Eden + Chris Family Session
Eden + Chris are another family that I have been photographing for a very long time. I really can’t put into words how fun it is to capture memorable moments each year. Especially at their property in the country which is always an adventure.
Eden + Chris are another family that I have been photographing for a very long time. I really can’t put into words how fun it is to capture memorable moments each year. Especially at their property in the country which is always an adventure.
Desirae + Family Home Newborn Session
Home sessions are definitely my favourite types of shoots. They are so intimate and real and the photos always end being authentic and meaningful. Combine that with a newborn and you have the ultimate experience. Spending 30 minutes with Desirae, Ryan and August was so special and I enjoyed it immensely. Check out some of my favourite photos below, as well as a short little video.
Home sessions are definitely my favourite types of shoots. They are so intimate and real and the photos always end being authentic and meaningful. Combine that with a newborn and you have the ultimate experience. Spending 30 minutes with Desirae, Ryan and August was so special and I enjoyed it immensely. Check out some of my favourite photos below, as well as a short little video.
Chelsea + Patrick Family Session
It’s been a while since I have done a home session with a couple. So it felt really good to visit Chelsea and Patrick today, and of course their kitty, for some nice authentic and candid photos. I’m still surprised it took me 5 minutes into the session to realize how big of a Bills fan Patrick was. We of course ended the session with their game watching outfits, which was just so perfect!
It’s been a while since I have done a home session with a couple. So it felt really good to visit Chelsea and Patrick today, and of course their kitty, for some nice authentic and candid photos. I’m still surprised it took me 5 minutes into the session to realize how big of a Bills fan Patrick was. We of course ended the session with their game watching outfits, which was just so perfect!
Kahla + Family Portrait Session - Tree Farm
My second of two mini-sessions at the Tree Farm this past weekend was with Kahla and her family. Having just photographed their wedding a couple months, I was super excited I got to do a portrait session with them. They are such a beautiful family.
My second of two mini-sessions at the Tree Farm this past weekend was with Kahla and her family. Having just photographed their wedding a couple months, I was super excited I got to do a portrait session with them. They are such a beautiful family.
Debbie + Family Portraits
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Mount McKay was the location for my portrait session with Debbie and her family. It was cloudy, which was perfect, as I’ve mentioned many times before. The kids were a bit hyper, but we came away with lots of great posed and candid photos. For the second part of the session, we met up again further down the street by the water. It was a sunny day which meant for a nice contrast for the photos taken the day before!
Mount McKay was the location for my portrait session with Debbie and her family. It was cloudy, which was perfect, as I’ve mentioned many times before. The kids were a bit hyper, but we came away with lots of great posed and candid photos. For the second part of the session, we met up again further down the street by the water. It was a sunny day which meant for a nice contrast for the photos taken the day before!
Min + Brooke Family Session - Centennial Park
It has been about 2 years since I photographed Min, Brooke and their family. So I was super excited to once again spend an hour with them, capturing new moments. We decided on Centennial Park which is always beautiful, especially this time of year. Admittedly, with these types of session when little kids are involved, I tend to just go with the flow. I’ll direct some posed family portraits here and there, but most of them time, it’s just a matter of catching nice candid moments. I’m so lucky to have families that I continue to photograph throughout the years, and see how the children grow up. It always amazes me how quickly that happens.
It has been about 2 years since I photographed Min, Brooke and their family. So I was super excited to once again spend an hour with them, capturing new moments. We decided on Centennial Park which is always beautiful, especially this time of year. Admittedly, with these types of session when little kids are involved, I tend to just go with the flow. I’ll direct some posed family portraits here and there, but most of them time, it’s just a matter of catching nice candid moments. I’m so lucky to have families that I continue to photograph throughout the years, and see how the children grow up. It always amazes me how quickly that happens.
Kevin + Ayano Portrait Session - Cascades
Last week I was lucky enough to spend an hour with Kevin and Ayano at Cascades, which is by far one of the nicest locations in town to not only walk around, but of course take portraits. Almost all of my portrait sessions are very casual and natural. We simply went for a walk to the water and stopped along the way to take some beautiful portraits. I also captured some candids along the way as well.
Last week I was lucky enough to spend an hour with Kevin and Ayano at Cascades, which is by far one of the nicest locations in town to not only walk around, but of course take portraits. Almost all of my portrait sessions are very casual and natural. We simply went for a walk to the water and stopped along the way to take some beautiful portraits. I also captured some candids along the way as well.
