December 15, 2022

Year In The Life: Apple Picking At Wynn Farms

December 15, 2022/ Viara Mileva

A “year in the life” photography package isn’t for everyone.

It is an investment, for sure.

It means that we can get together multiple times a year (12 is the suggested amount, once per month, but really any amount works!) and document the growth of your children, especially if they’re in particularly dynamic parts of their childhoods (e.g. transition from toddler to preschooler, transition from early childhood to adolescence, etc).

May 24, 2022

Gananoque Egg Toss | Totally Candid Family Photography

May 24, 2022/ Viara Mileva

Here we bring you another installment of the ‘Year in the Life’ series, with the Wright Straub family.

As you might recall if you’ve been following this blog, the year was 2017. We had predetermined that we would meet once a month with this family to photograph their activities.

And each month was like a fun game, figuring out what activity to photograph!

Jacklyn contacted me early that week and was like, “hey, i know it’s short notice, but we’re heading to Gananoque on Friday to do an egg toss and have some pizza”, and I was like, YES!

May 19, 2022

Year in the Life | March Maple Madness With The Wright/Straub Family

May 19, 2022/ Viara Mileva

In March, we decided to go to Maple Madness at the Cataraqui Conservation Park. Maple Madness, for the uninitiated, is when the temperatures are just right in late winter/early spring so that the maple trees can be tapped for sap. I don’t know the ins and outs of it, but you can learn a LOT if you go for yourself. It happens in early spring (early March until early April).

The sap is tapped and it fills buckets. Then, it’s made into maple syrup, by boiling out the water.

It’s an indigenous practice, and Maple Madness offers an opportunity to learn all about the history and traditions from indigenous people. There are live demonstrations of how the water is boiled away using a hot stone.

February 17, 2022

Year In The Life | The Timmerman-Veley-Halladay Family Spend Thanksgiving Morning at Lemoine Point

February 17, 2022/ Viara Mileva

This is a family you might have seen on my social media before, or maybe even on the blog.

You see, I've been following the Timmerman-Veley-Halladay family for a long time now.

I've been their family photographer for years, in fact.

You’re heard about family doctor, family dentist… family therapist… what else?

Well, family photographer :)

February 13, 2022

A Day in the Life of the Johnson DiRinaldo Family | Visiting Brian "The Captain" Johnson's Family Home on Wolfe Island

February 13, 2022/ Viara Mileva

This was a really fun session with a really amazing family who have a cottage on Wolfe Island just a hop away from Kingston, on the ferry.

I've actually been photographing this family for quite a few years.

One of the first times was when Patrick and Kay were getting married, after which we did a "Day In The Life session” at their Cottage.....

February 10, 2022

Taking Candid Photographs of Grandma | the McNabb Family Make Time for Family Memories

February 10, 2022/ Viara Mileva

This photo session was all about capturing moments with Grandma.

The girls have an amazing grandma.

She lives out in BC, but often spends weeks at a time travelling to Ontario to be with her granddaughters.

Some of the awesome activities that they do include swimming in the backyard pool, learning about flowers and gardening, eating yogurt together, and just enjoying each other's company.

February 06, 2022

A 50th Wedding Anniversary Afternoon Summer Celebration | Sally and Arnie gather with their family at their Wolfe Island home

February 06, 2022/ Viara Mileva

Wolfe island is a pretty magical place, and as I've learned, there is a long and rich history to it.

Another thing I've learned about Wolfe Island, is that there are the “Islanders”, and then there’s everybody else.

You might have lived on the island for 10, 20 or even to years, but unless you, your parents, and your grandparents was all born on the island, you're probably not really considered an “Islander.” (Right? Islanders, help me out here!)

That doesn't mean you can't have an absolutely amazing experience living there, mind you. Even if you move there later on in life, like Sally and Arnie - the matriarch and patriarch of this family.

January 30, 2022

Fun and Candid Graduation Photos | Grade 8 Grads at the Tett Centre

January 30, 2022/ Viara Mileva

This was an interesting session for me, and I want to tell you all about it.

It's not really a typical session.

You see, an old friend of mine from Queens University – a professor in the psychology department - contacted me, saying that because of Covid, the usual graduate photographs for Leahurst families were not happening in 2021.

And could I do a few candid ones for them?

January 29, 2022

Documenting Our Pets' Last Cherished Memories | Lauren and Moe at Rideau Ferry a few days before he died

January 29, 2022/ Viara Mileva

I'll always remember this photoshoot.

