Karyn + Family Portraits - Shipyard Road
This was my second time photographing Karyn and her family and it was just as fun as the first one, albeit a little colder this time around. Even though this was a winter session this time around, everyone had a great time.
I decided to take them to a little spot just off Shipyard Road which I photographed once before. The only difference this time around was that it was a winter session so there was snow on the ground. We managed to get some good shots along the train tracks and on a one of the small ledges. There was a bit too much snow though, and I didn't want everyone trudging through it the entire session.
This was my second time photographing Karyn and her family and it was just as fun as the first one, albeit a little colder this time around. Even though this was a winter session this time around, everyone had a great time.
I decided to take them to a little spot just off Shipyard Road which I photographed once before. The only difference this time around was that it was a winter session so there was snow on the ground. We managed to get some good shots along the train tracks and on a one of the small ledges. There was a bit too much snow though, and I didn't want everyone trudging through it the entire session.
So, instead of spending the entirety of the session in the trail, I decided to take them just down the road to the park which is quite beautiful this time of year. Plus, there is a decent view there and some perfect spots to take some photos, including a somewhat abandoned shipyard. Although, it looks as though some of the boats are actually still in use which is kind of cool.
The hour went by fast and before we finished up, I wanted to get a few photos on the road with the tunnel in behind. I think those were some of my favourite photos of the session! Everyone agreed that the next session will be in the summer, so I'm looking forward to that!
Tricia + Darren Portraits - Mariner's Hall
I'm so lucky to be able to meet amazing couples and families each time a have a session. This time around I spent 30 minutes capturing some moments between Tricia and Darren. It was somewhat of a last minute session as Tricia's original photographer who they have been using for quite some time, wasn't available. Luckily, I had some spots open this weekend, and I'm so glad I did.
I'm so lucky to be able to meet amazing couples and families each time a have a session. This time around I spent 30 minutes capturing some moments between Tricia and Darren. It was somewhat of a last minute session as Tricia's original photographer who they have been using for quite some time, wasn't available. Luckily, I had some spots open this weekend, and I'm so glad I did.
Since it has been quite cold out lately, Tricia suggested that we do the session in Mariner's Hall, right beside Bight. Bight is actually where they are getting married New Years Even so it was the perfect location. Aside from weddings, this was actually the first true portrait session I did in the hall and it was beautiful. There is a ton of natural light coming in through the windows so it provided a nice soft atmosphere for an intimate photo session.
Before we finished up, Tricia and Darren were brave enough to get some portrait done outside at the Marina. I didn't want them to freeze so we moved fairly quickly, but some of my favourite photos came from those last few minutes.
It was a pleasure to meet and of course photograph both Tricia and Darren and I hope they have a great wedding!
Anna + John Family Portraits - Marina
It was a quick and somewhat cold session with Anna, John and their two boys, but we managed to come away with some really good photos, despite the weather. Even Owen and Nolan were great and very patient. As with most sessions in the winter on cold days, I did my best to keep everyone moving, not staying in one spot too long, yet not rushing anything. It helped that Anna and her family were great models. It just goes to show you, that despite the winter weather, there is no excuse not get out there and get some photos done!
It was a quick and somewhat cold session with Anna, John and their two boys, but we managed to come away with some really good photos, despite the weather. Even Owen and Nolan were great and very patient. As with most sessions in the winter on cold days, I did my best to keep everyone moving, not staying in one spot too long, yet not rushing anything. It helped that Anna and her family were great models. It just goes to show you, that despite the winter weather, there is no excuse not get out there and get some photos done!
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.
Craig + Dakota Portraits
It was my second mini session of the day in the new studio and I got to hang out with an amazing couple in Craig and Dakota who are expecting their first child very soon. So, they wanted to get a few maternity photos done before the baby arrived. Then, in about a month or so, we are going to get back together and do some family photos, which I'm super excited for.
