Update: Its currently a few days before our 2022 photo sessions, and there is one time slot available Saturday October 15th (mid afternoon) and two options available for Sunday October 16th (mid afternoon). E-mail emily@emilybeatty.com to inquire about booking a session.
These are always the most magical shoots of the year. Stay tuned for fabulous 2022 images in the coming weeks!
All Photography by Emily Beatty Imagery
2021. What a year. It was not without its challenges. Actually it was almost entirely challenges wasn’t it? Somehow, despite COVID and months of lockdowns, my mom and I planted seeds, grew flowers and a small business blossomed alongside them.
We are very fortunate to have had the resources and support to launch a floral business and build a tiny shop when so many other small business owners are struggling to stay afloat after so many mandatory shutdowns in Ontario since 2020. Its been a crazy couple of years. Two things we know to be true, more now than ever: FAMILY and FLOWERS can keep you going. It’s enough.
We hope our tiny shop full of fresh cut flowers and all the pictures I got to take throughout the year will bring a few moments of peace and beauty to your day.
You can find a great big gallery of flower photos from every month of the year by visiting Welcome To A’Daylia Gardens.
We’re immensely grateful for all the support we’ve received from friends and family over the past year or so. Thank you!
Wishing you and yours much love and joy in 2022.
Love from,
Stephanie (The Mother, Owner & Flower Farmer)
and Emily (The Daughter, Photographer & Social Media)
P.S. A’Daylia Gardens doesn’t have its own website yet.
If you’re not already following us on social media, we’d love to see you online.
Find us by searching Facebook and Instagram for adayliagardens
Oh hello! Time for a second wave update from EBI.
I’m terribly sad to announce that our home studio on Sixth Ave. in Kitchener will not be available for indoor photo shoots during fall 2020, although we ARE offering outdoor sessions. It is simply not possible to safely separate the studio space from our home space at this time.
For now, it will remain a sewing studio where I make masks and gowns for the pandemic. (This will please my husband, who for once, will not have to endure fake snow in every nook and cranny of our house following the holiday rush.)
Fortunately, we still have a window of time for outdoor portraits this fall. The leaves are just reaching their most colourful peak. Friends, now is the time to get your seasonal photos done. I have space for a couple of sessions with immediate families in the tri-city area during the Thanksgiving weekend. Since nothing is certain this season, the sooner we shoot, the better. If updating your family portraits is something you’ve been thinking about, I recommend that you get in touch asap.
As for COVID precautions, I’ve got several new policies in place to protect my clients. So far, our outdoor, socially distanced sessions are going really well. Family portraits are feeling extra special. Extra love-filled and important. Each family’s health needs are very unique so I’ll always check in with you about the details before we work together.
In general, I’m reducing the use of props, encouraging touchless, distanced sessions, I frequently stop to sanitize my hands when shooting, and I’ll probably be wearing a mask during our session. Despite these little changes, we are still turning out some great images this season. I am treasuring each session, knowing it could be the last one for awhile.
Hopefully we’ll be able to keep on doing outdoor photo shoots until after the snow flies. Fingers crossed. I’ll be announcing details for styled outdoor fall AND holiday minis in the coming days. Both will be by appointment starting October 11th, on the grounds of @adayliagardens just outside of Maryhill, Ontario. Oh, and I’ve also had the pleasure of doing some really unique personal branding sessions during September. I’m always available for head shots and website photography in addition to family portraits. 
I’m very excited to see what we can accomplish together this fall! Don’t you just love autumn?
Have a safe and snuggly season!
~Emily
Each November I transform the home studio into some sort of insanely festive photo set for our annual Holiday Photo Sessions. In 2017 the inspiration came from Canada’s 150th birthday celebration earlier in the year. The result is this amalgamation of Christmas and Canadiana.
The best part of these holiday mini sessions is watching families grow up in front of my lens. Lots of familiar faces in this crowd!
Enjoy the gallery.
Want to see more?
Check out this 2017 holiday season compilation.
These images tell a story that begins and ends in Algonquin Park. My cousin Cicely and I have always been very close, even though we don’t get to see each other much. When we do get together, its often just a few days each summer at our beloved family cottage in Algonquin Park. Cic grew up spending her entire summers at sleep away camp in the Provincial Park, and eventually became an accomplished canoer and camper, spending up to 50 days at a time traveling through remote wilderness with a close group of young women that remain some of her closest friends.
Five years ago (to the day!!!) I had the joy of documenting Cicely and Dan’s glorious Christmas themed wedding. When we learned that Cic would become a mother, right away, long before the baby arrived, we began talking about how we could possibly rendevouz at my place during the summer for a creative photo session. The logistics were going to be tricky. You see, my beloved cousin and her baby are American. They live in Cincinnati. Nevertheless, Canada holds a special place in Cicely’s heart, and we both wanted to commemorate her baby girl’s first trip to our mutual favourite place on earth- the cottage. At the same time, Canada was still riding the celebration from our recent 150th anniversary on July 1st. If ever there was a time to dream up a Canada themed photo shoot, this was it! We spent less than 24 hours together in 2017, but we sure did make the most of it. So without further ado, its my pleasure to introduce you to Cicely, and her beautiful daughter, sweet miss Louise. I’m so pleased I could capture their relationship and this special moment in our history.
