One of the most common questions I get from families this time of year is:
“Can we include some family photos in our grad session?”

The answer is always yes.

In fact, I recommend it.

The easiest way to do this is to start with a short family mini session at the beginning. It gives you those meaningful images together—something that becomes more valuable with every passing year—before we shift the focus entirely to your graduate.

This session was a perfect example of how beautifully that can work.

We started with family portraits, keeping things relaxed and natural, and then moved into her grad session. And honestly, everything came together in a way you can’t plan.

Her dress—a soft lilac tone with incredible texture—ended up matching a patch of blooming lilacs we found tucked away, long past when they should have been in season. It felt like one of those small, unexpected gifts that photography sometimes gives you.

Add to that the hazy skies from distant forest fires, which softened the light and brought in those warm, glowing tones, and the whole evening took on this quiet, almost cinematic feel.

She is truly one of the kindest people—thoughtful, grounded, and completely at ease in front of the camera. It made my job very simple.

This session was also a personal one for me. She’s my nephew’s girlfriend, and it was such an honour to photograph this moment for her and their family. There’s something different about documenting people you know and care about—it carries a little more weight, in the best way.