This past summer I had the joy of meeting up with April and Matias for a family portrait session with their beautiful dog, Penny. The bond they share is deep, and seeing them prioritize a photo session to capture their connection was really beautiful. We had a lot of fun running around Kilcona Off-Leash Dog Park and making the most of the beautiful evening light. When a dog completes a family as much as Penny does for these two, a photo shoot is definitely worth planning for! Here are some highlights from our time together:
For Almond Nail Bar’s updated brand photos I gathered a team at Allure Studios in Winnipeg with models, a photo stylist and lots of props to bring the client’s vision to life. It was a full day with lighting and styling, and what a joy it was to work on this creative project with this talented team. Here are highlights from the final collection of photos:
One of the most common ways of taking headshots for my clients is by setting up my mobile studio in their office space. This includes a simple backdrop (in this case it was white, and they requested a slight grey tone, which was adjusted by lighting the scene slightly darker).
This set up is conveniently installed in the board room and one by one, staff can come in to get their photos taken. It’s a great way to update staff headshots without having to travel to a location off-site from your office. Here are the results:
My 2-light mobile studio, set up in my client’s boardroom.
When you look at a local business’s website and it’s full of stock images, what immediately comes to mind when you think about their brand?
Some thoughts might be:
They lack personality and uniqueness
They’re hiding behind someone else’s perfect photos to hide their flaws
No initiative to create real, meaningful content
They don’t care about quality and authenticity
Those 4 negative perceptions may not be the truth about that business. But a visitor to their website is likely to have those perceptions.
Stock photography is convenient, but it can miscommunicate a brand’s value.
The reason why stock photography conjures up those perceptions is because it presents a generic, glossy and unrealistic view of a brand.
And online consumers are smart.
They can quickly detect inauthentic content when photos look too polished and generic.
AUTHENTIC CONTENT MATTERS
You’ve seen the power of authentic content before. Take Jardin St-Léon for example:
They do an excellent job at building their brand through real, authentic photos of their staff, their store and their products. In fact, their entire branding is all about having “real produce” – so it’s only natural that they’re also applying this mindset to their online content creation and marketing efforts.
And they are crushing it!
This little family-owned business has grown tremendously in the last few years, and I would bet it has a lot to do with showcasing their authentic personality in all their marketing content.
They don’t just use professional photography for their branding, they also put out a lot of phone photography.
And their brand is not suffering for it at all!
Knowing that using real photos of your real business is so much better than using stock imagery, why would a business still choose stock photography over custom photography?
CONVENIENT AND LOW COST, BUT AT WHAT COST?
Stock photography is cheaper than hiring a professional photographer.
For a small fee (or sometimes even free), stock photography is plentiful, quick and easy to access.
Low effort, low cost. A business owner’s dream, right?
But we have to think again: just because something is cheaper on the out-set, doesn’t mean it won’t cost you money in the long term.
Small businesses that invest in custom photography invest a lot right at the beginning, but the return on investment can be significant.
CASE STUDY: FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS
Take Fairmont Banff Springs for example – they hire the best photographers to create their imagery, and the results: a brand that communicates strongly of their quality and their professionalism. That means that when a customer sees the price tag for accessing a day at their hotel or spa, they will have no issue paying the high fees because they know and trust their brand to be quality, valuable and worth every penny.
If Fairmont Banff Springs hired inexperienced photographers, or worse: used stock photography, customers may start thinking twice about dropping hundreds of dollars on a day at their spa.
If a customer sees the hotel using cheap, generic photos that don’t convey the exact truth, the brand’s reputation will decline.
Before long, a business that lowers their standards will start attracting customers that have a low spending threshold.
Although a business saves thousands of dollars with stock photography – it comes at a cost.
Customers will think twice before spending money on a business that communicates their value through generic, stale images.
But when Fairmont Banff Springs invests in custom, quality photography, their branding gets a major boost. That is worth more than the price tag on custom photography.
