In 2005, my first child, Anousha, was born.
Like most first time parents, I had no real idea how to raise a child, only the blueprint I carried from how I had been raised myself. I adored her instantly, and with that new love came a quiet promise: I will do better. I will improve on what my parents did. Arrogance? Avoidance of repeat trauma? Lack of self confidence? I am sure it was a sum of all of that, x2 🙂

It’s funny, though. Every time I felt lost, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, I found myself going back to what I knew, what I thought worked for me in my childhood, back to the way my own parents had handled things. Not because they were perfect, but because it felt safe, familiar… like a language my body already spoke.
That, I realized, was their true legacy to me. Not rules or methods, but a way of loving.

The Quiet Questions Parents Carry

Every month, I see families of all kinds walk into my studios in Mont-Tremblant, Ottawa, Toronto and Miami. New parents, seasoned parents, blended families, single parents, grandparents.
I see the same thing in their eyes:
A deep love for their children.
A quiet uncertainty about how to “do it right.”

Some are strict. Some are relaxed and permissive. Some arrive with Pinterest-perfect outfits and a mental checklist. Others show up a little chaotic, apologizing for being late or forgetting socks.
All of them are doing their best.

And for ten minutes, thirty minutes, sometimes two hours, my role is not to evaluate any of that. I’m not there to judge your parenting style or whether your children “behave.”
My role is to catch the small, authentic moments that reveal who you are to each other:
The way your child leans into you without thinking.
The way your partner looks at you when you don’t notice.
The way laughter explodes, unplanned, when things don’t go as expected.

These are not images of “perfect parenting.”
They are glimpses of the hidden soul of your family.

What’s In It for the Child (or the Reluctant Spouse)?

Let’s be honest: not everyone walks into a photography session excited.
Sometimes the child doesn’t want to be there.
Sometimes the spouse is reluctant, worried it will be stiff, posed, or uncomfortable.
Sometimes you are the one who would rather be anywhere else than in front of a camera.

So what’s in it for them? What’s in it for you?

For the child, it’s often about play and being truly seen.
No homework. No “sit still and smile or else.” Just a space where their personality is allowed to exist as it is, curious, shy, loud, dreamy, mischievous, sensitive.

For the reluctant spouse, it’s often a quiet surprise:
“This wasn’t as painful as I expected.”
“This actually felt… easy.”

Sometimes they see themselves in the final images and say, “I didn’t know I could look like that,” but what they really mean is: I didn’t know this is how my family sees me.

And for you, the protagonist of this experience, it’s something deeper.
It’s a chance to step into the frame of your own life, instead of staying behind the scenes making everything happen for everyone else.

What I Want for You

I don’t want to judge you. I want to meet you.
I’ve walked through the same joys, frustrations, doubts, and small victories you have. I’ve raised children while building a life and a business. I’ve lost my patience, felt guilty, tried again.
We are not so different.

What I want for you through this session is connection:
A moment of togetherness that is genuine and unforced.
A pause in the ongoing improvisation of family life, where you can breathe, touch, laugh, and simply be with each other.

If I do my work well, that connection doesn’t stay trapped in the camera.
It becomes something you can hold.

The Honour on My Side of the Lens

For me, the true honour is not just creating a beautiful photograph.
It is the trust you give me when you invite me into your family’s story, even briefly, with the people you love most in the world.

I don’t take that lightly.
I cherish those moments, and I do my best to turn them into art that will live with you for a long time, as an heirloom on your walls, a quiet witness to the life you’ve built together.

In the end, it’s not about perfection.
It’s about presence.
And if these portraits help you remember, one day, how deeply you loved and were loved, that is the greatest work I can do.

Book your portrait session here or contact us here - we would love to meet with you.