When it’s time to get the family together for a unique family portrait, consider the benefits of having the shoot done outside. This is a great way to capture everyone in a special location, whether it’s the beach you all love or a park where your favourite picnics have occurred. If you’re looking to get a distinctive and personal family portrait, consider these top 5 outdoor spots.

Sun, Sand and Surf

The beach is a fantastic place for a stunning family portrait. The kids will love the chance to play on the sand and run in for a swim in between shots, creating a truly natural atmosphere that everyone can enjoy. Not only is it a visually beautiful backdrop, but an enjoyable trip to the beach means that the photographer will have more of a chance to capture everyone relaxed and having fun.

Home Sweet Home

Sometimes the best locations are the ones close to the heart. Portraits within the house setting are a great way to make everyone feel relaxed and quite literally at home. Whether it’s gathering in your lounge room or venturing outside for some lovely garden shots, having your portrait done at home can be very successful. This is especially important for those that have little ones who can be upset by too much of a change to their routine. Another benefit of being home is that your family pet can easily participate in the portrait too!

It truly had been a few years. Ok, it had actually been a few decades. I had fond memories of my trips to Banff. It was one of the highlights of my trips, anytime I visited my relatives in Alberta, Canada. And, it was especially fun when all of us cousins got together, to go to Banff!

When I was small, the highlight of the trips to Banff were the hot springs. I mean, I thought that the word, "Banff," and "Hot Springs" were synonymous and was quite surprised to find out that they were not! As soon as we would arrive in Alberta, Canada, we would start planning our trip to Banff and I would start unpacking my swimsuit to pack it in my little day bag ready for the long trip out to the wonderful "swimming pool" in the mountains. Back then, the short trip from Calgary to Banff seemed like a long trip, but, chatting with my cousins made it go by faster.

It was a bit different this trip. First of all, I was able to enjoy it with my husband, Michael, who hadn't had the experiences of going to Banff growing up. And, my dear cousin went along with us and blessed us with a tour of this beautiful place, allowing us to re-discover its elegance and quiet majesty, and to do so in the best of company.

We took the Gondola up the mountain, able to view the Banff experience from the sky. I had thought that I was afraid of heights, but realized that I was so mesmerized by the beauty of the mountains and the vegetation that hanging mid-air was actually a delight.