Two years ago I was so caught up in the fast pace of life with a new baby and a toddler, I was grasping at every possible moment I could and begging time to slow down (who am I kidding – I am still living this life!). I had known a few photographer friends who had taken a course in filmmaking and every time I saw one of their films I  cried. I cried all the tears. Happy tears, nostalgic tears, tears of total understanding. I signed up as soon as I could.

The movement and sounds of films evoke so many more emotions than photography. You can hear little voices, see mannerisms, and experience a real moment in time. One of my favourite parts of photography and filmmaking is being able to tell a story. I love being able to include various environmental clips and sounds that really allow you to get invested in the moment. Especially for the family, it creates a well-rounded experience that brings them back to a specific place and time. We will never be able to relive these days, so being able to capture little pieces of them and deliver them to a family is a gift I will never stop being grateful for.

Since taking a course in family film making I have branched out a little into creating wedding films, but I have also tried to stay consistent in my own personal film making (…you should see the files of unedited footage on my computer). My boys love when we get to watch them all on our Vimeo channel. Last year I ran a contest on my Facebook page and Lindsey won a family film. It was such a fun afternoon spent hanging out with this little family, and I know that years from now this film will bring back so many memories for all of them. I know this will be meaningful for Lindsey and Nick, but I also hope that one day Lincoln looks back on this film and can see how loved he is.

I would love to create more family films for clients, and if you are interested at all in documenting a special (or ordinary!) day in your life, please get in touch! I can’t say it enough: these films are a priceless gift.

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Brittany VanRuymbeke is an Ontario Family Filmmaker based in Chatham-Kent. She specializes in emotive and fun family photography, films and weddings.

Today I am lucky enough to share with you this wonderful family. Not only are these twins Archer’s BFFs, but that little guy and my Gryff are going to be tearing up the world together in a few years. The morning we spent together in September was so much fun. The boys loved playing all of my silly games, they laughed at all of my cheesy jokes, and they all showed each other so much love. Oh, and their outfit coordination was on point (great job, Kel!). Because this session was so beautiful, and you can feel the love radiating from them, I thought I might use it as an example of how my outdoor sessions usually run!

First, we get comfortable together

Like all of my outdoor sessions, we meet on location (Stranak Conservation Park in Dresden for this one) and the first thing I do is chat with the kids and parents and make sure everyone happy and ready to have fun. I generally don’t even touch my camera for the first few minutes because building that comfort with the kids is my number one priority, and without it the session will be a flop. Now I know this family personally, so we had lots to talk about, but generally this time is spent getting to know each other and setting the energy for the session. Once we have walked and talked for a few minutes, we find a good spot to get started!

I start out with some simple and fun poses

I usually start with some simple poses for the family as a group so we can make sure we get that perfect shot before anyone gets dirty or upset. Even though it isn’t always my favourite shot, I know that every mom wants a shot of everyone looking nice and smiling at the camera so I make sure to get it right off the bat. From there I will let the pose “fall out” and catch those natural interactions between everyone while we laugh and chat.

During your session, if there is ever a particular grouping you want to make sure you get (ex. Dad with the boys, Mom with the girls, etc), now is a great time to make sure we get that done.

I make sure to get individual shots of each child

I try my best to get a shot of each child that truly reflects their personality. They might not be the only person in the frame, but the focus and the story is definitely about them. As you can see in the next images, these 3 boys are all very different, and I want to make sure the images you get of your kids reflect them as honestly as possible.

Next we will play a few fun little games

I always like to incorporate some fun little games into the session to get the kids’ minds off of the camera and to let them relax a bit. We usually will play ring around the rosey, follow the leader, tag, or have a dance party! It always creates genuine laughs and the kids love it. Of course, I make sure these games are taking place in the best location and light as possible!

We focus on special connections

Once we have some solid group shots and some fun playful images I will often step back and let everyone do their thing while I focus on individual relationships. Sometimes these shots happen between poses, sometimes I direct them a bit, but often they are moments that are happening on their own. I also always make sure to get a few shots of you and your kids, because as moms we are often not in our own family pictures, so I always want to make sure you are represented in your family session. Capturing a Mama’s love is my favourite thing to do, but what I really want is for you to SEE how much your kids love YOU in your images.

We always finish with one more group shot

As a general rule, I like to try for one more group shot at the end of the session. By this point we are all comfortable and having fun, and everyone knows what the expectations are. I often find that by this point Dad is comfortable enough with the possibility of a little PDA, so it lets me get everyone a little closer and snuggled up for something perfect like this:

My outdoor sessions usually last around 1-1.5 hours depending on the location and the size of the family. They are almost always at sunrise or sunset (or as close as possible) and can be at any location of your choice. After your session I will usually send you a sneak peek within a day and deliver your online gallery within 2-3 weeks following the shoot.

For more information on family sessions or to view more sessions click here, and for pricing information click here. Contact me today to plan and book your next family session, or to ask me anything!

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Brittany VanRuymbeke is a CK Lifestyle Photographer specializing in fun and natural family and newborn photography.

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a Sarnia Lambton Family Photographer who specializes in fun lifestyle sessions. Get in touch today to book your next family session.

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This beautiful little family is about to grow by 1 (any day now!) and we recently met up for a quick maternity session, but a few short months ago we went to Greenhill Gardens in Wilkesport for a little sunset session. Like most of my sessions, we spent a lot of time chatting and exploring, playing games and laughing. Knox was a champ, and I hope I get to photograph his curls for years to come. Seriously, they are more than amazing!

Chris and Sam I can’t wait to meet Baby C #2! Thank you for letting me play a small part in your family memories.

Never been to Greenhill Gardens? Check out their Facebook page. It is a really beautiful place to explore with your family!

Xo, B.

