I was so excited to jump back into the images of the the Stephaniuk household.
My morning with  little Rudy and his big sister Lucie was so incredibly sweet. 
Lucie has been waiting 11 years to become a big sister,
I couldn’t get over how attentive she was to him,
never leaving the room without kissing the top of his sweet head <3
I was reminded again of how lovely and warm their home was.
Something I love the most  was the walls, filled with photographs of some of their most precious moments together as a family of three
and now they have these, first moments of them as a family of four. 

Here are just a few of my favourite images of my time with them. 

It was about half way through this session that I smiled quietly to myself
 I watched Rob and Megan take in their newest baby upstairs and downstairs and we listened to the older siblings happily play with their littlest sister.
They had just finished a big Saturday morning pancake breakfast when I came in, the house was bustling with activity.
How wonderful. 
Little Oscar has been born into a big family, surrounded by all his brothers and sisters. 
They are Blended, Beautiful and full of life, Big & Small.
I was happy to be with them, happy to document them and each image has me smiling from ear to ear.
I know they will have you smiling too.

Welcome to this world Oscar! 

You are one lucky little man!

I arrived at the Hachey Family home to meet Nyah and her big sister Harper.
The session was wonderful.
It had all the elements that an amazing and cozy ‘at home’ newborn session should.
A sweet baby, lots of cuddles, newborn squeaks, breaks for snacks
(both for baby and big sister) and a whole lot of love.
Ashley had one special request for me.
You see the girls have a brother, Johnny, who left this world much, much to soon.
She explained to me that Harper, the first child, is the ‘Sunshine’ baby.
Johnny is their ‘Angel’ baby
and little Nyah…is the ‘Rainbow’ Baby.

The flowers surrounding the girls represent each sweet babe,
with their brother gently nestled in between them.
I am honoured to be able to share this moment of remembrance with them 

The Family believes that Nyah was ‘hand picked’ by Johnny for them.
I think so too.
What an incredible gift.

We ended our sweet session with a few cute portraits of Harper
and a snuggly moment with Ashley and her girls in a very special chair. 

This chair belong to her grandfather, a heirloom that he sat on in his office her whole life. 
How wonderful for all these angels in their lives to be able to look down on this amazing family
and see all the ways they continue to remember them in their daily life. 

Welcome to this world Nyah ❤

The Pywells are the kind of clients that every photographer dreams of. 
They loved me and supported me since the very beginning
and I grew as an artist alongside the growth of all three of their children. 
I was there in the delivery room when Carter was born, 
I was photographing them in the sunset days after Amber found out she had cancer, 
and on a beach in Yellowpoint a year later when I photographed her alone,
as her children headed back to the car,
to take a moment to celebrate herself after she endured a year of treatments and uncertainties. 

Here we are now, and she is Cancer Free. 

It was time for me to see and celebrate them again.

Here are some of my favourites of the Pywell Family <3 

Bria & Kim met me on a cold, windy morning at Neck Point Park 
so that I could celebrate the very beginnings
of a new adventure for them, as the sun was rising.

They were my very first session of 2019 and already one of my favourites.

This sweet little babe is so lucky to have two amazing moms
and a couple of ‘fur brothers’ to love and care for it 

I cannot wait to see them next month, in those first blissful weeks of Motherhood.

This is Nathan. 
He lives with his big brother Bennett, his two Mamas and a puppy who all love him very much. 
I came to meet him just after Christmas. 
The last time I saw this family, Bennett was just wee in his mamas arms
and now, both of their arms are delightfully full with these two beautiful boys. 

I loved our slow morning of snuggles, superhero and cookie snacks. 

Here are just a few of my faves <3 

Sweet Amila Marie 

14 Days New 

Milk Bath Session 

Mitch, Jess and the sweet girls met me at Sunrise on one of the coldest days of the year. 
Armed with blankets, sweaters, snacks and hot tea
I photographed them snuggled up and giggling as the sun rose
and the bright and vibrant colours danced along their faces. 

These guys are some of my most valued and wonderful clients
and it has been 5  years that they have they have asked me to document their memories. 
That is the biggest compliment I can ever receive 
and I am so grateful for them. 

We may have almost froze out there that morning!
But as you can see we still had a lot of fun,
we soaked in all the snuggles
and we celebrated them just as they are, right now, in that moment. 

Here are a few of my favourites! 

Kellie emailed me in the fall.
Her Daughter had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
They wanted to finally do those family portraits they have been putting off for years.

These photos were not just family portraits.
These photos were for her and for all of them as a bright spot,
a little beacon in the dark for when the going gets rough.

I have not a single doubt in my mind that Justine is going to kick the crap out of cancer,
but the journey to that moment will have some dark days.
And when she needs something to help lift her up…
These photographs are here for her.
Tiny moments and reminders of everything she has to fight for.

Our session was filled (and im not exaggerating..) with laughter.
Wildly inappropriate jokes, lots of big hugs and just a few tears.

However, I cried many times while I worked on these.
In the happy momenst and the tender ones.
I suggest you grab a kleenex.

Justine is surrounded by love.
She is not alone.

Right now she is in the fight.
Her hair is gone and she has started chemotherapy.
As you look through these photos
I want you to send her love and light from your heart.

Justine encourages everyone to get checked.
Ask Questions.
And don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.

I am honoured to deliver these images to this incredible family
and cannot wait for our victory session when Justine is CANCER FREE

When we chatted about location for the Kaiser Family Session…
Jane though maaaayyybbbee it might be cool
at this little spot up the mountain behind their home.
Maybe. 
Coming through the clearing, it took my breath away
and I couldn’t wait to get the whole family out on the cliffs
and photograph them against such a stunning backdrop. 

Now…this family doesn’t ‘need’ a stunning backdrop, no family really does.
These guys hold their own for sure. 
Giggles, snuggles and connection in any family is amazing captured anywhere…

But it sure was beautiful and I wasn’t complaining. 

Ive been blessed with so many stunning sessions in 2018,
and this one was definitely one of my very favourites. 

The Kaiser Family. 

Im pretty honoured that Ryan decided to spend his birthday with me.
I mean, not every dude wants to spend their special day getting family photos done
But luckily he saw it as a opportunity to capture some increible memories for the five of them, 
and really a perfect way to commemorate the day before they headed off for evening celebrations. 

I met them at Elliots beach, but half way through I made the executive decision of switch locations 
(….I know…whhhhhaat!) 
So we took a wild and scenic ride to Blue Heron park and finished off the session there. 

I like this bunch. 
Full of personality and no shortage of jokes and smiles. 

Here are a few faves from Ryan, Cathleen and three pretty cute kids. 

I think the best thing for me about this session was being with Brenda and watching her be a Mother. 
As the principal of our school, I have seen her fierce dedication to the our children, 
but it is really something else to see it with her own. 
Also, as mothers, her and I have shared stories and similarities between our children, 
so it was wonderful to get to experience all those beautiful things she says about them first hand. 
And so our session down at the river…while the autumn leaves were putting on a show for us…
was fantastic. 

Hard to choose favourites….
But ive narrowed down a couple…;)