I’ve been taking photos of Avari since she was a little baby, and now she’s all grown up and graduating high school! It was a really special evening capturing these grad portraits for her and having fun just hanging out with her. She has ambitious plans for university, but I’m not surprised – she’s smart, generous with her care and empathy, funny and spending time with her is a true joy. Congrats Avari! You have so much to look forward to in the next chapter!
Many years ago I had the delight of meeting Keleigh for a headshot campaign, and had such a great time taking her photos. So when she reached out to me earlier this year for some updated portraits, I was all in!
For a branding portrait session, I suggested meeting up at the Forks in Winnipeg to get some beautiful window light, natural textures, and fun colours. It’s a location that provides a lot of variety, and it did not disappoint. We met up on a Tuesday morning and found a few quiet corners around the market to take her photos.
She was looking for candid, natural photos of herself, not only professional headshots but especially some approachable portraits that truly captured her personality.
She was hoping to see her true self, authentic and present in her photos – and this was exactly what I set out to capture.
These are the photos she selected – a good variety of backgrounds and poses, but all very “her” and easy to connect with. She has some exciting projects coming up in the near future and I can’t wait to see these photos as part of her online presence and content gallery!
How do you plan for a 28-person multi-generational family photo shoot?
It can seem daunting trying to coordinate that many schedules and gather everyone on one day, but for the hundreds of families I’ve photographed over the last 18 years, there’s a reoccurring sentiment: it’s ALWAYS worth it to do it.
For this family, they had to juggle out-of-town travellers, flight schedules and some work & nap schedules. But once they gave me the firm date and time, I got to work to pull this off. (And it was fun!)
I always take 1 to 2 full group shots, and then I make sure to take individual family photos, and smaller group combinations, like grandparents with grandkids, all the cousins together, couple photos, even individual portraits when requested. And of course, I’m always trying to capture some candid moments in between.
This session was done on a cold (but thankfully snow-less) day in November, working with the evasive Golden Hour just before sunset. It was a whirlwind, but we pulled off all photo combinations in under 45 minutes! Usually I allocate 60-75 minutes for a photo shoot like this, but since it was cold, we all were moving particularly fast to get through the photos. 😉
Here’s a preview of the final collection of photos we captured. They were so much fun to work with!
Let’s be honest, kids can’t pose for longer than a few milli-seconds, so the way to capture real smiles, real expressions and real fun for kids is by setting up non-poses during a family photo shoot. Setting up non-poses – that sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s a thing, and it’s what works best for me
My favourite way to capture natural family photos is by leading with fun. Exploring, playing, interacting with parents and also having the kids interact with me are all the ingredients I throw into a family photo shoot. I’ve been taking photos of the H-G family for a few years now, and it’s always a really fun time. Their kids are SO cute, and their energy is the best.
This past fall, we met up at Assiniboine Park for some gorgeous late September colours under a golden sun in mild temperatures. Can’t get any better than this! No wonder late September is the most popular time of the year for family photos in Winnipeg. Did I also mention, no mosquitoes at that time of year?!
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Jenn at the Forks in Winnipeg to take some casual headshots and portraits for her. We chose the Forks because it’s a free location for photo shoots (as long as no camera gear is set up) with lots of natural light, interesting architecture and dynamic backgrounds.
We took a few photos inside the Johnston Terminal as well as in the main Forks market building to create a wide variety of looks for her final collection of images. Here are some of the highlights:
Need updated headshots?
Late last year I had the lovely opportunity to connect with Alix Loiselle, of French Kiss cook, as he was looking to get some one-on-one photography mentoring for his food blog. After learning more about his blog and online projects, we planned for a custom photography workshop at his home so he could level up his food photography skills.
I showed him the best settings to use on his camera, some lighting techniques for both window light and studio light settings, how to create stronger compositions and also how to use Lightroom Mobile to make his photos stand out more.
It was inspiring to see his kitchen set up and fun to work with his photography set ups he already had at home. Here are a few photos I took during the teaching workshop, including BTS shots and comparison images showing the difference between window light and studio light.
Alix is an incredibly talented cook, recipe developer and content creator. Check out his blog here and find him on Instagram here! And he’s not the French Kiss Cook for no reason, check out his french food blog here!
A few months ago an email from northern Manitoba landed in my inbox. It was Lisa, all the way from Gillam, and I learned about her creative, thriving business Fuse Muse Fused Glass Suppliers, selling supplies to glass artists and studios all over the world.
Her enthusiasm and zest was instantly contagious and I was thrilled to be asked to create some branded images for her website, trade show banners and social media. She wanted to replace her DIY images, upgrade the visual quality of her website and present her products in a light that truly reflected its value.
