THE WILD, THE MESSY, THE REAL YOU!

A group of four people making playful poses in an outdoor grassy field at sunset.

Ottawa Ontario Lifestyle Photographer

Hey! I am Melissa, Mel, or Miss!

I’m silly, talk a lot, and love having fun! I have the best time when I get to hang out with you and make your kiddos laugh and let loose.
I met my husband in 2005, and we’ve been married since 2012. That’s a long ass time!
I'm a mom to two amazing and hilarious kiddos, 18 months apart.
I’m a hockey and cheer mom!
I’ve been going grey since I was 18 and during Covid decided to embrace my natural colour or lack thereof.
I’m an Enneagram 7 with a side of 2. If you haven’t taken a personality test I encourage you to try. It’s scarily accurate.
I’m a country kid born and raised.
I’ve been doing this job for over 16 years, and have been full-time for over 10! I am lucky to have a career I love and obsess over.

Learn More

The Experience

Step 1: Choose your date, and secure with deposit.

Step 2: Plan the location and what you will wear. With my help of course!

Step 3: Show up! Relax! And create some memories!

Step 4: Photos are delivered!

Step 5: Share, post, and print! It’s that easy.

Your session will be fun and full of memories! A night to enjoy each other and let loose. I want you to walk away and think, "Wow, we had a great night!".

I aim to photograph adventurous families who want more than your average "everyone look at the camera" photo. Although we will get that also, I try to capture your family as they are.

We're all about getting messy, having fun, and being adventurous.

Q&A HERE

A woman with three children sitting and hugging each other on a lakeside beach, surrounded by trees, with smiles and casual summer clothing.

Family sitting in a car at sunset, with an adult man holding a young child on his lap at the steering wheel, while a woman sits beside them smiling.

Young child smiling, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and a pink sweater.

Family of four standing in shallow water, smiling and embracing, with a calm lake and colorful sky at sunset in the background.

Woman and three children posing on a street lined with historic buildings and a stop sign, flowers in the background.

Family in winter clothing posing among evergreen trees in a forest.

Smiling child with brown hair standing on a sandy beach, wearing a floral dress, with greenery in the background.

A family of three standing on a dirt road, surrounded by a rural landscape with trees and hills in the background. The father is holding a child on his shoulders, and the mother is standing next to them, smiling. The sky is cloudy, suggesting an over

Family of four, two adults and two children, smiling and wrapped in a blanket outdoors in a wooded area.

Close-up of a person's arms holding a baby's bare feet, with the baby wearing blue pants.

A woman sitting on a bridge with three children, two boys and a girl, in a relaxed pose. They are outdoors with a scenic view in the background, featuring a body of water and trees.

Two young boys smiling at each other, with a denim jacket-clad adult gently holding one boy's arm and another adult in a blue striped shirt wrapping an arm around the boys.

Family sitting on rocks near a stone bridge over a river, surrounded by greenery.

A family with a young child poses on a sidewalk in a quaint downtown area. The parents are kneeling beside the child. The scene includes brick buildings, greenery, and hanging flowers.

Family standing by a calm lake with trees reflecting on the water, surrounded by greenery and reeds.

A couple sits on the floor of a nursery, holding a baby. The room has a cozy chair, rug, and crib with hanging decor. Wall art features camel and map designs.

A family of three in a forest setting, with a man holding a child and a woman standing beside them. The path they are on is surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation.

Small child wearing overalls holding hands with adults standing on a dirt path outdoors, smiling.

Pregnant woman standing on a wooden dock by a lake surrounded by trees.

Family playing on stone steps by the lake at sunset.

Two children smiling on a sandy beach with trees and water in the background.

Pregnant woman in blue dress standing near a lake at sunset

Family with three children playing and splashing in water along a lakeside beach.

Couple walking on a lakeside path surrounded by greenery and trees, with a calm water body reflecting the evening sun.

Family posing on a sandy beach by a lake with trees in the background.

Pricing

Family of four standing in shallow water at sunset, smiling and embracing. The sky is painted with soft hues of blue and pink.

Lifestyle Session

The session you have come to love. A more adventurous session, with time to explore and play. We capture all of the standard “looking at me” photos and end with candid ones.

1 Hour • All of the Best Images • Online Gallery

Monday to Thursday - $500+HST

Friday to Sunday - $550+HST

$150+HST Deposit required to book the desired date

Family standing together at the edge of a lake, wearing casual summer clothes, trees in the background.

Extended Family

Perfect for gathering your parents, siblings, spouses, and kids from one side of your family. I capture a wide variety of groupings from kids only, couples, each family, and more.

1 hour • All of the Best Images • Online Gallery to share

Monday to Thursday - $600+HST

Friday to Sunday - $700+HST

$150+HST Deposit required to book desired date

A family of four in a bright bedroom, with a young child showing a book to the parents who are seated on the floor, while the father holds a baby. The room is well-lit with large windows.

Newborn Session

Captured in your home, I photograph your little one with a lifestyle approach. This means less posing, more in-the-moment, snuggles, and of course some on their own.

1 Hour • All of the Best Images • Online Gallery

Weekdays- $550+HST - Contact me directly to book

$150+HST Deposit required to book desired date

A couple in a field, with the woman pregnant, embraced lovingly. The background shows a natural setting with trees and tall grass.

Maternity / Newborn Bundle

Includes a 30-minute Maternity session as well as a 1-hour in-home Newborn session. All of the best images are included from both sessions.

1.5 Hour • All of the Best Images • Online Gallery

$950+HST - Contact me directly to book

$150+HST Deposit required to book desired date

Family portrait with two adults and two children wearing winter clothing in a forest setting.

Mini Sessions

These are held a few times a year and are offered on specific dates and locations.

$260 (Taxes included, and Non-Refundable)

15 minutes • 5 Digital Images • Online Gallery • Option to purchase more images once delivered. $18/image or $150/Gallery

BOOK HERE

A woman wearing heart-shaped sunglasses indoors making peace signs with her hands. She has long wavy hair and is dressed in a black outfit. The background shows a decorated event space with tables and candles.

Events

Coverage for personal or business events. Weddings and elopements, please view the Weddings Tab above for more details.

All of the Best Images • Online Gallery to share

$550/H +HST (two-hour minimum)

30% Non-refundable Retainer required to book the desired date

Contact

Based in the Ottawa Valley, I pride myself on capturing outdoorsy adventurous families. Ready to have fun and create some awesome memories together? Let me know what you're thinking so that you and I can create one of a kind photos together.

Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

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Location

A genral idea of where you are located. Ottawa East, West, Arnprior, Renfew, Pembroke etc.

Ideal Date or Month

Ideal Location

Water, Sand and Sunsets

Tree's, Trails and Nature

Urban, Ice Cream, Old Buildings

Heritage Buildings, Water, Fields

Country Dirt Road, Privacy

Open Field, Country

Our Home or Cottage

Other (Tell me in the messgae to me)

Message

My emails back to you often fall in Junk or Spam folders. Please check if you do not hear back from me.

Will do!

Please check your junk/spam for an email response from me. I try to respond to all emails within 24 Monday-Friday. Many clients are finding my emails in their junk/spam folders. Thank you!

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada