When Two Creative Hearts Collide

Have you ever met someone and instantly thought, this person is my people?

That happened to me last year at The Mothertelling Event, hosted by Courtney Hobbs — a beautiful gathering designed to empower women to share their motherhood stories and connect in a space where they feel seen and celebrated.

I walked up to the most stunning charcuterie grazing table I had ever seen and honestly just stood there, taking it all in. The colours, the textures, the presentation, the taste … it was all so incredibly beautiful.

Behind the table was Mary Tchabrazian, the founder and creative heart behind Marycuterie, a charcuterie and grazing experience business here in the Waterloo Region.

Naturally, I introduced myself.

Within minutes, we were chatting and connecting like we had known each other forever.

You know those moments when you meet someone and immediately click? The kind where it feels like the universe placed you in that exact moment for a reason.

This was one of those moments.

And the connection didn’t end there — not long after, Mary reached out about creating personal branding photography for her business, and I was absolutely thrilled to work together.

The Heart Behind Marycuterie

By day, Mary is a CPA with an incredible eye for detail, but at heart she’s a food stylist who believes food is one of the most meaningful love languages.

Her words say it perfectly:

“Presentation has always felt sacred to me. What we see and feel around a table becomes part of the memory itself — a subtle kind of storytelling in its own right.”

Honestly … I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Because when you think about it, photography and food styling aren’t that different.

Both are about creating moments that become memories.

Session One: Telling the Brand Story

Our first branding session took place at the beautiful Park Hill Studio in Cambridge, where we created a huge library of content for her brand.

We photographed:

• natural portraits of Mary
• behind-the-scenes moments of her working
• lifestyle imagery that reflects the Marycuterie brand
• the little details that help tell her story
• multiple wardrobe changes for variety

And of course … there was a great playlist playing in the background the whole time.

The goal wasn’t just to create pretty photos.

It was to capture the heart behind Marycuterie — the creativity, warmth, and intention she brings to every board she creates.

Session Two: Product Photography for the Website Launch

Our second session focused on product photography for Mary’s website launch.

Her boards are truly works of art. Every element is intentional — the colours, textures, and presentation all working together to create something beautiful, elevated and inviting.

We captured styled grazing platters and boxes, close-up details, and website-ready product images. We also created video content so the artistry of her charcuterie styling could really come to life.

Watching a brand come together like this is honestly one of my favourite parts of working with creative entrepreneurs in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

What Branding Photography Is Really About

A lot of people think branding photos are just headshots with a nice background.

But it’s so much more than that.

It’s about telling the story behind the business.

After our session, Mary shared this in her Google review:

“Working with Kendra was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my brand. From the strategy session to the shoot day itself, she made me feel seen, supported, and completely in my element. She didn’t just take photos — she helped bring my vision to life in a way that felt elevated, personal, and true to who I am.”

Reading that honestly made my day … maybe my year! 😉

Helping people feel comfortable, confident, and truly seen in their photos is always my goal.

Celebrating Marycuterie’s Website Launch

Mary’s gorgeous new website, www.marycuterie.com, has officially launched, and I’m so excited to see her beautiful branding photos and videos woven throughout the entire experience.

To celebrate the launch, Marycuterie and Portraits by Kendra teamed up to host a special giveaway — and I’m so happy to share that our winner has been chosen!

Congratulations to Lisette Weber! 🎉

Lisette has won a Golden Hour Spring Greenhouse Session on May 22. It’s going to be such a beautiful session, and I can’t wait to bring it to life for her.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered and supported Marycuterie’s website launch. It truly means so much to both of us.

And be sure to follow Marycuterie on social media to see updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and all the delicious creations she has coming next.

Thinking About Your Own Branding Session?

If you’re a creative entrepreneur or small business owner in the Kitchener-Waterloo area thinking about personal branding photography, I’d love to hear your story.

Because great branding photos aren’t just about how things look.

They’re about helping people see the heart behind what you do.

And maybe having a great playlist while we do it.