After jumping on a call with her and learning more about her content creation needs, I quickly realized this was a project to bring Emily Janzen on board with. She’s my trusted (and super talented) photo stylist. Without her, the photo shoot would take hours more time to execute and the vision for the final images might not catch the authentic and personalized messaging I wanted to capture for Lisa.
A few weeks later, Lisa shipped me her products and Emily and I got to work. Emily created the vision board, shot list and gathered the styling props, while I set up the studio backdrop and lights to pull it off. Together Emily and I worked to bring these images together for Lisa: Emily setting up the products while I worked on getting the lighting and angles just right to create the photos.
It’s fun to see the images on Lisa’s website and I look forward to seeing how her banners display at her next trade show!
Interested in getting into glass art? Visit Lisa’s website or see her in person at her next trade show, the Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas in April 2026.
As a Winnipeg branding photographer, I often work with professionals who want headshots that feel natural, relaxed, and reflective of who they are. When Erika contacted me looking to get some updated branding portraits for her therapy work, I was excited to get started on planning a custom portrait session just for her.
Knowing that she wanted to book a full hour for some headshots in a natural environment, my first thought was choosing The Leaf as our location. This is one of my favourite indoor locations in Winnipeg, so much so that I’ve been an annual member since it first opened in 2022. It offers a tropical biome with lush greenery, interesting architecture, and a stunning indoor waterfall. Having a large location with multiple views is perfect when the plan is to create a wide variety of headshots.
We met up at the Leaf on a day I knew would not be busy with crowds. I enjoyed our time getting to know each other through lovely conversations all while creating a comfortable space for her to get headshots. I wanted to keep it soft and casual, while also capturing her professionalism and expertise. Showcasing her warm, approachable personality was also a must and I made sure that would be felt through the images.
Here are some of the highlights from the headshot shoot:
Choosing a Location That Supports Your Headshot Vision
If you’re a therapist or wellness professional looking to update your headshots, it can be helpful to think about what you want your images to communicate before choosing a location. The environment plays a subtle but important role in how potential clients experience your photos. Whether you’re looking to show calm, grounded images or a professional and welcoming look, picking a location that aligns with your vision is important.
I can help plan your session, choose the location and work out the logistics so that your next headshot session is a success. Contact me for more info or to get a quote.
Not ready to book yet? Visit my headshot information page here.
Canotech was looking to update their team headshots as well as create custom images to replace the stock photography they had on their website. I set up my mobile photo studio with lights in their office and we created new photos with their actual employees and team in order to create authentic images that reflected their true brand with a personal, approachable touch.
Canotech was founded in Winnipeg almost 40 years ago and their photos needed to reflect their expertise and professionalism, all while maintaining personalized connection. Replacing stock photography with custom, branded images is always a good first step. Here are some of the photos we captured in their office for this project:
Winnipeg in late fall can be chilly, but when the morning sun comes up and shines off the Red River, it’s absolutely beautiful. I had so much fun with these girls, running along the banks of the river in Norwood Flats, walking through tall grass and capturing their love and connection together. It was a quick session (under 30 minutes!) and they kept warm with hugs and blankets. Here’s a small preview of the photos they picked:
This past summer I was asked to take headshots and branding photos for Meadowood Dental Centre is South Winnipeg. It was an absolute joy to meet the whole team for this fun photo shoot in their clinic! With my portable studio lights, we set up a few posed group shots and individual headshots, while also allocating time to capture some at-work photos and branding images for their website. Here is a preview of what we captured:
Can’t think of a good location to get your professional headshots taken? I’ve been a headshot photographer for many years and I thought it’s finally time I share a list of my favourite locations with you! A lot of these are free locations, so if you’re not looking to rent a studio, some of these locations will be a good alternative.
Taking headshots in your own office or place of business can work well (I’ll show examples), and if you’re self-employed or a solopreneur, taking photos in your own home is also a great option. See examples below!
For more information on booking photo session at The Leaf, click here.
Need a new headshot?
Winnipeg is gorgeous in mid-October! It can sometimes be a bit chilly, but with the right outfits (and layers) this can be some of the nicest time of year for outdoor family photos in all the colours. I met up with the K Family at Henteleff Park in south St. Vital for photos with their 11-month-old daughter. She is SO cute, especially with those pig tails! I had so much fun capturing all their love and fun energy (especially with their adorable dogs)!
Every fall I offer two dates for mini family photo sessions and they get booked up so fast! I know my clients love these because the majority of the bookings are repeat clients year after year. What’s not to love? It’s a quick and fun 15-minute photo session in a beautiful fall setting, and the simplicity of it makes it work. It’s a system I follow every year, but it leaves so much room for spontaneity, creative portraits and of course, those classic, posed family photos that are perfect for Christmas cards.
