Vancouver Portrait Photography // Christine, Adam and Seymour: Family Photoshoot

First of all, full disclosure: I am obsessed with the cat you are currently looking at. His name is Seymour, and he is the best boy. He is not the cuddliest, but he is goofy and zoomy, and so curious and athletic, and just overall a 10/10 cat. 

He came into our lives about a year and a half ago, when, after posting a picture of the cutest kitten I have ever seen on her instagram, our tenant Christine approached us, and asked how we would feel about them getting a cat. I immediately asked if it was the one from the photo, and when she said yes, I looked at Shane with the biggest puppy dog eyes I could muster. Long story short, they got the cat. 

It took them a long time to come up with a perfect name, so in the meantime, we called him a wide variety of things, the best by far being Señor Black Balls (because he has huge black balls relative to his little cream-coloured cat body, in case that wasn’t clear). Even as a kitten, he was great at fetch. He has these yellow rubber balls, and he would go crazy chasing them, and then he would grab it in his mouth, and bring it right back to you. Never did teach him to put it in your hand. He was also really interested in shoes as a kitten? He would find a shoe and climb into it, and that was pretty freaking cute. 

It didn’t take long for him to make it clear that he did not appreciate being shut out from the top floor of the house, which turned us from tenants and landlords into roomies who shared a cat. I will say, Shane and I definitely lucked out on that deal, because we get all the cuteness with none of the litterbox. 

Seymour is obviously our favourite, but Adam and Christine are pretty cool too. Adam is the chillest guy I have ever met, and also a pro snowboarder who does crazy things on his board, and somehow makes it look easy. He also plays guitar, and as his upstairs neighbour, I am happy to say he is very good at it. Christine is a helicopter mechanic, which is badass as hell, and overall just a funny, kind, down to earth person. 

It’s been great living with them over the last couple years, and I simply had to take some family photos of them with Señor Black Balls while he was still small. The result is pure cuteness.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Granville Island Modelling

Ksenia models her new trenchcoat and Andrei drops in for a few couples photos // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I follow Ksenia on Instagram, and I remember when a couple of years ago she posted some photos of pillows and sleep masks she made and embroidered. I thought they were cute, and a fun side project, but I would have never predicted that she would grow a whole online clothing boutique. These days she designs and sells all kinds of clothes, from dresses, to PJs, to shorts, pants, blouses, and now she is selling trench coats! She brought one with her to Canada to photograph, and I thought Granville Island would make a great location.

Granville Island is my favourite part of Vancouver, I love the views, the market, the cute shops and cozy cafes, and all the street art and performers. It’s where I go when I need cheering up. I chose a few different spots to shoot with Ksenia in her trenchcoat, because Granville Island has no shortage of picturesque backdrops. The sun was setting, and we were making the most of that cool, purple light.

Ksenia is always dancing, which helps give the photos a light and candid vibe. It always cracked me up when she carefully brushed out and arranged her long tresses, referring to them as her “Instagram hair”.

Her husband Andrei is a huge jokester and could not stand idly by while Ksenia was getting all the attention, so he snuck in for a few shots, picking her up and twirling her around. I love the way their energy is so similar and they egg each other on. I loved photographing them, and I will love photographing you too. No matter if you are in a couple or happily single, let’s shoot some great photos!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // A Cross-British Columbia Honeymoon Trip

Portraits of the happy couple from around our beautiful province // Vancouver Portrait Photography

When my cousin Andrei and his wife Ksenia came to Canada, we knew that we wanted to show them more than just Vancouver. Shane and I love nothing more than a good road trip, and so I took some time off work, and we planned a cross-BC road trip that would highlight some of the beauty of our province. We set out from Peachland, and spent one night each in Revelstoke, Banff, and Nelson.

Revelstoke is a place I’ve been to a few times before, and I love how charming its main street is. This time I particularly enjoyed walking across the bridge over the Columbia River. We got a great deal at a fancy hotel, and enjoyed pumpkin pie (Ksenia’s favourite new Canadian treat) followed by a soak in the outdoor hot tub under the stars.

While driving to Banff, we experienced a gradual season change from fall to winter. Even though we were only in mid-September, as we were driving through the Rockies it began to snow, and we were all nervously wondering whether we brought anything warm enough for this sudden winter. It was beautiful to see the pines lightly dusted with snow, and walking through Banff felt almost like Christmas. I visited the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel for the first time, and it is a super old and absolutely magical place, reminiscent of Hogwarts. I enjoyed imagining what it would have been like to be a young woman spending my summers there many years ago.

