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.....
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreWolfe 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.
Read MoreI'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.
Read MoreSo 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.
Read MoreThe first question we always discuss with families is: “what should we do during our photo-session?”
Lots of families already have pretty solid ideas of what they can do to spend some time together, while I snap the photos. Some families aren’t sure. That’s okay, too. This is why we have a fun consultation before even putting pen to paper (by which I mean… booking a session 😜 no actual paper is involved, it’s all online).
Read MoreToday 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! 😍
Read MoreHere’s how documentary newborn photography is different from the traditional studio newborn photo experience:
it can be done anywhere - especially in your own home!
there’s no baby ‘age limit’ - babies can be just a day old, or they can be a few months old! Each phase of a baby’s life is precious and can be documented to preserve cherished memories for a family. Whether it’s those baby wrinkles when they were just hours new to the world, or the chubby thighs as they started to fill out from all that yummy milk.
it doesn’t take nearly as long - candid photos of babies and their families enjoying their time together don’t have to take hours. Some families choose to document a “Day in the Life” with their baby, so that we can capture many activities, especially if they have older children, too. But many families with a newborn and no older siblings are perfectly happy to spend just an hour swooning over their little one, and we get dozens of beautiful memories captured from this experience.
Right away, I loved this family. I couldn’t stop photographing Leo, this adorable 3-year old with the biggest, gentlest eyes. He was an instant muse. And then, I met his baby brother, Ezra, and I couldn’t believe just how expressive this tiny little baby’s eyes were, too! This obviously runs in the family.
Read MoreOf course, a documentary session needs to capture the everyday moments. If every single day of your lives, you hop on the subway, then transfer to the streetcar, to get to your favourite place… then it would be a serious error not to include at least a bit of those moments in the Day In the Life session.
For some families, this is just as obvious as breathing. For other families, this idea is a bit more novel. They’re used to more traditional types of photographs, so capturing simple things like walking down the street seems like… photos you would discard.
Read MoreThat’s the biggest lesson by far: that to serve your clients fully, you must stop assuming you know what they want, and really LISTEN and pay attention to what they tell you they want.
No photographer is above their client. We serve people. That is our job. To do a good job, we must listen to people. Not assume.
Read MoreToday’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.
Read MoreI got to see these wonderful children for a brief moment in time this year, whereas their parents get to watch them grow each and every day. Day by day, their hours are filled with fleeting moments. But the fact that I only get to see them briefly every year or so, gives me a distinct advantage. I focus on what few other photographers see: the fleeting, unorchestrated moments that make up a life.
This is the magic ✨
Read MoreLet’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.
Read MoreA 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. ❤️
Read MoreThey landed here in Kingston, on the shores of Lake Ontario and got on with the business of building a life for themselves. And what a life they made! In the same house for 38 years, a treed and waterfront lot, perfect for raising their two kids and hosting their pack of grandchildren.
Read MoreYou might know that I have a passion for capturing candid family life. In this post, I will compare candid photography to other types of photography. I will prove to you that candid family photography is the BEST (and possibly most challenging) type of photography ever.
Read MoreMoving 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.
Read MoreKindness 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 :)
Read MoreHere’s the honest truth: It’s not as though when I first arrive at someone’s house for the first time, they’re doing a little excited jig, eager to get their photos taken for three hours or a full day.
Read MoreI am a modern documentary family photographer in Kingston, Ontario. I photograph families, weddings, people, life. On-location, unposed, effortless, candid photographs. Also serving Toronto, Ottawa, Belleville, Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton, Prince Edward County and beyond.
Love the life you live. Invest in photographs that mean the world.
