RFC interviews Pink Pearl Images
Here is our interview with uber talented Toronto Wedding Photographers, Daniela and Melanie of Pink Pearl Images. We’ve included plenty of eye candy as well. Their work is fabulous and they are both super sweetie pies!
RFC: - Who is the creative talent behind Pink Pearl Images?
Daniela: I’m going to have to say that Melanie is the creative talent.
Melanie: Daniela is definitely the creative talent behind Pink Pearl Images.
RFC: - How do you describe your signature style?
Daniela: I am all about the details. I love capturing the little things that make a wedding unique. Take something like the wedding rings. They have so much meaning to the couple and are a symbol of their wedding and their marriage. The rings deserve their own image. I apply this same perspective to the décor, wedding gown, cuff links, flowers, place settings, food, etc. You can really learn a lot about a couple when you pay attention to the choices they have made for their wedding. These details let their personalities shine through.
Melanie: I am fascinated with candid images of people. There is honesty in people’s faces and interactions when they are unaware of the camera. The look a father gives his daughter right before they walk down the aisle tells a story about their relationship. My goal is to capture that relationship in a single image.


RFC: - Tell us what it would be like to have Pink Pearl Images as your wedding day photographers.
Daniela: Every client is treated like they are our only client. We want our clients to be happy throughout the whole photography process. From the first email they send us, to the day they pick up their images, we want them to know that they are a priority for us.
Melanie: I would describe the Pink Pearl Images experience as relaxing. We are both very easygoing people. We spend time getting to know our couples and what they are looking for in their images before the wedding. Having two photographers on the day also puts couples at ease. While Daniela is shooting one important moment, I am on the other side of the room shooting something different.


RFC: - Can you share some of your ultimate really cool locations for wedding day pictures?
Daniela: You u can turn any location into a cool location. A little bit of creativity can go a long way.
Melanie: I agree with Daniela. One of my favourite wedding images was taken in a hotel parking lot.

RFC: - What are some of the trends you are starting to see for 2009/2010?
Daniela: Vintage accents are big this year. Birdcage veils, antique jewellery, monograms, lace, purses, shoes, and feathers are popping up all over the place. Brides are digging through their grandmother’s closet trying to find the perfect vintage accessory to wear on their wedding day. We are also getting a lot of requests to include more vintage style processing to our images.