WHAT IF A SMALL BUSINESS DOESN’T HAVE A BUDGET FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY?
Some small or startup businesses simply can’t afford hiring a professional photographer to create all their images.
While going with stock photography could be tempting, I would recommend going a different route:
The 20/80 Rule: Create Most of Your Content With Your Phone…
…and for the few, key photos that are important, hire a professional photographer.
20% pro photos, 80% DIY photos.
iPhone cameras have come a long way, and oftentimes you’ll find that your existing staff is quite capable in photography. People are taking more photos now than they did 20 years ago, and with that comes an increase in photography skills in the general population.
Small businesses should capture that talent and use it to supplement their photography needs.
I would still recommend hiring a professional photographer at least once a year to capture your most important images – because as high quality as the iPhone camera is, custom, pro photos will always be the better option.
Budget about $2000-$3000 per year for professional photography. If that only gets you one or two photo shoots, then with the rest of the year, train your staff to take photos with their iPhones to fill in the content gaps.
Keiki Krate is a good example of this. They hired me to take professional photos of kids playing with their products, and for their product photos, they used their iPhone:
Mix of Pro Photos and iPhone Photos
It’s important to note: Just because someone has an iPhone, it doesn’t mean they’ll take awesome photos right away.
Good phone photography has a lot to do with the person’s skills, creativity and training.
Start using phone photos to create content for your social media platforms, newsletters and your blog. Mobile phone photos can do extremely well for that specific usage.
But when it comes to your product packaging, online ads, print marketing and your website, hiring a professional photographer is a must.
WHEN TO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL AND WHEN TO TAKE YOUR OWN PHOTOS?
With this simple planning strategy:
Make a list of all the visual content you need to create for your business.
It could look something like this:
Website
Online Shop
Blog
Newsletter
Store signage, brochures, pamphlets
Product packaging, gift cards, coupons
Social Media
Staff Headshots
Anything else you might think of…
Once you have a list of the photos you need for your business, categorize them under iPhone Photography or Professional Photography.
For example, this is what I would suggest:
IPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Social Media
Website (everything except blog)
Newsletter
Online Shop and Product Photos
Blog
Store signage, brochures, pamphlets
Internal Staff Communication
Product packaging, gift cards, coupons
Staff Headshots
Now that you know what content you have to create, and who can create that content, start by making a photography plan.
PLAN FOR PRO PHOTOS, PLAN FOR DIY PHOTOS
Schedule your professional photography shoot with a trusted, experienced photographer. Communicate what photos you need taken, what they will be used for, and what you are hoping to convey through those photos. A good photographer will then build a custom project to accommodate the creation of these photos with quality, on time and within your budget.
Once your must-have pro photos are accounted for, you can focus on creating the rest of your content with your phone camera.
First, make a list of the photos you’d like to have your staff (or yourself) take with their phone cameras.
Before sending them off to create the content with their phones, make sure to follow this checklist:
Make sure your employees’ phones are newer. Anything older than an iPhone 13 could have quality issues.
Make sure they are editing their phone photos using Lightroom Mobile. It’s one of the best photo editing apps out there, trusted by millions of photographers for over a decade. There is a free version that is extremely powerful, but the paid version is pretty awesome (and affordable).
Make sure they have some basic photography training and knowledge about how to take good photos with their phone. Photography is 90% knowledge, skills and creativity. Ten percent is gear. Consider hiring a photographer to teach a group workshop on the basics of phone photography for your staff.
Find online content or a phone photography education newsletter for your staff to subscribe to. This will keep them in the loop and constantly learning as photographers. Most of this content is free – it’s just a matter of finding good ones. I offer one for free here:
Foster a creative environment for your staff. Being creative and valuing that skill in your company culture is crucial. The more creative your staff is, the better results you will get from them across the board. Especially if they are your in-house content creators, encouraging growth as creatives is essential. This can be done by doing creativity-building workshops, finding online content that teaches this, or again, finding a newsletter that provides creativity growth skills and practices.
