Jun

10

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Steve and Korri with their daughters Vienna and baby Elizabeth photographed on the beach at Stanley Park. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

A family portrait for Father’s Day may not seem like the ideal gift for most guys. But I think that’s because men often get stereotyped as sports and money addicts who view family matters as chores. From my experience, though, the one thing men are passionate about is their kids and spending time with their family. They will do anything for them and are eager to have any memento they can of their lives.

If you’re looking for a distinctive gift for this year’s celebration of Dad, a portrait session with his children and their mom just may turn out to be a treasure he’ll covet. Just make sure you and he know what the photo shoot entails. A family portrait session will typically last two hours and most likely take place on location in the Lower Mainland. If he loves a particular spot, he might want a keepsake photo of it.

fathers-day-portraits-in-vancouverWardrobe is important to creating a special picture. That doesn’t mean Dad needs to dress to the nines, but he should coordinate his wardrobe with the others who will be in the photo. Usually, white or black works best.

The cost for a two-hour family portrait session with me begins at $275 and packages can include prints, frames and even champagne!

Portraits may never compete with a new set of golf clubs or season’s tickets to the Canucks, but they are unique gifts and will last longer than even a set of titanium irons. As Father’s Day approaches, it’s something to think about.

May

30

Aliados-farm-portrait2.jpg PHOTOS FROM TOP: Annah surveys the farm from behind her shades; Adolf and Annah stroll to the barn; the three generations of the Dalke family, Adolf and wife Alice, daughter Christy and her kids, Annah and Julia.

Adolf Dalke spent his early childhood in West Germany playing with wood blocks that passed as toys in post-World War II Europe. Adolf said the closest he could come to a tractor was what his imagination would conjure. Times have certainly changed for the owner of Aliados Farm Corporation.

His favourite piece of equipment is a bright blue Ford 77A tractor, a sturdy machine that Adolf uses to tend to his Surrey chicken farm, which features a sweeping view of the southern edge of the Lower Mainland.

In his 37 years in the industry, the biggest change he has seen is in the health safety standards. “We have to be super vigilant about disease,” Adolf said during a family portrait shoot on his farm on Monday. “Since the Avian flu in 2004, the paperwork has been out of this world, but it’s for our own good and we do it to make sure the consumer gets a safe product.”

Adolf said he still enjoys farming and being his own boss, and also takes pride in the fact he provides a service the public needs and demands. “More and more people eat chicken every day,” said the father of two, whose company is a member of the Chicken Farmers of Canada and the chief supplier to Lilydale, the giant poultry company based in Edmonton.

The name of Aliados Farm derives from a combination of the first three letters of Adolf and Alice, his wife. The happy couple were photographed with their daughter, Christy, and her two children, Annah and baby Julia.

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Christy snuggles Julia before the baby goes for a ride in an antique carriage.

May

12

Family-portrait-birthday-generations.jpg Family members gather around Diana Brown (seated on right) for a family portrait on her 100th birthday. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Diana Brown has witnessed a whole lot of history in her life and on Monday she made some herself by becoming the latest Canadian to celebrate a 100th birthday.

To mark the occasion, Diana’s family gathered in Kerrisdale for a family portrait session and a party on Saturday, which also happened to be the centennial of the first Mother’s Day celebrations in North America.

“Having a photo of her children, their offspring and their offspring is something she always wanted,” her granddaughter Robyn said.

Diana was born on her father’s cattle ranch in Sedalia, Colorado, and immigrated in 1916 when her family chose to live under the Union Jack during World War I. Diana recalls spending her eighth birthday on the train to Vancouver as the Porteous family made the move.

The 100th birthday party included Diana’s son, Dr. Hugh Alexander Brown, and daughter, Stephanie Diana Stratton, along with their families. Diana has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who all happily doted on her during the party.

As for her secret to longevity, Diana takes two Aspirins a day and no other medications. She joins the list of centenarians in Canada, which was reported to be 4,635 in the 2006 census.

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May

6

wedding-signature-vancouver.jpg Yosem and Gabbie underneath the cherry blossoms in Stanley Park on their wedding day. (Photo by Julia Pelish Photography)

Thanks to the many customers who became friends and who helped me fulfill my dreams of providing the level of photography services I’ve always wanted to deliver. You are all the best and thank you for the kind words you’ve recently shared:

“Oh my goodness!! Everything just arrived and I cannot believe how fantastic they are!! I really thought it couldn’t get any better than the website you put up but these are just unbelievable - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!!!!” – Diana on her and Ian’s wedding photographs and custom web gallery

“Those pictures are amazing! We really enjoyed the wedding and are so happy to have you as our photographer. The day (and everything since!) couldn’t have been more perfect. The eloquence of your blog really impressed us with its description of the day.” – Yosem and Gabbie

“WOW - Julia they look amazing. Thanks so much. I think we owe you a big hug!” – Brett and Mickey on their wedding photography in Vancouver

“Oh, my goodness, Julia, it’s a work of art! I can’t believe it! Thank you so much!!” – Rosa on her family portrait and baby pictures of Angelina

“Julia, you do such a wonderful job and with such love plus you are so adorable!! I have to get going but I just wanted to say thank you for capturing our wedding day in such a beautiful way.” – Mary on the wedding photos of her and Brent

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Apr

27

family-portrait-vancouver-birthday.jpg Mamie Lizee celebrates her 85th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Maple Ridge on Saturday. (Photos by Julia Pelish)

When Mamie Lizee’s children and grandchildren were thinking of what to give her for this year’s birthday the perfect gift idea came to mind. On Saturday, the members of the family who live in the Lower Mainland gathered for a family portrait to celebrate Mamie’s 85th birthday.

