The Magic of Adventure Sessions
(and Why Black Friday Is the Best Time to Book One)
When I think back on my favourite moments with families, they’re never the ones where everyone is perfectly lined up and smiling. They’re the moments in between: the laugh that escapes unexpectedly, the kid who takes off running, the parents who soften into each other because—for once—there’s nothing to do but be together.
That’s the heart of an Adventure Session.
These sessions aren’t about perfection. They’re about connection, movement, play, curiosity, and everything that makes your family uniquely yours. They’re about capturing what it feels like to love each other in this moment of your life. And that’s why they remain some of my most cherished sessions to create.
As you’re thinking ahead to what kind of session you want in 2026, here are a few reasons why an Adventure Session might be the best gift you give your family this Black Friday.
1. You’re not rushed — which means everyone relaxed
When families are given time and space to settle in, the magic just happens.
No pressure. No rigid timeline. No “smile at the camera!”
Just an experience that lets your real connections show up naturally.
2. You get to choose a meaningful location
An Adventure Session isn’t limited for location in the same way that a portrait session can be.
You can choose:
the mountains
your home
your favourite place in the city
The location becomes part of the story you’re telling—and it lets your family feel grounded, comfortable, and authentically you.
3. The best light of the day is actually available
Golden hour truly is as magical as everyone says.
But it’s nearly impossible to schedule during busy seasons when you’re juggling school, sports, work, and bedtime.
When we choose a date intentionally, separate from the chaos, we can lean into that gorgeous, flattering light.
4. We pick an activity — and the story unfolds from there
Every Adventure Session is built around something your family loves.
It could be:
blowing bubbles in the park,
exploring a trail,
baking cookies at home,
wandering downtown, or
taking the family boat out for a spin at the cabin.
The activity becomes the heartbeat of the session, and I document everything that unfolds around it.
This is what makes your gallery feel alive, honest, and full of personality.
5. Your kids’ personalities change fast — these sessions hold onto who they are right now
The way they tuck themselves into your side.
The way they skip instead of walk.
The stuffy they refuse to leave behind.
The giggle that still sounds a little like the toddler they used to be.
An Adventure Session is made to capture the tiny details you’ll want to remember later — the ones that so often slip away.
6. Black Friday is the ONLY time these sessions go on sale
If you’ve been thinking about doing something meaningful next year, this is the moment to say yes.
Black Friday offers my deepest discount of the year — and it won’t return until next November.
There’s no “right” way to capture your family
If you prefer a more traditional session, I’m always happy to create whatever fits your vision.
But if you’re craving something relaxed, meaningful, and full of heart—an Adventure Session might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Ready to make some magic next year?
Your 2026 Adventure Session awaits — and I can’t wait to document your story.
PS: My Black Friday sale includes $200 off Adventure Sessions — my very best offer of the year.
When you purchase the special, you’re securing a 2026 Adventure Session at a discount, even if you don’t know your date yet.
We simply finalize your session date together early in the new year. It’s easy, flexible, and guarantees you the lowest price.
Why You Shouldn’t Schedule Your Grad Photos on Your Actual Grad Day
And Why Black Friday Is the Best Time to Book Your Session!
Graduation is one of those milestone moments that deserves to be documented beautifully. After photographing grads and their families for almost two decades, I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a session feel relaxed, creative, and truly reflective of who you are at this stage of life.
And with Black Friday offering my best grad session deal of the entire year, this is the perfect time to start planning.
Here’s my biggest piece of advice:
Don’t schedule your grad photos on your actual grad day.
I know this might feel surprising—many people assume grad photos should happen on the same day as the ceremony. But choosing a different day often leads to better images, a smoother experience, and a far more enjoyable session.
Here’s why:
1. Your grad day is already extremely busy.
Hair, makeup, the ceremony, photos with family, dinner plans, and the emotional whirlwind of the entire day… it’s a lot. It’s tough to relax into a photo session when you’re pulled in multiple directions.
