Capturing the Final Chapter: A Lifestyle Session for Kristin's Family
Family enjoying a moment in front of their house during their lifestyle shoot.
When Kristin reached out to me last week, she had a unique session in mind—one that felt particularly meaningful for us to capture together. Kristin and I share a history that spans many years, beginning when she first contacted me during her second pregnancy, asking me to document her newborn shoot. Since then, I've had the privilege of photographing her engagement, her growing children, her wedding, and even her business journey. But this time, Kristin wanted something different. She envisioned a lifestyle session that would capture the closing of a cherished chapter in their lives as they prepared to embark on a new adventure in another part of Ontario.
Kristin asked if I would be willing to travel to their family home, just north of Bowmanville, to document their final days in the place where they had built so many memories together. It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, not just because of our long-standing relationship, but because I, too, had recently sold the home where I had watched my own children grow up. I understood deeply the significance of capturing those last, bittersweet moments in a home that holds so much of a family's history.
When I arrived at their home, we spent some time discussing the key moments we wanted to capture and brainstorming ideas for how to best tell their story. Kristin wanted to ensure we documented the kids in their individual spaces—rooms once filled with the essence of their personalities and childhood memories. I also suggested we revisit some of the locations in their home where I had photographed them in the past, to visually show how much time had passed and how their family had grown.
We started with solo shots of the kids, then moved to the spot where Kristin and Kyle had shared their first look on their wedding day—this time with their children joining them in the frame. As we moved through the house, they shared stories with me—reminiscing about the moments that had filled each room. They talked about how their dog would always lie in the same spot in the kitchen, their daughter’s impromptu performances in front of the fireplace, and how their youngest loved to spend his time playing video games on the massive projector screen.
Our conversation naturally drifted to how much the area where we both grew up had changed over the years. We reflected on how the once quiet neighborhood had grown busier than we ever could have imagined, and how both of us yearned for something simpler and more relaxed for our children—one of the reasons why Kristin’s move was so significant.
Selling a home that has been the backdrop to so many of life’s moments can feel like saying goodbye to an old friend. The memories are forever etched in your heart, but the physical space where they played out holds a special kind of magic. After my best friend passed away, I found solace in the memory of her sitting on my deck, laughing and soaking up the sun. It was a memory I could always return to simply by looking out my patio window. Moving on from that place meant finding new ways to hold on to those memories.
As we wrapped up our session, we chatted a little longer, reflecting on the mix of emotions that come with closing one chapter and beginning another. Moving can be both a stressful and joyous experience, marking an end but also heralding new beginnings. I hope that one day in the future, our paths will cross again, and I’ll have the honour of capturing more of Kristin’s family’s special moments as they continue their journey.
