Graduation Portraits | Calgary Photographer

So, this Black Friday, there are two types of sessions on sale. The Adventure Session AND the Grad Session. What is a grad session? I feel like this is one type of session where people really have got stuck in their idea of what this type of session should be and that box that they are stuck in is not helping them get great images. A grad session really can be whatever you can dream up. I like to plan the session out based on the outfits and the grad’s personality. This lovely and talented human graduated last year from the PVA program at Central Memorial. She was NOT IN LOVE with her grad portraits done by the school. So, we started her session out in my studio creating better traditional cap and gown portraits(although, her hair is so beautiful we agreed that there really was no need for the cap). Then, she changed into her grad dress and we did some portraits in studio and just within walking distance of my studio. By making the decision not to do the session on the day of the graduation, this allowed us to take the time we needed to get all of the portraits that would make her happy. After all, one only graduates from high school ONCE and the portraits should be as fantastic as all of that feels.

Some grads decide to have two outfits—one more casual and one more formal. Some choose to have a quick family mini session at the beginning or the end of their session. Some bring their boyfriends or girlfriends. I’ve even set up an afternoon of minis for friend groups(although this wouldn’t be included in the black friday session sale it is still an option). So, instead of trying to squeeze the session in between all of the graduation events, pick a different day and give yourself a more relaxed experience overall.

As with the Adventure Sessions, these sessions will be on sale this Friday for $250 off of the regular price. There will be 10 sessions up for grabs. They are going to be popular this year as I’ve had many emails about them so make sure to set a notification to check your email or watch my social media to grab your spot before they are gone.

Adventure Session with Teens | Calgary Family Photographer

Adventure Sessions at home are always one of my favourite things. I love documenting kids in their rooms. It is such a marker of time. It’s not about the room being perfectly clean or decorated to look like it should be in a magazine…it’s about the imperfect beauty of a child’s bedroom and how it evolves over time. The room in and of itself tells a story of who that child is so creating a portrait of them in that space is so powerful to me. Even if there is an issue and the bed didn’t arrive in time for the photo shoot(as so happened in this session). Kids—especially teens—spend a lot of time in their bedrooms. They should be documented. When we do an Adventure Session in your home, it allows for me to really capture a glimpse of who you are as a family in a way that just isn’t possible anyplace else.

This Black Friday(November 25th) my Adventure Sessions will be discounted for 2023. As I’ve become busier doing larger commercial jobs, these sessions will be my focus for next year. There will be 10 up for sale at $250 off the regular rate. It will require a $250(+gst) deposit along with the month in which you wish for the session to happen. Everything else will be worked out in January. If you are planning on a session with me next year, this is the day to book that session. My email list will get an email at 8:00am with the link to purchase. If you wish to be added to that list, contact me though the contact form on this website. At 9:00am, the link will be made public via my social media channels.

Let me know if you have any questions. For now, here is a wonderful example of an at home session. This is about 1/3rd of the photographs that they received from me(for reference).

Kananaskis Adventure Session | Calgary Photographer

An Adventure Session at one of my favourite locations…well, until this year…this year, almost every time I went I saw multiple bears. Which makes me concerned about going back there. ha, but no really. I do always bring bear spray, but I am thinking that maybe it’s time to move on and find another favourite location. The views here are just so spectacular that if a family is willing to make the trek, then I usually can’t help myself.

I’m sharing this session not only because of the location, but because of the BUBBLES(ohmygoodness someone get me one of these bubble wands immediately) and the age of the child. Have a tween is always such a precious time in a family’s history. This is when my Adventure sessions become a bit more directed. We get a lot of portraits—with mom & dad, with the dog, alone. Having an activity though, makes sure that there is a lot less eye rolling during the session. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good eye roll portrait as much as the next guy, but creating a relaxed experience where I can make a connection with your tween/teen is bound to have a more creative outcome. I try to include them in the process and then they start to get excited and make suggestions around photographs. I love when sessions become true collaborations with the kids(and, okay, if mom or dad has a suggestion, I love that as well).

Here are a handful of my favourite images from this session. Enjoy!

Urban Rooftop Graduation Session | Calgary Photographer

I know it’s November so you might be thinking that this isn’t the right time of year to be talking about graduation sessions, but you would be wrong!! Graduation sessions are by far my most popular sale item on Black Friday. So, in the spirit of answering some of your most frequently asked questions about graduation sessions, I will be posting some of my favourite sessions from the last couple of years.

This is the lovely Emelia. We came up with the idea for a rooftop sunset session together after she showed me her dress. I thought it was the perfect choice for this type of session. This session is such a great example of why we don’t have the session on the same day as the graduation ceremony or party. When we make it a separate event, it allows for another day to celebrate your graduate. It also allows for flexibility as far as location, time of day, and outcomes. Every grad is different so I want to make sure that their photographs always reflect that. Allowing for flexibility as far as scheduling the graduation session means we aren’t at the mercy of the weather or the crazy schedule for the day. You can spend the actual graduation day focusing on celebrating as a family and worry about portraits on another day.

This year, my own daughter is graduating and we are planning at least three different portrait sessions(because I really am that kind of crazy). This will definitely be one of the locations as I love it so much. Where would your perfect graduation portrait session location be?