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.

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!

There is nothing wrong with taking group photographs at a family gathering, and a first birthday party is the ideal occasion for that.

The only thing to keep in mind is that sometimes - if you have a large group - the group photos can take the focus away from getting truly candid moments, and capturing everyone’s true spirit and essense.

As long as there is enough time, though, group shots absolutely CAN happen :)

I’ve done more posey family photoshoots, and it’s been stressful. Stressful for the people involved, because they were too concerned about looking “just right” and smiling to the camera. But also stressful for me, because I knew that those smiles would never be as genuine as we could get if they just relaxed.

So over time, I’ve made it so that I mostly work with families who really and truly care about their real lives. Families who are not ashamed to post real photos. Families for whom family photos are not used to brag on social media, but rather - to cherish and relive, for years and years to come, with other family members and friends.

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.

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 😉)

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.

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.

The best way to get photos of your family is to take your camera with you wherever you go!

I often have to remind myself of this, because during the cold winter months when I’m hunkering down and doing all sorts of cosy winter activities like putting together jigsaw puzzles and playing video games… I don’t even think about taking photographs.

But when spring comes, something in me awakens.

Every time I check out the Kingston School of Art (KSOA) and its many programs, I am blown away by how much there is to do there for all ages.

I’ve often thought about registering for a course (maybe this spring?). They offer a range of courses, but the life drawing one grabs my attention. A few years ago, I did a series of life drawing classes with Diane Black at ArtNoise Kingston (not KSOA!). I really enjoyed it!

Anyway, KSOA offers youth and adult classes, including life drawing, illustration, oil painting, and so much more! This blog is all about one of their awesome community events - Paint the Town!

Anyway, KSOA offers youth and adult classes, including life drawing, illustration, oil painting, and so much more! This blog is all about one of their awesome community events - Paint the Town!

Lola is a beautiful and playful brown mastiff. She is eight years old now, and I photographed her when she was a three year old pup as well!

So I got to see how much she has changed in that time.

Which is not really all that much, haha.

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!

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 :)

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?

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.

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.

Meet the Himmelmans. Their life is rich and varied, and includes lots of hockey, pankcakes, cat cuddles, and connect four.

What does a day in your life look like?

Moving house with kids can be stressful. Shawn and Christen did a spectacular job of keeping their two young girls entertained and excited on this day, with Herculean effort. There was lots of running around, but most of all - lots of fun! Enjoy the slideshow I created and get in touch for your very own Day in the Life session.

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 :)

I grew up in communist Bulgaria, which means I really do not like to break the law, or any rules. I get nervous around police-officers, or border-crossing people, or even security guards (perhaps especially security guards). One time, as a teenager, I got pulled over for speeding, and asked to hand over my license and registration. My hand shook so terribly that I had to lean it against the open window when handing the office my license….