Daniela: Vintage accents are big this year. Birdcage veils, antique jewellery, monograms, lace, purses, shoes, and feathers are popping up all over the place. Brides are digging through their grandmother’s closet trying to find the perfect vintage accessory to wear on their wedding day. We are also getting a lot of requests to include more vintage style processing to our images.
Melanie: I’ve noticed a big movement towards green weddings. We’ve seen couples choosing locally grown flowers in their décor, wedding invitations, place cards, and menus made of recycled paper, organic food, and environmentally friendly wedding favours like handmade soaps.
RFC: - Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Daniela: I draw them straight from experiences. I try to get to know each couple so I can imagine how they would like to see things documented and remembered. Also I am constantly looking at other photographers who inspire me. There are some amazing photographers out there.
Melanie: Fashion magazines like Vogue and In Style. I have binders full of ads that I have ripped out of magazines. It gives me a lot of ideas for interesting lighting and posing.
RFC: - Have there been any crazy situations that you had to handle? Tell us all the details….
Daniela: Shooting a wedding where the bride didn’t know that the groom smoked. He chose their wedding day right after the ceremony to light up a cigarette in front of her. She starting crying and freaked out. We had to crack a lot of jokes to get the bride to smile during the family formals.
Melanie: There was a 4 hour break between the wedding and reception. We were supposed to meet the bride and groom at a park after the bride had changed into her second gown. The bride called and told us that she was running an hour behind schedule. We met the groom at the park and took some awesome photos of him alone. The bride called us again and said that there was a huge delay, and that she couldn’t make it to the park. We zipped over to the hair salon with the groom and had two minutes to get some portraits of the bride and groom alone before we had to get to the reception.
RFC: - Most memorable moment?
Daniela: The most memorable moment for me was the look on a groom’s face when he saw his brother before the ceremony. His brother couldn’t afford to fly in for the wedding, and all the groomsmen pitched in to pay for his airfare as a surprise present for the groom. It was a very touching moment to witness.
Melanie: We had a really camera shy bride. During her portrait session I took an image of her and showed it to her on the LCD screen. When she saw how beautiful she looked in that image you could see her eyes light up. She became much more relaxed for the rest of the photos.
RFC: - Tell us something about you that people would be shocked to find out?
Daniela: I can sing opera and was a dancer for seven years.
Melanie: In grade seven I had a bet with a couple of friends to see who could go the longest without eating meat. I haven’t eaten meat since.
RFC: - What 3 things will we always find in your purse?
Daniela: My cell phone, gum, and hand lotion.
Melanie: My notebook, pens, and sunglasses.
RFC: - Favorite quote?
Daniela: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” Confucius
Melanie: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss
RFC: - Finish this sentence…. “No matter how much you paid me, I would never….”
Daniela: eat a raw tomato.
Melanie: go skydiving.
Thanks so much ladies! Your work is absolutely beautiful and you capture your passion for details in every shot! If you want to get in touch with Daniela and Melanie of Pink Pearl Images, you should visit their website, and make sure to check out their lovely blog filled with updated pretty pictures of their fantastic work.
05/19/2009 (3:46 pm)
Illumination Factor
I am a huge fan of lighting, and finding the right light can make such a huge difference for your event. Simple candlelight as well as uplighting a centerpiece whether done with a submersible floralyte, or using a lighted base makes for the perfect ambiance. One of my favorite things to see for head table decor is a candlescape. Pillar candles at different heights for interest mixed with votives, and tealights can really make for a dramatic effect. Mix a few different vases at varying heights of some roses, and fluffly flowers such as hydrangea, peonies and/or mums and you have created a really beautiful head table. Here are some pics of my favorite illuminated centerpieces and head tables.

{Source Unknown}
03/22/2009 (11:39 pm)
Jennifer Behr
I absolutely love these pieces by Jennifer Behr. So sleek and simple they are just gorgeous!
From her website:- “Inspired by the richness of silks, feathers, stones, pythons and leathers, materials are the starting point for Jennifer Behr. The collection is made by hand in her studio in Brooklyn where she works these materials into delicate headpieces. The leather and python pieces are produced with a network of small workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan. This results in hair accessories carrying the soul of handwork, while remaining thoroughly modern in appearance. ”

