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:
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!
Glass tower & staircase at The Forks – FREE LOCATIONJohnston Terminal at The Forks – FREE LOCATIONat the office (natural window light)at the office (natural window light)headshots taken in the homeheadshots taken in the homeheadshots taken in the homeheadshots taken in the homeheadshots taken in the kitchenheadshots taken in the home (mix of natural light and studio lights)in the main Forks Market Building – FREE LOCATIONin the Johnston Terminal at The Forks – FREE LOCATIONheadshot photos at the office (mix of window light and studio lights)headshot photos at the office (mix of window light and studio lights)headshot photos at the office (with studio lights)headshot photography at Allure Studios in the Manhattan Roomheadshot photography at Allure Studios in the Manhattan Roomheadshot session outdoors in St. Bonifaceheadshot session outdoors in St. Bonifaceheadshot session outdoors in St. Bonifaceheadshot session outdoors in the Exchange Districtheadshot session outdoors in the Exchange Districtheadshot session outdoors in the Exchange Districtheadshot session outdoors in the Exchange Districtheadshot session in store (natural window light)headshot session in clinic (using studio lights)headshot session at Allure Studios in the White Studioheadshot session at Allure Studios in the White Studioheadshot session in clinic, in front of a white wall (using studio lights)headshot session in clinic, in front of a white wall (using studio lights)Group photos in clinic, in front of a white wall (using studio lights)St. Vital Park, outside the duck pond shelterSt. Vital Park, outside the duck pond shelterSt. Vital Park, outside the duck pond shelterheadshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATION (with restrictions)headshot session at The Leaf – FREE LOCATIONS (with restrictions)
For more information on booking photo session at The Leaf, click here.
headshot session in office with natural lightheadshot session in office with natural lightheadshot session in office with natural lightheadshot session in office with natural lightheadshot session in office with natural lightheadshot session in office with studio lightsartist headshot session in front of artwork
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!
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.
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.
Follow me on my iPhone photography Instagram account here.
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.
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. Here is a preview from our time at Victoria Beach:
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.
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.
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:
I was super excited to meet up with Sunny’s family at the U of M campus to take their photos. I always know they’re going to bring ALL the fun to a session. And they sure did! We took some “nice” posed photos, but I also let them do their own thing, which was never not entertaining. 🙂
Sunny is a fellow photographer and someone I’m grateful to have in my community of photographers – her creativity and commitment to work is an inspiration to me. Check out her amazing studio work here.
Here are some of the many (many!) photos we took that evening at the University of Manitoba:
Spring time photos in Winnipeg can be beautiful, especially in early June and in the morning! Most people think of family photos in the evening, but when the weather is warmer, a morning photo session is a great choice especially with little kids.
I met up with the Giesbrecht family at Kings Park in south Winnipeg and we had the park pretty much all to ourselves! We did the shoot at 9:30am, catching that beautiful light and colour that the morning brings.
We got a few large group shots, but also took individual mini photo shoots with each family so that everyone had their own photos from this multi-family session. Here are some highlights!
Graduating high school is a big milestone and celebrating with friends for a formal grad photo shoot is exactly what this group did in June last year! I met up with them at Kings Park in Winnipeg and we spent an hour taking photos around the waterfall, flower gardens, bridges and through the greenery at the park. It’s such a beautiful location to get a variety of poses and photos, as well as some fun candid shots we captured in between. They also brought a basketball for one fun photo, but for the rest we just used the natural beauty of our surroundings.
If you’re looking to take grad photos this year, consider booking the shoot together with your group of friends! Everyone still gets individual headshots, but you also get fun photos together with your friends.
When Helen messaged me, she expressed wanting great portraits and candid shots of her with her four boys to blow up and put on their walls at home. We immediately started planning a sunset session at Birds Hill Park, to capture a variety of landscapes: both fields and forests but also the beach.
We scheduled it on a warm July evening at exactly the right time to capture all that magical golden sun that we all get nostalgic about. (This hour changes depending on the time of year, but generally it’s about 1-2 hours before sunset).
We started taking photos on the edge of a tree line for photos in the shade, then we moved to an open grassy field before finishing the session at the beach as the sun got lower in the sky.
Here are some highlights from our fun photo shoot. Her boys were the sweetest most adorable set of brothers ever! They posed for some lovely photos with their mom, but we also gave them space to run around and have fun to get all those candid shots.
The warmer season is just around the corner and you might be planning your family’s annual photo session at this point. I’m going to share 5 ways to plan your session for success this year.
NUMBER 1: BOOK YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IN ADVANCE
Good photographers tend to book up fast during the most popular dates of the year, so reserving yours ahead of time means you’ll get the best option. You want to avoid scrambling at the last minute to book a photographer when the season is almost over and photographers have very little availability left.
NUMBER 2: BOOK THE BEST DATE
When is the best date for outdoor family photos in Winnipeg? In the 17 years I’ve been doing this, the most beautiful colours and weather tends to be between September 28 and October 10. And the prettiest hour of light on those days is generally between 5pm and 6pm.
