Family Photography

Edmonton & Area Family Photographer {Choosing the best season for your family session}

Well I am back for my 6th year photographing beautiful Edmonton area families. I am so lucky to still see many of the same families year after year, a huge shout out the the amazing families that have already booked their 2021 session date. I absolutely love seeing your families every year and sessions naturally become easier and easier as we all get to know each other a bit better. While I am starting to transition my business more towards newborn photography, I am still offering family sessions to any Edmonton and area family looking for updated family photos. The good news is that once I have photographed your family once, you will always be able to book again, but at some point in the next year or two I plan on only taking new newborn clients. If I have photographed your family I want to remind you how much your referrals mean to me, if you have any friends of family looking for a newborn or family photographer I sincerely appreciate you sharing my info.

This year I have a couple new packages available for family sessions. My Heirloom package sessions are offered on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, are 1-2 hours and include 20 images of your choice. New this year I am also offering a Keepsake package which is offered weeknights only (Mon-Thurs), are 30-60 mins and include 12 images of your choice. Hopefully one of these packages works for your family.

Sessions all take place 1-2 hours before sunset. All sessions you can see on my updated website have been shot at this time, aka golden hour, and this is to ensure that your photos have the most gorgeous light, color and contrast that isn’t available mid-day. I know the thought of keeping your kids up 1-2 hours later than usual is scary, but trust me I will give you all the prep you need to make your session a success. My sessions are pretty laid back and fun and rarely do I get cranky kids I can’t get some genuine smiles out of.

Your photo delivery has also changed a bit in 2021. This year you will receive a soft proof gallery 2 weeks following your session. Soft proof means that your photos will be cropped and color corrected only. Once you place your order I will apply more hand edits, including skin retouching, and your final high resolution professionally retouched images will be delivered 3-5 days later via your private online gallery.

Choosing when you to book your session depends on many factors, including the season and look you want, what nights of the week work best, how late your kids and stay up. I hope the following images and tips help you choose the time of year that works best for your family. Don’t ever hesitate to reach out if your have any questions at all.

Winter Family Photos

Winter Family Photos

Winter family session are offering in November only. The average temperature ranges between 0 and -6℃. The sunsets in November between 3-4pm which can be convenient for families with little ones who can’t handle staying up too late. All of my family sessions are within 1-2 hours of sunset and in winter we can get that beautiful golden light as early as 3pm in November. Temperature is usually the main reason for rescheduling as I tend to reschedule if it is really windy or if the temperature is below -8. Some of the reasons I love winter family sessions are the adorable array of touques I see on little ones or when families bring hot chocolate to share with each other during the session. There are also some amazing winter events in YEG that I would be happy to photograph your family at including the beautiful Ice Castles and Glow Edmonton; or we could hit up an Edmonton area rink for some skating or hockey themed family photos. In home sessions are also available this time of year, I’d be more than happy to come photograph your family baking Christmas cookies or snuggling up in front of the fire place. Snuggles to keep warm are what I love most and your kids will be more than happy to get nice and close during a winter family session. 

 
Spring Family and Graduation Sessions

Spring Family and Graduation Sessions

Spring family sessions are offered in May to mid June. Weather can be fairly unpredictable (it snowed the year my daughter was born on May 7th and then 30 degrees on her first birthday!) but the average temperature ranges between 15-21℃. The days get a bit longer but no too long for little ones. Sessions will take place between 7pm in May to 8:00pm in early June. Some of the reasons I love spring family sessions is the light - I always seem to catch the most beautiful light this time of year. Plus- no bugs! The mosquitos don’t generally get bad before late May, but spring brings the beauty of summer with green grass and cherry blossoms by mid to late May. Spring is also the perfect time for grad sessions; I can capture the new grad the afternoon of graduation between the ceremony and banquet or the week or two before or after. Book your graduation session today by contacting me directly, spots are already booking up. 

