Catherine Dumontet Photographer / family session

04/05/2023 In Newborn / Baby

Maternity and newborn sessions

Anaïs contacted me a bit last minute to see if I was available to do her maternity and newborn sessions. She took a chance by contacting me four weeks before the maternity session and that's great! It must be said that it was for December, this month being relatively quiet every year. I have a lot more availability in winter, let's say, than when it's the peak wedding season (from May to October).

So we made an appointment so that I could photograph them at their home and a little outside. With Colin and Juliette, they live in the Plateau Mont-Royal, so there is no shortage of beautiful spots around their condo. In fact, I call it a maternity session but we did more of a family session, extending the whole thing by 30 minutes. With a child, it is often longer and we sometimes lack cooperation. So, to avoid stressing and to have plenty of time, we decided in advance that the session would be an hour and a half.

I started the session right away by taking pictures of the three members of the lovely family they form. Because children get tired more quickly being in front of the lens, I took advantage of it while Juliette was in a super good mood when I arrived. A "babysitter" was planned for the photos of the couple alone so we did the other half of the session, without worrying about what Juliette was doing. So we went out onto the street where the lovers live. I had seen some beautiful little spots before ringing their doorbell.

Newborn session at home

Initially, we had talked about doing the newborn session when Maxine was only a few days old. But she had some minor skin issues after her birth, so we waited a bit. So I met her when she was four weeks old. As Anaïs told me in an email before the session: Maxine was born a week later than expected “like a cannonball at home in 40 minutes. No time to get to the hospital, not at all planned, out of the blue she burst into our lives! Luckily the midwife arrived literally 3 minutes before she was born!”

Making kids (and parents) laugh

Maxine seems to have slept a little during the session. But don't be fooled! She only did "power naps" haha! I'm still surprised not to have heard her cry, she did it like a professional! And I had brought my famous Penguin puppet to make her big sister laugh. I must say that she is quite ticklish too! So you often need to have a few little tricks to make children smile/laugh and for it to be natural! Or you have to discover what makes them laugh. Sometimes it's a particular word, other times animal noises lol, songs, crooked eyes etc.

a one month old newborn baby in his mother's arms

little hand of a one month old baby with his parents

Did you like Anaïs's family's maternity and newborn sessions? Take a look at my maternity/newborn portfolio just ici

Anaïs also left me a little review on Google after the sessions. Here is what she wrote about her experience with me (it was their first professional photo sessions): “Catherine is an excellent photographer who has incredible talent! We chose her for a maternity + birth combo and we have wonderful memories of it! She knew how to put us at ease, knew how to find the perfect words and spots for an optimal result. She also showed ingenuity and a lot of patience with our girls during the sessions 🙂 The photos are superb and we will recommend her to everyone! Thank you a thousand times Catherine! Looking forward to seeing you again for a next session”. Really looking forward to seeing them again when the girls will have grown up more! It's me who thanks them, in fact!

Large extended family session at Parc Maisonneuve

23/04/2023 In Family

Large Family or “Extended Family” Session

I love the “Big Family” sessions so much that I thought I would do a post here on my blog about just one family. To show what the result of such a session can look like. It took place last fall, in early October, at Parc Maisonneuve. It usually lasts an hour and a half and gives us a lot of possibilities to take a variety of different photos!

And then I don't have time to get bored when I do "Extended Family" sessions! Because if a child doesn't want to have their face bitten, I can keep myself busy by photographing other members of their family! For example, when I arrived at the Park that day, one of the little ones was unhappy and didn't want to participate in the activity. I won't name who... haha. I let him sulk a little and I started by photographing the members of the same household. Then, the members of this cell with the grandparents.

Portrait of each family during the session

Children, parents and grandparents at Parc Maisonneuve

Family L consists of a couple of grandparents, their 3 adult children who are all couples with 2 or 3 children each. So I photographed each family with the grandparents.

Little girl surrounded by her grandmother's hands

All that was missing was the baby of the L family on this tree branch for all the children to be gathered in this photo.

Here I have collected all the portraits of each child. I take several photos of each one so there is a variety of choices that can be found on the gallery to make the selection of your favorites.

family session with children in the fall

Large extended family session in the fall

Why an “Extended Family” session?

I offer gift certificates for all kinds of sessions. Therefore, I am often the "gift" for a mother or a couple of grandparents. I find that a photo session is a great activity to do in a group (or not) and it allows you to freeze a moment in time. Especially when there are young children. So why do such a session? Because time flies, quite simply. Children grow and change quickly. And let's face it, no one is forever! So the photo session leaves beautiful family memories to cherish for a long time.

