Graduation and Prom Photographer- All the Things you Need to Know | Abbotsford, BC | Shaelyn

Fraser Valley graduates

it’s prom season!

So many inquiries lately asking about Prom sessions so I figured I would answer some of your most asked questions in a quick blog post. If you are wanting to book now is the time!

When is the best time to book my Prom/Graduation Session?

As soon as you know you want Prom photos you should book! My May/June schedule fills up very quickly and I typically only book one graduate per prom date due to timing and logistics, unless of course you are booking as a group then I can of course accommodate more graduates at one time. Another option is to book your Prom session on a separate date from your actual prom date, this allows for us to spend more time together and pick a date that works for you and your families schedule.

Who can I bring to my prom session?

Your prom session is for you and your plus one, whether that be your date or your bestie, and of course your immediate family members, such as your parents/caregivers/guardian, siblings and grandparents. I will spend the first part of your session capturing you with your family and those that love you, and the remainder of your session will be used capturing you and your plus one.

When do i get to see my photos?

I know how important it is to have your Prom/Graduation Photos as soon as possible to be able to share with your friends and family so I always post a few photos within a few hours of our session, sometimes it is later that evening, but always withing 24 hours of your session. The remainder of your photos will be ready for you within one week of your Prom/ Graduation session.

What time of day is best for photos?

Golden Hour, an hour before sunset, is typically the best time of day for photos. That being said, as long as we have a bit of shade to work with, we can do photos any time of the day, and there is something to be said about that mid day sunshine and the beauty it brings out!

PITT LAKE | JEFF and JAI | CHILLIWACK ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

A gorgeous evening spent with Jai and Jeff exploring the gorgeous Coquitlam Mountain range and Pitt Lake in Maple Ridge, BC.

Jai and Jeff were guests at a wedding I photographed at Eighteen Pastures last summer for friends of theirs. I was absolutely thrilled when they approached me to photograph their upcoming wedding. They were up to anything for their engagement photos so after giving them some options they chose Pitt Lake as they had never been there before and they fell instantly in love. How can you not with those beautiful mountain ranges!

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

— Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

Chilliwack Extended Family Photographer| The Brandsma Family | Chilliwack, BC

FAMILY IS NOT AN IMPORTANT THING.

IT’S EVERYTHING. - Michael J. Fox

Truer words could not be spoken, thanks Michael. Really though, when was the last time you had photos done with your parents? With your siblings? With your kids cousins? I wish I had this but with my entire family outside of my parents all living overseas it makes it next to impossible, you know cause of Covid-19 and all. So thankful I saw my big brother in January before this all hit.

 This extended family is also an International family coming all the way from South Africa to visit and I am am so glad that they were able to coordinate lives and schedules to spend some time with me capturing their love for each other. Grandpa and Grandma and Pepper too, are going to be thrilled to hang these photos up around their home. The Vedder River in Chilliwack is one of my most favourite areas to do family sessions, especially extended family photos- the mountains, the raging river, the greenery, its all just so beautiful!

Want to book your own family session? Let’s Chat!

Chilliwack Extended Family Photographer| The {B} Family | Pitt Meadows, BC

Family is the one constant element in life - Unknown

Extended family sessions are quickly becoming one of my favourite sessions to photograph! They are loud, chaotic, and filled with life- just the way I love it. I use to be terrified of extended family sessions but after four years of photographing family photos at weddings and dealing with everything from Grandpa telling me he thinks he’s at the wrong wedding half way through photos (true story- ask me about it), to missing brothers and screaming toddlers, to where did Uncle Simon go- nothing seems to phase me anymore!

When the {B} Family approached me about doing their extended family photos I was ecstatic, they forwarned me of the rambunctious boys who may not listen, to their dad who they were doing the photos for, but may be wary and of not being able to share all the photos due to one member not being comfortable with an online presence- which to me is a no brainer. I am not the photographer that will post photos without a model release, nor will I ever charge you extra for a non disclosure agreement. Photographs are there to understand what our lives mean to us, they are for you, not for me. If you aren’t comfortable with a full model release- fine, if you want to pre approve photos and select the ones for me to post online- that is fine too. My career as a social worker has taught me that confidentiality is everything, so please know your photos will always be safe with me.