I have never been to Nelson before, and this cute little town absolutely stole my heart. I don’t know exactly what it was about it, but somewhere between the scenery, the garlic-themed restaurant, the thrift shops and all the street art, I found myself completely smitten, and I hope we get a chance to visit again soon.

The photos in this set were taken in these towns or somewhere along the way, and you can see the love this couple feels for each other, combined with our breathtaking province. They may have not gotten an engagement photoshoot, but I think they will keep these honeymoon photos for a long, long time.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Tunnel Portraits

Using natural light and a tunnel to create stunning portraits // Vancouver Portrait Photography

One of my favourite Okanagan activities is biking around the Myra Canyon. This area used to be part of the Kettle Valley Railway, built at the turn of the last century, and is now a walk/bike path right at the steep edge of the canyon. There are 18 trestle bridges, which are old timey and ornate and great to look at and photograph, and also two tunnels.

We brought my cousin and his wife here during our time in the Okanagan, and were delighted to see that although fall was in full swing, the bicycle rental shop was still open. The weather was doing some weird stuff, going from bright and sunny to instant rain, and the attendant was kind enough to provide us with yellow and red plastic ponchos so that we could enjoy our biking adventure without getting drenched.

As soon as I remembered that this bike ride goes through tunnels, I got so excited because some of my favourite photographs come from tunnels. I declared that on the ride back we have to stop and take photos there, and everyone reluctantly agreed, although I could tell they were confused. There was so much breathtaking scenery around, why would I want to take photos in a dark tunnel? Luckily I knew what I was doing, and when my companions saw the photos; the even light, the sharpness, the contrasting dark background, they understood why I was so excited. Lighting is everything in a photograph, and I love being able to use my surroundings to create high quality photographs. If you are looking for some great photographs of you or your loved ones, contact me today!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Exploring Some Colourful Walls with Stephanie

Steph makes the most of the end of summer with some fun portraits // Vancouver Portrait Photography

North Vancouver is still a relatively new city for me, and I love discovering new parts of it. Recently, I was in a new, more industrial part of town, trying out a vegan ramen place called The Workshop, when I noticed that many of the businesses were painting their walls and garages in fun different colours! I saw blue, pink, green, orange and red, and knew I had to come back there soon and shoot.

The opportunity presented itself shortly after, when Stephanie and I found the time to finally get together and shoot some portraits. I know Stephanie from my UBC days, we have seen a lot of growth and change in each other’s lives, and I am so glad to have her as a friend.

This day turned out to be one of the last nice days of summer, I was grateful for the great light, and I am sure Steph was glad she could still wear a romper without freezing. We took our time with this shoot, and explored all the different background options. It was my first time shooting with Steph and I loved how much fun she was having with it, trying out poses and coming up with ideas for props. I think her playful nature really comes through in these photos, and I can’t wait to come back to this location and try out some new ideas.

If you are in need of some colour in your life, contact me and let’s go shoot some fun portraits!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Dean and Fadrina Couples Shoot in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Dean and Fadrina are full of love in this tropical Mexico shoot // Vancouver Portrait Photography

This shoot comes from a recent trip to Puerto Escondido, in Oaxaca, Mexico. I have never been to this part of Mexico before, and it’s now hands down my favourite place to visit. We loved that it was colourful and busy, and the people were friendly and cheerful, but that it did not feel overrun by tourists, and we were free to experience life in a way that was closer to the way the locals do. My love for Oaxaca was also helped by the fact that Shane proposed to me on this trip!

Dean is my future brother in law, and is a sweet and down to earth guy, and on top of that a pilot! Him and Fadrina make a great couple, and they are always hiking and travelling, or hanging out with their dog Brooke. Fadrina and I got along right away; we are both child immigrants from Europe, so we bonded over that, plus she is just such a funny and genuine person.

I shot these at our house in Puerto Escondido. We spent most of our days relaxing by the pool, but I couldn’t let those gorgeous beach views go to waste, so I cajoled everyone into getting dressed up, and took advantage of the natural light and beautiful empty beach to capture these romantic images of the couple. Check out the ones at the end for shots of the whole family!

Whether you are recently engaged or just want some high quality photos of yourself and your significant other, contact me for all your Vancouver portrait photography needs.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Michelle and Travis West Coast Family Portraits

Family portraits in North Vancouver before a cross-country move // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I know Michelle and Travis through our friends, and was so excited when Michelle reached out to me to take some photos of her and her family before they made a big move out east. What made this time in their lives even more special was that Michelle was soon due to deliver their second baby, and she wanted to remember this time in their lives, when Michelle, Travis and Lucas were a family of three on the west coast, before they became a family of four in the east.

We met in Ambleside Park, along the beach, and although it was a pretty chilly afternoon, the light was beautiful. We were lucky enough to have Lucas’s grandmother there as well, who kept him busy on the playground while I took some photos of just the parents. Lucas is such a lovable and well-behaved kid, and was giving me his biggest smile the whole time. He also insisted on keeping on his sunglasses at all times, so even at such an early age he is already more responsible than a lot of adults I know.

I loved seeing this family laugh and interact, and as usual my favourite shots ended up being the candid ones. Although grandma was not planning to be part of the shoot, I am so glad we had time to include her in a few shots at the end.

Every family needs some great photographs, so contact me today!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Spring in Stanley Park with Daniel

Teenage portraits with Daniel shot on Vancouver’s Seawall // Vancouver Portrait Photography

My brother Daniel and I are 10 years apart, and these days it’s hard to find common ground. Gone are his preteen days where everything I did was the coolest, and he was all about my music and actually listened to my opinions on fashion. Now he is 16 and entirely too cool for me, so  I am glad that we have a shared love of photography to bond over.

I love when Daniel visits me downtown, it makes me happy to be able to show him my new neighbourhood, and it’s sometimes nice to spend some quality brother/sister time without the parents. On this day we decided to take a walk along the Seawall to scope out some good shoot locations, and came across this little bridge/tunnel connecting the main seawall to some of the forest trails. It didn’t look like much, but the way it helped light Daniel was awesome, and I love these shots of him, especially his facial expressions.

Teenagers change so quick, and I try and photograph Daniel as much as I can so I can remember him in all his different phases (I think at this point he may be starting to get close to a man bun). It’s probably a good time for your teenager to get some photos taken of them too, and maybe something a little more casual and authentic than the stuffy, rigid portraits they get done in school, so contact me to schedule a shoot.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Suzy in the Sunshine

Natural Light Headshots for Suzy // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I met Suzy when I came to UBC and rushed a sorority. She was instantly so friendly and sunny and we just got on like a house on fire, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise a when a couple months later she was revealed to be my big sister within the sorority. She is all of 5 feet and 1 inch, and I always get a kick out of how I got the world’s tiniest big sister.

One thing you have to know about Suzy is that she loves to eat, and knows all the best places in Vancouver for any kind of food. She is like my own personal Yelp, and I have never had a bad meal with her. She was recently  on a trip through Asia, and her Instagram stories of ramen, sushi, and pho were making me drool on a daily basis.

With her love of food, it’s no surprise that Suzy is now becoming a dietician. She is studying, working, volunteering, and still somehow finds time to see her friends. I honestly don’t know how she does it.

For this shoot, we headed outside to shoot in the natural light and contrast Suzy’s beautiful pink dress with some greenery. I love that Suzy is down for anything, and happily knelt down beside my flowerbed when I assured her that those yellow flowers will look stunning in the background. These shots turned out great, especially for a quick impromptu shoot, and I can’t wait to see one on her dietician profile.

If you are a professional and are in need of some new headshots, contact me today for all your Vancouver headshot and portrait needs.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Puddle Jumping with Stella

Making the best of a rainy day on the Sunshine Coast // Vancouver Portrait Photography

One of my fiancé Shane’s and mine favourite weekend activities is visiting our friends Melissa and Galen on the Sunshine Coast. They have the coziest wood cabin, and we have enjoyed watching them transform it into a beautiful full-time home over the last couple of years. However, the best part of visiting them has to be seeing Shane’s goddaughter Stella. This kid is the best; she is smart and funny and unbelievably cute and already surprisingly athletic for her age.

We were there for the first time Stella kicked during Melissa’s pregnancy, and held her when she was one day old. Surprising no one, I was immediately in love with this baby, but the real shock was how instantly attached Shane got to her; as soon as we left their apartment that first day we held her, he insisted we drive to Richmond to buy a baby bath and a variety of other gifts for Stella. His immediate adoration of this tiny human earned him the Godfather title.

On this rainy day on the Sunshine Coast, we got Stella dressed for the weather in the cutest bright red MEC romper and packed her in her wagon to play in a nearby park. She was so happy to jump in the puddles and splash around with her dad, and I am in love with the colourful playful shots I got.

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Svetlana in Stanley Park

Soft autumn light portraits in Stanley Park with Svetlana // Vancouver Portrait Photography

I love photographing my mom. I think in part it is because I know growing up in the USSR in the 60s she only has a handful of photos from her whole childhood, and I now want to balance that out by photographing her as much as I can. But also, I just think my mom is beautiful, and I love being able to capture that in photos that she can keep forever.

