When The Ring met Emma years ago, it was obvious to us that before long, she'd be winning awards, shooting across the globe and accumulating her own fan base within our local community. And we were right. Emma Smallbone of barebonephoto comes to your table as a photo-savvy, experienced (over fifteen years of experience - the last eight of which have been in the Cambridge/K-W area) professional photographer whose mission in life is to capture the most stunning, candid, artistic moments of your wedding and events as she possibly can.

With a list of awards and accreditations to her name and a creative, down to earth style, her open personality is the kind that makes you feel like you could talk to her forever, like she just 'gets it' (or more accurately, she 'gets' you). These personal connections she makes with her clients are part of what help Emma get those incredible shots every time - the shots that so completely reflect the style and personality of her brides and grooms. Yet it's her love for her work that makes you feel safe in the knowledge that she'll be there on your wedding day, and long after as most of her clients become 'barebone lifers'. "When I come home at the end of the day from shooting a wedding, I always have a moment where I can't believe this is my job. I can't imagine doing anything else." After following barebonephoto, watching it grow over the years, and having a multitude of opportunities to meet and work with Emma Smallbone, we wanted to tell you a few of our favourite things about this photographer...

Making her mark

Emma has made her mark in the industry by offering the 'alternative to traditional photography'. barebonephoto uses an editorial photojournalism style to capture real (not posed) candid pictures. She has earned recognition from a list of highly respected guilds and judging panels including the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association and the People’s Choice Award for Wedding Vendor of the Year in 2007 from the Canadian Wedding Industry. Emma has been profiled in most of the local newspapers and her work can be seen in magazines across Canada and the U.S. She was also accepted into the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers and has had her work commissioned and purchased by commercial locations such as the Charcoal Steakhouse - which just adds to the reasons why we (and brides) love her.

Emma knows that what also sets her apart in the ultra-competitive photography industry is her focus on capturing unique imagery - not creating it. This means she focuses on the natural moments of your wedding - a loving glance between a bride and groom, a secret kiss that no one else sees, or the laughs between friends following an inside joke. It's Emma's love for people, weddings and of course photography that allow her to capture such images. "Weddings are a chance for me to enjoy every aspect of photography - product shoots for the details, portraits, fine art, creativity and fashion. I get to do everything in one day and every single wedding is going to be different."

That's because Emma says she treats every shoot as a special and unique experience. "I take what I love about photography and make it my own. And it's completely different every time... I need to immerse myself in my photography... especially the creative end." Typically in photography, an artist evolves as the industry does, but Emma knows that it's not just technical growth that makes a photographer great, she says she also needs to grow as an artist and a person.

Aside from growing her own skills and attending workshops, Emma now also offers one-on-one workshops at her studio. barebonemum for moms who want to be able to take better pictures of their kids; barbonebasic, which is of life and landscape; and bareboneproshop to help other professional photographers with their craft and their businesses.

"Emma is undeniably an artist, with a great eye and unique vision..." says Amanda, who had barebonephoto photograph her September 2008 wedding. "Her images are consistently striking and creative." Amanda also told us that Emma has an amazing ability to capture people both beautifully and honestly.

While Emma is the primary photographer at barebonephoto she also has an Assistant (who is usually a college graduate or an intern) who helps her at each wedding to make sure that no moment is left uncaptured. She also has a Graphic Designer to help with post production and an Administrative Assistant to help with day-to-day business. So everything, not just your wedding day, goes smoothly.

"The barebonephoto team is amazing, they work tremendously hard and produce beautiful work," says Danielle Saint-Onge. She hired barebonephoto for her July 2008 wedding and loves them so much that she highly recommends them to other couples who are searching for a wedding photographer.

Film favourites in a digital age

Emma loves both black & white and colour photography ranging from an antiquey-vintage look to surreal colours, which is why she found it hard to part with film and her beloved toy cameras. Because Emma's roots are in film photography, she still draws inspiration from it. She devotes a lot of her time on post-processing, using tons of textures and overlays to create the same vibrant colours, depth and contrast that she loved best about film. In fact, you can sometimes catch her pulling out one of what she calls her 'toy cameras' to catch a fun, never-know-what-you're-going-to-get shot. While she doesn't use them often, her favourite cameras are her 1970's Hasselblad and her Holga, which is made entirely of plastic - even the lens!

Emma told us that the reason she offers such a unique and artistic approach is because her clients typically have an artistic background - they're a part of TV, film, art, graphics design and more, so they appreciate art and don't just need a photographer. "They want a piece of art for their wall and not a traditional portrait," explains Emma. And if they've found barebonephoto then they've come to the right place. In 2008, Emma says she mastered the art of finding clients whose styles and personalities match hers - something that's important to barebonephoto as they try to connect with each client.

