Once your kids get older, they sometimes all live in different places in the world, so when everyone gets together in one spot its a good time to get a family photo, everyone- all together in one photo.
This was a shoot with the whole group, grandparents, older children and grandchildren.
It is something that you will all cherish for years to come.
Enjoy some of my favourites from this shoot.
First family photos since the new baby has been welcomed into the family.
You could tell this baby was loved by all! What a amazing addition to the family!
This shoot was in West Van- tucked away by ambleside. The perfect family photo shoot location
This beautiful family is new to vancouver and we wanted to showcase a little west coast feel.
We went down by the water for the last couple of shots to get the lions gate bridge in the back. I think they turned out perfectly. They also hit the nail on the head for outfits! Coordinating but not matching! Beautiful job mama!
Welcome to Vancouver, we hope you love it as much as we do!
Salt spring Island wedding. If you have never been to Salt spring Island, I suggest you add it to your list.
E&N on Salt Spring Island. They run a beautiful farm and decided to have their wedding on the farm. Mostly everything at the wedding was grown/raised on the farm. The farm to table dinner was amazing!
The attire from the wedding party was vibrant and colourful- just like the brides. They were surrounded by so much love and laughter. Everyone there loved them so much and it was so nice to see everyone come together and enjoy a beautiful wedding and ceremony at such a beautiful location.
Here are a few of my favourites from their wedding day.
If you are looking for a little destination for your wedding, look at Bullock farms- it was so beautiful.
These grad portraits are the perfect opportunity to capture your grad in their dress/ suit.
You can join with another family/friend to do these together and share on the cost.
Family photos are also encouraged.
We wait all year for the long days & the warmer weather here in Vancouver.
I am so excited to get back to shooting outside again.
My favourite time of day to shoot at is a hour before sunset. You get that nice warm glow to your photos.
I have a ton of great spots to do photos in North Vancouver, West vancouver, Downtown and even the Fraser valley.
I hope to capture your family this summer!
Christmas minis are something fun I do every year at my North Vancouver studio. Each year is a different set up and lets my creative juices flow.
This year I am doing them almost every weekend in November. Santa is even coming for one of the weekends!
Sweet little Zoey came with her family to celebrate her first birthday. We did family photos, sibling photos and then some cake smash photos, to say she loved it is a understatement.
Here are a few of my favourite photos from her session.
I often get asked, when is the best time to get newborn photos done? I recommend between 5-14 days new. They are still pretty sleepy at that stage, they are still pretty mold-able and that newborn smell I swear radiates through the photos. You will cherish these photos forever, remembering when they were once so small.
Trust me with capturing this special moment in your life. I have been told I am one of the best newborn photographers out there ;)
This little guy came to the studio to celebrate his first birthday with some family photos and a cake smash!
Every cake smash session comes with family photos, a custom cake, the cake smash and a little bubble bath to clean up afterwards.
This is such a cute way to celebrate your babe turning one!
This beautiful wedding was at the fairmont pacific rim and it didn’t disappoint. Friends and family gathered to celebrate this beautiful couple. The cool thing about this couple is I did their sons newborn photos so I have really built a connection with them. So when they asked me to photograph their wedding, it was a no brainer! I was so excited to see them get married and have their boys involved! They were so excited!!!
The girls listened to music, got their hair and make up done and drank mimosas- what more could you really ask for? and the guys, they drank beers, ate sushi and hung out. The couples two boys went from room to room and just thought it was the best time.
I often get asked if I do newborn sessions at home, the answer is YES YES YES!
They are perfect for new parents, you don’t have to pack up and go anywhere, I come to you and capture this new and exciting time in your lives. It’s less posed, I do not bring any props or anything. It’s comfortable, intimate and the perfect way to capture this beautiful new baby that you have that won’t be small for long.
Milestone photos are the perfect opportunity to capture the little rolls, gummy smile.
These sessions are perfect for 3-12 month olds, you can also bring a sibling with you. I do have wardrobe for the babies to wear and props to put them in. These sessions are fun and easy! The perfect way to capture this special milestone.
There is a time in our pregnancy that we don’t feel like even getting out of our sweat pants and that once oversized t-shirt that was our husbands is starting to feel snug.
Maternity sessions with me are usually done around 31-34 weeks in my studio or outside. My full maternity sessions include hair and make up to give you that extra special feeling.
Being pregnant, if you actually think of it is such a miracle. We try for so long not to get pregnant… and then when we do, for some of us its actually hard. You are now pregnant and it is such a gift. I want your maternity photos to be a symbol of that, a memory of such a special time.
