I will be sharing a lot of my favourite locations for outdoor family sessions in the Edmonton area. This is one of my favourites because of the stunning trees, and long tall grass. I love that it’s not just a flat location, but it has hills, trails and beautiful landscape. This is on the edge of the west side of Edmonton, just north of the town of Devon. Its getting more well known now that they’ve started to develop it into a nature sanctuary. I had actually known about this place for years, before it became such a popular location!
The mother is wearing one of my gowns, and we are also using my antique wooden ladder. This ladder I actually shoved in to a suitcase after sawing the lower rung off, and flew it home from Vancouver! It’s really hard to find these mini ladders, but they look absolutely adorable in family sessions. This mom really wanted to document herself behind the camera, so that her sons could have something special to keep as they grew up. Something that can be passed down over the years. We had such a good time during this session. We had a lot of laughs and good fun. The mom was so worried about doing the session, since she’s usually not in front of the camera, which is a sad reality that all mothers face. Dad’s just don’t quite understand how to make us feel good in front of the camera, or to capture our best angles. That’s why it’s so important to have these sessions regularly, if not every year!
Sometimes time flies so quickly that we forget how important it is to make sure that we are documenting our family regularly. As a mother of 4 children, I know just how quickly that time passes. My girls are growing too quickly, and I regret not doing a family session every single year, regardless of how chaotic it can be getting to the shoot! But let me promise you, when we do these sessions, it’s worth every single minute getting ready. It’s worth finding the outfits, and it’s worth getting hair and makeup done. I’ve never had a client EVER say that they regret getting their photographs taken. Why? Because these are what matter most. When our kids are grown, and living their own lives, the portraits that we have are what we cherish so deeply. Remembering their goofy grins, remembering how small they were. Remembering everything. Don’t ever forget how important it is to be with your family, and have it documented. One thing I would recommend is starting off your family photography journey right from pregnancy!
If you want to see a session done with a family of just 3, check it out here.
But in regards to this location, well, I guess I will share it with you, because yes its awesome! You can find it here
Don’t forget to bring bug repellant, have your clients wear good and comfortable shoes, and make sure that you are prepared to walk through some really gorgeous trails and beautiful forested areas! Enjoy the marsh lands and the singing of the beautiful birds that are everywhere!