Sarah and Chris Pell were referred to barebonephoto by a family friend when they were searching for the wedding photographer for their August 2009 wedding. Then, after checking out her website, Sarah says she was very impressed with Emma's images and after meeting with her, she was sold. "I liked the creativity she offered... The first time I saw her [photos] I was blown away."

Location, location, location...

With barebonephoto, location shoots have never really been necessary because there are more than enough great moments to capture throughout the day without having to 'act any out'. That said, for couples who do want locations, Emma has become a bit of a specialist in finding ones that are fun, authentic, and a blast to do. "We've done photos at Ballzacks Coffee Shop and in the city streets, anything that fits with the couple." Some of her adventures have taken her to a grocery store and a gelato shop. Basically, the idea is that it should be fun and invite laughs. “I try to inspire my brides to try new, creative things,” says Emma.

Because every couple has a must-have list of photos to make sure they include everyone, Emma will still do the necessary group shots; but she doesn't like to do this for more than about half an hour. "After a while, you can see that my clients' faces almost start to hurt from smiling so long and that they're not having fun anymore," she says. "I never like to get them to that point... once the mood is ruined, it's difficult to get it back."

"Meeting and working with Emma was fantastic," Sarah and Chris told us. "She has this fantastic way of making you feel comfortable instantly, even if you hate having your picture taken or being the centre of attention." Sarah adds that what she loved most about her photo shoot with barebonephoto was how much fun they had, which shows in their photos. Sarah and Chris say that they would definitely recommend barebonephoto to other couples looking for a photographer, "Just look at her blog and meet her, you'll understand all of the love her former clients have for her!"

"We never felt put on the spot to pose or to be models," Danielle told us about her wedding day photo shoot with Emma. "It was natural, simple, and stress-free.”

Emma will do just about anything to get the shot she sees in her head, including climbing the top of a brick wall, equipped with what she calls her "Lara Croft camera belt" around her hips, shooting her bride, groom and wedding party from above [bottom right].

When barebonephoto couples have their hearts set on specific locations that Emma's shot in before, she's still confident that each of their photos will be completely unique from the ones she shot in the same place before them. For her, it's not about the park, the building or the tree in a location. It's about the personalities that shine through the photo, the angle and artistic approach of the shot itself. "Unless requested, we never duplicate a shot," Emma explains, a rule that has only earned her even more popularity with brides. She sees her photography as a collaboration between herself and the client: "creative, artistic, reflective."

That's not usually the case, though, as Emma says that her clients are usually boutique brides and grooms who have cool and unique wedding plans, especially with photo shoot locations. One of Emma's favourite shoots from 2008 had her shooting in Niagara-On-The-Lake. "They wanted creative, cool, fun and different photos; the freedom to be who they really are," which worked for Emma who always tries to stay true to herself. The ceremony was held at a local winery, but Emma says that the best photos were the ones taken in the business end of the winery because they were "edgy, fun, cool and creative." On the drive to the reception Emma spotted an old abandoned schoolhouse and insisted that the wedding party needed to take some photos there. So everyone (yes, even the bride) climbed a fence to get onto the property. "We had a blast and got some great shots," says Emma.

barebonephoto as a location

The barebonephoto studio itself is located in Pusclinch and for Emma, is both a photography haven and her home. Inside, you're surrounded by hardwood floors that stretch the length of the open concept space, big contemporary couches, deep colours, shooting spaces, and plenty of barebonephoto prints take up the rest of the studio.

The studio is also surrounded by twenty acres of woodland, which Emma occasionally uses for shoots - great for her family, maternity and engagement shoots.

Custom packages

Because all of Emma's clients are different, she knows that their needs are also completely different, which is why all of the packages at barebonephoto are priced based on custom quotes. More often than not, she leaves you with so many magazine-quality proofs of your wedding memories that you feel like you could die trying to choose your favourites.

Sarah and Chris say that Emma's prices fell within their budget and that they certainly got what they paid for, and then some. "Emma as a package cannot be matched. Between the pure skills, and her personality, nothing can beat her."

Packages typically start at $3600, which includes an engagement shoot, six hours of wedding day coverage and an online gallery. You can add more hours, a DVD, a proof package (that comes in a custom photo box wrapped with a photo of the wedding day), albums, prints, canvasses, guest books (with photos) and more, depending on your needs. In the end, Emma says that it's not about pricing and budgets, but about relationships. "We need to be a match," she says. And this relationship has proven to grow among her clients as they return to her later for belly and baby shoots. “My clients call themselves 'barebone lifers'," Emma told us. "I get to create a visual history of their family from their engagement to the their wedding, from bellies to babies, to family and on.” At barebonephoto, Emma is creating a family of clients. “The more we connect, the better the photos.” For her, it’s all about a better client experience.

