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!

Krystle & Wade’s Wedding in the mountains at the Delta Kananaskis Lodge

A special thank you to Shirley Lynn Photography for second shooting!

“”We’ve been thinking about how you showed true commitment and love for your work that day. Our guests noticed this too – a few of our good friends who recently got married were even jealous and wished they had you as their photographer! We will all be recommending you :)” Krystle & Wade

Combine a fun-loving and good looking couple with spectacular mountain scenery, an awesome venue, perfect weather and a party to end all parties and you have a photographer’s dream wedding. The forecast had called for rain right after the ceremony and instead it stayed gloriously cloudy with a cool mountain breeze – and the mountains stayed clear for us all to view. Krystle & Wade hail from Calgary and they brought in their friends and family to the Delta Kananaskis to witness their heart-felt and emotional ceremony outdoors at viewpoint 5. We took the couple and the wedding party to some waterfalls and Lorette’s Pond and we ended the night with a fabulous party in the wedding tent, followed by an after-party at Woody’s Pub. There were a few unique touches that I loved about this wedding. First, Wade decided to host a rock band party with his groomsmen before the ceremony, the couple poured white and red wines into a wine carafe instead of the traditional sand ceremony and they both had orange details (Wade’s favourite colour), including custom-made ballerina-inspired orange wedding shoes for Krystle. Congratulations Krystle & Wade!