That day, a couple was a little late, you know what it's like with children? lol so I continued by taking various photos of the children, the grandparents. Until everyone was there to take a photo of the whole group. The L family had the idea of bringing balloons to amuse the children. And apples. Sometimes, it takes simple accessories to do something different and dynamic. I had recommended that they dress well to not be cold and I had suggested autumnal colors: brown, green, gray, dark yellow, orange etc. A small scarf here, a cap there. I think their outfits are perfect.

Large extended family session at the Park

We find the original L family: the parents with their three children!

Keep the focus on grandparents!

In the top left photo, we see the parents with their three children. In the top right photo, we see the grandparents with all their grandchildren! What's fun is that I often have someone next to me to attract their attention. Otherwise, I take out my famous Penguin puppet. But I mustn't overdo it, it must remain an element of surprise! We must often remember for whom the gift of the photo shoot is for. And what this person finds important to have as souvenirs.

I was talking about almost infinite possibilities, here is another good example. I made portraits of each couple and then of all the adults together while the children played nearby. We could also have made all the guys together and all the women afterwards.

A large family session with all the adults

Large extended family session with adults

large extended family session with children

Children, from a very young age, are used to looking at the camera. Sometimes I have to tell them not to look at me, to act as if I'm not there. But I admit that I have more time to do that, when I photograph only one family for 1h30. This time, I tell you, I didn't stop, it went by so quickly too! And what a photogenic family, right? It was a first for everyone and they did it like champions!

Did you like this session? See several photos of different families just HERE]. ! To see my tips for a successful family session, click here ici

06/02/2021 In Family

Tips for taking successful family photos

Over the years, I have often been asked what my tips are for taking great family photos. It has been rumbling around in my head for a while now… so I will go with it as I think. It doesn’t matter what order I do this post in..

How should we dress?

First, since the sessions are an hour and a half or two hours long, I often recommend planning 30 looks. It can be un more chic look (for everyone): a nice dress for girls and clean shirts/pants for guys. As if you were going to a famous restaurant where you have to dress up or "look your best" haha! And a more casual look or relaxed. For example, everyone in jeans, sneakers or sandals in summer, everyday clothes. And the colors? I like neutral colors, blue/gray/brown/beige with a pop of bright color, red/orange/yellow/pink. You have to try to avoid sweaters with logos and things written on them. Clothes that could age badly…

Here are some examples of families where I found the linens to be well coordinated!

Have fun and enjoy yourself

It's important as parents to tell yourself that you don't have 100% control over anything during a photo shoot. Children can't stay still and smile for long minutes, all while looking at the camera! It doesn't take long for them to find it endless and boring! Children should be allowed to play, make faces and be themselves.. I really like it when the family has fun together, what's better than parents to make their children laugh and vice versa! I always have a little puppet with me, just to have a few photos where the children look at the camera and laugh naturally: there's nothing worse than a forced smile, parents notice it right away! More than one child wanted to leave with this puppet! If only they knew how useful it is!

Have photogenic accessories with you

Provide toys to entertain the little ones is always useful and fun. It can be a balloon, a small truck for the child to ride in, a Halloween costume. For the accessoiries It could be sunglasses, hats, scarves, big hickeys. Or why not bring your dog, if you have a dog? It's so representative of families when they bring their dog I think!

French tourists in the Old Port of Montreal

No need to always look at the camera

It's a reflex that we all have, to look at the camera in front of us. To smile and wait for the photographer to click. The older the children are, the more I have to remind them not to necessarily look at the camera. While I really like it when parents observe their children and their sometimes very funny expressions. I like it when everyone exchanges or plays together. I like it when there isinteraction between all family members : we are far from frozen and fake smiles. I often recommend little things to do when the family has no more ideas. Like taking a walk, placing the children on each other's shoulders, giving each other big hugs, tickling, kissing each other, etc.

Other tips for taking successful family photos:

Feeding your children before the session
Bring water, juice, snacks in case they are still hungry
If you have young children, a stroller is good for carrying all your things. Or a carry-on if you have several accessories, toys or clothes.
Have Kleenex, wipes or washcloths on hand in case of need.
Promise a small reward so that the session goes well: a trip to a restaurant/snack for example, a favorite chocolate or an activity that you haven't done for a long time.

Did you like these tips for taking great family photos? You can visit my family portfolio ici to see even more examples!

Maternity and newborn sessions