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We spill all of our magic beans (aka strategies) for working and living creatively here in, The Gooseberry Review, our monthly letter series.

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY: MAKIN THE BACON PERSONAL BRANDING SHOOT AND BRAND VIDEO

“K” is for “killing it,” which is exactly what Karen, founder of Makin the Bacon, did during her Toronto personal branding photoshoot! This modern day digital girl in a digital world works as a blog and social media consultant, while also teaching service-based small business owners how to rock a digital game plan!

As vibrant as she is knowledgeable, Gooseberry was tasked with creating a branding photoshoot that would capture her unique personality, her expertise and her one-of-a-kind style of entrepreneurship in a memorable way. Here’s what we cooked up — a quirky, chic and vivacious branding photography collection and branding video! Take a peek! (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: ASHLEE FROESE PERSONAL BRANDING SHOOT

The beauty of a personal branding shoot is that it can be anything you want it to be. There are no rules. There is no right or wrong. There is only unlimited imagination that comes to life through creative styling, dynamic lighting, powerful emotion and tailored hair and makeup that accentuates the real you — this is the recipe Gooseberry cooks up for every branding, commercial and fashion photoshoot that we embark upon in our downtown Toronto photography studio! For Ashlee Froese’s personal branding photoshoot, we went for bold, fashion-forward, chic, strong and feminine! Here are some of the results if you’d like to see! (more…)

A LITTLE TOUR OF THE STUDIO

In January Gooseberry moved into its new home — a beautiful sun-drenched space in Toronto. Today we’re absolutely delighted to say that the decorating is done, we’re all settled in and ready to show you all the details if you’re interested! Keep reading for the full Toronto photography studio tour!  {please note, we have moved spaces} (more…)

TORONTO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER: AS YOU WERE NO MAKEUP PORTRAIT SERIES SHOOT 03 MIRNA

We’re delighted to unveil As You Were Shoot #3! As You Were is an on-going fine art portraiture series of real women designed to explore natural faces and beauty in a fashion forward style. Each portrait is designed with an elevated wardrobe and stunning editorial location, as any high-end photoshoot would be – the only difference is that each photo subject does not wear any makeup at all.

The goal of the series is to celebrate a new female narrative, one that recognizes a woman’s presence rooted in a foundation of confidence, inner strength and defiance of expectation.

In partnership with Gotham + Grace, it’s our hope that As You Were will inspire an acceptance and celebration of self among women from all walks of life. (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO: A CLASSY SIMPLE SHOOT

One of the guiding principles here at Gooseberry is to capture what’s in your heart, the real you, a genuine moment to which were are witness. It’s not about putting on heirs and graces, it’s not about being who you think you should be, it’s about rawness and the beauty that exists within that rawness. This principle was weaved throughout every aspect of The Classy Simple Life’s Personal Branding Shoot. We created a timeless aesthetic that was filled with light, laughter and longevity. Click through to see all the gorgeous results! (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY: VIBRANT FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

You know what makes us really out of our minds happy here at Gooseberry? A truly yummy project. Sometimes that ‘yummy’ factor is metaphoric, other times it is quite literal like this vibrant food photography branding shoot for Jaclyn Casiero Nutrition. Plating, styling, shooting (and then eating) — oh my, what a fantastic day this was! Our goal with this shoot was to create elevated down-to-earth food moments to inspire at-home cooks to thrive in and explore their kitchens. Have a little click through for more of the tasty results!
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TORONTO 2018 HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS: CHRISTMAS MINI SESSIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

What can I say? It’s the most wonderful time of the year again! Gooseberry’s Annual Holiday Mini Sessions are back and as sparkly as ever! We can’t wait to capture some festive magic for you and your family! Complete details below!

INCLUDES

– a pre-shoot consultation by phone or email
– 30 minutes of shoot time
– 15 final hi-res retouched images
— a private online gallery

WHEN
Saturday December 1st 2018 | 10AM – 4:30PM | Gooseberry Studios, Toronto

COST
$150 (+hst)

This year’s set will house a magical Christmas tree forest scene — trees of all shapes and sizes with sparkle and style! Plus lots of fun chic holiday props! Dress up in your holiday best or get casual and cosy in your cute pjs!


BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY MINI SESSION TODAY!

Gooseberry will be in touch within 24 hours of when you book online to schedule your phone consultation and time slot!