Now that you have allocated a reasonable annual budget for professional photography and that you have trained your staff to create decent phone photos for the rest of your content creation, you can rest assured that you are doing the most with your small budget.
As you stay consistent with showcasing your photography, promoting your business through visual content and posting regularly on your social media and your blog, you should start seeing a growth in business.
And growth in earnings means you can reinvest it into your business. This should include investing in more professional photography shoots, but also in social media marketing (which will always include phone photography, which your staff can continue to do).
Does your staff need phone photography and creative skills training?
I send out regular e-mails to help you overcome common mistakes and create stunning photos with just your phone.
Looking for a free iPhone photo editing app? Download Lightroom Mobile and start transforming your phone photos into pro-looking images. Learn more here ->
Disclosure: I only endorse photography products I’ve personally used. If you purchase any products using my referral links, I may get a small commission. However, there is no extra cost to you.
Dr. Melanie Leppelmann of Uptown Integrative Health contacted me to schedule a branding photography session to create customized images of her new clinic space for her website. Knowing the value of using authentic photos on her website (rather than stock images), we scheduled a one-hour session to capture the look & feel of the space.
Screenshot of Dr. Leppelmann’s home page with updated photos.
This includes photos that demonstrate the experience and help potential clients connect to the personal interaction they can expect to find at the clinic.
Using clean lighting and creative angles, I captured this collection of images that Dr. Leppelmann can now showcase on her website for her clients.
I had the pleasure of going to Applifast’s office to take updated headshots of all their staff for their new website. They requested a blurry environmental background to create photos that were more casual, yet personable. I set up studio lights in their boardroom and mixed in natural window light to get the effect.
I had such a great time with all of them! I was really impressed by their company culture – so friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and professional. I look forward to more projects with them in the near future!
The last trimester: that time when the last few weeks are counting down, and soon you’re going from two to three. There’s a certain excitement, anticipation and wonder that comes with this time. It’s such a joy to capture!
With Kim and Nic, there’s no hiding their absolute love for each other. They are so connected to each other and it’s so beautiful to see their love growing into a new chapter in their life. Their story is building and being there to preserve the feelings and memories for them is such a delight.
We met up at The Leaf at Assiniboine Park, and it is my absolute favourite location to visit in Winnipeg in the middle of the winter! Not only for the warmth, the live plants, and all the lush greenery, but also for the gorgeous backdrops for photo shoots.
We started off in the Tropical Biome then we went to the Mediterranean Biome and Babs Asper Display House. I was so happy to see the sunlight poke through the overcast skies to get that warm, humid glowing light that only a tropical setting can give you. My lenses were fogging up – and for a few shots, I intentionally left the fog on my lens for that extra “mood”. Why not? 🙂
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be teaching in-person photography classes at Allure Studios in Winnipeg this spring! If you’re looking to finally learn how your camera works in manual mode, we have upcoming workshops designed just for you.
Whether you just take photos for fun or you’re looking to start a professional photography career, these hands-on classes will give you the knowledge and practice you need to take your photography to the next level.
Together with Neffi Bergen and Rachel Okot, we will be offering the following courses.
Pick and choose the ones you want or take all 6 courses:
Photography 101 – learn the basics of photography with Rachel Okot Tuesday March 11th & 18th from 6:30pm-8:30pm This course is for beginners looking to unlock the power of manual mode and confidently capture stunning images with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. You’ll learn the basics of exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO along with practical tips and hands on practice in a professional photo studio. Pre-requisites: must own a DSLR or mirrorless camera, no photography experience required. Goal of the course: To equip beginners to dive deeper in Photography 102.
Photography 102 – beyond the basics with Gabrielle Touchette Tuesday March 25th to April 15th from 6:30pm-8:30pm Take your skills further by refining your technical and creative abilities. Explore lighting, composition, lenses, and creative storytelling through hands-on exercises and a photo field trip. Develop your style and gain confidence to create dynamic images, with feedback to elevate your work. Pre-requisites: Must own a DSLR or mirrorless camera and have taken Photography 101 (or equivalent education/experience) Goal of the course: To build confidence and foundational skills, preparing beginners for professional photography.
