Best of 2018 Family Sessions | London Ontario Family Photographer

I wish you could have seen me putting this blog post together. First of all, it took a very long time. But most importantly, I smiled from ear to ear the entire time. So many beautiful families. So many favourites. So many. Some obvious ones that I previewed on social media and were stand-out favourites from the very beginning, and some that I had completely forgotten about, that for some reason didn’t really grab me during the editing process but made my heart sing during this yearly review.

As always, I feel the need to point out that my initial selection was so large it was ridiculous. In fact, one might argue that this selection is ridiculously lengthy. But I can only narrow them down so much, ya know? At the end of the day, whether a session appears in this compilation or not, I am so eternally grateful to each family that trusted me with capturing their memories - some for the first time in 2018, and some for the 8th time. It sounds so cliche, and we photographers like to throw around phrases like “I want to tell your story” and “capture your milestones” and “document your real life”… but it’s the truth. It’s why I do what I do.

Looking through all of these images made me so excited about the upcoming shooting season. For now though, I’m still reminiscing about the incredible year that was 2018. Here are some favourites!

Best of 2018 Newborn Lifestyle Sessions | London Ontario Photographer

I’m continuing my 2018 reminiscing this week with my favourite images from newborn lifestyle sessions - both in-home and in-hospital. I love capturing fresh babies in this simple, unobtrusive, organic way - in their element, surrounded by family, no frills. You’ll see lots of sibling interactions featured here as well, sometimes without the new baby present. I chose to include these images, as they are such a big component of newborn lifestyle sessions involving older siblings. Often while baby is being fed or soothed by one parent, the other parent is hanging with big brothers and/or sisters, and those candid interactions are just as precious. In these instances, I find myself travelling between rooms, capturing the quiet soothing in one and the enthusiastic play in the other. Here are my 2018 favourites.

London Ontario Newborn Lifestyle Photographer | Baby Jack

I absolutely loved this newborn lifestyle session. Baby Jack is the cutest little guy, and he gave us so many sweet smiles. Photographing adoring parents snuggling their new babe at home is one of my favourite things, and I'm so excited to share these images on the blog today. 

London Ontario Family Photographer | Port Stanley Beach Minis

This year's beach minis are about to start booking, and as always it's about this time that I love to reminisce about the previous year's sessions. I'm so excited to share last years beach minis on the blog this evening! 

If you'd like to get on the advance notice list for the next round of minis (and all subsequent rounds), you can email me at sophie@rawfootagephotos.com, subject line "Advance Notice Minis". 

London Ontario Family Photographer | Linda & Jamie's Idlewyld Inn Anniversary Session

The beautiful Idlewyld Inn is where Jamie and Linda got married and is where they returned to celebrate their 1-year anniversary with some exciting news - There was a baby on the way! I was so honoured when they asked me to capture a few photos of them to mark their 2nd anniversary in the place that has become so special to them, now with baby Emma as part of their family. We started with a few lifestyle images in their room before walking around the snowy grounds and warming by the fire. Here are some favourites! :) 

London Ontario Newborn Photographer | Baby Jack's In Home Lifestyle Session

I just loved this sweet in-home newborn lifestyle session. Here are some favourites!

London Ontario Family Photographer | Darcy, Jessie & Max's Autumn Beach Session

I love this family. I say it every time I have the pleasure of photographing them, and every time I blog their sessions. They've been with me since my very early days as a photographer and lucky me, they keep coming back! This session is from 2016 - not my most recent session with them (I have a lot of blogging to do) - but one of the most memorable. We headed to the beach in Port Stanley on a chilly Fall day for something different. They played, laughed and snuggled, and I just tried to keep up - documenting all of those candid moments that I love so much. Here are some favourites from this playful lifestyle beach shoot. 

 

London Ontario Newborn Lifestyle Photography | Baby L's In-Home Session

It's no secret that I absolutely love in-home newborn lifestyle sessions. - capturing babies in their own environment, cozy and comfortable and surrounded by their adoring family. This sweet session was no exception. Baby L was just as precious as can be, and I'm so happy to finally be sharing my favourites from this lifestyle newborn shoot on the blog today. 

London Ontario Family Photographer | The Delgado Family

I had a blast photographing this beautiful family a couple of Summers ago (Yes, I'm behind on my blogging... but I'm getting there!). It was a quiet day on the beach and we had so much fun playing and going between sweet snuggles and complete silliness. They even managed to coordinate an outfit change halfway through, which is amazing to me as someone who can barely manage to get my own crew organized with one set of outfits for family photos! So glad to finally be sharing my favourites from this session. P.S.: If you've ever wondered what the difference is between a full family session and a mini, this is it. We had so much time - time for outfit changes, time to be silly and playful, time to try different parts of the location, time to get lots of different combos and candids. Minis are wonderful, but if you're looking to really capture your family's spirit, have time to relax in front of the camera and just capture your interactions organically without feeling rushed and have waaayyyyyyy more than 10 photos to show for it, consider a full shoot for your next family photos! :)