{Due to this being a discounted, limited-space only photo event, refunds will not be issued.}




TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: LIKE A BOSS WHO MEANS BUSINESS

We love women who mean business. Women who are driven, women who are not afraid to chase down their dreams, women who not only understand what hard work means, but who thrive upon it! So whenever a business woman visits our studio in search of powerful, vibrant, energetic branding photography that showcases them as the true boss they are, we are full swoon! Check out this amazing and luxurious personal branding shoot — were we in Miami or Toronto? We’ll never tell! (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: DESIGNER’S LIFESTYLE BRANDING SHOOT

The key to an amazing branding photoshoot is feeling comfortable. Standing in front of a camera isn’t an easy thing for most of us and it’s completely natural for nerves to creep in. Choosing the ideal location for a branding photoshoot is therefore essential. For this chic, dog-loving boss babe we shot in her beautifully sun-soaked studio, the place where all the magic happens for her incredible dog fashion designs. The results? Well, have a look for yourself! (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: FINE ART EDITORIAL BRANDING BOSS BABE SHOOT

Here at Gooseberry Studios we believe in breaking the mold, over and over and over again. There’s no point in doing what everyone else is doing in your brand and we work tirelessly with our clients to develop brand identities that standout in the marketplace. So when it came time to shoot this gorgeous powerhouse of a boss babe, we had to cook up something ultra extra, editorial and unique. The answer? Flowers, flowers, everywhere and a contagious energy that bursts through the camera. (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: COFFEE, JUMPSUITS AND PERSONAL BRANDING

Personal branding is — guess — personal! As such, your branding photographs should flawlessly represent you! For this Toronto branding photoshoot we kept an easy, breezy vibe to convey a warm, friendly and supportive brand. Coffee and jumpsuits on a beautiful spring day — that’s all we needed to create some memorable moments for this unique boss babe. (more…)

TORONTO FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER: “AS YOU WERE” | NO MAKEUP SHOOT 01 | COURTNEY

Would you ever think that a 13-year-old girl looked terrible because she wasn’t wearing eye-shadow and lipstick to school? Would you ever think of an 82-year-old woman as ugly because she has wrinkles and doesn’t wear foundation? Of course not, because we universally recognize natural beauty in children and seniors.

So ladies, why are we devastatingly critical of ourselves during those in between ages? Aka – the majority of our lives?

This heavy question has been peculating through my thoughts for several months now. Why do women (in general) feel like we need makeup for any sort of public occasion when a man can throw on a nice outfit and be good to go?

We all begin our journey in this world with the same fresh faced approach to life, yet somewhere along the way half of us feel the pressure to cover up (or accentuate) with makeup. What would we look like if we decided to refute that expectation and instead show up as we were?

This is the concept for Gooseberry and Gotham + Grace’s latest partnership, a new on-going photo series called As You Were. The campaign is an effort to show women a stylish, organic and confident way to embrace their face exactly as it is. (more…)

TORONTO BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHER: GOOSEBERRY STUDIO’S 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Five years ago I was on a subway headed home, trying desperately to keep my composure as I moved further and further away from the job I then considered my dream. I arrived at my apartment and took my dog to the park where, at last alone, I broke down and sobbed on a somber picnic table, a swirl of panic, disappointment and shame ricocheting through my thoughts. I had been laid off that morning and my career was suddenly an all-consuming black hole of doubt.

Faced with the decision to move cities and rebuild (again) or take a stand and try to avoid having to ever work for another corporation, I decided to open a teeny photography studio, then called LLB Creative. And I was terrified.

At the time, being your own boss wasn’t trendy. At the time, people didn’t understand what I was trying to do. At the time I felt a deep embarrassment for not being a part of the corporate career path that I had studied and trained so hard to be a part of. I faced a constant onslaught of questions: “How are you possibly going to make enough money?” “80% of all start ups fail you know.” “Photography is more of a hobby though, right? Nobody really makes it work professionally.” Needless to say, for a long time I was drowning in a sea of doubt.

What a difference between then and now. Now, half a decade later, after more work than I can possibly describe, that photography studio is called Gooseberry. It is a joyful, bustling place with lively commercial projects, an on-going agenda dedicated to exploring creativity, three full-time divisions (photography, branding and an art print shop) and daily adventures of all shapes and sizes.

I cannot believe that year five is here and because I’m an introspective sort of person, who loves to document life’s various milestones, I thought it would be fun to put some of my biggest business lessons learned through experience down on paper. So here goes, in no particular order: (more…)

TORONTO COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: TASTE 3 EDITORIAL FASHION SERIES | “BIG HAIR, DONUT CARE”

It’s time for another installment of our editorial fashion series called TASTE! This edition, “Big Hair, Donut Care” is all about capturing that glorious ‘I-don’t-care-what-anyone-thinks’ feeling that so often accompanies the morning after a big night out with even bigger hair. The team and I are back at it again! Here’s the whole editorial series if you’re interested: (more…)