Just about a month ago, Heather was surprised by her two lovely friends with a photo shoot. She loved her experience so much (which makes me VERY happy) that she decided to do the same for her mom! Earlier on that day, during her birthday lunch, she had been talking about to taking some “family photos” because it had been awhile! Well her wish came true…and she was ecstatic as you can see below
Here are a few photos from her surprise family shoot!
Love that smile
Balloons are really popular this season!
They even brought badminton rackets because they LOVE to play. And YES she even played in her dress!
If you’re interested in SURPRISING someone with a photo shoot… send me an email
14 kids + 11 adults + balloons + bubbles + park + playground = fun family photos!
I knew this was going to be a unique family shoot when Natalie (Donna’s daughter) first contacted me. She went on to tell me that since her aunt passed away, Donna (her mom) has taken over the role as everyone’s mother. So I was pre-warned of the amount of people involved and I was so looking forward to meeting this beautiful family. On top of that, Natalie informed me she was bringing bubbles and RED balloons for the kids… I KNEW we would get some great photos with those fun props!
Let me tell you, children photography is no easy feat. It takes an incredible amount of patience and a fun personality to be able to have fun with them while shooting… because it really is all about going at their pace!
I hope you enjoy this short lifestyle film and these fun-filled, colourful photos!
I love this shot!! Here’s Donna giving the kids a little bit of an incentive to behave for the next 3 hours!!
Donna’s smile says it all… “I’m so rich”
I think that’s everyone
Oooooh so cute. This little guy wanted to “see” the back of my camera!!
You’re NEVER too old.
bubbles = joy
I pretty much fell to the ground laughing when I took this photo…
As he was karate kicking the bubbles he was singing “everybody was kung-fu fighting”
One VERY popular mom
Precious
the oldest of the kids… and a really big help!
Justin’s shot!
I was wondering why this little one kept on leaning over… but then her mom told me she was actually copying me and my angles!
this is what your kids do when you’re not looking!
We know it. It’s true. Justin & I are blessed, lucky, fortunate, serendipitous, privileged… whatever you’d like to call it It’s been an amazing year of travel for us and we haven’t taken it for granted. From the lovely coasts of Western Australia to the beaches of Jamaica; the bumpy roads of Zambia to the waterways of Venice. I still can’t believe we’ve been to 4 continents and 9 countries; We’ve taken 31 flights and thousands of photos!
When we decided to take a trip to Italy to celebrate 5 years of marital bliss, we were excited…. but didn’t realize that we wouldn’t have time to plan more than our bed & breakfast for the first 3 nights (and even that was a friends’ last minute suggestion)! Weeks leading to our trip, I started fretting a bit about not having any plans (I love to plan!) when we arrived to Venice. But the busyness of wedding season didn’t stop, and it wasn’t until I was on the plane that I started reading about what we would actually do when we got there.
So as you watch this video and look at these photos… think: unexpected, impromptu, surprise! Because almost everything we saw and did was exactly that for us!
One of our first photos we took in the little town of Chioggia (aka “mini Venice”)
Our B&B in Chioggia… 5 levels. We stayed on the bottom floor and ate breakfast on the top floor!
Gino, the homeowner, made sure we knew there were 72 steps to the top. The view was amazing!
Oh Venice… how I love getting “lost” in all of your random streets and alleys.
The BEST pasta I had on our whole trip… fagotini! YUMMY!
Totally loved being serenaded by the accordionists while eating fagotini… SO Italy
walking or boating… your two choices of transportation!
Justin snapped this photo, early in the morning, of a grocer bringing in the produce for the day!
love this!!
My FAVOURITE photo of the trip
Yes we HAD to experience the GONDOLA. Here’s our gondolier:
Not everyone takes the short boat ride to the near island of Murano (where they make all of the glass that you buy in Venice), but it was SO worth it!
I thought I’d be bored at the OPERA… but NOPE it was so amazing especially since they were all dressed in the baroque style garb.
Now to ROMA… Our first stop: The Spanish Steps.
There were only a few tourists.
This is where we ran into Nigel Lythgoe… but before we could talk to him or take his picture, he walked into this shoe store!!
Rome at night = AWESOME! We slept in many days because we loved the cool and lively nights!
St. Peter’s Basilica
The famous Coliseum
Ancient Rome… this is where the saying “all roads lead to Rome” comes from. We’re right in the center!
LOL!!! One afternoon, we were sitting on a bench, reading and resting, then suddenly we were surrounded by hundreds of Vespas and a wedding party!