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Brittany is a Sarnia Lambton Family Photographer who specializes in fun, natural lifestyle photography. To see more of her work with families, click here. Contact her today to book your next family session.

Because I am a *few* months behind on blogging my 2017 Project 365, I have decided to combine October-December into one Favourites post. You know how life goes, and I am a firm believer that DONE is better than perfect. My creativity really started to drain toward the end of the year so finding enough images to share for each month was a struggle. There were a lot of memories captured though, and that is all that matters! For those of you who have completed my Life At Home workshop, you know this is what I preach – don’t miss the moment just because you aren’t feeling like the image is going to be perfect. No one has to see the images except for you – and they will always be meaningful to you and your family. I also believe that the “every day” is much more beautiful than those timeline events – which is why you won’t see much from me for Archer’s Birthday, Halloween or Christmas. Those days are wonderful, yes, and so many fun memories are had. But they are also BUSY and INSANE, my camera is usually the last thing I am thinking of, and when I do find time to take some shots, they are usually in tequila form. Ha! Kidding, but seriously those shots are usually not great in terms of composition or creativity. Grace my friends, that’s where it’s at.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Here is October, November and December 2017 in a flash.

I started 2018 doing another 365 (giving myself the grace of a day each week), but I couldn’t keep up. With day-job changes and other commitments (plus the winter seemed to last FOREVER), I have decided to let it slide. I am still shooting mostly daily, but not feeling married to my camera. I will be posting some of my 2018 favourites, but don’t hold you breath, I’m aiming for July 😉

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Brittany is a Chatham-Kent Storytelling Photographer who loves to document her family’s every day moments. To see some of her work, click here, and to book a session contact her here. You can hear more of her story here.

The number one question I get asked when my clients book their session is “What do we wear?”. Luckily for you, I have lots of experience shooting families and I have a few easy tips for you! Scroll through to help you figure out what to wear to your upcoming family session.

Start with a neutral colour palette and build it up.

The base of your outfits should always begin with the same neutral. Whether it is white, black, gray, cream or somewhere in between, having that common thread (no pun intended!) run through each outfit will make everyone look very cohesive. Once you have that as your base, add in a few complimentary colours to each persons outfit. Here are some beautiful and classic options:

• Navy, Gray, White & Yellow
• Cream, Maroon, Navy & Gray
• Black, White, Denim & Green
• Cream, White, Pink & Navy

Be sure to lay all of your outfits out together before the session so you know the colours will match and compliment each other.

Mix patterns and textures

Fabric patterns and textures can add a lot of depth to your images. By including different patterns and textures within the same colour palette you can create a lot of interest and make your images more cohesive. Think of layering plaid, stripes, chunky knits, demin, scarves and vests with your solid base.

Think of where you will display your images

If you are planning on displaying your families images in your home (which you SHOULD!), think of the colour palette in your home and how your images will look on your walls. Perhaps you will want to choose colours that compliment your decor or a specific space, or avoid colours that you know will clash.

Consider the scenery

Is fall your favourite time of year to get your families pictures taken? Remember the leaves will be bright and vibrant shades of yellow and orange and plan accordingly. You don’t want to blend into your background, and you also don’t want to clash. Another perfect reason to start with a good neutral base!

Be comfortable.

Especially when there are children involved, always remember comfort. Of course there are instances where heirloom items or outfits might be involved that aren’t exactly the most comfortable, but those can be used quickly to avoid any toddler trouble. And Moms, if you’re pregnant or you’ve just had a baby, don’t worry about squeezing yourself into those pre-pregnancy jeans. Find an outfit that is flattering and comfortable that won’t distract you from your beautiful family and the fun we are having!

Be you.

Lastly, and most importantly, be sure to choose something that best represents you and your family’s personality. After all, these images are for your family alone. Find what works for you and rock it!

If you have any more questions about choosing the right outfits for your family session, make sure to email me at brittanyelizabethphoto@gmail.com or contact me here! I am more than happy to help you work it out before your session.

Cheers!

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Brittany is a Sarnia Family Photographer who finds joy in capturing each individual family as they interact naturally. To see more of her work with families, click here.

These two have had a year for the books. They welcomed their first baby, a son, and more recently they got engaged! Back in the fall we spent the evening laughing together and exploring their property (aka little slice of heaven!) and we chatted a lot about becoming new parents and all the fun stuff that comes along with that. Getting to know my clients is one of my favourite parts of the session (hello, adult conversation!). Candice has been a very close friend for a lot of years, but I had only met Chris a few times before their maternity session. I have to say, it was so wonderful to see his obvious adoration for her and the care he took with her. Their comfort together was really reassuring, and although he was a little hesitant about getting pictures taken, that comfort really shines through in their images. And hearing expectant parents talk and make plans for their child always brings me a lot of joy because although they already love that little bundle, they have no clue of how much that love will grow and change their lives. It is safe to say that Lewis has brought some big love into their life together.

Thank you Candice & Chris for having me and putting up with my silly antics! I hope these images bring you back to those feelings of wonder and joy.

If you are looking for a Sarnia Ontario Photographer for your maternity or family session, please contact me here today! I would love to hear from you!

Being able to continually photograph my best friend and her growing family is enough for me to be satisfied in this career. Watching your best friend find their partner and then build a beautiful life together is nothing short of amazing, but to top it off I have also had the pleasure of witnessing her transform herself into a complete Lady Boss. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my people gain confidence from their successes.

Kara and Nate have graciously invited me to document each of the major events in their life together, including the births of both of their sons. A few weeks before B’s arrival we went off the beaten path for a little adventure, where we were blessed with both golden hour sun and dramatic thunder clouds. Scroll through to see some highlights from our evening together!

If you are looking for a Chatham-Kent Maternity Photographer, get in touch today! I would love to hear from you!