Sending hugs South of the border. xoxo
Do you remember back in February when EBI had a draw for a free family photo session? Meet the winners! The idea was to give back to my wonderful group of clients, but it turned out to be a great experience for me as well. The contest introduced me to Lindsay and her beautiful blended family, and after a few e-mails back and forth and an inspirational Pinterest board, we arrived on a mutual vision for a fun family photo shoot that would involve bold black and white stripes and oversize handmade pink paper flowers.
The setup took a bit of effort to assemble, but it was well worth it when I saw all the elements come together. To top things off, I arranged to borrow a minty green vintage style bicycle from some friends (thanks Fraser and Ellie) and accessorized the set with all sorts of white flowers. Lindsay and her family arrived with black and white and blue outfits and these great vintage updos that pulled everything together. We ended up with alllll kinds of great shots to choose from, and in the end the fam opted to add several extra images on top of their complimentary portrait package. Here are a few of our favourites.
Together, Cailey Brammer and I are pleased to offer you Incandescent Boudoir Sessions this Mother’s Day weekend. Let’s see what’s possible when two experienced creative professionals team up for light and airy styled boudoir photos at our home studio in Kitchener, Ontario. 
Boudoir photography is one of the best gifts a woman can receive. Treat yourself, or surprise the lady in your life with a gift neither one of you will ever forget. These photo sessions promise to be a delightful experience for all involved.
Have you been hanging around the boudoir pool for awhile now? Maybe dipped your toes in once or twice? Well this is the perfect opportunity to dive in headlong. Let us transform you into the most lovely version of yourself while you enjoy a glass of Champagne and unwind. We’ll help you with styling and fashion and beauty advice every step of the way, so that by the time you get in front of the camera, you’ll already be glowing.
After an hour getting beautified, and unlimited access to our modern/vintage wardrobe, we’ll move on to the photography. Most of my clients come to me with absolutely no modeling experience. Sure it helps to know your angles, but its really not necessary to capture beautiful images and see yourself in a whole new light. Together, we’ll work through a variety of poses designed to flatter your particular shape. All body types welcome here! Wear as much or as little clothing as you like. We’ll have time for several outfit changes.
Our Incandescent sessions will involve lots of bright white light, simple backdrops and a focus on you. We will have a faux bed setup, window light, and satiny white sheets. To give these images a touch of personality, we’ll also use a turquoise ombre wall and oversize tropical leaves for some images. What to wear? Think cream, blush, pink, soft baby blue, lavender and turquoise.
Since these sessions are happening Mother’s Day weekend, smart participants will plan to make the most of their hair and makeup investment. After your session, why not wrap up your day with a nice dinner or a get together with your loved ones? Show them how good you look after spending a morning or an afternoon on self-love.
When you sign up for an Incandescent Session, Cailey will help you reveal your outer beauty, and I’ll help you capture your inner beauty. You’ll be amazed what the combination of professional styling, proper lighting and posing can do for your image, and for your self esteem.
By the way, Cailey has a GORGEOUS new website that just went live. Have you visited caileybrammer.com yet? You really must go check out her work so you can see exactly what kind of expertise Cailey will will bring to our Incandescent Sessions. Oh yes, and let’s not forget the handmade floral crowns we will have on hand. Because fresh florals make everything more lovely. For Incandescent Sessions, I’ll be turning to the experts at From the Potting Shed to put together these important finishing touches.
After your session is complete, you’ll have 30 days to pick your favourite photos from a private online proof gallery. You’ll receive 3 digital portraits, edited to your specific taste. Of course once you see your proofs, there’s always the option to purchase extra digital images, or create customized art like a wooden print or a personalized mini album. Keep it simple with digital files, or take this opportunity to create a keepsake you’ll treasure for decades to come.
Won’t you join us? Now booking May 13th and May 14th sessions. Visit our Facebook event page for available time slots and all the most up to date information on Incandescent Sessions. 
E-mail emily@emilybeatty.com to reserve your spot today. Nine spaces remaining!
On Sunday, it finally felt like spring was about to make her debut. For months now I’d been meaning to drop in and check out the floral experts at From The Potting Shed, and Sunday, at last, the stars aligned, the sun came out, and we we able to meet the team at their monthly open house. What a breath of fresh air! Visiting this stone cottage was the perfect way to start spring 2017. Finding the location in Galt, Cambridge was a bit of a challenge, but once my husband and I arrived it was easy to see why the business has chosen to call this spot home. The abundant natural lighting alone was enough to make me swoon. Add heaps and heaps of blossoms, and I felt like I’d found a little slice of heaven perched on a hilltop in Cambridge. 
