WHAT MAKES A GOOD FAMILY PORTRAIT?

nEvery family portrait photographer will have their own style. Some are more formal while others, like mine, are more casual and centred around telling a visual story of this time in your lives. My goal is to create family portraits that create memories rather than just recording what you look like.

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY IN VICTORIA BC?

My approach allows you to relax, have fun and be yourselves all while looking amazing! If you have little ones we'll organize the session around an activity. Instead of treating your kids to ice cream if they pose for portraits, let's actually go for ice cream and I'll photograph that. For older or adult children, I always keep things relaxed and fun, while still ensuring everyone looks amazing!nnI am also always happy to take a few frame-worthy, traditional look-at-the-camera-and-smile photos during our session. With some families it's better to do the traditional stuff at the beginning, and with other families it's better to do the traditional stuff after your kids have had a chance to have fun. I always go with what is going to work best for your kids.

I WANT CANDID PHOTOS OF MY FAMILY BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BAD. DO YOU STILL FIX BLEMISHES WITHOUT IT LOOKING LIKE AN INSTAGRAM FILTER?

First of all, you're going to look awesome in your portraits! Blemishes and double chins will definitely be fixed without looking fake. In my years as a wedding photographer I've photographed thousands of people. I know how to make you look awesome without things feeling forced. Plus, I'm happy to give you some ideas and suggestions to get it all going so it's fun.nnI also want to mention that my editing style is timeless and classic, which means if the grass is green and the sky is blue, it will look that way in your portraits. This is the opposite of what Instagram filters do, since they will often change the colour tones of an image and this will date your photos in years to come. Instagram-style photo retouching is also a challenge to print.n

DO YOU OFFER FAMILY PORTRAIT MINI-SESSIONS IN VICTORIA?

Yes. Mini-sessions are 15-20 minutes and I offer them at select locations in Victoria, including Government House, Elk Lake Park, the B.C. Legislature or Swan Lake.

CAN I KEEP MY FAMILY PHOTOS PRIVATE?

Absolutely. I always respect your wishes if you don't want photos of your family shared on my blog or social media.

DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM?

Yes, and I customize the session for your child's needs. Let's chat and I'm happy to go over more about my approach.

HERE ARE A LOT OF BLACK & WHITE PHOTOS ON YOUR SITE. DO YOU ALSO PROVIDE COLOUR IMAGES?

When it comes to posting pictures, I share a lot of B&Ws so the web pages load faster. But I also love colour. That's why for every digital image you choose, you'll receive both a B&W + colour version (=two versions of each image).

DO I NEED TO VIEW AND ORDER MY PORTRAITS AT A STUDIO?

If you're a parent that means you are a busy person! That's why I set everything up so you can view and choose your digital photos from the comfort of your home. nBest of all -- you can choose to share the link to your personal gallery with others so they can have their own digital copies. They can also order their own heirloom prints directly from an awesome professional lab that will ship to the purchaser's door, which is great when you have extended family living in other countries.nnI also offer beautiful storybook albums featuring museum-quality printing designed to last beyond a lifetime.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY PRICES?

My rates begin at $199 for mini-sessions and vary depending on the length of time you choose and the number of photos you would like. You can find my family portrait pricelist on my website.

ARE YOU STILL PHOTOGRAPHING WEDDINGS AND ELOPEMENTS? DO YOU ALSO PHOTOGRAPH FASHION, BRANDING OR LIFESTYLE PORTRAITS?

I have shifted my focus from destination weddings to family portraits in Victoria. However, I do still take on a few weddings, elopements, engagement portraits, surprise engagement proposals and vow renewals every year in British Columbia. I also offer lots of other photography services, including bespoke art portraits, fashion, glamour, grad portraits, social media branding and lifestyle photography.

WHAT IS THE BEST LENS FOR FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY?

I prefer to use Zoom lenses because they allow me to follow the action without switching between primes. I carry two cameras on me, with a holster, with a 24-70mm 2.8 on one, and a 70-200mm 2.8 on the other. I also have backup prime lenses just in case, but I typically stick to these two zooms.

DO YOU TAKE ANNUAL FAMILY PORTRAITS?

Yes, I have several clients who come back for yearly family portraits.

WHAT IS THE BEST CAMERA FOR FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY?

nI have a Nikon system, but if you're photographing families, especially with young children, you'll want a camera that can focus quickly. I am also cautious with my cards (since cards can easily get damaged) so I only work with cameras that have two card slots - one that records in RAW and the other that records in JPEG. There are tons of cameras that can do this on the market.

WHO IS THE BEST VICTORIA BC FAMILY PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER?

The best photographer depends on your personal taste. I've been ranked as one of the top five photographers in Canada (twice) in addition to several high-profile international awards. After photographing weddings and portraits for more than 15 years, I have experience with thousands of different people. I know how to make you look amazing, without any stiff and formal posing.

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A FAMILY PORTRAIT WITH MATCHING CLOTHING?

I always suggest choosing clothing that you feel comfortable wearing and that matches your personal style. You don't need to match.