Choosing another day allows you to slow down, breathe, and fully enjoy the experience.
2. You can’t predict the weather.
We all know Alberta weather has a mind of its own. When your session is tied to your ceremony date, we lose the ability to adjust to unexpected conditions—rain, wind, heat, or snow.
Another day gives us options and better results.
3. You miss out on the best light of the day.
Grad ceremonies rarely align with golden hour. Most happen mid-day or early evening, creating harsh lighting or tight schedules.
A separate day allows us to plan around the most flattering, dreamy light(like this session which took advantage of golden hour).
4. Being rushed limits creativity.
Your grad session should feel relaxed and fun. When we’re squeezed between events, creativity and exploration become limited.
Choosing another day opens up space for more ideas, variety, and locations(like this session which happened at Dinosaur Provincial Park).
5. You get to wear your grad outfit again.
One more chance to wear your outfit? Yes please.
And without the chaos of the actual day, you’ll enjoy the session so much more.
A gentle reminder
If it’s important to you to have your session on your grad day, we can make that work. Some grads love capturing the energy of the day itself.
Just don’t rule out the flexibility and creativity that come with choosing another date.
Ready to Book Your Grad Session?
Black Friday is the best time to book—you’ll secure my biggest grad discount of the year and get first access to the most popular dates.
If you aren’t already on my mailing list, just reach out so you get first access to these limited sessions.
Let’s create something beautiful for your grad year. ✨
Too Cool for School Portrait Sessions – Back This September!
They’re back! Every year, families look forward to my Too Cool for School Portrait Sessions, and I’m so excited to bring them back for another September.
Why settle for stiff, cheesy school portraits when your kids could have something cooler—something that actually shows their personality?
This annual tradition is designed to give you portraits you’ll treasure: fun, stylish, and full of genuine smiles. No awkward backdrops, no forced poses—just images that really capture your kids at this stage of life.
✨ Here’s what you get:
15 minutes per child – short, sweet, and stress-free
$149 (+gst) per child
Sibling bonus – book siblings back-to-back and I’ll include sibling images at no extra cost
At least 5 final images per child – natural portraits you’ll actually want to frame
Multiple dates are available throughout September, but spots always go fast.
👉 Click here to book your session
Make this year’s portraits something you’ll actually love. Your kids are way too cool for boring school photos—let’s show it off!
📸 Here’s an example of what you can expect from your session:
Adventures in Their Own Backyard
For me, family portraits aren’t about perfection. They are about authenticity. That only happens when we work together to create a space where you and your family feel free to be yourselves. And, the best place for me to witness your true selves is right in your own backyard.
This is one of my oldest friends and her family in their backyard. I visited them in Connecticut this fall. And, because she is my friend, she shared with me her concerns about the portraits—their house isn’t perfect, her son’s hair is ‘just awful’, and would they turn out okay. We had location scouted and picked a couple of spots in town, but when we went to leave, the light in their backyard was just delicious. We had stopped to take a few images of then with her father who spends long stretches of time with them. And, then, we just stayed. It just felt right to stay and relax and watch the dog chase a mouse…let the kids jump on their trampoline and swing in their hammock. Maybe even climb a tree…just let our time unfold and create what comes our way. I know it’s hard to trust someone to document your family in that way, but I promise you that the photographs are always better this way.
We got ‘holiday card’ type portraits. But, we also got wall art portraits. And, a collection that together would make a great coffee table book or an album. That’s the goal of an Adventure Session—to capture your family in a REAL way. A way that will take you back to that moment in time so you can remember what it felt like hanging out in your own backyard.
This Friday, at 9:00am, my BLACK FRIDAY SALE will launch. There will be 10 Adventure Sessions on sale at a reduced rate. Email me if you want to learn more. And, if you know you want a full session, set an alarm and come back here to grab one of these 10 sessions!
