FAQs

I want to document this time in our lives but haven’t lost the baby weight and don’t feel confident enough to be in the photos. Can I hide behind pillows or something? 

I understand first-hand about post-baby body confidence; after I had my kids, I had no interest in being photographed. But now, looking back on that time is one of my favourite things. Who you are right now is part of your authentic story, and your children deserve to see you. New mom or not, I understand how to photograph you from flattering angles and compositions. Some women who were terrified of what they might see ended up with images of themselves that they love. Know this: I would never take a photo of you that I wouldn’t want taken of myself. 

My four-year-old is going through that uncooperative phase, but I don’t want to miss getting photos with her baby brother. What if she has a meltdown or refuses to smile? 

I really enjoy working with young children, especially the challenging age of toddlers and preschoolers, and I’ve got mad communication skills with kids. I have an uncanny ability to connect with children, which is exactly why I make sure to greet kids at their level and not start shooting until they recognize I’m there to play. I want you to look at your images and see exactly who your child is. Those are the photographs you’ll want to hang on your walls because they’ll take you back to the story behind that image. 

We love our house, but it’s an overcrowded mess of stuff that I think will ruin the photos. Any suggestions?

As much as I shoot flattering angles of you, I also do the same for the environment where we do your session. I’ve got the experience to know where to stand, how to compose, and which angles are best to minimize background distractions. And if you’re really uncomfortable, we can find a park or other favorite hangout place and do your shoot there. 

I’m nervous that my partner will look miserable in the photos because he’s had bad experiences with other photographers and has no enthusiasm for doing a session. How can I assure him this time it’ll be different? 

Like my skills with getting kids to cooperate, I’m also great with reserved partners. We’ll chat both during our consult and the session itself, but I’m always available to answer any questions (or to throw out a joke when necessary). 

I’m nervous in front of the camera and don’t feel like I’m creative enough to come up with fun ideas for the shoot. Will you help with that?

Absolutely! I’m constantly studying ways to ensure that everyone in front of my camera is relaxed enough to be themselves; it’s the important link to giving you real photographs of who you are vs. what you look like. One of my strengths is interjecting creative ideas on the spot, because the best photographs are often spontaneous, in-the-moment images. My years of experience have proven that communication is key, so I have a two-step approach to make sure that you get the most from your session. When you book, I’ll send you an in-depth questionnaire about your family and the ways you connect, and then I’ll create a customized session plan outlining the flow of your session to help alleviate any anxiety you may have. Then I’ll get in touch to firm up the details so we can discuss what you hope to get from your session and how I can best deliver that for you. It’s all fun—I promise! 

What should we wear?

I say wear what you feel best in! Your photos will last a lifetime, so you want them to reflect who you really are. Your life is already beautiful; your kids don’t need a fancy outfit to love a photo of them or you. Your life’s moments don’t need to be staged, and that includes the clothes you wear. That said, I do advise against more than two people wearing patterns (they pull focus in photos), wearing white (it washes you out), and large logos on clothing (we want to see you and not be distracted by a logo). 

Why family photography, Irina? 

I really care about telling the most authentic story of your family in this chapter of the story of your lives. Over the years, I’ve found that making photographs that make you say, “Wow! You really captured the personality of my child!” is an honour and a privilege. For you, these are the fleeting moments of babyhood and childhood. For your children, it’s important that they have enough pictures of themselves with you in those early years, when you’re so busy parenting that you’re missing from the photographic frames of their lives. It happened to me; I took a mountain of snapshots of my kids, but I wasn’t in a single image with them. I realized how vital it was for them to see us together, and I want you and your children to have that. It’s the driving force behind why I do what I do. 

What is documentary-inspired lifestyle family photography?

Documentary - Lifestyle photography, also known as “photojournalism” or “reportage,” is an artful approach to photograph your family with you being (mostly) unaware of the camera. Simply put, it's when a photographer senses, anticipates, and documents moments without changing the scene. In my experience, people look naturally best on their own without being told when and how to look.  

How long does a session take, and how much does it cost?

Everything about my sessions is outlined here on my session page. 

Anything else I should know?

Just know that I believe in evoking an honest connection with you and your family, which means that I spend a lot of time behind the scenes to make sure that our time together is beautifully productive. It’s why I send out the questionnaire and ask for transparent communication about any concerns before the session so that you have an incredible experience that results in photographs you can’t stop looking at. 

Have a question that’s not answered here? Hit me up and let’s talk about it.