“Imagine receiving the most absolutely perfect photos of your family yet there was no posing, no crying screaming children, no one feeling frustrated, not one teen asking “when will we be done?”...”
⚠️ If you’re looking for 💍wedding photography💍, head on to my wedding photography page 👉 quirkylovephotography.com
Photo © Liz Cooper
hi 😊 I’m Viara, and I help families create lasting memories of their (extra)ordinary lives
🎉 EXCITING NEWS! 🎉
Book a spring 1-hr session & receive a trio of 5”x7” prints along with your digital gallery of photos
Documentary Spring Minis are the best way to capture memories of your family activities, without the hassle and stress of a conventional photoshoot.
Spring minis are $575 + hst
HOW IT WORKS in two easy steps
STEP 1: Choose your activity
STEP 2: Book your session
READ & WATCH: What Is this kind of photography about? 👇
Meet the Himmelman family. They wanted to document a day in their life.
“We had a recent Day in the Life photo session with Viara.
I was nervous about this thought, because what do you with someone you don’t know, while they follow you around taking photos of your family all day?
Viara was instantly comforting and easy to work with, our family quickly forgot she was there and just went about our day. She engaged with our kids and photographed some pretty deep emotion from them both.
My son is an avid hockey player and Viara followed us to two of his games - she captured the feeling of the rink, the competitiveness of the game and the anxiety of these goalie parents.
While this happened, she also took the time to talk with our daughter, who doesn’t play hockey, and captured her in her own world of toys and imagination.
She took the time to have breakfast with us and we learned a little bit about her and her family. We now have a new found respect Bulgarian cheese :) - and went out looking for it after our session.
For a family looking to break out of the box - this is the photographer who will help you do that.”
What families say about their experiences:
“Amazing”
“She manages to capture ordinary moments and turn them into art.”
Selena Anne
“True emotion”
I was a little nervous about what a real life photography shoot could be like but it was the most fun and relaxing photo shoot we have ever done.
Leyna R.
“Blew us away”
“She captures the essence of the moment in a way I haven't seen others do.”
Alyssa Titus
documentary family photographs can heal you
they make you see yourself as you really are: a powerful agent of love, joy, and strength in the lives of those you love
“I couldn’t have imagined the profound effect of your photos/experience, but even a few years later our “year in the life” is still the best investment I’ve made.”
because your life...
is adventure and discovery, it’s mess and chaos, strong emotion, crooked grins and motion, tears and joy and all the rest.
“If you want photos that you could never in a million years get - look no further.”
-Bryan Stone
TRADITIONAL FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY CAN BE CHALLENGING
It’s stressful. The kids cry. Outfits have to match. Smiles have to be forced. It’s money spent on fake moments.
None of this applies with family documentary photography.
what is family documentary photography?
It’s a transformative experience of having your real life photographed, creating memories you can share with your children and grandchildren for your whole life
documentary photography lets you witness the extraordinary beauty of your everyday
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Step one:
we meet and you tell me all about your family: what you enjoy to do, what a lazy Sunday in your house looks like, and what your children love
we plan
Step two:
we meet again and put our plans to action: you do some serious hang-out time with your kids, and I take the photographs
Step three:
Your heart skips when you get your package: a photograph-box packed full of the most meaningful reminders of your incredible life and all its joys
lifetime reminders of all you did together as they grew
Want to see more? Watch some slideshows of other families!
(turn on the sound to best enjoy)
Day in the City with the Tans
Moving Day with the Clarks
Cottage Life with the Johnsons
Highlight reel 2018
Now ask yourself: What would your life look like in photographs?
“Our experience with Viara was exceptional from start to finish. If you want to capture "a slice of life", this is it!”
-Jennifer Barrett
“We LOVED working with Viara! Her photos capture the uniqueness of ordinary experiences that may otherwise fly by.”
-Kathleen Staz
“Viara is the kindest soul and her photos perfectly reflect the comfort she brings.
You feel like you are hanging out with a good pal who happens to occasionally hit click on her camera.”
-Malina Dockendorff
about me
I have a PhD in parenting, and studied hundreds of families interacting with their children. I left science in 2015 to become a photographer. My experience taught me two things:
(1) No two families are the same and (2) Every parent-child bond holds magic.
I aim to show you through photographs how wonderful you truly are - as a parent, partner, and friend to those who love you