Owen Sound Family Photographer: Location, Location, Location
A variety of factors are considered when choosing appropriate locations for outdoor portrait sessions. Lighting, background, season, atmosphere, and accessibility are just a few important things that I personally account for when selecting locations to shoot at. As a family photographer based outside of Owen Sound, ON, I do have a collection of preferred locations that I am happy to suggest when planning to capture an upcoming family portrait session, however I am open to alternative options as well…perhaps somewhere closer to your home.
Travel within a 20km radius of my home-base of Shallow Lake, ON is included within the family session package, however I do tend to travel quite a bit beyond this radius to capture family sessions in other areas throughout Grey & Bruce counties*. This summer, I have had the opportunity to capture various sessions in Annan, Tobermory, Sauble Beach, and Meaford, just to name a few. This particular featured session was completed north of Oliphant, in Red Bay - a place very close to my own heart!
*An additional travel fee applies for locations beyond a 20km radius of my home-base in Shallow Lake, ON.
Whether it’s a cozy home or lakeside cottage, choosing to have your family session take place in a spot where countless little memories have already been made just adds to the authenticity and emotional depth of your photos. In addition, when you choose to have your session take place at your own property:
Everyone feels more relaxed in a familiar environment, which helps elicit genuine smiles and real moments.
Every path, dock, or old tree tells part of your family’s story.
For kids and pets, a property they know gives them room to explore, run, and be themselves.
The resulting photos will capture your life and your people in the place(s) that matter most to you.
When a session takes place at your personal, preferred location, I’m often stepping into a space that is new and unfamiliar to me, and my camera. In order to plan and prepare for our session together, I will want to learn a little bit more about the surroundings beforehand. This helps me plan for the best lighting, angles, and flow for your shoot. During our pre-session correspondence, I might ask questions like:
Is the area open, or is it fairly treed and shaded?
Where does the sun set in relation to the property?
Are there any special features that you’d love to include? (ie. gardens, a dock, barn, or other interesting feature of the property)
When arriving to new-to-me locations, I will often come a bit early to scope out the best shooting areas based on the lighting at that exact moment. It’s important to note that lighting is the main factor in determining the best places to use.
Family sessions are typically shot during the evening hours, in order to take advantage of the softer sunlight. The family session package accommodates up to five immediate family members. For groups beyond this amount, a small fee per additional person may apply. At the present time, I do not offer extended family sessions for large groups - though, I am open to considering taking on sessions that include a few extra family members (ie. grandparents), such as this one!
We had a beautiful, mild night in early July for this family’s session. Ahead of time, my client indicated that they would like some portraits captured on the property, and at the Lake Huron waterfront as well, which was a short walk down the road. Due to the time of day and full sun, I chose to shoot at the family property first, where the sunlight was beautifully diffused by the surrounding cedar trees. Once the sun started to fall a bit, we then headed down to the lake to complete the session.
If you’re ready to start planning your next family portrait session, please reach out! I’m happy to discuss location options with you so we can choose the right one together that will become the perfect backdrop for your family’s memories.