About
Madalena.

Meet Madalena Cohen

Hello and welcome! Allow me to tell you a little bit of my journey as a Wedding Photographer. It took me a long way to get here :)

I was born in Brazil, where I spent my time eating guava, starfruit, and tamarind directly from the tree, and I used to swim with alligators (I know, muito louca!).

In 2003, I worked in the busiest airport in South America while living in Sao Paulo and decided I was done with boring jobs. That day, I returned home, opened a Travel Magazine and started dreaming of being a photographer. One month later, I was hired by a photojournalist to work with… photography! From there, I got to work in the biggest Brazilian travel magazine and even got the chance to photograph for National Geographic a few times. Even though that was a dream, I wanted another subject in front of my camera: I wanted to photograph PEOPLE!

I shot my first wedding back in 2007, and I have never stopped since! In 17 years of experience, I have shot nearly 400 weddings.

I moved to Canada back in 2013, and I was lucky and privileged to keep doing what I love. I’m beyond grateful for being a full-time wedding photographer since I landed here. As an immigrant, I know how hard it can be to follow your passions and dreams and keep the plan A.

I love Summer days, long meditations, bike rides along the Seawall, and lake time to bond, connect, and splash in the water. Reading (memoirs) and writing are part of my routine, and I also enjoy having brunch with my friends. I also love creating new memories when I travel with my daughter and partner to Brazil. That’s where we recharge during the Canadian winter. We dive into the vibrant culture, cuisine, gigantic family gatherings, loud music and warm weather & people.

I don’t like to brag, and I really don’t. However, I feel it is important to inform you that throughout my life as a photographer, I had the chance to get several photo awards in Canada and Brazil; I was also a Speaker at photo conferences in Santa Barbara (California), Recife (Brazil), Vancouver and Sao Paulo - this one for a crowd of 900 photographers. I do love speaking about my passion and the great experiences I had through my profession. I got to shoot the wedding of a Harper’s Bazaar Fashion Director in Bordeaux; for God’s sake, how awesome is that? From weddings in Hawaii, Palm Springs, Pemberton, Mexico, and a remote island in Brazil to a Haida Gwaii wedding full of amazing traditions and beauty, I feel so lucky to witness such a special day in a couple’s life!

Over a hundred magazines printed my photos, and I keep all of them; yes, I love seeing my work printed.

"You have special eyes," once said Amy Arbus.