WHAT CLOTHING SHOULD WE WEAR FOR OUR FAMILY PORTRAITS?

always recommend choosing clothing that reflects your family's personal style, whether that's casual or dressy. When it comes to your outfits, keep it timeless and classic. Avoid anything that will date your photos in years to come, including trendy patterns.nnI also suggest avoiding anything with large letters or numbers (unless it's part of a uniform or family tradition like baseball jerseys). Avoiding anything neon since it will create an unflattering colour cast on your faces. You don't need to match to look fantastic! Choose colours that complement each other. Solid colours look especially brilliant!

craftC H R I S T I N A FUNKYTOWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Sweet Pop-Up Elopement in Victoria, BC // Stacy & George

I loved photographing Stacy & George’s intimate pop-up wedding in November at Beacon Hill Park and the Hotel Grand Pacific. Their wedding day was celebrated exactly how the couple wanted, simple, sweet and full of love. Since Stacy & George are from Washington State, they wanted to ensure there were lots of photos that showed off some of Victoria’s unique scenery, including the BC legislature, the Empress Hotel and the inner harbour. It was a huge honour to have been a part of their vows and I wish these two many more years of love and happiness!!

Photos by Derek

First Look for a wedding at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria BC

Beacon Hill Park Pop-up Wedding Elopement in Victoria

Beacon Hill Park Pop-up Wedding Elopement in Victoria in November

Legislature and Hotel Grand Pacific Victoria BC Wedding Photography - Pop up wedding and elopement

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Feeling the love!

Jennifer Karach
Christina and Derek were a dream to work with on our wedding day. Beyond their ridiculous talent and skill in capturing candid moments, they are kind, FUN, and have a gentle way to calm and lead you through the day. Christina has a way of picking up the slightest cues and adjusting quickly to make everyone feel comfortable. We hit the jackpot with these two. (and our guests were all blown away too)! - 8/21/2022
Cara MacRae
Christina did a wonderful job for our newborn lifestyle photos! We were looking for someone to capture our new baby in our home in a candid and natural fashion. Christina made us feel so comfortable, guiding us but capturing us in a natural way! We are blown away by her talent and will definitely be hiring her for family photos in the future 😊 - 7/27/2022
Kevin Abma
AMAZING PHOTOS!!!! Christina captured some fantastic, casual, and candid shots of our family. Very professional and easy to work with. I definitely recommend her. - 6/10/2022
Melanie Baker
What an amazing experience! We have two young kids and Christina was able to keep them enjoying themselves and having fun all while capturing some fabulous photos! We highly recommend Christina and will be using her for any future photos! - 12/08/2021
Cheryl Oates
Christina is amazing. Her positive energy will bring out genuine smiles in you and your family as she finds creative and beautiful ways to capture you, just being yourselves. I love the photos Christina took of our family. She was professional and the turnaround time was super speedy. I will certainly book with her again and would recommend her to anyone looking for a family photographer. - 12/03/2021
Alison Strumberger
Unreal! I could not be happier with my family's decision to ask Christina to take our family portraits. Not only is she a friendly and warm individual, but she is clear and prompt in her communications and an absolute professional. Christina made us feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, and was amazing working with our tiny children (1 and 3 years old... not the most obliging subjects!). The resulting photographs are gorgeous... they far exceeded my expectations in how they captured real moments of joy and intimacy (er, they had me in tears at work!). I absolutely hope to work with Christina again and recommend her in the highest terms possible. - 10/28/2021
Angela Lee
Christina captured our moments so beautifully and the slide show made us cry and smile at the same time! Since we were having a small wedding and kept everything so simple, we only booked for 3hrs of her time. She was super quick and amazing at capturing details in such a short time! To be honest I was a little nervous about the photos before I received them because some of us, including myself, aren't photogenic and always put on awkward smiles when we stare at cameras but as soon as she sent us the sneak peek photos after just one week of our wedding my worry was instantly gone. We were oohing-and-aawing (lol) at the photos and some of my family and friends photos turned out like magazine-grade photos! I think she is more than a pro (she was so personable and understanding + flexible) and we all highly recommend her. I really feel proud to have an eye to see her fantastic photography skills through her portfolios in her website and reached out to her for my wedding. - 9/17/2021
Bessie Nuk
Christina photographed our wedding many years ago and we just had our family portraits taken again with her. She is fantastic at what she does. It's not easy getting such gorgeous looking pictures that is so natural, especially with kids smiling, yet she manages to capture those quick moments and in such a perfect way. Thank you so much Christina! - 9/01/2021
Jennifer
Christina is a very talented and personable photographer. She made the whole experience so fun and made us feel at ease. We are in love with our wedding pictures and highly recommend Christina to everyone! You will not be disappointed. We will definitely use Christina’s services in the future for family photos. Thank you for capturing the essence of who we are and our special day! - 8/22/2021
M “Mad Max” Max
Anyone can take a picture but Christina brings them to life. An absolute amazing talent.
Well worth the time and effort that comes with getting so many people together for a shoot. - 7/28/2021

Victoria BC
FAMILY PORTRAIT &
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

craftC H R I S T I N A FUNKYTOWN PHOTOGRAPHY

I live and work with gratitude as a visitor on the unceded territory of the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich), lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees), Wyomilth (Esquimalt) peoples of the Coast Salish Nation.

Sweet Pop-Up Elopement in Victoria, BC // Stacy & George

Victoria BCFAMILY PORTRAIT & WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Victoria BC
FAMILY PORTRAIT &
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER