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 imposed restrictions. I was eager to photograph people that did not belong to my household. I needed a breath of fresh air, some new grounds to explore. During a weekly Friday evening videoconference with some friends, I asked what they had planned for the weekend. Nothing extraordinary—and it sounded good enough for me! I asked if I could go and join them for a short physical distancing photo session in their Edmonton neighbourhood. I was dying to photograph another family with children. And they agreed. Woohoo!
The photo session took place the next day. It also happened to be my birthday! What a great day it was! The sun was shining, I was seeing some friends in person for the first time in two months, and their girls put a huge smile on my face just by being themselves!
Riding down the hill
They went riding down a hill at the neighbourhood park. Their mom didn’t follow because she would rather not see an accident happen—if one was ever going to happen! But they did put their safety first. They threw on their bike helmets before hopping into their pull wagon. And off they went, to the park and down a bigger hill than I had expected! It was so fun to look at them! Even some passersby stopped to watch the show and said they had just had their fill of entertainment for the day! After going down the hill in their wagon quite a few times, they started rolling in the grass. The youngest one was quite funny as she still had not learned how to position herself to really roll!
Water and window fun
We left the park and went back to their house. I witnessed the little one jump and run through puddles of rainwater. When she tripped and fell in one of them, it was the end of her explorations but she kept playing with the water in their backyard. After that, while her older sister was painting her nails inside the house, she went drawing in the large front window.
After each photo session with Marie-Pierre, I always look forward to seeing the final result, discovering what she has seen through her lens, contemplating the beauty of our reality. I’m always amazed by her photos. They are illuminated by her sensitivity, her attention to detail, her curiosity and her passion for her art. I recommend Marie-Pierre in a heartbeat! A photo session with her is magical, intimate, and as funny as can be. Thank you Marie-Pierre for making us see the world through your eyes… It is so beautiful!
Isabelle
Spending some time documenting their little adventures was the best birthday present I could have offered myself this year. My heart was singing and full of joy at the end of our time together. Following them in their weekend fun made me realize how much I love what I do and it increased my desire to photograph more families. To top it all off, I even got some delicious maple taffy and a cold Rickard’s Red beer as a birthday present. Thank you so much one again, dear friends!
Physical distancing during an unposed photo session
To all who might have been wondering, this session is proof that it is possible to follow the COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions and get great unposed and authentic photos!
Is there a short activity your family enjoys doing together? It could be in your backyard or at a close by outdoor location. Having it documented would surely help you remember the strange times we live in!
What’s your physical distancing story?
I'm Marie-Pierre, an easygoing mother of two and a documentary family photographer. I believe we can all learn and grow from other people's experiences. Real life stories help us relate to each other, open our minds and feel better about ourselves.
this blog is a collection of featured client stories, tips, and articles on various family related topics. I hope you will find some inspiration!
