One of my favourite parts of being a photographer is getting to see what comes next.
I’ve been photographing Lindsay and Adam’s family for years now and every time we get together, something has changed. The kids are a little taller. Their personalities are a little bigger. There are new stories to tell and new memories being made.
This spring session felt especially meaningful because it wasn’t just Lindsay, Adam and their three kids. We also included their grandparents and aunt, who are a big part of their everyday lives.
When I look back through this gallery, that’s what stands out most to me. Not the blossoms or the light (although they were beautiful). It’s the people.
The People Who Help Shape a Family
When most people think about family photos, they picture parents and children.
Those photos matter, of course.
But I also love making space for the people who help shape a family’s story. Grandparents and extended family who show up for the everyday moments. The people who help make a family what it is.
One of my favourite parts of this session was photographing Lindsay with her parents and sister.
As parents, we’re usually so focused on documenting our own children that it’s easy to forget we’re somebody’s child too.
Years from now, I think those photographs will mean just as much as the ones of the grandkids.
Active Kids Are Awesome
The T family’s kids are three, five and seven.
They’re curious, energetic, affectionate and very excited about whatever is happening in front of them at any given moment.
In other words, they’re exactly the kind of kids I love photographing.
At the beginning of every session, I spend a few minutes getting to know the kids before I ever ask them to look at my camera. Sometimes they show me a flower they found. Sometimes it’s a cool stick. This time, one of them proudly showed me a temporary tattoo.
A few seconds later, Mom quietly leaned over and whispered, “Can you edit that out?”
If it’s temporary, the answer is usually yes.
Temporary tattoos or the scrape that appeared five minutes before the session tend to disappear. The goal is still for everyone to look like themselves.
Those little moments matter, though. They help kids feel comfortable. They help them realize there isn’t a right way to do family photos.
We’re just spending time together.
The photos happen along the way.
A Warm Spring Evening
We met on one of my favourite spring evenings of the year.
The blossoms were out, the grass was turning green and Edmonton was finally starting to feel like spring again. It was definitely warm enough to remind us that summer wasn’t far away, but everyone was a great sport about it.
This session was part of my Spring Story Sessions, which gave me the perfect excuse to spend a few evenings surrounded by blossoms, growing families and kids who would much rather explore than stand still.
There was plenty of running, climbing and playing. I may have also mentioned that there could be a small treat waiting at the end of the session (I always check with parents first, but a few stickers and a little treat can work wonders).
More importantly, it gives kids something fun to look forward to while we spend our time playing games and making memories together.
The Best Photos Usually Happen In Between
One thing I’ve learned after years of photographing families is that the moments people love most are rarely the ones they planned for.
Yes, we got the smiling-at-the-camera photos.
We always do.
But the images I find myself coming back to are usually the ones that happened while nobody was thinking about the camera at all.
Those moments feel the most like real life.
I’ve had the privilege of photographing the T family for years now, and every time we get together, I’m reminded why I love this job so much.
It’s never really about perfect smiles or getting everyone to sit still.
It’s about preserving a season of life before it changes again.
I’m so grateful I got to spend another evening with this crew.
If you’re looking for an Edmonton family photographer who values connection over perfection. You can reach out to me here; I’d love to hear from you!
If you’re in the middle of planning your family session, I wrote a guide on how to your kids don’t have to behave for photos. It’s right here.