Jennifer had her heart set on presenting her loved ones with a family portrait session. She knew it was important for them all to have memories and images to treasure. She had envisioned an outdoor location, but when the weather wasn’t cooperating, we had to rethink our Fall plans. By remaining flexible and not settling, she waited out the never-ending Winter and got these priceless spring photos.

As they were located in Brampton and were incorporating children and grandparents, we decided to use Heart Lake Conservation Area. It is such a versatile location with plenty of room for the children to run around. With a nominal entry fee, it was a cost effective alternative as we didn’t need a photography permit.

These spring photos highlight the beautiful bond between this multi-generational family

It’s natural to be nervous in front of the camera, not knowing how to place yourself. As soon as a camera comes out, parents often like to pose playing and having fun with their kids. Children have a tendency to act shy or silly as they are presented with an unknown situation. My role is to capture-photograph the real you. That is why I love using outdoor spaces! They help bring out children’s inquisitive and playful side. I take a step away and shoot from afar so it doesn’t feel like I’m watching over them and I pick a family member to work on.

In this case, Jennifer’s little boy was the key to this shoot. As we created a bond and he warmed up, the others followed suit and were visibly more relaxed. While her husband didn’t break out in a smile for the photos, it was a perfect representation of him. You could how attentive, supportive and tender he was with his family. When we took the mother and son pics vs the father and son pics, you could see the difference in dynamics. While different vibes, they were both endearing and showed off the love both parents radiated.

This session relied on Jennifer and I working as a team to make sure we were capturing the family configurations she wanted. We made sure this went beyond the separate family and group shots and included that of siblings, cousins and her with her brother and their parents.

Cost effective outdoor fun for these spring photos at Heart Lake Conservation Area

Jennifer’s father might just have been the star of the show. It was apparent how much he enjoyed being in the presence of his grandchildren. The two sisters wanted to show me how they kiss their grandfather on either side of his head, and to be able to preserve that tradition was touching. I climbed up on the fence to get a better vantage point and the look of pure happiness shone brightly from ear to ear. The candid images of him fully engaged with his grandchildren were the perfect gifts for each family member as it encapsulated their close relationships.

Preserving memories through imagery is important for all families whether you go with a professional photographer or not. As families get busy, the grandparents have treasured images to cherish in lieu of being physically present. The younger generations have photos that will help nudge memories as they get older and have families of their own.

For anyone thinking about a family photo session, try to schedule it in advance so you can make sure the weather is cooperating. These memories are for you to look back on, so relax and have fun. There are no rights or wrongs, just a snapshot of you in this unique chapter of your lives.