Loretta and I have been talking since August of 2015 about getting together and doing a photo shoot for her little family, so when we finally set a date, I was thrilled!! With new clients you are never really sure what to expect and I feel like I have to be on my toes at all times, but as the session went on we became fast friends, I even got a hug from little Avonlea before I left, which is a true sign of trust and adoration.

We scheduled the session for early spring at Glencairn Garden and it was beautiful! As the session went on the children were getting really restless, and not wanting to sit and do what their parents wanted them to.. I didn't want to stress anyone out so I just kept going with the flow and changing pace every time a frown popped up. Luckily I have photographed toddlers several times and I knew how to handle the situation pretty well, but still wanted to give my first time clients everything they wanted and more. So when frustration levels got high they gave the kids suckers (Note to self-invest in dum-dums!), and I embraced that moment to get the true genuine smiles out of the children. They laughed, rolled around in the grass, and later I asked them to run from one end of a field to the other, over and over, and they LOVED it.

The best thing about being a photographer is watching that real genuine happiness come out.. when we finally leave behind the shell of stiff, posed movements, and everyone feels comfortable and acts as themselves, that is when true beauty and happiness comes out, and in my opinion, these are the moments that you want to keep forever.. so I was worried to send the gallery because I know they wanted more posed shots, but I was thrilled to get her reply saying that they were blown away and loved them all.

I hope you enjoy these images, and please leave some love for the Coates family below!