Kevin and Ayano were extremely easy to photograph and very photogenic so it made my job very easy. It's sessions like these that already have me worried about summer coming to an end because it was such a fun session. Although, the trail is also nice in the winter, just much colder.
Amy + Family Newborn Session
I have lost count how any sessions it has been with Amy and her wonderful family, which is a good thing. I look forward to so many more future session, because each one outdoes the last. Case in point, Amy and David welcome Ellie to the family around 6 weeks ago, so it was a no brainer to get some updated family portraits that include the newest addition to the family.
I have lost count how any sessions it has been with Amy and her wonderful family, which is a good thing. I look forward to so many more future session, because each one outdoes the last. Case in point, Amy and David welcome Ellie to the family around 6 weeks ago, so it was a no brainer to get some updated family portraits that include the newest addition to the family.
As soon as I got there we got started immediately. Of course, I focused on Ellie first, and if I'm being honest, for most of the session. That doesn't mean we didn't get the whole family though as you can see from the photos below. Amy and David have such a beautiful house it's hard not to come away with some great backdrops. The nursery was so cute too, with some nice details which I made sure to capture.
We finished the session outside which was the perfect end to a perfect session. I still can't believe how fast the hour went by. I could have photographer Ellie (and the rest of the family) or another hour or more!
As I have been also doing more of lately, there is a short video below that you can view showing a few moments from the session. Thanks for viewing!
Taylor + Grant Engagement - Tree Farm
What can I say about Taylor and Grant? They were such an awesome couple to photography. It was the perfect example of a beautiful couple in a beautiful location, which ended up being the Tree Farm. Even though the original plan was to wait for a fresh snowfall, we decided to do the session on one of the warmest December weekends I can remember. It was worth it though, because the resulting photos turned out great.
What can I say about Taylor and Grant? They were such an awesome couple to photography. It was the perfect example of a beautiful couple in a beautiful location, which ended up being the Tree Farm. Even though the original plan was to wait for a fresh snowfall, we decided to do the session on one of the warmest December weekends I can remember. It was worth it though, because the resulting photos turned out great.
It wasn't just Taylor and Grant either that I ended up photographing, their bulldog Stella joined us and boy was she a blast. She definitely made me work for every photo I took of her too.
The tree farm is such a huge piece of land that anytime you take photos there you kind of have to have good idea of where you want to go, especially for an hour session which tends to go by very quickly. I chose to do it near the far end of the tree farm which I find is a lot more wide open and not as busy. Plus I know where a lot of good hidden spots are.
As with most couples, Taylor and Grant were a bit nervous at first, not knowing what to do exactly, but it didn't take long for them to get the hang of things and look completely natural in from of the camera. It also helped that Stella was there to lighten the mood by trying to take me out on multiple occasions. It think there were even a few instances where she attempted to tackle me, so I had to be on my toes. I didn't mind though, as I love animals and it was fun for me, almost a challenge in a way.
All in all, it was a such a fun session and it was a pleasure to capture some special moments between Taylor and Grant and especially Stella.
Jamie + Cory Engagement - Vickers Park
It looks like winter is slowly creeping in so I was so excited when Jamie and Cory contacted me for an engagement session. I decided to do it at Vickers Park because there was still some colour there and plenty of leaves. Plus, there was a playground for the kids too!
The shoot didn't get off to the greatest start though. As Jamie and Cory were getting the little ones ready I decided to get up close for a quick photo of Sophia and she wanted nothing of the sort. She screamed and cried like I just took away her favourite toy. Luckily it didn't last long and she calmed down shortly after. Jamie told me that she was just going through her terrible 2's phase. Well, it wasn't the first time I have made a kid cry during a portrait session. I'm sure it won't be the last though.
It looks like winter is slowly creeping in so I was so excited when Jamie and Cory contacted me for an engagement session. I decided to do it at Vickers Park because there was still some colour there and plenty of leaves. Plus, there was a playground for the kids too!
The shoot didn't get off to the greatest start though. As Jamie and Cory were getting the little ones ready I decided to get up close for a quick photo of Sophia and she wanted nothing of the sort. She screamed and cried like I just took away her favourite toy. Luckily it didn't last long and she calmed down shortly after. Jamie told me that she was just going through her terrible 2's phase. Well, it wasn't the first time I have made a kid cry during a portrait session. I'm sure it won't be the last though.