“She loves her family so much that we thought that was the best thing to give her,” said her daughter Carol. “It’s what she will enjoy more than anything else.”

The year Mamie was born William Lyon Mackenzie King was in his first term as Prime Minister, nine million people lived in Canada and a team from Vancouver battled for the Stanley Cup. Different times, indeed.

portrait-family-birthday-event.jpg Mamie’s hometown was Port Arthur, Ontario, which no longer exists. It amalgamated with Fort William to form Thunder Bay in 1970. By that time, Mamie had spent more than three decades as a British Columbian. When she was nine years old, she and her family migrated west, settling in the Webster’s Corner neighbourhood of Maple Ridge. Mamie said the biggest change she’s seen in the area is the increase in “the number of people” and “all the buildings”.

The 85th birthday party was held at the lovely Maple Ridge home of Mamie’s son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Barbara. Among those present were Carol’s daughters Nicole, Kim and Angie and their children. Family members in Saskatchewan and Alberta were missed but are sure to be there for the 100th year celebrations!

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Apr

25

mothers-day-heirloom-portrait.jpgRosa and baby - Signature Portrait by Julia Pelish.

Breathe,
Inhale aromas of delicacy,
chocolate and chrysanthemum wings,
Nose spices and make one your favourite thing,
Let rich essences seep to your lungs,
Fill them up like tea,
Sigh now,
Exhale your worries,
Those are for me
to breathe,
I stand watch, ready to snatch them,
Beastly fiends and pointy ghouls,
We’ll wrap them in a ring
and launch them to the moon

Rest your head, close your eyes,
Just breathe for me

(Original poetry copyrighted by Julia Pelish Photography)

Apr

21

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The Svorinics (from left): Tony, Gina, Kristofer, Stephanie, Dominik (aka the Human Sports Encyclopedia) and Marin. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

You know you’ve got great kids when they go all out – including out in the cold – to celebrate your birthday. That was the case for Gina Svorinic, whose gift this year was a family portrait.

With Burnaby Mountain just up the road from the family home, we couldn’t resist photographing them in the flower gardens and amid the snowy grounds on Sunday. The entire clan contended with the unusually chilly weather and it paid off with some wonderful photos while the sun was out.

Afterwards, we retreated to the Svorinic home for portraits in the orchid-filled living room with Mom, Dad (Tony) and the kids – Marin, Stephanie, Kristofer and little Dominik, the Montreal Canadiens’ fan who was eagerly awaiting Monday’s Game 7 of the NHL playoffs.

The happy gang will soon have a beautiful heirloom to grace their wall for years to come – awesome choice for a gift, kids!

“She’s the greatest mom in the world and this was just a little something we did to show her how much we love and appreciate her,” Stephanie said.

Apr

3

portrait-mother-child-family.jpg

The right wardrobe complements the setting and mood of portrait photographs. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

“What should we wear?”

I hear that question so often from portrait clients and the initial reply is, It depends.

With a wedding it’s easy to narrow down the style of clothes. Traditions are in place with the wedding gown and suits, so the input of the photographer is rarely asked for. Portraits, though, are much more unique in terms of wardrobe selection and in some ways even more reflective of personal tastes.

What I emphasize is be yourselves but keep certain guidelines in mind. For instance, should you wear jeans? I say, It depends if you’re comfortable being photographed in them. If you are, then jeans are absolutely fine. Just about any piece of clothing is fine, actually. What you want to do is make sure your clothes don’t clash with those worn by the others in your group. So mixing stripes with patterns and colours that are incompatible isn’t ideal.

Generally, long sleeves are preferable on men and women, and V necks accentuate women’s figures better than round collars or turtlenecks. My preference is on elegant dress that’s coordinated to match. Black and white are always ideal colours because they blend well with just about any setting. Earthy tones are also good choices, especially for outdoor shoots.

Whether it’s a couple dressing for an engagement portrait or a family photograph, the wardrobe selection is one of the details that’s key to creating a classic, polished portrait. Clothing can be utilized almost as a prop to create a mood or atmosphere that when combined with the perfect setting will transform and elevate the image into a piece of art that evokes both beauty and emotion. More than that, the wardrobe will keep the focus where you want it – on you and the people you care about. When you’re in the photograph together the attention shouldn’t fall on clothing that stands out for the wrong reasons.

Be sure to ask your portrait photographer about wardrobe selection prior to your session. My portrait packages include the option for a professional wardrobe consultant, although most clients tend to use the tips written in this post as a guideline. If you want to know more about this subject, feel free to contact me.