Lighting for Lifestyle Photography with Gabrielle Touchette Saturday May 3rd & 10th from 9:00am to 11:00am Learn how to confidently light any situation with this hands-on course designed for lifestyle photographers. Discover the power of off-camera flash, blending natural and artificial light, and techniques to create beautifully lit images in various environments. Whether shooting indoors or outdoors, you’ll gain the skills to control light and enhance your photography. Pre-requisites: Must have completed Photography 101 and 102 (or equivalent knowledge and experience). Goal of the course: To equip photographers with the skills to tackle lighting challenges and elevate their work.
Business Photography with Nefertiti Bergen and Gabrielle Touchette Thursday April 10th to May 1st from 6:30pm-8:30pm Learn how to set up and grow a profitable photography business. This course covers business registration in Manitoba, obtaining a PST number, managing taxes, budgeting, contracts, client consultations, and pricing strategies. Gain insights on protecting your business and setting clear expectations. The first three sessions will be taught by Nefertiti Bergen and the final session on May 1st will be a Q&A with Gabrielle Touchette and Nefertiti Bergen.
Lightroom Editing and Workflow with Nefertiti Bergen Thursday March 13th to April 3rd from 6:30pm to 8:30pm This course covers Adobe Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC, teaching you how to merge both platforms for a seamless editing experience. Learn to edit like a pro, refine your workflow, and develop a consistent editing style to ensure your photos always look polished and professional.
Fashion & Beauty Photography and Advanced Lighting with Rachel Okot Tuesday May 6th to 27th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm Learn to master studio lighting for fashion and beauty photography. This course covers essential equipment, lighting modifiers and techniques for shaping light. Explore one-light, two-light, and three-light setups, plus mixing strobes with continuous lighting for creative effects.
The first weeks of having a newborn can feel like an overwhelming blur – from an abundance of fatigue, but also from an overflowing sense of love. When I come to your home, my sole focus is to capture the beauty of that new relationship, and making sure to create images that honour the best of this dizzying, exciting and exhausting time.
When I walked into their home I instantly felt the warmth and sheer joy of two parents completely over the moon with love for their new baby. I swaddled Johnny for a few posed photos in a basket, but the majority of the time was him in his mom and dad’s arms. He even gave us a few sleep smiles!
Here are some highlights from our two hours together.
If you’re thinking of booking an at-home session for your newborn photos, contact me a few months early to allow space in my schedule and then once baby is born, send me a message and we’ll set a date and time for the photo session.
Peach Lasers approached me to create their website’s hero section video, a short and fun 30-second video to welcome visitors on their home page. The goal of the top banner video is to make a strong first impression and communicate the quality service they offer.
After storyboarding some ideas and setting a shoot plan, we set a shoot date and I got to work with a model to capture this video. We wanted the video to communicate professionalism while still showcasing the welcoming and personable service that theirs customers experience. By using a custom, branded video they are able to stand out and inspire more trust in their audience (unlike stock videos).
This was a really fun project to work on. I love helping businesses showcase their unique brand and creating 30-second hero videos is an effective way of doing it.
A quality headshot photo will build trust, communicate authenticity and grow a bond with your audience online. When Sabrina explained the importance of updating her portraits, I started the session by making sure we used flattering natural light and poses that showed her approachability and professionalism. I also used backgrounds that communicated warmth and openness, knowing that these photos will give a look and feel that will set the tone for how she is perceived by her followers online.
All these elements are crucial parts that communicate not only Sabrina’s personality and kindness, but also her professionalism and trustworthiness. This is the power of a good headshot: it shows more than just your smiling face, it tells a story and builds trust.
We took the photos at the Forks Market on a weekday when the crowds weren’t so busy and the natural window light was gorgeous. Here are some highlights from our session:
Freynet-Gagné Translation and Consulting wanted their website photos to feel more personal and approachable so they contacted me to plan a photo shoot for this project. To move away from the stock images they had on their website, we focused on creating real, custom photos of their actual team.
