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This year we were fortunate enough to be able to have some of my family from Australia come to visit us here in Lethbridge. Actually, they came right before Christmas, but close enough that we celebrated together while they were here. Last year my mum and dad came over at the end of autumn. This year my mum, sister, and my sister’s kids visited us. Lucky them, they came right at the beginning of the cold snap we had where the temperatures plunged to down to -50℃, with the wind chill. Considering that when they flew out from Australia the temperature there was around 28℃ that’s a bit of a difference! So we stayed inside a lot. It was simply too cold to spend more than a couple of minutes outside at a time, so most of the photos I took were fairly candid ones inside with natural light, though I won’t post those, because mostly they’re just people eating and playing games and stuff. And they’re fun images, but they’re more personal-type stuff for our own memories. I did get a few quick posed images inside though, just to have them. On the warmest day, when it got up to around -24℃ we took the kids tobogganing for a couple of hours at the Sugar Bowl. I’ll put a few of those images up.

So, happy Christmas to everyone! And, starting with just one image from when my parents came last year, here are a handful of personal snapshots from this year.

I had Mandy, Craig and their two kids booked in for a family portrait session, but when the day came it turned out to be one of those very windy Lethbridge days. The wind was howling! So we went into an empty barn/storage area kind of place in Coaldale for most of the session. Actually, I’m really happy that the weather let us down, because I loved it in there and I’m always happiest when I get to explore something new—new places, new ideas, or whatever. The space really lent itself to a modern, grungy sort of look, though with my lights I was able to control the existing light for almost any kind of look I wanted. I went with a low-key feel for most of them, just because it felt right.

When we came outside I spotted a wrecked old truck, with peeling paint and rusted metal and we used that as a prop for some quick, fun images. Mandy and Craig were very easy to work with and their son was especially happy when he got to play around in the leaves outside and throw them at me. Ah well. Whatever it takes, right? Here are some of my favourite images from their session.

I don’t usually blog family portrait sessions, but I’m going to add a couple of sessions from this year, starting with Jill and Jeff’s family portraits.

We did their session on a beautiful property just outside of Lethbridge owned by friends of Jill. It was an awesome place for family portraits, with a couple of areas where the kids could mess around as well as a great little stream at the bottom of the hill. We also raided a chicken coop, with their dog watching excitedly through the fence at us. As you will see from their photos we shot this at the end of fall and the leaves had a bit of colour, which is always nice. This was a relaxed and fun photo session with only really one set up for posed images. And even then they were quick to play around and have fun.

The river where their dog is swimming in to fetch thrown sticks was really cold! I waded out to get a few photos of them skimming stones in the water and, man, my feet froze! Ah well. Anything for the shot, right?

With Sean, Miranda and their cute daughter, Ellie!

Before I go on I’m just going to quickly say that I’ve been naughty for not updating the blog regularly, but I’ll be playing catch up this week and will have more posts than usual.  Now back to the main post!

This family were a wonderful bunch, easy to work with, fun and relaxed in front of the camera.  Actually, a bit of a secret is that you don’t have to be someone who is relaxed in front of cameras.  If you are relaxed with each other, that is the main thing, and the images take themselves.  And that’s how it was with Miranda and Sean.  They clearly loved being with each other and their love and openness comes out so well in the session.

After a few quick photos in their house we went to Nicholas Sheran lake on the west side of Lethbridge for the rest of the session.  The weather was good and everything was nice and green.

Ellie was a really good-natured kid and extremely patient during the session.  Well, other than when we tried to get a shot of them lying down.  She didn’t want to lie down for anyone!  Lol!  It’s funny how different kids have such clearly differing personalities.  Obviously adults do, too, but with kids it’s so clear (adults rarely cry when you ask them to pose a certain way).  Ellie was happiest when she was doing something.  As long as she had her hands full or was reading, playing or being tossed in the air, she was bright and full of smiles.  Just don’t ask her to sit still for too long!  To be honest, I can relate to that.  ;)