 
Summer Family Sessions

Summer Family Sessions

Summer family sessions take place between mid-June and August. This short and sweet season can see temperatures between an average of 21-23℃ with spikes a lot warmer. Thunderstorms are the main reason for rescheduling. Summer days are long! On the longest day of the year in late June the sun doesn’t set until after 10pm. Session times will range between 8:30pm in June down to 7:30pm in late August. This can seem alarming to some families who’s kids are in bed by 7 (like mine!) but trust me, our session will be so fun and action packed that any kid can handle one later than usual bedtime - Don’t worry! I will also be sure to prepare you for this later session with my family prep guide that I send to every family when they book a session. I love summer family sessions! Everything is green, flowers are bloomed and we can dip our toes in the water in some locations. I find dressing for a summer family session a bit more laid back too (not as many layers and kids can even go bare feet!). I would love to go berry picking with your family ( I know a couple good wild spots) or even photograph you amongst the big blue sky and canola fields in mid to late July. The main con - mosquitos! I carry a good supply of repellent to every session and tend to avoid areas where they are particularly bad; you can definitely prepare for mosquitos but it is something to keep in mind if you have little ones who are really bothered by them. Families also tend to gather this time of year, so if you are looking at booking an extended family session book a date when every one is home. Overall summer is a very popular season for family photography for good reason, book early to avoid missing out!

 
Fall Family Sessions

Fall Family Sessions

Last but definitely not least - Fall. The ever popular fall family sessions take place between very late August to early November (if we are lucky - as we saw in 2018 fall can turn to winter very fast!). Temperatures are sweater weather nice with an average temperature that trends down from 17 to 0℃. Days start to get shorter which means earlier session times ranging between 7pm in late August to 5pm in November (prior to day lights savings), perfect for little ones. Cancellations are generally rare except for very cold days. The beautiful fall colors are the main draw, but they are honestly fairly unpredictable. My suggestion would be early to book between mid-September until early October - that would be the best bet in an average year. These session dates book up fast! In 2020 my fall was fully booked by April. What don’t I love about fall sessions! Bugs are generally gone, weather is fair and the warm tones really suit my editing style the best; mostly I love that I usually get to see the same beautiful families year after year. Book now - some dates are already booked!

 

I hope that this helps you decide when the best time is for your 2021 family session! It’s going to be an amazing year, I hope you will join me! 

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{Hello 2021} Edmonton Newborn | Maternity | Fresh 48 | Family Photographer

Ahhhh deep breath….I’m back and ready to put 2020 and the hardest year for my business behind me and start 2021 with fresh goals, fresh ideas, more confidence and hopefully a lot more newborn babies. First things first - A brand new website! And with that brand new packages for family, newborn, maternity, fresh 48 and baby sessions that I am sure you’ll love. 2021 family session dates are also now available for online booking - book now and get the date that works best for you. All images on the site are from the past year and a half - I felt that I have grown so much as a photographer in the past year and a half and wanted to show you the work that is the best reflection of what you will receive when you book a session with me.

2020 was going to be the year I grew more than ever, photographed the most babies, and did more studio sessions than ever before. Then COVID hit and we all know what that has affected so many lives and so many small businesses. Your family’s health and safety has always been my number one priority, and as hard as it is I will continue to follow all AHS guidelines which currently only allow me to photograph families outdoor or in studio. Crossing my fingers that restrictions will be eased on January 23rd and I will be able to get back to my in home newborn sessions.

When you book any session this year you can rest assured that your deposit will be transferred in the event a health order prevents me from doing your session. In studio I am currently following all orders which include wearing a mask and washing hands frequently. I also have an awesome disinfectant fogger from a fantastic local business Maverick Fire and Safety that I use before and after every session to clean and disinfect all spaces and surfaces clients come in contact with. As always, newborn props, wraps and backdrop are always washed before and after any newborn session. I allow 24 hours between each booking and always require clients to reschedule if an immediate family member is sick.

I’ve made some exciting changes to my studio as well, including new studio lighting and a more comfortable seating area for parents. I can’t wait to shoot more newborns, sitters and cake smash sessions this year.

Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support and trust me to capture your family safely. I am so passionate about capturing your memories and hope that you will take me a long for a ride with your family this year. Please check out my new website and packages and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions at all. Together we will get through this all and I hope all of our sacrifices pay off soon and we can all get back to doing the things we love very soon.

Please enjoy some off my favorites below from 2020

Kelsie

Edmonton Family Photographer {Berg Family} Sneak Peek

Today my goal was to actually finish my to do list, so here it is, the last thing on my list for today -  a blog post of my of my favourite family sessions of all time. Let me tell you, with three kids home all day long in the summer it is sometimes impossible to even finish half of my to do list, so I consider this quite an accomplishment..hahaha.