These mini sessions are great for young, active kids who don’t have patience for super long photo shoots, or busy families who love posed and candid moments, but to be done in just a few minutes. These work because we stick with the best spot, and we don’t spend an hour getting a large variety of backgrounds and different locations.
We start with a few classic posed photos, then we move on to playing, hugging, piggy backs, snuggles or quiet close up moments to showcase the connection you share with those you love the most.
The results? A few great shots, that will be keepers for the rest of your life.
Here’s a preview from my October 4 mini sessions at one of my favourite spots in Winnipeg!
Two months old and all the cuteness in the world!
Sometimes newborn photos don’t happen, but that’s ok because every month after that there is a new, cute baby stage to capture and it’s never too late to book a family photo session for it.
I met up with the M Family at St. Vital Park on an unusually warm early October evening and we captured so many sweet moments. At two months old, babies are so alert, curious and cute! Not to mention, they’re starting to smile, which is such a joy to capture after the newborn stage.
Here is a preview of our time at the park, watching Baby T watch the colours and the clouds and whatever else he was observing around him! What a cutie!
I had the lovely pleasure of working with Mirjana and the whole team at their office at 201 Portage Avenue to update their headshots and team photos. I set up a mobile photo studio in their space and captured these photos for their website update. Here’s a preview of what we took at the top of one of the highest buildings in downtown Winnipeg:
Since their engagement session, I have loved working with A & S – they are always so much fun, enthusiastic and full of love for each other. Naturally, having a kiddo has only amplified all of this goodness and it’s pure JOY taking photos for them. Here’s a preview of our time in Winnipeg’s best urban forest: Assiniboine Forest!
I had the delight of taking interior photos and branding images for Brave Canvas Art Therapy in Winnipeg earlier this year. They requested photos that showcased the calming and welcoming feel of their space while also capturing the creativity and colour throughout the space.
Using studio lights and natural window light, I set up each space to feel bright, airy and inviting without making it look too dark or bland. Here are some of the highlights from the photo shoot:
I’ve been taking family photos for my clients for over 17 years, and along the way I’ve grown to fall in love with certain locations around Winnipeg that give me some of the best backdrops for family photo sessions.
If you’re looking for the best photo location in Winnipeg for your upcoming fall family session, here’s what I would recommend:
(If you want even more inspiration, visit my facebook galleries. Each gallery title has the location name at the top!)
A sunset evening on a white sandy beach on the shores of Lake Winnipeg… is there anything better than that?! I’m so glad Ashley jumped at the chance to get her family photography session at the beach because this type of light and colours in the sky is one of a kind!
I met up with her adorable family on the beach at the perfect time when the sun is low in the sky and the water is calm. It was perfect for getting those pastel colours, and of course, that golden light. Her girls loved playing in the water (yes we all got wet by the end of this shoot!) and it turned out exactly as we had envisioned.
If you’re looking to get your family photos taken at the beach or at your cottage, I’m now serving the Victoria Beach, Albert Beach, Hillside Beach and Traverse Bay areas. Contact me for availability (year round):
Thinking about beach PHOTOS for your family?
As a professional photographer with super expensive gear, I have to say that I’ve discovered a surprising love for iPhone photography as a side hobby. I think the delight comes from simplifying the camera, not fussing over complex techniques and creating great results that make me happy.
So today, I’d like to share my top 4 favourite tools for iPhone photography (and videography) to inspire you to take your photography to the next level… not by investing tens of thousands of dollars into professional gear, but by using simple tools to jump into the wonderful world of playing with the iPhone camera.
At under just $200, this two-mic kit has been fantastic for recording reels and videos on my iPhone. The sound is great and the mic is easy to clip on. The whole box is easy to recharge and the mic itself is pretty discreet when clipped on to a shirt. (not an affiliate link)
I create a lot of PDFs, slides, layouts for Instagram and other graphics with my photos, and I find Canva to be the easiest and most versatile program out there. There is a free version, but I upgraded to the pro subscription so that I could have more storage space, add my branding assets and have access to more stock graphics and layouts. (not an affiliate link)
If you are an iPhone photographer, you MUST have the Lightroom app on your phone! It’s the best photo editing app out there, and is great for quickly resizing images. You can create your own presets, copy and paste settings onto other similar photos (to save editing time) and organize your photos into albums. There’s a free version of the app that is great, but the subscription is worth the $16 CAD/month it costs. The pro perks are great (spot removal, masking, bulk editing, etc.)
(affiliate link but I only promote products I personally use and love!)
To learn more about how I use Lightroom Mobile and why I love it, visit my blog post here.
When taking group photos (with you included in the photo!), selfies or talking videos of yourself, using a good tripod with a remote is key. I’ve tried a few over the years, and my favourite is one made by KraftGeek.