We started by taking professional headshots for their team then we staged team collaboration shots in a co-working space to capture the energy of their work.
Creating custom photos like this showcases the real people behind the business and this gives their website a more authentic, human touch.
Shooting in a dark office after sunset presented some challenges, but by setting up my off-camera lighting, I was able to brighten up the space without losing the natural, inviting atmosphere they wanted.
Our location, without proper lighting.
The results after setting up my lights.
The result: sharp, high-quality images that felt both professional and genuine—perfect for reflecting their true brand.
Big shout out to Launch Co-Working space for letting us rent their offices for the photo shoot!
Freynet-Gagné’s website now has a fresh, polished look, and my goal is to help visitors connect with them and feel more confident in their services.
The team at DBT Winnipeg, a mental health collective, needed updated photos for their website so I came in for an afternoon to do their headshots and interior office photography.
DBT Winnipeg’s Home Page
I was instantly greeted by some of the kindest and warmest people and walked into a beautiful space in the heart of Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. Beautifully designed and decorated, their spaces were as warm and inviting as their clinicians.
It was a joy to take their photos and provide high-quality photos for them to update their website.
In late fall, natural window light can be tricky to work with so I came in with three off-camera lights to help light the photos. Here are a few highlights from the session including some behind the scenes photos.
DBT Winnipeg’s Website
Need new photos that showcase your team and space with professionalism?
Are your favourite memories stuck on your phone? Here’s how you can turn your digital photos into 4 different beautiful, tangible keepsakes you and your family can enjoy every day.
#1 GREETING CARDS
5×7 holiday cards fill my fridge, and I love it! And if you’re looking for strong, simple magnets – I love my rare-earth magnets from Lee Valley Tools.
– Giving out annual Christmas and Holiday cards is a great way of keeping in touch with friends and family and showing them you care. I love receiving these cards as much as I love gifting them! These double sided cards are printed on thick card stock paper and can be custom designed with a greeting or caption. To get access to your own online card editor and order gallery, please contact me.
Double sided high quality holiday cards with envelopes – these ones are printed with quality and care. And they far surpass Shutterfly and Vistaprint! They can be ordered through my photography account. Just e-mail me for more info.
#2 LAY FLAT PHOTO BOOKS
Lay Flat Photo Books from PosterJack – I love choosing the photo cover and adding the year for easy reference.
– Make a family photo album! I print my family photos once a year in a photo book I design and print at PosterJack. I include my family photos that were professionally taken but also my iPhone photos that I take throughout the year. You can upload your photos to https://posterjack.ca/products/layflat-photo-books?snowball=GABRIELLE68191 and start your album design right away.
Please note: I don’t often share affiliate links, but when I do it’s for products that I love and use often.
11×8.5 inches Lay Flat Photo Book from PosterJack – I love printing one once a year.
Need help with the process? Click here to request my step-by-step guide.
11×8.5 inches Lay Flat Photo Book from PosterJack
#3 TRADITIONAL PHOTO ALBUMS
Traditional photo albums with 4×6 clear sleeves.
– If you love printing photos a bit at a time throughout the year, traditional photo albums with 4×6 clear sleeves on each page are a good fit for you. This flexible way of displaying your photos allows you to slowly fill an album over the course of a year. Print a handful of photos at a time, and fill the album as you go. I recommend Photo Central in Winnipeg or London Drugs for low-cost/high-quality 4×6 prints. Just upload your high-res jpgs to their website and pick up your prints in store.
#4 FRAMED PHOTOS FOR YOUR WALLS
This is a 16×24 Gallery Box from PosterJack. The photo is printed on a solid surface and perfectly floated inside the white frame.