It was my second mini session of the day in the new studio and I got to hang out with an amazing couple in Craig and Dakota who are expecting their first child very soon. So, they wanted to get a few maternity photos done before the baby arrived. Then, in about a month or so, we are going to get back together and do some family photos, which I'm super excited for.
Craig and Dakota were so photogenic and I just love how the photos turned out. They were a bit shy at first but it didn't take long for them to get completely comfortable in front of the camera. Craig even struck some fun poses for me!
It was quick session but I managed to capture a lot of great shots.
Desiree + Jonah Newborn Portraits
My first of two studio sessions this past Sunday was with Desiree and Jonah and their baby twins. It was only a 30 minute session so we worked fast, but it was so much fun and we came away with so many great photos. I'm so excited to finally have a proper studio where there is a lot more space to work with. Desiree and Jonah had some great outfits for both babies so it was just a matter of making sure they stayed still for a few moments here and there.
My first of two studio sessions this past Sunday was with Desiree and Jonah and their baby twins. It was only a 30 minute session so we worked fast, but it was so much fun and we came away with so many great photos. I'm so excited to finally have a proper studio where there is a lot more space to work with. Desiree and Jonah had some great outfits for both babies so it was just a matter of making sure they stayed still for a few moments here and there.
Luckily, they were both about 3 weeks old so it wasn't too hard to pose them. My wife Anne helped immensely with wrapping them up and setting stuff up so I was thankful to have her help out. Below you can find some of the highlights from the session. If you or anyone you know is looking to get some baby portraits or even a family session, I still have spots available in the coming weeks!
ONWA Family Portraits
I usually do a few family portrait sessions a year over at ONWA, but one of my favourite times of year is the Fall/Winter one. Even though the winter season can be somewhat unpredictable here in Thunder Bay, the weather actually held up this time around and it made for some really nice photos. That's not to say it wasn't really cold, but I worked really fast with all the families and they were also very brave and patient.
I usually do a few family portrait sessions a year over at ONWA, but one of my favourite times of year is the Fall/Winter one. Even though the winter season can be somewhat unpredictable here in Thunder Bay, the weather actually held up this time around and it made for some really nice photos. That's not to say it wasn't really cold, but I worked really fast with all the families and they were also very brave and patient.
Because the weather was still very cold, I did end up setting up a backdrop and some studio lighting inside the building too. Some families took advantage of the outdoor photos as well as the indoor ones, and a couple families simply decided to do indoor. Either way, it was every convenient for the families to at least have an option, especially the ones with babies and young children.
Since it is getting close to Christmas time, I decided on a nice red backdrop which worked out perfectly. If the families wanted to use any of the photos for Christmas cards, it's the perfect colour scheme.
In the end, there were approximately 7 families, some of the returning and some of the new. All of them were a pleasure to photograph and I really can't wait until the next session which will most likely be in the spring.
Ola + Andrew Family Portraits
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I had two sessions on the same day, and this was the second one. It was with Ola and her family. It was just mini-session and also kind of a unique one. Ola and Andrew are expecting a third child and they decided to do the reveal during the session. So, the idea was to pop a balloon with a piece of paper inside and confetti indicating whether it was a boy or a girl. Before we got that point though, we decided to get some family portraits near the train yard on Simpson Street.
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I had two sessions on the same day, and this was the second one. It was with Ola and her family. It was just mini-session and also kind of a unique one. Ola and Andrew are expecting a third child and they decided to do the reveal during the session. So, the idea was to pop a balloon with a piece of paper inside and confetti indicating whether it was a boy or a girl. Before we got that point though, we decided to get some family portraits near the train yard on Simpson Street.
Some people may think that the train yard there isn’t the nicest area but there are a ton of great backdrops and unique spots to use. Plus, Ola’s two sons adore trains so that was another reason too. Along with some family photos I made sure to get the two boys on their own as well as Ola and Andrew. As I always do, I captured some great candids too, which is easy to do when kids are involved.