After a few emails back and forth, and ensuring we had all 3 family units schedules coordinated with mine we headed out to Pitt Lake, BC for an amazing evening spent admiring the mountains, chasing grasshoppers, tons of giggles, snuggles and an epic sword fight, it truly was an amazing evening. Thanks for choosing me to capture your amazing crew {B} Family!

Chilliwack Lake | Katy & Dustin | Chilliwack Engagement Photographer

Chilliwack Engagement Photographer

I won’t get up before sunrise for just anyone… but if it’s to capture your love story, you bet I will. I met Katy and Dustin for their gorgeous Chilliwack Lake Engagement session just before the sun came up and I’m not gonna lie it was cold, really cold but Katy & Dustin were troopers.

We spent some time chatting and exploring Chilliwack Lake before we headed down the road to do some ‘bush wacking’ as I was taught to call it as a young child. Dustin was in his element but Katy wasn’t phazed by it either as she showed us she most definitly could climb the morning dew mountain side in a dress!.

Chilliwack Family Photographer | Unruh Family | Backyard Portrait Session

Chilliwack Family Photographer

The Unruh’s

I photographed this amazing family in their home in early November in Chilliwack, BC.

Stacy and Mike have trusted me to capture their family for the past few years now and I absolutely adore spending time with them and their girls.  During their recent Day in the Life Session we took 20 minutes to update their family pictures for Stacy’s galley wall in her dining room.  I adore that we didn’t leave the comforts of their home and all these pictures were captured in their own backyard.  Family pictures don’t have to be uncomfortable or stressful, they just have to be you.  

Wanting to book a no stress family photo session? Let’s Chat!  

Vancouver Documentary Photographer| Day in the Life Session| Katherine, Shane & Tig

Chilliwack Day In the Life

Documentary Photographer

When Katherine approached me about photographing her family on one of their last Saturday’s in their home before relocating out of Vancouver, BC my heart just about burst. THIS is the type of session that makes my heart soar. Day In The Life Sessions tell the story of you and your everyday life by capturing your day in pictures.

It’s the little things that make a house a home and Katherine gets it. She described wanting the first home they had with their daughter captured, the day to day things they do- preserved- and the memory of their time here saved for her daughter to look back on when she is older.  I arrived at their East Vancouver home mid morning just in time to capture a quick play date that had been arranged with some dear friends prior to a routine walk in their neighborhood and brunch at one of their favourite local eateries, The Red Wagon. The day was filled with exploration, play time, a quick nap and pasta making and then after Shane left for work Katherine and Tig closed out the evening with a sweet ceremony honouring their home and their time in it.

So much love and little moments that allowed time to be frozen, if just for a minute, before everything changes. Life in East Vancouver filled with cool shops, amazing eateries and a steady stream of close friends dropping by has been left behind for new adventures in the mountains for this family, and I cannot wait to go and visit them again, once they are all settled in their new digs.

Want to book a Day in the Life session in your home?  This is the perfect type of session especially if you have older kids!  Let's chat!  Contact me here.

If you would like to preserve this time in your family's life with a Day in the Life Photography Session, please contact me for more information. I would love to document your family's story. Let’s chat.

Chilliwack Newborn Photographer| In Home Documentary Fresh 48 Session| The Togeretz Family

Chilliwack Newborn Documentary Photographer

At an In-Home Newborn Session

Can we just talk about how much I adore In Home Fresh 48 Newborn sessions? Having a baby is exhausting and honestly the thought of leaving my house to do newborn photos was the last thing on my mind when I had my babies. I so wish I had known that I could have had a photographer come to my home and capture this new phase in our lives and be totally stress free. That’s the amazing thing about newborn sessions in your home- it is, how it is. The newborn phase is a blur- no matter how you look at it- it truly passes so quickly; as do the memories. Let’s take those raw moments of this time in your life and preserve them into something tangible, that can be held onto for a lifetime. A documentary newborn photo session is always extra special for me as I love capturing siblings and their reactions to the newest family member in the house. I adore all children and always go out of my way to ensure that even the older siblings feel a part of your in home newborn session as its just as much their story as it is babies. And while baby sleeps I always make sure to capture the love and connection between the couple, as your love deserves to be captured and preserved as well.

