A Grad Session with Family, Lilacs, and the Softest Summer Light
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.
Grad sessions don’t have to feel rushed or overly structured. They can be calm, intentional, and tailored to who your graduate actually is.
And if you’re wondering whether you can be in a few photos too—
you absolutely can.
If you’re planning grad photos and wondering how to include your family without making it complicated, I’ll walk you through exactly how it works.
You can find all the details here:
https://www.danapughphotography.com/calgary-grad-photographer
Calgary Grad Photos at Fish Creek Park | Golden Hour Graduation Session
There is something really special about photographing graduation sessions outside of the actual grad day.
This session is exactly why I recommend it.
We met in Fish Creek Park—one of Calgary’s most popular locations—and within a short walk, we had an incredible amount of variety to work with. Tall grasses, winding forest paths, soft river edges, and those pockets of glowing light that only show up at the end of the day.
And that light matters.
By choosing a date separate from her graduation, we were able to plan around the best possible conditions. No rushing. No stress about timelines. Just time to explore, adjust, and make the most of that beautiful golden hour sun.
The result is a gallery that feels calm, intentional, and full of movement.
Her dress worked perfectly in this setting—soft blue with delicate detailing that picked up the greens and golds around her without competing with them. Everything felt cohesive without being overly styled.
What I also loved about this session is how much we were able to create without needing multiple locations. Fish Creek Park offers so much natural variety that it almost feels like several sessions in one. Within minutes, we moved from open fields to forest trails to riverside light, each giving a completely different look and feel.
This is one of the biggest advantages of choosing a location like this.
It gives you options without adding complexity.
Grad sessions don’t have to feel rushed or overly structured. When we give them space—both in timing and location—they become something much more relaxed and meaningful.
If you’re planning your own grad session, this is always my advice:
Choose a day that isn’t your graduation day, and aim for the last couple of hours before sunset.
It makes all the difference.
Grad sessions are currently booking.
Learn more here: https://www.danapughphotography.com/calgary-grad-photographer
A Lake Minnewanka Family Session in Banff | Watching Kids Grow Up
There is something quietly surreal about photographing a family over time.
This session at Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park was a couple of years ago now and I know that because I’m planning their oldest daughter’s graduation portraits for a couple of months from now!! Wow time flies!
When I first met this family, I was photographing a newborn. Tiny fingers, sleepy stretches, that brand newness that disappears far too quickly. And now? Teenagers. Confident, funny, moving through the world in their own way.
And one of them is graduating this year.
That part never really stops catching me off guard.
Why Lake Minnewanka Works So Well for Families
Lake Minnewanka has a kind of scale that gives families room to just exist together.
The rocks, the water, the mountains—they don’t ask anything of you. There’s no pressure to “perform.” Kids can move, climb, wander, and the session naturally unfolds around that.
That’s exactly what we did.
We walked along the shoreline, let the kids lead the pace, and leaned into the in-between moments:
wind in their hair
laughter that interrupts everything
the quiet way siblings stay close without thinking about it
Those are the things that matter later.
Photographing Teens (Without It Feeling Like a Photoshoot)
Teens don’t want to be posed. And honestly, they shouldn’t be.
What works is giving them something to do.
Walking along the rocks. Balancing near the water. Sitting close enough that they forget about the camera. Letting conversations happen.
You can see it in these images—the shift from awareness to ease.
That’s always the goal.
The Full Circle Moment
There’s a different weight to sessions like this.
When you’ve photographed a family at the very beginning—when everything is new—and then you get to see who those kids become… it changes how you photograph them.
You’re not just documenting what they look like.
You’re holding onto a piece of their story.
And now, getting ready to photograph a graduation for one of these girls feels like turning a page I didn’t even realize we were approaching.
A Note for Parents
If you’re waiting for the “right time” for family photos, this is it.
Not when everything is perfectly coordinated.
Not when life slows down (it won’t).
But now—when your kids are exactly who they are today.
Because one day you’ll look back and realize this version of them was fleeting.
If you’ve been thinking about updating your family photos—whether in the mountains or somewhere that feels like you—I’d love to help you create something that actually feels real. To learn more about Family Adventure Sessions, go here
Adam’s Edmonton Graduation Session | Hockey, Heritage, and Downtown Portraits
There are some graduation sessions that feel extra personal, and this one certainly did for me.
This was my nephew Adam’s grad session from a couple of years ago, and even though time has passed, I still wanted to give it a place here on the blog. His session was such a strong reflection of who he was at that moment in life, and that is always what I hope graduation portraits will do. Yes, they mark a milestone, but they should also say something real about the person stepping into what comes next.
Adam grew up playing hockey and spent years as a goalie, so it was important to include that part of his story in his session. I love when graduates choose to bring pieces of themselves into their portraits rather than keeping everything overly formal. The suit and the cap and gown matter, of course, but so do the things that shaped them along the way. For Adam, hockey was one of those things.
We photographed part of his session near Rogers Place in Edmonton’s entertainment district, which gave us a fun urban backdrop with colour, texture, and energy. It felt like the right fit for a graduate who wanted something modern and personal. We were able to create a mix of classic portraits, more relaxed downtown images, and photographs that tied in his love of the game. The goalie gear images are some of my favourites because they feel unexpected and completely him.
Because he is family, I also followed along on his actual graduation day and photographed some of the real moments as they happened. We captured images with friends at the Alberta Legislature, which is such an Edmonton graduation tradition. There is something special about documenting both the planned portrait session and the documentary moments on the day itself. Together, they tell a fuller story.
One of the most meaningful parts of Adam’s graduation day was seeing him receive his Métis sash. It was a beautiful nod to his heritage and added another layer of significance to the day. Those kinds of details matter. They ground a session in identity, family, and history, and they turn portraits into something more than just photos to mark an event.
That is one of the things I love most about grad sessions. They can hold so much more than a formal outfit and a smile at the camera. They can reflect personality, passion, family, culture, tradition, and the path that brought someone to this moment.
Adam’s graduation session was stylish, joyful, and full of meaning. It celebrated not only his accomplishment, but the many pieces of who he already was.
If you are planning graduation portraits, this is your reminder that your session does not have to look like everyone else’s. We can build something that reflects your story, whether that means including sports, music, family traditions, cultural elements, or a location that means something to you.
That is always where the best images begin.