To say that I was ecstatic to finally be moving my sessions back outdoors would be a gross understatement. The trick with outdoor sessions, though, is that you’re always at risk of less-than-ideal weather and light conditions. I felt pretty lucky that weekend: not only did I get agreeable weather twice so early in the season, but I got to use two new and very interesting locations that suited both sets of clients perfectly.
At the end of April, I was joined by Gen and her beautiful family on an overcast Friday evening. Luckily for us, I’d gotten permission to use a pine grove that wasn’t affected by the flat skies or lack of light, and we had a great time together.
Gen, Pete, and their gorgeous daughter, Eva, joined me for photos last fall, when I did one quick photo to help them announce their pregnancy when it was time to tell the world. Needless to say, Gen’s belly has changed shape quite significantly since then!
Gen chose a dress that really worked with her incredible skin tone, and the family’s outfits all worked together neatly and the rich tones really worked with our surroundings; proof that putting thought into what you wear is worth the time. With only a few short weeks left until her due date, we spent the evening amongst the pines in a session that felt truly magical – I love the texture and depth that the trunks and needles added to their background.
Here are some favourites from my time with the Neilys:
Later that same weekend, I was joined by Julie and Dan for their maternity session. I loved that these two opted for simple, complementary outfits; their clothing choices ended up working beautifully with our location and added extra vibrancy and contrast to their background.
These two are country folks to the core, so our location ended up being the perfect choice. Julie and Dan’s session took place in a field that is inaccessible during the high season because the grass grows so high and thick that the photos would be more like a maternity “Where’s Waldo?” than a custom portrait session, but was completely striking so early in the spring. The deciduous trees in the area were still without leaves, so the cedars added depth and colour that, when combined with the golden grass, we couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.
Julie is one of those pregnant women whose skin has taken on such a dramatic glow that it barely needed any softening at all. It’s so wonderful to see that pregnancy doesn’t just bring back pain and sleepless nights to my clients, but gives women like Julie this ethereal glow that makes them so strikingly beautiful. Dan wasn’t too sure what he was in for, so we broke him in gently and, by midway through the session, he was working it like a pro and really loosening up. It’s not always easy for husbands or partners who come along on maternity sessions – they aren’t the focus, and they often don’t know what to do with themselves, so it was great to see Dan join in and play along. :)
Here are Julie and Dan’s highlights:
