Adventure Session in Fish Creek Park
Fish Creek in the fall is iconic if you live in Calgary. It is by far the most requested location for family portraits. There are so many lovely little corners of it to explore that it makes it the perfect location for a family Adventure Session.
What is a family Adventure Session? It truly is my favourite type of family session. And, in 2023, it will be the only type of on location session that I will be offering families. I am a self described child lead photographer and, by that, I mean I take the children’s lead. I let them show me their world. They lead the way in an adventure…this is a gentle way to create portraits in the hopes of creating a safe space for the children to show me their true selves. This is the best way to get real expressions. Over the 17 years I have been doing these sessions, I’ve been on many adventures big and small. I’ve met kids of all ages and take the lead only when I feel I have it is necessary. The end result is not just a handful of images where the goal is perfection…it is a collection of images that work together to tell the story of your family’s connection. Life is, after all, perfectly imperfect and I do not see myself in the images where families are wearing perfect clothes, have perfect hair and are all behaving perfectly. My family was never that way, so I would never want my own family portraits to reflect that.
Here is a sampling of the images I created for one family this fall at Calgary’s iconic Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Just Add Bubbles | Calgary Family Adventure Photography
Rule #1 of how to run a photography session with kids—when in doubt add bubbles. And snacks. Preferably not at the same time. That’s what I love about Adventure Sessions. There is no timeline. We aren’t trying to get kids to behave a certain way or wear clothes that they find uncomfortable. It’s a time to play and focus on just enjoying your time together. It’s a time to let the kids just be kids….and, the parents, too ;) Let’s blow bubbles, eat watermelon and run through the wild grasses of southern Alberta. That’s the best kind of photography session.
Lovies Studio Session | Okotoks Family Photographer
I remember when Brian the Lion was a staple at our house. He was a small bear stuffie with a rattle inside and he came EVERYWHERE with us. We had bought him early on in my pregnancy so we feared losing him….how would we ever find a replacement? We never did lose him, but he did, eventually, get tucked away in a special memory box. His fur worn thin from so much love. I know so many families have attachment to special items like Brian the Lion and I would love to document that special bond for you. Introducing The Lovies Sessions!! New to the studio this year. Weekday mini sessions designed to document your child when they are at that age where they don’t go anywhere without their favourite toy or blanket.
To celebrate the launch of this new session offering. On Sunday, March 7th, I am opening a limited number of these sessions. They are $295(+gst). That includes a 30 minute session with up to 3 children from the same household and the complete set of digital images. Plus, you will have access to my brand new online store with a line up of amazing professional products. Contact me now to grab your preferred time slot.
Okotoks Studio Photography
I love watching families grow. I photographed their wedding back in 2017(you can see the blog post here: https://www.danapughphotography.com/blog/2017/11/1/canyon-ski-resort-wedding-calgary-photographer ). This summer, I got to meet their adorable little man in my studio for some family photographs. It is honestly one of the greatest joys of my life seeing families over and over again as they grow and change. And, then, right after I sent them their gallery, I ran into them at D Dutchmen Dairy in Sicamous!!! I mean, when in Sicamous, you gotta stop there—am I right?
I just wanted to share a studio session with everyone so that you can see that they aren’t stuffy at all ;) Very relaxed and fun, just safe from any inclement weather. And, now, in the days of COVID, I am taking all sorts of precautions—including increasing the airflow by keeping the windows open during the session, wearing a mask, hand sanitizer and fully sanitizing between each session(this last bit is nothing new…I’ve always done that). So, if you are looking for something a bit different than fall leaves for your annual portrait session this year, a studio session is a great option!!
