Personal Message

Hey everyone!

Let’s just jump into it eh? :P

So my anxiety has been acting up lately (if the overthinking surrounding where to put this message wasn’t already a sign). It has been very interesting being somewhat of a passenger to my mental health this year. I have been very self aware and really working on boundaries, holding a safe place for myself, even if that might upset a friend or family member. Learning to trust that I am loved at my “not-so-good” self and not just when I am at my best. So that has been a bit of a journey for me this year. 

I also have started going to French courses! Soon I will be speaking French with my francophone clients and I feel like that is a pretty big accomplishment to work towards. I know how much mental work it is to speak a language you are not truly comfortable in, so I am excited to be able to take away that discomfort for my French speaking clients. 

And finally, I am going to be starting a personal art project(!) and it might even be considered for a grant! It is basically going to be a study of what it means to exist in photographs. Often we shy away from being photographed, or it is very hard to get past our mental blocks to allow someone else to photograph us. 9 times out of 10 the photo isn’t exactly what we wish to see of ourselves. At least that is what it is like for me. And exploring the meaning behind not having any physical or digital representation of your existence for a number of years in a row, and how that can affect our own personal stories. I am currently no-contact with my parents, and I realized a while ago about how I have nothing to show Lux in photographs of my childhood, other than a couple embarrassing school picture day photos. Fortunately, a few months ago my aunt gifted me a physical album that she made, containing prints from my childhood. Rarely seen photos of my tumultuous teenage years, photos of me being the goofball kid I was, and even photos with my family. Seeing these photos gave me an immense sense of belonging, existing, and allowed me to remember and validate all the things that happened in those years. Good and bad. That felt like a new tether was created and it replaced one of the many tethers that broke for me when I went no contact with my family. 

Woah. So I guess I went the personal route… welp, now down for brass tacks, haha. 

The Returning Client Appreciation Special… Returns!

As I said about my own photo as a child, family phots are very important. To get a freeze frame of your family as they actually are and not just those wooden smiles photos can often generate; it’s truly special. It crystallizes the moment in time, giving you that authentic memory of that time in your lives. And each and every one of you is important enough to document. This year we have three possible locations (Angrignon Park, a Meadow Scene, and a Dock By the River) for you to choose from!

A Gift

Which leads me to my next announcement. Gifted sessions. I will be providing gifted family mini sessions for one full day in September. This means a Fall Family Mini Session at zero cost and all edited digital images are included as well. If it has been a couple of years since we have had a session, and if photos with the family is something you cannot financially justify at this time, please try and book your family in for a gifted family session. If you know of a family that is having a rough time, please encourage them to book a gifted family session. And don’t hold back. Last year’s gifted sessions didn’t fully book out.

You matter! Please accept this gift <3

Finally, if you are looking for something simpler then a full family session, please consider booking yourself in for a Fall Family Mini Session. You will be getting first dibs on the booking spots, because I won’t be opening the spots to the public until August 7th. These sessions will be for $200 and you will get 5 digital images of your choice from your gallery. They will be held on Saturday Sept 26th and Saturday October 3rd (location to be determined but likely one of the three listed above).

The booking for all three sessions will be opening on Friday July 31st at 10am (In two days). It will be first come first serve, so if you have your heart set on one of these sessions please make note of the time. I will be sending an email out with the links to book at that time.

Booking opens on Friday (July 31) at 10am

The three sessions are 

The Fall Family Session - Client Return Special 

Date/Time: Anytime in September/October depending on availability.
Includes: 1 hour session ALL (70-90) digital images in full resolution.
$675

Fall Family Gifted Sessions

Date/Time: September 19th
Includes: 20 minute session all digital images in full resolution
$0

Fall Family Mini Sessions

Date/Time: September 26 and October 3
Includes: 20 minute session 5 digital images in full resolution
$200 (upgrades to purchase more images will be available)

I hope to see you there! 

All my best, 
Reina <3