My mom is somewhat of an aspiring florist and I had hoped to bring her along for the tour, but that aspect of our plans didn’t work out. Luckily I had my camera bag with me, as we were en route to my grandmother’s birthday party. After our complimentary tour, I couldn’t help but ask the owners if I could snap a few shots, and they were gracious enough to allow me 10 minutes with my camera and their florals. I’m sharing these images because they are beautiful, but also so my mom can see what she missed while she was busy hosting her mother’s birthday party. Thankfully, I know there will be lots of other opportunities to visit FTPS with her in the future. 
These folks do some great work, and I’m excited to have them make me up some floral crowns for our upcoming boudoir feature this May. Thank you very much to Elaine, Kathy, Nicole, Bill and the rest of the team for your hospitality, and especially for the little customized bouquet. My grandmother loved it. 
The next open house for brides is April 8 & 9 if you want to check out this beautiful business for yourself.
http://www.fromthepottingshed.com/
Its (nearly) spring! A year ago I was busy celebrating International Women’s Day with some of my favourite clients and a series of soft and sensual boudoir sessions. Now we’ve had time to choose our favs, share them with loved ones, and revel in the secret of these beautiful images. Its time to share. Here’s a taste of the pastel perfection we captured last March. 
The idea behind these Vintage Glam Minis was to give some devoted family photography clients an opportunity to sample a boudoir experience on a small scale. It just happened to work out that the soft pink and blue colour combo that inspired much of our 2015 wedding decor became Pantone’s first ever dual colours of the year in 2016, when our Vintage Glam sessions took place. You’ll find Rose Quartz and Serenity are both sprinkled liberally throughout this setup. I also used various strands of pearls, white satin bedding, and a vintage suitcase full of antique cameras and vintage lingerie from my collection to bring some mid-century charm to these sessions. And we must not forget Simon! One of our participants asked if she could include her handsome rabbit friend for some extra unique portraits. I was only too happy to oblige. Bunnies make everything better.
You won’t see this backdrop anywhere else by the way, I made it by hand myself to use at my own wedding, knowing I would eventually reuse it for portraits of some kind. Essentially it is huge piece of plywood covered with a giant layered collage of different scrapbook papers as well as old wallpaper and paper doilies from my grandmother’s house. There’s also a can or two of shiny spray paint and yes, of course, gold glitter.
Each of these remarkable women has endured a major health challenge in one form or another, and none had had so called boudoir photos taken before. These shoots truly felt like a celebration. For some of these individuals, having their portraits taken helped them to see themselves in a whole new light. Every one of the participants ordered additional images once they saw how amazing they looked with a little help from good lighting and proper posing techniques. The feedback I got from the ladies was just lovely. I’ll never get tired of photographing women in a boudoir setting. It can get surprisingly emotional. And silly. I see such honest beauty in these images. I hope you will too. 
Thank you so so much to all these beautiful women. I’m happy we had the opportunity to take these portraits together, and I’m grateful you have allowed me to share them here on my blog. 
P.S. YES, I will be offering another spring boudoir feature in 2017. YES it is taking me longer than anticipated to work out the details, but it is happening, and here’s what I can confirm: White, bright light. Floral crowns. Professional hair and makeup. Brand new portrait display boxes.
Details coming late March.
Dino Minis! What could be more fun? As a kid, there were exactly 2 types of library books that I would check out: big photographic volumes about whales, and illustrated books about dinosaurs. Apparently huge, mysterious creatures have always fascinated me. Its a love I share with my husband, and its a photographic theme that has been floating around my head for years now. In the spring of 2016, I decided this would be the year, and I set about imagining how I might construct a dinosaur themed mini photo event for my clients.
Eventually, I settled on a prehistoric tropical jungle themed dinosaur set, for families that wanted portraits with some extra pizazz. The botanical background is a paper background that I had already hand painted for some wedding clients earlier this year. The handmade green paper succulents had also been a part of the wedding wall, but this set needed something brand new to bring it to life. Inspiration struck when I saw a window display with large paper leaves on a most excellent crafting blog called Sew Yeah. The night before the first photo shoot, my devoted husband and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning cutting and shaping all of these green, orange, yellow and purple leaves that you see in the photos.
Quite the last minute plan, but I actually love the way all the paper components came together once I had them taped and tied in place. I added a rustic fall muslin backdrop for the “dirt” with pillows underneath to make “rocks” and added a few plants from our deck to fill out the lower portion of our jungle set. We had lots of toy dinos and unique props to keep the kids entertained during their photos, and there was no shortage of smiles as the kids explored our set and the dinos inhabiting it. It worked out that half of our participants were turning either 1 or 2, and these sessions gave their families a unique way to document their child’s milestone without doing the typical balloons and birthday cake smash type of photo session. I’m so glad I just went for it and forged ahead with a very random mini theme. How unique and fun are these images?!? 
Thank you so much to the families that came out to help me realize my dino dreams with these mini photo sessions. Extra special thanks to Theodore for lending us some of his very most favourite toys for these photos, and to Melissa for her excellent assisting work and her sweet puppeteering skills. I hope you all had as much fun as I did. Until next time… roar! 
Curious to know more? Visit the Facebook Event page for Dino Minis here.