Sweet little ruby, she came with the most perfect skin and this beautiful dark hair, she was perfection!
Her big brother wasn’t super into getting his photos taken but with a little bit of bribery, we got him to take a photo with his little sister! Hey, I am all for bribery, if it gets them to sit and take the photo- why not!
Here are a few of my favorite photos from her session.
I often get asked what to wear to a maternity session. This is a person decision and its up to your comfort level.
Some woman want to show their body off and wear nothing and some want to wear their husbands botton up shirt and a pair of jeans. Whatever you choose just make sure there are no big prints or logos and be authentic to your style.
I usually suggest bringing a bra and underwear set, a pair of non maternity jeans and then come and pick from my selection of dresses in my client wardrobe.
Typically I do maternity photos around 31-34 weeks and they can be done in studio or outside.
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Big, small, blended, Adult children, grand children, babies, toddlers and teens. I love photographing them all. I love the dynamic each family has. This family shoot was in Port Moody, it was a beautiful fall day. To prepare this family for their shoot, I suggested picking a time towards the end of the day so the sun wasn’t too high in the sky ( so everyone isn’t squinting) but a time that toddlers/babies aren’t at their witching hour. We found this beautiful spot that offer beautiful colours in the leaves and a beautiful bridge that made it very BC. I suggest to families of all sizes, when picking a wardrobe, coordinate but do not match. Usually put one person in a print and pull colours from that print. This family did an amazing job at coordinating outfits.
Extended family photoshoots we have time to do a big group shot, individual shots, each family together, grandparents with the grandchildren and the cousins all together. The session is about a hour and gives us tons of time to get a variety of photos. This is a yearly tradition for this family and I love seeing them year after year and seeing the changes, this year they added two grand-daughters! I hope you enjoyed these tips for a extended family session.
I am absolutely aware that photoshoots with kids are incredibly stress-inducing, but they are also TOTALLY worth it. You know how fast your children change, which is why having photos of them at different stages in life is so important. That being said, I one hundred percent understand how stressful the whole process can be.
Choose your outfits one week prior - yes, one week prior! Hit up consignment stores for accent pieces like vests or fun jackets. H&M and Zara are good places to get the basics. Solid colours are best, and usually, these bigger stores’ seasonal colours are on-trend and in complementary palettes that will work with your whole group.
Pick comfortable pieces your kids will actually wear - eliminate the frustration of fighting your toddler to wear something they don’t want to wear, for example, scratchy jeans or structured shirts. Opt for something they will put on their bodies and not flip out in the process of doing so.
Bring snacks and treats. Ah yes, snacks and treats, also known as bribes. Very little will get a toddler more motivated than a smarty or lollipop. This may not be for everyone, but, in these special circumstances, it can be very motivating to get your little one to cooperate.
Mentally prepare yourself for chaos, lower your expectations, and try not to strive for ‘perfect’. It’s often us, the parents, who put these crazy expectations on ourselves to create something that is perfect. When things don’t go in this direction (honestly, do they ever?), it can cause stress. Kids pick up on this stress and in turn, makes the whole situation tenser than it needs to be.
Work with a photographer who knows kids - a photographer who has experience with kids is likely going to be calmer around children. And honestly, we know that kids are always way better for people who aren’t their parents, right?
Bring help - it’s always a good idea to have help, whether it’s your spouse or a grandparent. Sometimes it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation where I’m holding the camera making farting jokes, dad is positioning the baby, and mom is trying everything in her power to get the baby to smile. It really is a workout so be prepared to get sweaty.
This isn’t meant to scare you, it’s meant to help prepare you for the wonderful chaos of a family photoshoot with little kids. Lower your expectations for your kids and yourself and we will do just great together!
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of at-home newborn sessions (or any newborn sessions, let’s be real), but there is something so special about photographing a newborn baby in their new home. Newborn sessions are done between 5 - 14 days old, which, understandably, can be a challenge for parents to get done. Some parents are eager to get out and about and have a studio session with props and outfits, others are keen to stay in the comfort of their homes.
This newborn session features sweet Bobby Jude, she’s a dainty little bundle and did so well in the shoot. We lucked out and were able to get a nice mix of awake photos (see the first image and try not to smile), as well as some precious sleepy newborn photos with her parents. Her parents lovingly put together a stunning nursery for her, and it was so fun to feature it in the shoot. If you’re putting the effort into making a beautiful nursery space for your little one, an at-home newborn session is a perfect way to remember it and your tiny little babe forever.