03/17/2009 (9:32 pm)
Really Romantic…
How gorgeous! All pics above are from the extremely talented Nicolette Camille. For more pretties, please visit her website.
03/09/2009 (6:19 pm)
You can ring my bell…
We have been asked to create the flowers for 2 different editorials in Wedding Bells Magazine, for the 2009 Fall/Winter issue, due to hit stands in July. The first time, we were asked to create a bouquet and centerpiece for a recreation of a real life wedding that had a vineyard/vintage inspired theme. The bouquet was done with deep purple calla lilies and a collar of purple Alliums and two ribbons, one was a shimmery greyish purply colour and the handle was wrapped in a gorgeous plum satin ribbon. We also attached a gorgeous brooch to the handle. The centerpiece had a mix of Hyacynth, purple Callas, purple Alliums, some Heather, pinky wax flower and the vase was line with a large Aspidistra leaf. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a picture of them before dropping them off at the Wedding Bells office, downtown Toronto. We were not going to make the same mistake twice, so when they called again to ask us to do the florals for a 4 page spread on very trendy designer tableware we made sure to take some pictures before we left for the studio. They asked us to create very low and lush arrangements in a rectangular vase in very deep and vibrant colours. We are super grateful for being considered not once, but twice for the magazine, and can’t wait to see the issue in July! We heart Wedding Bells!
03/05/2009 (12:15 am)
5eizen
Love this local talented artist, 5eizen I found on Etsy. They make sweet ring pillows, hair clips, and really gorgeous accessories. They are expanding the line to include Bridal Shawls, Garders, Bouquet Ribbons, Wedding Invitations, Wedding Guest Books, Wedding Programs, and Romantic Flower Girl dresses. They also do custom work for those brides that want to put their own unique touch on their accessories for their wedding. Check their site often to see whats new. Toronto Brides… did I mention that they’re local?!?!
02/26/2009 (1:24 pm)
Say… Hello DJ!
RFC:- Who is hello DJ?
HDJ:- hello DJ! is ME - Lisa Ng, a 28 year-old, married, special events DJ, actress, cartoon voice performer & freelance writer - born to my immigrant Chinese parents in Toronto. I was raised in Mississauga, attended an arts high school. I attended The University of Toronto and graduated with an Hon. BA in Political Science & Cinema Studies. I love to cook, dance, travel and eat. I currently reside on the Danforth in Downtown, Toronto.
RFC:- Describe to us what hello DJ! is all about…
HDJ:- We are fun, young, hip and predominantly female DJ company. hello DJ! is not your cheesy wedding DJ company, the show is not about us - it’s about you!
RFC:- How long has hello DJ! been in business?
HDJ:- hello DJ! launched in June 2005, almost 4 years ago. Since our launch, our success has snowballed and we DJ more and more events every year. We pay for very little advertising and rely on great word-of-mouth from our past clients, vendors and venues we have worked with.

RFC:- Where do you see your business in 5 years?
HDJ:- We will probably still be a single operator DJ company. I truly believe in personalized service and excellent customer care. I love meeting my clients and letting them know that I will be the one DJ-ing their wedding. There is no ‘bait & switch’. I want to learn about their music tastes & artists that they enjoy and incorporate as much of that as I can, while reading the crowd. We try go above and beyond whenever we can. If I see the Mother of the Bride missing and speeches are about to start - we will go out of our way to go and find them, so they don’t miss anything important. As a woman who has gone through the wedding process, I try to think of things from the Bride’s perspective and what we can do for her to make this day perfect. I mean, I wouldn’t want to start my speech if my parents were missing and out of the room! However I will never make promises I can’t keep, expectations have to be realistic and managed properly.
RFC:- Who is your ideal bride?
HDJ:- Fun, laid-back, open to lots of ideas with a great personality and sense of adventure. I love when I click with a client! You have to make sure that you and your DJ are a great fit. There are some clients I just have a great feeling about and you feel like you’ve known them forever.
RFC:- What are some of the trends you are starting to see for 2009?
HDJ:- Not wedding-related? The Herve Leger Bandage Dress by BCBG. I saw it on four different magazine covers this month. It’s like a tensor bandage for your entire body! How is that for a ‘body-shaper’ (literally). This trend is going to be HUGE! I would buy an original HL dress, but it would cost more than my wedding gown. I’ll wait for the knock-offs to start showing up at H&M and Zara.
Wedding related - less people are doing the garter toss these days. Some even omit the bouquet toss. People are no longer afraid of incorporating more fun & hip adult contemporary and indie rock into their Jazz & Dinner music mix. Picture more stuff by Feist, The Stars, Peter, Bjorn & John, Broken Social Scene, The Garden State Soundtrack, Gwen Stefani, Leona Lewis - there are no rules, it’s your day.

RFC:- What is your favourite first song?
HDJ:- ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole
RFC:- Is there any type of music you absolutely will not play?

RFC:- Have there been any crazy situations that you had to handle? Tell us all the details….
HDJ:- I try to roll with all the punches and handle crazy situations as they come!
RFC:- Most memorable moment?
HDJ:- Marrying my high school sweetheart after almost 9 years of dating in 2007.















































Subscribe to Updates