– Print and frame your photos. There’s always that one stunning photo from a photo shoot that you know is “the one”. Decide which size you’d like and have it printed and framed to hang on your wall at home. Again, PosterJack is a great place for ready-to-hang prints. Framed products from PosterJack are found in their Shop > Wall Art section: Framed Prints and Gallery Boxes are my favourites!
If you’re looking for something a bit more fun, Peel & Stick prints in their Photo Prints section are awesome. What’s a Peel & Stick? The name says it all.
This is a 12×18 Peel & Stick print from PosterJack. You can stick it on a wall, remove it and stick it somewhere else. Repositionable up to fifty times!
√ $10 flat shipping fee, no matter how big your order is
√ convenient ready-to-display products. No more buying frames from IKEA and fiddling with the DIY framing process (which I hate with a passion!)
Another Peel & Stick print from PosterJack. I seriously have these all over my house. I can’t get enough of them!
Why I’m an affiliate partner with them:
I was printing so much from them and recommending them to all my friends, family and clients… when it dawned on me: I should get an affiliate link!
So in case you’re wondering – they didn’t approach me to give me free products in exchange for being their promoter. Years ago, I found them myself first, fell in love with their products, and naturally started promoting them to everyone I knew!
At first they had quality issues (10 years ago). A few times I had to ask them to re-print their errors, which they did for free. For a while I was not recommending them to clients. But after some time, I noticed their products were being consistently delivered beautifully and with zero flaws. That’s when I started recommending them to my clients.
They have been a trusted printer for me ever since.
HAVE A PRINTING PLAN
So if you’re like me, and you don’t like that your digital photos just sit on the computer for years and years, make sure to have a printing plan. Hopefully the print recommendations above will give you the motivation to start printing your photos more regularly.
If the task feels huge and overwhelming or if you’re behind in years of unprinted photos, don’t worry about it.
Start small.
Start by printing one photo album or even just one framed print. Go through your photos from the last 12 months.
Print just one thing to start.
The excitement of receiving that first physical print will feel like a small win. I promise!
And small wins will motivate you to keep going, and print even more.
You’ll learn how I stay on top of my photos, how I make sure to print a family photo book once a year, and how to store your digital photos so you never lose them.
NEED UPDATED FAMILY PHOTOS?
Contact me to book your next family photo session in Winnipeg!
I send out e-mails that show you how to make the most of your phone camera to take better photos.
I hope this has inspired you to bring your memories to life—because there’s nothing quite like holding a beautiful photo in your hands. It’s a feeling no screen can ever replace!
As I finish off my busiest photography year of my career, I thought I’d post a small snippet of the photos I took in 2024. It was very hard to cull down to these photos only – so many more photos were worth highlighting! But to keep it brief-ish, here they are:
2025 is going to be a good year for photos! Planning your next photo shoot? Stay connected by subscribing to my newsletter:
Thank you to all the families that came by the studio on Saturday for my annual Holiday Mini Photo Sessions! I had such a blast! Emily Janzen of Feast and Festivities was there as usual, to custom decorate the studio, making sure my photos were styled perfectly to get all these beautiful photos. And thank you to Macy at The White Room Studio in St. Boniface, her space was cozy, all white, and a perfect location for these photos.
Although we haven’t gotten our first snow of the season in Winnipeg, we had plenty of (fake) snow in studio to make these photos feel extra wintery. Here is a small preview of some of the families that came by.
If you missed your chance at getting a spot at this year’s mini sessions, subscribe to my newsletter to make sure you don’t miss next year’s holiday mini sessions!
I always look forward to my annual photos with Jill and her family! They share such a genuine love, connection and closeness and I’m always so inspired to capture every moment of it. And their three daughters are so adorable – they always make me feel like I’m their best buddy by the end of the session! Taking photos for another photographer can be a bit intimidating, but Jill is so down to earth that taking her family photos is a breeze. I’ve grown to really appreciate the connection that we’ve made through are mutual love of photography. You should check out her work too – she does newborn photography in her studio and her photos are outstanding. One of the best in Winnipeg!