A couple of months before the session, Lauren had been given the news that her beloved pup Moe, had a very aggressive type of cancer, and was only expected to live a couple of months.

Lauren hoped for the best, but feared for the worst. So, she wanted to make sure that she could preserve some memories with before he passed.

She rented a cottage with her sister at Rideau Ferry.

January 21, 2022

Mini Day in the Life of a Boy on His Birthday | Soren Turns Two in Newburgh, Ontario!

January 21, 2022/ Viara Mileva

So many memories were lived and captured there.

So it was only fitting that we would be photographing it one last time, as her own son celebrated turning two.

I met them in Newburgh on a beautiful sunny day in June.

Soren was at the age where toddlers are both curious and a little bit shy.

The first photographs we took are of him clinging to mom’s leg, which is completely expected at this age <3 And also adorable.

January 14, 2022

Gizmo Girls Skate Crew: The Funnest Place for Young Girls to Learn to Skate in Kingston!

January 14, 2022/ Viara Mileva

Occasionally I take time out from doing family or wedding photography, and I document local events and activities happening around Kingston.

Last year, Kingston-based educator Katherine Morlog began a weekly skateboarding drop-in workshop for girls in Kingston to learn to skate. These sessions were held Thursday evenings at Daly Street Skate park (on Daly St, across from the Rideau Heights Community Centre).

It’s a fantastic initiative for many reasons.

Girls are waaay under-represented in skateboarding. It’s intimidating for girls to get into it, because it’s mostly boys and men who skate.

December 08, 2020

A Year in the Life: Watch This Family Grow Before Your Eyes 🥳

December 08, 2020/ Viara Mileva

A Year in the Life is a big commitment. It’s honestly not for everyone.

But there are families out there who are going through big changes - kids growing up and reaching milestones - families who are enamoured with the idea of creating memories & keepsakes…

That’s who the YITL is for. ❤️

June 17, 2019

How happiness spreads: spending a snippet of time with Irit, Mike, and Leo.

June 17, 2019/ Viara Mileva

Kindness is everything, and spending time with family is true happiness. I spent a small snippet in the life of Irit and Mike, with their adorable toddler Leo in Ottawa, and captured a bunch of fun things they love to do together.

I even made a slideshow! Hope you enjoy :)

January 08, 2018

Documentary Family Photography | why are so many people ditching traditional portraits and going 'documentary'?

January 08, 2018/ Viara Mileva

Insofar as social media exacerbates social isolation because of feelings of inadequacy (think of all those ‘perfect’ people, places, lives), documentary photographs offer a way forward. They offer honesty. They tell a story of each person and each family just as they are, in all that makes them human, flawed, relatable.

October 12, 2017

Fire engine red.

October 12, 2017/ Viara Mileva

Toward the end of September, on a clear warm Saturday, the United Way and Kingston Fire and Rescue teamed up for a fundraising day full of fun for families. You could try your hand at putting out a car on fire, walk through an inflated house to learn about fire safety, take a ride in a firetruck, and run a fitness course fit for a fire-person.

March 14, 2017

go bowling, my friends

March 14, 2017/ Viara Mileva

When my "Year-in-the-Life" family took their two sons bowling, there were a few predictable glitches. Having an older brother and two parents who are bowling Gods (everyone looks like a pro when you first start bowling) does nothing for one’s ego. Will gave it a valiant effort, then there were some near-tears, then a change in strategy or five. Afterwards, he ate some fries and gave it another honest go. There were double underhand throws, and squat throws, and rotational slams, and anguish and thrill. It really doesn’t matter what the scoreboard ultimately said: the kid persevered, and that’s all anyone needs to know about that day.

February 23, 2017

Fall for your life. Fall in love with real.

February 23, 2017/ Viara Mileva

While you’re imagining all those other families have more glamorous lives than you, they’re just making dinner and having quiet conversation. They’re tired from a long day at work - just like you - and they, too, are looking to reconnect with loved ones.

So fall for your life. Fall in love with real.

December 09, 2016

YEAR IN THE LIFE: the package to break all packages

December 09, 2016/ Viara Mileva

Have you ever wished you could have an authentic, all-encompassing photographic story of your family’s life?

Not a last-minute portrait session before the holidays, or a mad scramble to don matching outfits and smiles in front of a curtain, but a real, honest-to-goodness portrayal of the crazy, quiet, cozy, obnoxious, loving, warm, or plain inexplicable moments your family burns through in a single year?

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