I spent a beautiful Saturday morning photographing this adorable family of four in their Chilliwack home, a few days after sweet Iris’ birth, and it was nothing short of wonderful. Tanya forewarned me that Big Sister Everly could sometimes be shy and apprehensive with new people but within a few minutes we were fast friends and giggled through much of our time together.  She even tried to take over the with Daddy’s go pro!

I am so honoured that Tanya and Josh put their trust in me to capture these fleeting moments with their young girls as they transition from a family of 3 to a family of 4.

Make sure to watch the slideshow as it shows many images not shown in this post.

Want to book a storytelling Newborn session in your home?   Let's chat!  Contact me here.

Want to book an In Home Documentary Newborn Session?   Let's chat!  Contact me here.

Chilliwack Family Photographer| Day In the Life Family Documentary Session | This is Us | The Unruh's

Chilliwack Family Photographer- This Is Us- Family Documentary Photographer- I photographed this amazing family in their home in early November in Chilliwack, BC. I love shooting in home documentary photography family sessions as it allows me to capture families as they are. I get to follow you around with my camera and capture the laughter, the tears, the in between moments, the goof ball moments and the utter chaos that surrounds our lives as we go about our everyday lives.s So what do we do in these type of documentary family sessions? Anything you want!

Can I just say how much I love repeat clients?! Especially the ones that love capturing their lives through a documentary perspective. Gah it gives me all the feels. I have photographed this amazing family a handful of times now, first their oldest daughter’s wedding, then back to school portraits for their youngest two daughters, and now the most amazing in home documentary session as they prepare for a new phase in their lives. This family was planning a move from their family home this Fall to purchase a home in a neighbourhood closer to their children’s school. As a result they knew they needed to have their lives documented in their home prior to moving. Stacy spoke of her love of watching the girls playing outside from her kitchen window and how Mike was usually out there with them and her desire to have all of this captured. We all have that one place in our homes that is special and dear to us. For Stacy it was her families outdoor space looking out onto the protected green belt- they even have their very own COYOTE den in the back field- EEK! Alas, those Coyotes didn’t come out to play while i was there- I guess they are camera shy!

I absolutely adore this family and their love for each other, the girls are funny, witty, smart and love with their whole hearts, and had me in stitches most of the time with their goofiness. These girls are FUN! They have great imaginations, are super sporty and love performing- they routinely put on dance shows and plays for their parents in the living room as part of their nightly routine. Both Stacy and I recall doing this exact same thing when we were kids for our parents. I guess there is something about needing an audience to show off your talents!

Wanting to get your own memories and traditions captured in a family session?  Let's chat! 

Contact me here.

Langley Family Photographer | Day in the Life Family Film + Photos | The Funk Family

Day in the Life Family Documentary Session

Langley Family Photographer

I photographed Kelsey and Chris' afternoon with their three rambunctious boys in their home in Langley, BC.  I met up with them for after school pick up of their two oldest boys and I followed them home on their typical route to document through photos and film what this time in their life looks like.   We hung out at home and the boys played and showed off their amazing lego creations to me.   Kelsey spent some time sewing and I was so excited to be able to include her love for sewing as part of their session.  Kelsey is an extremely creative and talented sewer and you can see her amzing creations throughout their family film.   

This family absolutely stole my heart, especially the youngest lil' munchkin cause whose favourite thing isn't eating candy and watching TV as he explains in their family film.   Later on in the afternoon after the boys had played and done their homework we took a stroll back to the school to burn off that evening energy that boys always seem to have an abundance of as it nears bedtime.    As the boys energy winded down we settled back home for some games and pizza, a perfect ending to their Day in the Life Family Film session.

Want to book a Day in the Life Documentary Session?   Let's chat!  Contact me here.

PLAY THE VIDEO BY CLICKING ON THE PLAY BUTTON ABOVE!

If you would like to preserve this time in your family's life with a Day in the Life- This is Us Photo + Video Photography session , please contact me for more information. I would love to document your family's story. Let’s chat.

Chilliwack Family Photographer| 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Well once again the sun came out in full force for the Garrison Crossing Annual Easter Egg Hunt.  Ever since our favourite local Easter Egg hunt at the duck pond was replaced with a egg drop in a large field I have  longed for a good ol' fashioned Easter Egg Hunt.  Three years ago a friend of mine pulled it together and we have made it a yearly tradition ever since!  Here are a few of my favourite photographs from this years Easter Egg Hunt...