We made our way to the middle of the park and found a nice spot where there were some leaves and an open area. Jamie had a fantastic idea to bring a red wagon, some pumpkins and she also managed to find matching outfits for both Teagan and Sophia! Sophia was not the happiest camper for the first few minutes but as soon as Cory propped her on her shoulders and started running around she loosened up quite quickly. After that, we were off to the races.
Even though it was an engagement session, we managed to get a lot of family portraits well along with some great candid photos of the kids. I think they enjoyed the playground the most, and some of my favourite photos came when they were on the swing set.
I'm looking forward to Jamie and Cory's wedding next year! They are such a great family to photograph and they always make me look good.
6 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
A while ago a wrote a post on ‘things to consider when choosing photographer’ and went over some general points. This time around I figured I would talk more about specific questions you should ask the photographer you are looking to hire. Of course, there are many more then I will list here but from my experience in talking with clients, I find these are probably some of the most important ones. Read on to find out what they are!
A while ago a wrote a post on ‘things to consider when choosing photographer’ and went over some general points. This time around I figured I would talk more about specific questions you should ask the photographer you are looking to hire. Of course, there are many more then I will list here but from my experience in talking with clients, I find these are probably some of the most important ones.
1. What do I receive once it’s all said and done?
I listed this one first mainly because it is one of the most important. The times are definitely changing but there are still photographers out there that actually charge for prints or only include a certain amount of images in the package and then charging extra for more. Nowadays most photographers included all the finished photos on a DVD or USB stick but be sure to ask some more specific questions. For instance, if it’s a 4 hour wedding, approximately how many photos will you most likely get. It’s impossible to predict the exact amount, but any photographer should be able to at least give you an estimate. Keep in mind that a photographer may take over 1000 photos for even a 4 hour wedding. That doesn’t necessarily mean that those are all final images. They are usually narrowed down to the best of the best.
What I personally do is supply all the final processed photos on a USB stick. One folder has high resolution photos which the client can print. The other has watermarked low resolution photos which can be shared. I don’t give any restrictions to the photos other then that the client will not resell the photos as I still hold the rights. This is pretty common these days but it’s important to know exactly how your photographer deals with this subject.
One other thing that you NEED to ask is how long? How long does it take to get the photos. I don’t know any couple that isn’t anxious to see the final photos so be sure to find out the time frame of delivery. Personally I pride myself on delivery of photos within a month, usually quicker. Some photographers might be quicker, others might take a lot longer. I have heard horror stories of some couples waiting 6 months, even 8.
2. Is there a contract to sign?
This second question is just as crucial as the first. Many couples may get scared away as soon as they hear a photographer asking for a signed contract but it protects both sides. It ensures that, you, the client, has the date secured and will be provided the services promised by the photographer. Without a contract who’s to say the photographer in question doesn’t just change his mind and choose not to photograph your wedding. Trust me, I have had couples book me for this exact reason. Because their photographer bailed on them 3 weeks before the wedding. I’m not saying this happens all the time, but if it does, at least you know you are protected to a certain degree. Some things that the contract should outline are, cost of the chosen package, any deposit that is required, when that deposit is required along with the final amount, and how the rights to the images work and exactly what you are allowed to do with them. There are other things that can be included but the best advice I can give is to read it over carefully.
3. Am I able to share and print the photos we get at the end?
I touched upon this one in the first point, but be sure to find out exactly what you can do wit the photos once you get them. Will you have access to all the final photos? Are you required to buy prints for extra ones? Are you allowed to share the photos you receive on social media or other online methods? Like I said, most photographers these days allow you to print the high resolution images but there are still some out there with the old school frame of my mind that require you to ‘purchase’ prints.
4. What happens if we have to cancel the wedding?
No couple wants to think about this one but it does happen. There are many reasons that a wedding may be cancelled so I won’t go into specifics but what happens if you actually have to cancel yours? Or at the very least move the date? This comes back to the contract. Typically if you cancel, you are on the hook for the deposit. But read the contract carefully as some photographers may say the full amount is required upon cancellation. It all depends on the contract. I have actually had this happen to me a couple times. Each time, the couple gave me plenty of notice and I didn’t charge them anything. I was able to fill the spots so I wasn’t really out the money. If it was more last minute, it might be a different story. My point is that it all depends on the photographer. Some are flexible and some are a more strict.
