So my grandma is 93. But, bless her, she still lives completely independently up in a little apartment that looks down on the church she goes to every Sunday.
At a family gathering about this time last year, I was watching Miss Q interact with her great-grandma and had flashbacks of doing the same when I was about her age. I’ve been one of those lucky kids who managed to know all four of her grandparents and even three of her great-grandparents. And as I watched them, I said to my brother, “I should really do a photo shoot with all four generations.” And he agreed, adding, morbidly: “You’d better do it soon. Just in case.”
Well, as it does, life got busy and I put off the idea. Until a couple of months ago when a photographer posted her information in one of my local “mom groups” on Facebook. And before the week was out, we’d scheduled a photo shoot with Shannon Nicole Photography.
My grandma (93), my mom (65), yours truly (39) and Miss Q (3). Four generations of women:
Obviously, I had to style everyone or Grandma would have shown up in a windbreaker from 1982 and Velcro sneakers. I was thrilled with the way the palette worked with the lush greenery around us.
If there’s one tip I can give those of you planning family photo shoots, it’s this: find some kind of common colour tone in your clothes, but don’t get too match-matchy. And be yourself. If you’re never without stilettos, wear ’em! (Just don’t book a shoot in a park with only grass, perhaps.) We’re a pretty casual bunch overall, so I opted for classic white with different shades of blue. It was the middle of summer and it felt perfectly beach-y, despite the fact we were nowhere near a beach.
Actually, we did the whole shoot at the stunning Oshawa Botanical Gardens. It’s spectacularly beautiful down there, with plenty of trees, oodles of colourful flowers, a very architectural-looking bridge (if one can describe a bridge in such a way) and even a little fountain among some big rocks.
It all sits on either side of a creek that I played near often as a child. When we first moved to “the Shwa,” we lived just five minutes away from here — but it never looked like this. It’s incredibly peaceful and you’d be hard-pressed to get a bad shot anywhere there.
I was really impressed with Shannon, who managed to give us gentle direction while sort of disappearing a lot of the time so we could capture more candid moments, which I always thinks makes the most naturally beautiful photography. She shot for a little more than an hour and had dozens of stunning shots back to us within a couple of weeks. I’m VERY particular, and I have to say that I didn’t just like most of the photos…I loved them.
It turned out that she managed to capture us as a group and sometimes just two or three of us together. There were also some darling shots of Miss Q in the bunch, all on her own.
I treasure these pictures now, and I know that one day, when my last grandparent on earth is no longer here, I’ll be so glad that we worked with Shannon Nicole Photography to freeze this moment in time.
Shannon is based in the Greater Toronto Area and does all kinds of photography, ranging from maternity and newborn shoots to family photography and weddings. And if you’re looking for a pet photographer, she does that, too! And let’s not forget boudoir photography for those of you brave enough.
Lucky for you, if you live in or are willing to travel to the GTA, you can enter to win a photo shoot with Shannon Nicole. You’ll get an outdoor photo shoot along with five fully edited and printable digital images (plus a 20 per cent discount for any additional photographs that speak to you). You can choose from portrait, family, engagement, pet, newborn or maternity shoots. Note that this is not a “mini-session.” It’s worth a whopping $350!
Enter here.
Nicole says
I would absolutely love to do a family photo shot. Love this post – looks like it was a fun day with your family with the photos to enjoy afterwards.
Nicole says
I would absolutely love to do a family photo shot. Love this post – looks like it was a fun day with your family with the photos to enjoy afterwards.
Katy Emanuel says
Beautiful shots. I would love to have a family photo shoot.
Katy Emanuel says
Beautiful shots. I would love to have a family photo shoot.
jaymi says
I would love to win a family shoot!
jaymi says
I would love to win a family shoot!
Natalie Rea says
I’ve never had professional family portraits done! I’m long overdue.
Natalie Rea says
I’ve never had professional family portraits done! I’m long overdue.
Tracey says
I would love to do an outdoor family photo shoot in the Fall.
Tracey says
I would love to do an outdoor family photo shoot in the Fall.
Monique L.S. says
I would like to get some portraits done of my daughter
Monique L.S. says
I would like to get some portraits done of my daughter
Shari Ironside says
would love to get a family session
Shari Ironside says
would love to get a family session
Jennifer Appleton says
I would love to have a family session. I’m due in 4.5 weeks with our first baby. It would be wonderful to have family pictures taken after that!