I guess I can’t get away from wedding photography
Here are some more night shots, including the Fountain of Trevi:
and the Coliseum again…
Picture this: It’s the end of a long day of walking and we were so tired. We were trying to find the Metro… and let’s be honest – I was GRUMPY… Until I found this random bakery.
We actually walked by it, but then my nose caught the smell of pastries and I took a few steps back to see stairs leading down to this bakery in the basement of a building. All I could think was THANK YOU GOD!
On our last day in Rome, we headed to the 2nd largest museum in the world: The Vatican Museum!
The Last Supper
This is actually worth more than gold!
The Sistine Chapel = no cameras, no video cameras, no talking, no falling…
Justin disobeyed and took this shot of The Sistine Ceiling. And I’m so glad he did!
This is the middle scene where God infuses his soul into man (creation) being the most famous (and very small) part of the ceiling.
Painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. Brilliant.
Well this is a few weeks late, but considering we were out of the country and enjoying life a little!!….. We’re now getting caught up on all of our editing and Justin is finishing up all sorts of short lifestyle films!
We’re also going to post some photos and a highlight video from Italy sooooooon! So stay tuned for that fun stuff!!
But for today here’s Tam & Huy’s short film. Enjoy!
I actually don’t know where to start with this post. What a day! What a BEAUTIFUL day! An emotion-filled day for all of us. You’ll remember Jeannine & Glenn from their engagement session back in May in British Columbia. And if you remember that post, you know that Glenn is Justin’s dad… my father-in-law (although we usually like to skip the “in-law” part
This day couldn’t have come quicker for the two of them. With so much hope in their future, for months they were wanting their future to be the present!! Well now, the day has come and gone… and I’m hoping these photos will help you remember how special it was, how special you are… both individually and together!
Justin & I were so grateful as to how they intentionally made each of us kids feel so special on their day. We were all involved and had our place. I’d say I’m most impressed with my talented Justin who was busy officiating the wedding, being the son of the groom, and second-shooting. I KNOW, he’s amazing right?! Even in our “busy-ness”, we didn’t want to miss out on celebrating and ‘feeling’ the day so we tried real hard to put down the camera at times to just “be” with dad and Jeannine.
We’d love nothing more than for you to enjoy this slideshow of their wedding (with a few video segments fused into it).
I love this egg Jeannine got from the Ukraine. She bought two… one I used in their engagement shoot and this beautiful one.
While Justin was hanging out with his dad at the house, I was with Jeannine at the salon.
This is Aubrey, my favourite brother-in-law… ok so he’s my only brother BUT he’s still my favourite!!
The next two shots of Justin’s are full of amazing emotion between a dad and his daughters.
So gorgeous and beaming with joy!
Minutes before the ceremony started… love it!
Let’s pause here for a funny story.
Let’s go back 5 years to when Justin and I got married. Of course dad officiated our wedding, but when he pronounced us man and wife he said: ”Mr & Mrs Justin and Melanie Boudreau” (Boudreau was my maiden name). None of us noticed until someone mentioned it later and then of course we all had a big laugh about it (and we’ve never let Glenn forget it either)!
So when Glenn asked Justin to repay him the favour by officiating his wedding to Jeannine, I had my suspicions that Justin would do the same. And of course, he did.
“Let me introduce you to Mr and Mrs Glenn and Jeannine Boyd, I mean Driedger” So fun.
Me and my two lovely twin sisters *whistles*
Their guestbook
Here’s another great moment when Jeannine surprised Glenn with a ‘bouquet’ of wheat.
Only a few months ago Grandpa Driedger passed away, and of course Glenn was so disappointed to not have his dad with him on his special day.
His dad was a farmer and so Jeannine really wanted to have some wheat in some of the photos to remember him by. Special.
What’s a wedding without your two best friends: Heidi and Gerald!
Hmmm this looks familiar
Jeannine’s niece was looking so fierce. I loved her look!
LOVE these two moments with Glenn’s mom on the left and Jeannine’s sister on the right.
The Driedger family at their best!!
You can totally sense the love and joy from these two. bliss.
Dad & Jeannine… much love to both of you! Thanks for entrusting us in capturing all the special moments of your day. It was nothing less than a joyful celebration for you and our family!
Oh Venice… how I love getting “lost” in all of your random streets and alleys.
Totally loved being serenaded by the accordionists while eating fagotini… SO Italy 
love this!!
Not everyone takes the short boat ride to the near island of Murano (where they make all of the glass that you buy in Venice), but it was SO worth it!
Now to ROMA… Our first stop: The Spanish Steps.
and the Coliseum again…