5. If we need you longer how does that work?
When discussing timing for the wedding always ask your photographer his policy on staying longer if needed. I am always up front about this as I tell each client that if they need me for long it costs a certain amount per hour. Now, with that being said, I have had weddings where I stayed an extra 15 minutes to catch some important photos. I don’t necessarily charge for that but every photographer sees this differently. Usually if couples are aware of cost up front they will have a better idea of exactly what they can afford. It also helps with planning the wedding day, especially speeches and the such.
6. Is there an engagement session, and if so is it included?
For almost all of my wedding packages I include an engagement session. The last thing you want to do is book a package and then find out after you sign the contract that you have to pay extra for an engagement session. Another thing I offer is the option to decline the engagement session and simply add on another hour to the package. Every photographer has different options so be sure to ask. In keeping with the first questions, also find out how long it takes to get the engagement photos once they are done. Especially if you are looking to use some of the photos for invitations etc..
That's it for now. As I said at the beginning, there are many more things to ask but these should help get you started in the right direction when dealing with any photographer. If you are unsure of anything be sure to ask right away so there is no confusion down the road.
If anyone has another questions they would like to share please feel free to leave them in the comments section!
The Benefits of Doing an Engagement Session
For almost all of my packages I offer an engagement session but rarely do couples take advantage of it. Most of the time it is lack of interest or even timing in most cases. There are also some cases where couples are simply coming in from out of town to do the wedding. In this post I am going to touch upon the importance of doing an engagement session with your photographer.
For almost all of my packages I offer an engagement session but rarely do couples take advantage of it. Most of the time it is lack of interest or even timing in most cases. There are also some cases where couples are simply coming in from out of town to do the wedding. In this post I am going to touch upon the importance of doing an engagement session with your photographer.
Katie & Kurtis did the engagement well in advance. They then got me to create a great little customized engagement book for them which they shared with their friends and family.
Get to know how your photographer works
As I mentioned above, most couples usually meet their photographer for the first time the day of the wedding. There is nothing wrong with this, but it can be hard to feel comfortable behind the camera just like that. It often takes a little bit of time to relax and truly feel at ease when someone is taking photos of you.
So with an engagement session, it really gives you the opportunity to not only get to know your photographer as a person, but also how he shoots and the process in which he takes photographs. Plus, after spending an hour in front of the camera, come the day of the wedding, you will be a season pro!
Also, if for some reason you don't like some aspects of the way your photographer works you can always bring it up before the wedding. I have never had this happen personally, but you never know.
Melissa & Robert also got an engagement session done in advance of their wedding. It was really a great hour we spend together as we had a lot of fun, plus it allowed all three of them to be in front of the camera and get comfortable.
Get comfortable with your other half
Unless you have done numerous photo sessions with your loved one in the past it can sometimes be a challenge getting natural photos right from the start. It takes time to feel comfortable and not be too 'posed'. So by doing an engagement session you get to work out the kinks and really learn how to be at ease and get those great candid shots. Plus, it may even give you some ideas you want to try out for your wedding day.
Alisha $ Derek were honestly one of the most comfortable and natural couples I have had the pleasure of photographing. They decided to split up their engagement session into two separate ones. One a year before and another closer to the wedding. This also allowed us to use two different locations during two different times of the year. A great idea by them if you ask me.
Using the photos for your wedding
By have engagement photos done before you wedding, it allows you to use those photos for just about anything your heart desires. Couples often use photos from our engagement sessions for invites, the guest book or even a personal website for all the guests. It may even be something as simple as having some nice photos to put up around your house. Some of my favourite photos have been from engagement sessions. The pressure of the wedding is still a long ways away therefore couples are usually very relaxed and playful which in turns creates some truly natural photos.
Yet another option for the photos would be a photo book. I have done a few of these for couples and they have all turned out great. By doing one for your engagement session it gives you a good test run for a full on wedding album.
There you have it. A few good reasons to think twice about not doing an engagement shoot before the wedding. If you do decide to do one, be sure to schedule it for well in advance. That way you will have plenty of time to use the photos for the wedding.