Mother-Daughter Photography Session at Baker Park, Calgary
Some sessions are about capturing a moment. This one was about capturing a chapter.
My friend Rachel reached out a few weeks ago with a request that made my heart squeeze a little. Her oldest daughter Sienna had just graduated high school and was getting ready to head to the US for college. Her younger daughter Anjali, not wanting her big sister to leave without something to remember this season by, had the idea herself. A photo shoot with mom and her sister, before everything changed.
If you know Rachel, you know she is one of the most talented makeup artists in Calgary, and also one of the warmest people I know. She has done makeup for my own clients more times than I can count, and has helped me photograph and create memories for so many other women. This time the camera was pointed at her.
Choosing Baker Park
We picked Baker Park for this session, and honestly, the timing could not have been better. It had been a cold, rainy spring, and we were running out of chances to catch the lilacs before they were gone for the season. We got lucky with one clear evening, and the lilac hedges at Baker Park were still holding onto their last blooms. The soft purple against all that green made for the perfect backdrop for a family that loves a relaxed, boho aesthetic.
Baker Park is one of my favourite spots for sessions like this. There is space to spread out, room to run, and that easy, unstructured feel that works so well for lifestyle photography.
Coordinated, Not Matching
Rachel did her own hair and makeup for the session, which honestly, I would expect nothing less. She and the girls coordinated in soft neutrals, creams, olive, and black, that felt put together without looking like they were trying too hard. It is the kind of styling that photographs beautifully because it lets the people be the focus, not the outfits.
Running, Twirling, and Staying Warm
It was still a bit chilly that evening, so we kept everyone moving. Lots of running through the grass, twirling in circles, hands held tight. Those moments ended up giving us some of the best images of the whole session, the kind where everyone is laughing because they are genuinely having fun, not because I told them to smile.
We mixed in some classic posed portraits too, the ones Rachel will want to print and frame. And then we had a little fun with some artsy, candid shots that felt very true to who Sienna and Anjali are right now. A little bit polished, a little bit playful, very them.
A Night of Memories
What made this session different was the why behind it. This was not just a portrait session. It was Anjali's way of holding onto her sister before life pulled them in different directions. It was Rachel marking the end of one era and the start of another, the kind of bittersweet milestone every mom of a graduating senior knows well.
I feel so grateful that Rachel and her girls trusted me to be part of that evening. These are the sessions that remind me why I love this work.
Want to Know When Booking Opens Again?
My studio is currently on pause while I work through some health challenges, but I am hopeful about reopening to new sessions in the future. If you would like to be the first to know when that happens, join my email list here. I send the occasional update, no spam, just the good stuff when there is news to share.
