Newborn
Sherwood Park pediatric chiropractor—meet Dr. Emily Devlin-Irving
Last summer, I photographed a family that was going to a pediatric chiropractor appointment right after their photo session. That got me thinking: why would a newborn need to see a chiropractor? I asked the mom how she knew to consult with a chiropractor and what kind of concerns one might have about their baby. She told me many of her mom friends had taken their baby to see a ...
Family
Emotional opening for “Life in a Morning” photography exhibition in Edmonton
It’s 3 pm. I’m at home in Sherwood Park. I have to be at the CAVA art gallery in Edmonton before 4 pm to add a few finishing touches to my Life in a Morning ...
Family
2022 year in review
2022 was an incredible year of growth, recognition and inspiration for me as a photographer. I’m so grateful for all the people who’ve encouraged and supported me since the beginning, inspire me, push me ...
Family
Boost your child’s self-esteem with printed photos
Did you know that printed photos help boost your child’s self-esteem? Don’t just take my word for it, scientists have done research on the subject! What is self-esteem? I like how Tel-jeunes puts ...
Family
8 parenting Instagram accounts to follow to raise emotionally healthy kids
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—being a parent is tough. Thank goodness for the many psychologists and specialists who share parenting advice on Instagram to help you raise emotionally ...
Newborn
Baby carriers made in Edmonton: Babuebaby Carriers
Edmonton baby carrier designer and occupational therapist Busi of Babuebaby Carriers understands the benefits of babywearing, both for baby and caregiver. So do Tina, an Edmonton mother, and her baby Finley. I spent a fun ...
Family
Le Noël des campeurs
Have you ever heard of le Noël des campeurs, or Camper’s Christmas? This Quebec tradition traces back to many years ago when it was hard for big families to get together in the ...
Newborn
Edmonton postpartum doula—an interview with Lily and Oak
Are you familiar with the word doula? I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t until a friend of mine hired an Edmonton postpartum doula years ago. I had stopped by my friend’s ...
Family
FAMILY: (UN)EXPECTED—documentary family photography exhibit in Arles
Oh my! I just looked at photos of the city of Arles in France, and I so wish I could be there right now! Not only is it a beautiful Provençal city that inspired ...
Family
10 great locations for memorable family photos around Edmonton this summer
Not sure where to go for fun family photos around Edmonton this summer? Here are 10 great locations to explore or rediscover for a great family experience—with a few unconventional spots! 1. Your backyard I bet ...
Family
Camping at Pigeon Lake Provincial Park—a fun family photography experience
Have you ever been to Pigeon Lake Provincial Park in Alberta? I went for the first time last summer and was quite pleased with the campground. Lots of trees, 10 km of biking or hiking trails, ...
Newborn
Edmonton prenatal class with Labour Day Prenatals
Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs out there. It doesn’t come with a college or university degree, and no instruction manual could ever hold the solutions and answers to all of ...
Family
First group photography exhibit for Sherwood Park photographer
Guess what? From June 13 to July 16, 2022, your favourite Sherwood Park photographer (hehe, me!) is participating in her first group photography exhibit! Documentary Family Photographers Worldwide (DFP) presents its third virtual photography exhibition, Community, in the ...
Family
Weekly meal plan: a culinary family excursion at home
I love good food and travel. When I can combine both experiences, it’s a true delight! My husband and I visited quite a few countries before having kids. We saw many great places and ...
Family
How to like yourself more in photos
Many people don’t like having their photo taken because they don’t like their appearance in photos. So when it comes to documentary family photography, where you’re photographed just as you are, without ...
Family
My experience on the other side of the camera
Last summer, I got to be on the other side of the camera during my family’s first documentary photo session. It was about time I got to feel the way my clients feel! Although ...
Family
Celebrating the best of motherhood in Edmonton
To all you mothers out there, whether you live in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Beaumont, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain or elsewhere in the world… I hope you know how awesome you are! Have you ...
Family
Why you don’t need to worry about feeling weird during your documentary family photography session
You have to be open-minded to let a photographer join you in the intimacy of your home. To let them witness the chaos, the love and the intricacies that make you and your family so ...
Family
Day-in-the-life family photography: what to do during your session?
If you’ve read the first two articles of this series about day-in-the-life family photography, you have a better idea of what it is and how long your photo session should be. But what if ...
Family
How long should your day-in-the-life family photo session be?
It’s called a day-in-the-life family photo session for a reason. But I’d say it’s not really a photo session. It’s more like a regular day in your life where you invite ...
Family
How to make a bouquet of paper roses with your kids
I used to do crafts with my kids at least once a week. We’d wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning, quietly get the crafting supplies out and look for something fun to ...
Family
Day-in-the-life family photography
Did you know that day-in-the-life family photography is the best way for you and your kids to time travel? In just a day, you get to create an invaluable time capsule of what your life ...
Family
Sherwood Park photographer awarded first place in international photography competition
I cried. Not just once, but quite a few times that morning. It wasn’t because I, Marie-Pierre Castonguay, a Sherwood Park family photographer, had just found out I was awarded first place in an ...