I made the suggestion of doing the balloon reveal against the huge brick wall on Simpson Street and Ola was completely up for it. As we made our way there, Jack, the oldest son, carried the weighted balloon. Well, somehow it came undone and before anyone realized it, it was way up in the sky, gone for ever. Luckily, Ola had a backup balloon! After finding a piece of glass on the ground we setup for the popping of the balloon. Once they popped it, they found it was another boy! Then, one of the cutest things I have ever heard during a session was Jack asking where the boy was? I think he thought it was in the balloon! It’s moments like that, that truly make my love my job, if I could even call it that.
The day of the session, I sent my usual sneak peek gallery to Ola and she responded with an email saying Jack whined the whole way home because he wanted to keep playing and talking to the ‘man’. Suffice it to say, I cannot wait until we do a future session. By then, there will be three boys!
Laura + Georgia Family Portraits - Trow Bridge Falls
My first of two portrait sessions of the day was with my recent contest winner, Laura, and her daughter Georgia. Last week I did a Facebook promotion giving away a free 1 hour portrait package. I still can’t believe the response I got for the contest and in the end, Laura and her daughter were randomly drawn. I really lucked out too because they were so much fun to photograph.
My first of two portrait sessions of the day was with my recent contest winner, Laura, and her daughter Georgia. Last week I did a Facebook promotion giving away a free 1 hour portrait package. I still can’t believe the response I got for the contest and in the end, Laura and her daughter were randomly drawn. I really lucked out too because they were so much fun to photograph.
I recommended Trow Bridge Falls as the location because I thought it would be the perfect winter location, with the rapids still running and a bit of snow on the ground. Laura mentioned that the last time she was there was when she was a teenager. So it had be a long time! Her daughter Georgia was just a ball of energy. She was laughing and running pretty much the whole session. I am completely used to running around chasing kids during sessions, so it was nothing new for me, and plus, I enjoy it so much.
I made the mistake of mentioning a small playground I wanted to check out at the end of the session. Georgia kept asking to go to while were taking photos. Lesson learned I guess. Trow Bridge has a lot of great spots and we started in the playground itself where Georgia was immediately climbing the monkey bars and eventually the slide. She even got her mom up on the monkey bars too. These types of sessions are my favourite because it is just me capturing moments.
With that being said, I still wanted to get some ‘posed’ photos here and there. We made our way to the trail across the bridge and eventually down to the water. It didn’t take very long for Georgia to be comfortable with me too. It got to the point where she was coming up with names to call me. Some of them were quite creative. Of course, I had to give it back a little, which only made her want to do it more. She also went through a snorting phase where she sounded like a little pig for about 10 minutes. The smiles and natural expressions that came from those moments was priceless though.
Before we ended the session I made sure to quickly take Laura and Georgia to the small playground I mentioned. I think Georgia was expecting something a bit different but she still had some fun trying to climb up the slide. The last few photos I took were just along the tree line near the parking lot and one of my favourite photos from the session was actually the very last one I took. Laura was carrying Georgia up the hill and I got them to stop for a split second and got a great candid portrait of the two of them. It goes to show you, don’t ever stop shooting until the session is completely over.
A huge thank you to Laura and her daughter for letting me spend an amazing hour with them!
The Walleye - November 2017 Cover
A few weeks ago I was asked by The Walleye to photograph their cover photo for November. I obviously jumped at the chance and couldn't wait to do so. In the past I have done lots of freelance photography for their paper so it was kind of a no brainer. Plus, the subject matter was very cool in that it was a spotlight on 3 singer-songwriters in the Thunder Bay music scene. The 3 women were Elle Kay, Tiina Flank and Arley Hughes. I'm pretty sure I had seen them perform in the past, but I had never had the chance to actually meet them one on one.
A few weeks ago I was asked by The Walleye to photograph their cover photo for November. I obviously jumped at the chance and couldn't wait to do so. In the past I have done lots of freelance photography for their paper so it was kind of a no brainer. Plus, the subject matter was very cool in that it was a spotlight on 3 singer-songwriters in the Thunder Bay music scene. The 3 women were Elle Kay, Tiina Flank and Arley Hughes. I'm pretty sure I had seen them perform in the past, but I had never had the chance to actually meet them one on one.
