Thank you for visiting!
I’m CatHY
A few things about me
Family is one of the most important things in my life; I’m quite happy in the chaos of screaming children and chatty adults. I love colourful art. I love my dog, houseplants, and my camera. Reading and going for walks are some of my favourite pass times. And above all else, I LOVE to eat.
Why lifestyle and documentary photography
Helping families celebrate their love and connection is my service to the world. Meeting and getting to experience the bond between so many families brings me so much joy. From the bottom of my heart, I feel blessed to do this work and I thank you for trusting me to see the beauty in you and your family.
My family makes tomato sauce annually, usually in our garage. This image is from 2016; I’m in the head scarf, my mom is next to me in white, and her mom is seated. This is four generations of my family.
The kitchen table
We try to have family dinner once a week at my parents house. Most of our time together is spent around the kitchen table, eating and talking/laughing/arguing. It gets loud, and it’s a lot of fun. My mom usually spends hours preparing. Her back will be killing her by the time she takes her seat, but she never complains. It’s taken me my entire life to realize that feeding us is her love language, and luckily for us, she expresses it often. Because of the example set by my mother and her mother alike, I have a deep appreciation and connection to the routine of breaking bread with family. It feels almost sacred and I’m in deep gratitude for at least a moment during every meal we share.
I also inherited my deep love and appreciation of family from my mom, and her family. From a very young age I’ve understood what love and commitment mean to us, and I’ve always welcomed everything that comes with that. It’s thanks to her that I’m crazy about photographing not only my family, but yours too!
Photography
Growing up, my dad was always taking pictures. He had an old Mamiya and I remember always seeing 35mm film in the fridge. He passed that camera down to me and that’s what I learned to shoot on.
My Dad was my biggest cheerleader when it came to creative work. Because of him, art was always a part of our lives. I happily followed in his footsteps and went to art school.
I look back at our family photos and am so grateful he spent so much time and effort capturing our family in the way he did. We have beautiful, artistic photographs taken of everyday moments and I’m grateful to have those heirlooms and for being exposed to that appreciation of the beauty in everyday moments.
This is an image I took of him when I was at OCAD University. It was taken on film, and I scanned the negative (iykyk!). I love this shot because of how imperfect and uninhibited it is. And obviously because it’s my Dad.
there’s beauty in the Chaos.
I know first hand that family life can be chaotic. I also know the depths of love that’s felt amongst family. It’s often complicated and isn’t always easy, but it’s yours and it’s sacred.
It’s often not the right time to book a photo shoot; there are lessons, appointments. pounds to lose, holidays to get through. You know what I’m talking about. But tomorrow isn’t promised, and your family is actually perfect in this very moment. Your kids think so, just ask them.
The goal of my work is to help you see the depth of the beauty in your family, to honour it. Having a way to capture and remember how perfect all of you are at this stage in life is such a gift. Because every moment is just a different stage, and they all add up to the story of your life.
Please reach out if you’d like your family photographed. I’m always open to chat and I’d love to hear your creative ideas.
with all my heart, Thank you!
Big hugs,
Cathy Longo
Founder, Sono Photography
What does ‘Sono’ mean? Watch the video and find out.
I’ve moved away from studio shooting and into the homes of my clients, which I feel is more personal. But this message from 2016 and the mission are still the same. It’s all about building community…