Family
Edmonton parents: shop local this holiday season
The supply chain is disrupted, small businesses are struggling. What better reason to shop local and give back to your community this holiday season? Edmonton parents, I had the chance to discover many great vendors ...
Family
Enjoy this phase of your child’s life longer with photography
It’s the little things you want to hold onto. The ones you know won’t last forever, like the way they love being held, how they blow kisses, their sweet innocence, the funny things ...
Family
8 ice cream shops to visit with your family in and around Edmonton
Have you noticed the many ice cream shops and food trucks that have popped up in and around Edmonton in the last few years? The summer of 2021 was particularly hot so I decided to give ...
Family
Visiting the Reynolds-Alberta Museum with kids
You know when you go somewhere without expecting much and are pleasantly surprised? That’s exactly how I felt when we visited the Reynolds-Alberta Museum with our kids last weekend—I couldn’t stop saying ...
Family
Why dads love documentary family photo sessions
This is a true short story. A woman says, all excited, “Honey, we’re gonna have a family photo session in a few weeks!” Her better half responds, disgruntled, “Not another photo session…” That was ...
Family
Questions for kids to answer about dad
Version française à la fin de l’article Remember my printable Questions for kids to answer about mom? I’ve adapted them for dads because Father’s Day is coming up and they deserve the ...
Family
6 reasons to hire a documentary family photographer this summer
The cold winter days are finally behind us. Who would have thought we’d get snow in the middle of May this year in Edmonton? Craziness! Nonetheless, spring had sprung, the kids have changed, and ...
Family
How do you want to feel when you look back at your family photos?
Five to ten years from now, how do you want to feel when you look back at your family photos? I wish I could go back to 2015 and ask myself the same question. I don’...
Family
Lifestyle or documentary family photography—how to choose the right style for your family?
I know why you’ve landed here! You’re interested in a style of photography that looks and feels natural. You’ve heard of lifestyle and documentary family photography, but you don’t know how ...
Family
Why you need to be in your photos to remember this stage of your child’s life
As a parent, it’s tempting to photograph every single thing about your child—and I don’t blame you! You’re so in love with that little person! You just want to remember the ...
Family
Questions for kids to answer about mom
Version française à la fin de l’article Mother’s Day is coming up and I want to share the gift I like to receive the most from my children: Questions for kids to answer ...
Family
How to bottle up your memories with meaningful photography
Do you ever wish your photos had a little something… more? Something that would make you feel the way you felt when they were taken and allow you to relive the moment? The following story ...
Family
Non-toy gift ideas
2020 has been different on so many levels and will continue to be until the very end. What are the holidays going to be like for your family this year? Social gatherings are prohibited until further ...
Family
Backyard fun | Sherwood Park family photography
This Sherwood Park family spends a lot of time in their backyard. They thought it would be the perfect setting for their short family photography session—and with good reason! They have a nice outdoor ...
Family
Outdoor family session
I launched my new website with a giveaway to end the strange summer of 2020 on a light note. Along with the giveaway came a special offer—you can now book a one-hour outdoor family session. ...
Family
Physical distancing photo session in Edmonton
End of May 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic had been going on for a little over two months in Alberta. I had stayed home and practiced social and physical distancing since the very beginning of the government ...
Family
They encourage their kids to be themselves
Jill and Natty have four kids ages 6 and under. Although their life must be crazy at times, they have a pretty laid back parenting style. They encourage their kids to be themselves and want them ...
Family
Tofield family photographer
Karine, Andy and their three kids live on an acreage in Beaver County, Alberta. One morning, I drove from Sherwood Park to their property to act as their Tofield family photographer. When I arrived, the ...
Family
A day in the life of a Southern Alberta family
It was a beautiful Monday morning in June. I woke up in my converted car-camper (a Honda Fit) after a nice weekend camping in Canmore with my own family. I was excited to go and ...
Newborn
Hospital newborn photo session
I hopped in Grandma’s vehicle and we were off to Edmonton’s Grey Nuns Hospital for a newborn photo session. It was very noisy in the vehicle and we adults could barely have a ...
Family
Remember the little things
Chelsey is a nurse and has a flexible work schedule, so she gets to spend a lot of time at home with her sweet girl. Watching her interact and experience the world with wonder and ...
Family
Escape to Canmore for a family photo session
Mallory and Jeff are from Edmonton and both share the same passion for fitness and the outdoors. A few years ago, they lucked out on a great condo deal in the Three Sisters development in ...
Newborn
Documentary newborn photography
Newborn photography in a studio usually happens within baby’s first two weeks of life. A young newborn is usually very sleepy, so it is much easier to achieve specific poses at that time. With ...
Newborn
Welcoming a new baby in the family
As a mother of twins, I often get to experience things only once, or twice in a short period of time. I find myself lucky to have two children without having undergone the toughest stages ...
Family
Baking Christmas cookies with the kids
The winter Holiday Season is magical for many families. It’s a time to get together, celebrate and honour family traditions. Baking Christmas cookies with the kids is a favourite for many families. Not only ...