Jennifer Appleton says
I would love to have a family session. I’m due in 4.5 weeks with our first baby. It would be wonderful to have family pictures taken after that!
Athena says
We’d love family shots
Athena says
We’d love family shots
Michelle (@LipstickRules) says
Absolutely beautiful photos. What an awesome idea!
Michelle (@LipstickRules) says
Absolutely beautiful photos. What an awesome idea!
Jennifer (momvstheboys) says
We are long long looooong over due for a family shoot
Jennifer (momvstheboys) says
We are long long looooong over due for a family shoot
Riley says
Great pictures! I would love a portrait or a family session.
Riley says
Great pictures! I would love a portrait or a family session.
Stephanie Simpson says
Beautiful photos! What a lovely keepsake for you to have of all the generations!
Stephanie Simpson says
Beautiful photos! What a lovely keepsake for you to have of all the generations!
Ingrid L says
I’d love to have a portraits shoot, casual and oudoors. Your photos are stunning Andrea!
Ingrid L says
I’d love to have a portraits shoot, casual and oudoors. Your photos are stunning Andrea!
Maya Fitz says
Since we recently had our third son, I would love to have a family photo shoot.
Maya Fitz says
Since we recently had our third son, I would love to have a family photo shoot.
Little Miss Kate (@LilMissKateCo) says
I think I would have to choose a family photo session – with the arrival of Baby #3 coming very soon, it would be great to have some photos of our “complete” family
Little Miss Kate (@LilMissKateCo) says
I think I would have to choose a family photo session – with the arrival of Baby #3 coming very soon, it would be great to have some photos of our “complete” family
Amy says
Love this! Gorgeous photos. Would love to win a family shoot!
Amy says
Love this! Gorgeous photos. Would love to win a family shoot!
Ashley says
Beautiful Photos!
Ashley says
Beautiful Photos!
Jessica says
I would love to do something like that. Looks grea!
Jessica says
I would love to do something like that. Looks grea!
Leah says
Beautiful! This is something to cherish forever. I would love a family shoot with my kids and my parents.
Leah says
Beautiful! This is something to cherish forever. I would love a family shoot with my kids and my parents.
Tammy (@inRdream) says
These are stunning. Talk about goosebumps. What a blessing to capture 4 generations :). We would love to have Shannon Nicole take family photos for our family of 6!
Tammy (@inRdream) says
These are stunning. Talk about goosebumps. What a blessing to capture 4 generations :). We would love to have Shannon Nicole take family photos for our family of 6!
Yuen C says
I would love a family or portrait photo shoot.
Yuen C says
I would love a family or portrait photo shoot.
Alona says
Beautiful pics! I would love a family photo shoot. 🙂
Alona says
Beautiful pics! I would love a family photo shoot. 🙂
tzippy says
I would love to have a maternity shoot!
tzippy says
I would love to have a maternity shoot!
Laurel Moring says
Beautiful photos!
I just had my second baby two months ago, so I would to have family photos taken of the four of us before he gets too big!
Laurel Moring says
Beautiful photos!
I just had my second baby two months ago, so I would to have family photos taken of the four of us before he gets too big!
Valerie says
Family shoot would be AWSOME
Valerie says
Family shoot would be AWSOME
Valerie says
What a beautiful thought and shoot. I only wish I could have had the chance to do this. I would love to have a family shoot done.
Valerie says
What a beautiful thought and shoot. I only wish I could have had the chance to do this. I would love to have a family shoot done.
sonia p. says
I would love a family shot.
sonia p. says
I would love a family shot.
Amanda says
Gorgeous photos. I recognized the gardens before you even named them!
Amanda says
Gorgeous photos. I recognized the gardens before you even named them!
Nicole King says
Gorgeous photos! I would love a family shoot.
Nicole King says
Gorgeous photos! I would love a family shoot.
Adriana says
Would love a family photo shoot.
Adriana says
Would love a family photo shoot.
Rita Speziale says
Thanks for sharing these. They’re beautiful and I’m sure you’ll always treasure them.
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks, Rita! I know I will. 🙂
Rita Speziale says
Thanks for sharing these. They’re beautiful and I’m sure you’ll always treasure them.
Mommy Gearest says
Thanks, Rita! I know I will. 🙂
Cathy says
Beautiful story and photos.
Cathy says
Beautiful story and photos.