Here is a preview of our time at Henteleff Park, in South St. Vital. A beautiful park that has been quite a popular location this fall season for family photography!
Family photography isn’t just for little kids! Teenagers grow up so fast, and making sure to get some good family photos before you’re an empty nester is important. I met up with Loreleen’s family at St. Vital Park this fall. We were lucky enough to get some of the nicest colours and temperatures of the season on the exact evening that we scheduled! October 11th can be hit or miss, but that day was especially nice this year. I’m thrilled we got to capture so many great portraits, fun moments, and of course photos with their adorable dog too. Here is a preview from our time at the park!
Mobile phone cameras can take stunning photos of flowers, but most people don’t know how to do it.
Or that it’s even possible.
Taken with the regular lens on an iPhone 14. Edited in Lightroom Mobile using my custom preset.
That’s why in September I hosted a phone photography workshop at Sweet Petals Farm, to help amateur photographers discover how to use their phone cameras to create stunning images. It just requires some basic photography techniques and understanding how to tap into your creativity. No fancy camera or expensive lenses needed!
Co-hosted by ‘Segun (who has a keen eye for design), we presented a slideshow with some techniques and design instructions for photography, and then we headed out to Terry’s beautiful flower gardens where we went to practice with our phones.
The results were stunning! The flowers were in full bloom and we even found some that had dew drops on the petals. It’s always so rewarding seeing students discover how to take their photography to the next level, with the phone camera they already own!
In the workshop, I also taught how to edit the photos in Lightroom Mobile and how to prepare the photos to make high quality prints. After the workshop, I printed a few of my photos into greeting cards so I can gift them to friends and family.
Here are photos from the workshop, including behind the scenes shots, as well as the flower photos I took with my iPhone 14, and the printed greeting cards.
I printed my iPhone photos on my Canon Pro-300 printer to make high quality greeting cards.‘Segun Olude, teaching design concepts at the photography workshop.
Want to join the next in-person workshop in Winnipeg? Subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know about my upcoming events.
It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and what better way to spend the afternoon with family than with a fun photo shoot before dinner time! Elaine rounded up 25 of her family members at A.D. Penner park in Steinbach and with the rain clouds looming above, we managed to capture all these photos before the rain came down. I had so much fun with everyone! They all posed so well (and so efficiently!) and they got into all the fun, creative photos too (including jumping in sync on top of the hill!). Here is a preview from our time together. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
When the whole family is gathering for a dinner at the grandparents’ house, scheduling a photo shoot one hour before at the same location is a great idea! That’s what Sharon did for her family. I arrived at their house just before dinner so we could take photos of everyone before their sit-down meal. Organizing different schedules, coordinating outfits, and making sure we have the location and perfect lighting can take a lot of effort… but it’s always worth it! Here are some highlights from my time together with them. What a fun family with a beautiful connection. Lots of love here!
Every September I host mini family sessions in Winnipeg and the spots sell out so quickly! Families with little kids or older teenagers love these types of sessions because it’s not too long, and it keeps everyone engaged (and not bored!) for just the right amount of time.
This year I did the mini sessions at Kings Park on a Saturday afternoon and into the early evening, and it was absolutely beautiful! Fifteen minutes may seem like a short amount of time, but it’s enough to capture posed pictures and candid shots. I also love taking close up portraits of each kid (and headshots for the adults, if they want one).
Here’s a preview of some of the photos that we took this year. I still have a few more mini session and half-session spots left for October 2024. Just contact me to see my available dates!
Thinking of getting family photos done after missing out on the peak of the fall season? Last year we had a warm fall which meant we still had gorgeous, warm evenings well into mid-October. This family booked their photo shoot on October 18th – quite late in the season – but we lucked out on nice weather (it was close to 20 degrees celsius!) and some of the leaves were still hanging on in the trees! We chose Henteleff Park in South St. Vital as our location and it was an absolute gorgeous backdrop for their family portraits.