I also wanted to address all the inquiries I have been getting as of late for fall mini sessions. This year has been absolutely one of my busiest years yet (THANK YOU!!!)  and with my fall nearly booked up, I just don't have room for any mini sessions this fall. Actually the more I ponder it, the more  realize that I might begin to phase out mini sessions completely. Mini sessions are 30 minutes long and sometimes the first half is taken up trying to get that perfect family portrait. They are rushed, and I don't get to know the families enough to capture the most meaningful images for them. Last year I sold full galleries to 95% of families who in the end would have gotten so much more value out of a full hour session with me instead. In a full hour session we choose a location that is perfect for your family. I get to know your little one's personalities and a bit about your family and that helps me capture the love and connection in images that will make your heart melt when you see your gallery. Timing is also key - golden hour or as close to sunset is really the perfect time for photos (see sneak peek below) and when I host mini sessions I can't give all my families that beautiful golden light - and trust me as a mom of three I can give you tips on how to keep your kids happy past their bed times. Wouldn't you rather have all the images on a USB (I don't limit you get all the images that make the cut) than have to painstakingly choose 15? Immediately after this post I am going to open two more weekend  fall dates on the booking page - don't wait these will go fast! I hope you will join me!

I was lucky enough to meet this gorgeous family after they booked one of my spots online very last minute..I think it was 3 days in advance. I knew any family that could get ready for a photo session in such a short time frame must be a laidback fun family and was I ever right. The two adorable boys were absolutely the most charismatic pair and the whole family just acted so natural in front of the camera. A 7:00pm session also meant we had the most beautiful light to work with and I am so glad that all the bugs didn't scare them away from all the pretty settings in one of my new favourite locations. This has to be one of my favourite family sessions yet, we even picked some wild raspberries along the way. Berg family, thank you so much for choosing me as your family photographer, it was a pleasure meeting you all. Enjoy. {K}

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Edmonton Family Photographer {Voss Family} Sneak Peek

Summers are here which means fun days in the sun with my girls and busy nights photographing beautiful families. Sneak peeks might take a couple days longer and blog posts might be few weeks behind, but I only have 9 good summers left with my almost 9 year old so summers means lots of family time and no work until everyone is in bed. I am hoping to fill up my remaining July & August openings so that we can plan our summer a little bit, July and August newborn and family sessions are now $50 off if booked before June 30. Contact me for more info or join my VIP page to be the first to see my online booking tool launching later this week.

I have a special place in my heart for families I photograph with three kids like me, maybe because I know how busy their lives are and how much work it takes to get organized for family photos. I had the pleasure of meeting this gorgeous family a couple falls ago, and this year we battled the mosquitos for a summer family session. As much as I love fall colors, I adore the lush green backdrop of summer sessions, everything just pops., especially blues and purples like the the girls sweet lilac dresses. We were lucky to end the session in the creek in one of my favourite locations, Whitemud creek, I just love capturing the candid moments that come with kids being able to throw some rocks in the water. Voss family, thank you for hanging out with me again another year and choosing me as your family photographer, it was wonderful seeing you all again. Enjoy. {K} 

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Edmonton Family Photographer {H Family} Sneak Peek

This year one of my biggest goals this year was to try and find balance, and most of all to be present for my girls every day. Last year I shot over 100 sessions and by December I was completely depleted and wondering how on earth the year went by so fast. So far this year I have set aside specific times a day for editing, so that I am never stuck in front of my computer for 12 hours straight. Also because I raised my pricing to a sustainable level, you can see my 2018 pricing here, I have been able to take on a number of sessions per month that let me support my family financially but also give me the flexibility I need to be present for my girls. Two weeks in and I have found time to work out again, I have spent quality time with my family everyday and I have my new home studio space all planned out  -  I have never felt better. Sneak peeks might take a little longer, blog posts a bit later, and three-four weeks might become the standard turn around time, but know that you will be dealing with a much more pleasant  and attentive photographer who isn't running on empty anymore. 

I have been photographing this wonderful family for the past three years and I was so happy when they won my last family session giveaway - it seriously couldn't have gone to a more deserving family. This year, each grand mother joined us and we ended up with the most beautiful winter day, it couldn't have been more perfect, I mean the light was just gorgeous. H Family, it is always such a pleasure, thank you for choosing me to be your family photographer. Enjoy. {K}

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