Mini Day In The Life With an Ottawa Family | Pancakes, Toys, and Playing in the Park with Olivia, Chris, and Their Two Kids

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Mini Day In The Life With an Ottawa Family | Pancakes, Toys, and Playing in the Park with Olivia, Chris, and Their Two Kids

I’ve got a really sweet photo story to share with you today: it was a documentary family session I photographed in Ottawa a few weeks ago.

This family was about to make an epic move: from Ontario to Saskatchewan!

So, they were just about ready to pack everything up and put it in boxes. We booked in the sessions as soon as we could possibly squeeze it in (on a Monday!), so that we could get some photographs of important things before they were all packed up.

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Photos At The Park | The Solc Family Enjoy A Sunday Morning At Lemoine Point

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Photos At The Park | The Solc Family Enjoy A Sunday Morning At Lemoine Point

During family get-togethers, there’s often someone within the family who takes photos… but it’s more awkward because they never get to be in the photos themselves (trust me, I know… this is why this year, we’ve hired Tim Forbes to be our family photographer so we can all hang out and ALL be in the photo)

So I jump at the chance of being the photographer to help the family all be present with each other.

Now, for the Solc family, it was important to take a few traditional photos.

Candids were great, they said, but we also want some of all of us all together, and a few of each family.

Well, of course, we can take some time to do this, I said!

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Gananoque Egg Toss | Totally Candid Family Photography

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Gananoque Egg Toss | Totally Candid Family Photography

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!

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

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

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.

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When Your Client Is A Great Photographer | Forbes Family Photography Session

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When Your Client Is A Great Photographer | Forbes Family Photography Session

A couple of months ago, Tim Forbes and I had a photoshoot exchange: He photographed my family, and I photographed his.⁣

Now, for those of you who don’t know, Tim is one of the best documentary photographers this side of Ontario. He’s primarily a wedding photographer, and was actually my mentor. I shot an entire season of weddings as his second shooter in that first year of business, back in 2016.

He’s been in the biz for nearly twenty years, and it really shows! His work is perfect. (no pressure, Tim 😉)

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A Year's Worth of Photographs | Year in the Life | January & Dinnertime With The Wright/Straub Family

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A Year's Worth of Photographs | Year in the Life | January & Dinnertime With The Wright/Straub Family

Here is our first session: it was during the darkest days of winter, mid-January. I went over to their house on a school-night, and the session was about capturing their dinnertime together. Jacklyn made some chicken and rice, the boys played some games on their tablets while dinner was being made, and then everyone sat together and shared stories from the day.

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Candid Family Photography Session in Ottawa | The Roisin Family At Home

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Candid Family Photography Session in Ottawa | The Roisin Family At Home

This is an oldie but a goodie :)

I drove to Ottawa in early May of 2019 so that I could meet this beautiful family and take some candid photographs of them doing their thing.

They have three daughters, and we had already settled on a one-hour session in their home, during which time we would be able to take some photos both inside and outside.

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Family Photography In Late Fall | A Morning Stroll And Sandwiches Indoors for the Ireton Family

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Family Photography In Late Fall | A Morning Stroll And Sandwiches Indoors for the Ireton Family

Lots of times I hear people ask, “what is the best time of year for family photos?”

The traditional answer is probably late spring or mid-fall.

But this isn’t a very traditional place, you know.

I’m of the opinion that literally any time of year can be a good time to take family photographs.

Because we documentary family photographers aren’t interested in what is happening in the background. No. We’re much more curious about what is happening in the foreground. What the people are doing.

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A Walk in The Park | Snippet in the life of Tiiu, Dale, and their kids

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A Walk in The Park | Snippet in the life of Tiiu, Dale, and their kids

I have been photographing Tiiu and Dale’s family for several years now. The very first time I saw them, Tiiu was still pregnant with her daughter.

It's been a joy to watch the kids grow, and develop personalities. So much personality!

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

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

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.

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Two Dads Welcome Their Second Baby Born to a Surrogate Mama | Amherstview Candid Family Photography

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Two Dads Welcome Their Second Baby Born to a Surrogate Mama | Amherstview Candid Family Photography

Today I’ve got a super special story for you!

The kind of heart-melter that you can’t help but get a little emotional about.

It’s the story of baby Leo, born during the pandemic, the second sibling to be born to surrogate mother Kera, and to be joining the family of Uli and Alex, two fathers from Italy.

It brings the term ‘blended family’ to an entirely different level! 😍

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Welcome Home Baby | A family of two dads and their sons

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Welcome Home Baby | A family of two dads and their sons

Today’s story is about the second time Marco and Damian traveled to Kingston from the Netherlands, in times of Covid, no less - having to adhere to very strict quarantine protocols. It was all so that they could welcome their *second* baby boy into the world, with the amazing help of the same surrogate mom.

I really count myself among the lucky ones to know this family, and to be able to capture their memories for them as they show us that anything is possible when there is enough love.

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Candid Chaos is GOOD | Indoor+Outdoor Documentary Family Photography Session in Kingston

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Candid Chaos is GOOD | Indoor+Outdoor Documentary Family Photography Session in Kingston

Let’s talk about shenanigans now. That first photo of the two dogs whizzing past little Lauren is one of my favourites! And later, when the kids are playing in the deep hole dug by one of the dogs… I have a feeling this photo will be one that will make this family smile in about 20 years.

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Skeleton Park Family Photo-session | For All Families New to Candid Family Photography

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Skeleton Park Family Photo-session | For All Families New to Candid Family Photography

If you're new to the idea of candid family photography, you might have lots of questions. This blog answers some of the main ones, like WHY is candid family photography so fun and good?

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