The shoot took place at The Foundry which is one of the best places in town for live entertainment so it was only fitting that we did it there. All in all, I only had about 1 hour to work with, so as soon as I arrived in the morning, I quickly set up and rearranged some things on the stage. Once we were good to go, it was pretty quick from that point forward. I made sure to capture some individual shots of each performer but the main focus was a group photo that would be featured on the cover.
The photo you see as the header is exactly the one The Walleye used for the cover photo. It happened to be one of my favourites too. I love photographing the music scene here in Thunder Bay and I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work with The Walleye and three talented women musicians.
Kim + Ted Family Portraits - Tree Farm
This year alone I have photographed a few sessions at the Tree Farm and it is alway a favourite location of mind. The thing is, it's always in the same area. I always forget that the actual forest is massive and there are a ton of great spots throughout. Well, Kim and Ted suggested that we do their portraits at the Tree Farm but in a different section. I'm so glad they did, because it opened up my eyes to so many new spots.
This year alone I have photographed a few sessions at the Tree Farm and it is alway a favourite location of mind. The thing is, it's always in the same area. I always forget that the actual forest is massive and there are a ton of great spots throughout. Well, Kim and Ted suggested that we do their portraits at the Tree Farm but in a different section. I'm so glad they did, because it opened up my eyes to so many new spots.
After we parked in the second (smaller) parking lot, we walked about 10 minutes through the forest to a special spot that Kimberly wanted to use. Sadly, most of the leaves had already fallen but it actually worked out, because all the leaves were on the ground which made from some great colours. Kim and Ted had their 5 month year old daughter Ellie with them as well. So I was very anxious to capture some photos of all 3 of them.
I must say Ellie was so easy to photography. If anything, she just stared at me as I took photos. I usually have a hard time getting the little ones to look at the camera, and that was definitely not the case with her. It was so cute.
It was just a mini session, so we didn't stay in one spot too long and we were able to find a few other cool places on the way back to stop and take photos. Before we got back to the entrance I noticed a nice field with tall grass and I made sure to get a few photos of just Kim and Ted. Sometimes with these types of sessions, especially one with a young child, it's easy to focus all of the attention on the group and not the parents. So, I'm glad I remember to get a few photos of just them.
I will definitely be going back to the Tree Farm to scout out some more locations in the new area. Even with winter now officially here, it just means it will be a completely different look. Thank you to Kim, Ted and especially Ellie for a great session!
Brittney + Adam Family Portraits - The Cascades
I always enjoy photographing my niece Brittney and her family. This time around we chose the Cascades as the location for our session and it turned out being perfect weather. It was also a special occasion, as Brittney is due in the coming weeks with her third child. So she also wanted a few maternity photos as well.
As soon as we arrived, Chase and Kayden were off to the races, running around. I'm used to it though, as it is consistent with what they normally do each session .. which I love by the way. I would much rather have that energy then them just sitting there looking at me.
I always enjoy photographing my niece Brittney and her family. This time around we chose the Cascades as the location for our session and it turned out being perfect weather. It was also a special occasion, as Brittney is due in the coming weeks with her third child. So she also wanted a few maternity photos as well.
As soon as we arrived, Chase and Kayden were off to the races, running around. I'm used to it though, as it is consistent with what they normally do each session .. which I love by the way. I would much rather have that energy then them just sitting there looking at me.
I was able to mix in some posed shots were they stayed still for more then a few seconds and also a lot of great candid photos. As is the case with most brothers, Kayden would often copy what Chase was doing. That included grabbing his own walking stick, albeit smaller, just like Chase did when we first arrived. We also had some fun in the leaves which resulted in Chase and Kayden completely covering Brittney in leaves. That's what we get for starting that I guess though.
Every session I do with them is always fun and this one was no different. I can't wait to meet and photograph the newest addition to the family!