If you’re wondering if you missed out on nice September family photos – don’t discount October! Even though I don’t recommend putting off booking your photo session late in the season, mid-October could still surprise you with some warm, sunny days with colours still in the trees.
If you’d like more information on booking your family session, contact me here.
It’s the most wonderful time of year for family portraits, and if there’s one thing I can recommend, it’s booking your photo shoot date in advance to make sure you get the best day and the best light! September is very busy with bookings, so contacting me in early Summer will ensure you get your preferred date in the fall.
In my 20+ years of taking portraits, I have found that September 30th is the best day of the year for colours in the trees and that golden sunlight at dawn and dusk. Winnipeg’s fall season is so short, so I would recommend booking your photo shoot near that date to maximize on the beauty of the season.
This family had their photos done on September 30th between 9am and 10am, and the results were gorgeous. They chose Assiniboine Forest as their location and knowing how busy this place gets with other photographers on fall evenings, going in the morning was a smart choice! The forest was quieter, and we almost had the entire place to ourselves.
If you’re looking to update your family photos, remember that late September and early October are ideal, and scheduling the photos in the second hour after sunrise or before sunset will get you that gorgeous light on a sunny day.
If you have any questions, just contact me and I can send you location ideas, date & time recommendations as well as tips for what to wear for your session!
Last year I had the delight of meeting Leanne Taylor and taking photos of her for Coloplast Canada. It was such an honour to get to know Leanne, and to see what courage, determination and the pursuit of happiness looks like. She is the real deal! I got a glimpse into her life as a paratriathlete, quite possibly the sport that requires the highest level of mental and physical fitness. She had been training for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris and today she made all of Canada proud by bringing in a bronze medal! Huge congratulations to Leanne, you are truly an inspiration to all of us! I hope you can hear us cheer from Canada today!
To learn more about Leanne and her powerful story, visit her website.
Here are some of the highlight photos from my photo shoot with Leanne last Fall for Coloplast:
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Whenever taking corporate headshots, getting a mix of studio portraits and environmental headshots is a great way to add a dynamic and captivating look to your final collection of images. When this group approached me about doing their headshots this summer, we planned the session to include a few in-office headshots with studio lights and a solid white backdrop, but also going outside in the Exchange District to capture more of an urban and textured look to their group shots. Here are the results:
Shawna was looking to get some branding photos and headshots for her blog and social media presence, so we scheduled a photo session to make it happen. She’s passionate about cooking and organization and she runs her own business here in Winnipeg (and online). She teaches others how to be more efficient with their time as busy parents in the kitchen and offers resources and courses online. You can find her here: https://toobusylivin.com/
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Taking headshots in your office can have two different looks: one with a clean white or black backdrop, and the other option is using the natural environment as the background. This can be done using a clear, open space inside a boardroom or lobby in an office space. Or, as we did with this group, we took some of their photos with the windows overlooking the cityscape as the background. Reflections can be tricky, but with the right light placement and camera angle, it can be done!
Here’s a sample of some of their in-office corporate headshots: some with the boardroom as the background, and others with the window overlooking Winnipeg. All that is needed is space in an office and two portable studio lights:
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My 2024 wedding photography season was kicked off with the most beautiful and genuine story of love, with two of the most inspirational people around! Joshua and Cherrell had a quaint and intimate wedding ceremony, filled with family and friends, which also included a large group of super cute children! I loved how warm and inviting the entire celebration was, planned with such care and intention. To be there to witness these two lovebirds tie the knot was nothing short of profound and heartwarming.
And these two are such pros! In just under 2 hours, we captured a full collection of images. Here is a preview of their wedding afternoon!
Keiki Krate is an online toy store and their philosophy is all about presence over pace, no milestones, no markers. When they approached me to take photos of their products, we wanted to make sure to design a photo shoot that would encompass their values: meaningful moments between parents and their children, and unhurried play. We chose a location that reflected their design aesthetic and we captured their brand with these timeless photos for their website, social media and marketing materials.
Meet the owners of Keiki Krate, Teko and Gabrielle.
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