At first, she was set on a very different path, one that led through the darkrooms of high school, the press pits of Canadian newspapers, and the corporate desks of the marketing world. With a dream of working for National Geographic, Olivia was more likely to be found chasing stories than wedding vows. But fate, as it does, had other plans.

A friend’s pandemic wedding became a turning point. With only 18 guests and minimal prior wedding experience, Olivia said yes with the kind of heart-first instinct that would come to define her business.

“She said she trusted me completely,” Olivia remembers. “And I just... jumped.”

That wedding marked the beginning of Wild Peach Photography, a brand that now connects cinematic love stories to the wild beauty of Ontario and beyond.

From Journalism to Joy

Olivia’s path to weddings wasn’t a straight line; it was a story in itself. Growing up along Ontario’s Grand River, she first encountered photography through high school film classes and later became Editor-in-Chief of her university paper. She earned awards for photography and writing before transitioning into marketing and public relations, weaving photography into her 9-5 job.

When she finally launched her wedding photography business, she brought a photojournalist’s eye for real moments and a storyteller’s soul. Her work is emotionally rich, rooted in observation, and laced with cinematic flair. Think: gorgeous scenery, windswept hair, soft touches, and declarations of love under rainy skies (okay, that last one might be from Pride & Prejudice, her favourite movie)

“I want my couples to look back in 10, 15 years and see themselves,” she says. “Not just how they looked, but how they felt.”

A Signature Style: Cinematic, Documentary, Real

Olivia’s style is more of a feeling than a descriptor. She describes her style as cinematic documentary, where she’s documenting the day as it happens, but also tries to photograph a wedding day as if it’s a movie unfolding before her. Just as there are many genres of movies, no two wedding days are alike.

“Introverted couples get a different vibe than extroverted couples,” she says. “My approach to the wedding day shifts to match who they are.”

That flexibility is one of her greatest strengths. On paper, Olivia’s style blends documentary storytelling with cinematic influences and editorial composition. In practice, it’s warm, heartfelt and deeply connected to her clients’ personalities. She leans into real emotion over rigid posing, chasing movement, reactions and those split seconds that would otherwise slip away.

Her editing retains true-to-life tones with a subtle film-inspired warmth. She loves working in black and white and still shoots on film when she can, including with her prized film camera collection.

A Photographer Who Makes You Feel

At the core of Wild Peach Photography is Olivia’s emphasis on experience.

“I want people to feel their best during our sessions,” she says. “To feel seen, comfortable, celebrated.”

That attention to emotion pays off. Clients often describe her as warm, friendly and “absolutely meant to be doing this.” Those from the wedding party will tell her she’s the best photographer they’ve worked with. Parents, mid-dinner, thank her for how she’s handled the day. It’s no accident. Olivia is an extrovert who thrives on connection. She doesn’t just document the day; she becomes part of it.

“Blame my journalism background,” she says. “But I just love talking to people, listening to their story, and seeing their connection to the couple.”

Rooted in Ontario, Open to the World

Olivia photographs a limited number of weddings a year, instead focusing on giving a great client experience to her couples. Based near Collingwood, she regularly travels across Ontario to places like Muskoka and Prince Edward County. But she’s equally excited to take her camera further. “I’ll literally go anywhere for a good love story,” she says.

Whether documenting multi-day elopements or short, intimate celebrations, Olivia’s goal remains the same: to photograph love stories that feel timeless.

“It’s not about a shot list,” she says. “It’s about showing the truth of the day, cinematically, emotionally, beautifully.”

The Balance Behind the Lens

Wedding photography isn’t just art; it’s endurance. The emotional highs of the day are matched by long hours of editing, tight timelines, and the weight of getting it right. Olivia balances that intensity with days off during the week, long drives in her Jeep with music up, beach walks with her dogs, and reading, lots and lots of reading.

She admits impostor syndrome still creeps in sometimes.

“If I edit too soon after a session, I’m way too hard on myself,” she says.

But she combats those lows with a folder on her phone labelled “WHY.” This folder is an ever-growing collection of screenshots and messages from happy clients. “Those messages pick me up every time.”

Looking Forward

As Wild Peach Photography continues to grow, Olivia is expanding into more destination elopement work, blending her love of travel with her cinematic eye. But no matter where she’s taking photos, her mission stays the same: to tell honest love stories, beautifully.

“Photographs are all we have left when memory fades,” Olivia says. “To be the one who preserves that is kind of magical.”

Website: wildpeachphotography.com
Instagram: @wildpeachphotography