Why Spring is Perfect for Family Portraits
I can feel winter fading away, and spring is right around the corner. The greenery is growing back, and here on the west coast we even have flowers popping up in gardens! Spring is a favourite time for family photos. With its sense of renewal, vibrant colours, and manageable schedules, it’s an ideal season to capture memories. Here’s why I think spring stands out as the best time to book your family portrait session.

1. Easier Scheduling
Winter is quieter for photographers, with most bookings focused on milestones or newborns. Come spring, there’s more availability for outdoor sessions, and photographers in Greater Vancouver are eager to shoot outside again. Book a few weeks in advance to secure your preferred date, especially if you want specific blooms in your photos.

2. Stunning Spring Blooms
Spring’s colours are unmatched—joyful, lively, and timeless. Cherry blossoms peak in early April, while tulips bloom later in the month. These natural backdrops add elegance and vibrancy to your family photos. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival has a fantastic interactive map to find blooming trees near you and when they are in bloom!

3. Earlier Session Times
Summer sunsets can be too late for young families, with sessions starting around 7:00-8:00 pm In spring, sessions can begin at 5:00-5:30 pm, capturing golden hour light while keeping bedtime routines intact.

4. Flattering Spring Wardrobes
Spring fashion offers soft, romantic options like flowing dresses, linen fabrics, and floral details. Light neutrals and pastels complement the season perfectly, and the weather is ideal for light layers without overheating.

Ready to book your spring family session?
Contact me for more information or to book your session!

‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, cozy sweaters, and family fun! And what’s more festive than a photo of your little ones in front of the Christmas tree? But let’s be real, wrangling kids and getting a great shot can be a bit of a challenge, especially in the low light of winter. Here are my top tips (DSLR camera or several of these are also helpful when using your iPhone) on how to get some great photos of your kiddos by the tree this year.

PHOTOGRAPH DURING THE DAY
You might think the best time to take these photos is at night, but actually, all the photos in this post were taken around 10am! The key is to find good lighting. You need enough light to capture the sparkle of the Christmas lights and to illuminate your little ones.

1) Natural light: If possible, position the tree near a window to utilize natural light. This will create a soft, warm glow. Turn off all other light sources (except the tree lights). Open every window so that light will pour in!

2) Exposure tip: Expose for the brightest part of their face, usually the cheekbone closest to the window. To do this on your iPhone, just touch that area and the exposure will adjust. Turn up your ISO. Being indoors means it’s likely darker. Start with an ISO of 800 and go up if necessary.

3) Candid shots: Don’t just pose your child. Capture spontaneous moments of laughter, play, or wonder. or directed poses: For more formal portraits, try simple poses like sitting or standing next to the tree.

4) Experiment with angles: Get LOW! Shooting from a low point means you get more lights and less floor, plus you’ll get a child’s perspective of the tree.

5) Use a tripod: A tripod can help you take sharp, steady photos, especially in low-light conditions. Use a self-timer to include yourself in the photo. Be sure to use the lowest f-stop you can (2.8 is preferred) and a higher shutter speed (250 or higher, any lower and you will risk getting blurry images due to camera shake) to capture those wiggly kiddos!

7) Incorporate Props: Have them DO or HOLD something. Sing a Christmas carol, eat a candy cane, hold a present, or look for their favourite ornament. I also love the small battery-powered twinkle lights; they keep the kids busy and always look great! Your photos will be more authentic this way.

By following these tips, you can capture beautiful and heartwarming photos of your children that you’ll cherish for years to come.

As a professional photographer, I have a few suggestions for improving your shots of kids:

Get down to their level: When photographing kids, it’s best to get on their level so you can capture their genuine expressions. This will allow you to get a more genuine and interesting shot of their expressions and emotions.

Use natural light: When taking pictures of kids, natural light is always preferable. The gentle, flattering light it produces will help your kid shine. The camera flash tends to be harsh and unflattering, so try to avoid using it.

Keep it fun and playful: Children have boundless energy and a natural desire to play, so remember to keep the mood light and carefree. To capture their genuine reactions, play with them and use props like toys.

Be patient and wait for the right moment: It’s important to be patient and wait for the right moment to snap that perfect photo, as children are notoriously difficult to predict. Take as many pictures as you need to get a good range of facial expressions and actions.

Capture candid moments: Photographing children in natural settings tend to yield more natural and engaging results. Photograph them while they are unconsciously engaged in play, laughter, or exploration of their surroundings. Taking pictures like these will make the experience more memorable.

Keep the background simple: When taking pictures of children, it’s best to have a plain, uncluttered background. Your kid will be the centre of attention in the picture thanks to this trick.

Edit your photos: Take the time to edit your photos after you’ve taken them. To improve the overall look of a photo, you can crop it, change the brightness and contrast, and apply filters.

Using these guidelines, you can take pictures of your kids that you’ll love and remember forever.

Being a photographer, I can appreciate the need to document precious childhood moments in photographs. Keep in mind that not every kid likes having their picture taken.

Children’s reluctance to pose for photographs with their parents may stem from a number of factors.
To begin with, people could experience anxiety or shyness when being filmed. It may be difficult to get a photo of a child who is sitting still because they are quickly distracted.

In addition, kids could not respect photography since they don’t see the need in keeping memories forever. They may also feel like they’re missing out on other opportunities since they have to stand around and smile for pictures.

As a photographer, I think it’s important to make photoshoots exciting and memorable for kids. Include children in the process by letting them pick the setting and the objects. It’s also crucial to not force them if they expressly state that they don’t want to be photographed.

All things considered, there are a number of reasons why kids might not want to pose for pictures with mom and dad. Make sure they have a good time and don’t force them to take photos if they don’t want to.

Time of day is the most important for a photo session. The first hour of light after the sun rises and the last hour of light before the sun sets gives us the most beautiful, soft, warm light. It’s actually called the golden hour by photographers, for good reason. The sunshine can cause harsh shadows, and everyone will squint in the light a lot more when the sun is high in the sky. I am always looking for soft light or shade to compliment everyone in the photograph. I typically try to schedule my photo sessions for two hours before sunset.

I know the golden hour may not work for everyone, but for one day I have suggested extra naps for the young kiddos and trust me, it will be worth it!!

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We have made out of winter and it’s time to show off some colour for your spring family photos! What do I wear is always the first question I receive from clients so I wanted to give you some ideas. Here are my top five tips for you this season.

First, go for pastels and other light, bright colours; they’re in style for spring. Consider pastel hues, such as mint green, soft pink, baby blue, and lavender. The vibrant tones are ideal in the great outdoors.

Second, spring is also the time for florals, stripes, and polka dots, so don’t be afraid to mix and match them. These designs are great for family portraits because they liven up the wardrobe. But, you should make sure the patterns go well together rather than distract from one another.

Third, I recommend that you dress in layers because the weather in the spring can sometimes be unpredictable. Adding layers and texture to the images is as simple as donning a cardigan, jacket, scarf, or cap. Also, they can be taken off if the temperature outside rises.

Fourth, while deciding what to wear for a photo session, it’s also important to keep the shoot’s setting in mind. Wear lighter, airier clothing if the photo session will take place in a park or garden. Wear darker colours and more formal attire may be preferable if the setting is an urban one.

Fifth, springtime props like sunglasses, hats, and flower crowns can inject some personality into the pictures. Feel free to match their accessories with their clothing.

The trick is to maintain a sense of unity without appearing too matchy-matchy in the ensemble as a whole. The idea is to show off your family’s individuality while capturing the spirit of spring.