Some people prefer spring photos, or even winter photos, but the vast majority of my clients love fall photos. The weather isn’t too hot or too cold, the colours are spectacular and the beautiful pre-sunset time is at a reasonable time of the day for kiddos who might be going to be early. It’s a win-win for a lot of families.
NUMBER 3: PICK A LOCATION THAT WORKS WELL FOR PHOTOS
Some of my favourite locations are ones that have lots of trees, but also a lot of variety in landscape. This means picking locations that have a mix of forest, water, fields, trails, elevation, etc. I also avoid picking locations that only have wide open spaces because not having any shade to use could be a problem on a very sunny day.
A good location also factors in accessibility (it has to be easy to get to for all family members). However, if your family is up for an adventure, picking a location that includes some hiking or trailblazing to find the best spots could be fun!
Here are some of my favourite locations in Winnipeg for fall photos:
Henteleff ParkLagimodière-Gaboury ParkKings ParkThe English Garden at Assiniboine ParkUpper Fort Garry ParkAssiniboine ForestHarbourView ParkSt. Boniface CathedralCrescent Drive ParkBois-des-EspritsBirds Hill ParkWhittier Park
NUMBER 4: DECIDE WHAT TO WEAR
One of the most common questions asked is what should the family wear for their photos. My go to answer is always this:
For colours, I recommend a light & neutral colour palette. For example, greys, beige, cream mixed in with pastels of pinks, greens and/or blues is good. You can add one or two patterns (a floral or a low contrast stripe in the same colour palette). Things to avoid: bright saturated colours, high contrast, logos, graphics or lettering. I also recommend avoiding wearing black (if possible) as black cotton tends to show white lint a lot more on camera than when we see it in real life.
I have a Pinterest board with photo examples of what works well. Click here to see it:
Click here to view my Pinterest board with ideas for how to pick outfits for your family photo shoot.
NUMBER 5: TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
One of the hardest things is to trust the photographer to lead you, if you haven’t had much experience with a professional photo shoot before. I know how much work and energy it takes to plan a photo shoot for your family, and when you finally do show up, the stakes feel high. I often have moms arrive at a session worried their kids won’t cooperate, or that their outfits don’t work, or that everyone will look awkward posing for photos.
All I can say is – trust your photographer.
I’m the professional and my job is to take all the personality dynamics, the energy, the colours, backgrounds, sunlight, angles and MAKE SURE your photos turn out amazing.
I’m just as invested in the outcome of the photos as my families are. I want my families to be happy with their photos, but I also want the photos to look amazing for my own portfolio! Taking photos of families especially with younger kids is my specialty, and I’m more than prepared for the challenge.
I also know that kids can move quickly, and making sure to catch action shots, or shallow depth of field photos can be hard. I often use the auto-eye-tracker on my mirrorless cameras to nail the focus, even in fast moving subjects (hello toddlers!). Combined with my beautiful Sigma Art Lens, I’m all about catching those gorgeous moments that I’m seeing moving quickly before me.
So remember, trust your photographer and give yourself permission to let loose to enjoy the process. The family photo session is a place for you to play, to enjoy the company of your family and to spend time bonding with your spouse and kids. When that is your only focus, the rest will fall into place. I promise.
Congratulations to Lyndsay and Brendan! These two have a love and connection that I can’t describe with words, but I was thrilled to be able to capture it with photos. Look at the photos, especially the one at the pub, when everyone else is eating nachos, they’ve got their full attention on each other. This was unposed, and is exactly how these two are with each other! So much love.
We did their first look just off Waterfront Drive in the Exchange District, and made a stop at Little Brown Jug to grab some drinks and a bite to eat. We then headed over to the Winnipeg Art Gallery, one of my favourite architectural spots in the city, where the light, angles and textures are gorgeous.
It’s been a pleasure getting to know Lyndsay through our volunteering at CreativeMornings Winnipeg. I value our friendship and the fun she brings to every event we work on. Getting to know Brendan has been just as wonderful and seeing them together makes so much sense – they are the right fit! They have a kind, generous and easy-going way about them, and being their wedding photographer was SO much fun. Here is a small preview of their photos from their wedding day:
The first look got us ALL teary-eyed.Finding them like this was a constant. So adorable! A fun stop at Little Brown Jug.Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Front EntranceWe absolutely had to include every member of the family.
I had the delight of taking photos for Thousand Hills Coffee, a local small business in Winnipeg selling delicious coffee beans run by Simeon and Julia. As their website says, they serve “the best specialty coffee from the heart of Africa in the heart of Canada.” If you haven’t checked out their coffee yet, here’s the link to their online shop: https://thousandhillscoffee.com/
The photo shoot included styled product photography and some lifestyle photos of the owners making coffee. The goal was to update their website photos, create high-quality branding images that showcase the quality of their products. Here is a preview from the photo shoot:
I love going to the Leaf for photo shoots, especially for professional headshots. There is a good variety of backgrounds, textures and colours to choose from and the space is always full of light. It’s one of my favourite indoor locations in Winnipeg, especially in the colder months when going outside isn’t always an option. Here are some highlights from a recent headshot session I did in the biomes:
