A lot of people know me as Gillian, but my nickname is close to my heart.
I'm Gillie Bird.
I am an analog film photographer based in the Greater Toronto Area, specializing in luxury weddings rooted in design, family legacy, and undying love. Inspired by the archival work of my grandparents, I view weddings not just as events but as the curation of future family heirlooms.
In many ways, I believe my imagery speaks for itself: beautiful analog photographs that evidence an observant, creative eye for detail. What you don’t see in my portfolio, however, is the calm and discerning presence that I bring to every wedding, allowing me to craft an experience that is an authentic reflection of my couples' values.
Outside of photography, I have a background in education and public policy—intellectual pursuits that have undeniably enriched my visual artistry and deepened my capacity for genuine connection. I am a devoted cat mum and coffee enthusiast, and I am just as happy to go out and connect with friends and family as I am to stay home with a good book or reality tv show.
MY PROCESS
These are the questions ABOUT MY WORK THAT I LOVE ANSWERING:
is a reflection of the care and creativity that goes into every wedding commission.
As a film specialist, I select specific cameras, tools, and film stocks with precise artistic intent. My analog-first approach means I am both technical and deeply deliberate, documenting every part of your wedding day across various film formats. There is an absolute joy in being resourceful and creative to achieve perfect and painterly colours and tones. I’ll occasionally reach for my digital camera when the moment absolutely demands it, but film will always be my primary medium.
After your wedding, you’ll receive a selection of digital highlight images while your film is sent to a trusted lab for custom processing and scanning. I will then curate and edit your gallery to ensure a cohesive visual story of your wedding day.
- Learning about my couples and their families
- Understanding the intention behind my couples' wedding design and fashion choices
- Collaborating on the visual story we are telling through the wedding day
- Leaning into my own life experiences with family and friends whom I hold incredibly close
- Seeking out new knowledge about the world through books, travel, and community connection
- Enriching my own artistic capabilities through music, movement, and other visual mediums
Provided my schedule allows it, I will absolutely travel and/or photograph non-wedding commissions. Please reach out with as much info as you can provide about your vision.
Note: I am not currently travelling to the US but I would love to refer you to one of my very talented American friends!
All commissions are also inclusive of:
- Professional editing, colouring, and artful curation of images
- A few digital highlight photos within a week of the wedding
- A custom archival box featuring ten museum-grade 8x10 matted prints of Gillie's favourite images
- Online gallery access to downloadable high-res files
- Art direction and consultation, including collaboration with your planner to create styled still life images and incorporate backdrops or other artistic elements on the wedding day
- Stationery details meticulously styled and photographed (on a separate day if more time is needed)
The average investment falls in the 8k-14k range.
AI for workflow:
- I do not use ChatGPT. I occasionally use Gemini to help me out with questions and admin-related tasks. And, yes, I wrote all of these answers myself!
AI for culling (choosing which images I use in your gallery):
- This is an absolute no. AI wasn’t at the wedding and can’t discern what makes a “good” photo. AI doesn't know how it felt to be in the room and doesn't know the artistic approach I took to photograph the day. I will always be the one who curates the final selection of your wedding images!
AI for editing:
- I use Adobe Lightroom for editing, and it has a generative feature to assist me with removing visual distractions such as exit signs, light switches, and outlets. This tool has been around for some years and I use it regularly.
- There are some very popular third-party AI tools that can edit your photos for you after learning about your editing style. I do not use these tools. While this approach might work for large volumes of digital images, my images (both film and digital) require my critical eye instead of a “batch” approach to editing.
- Hire wedding professionals who you'd really want to spend your wedding day with
- Amazing food = happy guests
- Guest chairs should be padded, spacious, and reflective of the dress code
- Hire the live band
- Nightlife/club DJs do weddings (and they do them well)
- If you can, open the dance floor while dessert is being served
prese ving
ge e ations
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Now, I capture the timeless images that document your legacy,
Both of my Grandfathers were avid photographers, which resulted in beautiful images being preserved and passed through generations of my family. I absolutely love flipping through family heirloom albums and helping my parents scan such important prints.
