union at Union

How apropos.  An engagement shoot at Union Restaurant.  And such a stylish place, for such a stylish couple.  What a great fit.  A great union, you might say.

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JoannaJeff-1JoannaJeff-2JoannaJeff-3JoannaJeff-5JoannaJeff-6JoannaJeff-7JoannaJeff-8Thanks for bearing the heat so well yesterday.  Not even supermodels can do it as well as you!  Can’t wait for October.

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we three brides

In two weekends, I had the pleasure of shooting three very different weddings.  I am excited to share the pictures, as each one was so unique to them.  I’m enjoying how different even these three portraits are.

Abigail, now married to Gustavo.

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Sari, now married to Daniel.bride2

Tiffany, now married to Jeff.bride3Be sure to visit the blog often in the next two weeks.  These weddings will blow your mind.  You heard it here, first!

double your pleasure

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If your wedding is such an important experience, why only enjoy it on one day?  Indian weddings have it right.  More days, more outfits, more rituals, more memories.  Hitesh + Aliza even added more religions.  Everything you love about your wedding experience, doubled up!  Here is a slideshow selection of our epic wedding journey:

(To enjoy effectively without ‘buffering’ or skipping, press PLAY in the bottom left corner, and PAUSE immediately.  LET IT LOAD.  Then press PLAY again!)

IMG_7442IMG_7759Thank you for sharing those days with me, I don’t even know which part was my favourite. Thank you also to the fabulous Brandon Wong for coming out from California to second shoot for me.