Mar

15

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The Larsen clan, at home in East Vancouver. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Now that the weather’s warming up family portraits that were booked during the holiday season are starting to be photographed. Choosing a location in Vancouver is difficult only because there are so many great spots. One consideration, though, is group size.

A large group provides unique challenges for on-location and in-studio photographs. The larger the group, the more time needs to be allocated to the session. Numerous photos of each pose have to be taken. Even in the digital age, there’s no sure way to guarantee that everyone has their eyes open and is smiling until after the photographs are downloaded and processed.

Family portraits also should have a reserve of time of two hours or more because the group, particularly children, need to become comfortable with the photographer and the process of being in the picture. When I do a portrait shoot I usually want more than 120 photos in different settings and with a variety of looks. The more you have to choose from the more likely it is your heirloom portrait will be a superb art piece. And it should be. You will hang this photograph on your wall for years then pass it on to future generations.

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Jan

30

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Friends and clients, Greg and Barbara - miss you guys! (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Most of the time, you don’t need to hit it off with your vendors. As long as they provide quality products on time, it’s enough. Photographers, though, are another story. Theirs is a personal service and you’ll be working intimately with the one you hire. So how their personality meshes with yours is an important factor when making your selection. With so many photographers in Vancouver, it can be difficult to make that choice. Here are some things to keep in mind as you search for the photographer who has that special blend of quality work and a sense of rapport with you.

Once you’ve perused dozens of portfolios, websites and packages you will want to whittle your field of photographers down to a shortlist. To narrow your list to two or three candidates, remember the first two tips I previously mentioned: Photographers should have professional equipment and should list what they use somewhere on their website; and if you’re seeking a primarily digital photographer, your candidates should have a mastery of digital techniques to give you optimum and uniquely crafted images.

After you’ve made your shortlist, contact the photographers to check on their availability for your event. If their schedules are clear, you should set up appointments to meet with each candidate. You’ll start to get a feel through their communication skills on how well they match your personality. Also pay attention to indications of their level of professionalism. Photographers should get back to your email within a day or two – and preferably much sooner – when you first query. If you telephone, getting their voicemail isn’t unusual (if they’re on the job they wouldn’t be taking calls) but you should hear from them in a timely manner.
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Jan

16

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The Waage family, photographed on-location in a beach setting. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

Like most photographers, I enjoy the convenience of having a studio. It reduces the variables inherent with photography and allows me to test out new lighting techniques. But I love an outdoor setting (or a unique indoor one, too). What I want is to place my portrait clients in a picturesque location where they feel emotionally connected.

If they can’t think of any such spot, we always go for the most beautiful place we can think of. In the Lower Mainland there’s no shortage of such delightful areas.

Some of my favorites include Spanish Banks, Queen Elizabeth Park and English Bay. An on-location shoot is not only more fun than a studio shot, it’s dramatic and unique. I’ve learned that with a strong understanding of lighting and camera functions a studio can be anyplace. We’re so lucky to be able to have such pristine nature around us to capture our lives in Vancouver.

If you’re interested in a family portrait or children’s portrait, contact me by phone (604-836-1412) or email (julia@juliapelish.com) and I’ll be happy to discuss your options. My standard portrait package – which includes three prints in total, one custom frame and a web gallery – is $395 with taxes included.

Jan

10

heirloom-family-portraits.jpgI have a big family. Two brothers, two sisters, and my parents. I live across the continent from all of them except for my older brother in Nebraska, who is still a long, long way away.

When you’re far from family, you reach for anything that evokes home. Emails and phone calls are absolutes for me, so are the annual visits I make back to Dutchess County in upstate New York.

I love Vancouver, but it’s difficult being apart. It’s why I tell my clients that they’ll always treasure their family portraits. You never know where life will take you and those photographs are wonderful heirlooms and historical documents for our lives when we’re all together in one place.

Unlike at a wedding, when the schedule for brides and grooms is tight and the time for portraits is rightly focused on them, the family portrait provides for two or more hours of attention on the entire group and the dynamic relationships within it.

To read more about this topic, visit my main website for an article on “Hiring a Vancouver Portrait Photographer”.

For package prices or to schedule a portrait, contact me by email (julia@juliapelish.com) or phone (604-836-1412). My standard family portrait package is $395 and includes:

- 2 hours of personal service by myself and an assistant on location, in your home or in my Yaletown home-studio.
- Use of my studio equipment, including full professional lighting system, multiple Nikon bodies and lenses, and more.
- 1 large custom print (11×14 size) that’s matted and framed.
- 2 other smaller custom prints (5×7 each) presented in folio.
- Digital processing, enhancing and editing of all images.
- A web gallery of images from which to select.

I also offer packages that include stylists and wardrobe consultants, as well as additional prints and albums, and film images taken with a medium-format Hasselblad camera with Zeiss lenses. Let me know what you’d like!

PHOTO: Cindy, Samantha and Isabella, as photographed in 2007. (Photo by Julia Pelish)

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