For this shoot, we met downtown and then walked down to the Stanley Park seawall. The day was sunny, and we were blissfully happy to be surrounded by all the fall colours. Seeing all the yellows, oranges, and reds oranges sometimes leaves me in such awe that I don’t know what to do with myself.

I strategically used a tunnel to place Svetlana in the best light, creating contrast between the dark background and her evenly lit face. It’s always a fun challenge using what you have on hand to manipulate natural light and create flattering portraits.

The best thing about photographing your mom is how much patience she has for you while you are trying out new techniques (patience I’m sure she developed during my teenage years, sorry mom).

I love these shots, they feel warm, she has a real sparkle in her eyes, and it is so special to me to be able to take my mom and create images that she loves, that show her the way she sees herself, and I know she sends them to all of her friends to show off her new portraits.

Every person is worthy of excellent portraits, and I can’t wait to create yours.  

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Nina Shares the Spotlight with a Surprise Co-Star

Nina’s portrait shoot becomes a couple’s shoot when Carumba demands to be included in the fun // Vancouver Portrait Photography

With the Vancouver skies grey and rainy, Nina and I opted to stay indoors at my North Vancouver home studio and shoot some portraits.

I met Nina about two years ago, through Bumble BFF when it first became available in Vancouver. Those first couple of months were exciting, girls were constantly organizing meetups, everyone was involved and meeting new friends. The initial excitement quickly died down, but luckily Nina and I already became good friends by then. We share a love of Pokerrito (sushi burritos), and it remains our go-to lunch spot.

Growing up with a photographer mom, Nina instantly seemed comfortable in front of the camera, and I got a lot of great shots, especially with her magical-looking unicorn hair. We were in for a surprise when Carumba, who I was cat-sitting at the time, wandered into the room, displeased that the attention wasn’t directed at her like it usually is. Nina picked her up, and what resulted were the most fun and genuine photos of the session. Who can resist such a photogenic cat.

I would love to shoot your portrait with your cat/dog/hamster/goldfish/hedgehog (hedgehogs are my absolute favourite, so if you have one, I would especially like to hear from you).

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Actor Headshots for Yoo Ra

Local actor Yoo Ra visits my studio for some new headshots // Vancouver Portrait Photography

Yoo Ra and I met back during my time at UBC, but lost touch after I graduated. When she reached out to me, looking to update her headshots, in time for an upcoming role in a production, I was excited for an opportunity to reconnect. She met me at my North Vancouver home studio, and we picked up right where we left off.

The first thing I noticed about Yoo Ra when she walked in was her long silky hair, which she had expertly curled, and I immediately saw how great it would look in photos. The second thing was her smile; she was so buoyant and our conversation flowed easily through the shoot, going from reminiscing, to finding a surprise common love of RuPaul’s Drag Race, to discussing her upcoming role.

I find Yoo Ra’s acting career so inspiring, because she only started acting when she got into university. I think a lot of us have hobbies or interests we wish we pursued, but maybe feel like we missed the boat because we didn’t start young. I definitely sometimes feel this way, but that is such nonsense. As long as you’re still alive, there is still time to fill your days with things you love to do. We might not all become world-renowned, but we can all find a little extra happiness in doing the things we are passionate about.

Yoo Ra is lovely, and it was a lot of fun watching her personality shine through in the photos. As much as I loved the serious actor headshots, it was more fun cracking her up, resulting in images that seem to get to the heart of who she is.

If you are in need of some fresh new headshots or portraits in Vancouver, I will be happy to help!

Vancouver Portrait Photography // Nina + Braden Holiday Shoot

Nina and Braden snuggle up for a Christmas-themed shoot // Vancouver Portrait Photography

Winter is the time for twinkly lights and cozy sweaters, so when Nina came to me looking to get some photos with her boyfriend Braden to send to her mom back in Kingston, Ontario, I was immediately excited to photograph this lovely couple and see what we could come up with.

We met downtown near the Vancouver Art Gallery on a chilly Saturday, and had such a good time playing around with different props, hats and sweaters. We decided to go really cheesy with this shoot, giving it a “family Christmas card” kind of vibe.

Nina’s and Braden’s personalities really shone through in the photos, and I loved getting to capture them cuddling, talking and laughing. Being in front of the camera can be very intimidating when you’re not used to it, and while Nina was a natural, Braden took a little while warm up to the camera. My favourite part of the shoot was watching the couple gradually relax, have fun with each other, and show off their silly side.

If you are recently engaged, or maybe just want some nice photos of yourself or your significant other to post on Instagram or send to your mom, contact me for all your Vancouver portrait photography needs.