"Emma was absolutely worth every penny, and for the vision and quality she offers, she is worth so much more!" Amanda told us. "She takes the time after weddings to personally edit and digitally work with the images." She adds that Emma went above and beyond her role as wedding photographer to put together wedding albums for Amanda just in time for her to surprise her family with them at Christmas.

When it comes to enlargements, barebonephoto offers unique options such as Fine Art and Canvas prints. For albums, barebonephoto uses the unique Finao album line, which she loves because their cover options are endless. Finaos come in leather, canvas, silk, glass and, "there is even a 'Happy Cow' option for the vegans!" says Emma. But those aren't the only reasons that clients love them - it's also the fact that Emma makes sure each album is a reflection of the couples' unique style and personality.

Gift registry

The couples who come to barebonephoto consider photography to be a top priority for their wedding. For this reason, they're using the barebonephoto Gift Registry idea to get more of the services, prints or albums that they might not ordinarily be able to afford. "Mom and Dad can buy an album for themselves and the couple. Guests can order prints. Anyone can order services toward the couple's photography." The registry is all online, it's easy to use, and Emma says it's been a hit ever since it was introduced in September 2007.

Meeting with barebone

"From our first meeting with Emma, we felt completely comfortable," Amanda told us (and she's not just talking about the gigantic comfy couches in her studio). "Emma is easy going, friendly and warm. She has the knack for immediately putting people at ease... The best thing about Emma is that she loves her job, and it shows."

Emma is down to earth and plans to stay true to her candid style of photography, no matter how easy it would be to convert to something 'more mainstream'. When you visit her, you'll be looking at a wide variety of photos she has done, but most importantly, Emma will walk you through several full wedding days in photos, from start to finish. Emma says, "Anyone can show a few select amazing pictures from ten years of photographing weddings. I want couples to know that they are going to get some favourites, but also, every shot is great." And to make sure you get your favourite shots, and more, Emma told us that she is limiting the amount of weddings she shoots to fifteen per year. This way, she says she can pay close attention to each client and really get to know them so they can rest assured they're getting coverage that reflects them and their day.

"Working with Emma was like being with a great friend - she listened and supported all of our decisions and helped us make our wedding reflect us," says Danielle. "She puts so much thought into each of the pictures and her unique style echoed values that are important for both Jeff and me. Her pictures really communicate a sense of love and fun."

In other words...

"Dear Emma, for me the wedding was perfect. And for me the photographs you took were the poetry of that perfection. They are beautifully composed and elegant. They are artistic and documentary. They truly are the story of Dave and I on the day and I would not have changed a thing. Dave, my parents and I were so impressed with your professionalism on the day of the wedding. We always felt completely at ease and never posed or constrained. Someone asked me after if my face was sore from all the pictures - and I remember thinking - 'What pictures?' I could not have been more satisfied. Further, the way you organized and composed and even wrapped the photos to be delivered was touching and so appreciated - it is this attention to detail that comes out in your work. Your work on-site (Graydon Hall Manor) and the product of that work could not have been better. I think the greatest compliment for me to give to you will be when I recommend your work to each friend and each family member who has an event, like a wedding, that needs documenting. Even as I write this, I am trying to think of the next time I can hire you! Choosing you to photograph the wedding was one of the best decisions I made. I look at the pictures now every week and show them off as much as I can without being too narcissistic! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I wish you so much success. Best wishes from London, (England)." - Jenn & Dave

"We just wanted to thank you for the millionth time for doing such a great job on our wedding day. You were so easy to be around from the first time we met you... and during our wedding, no one noticed you were there, yet you captured every important detail and emotion of the day. You even did the impossible and made my camera-shy husband so comfortable that he started suggesting certain shots during the post-ceremony photo session! People are still raving about our photographs and my married friends who did not make photography a priority for their own weddings soon regretted it when they viewed our pictures. We will never regret the decision we made to hire you as our photographer. You are an incredible talent and your work speaks for itself. Thank you again for capturing our wedding memories perfectly." - Molly & Allan

Getting in touch

Emma invites any bride or groom to give her a call and find out what she could do for their wedding. You can contact barebonephoto at 519-841-7840 or 1-888-841-7840 for an appointment, email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to ask her questions, or visit her amazing website at www.barebonephoto.com to view some more sample photos. barebonephoto is available for Canadian and International weddings. Of course, she suggests calling six to twelve months in advance as she’s limiting weddings to fifteen per year so she can pay more attention to each client, but she welcomes all calls.