It’s super easy to set up, and the phone attaches with a magnet without any bulky grips or clamps in the way. The bluetooth remote lets you start and stop record or press the shutter remotely, so you don’t have to touch the phone or use the self-timer. I love it! It’s $42.99 US but with coupon code GABRIELLE you get 10% off.
(affiliate link but I only promote products I personally use and love!)
And if you’re wondering what I shoot with? It’s an old iPhone 14. It fits in my back pocket, it’s always on me, so I am never without a camera! I love the convenience of photography on the go like this.
Get inspired, see what I’ve been up to and learn a few photo tips along the way!
Curious about getting into phone photography?
I have a ton of tips, articles and teaching videos available at:
When Dr. Michelle contacted me to have her Dental Clinic’s branding photos updated, we made plans to do a 2-hour commercial photo shoot in her office space with her staff. We set up some lights and took a variety of interior photos, headshots and group photos with her team. Everyone was so friendly and wonderful to work with! I had a lovely time capturing some professional images for the business and also had fun getting a jumping shot they suggested. You can tell they love what they do and they love working together! Here are some highlights from our photo shoot:
My most popular time of year for family photos is coming up next month, the fall season in Winnipeg! The weather is not as hot and muggy, the sun sets earlier for beautiful golden light at a family-friendly time of day and the the colours in the trees are starting to change.
My mini sessions are happening on Saturday September 6th – it’s perfect for families who want a quick and fun way of updating their photos without a long session or having to purchase a large photo package.
If you’d like to book a spot, click here!
At the lake is where generations of families make memories – there’s something about a family cottage that gathers people, builds connections and creates memories that go beyond a lifetime. It was such a joy to be able to capture all this love and to honour the memories of the family members that started this legacy.
We began the session with photos at the cottage followed by a walk to the beach for a few more shots. We managed to schedule it in just before a big downpour! What a fun family – it was a delight to create these images for them and help them honour the past and cherish the present.
If you’d like to book me as your local photographer in Victoria Beach for your next family photo session, send me a message!
I met up with this extended family in the heart of St. Boniface at the cathedral under a perfect evening sun and it was nothing but fun energy, laughs and true connections of love. So easy to capture! I hardly had to direct them, they were always giving me some dynamic poses and candid moments. I love this location for the mix of old and modern architecture and lots of greenery. In under an hour, we were able to capture hundreds of frames! Such an efficient group! Here are some of my favourite highlights here:
Irene had a vision in mind for her family photos and after showing her photo galleries from several different locations around Winnipeg, she fell in love with this location: Lagimodière-Gaboury Park. We scheduled the session in the evening when the sunlight would be gorgeous through the trees and the light did not disappoint!
I had so much fun with her family! Of course we did the standard posed group shots, but we also set up some fun candid moments to capture the real laughs and authentic expressions. The kiddos were super cute and everyone had genuine smiles – the mark of a family well connected and well loved. Here are some of the photos we captured that evening:
Every May, I offer spring mini photo sessions for families who want to capture fun, meaningful memories in just 15 minutes. These short and sweet family photo shoots are ideal for parents with young kids — quick, fun, and low-stress!
This year we met up at St. Vital park on a beautiful evening with a glowing sun and thankfully zero mosquitoes! Here are some of the best moments that we captured:
I met up with Dean at the Forks to update his actor headshots earlier this winter. The last time I took his professional headshots was well over a decade ago, so it was due time to catch up and create some new portraits for him. He’s been working on projects and needing updated headshots for upcoming auditions, so we spent an hour at the Forks taking a variety of poses, backgrounds and looks.
Here are some highlights from the photo shoot:
I had the pleasure of meeting up with Jamie McEwan to create a new collection of realtor headshots for her as she starts her career as a real estate agent in rural Manitoba and Winnipeg.
Choosing the right location goes a long way in creating headshots that are warm, approachable and naturally confident. Having access to a light-filled home with a bright, open environment and minimalist decor was perfect for Jamie. Her photos communicate her true personality: friendly, empathetic and knowledgeable.
Here is a preview of the photos we took:
Corporate headshots come in many different styles, but one of my favourite ways of taking professional headshots is by using natural light and a dynamic background.
Instead of setting up studio lights and using a solid white background, I took these headshots for the Université de Saint-Boniface staff in their natural light atrium. We had lots of depth, dynamic soft light and interesting texture for these photos which allowed me to run free with creativity. I also had my favourite lens on my camera, one that gives me tack sharp focus and buttery soft out of focus backgrounds. LOVE.
This session was set up with 5 minutes per person, to give them several different options to choose from for their final two images each.
Here are some of the highlights from the headshot photo shoot:
