Edmonton Family Photography
Freezing the tender and quirky moments of your beautiful life
For adventurous families who just want to be themselves...
If your crew is a little wild, here you will not be tamed. If you greet life with Band-Aids, dirty fingernails, and a fabulous sense of humour— this kind of family photography was probably meant to be.
For the sentimental photos that grip onto you...
Do you wish time would slow down just long enough for you to snatch one more chocolate-covered smile, one more dance party, one more goodbye kiss…?
For however you choose to define "Family"...
Nuclear, couples, single-parent, blended, friends, multigenerational, fur-babies… Whoever you hold tender and dear, is family. This approach to family photography is about life and our relationships in all their gloriously messy and goofy, infuriating and tear-jerking, fascinating and passionate ways.
Everyone is welcome. Come as you are.
The most meaningful photos are created when there is a certain surrender to the rollercoaster of family life. Like a whiff of familiar perfume or an old song on the radio, these photos will jolt you back there, in the moment, remembering how it all felt.
Your kids want to go puddle jumping? I’ll have my rubber boots ready. Pillow fight at bedtime? Let the feathers fly. Quiet coffee on the deck? I won’t disturb your peace. I am there to document your family’s unposed life and love.
Immersing myself into your family, consider me a visiting relative or friend hanging out with her camera.
These are the glimmers of what is important in life, the stuff that truly counts. This is worth documenting, don’t you think?
"Love, chaos, and togetherness. You captured it beautifully."
Reviews
Client love letters
This is the important stuff in life, what truly counts. This is worth documenting— don’t you think?
"The photos are perfect in every way"
Relaxing
It would be utterly exhausting to pose and attempt to stay 'on point' for hours. Thankfully, that is NOT how documentary family photo sessions work. Over here - pants and smiles are optional.
Wild & Free
Don’t be shy if you want to do something adventurous (I’m game!), and I can even photograph your family on your vacation! Yet if you prefer being close to home, quiet coziness is also always perfect. The choice is yours.
No Rules
Your photo session can be done at any time of the day, with any family and friends you want, doing anything you want to do. I'm happy to come along for the ride.
Memorable
This is your chance for uninterrupted quality time with your most loved people. A day to leave behind what nags you and embrace whatever you would do if it was your last day on earth. A day for making memories.
"You captured the love our family has in such a natural way"
This is how we do it
(to quote Montell Jordan...)
We connect
I’m really easy to get along with – promise!
Click “LET’S DO THIS” and say 'Hi'. I'll get back to you in your preferred way (phone call, text, or email) and we'll talk photos!
We go through option
The part I work hard to make easy for you
We chat about where your family photo session might take place (at home and/or away) and the amount of coverage you would like: 3 hours, 6 hours, or 12 hours.
We hang out
The most fun part
Your family does exactly whatever you want, with whoever you want (relatives & friends welcome!), and I tag along with my camera.
Your photos are presented to you!
The part where you might cry
A few weeks after your session you get to see your photographs! You then get to choose which art forms you would like for enjoying your photos - an album, digital files, photo prints, or any combination.
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different…”
— C. S. Lewis
FAQ's
We're just so busy... maybe later?
Life is busy, work is busy, and caring for a family is busy. Let these be the reasons why you SHOULD plan a family photo session— an excuse to slow down and have some uninterrupted quality time together. A day for making memories.
Our loved ones only care that we showed up and were part of their life. They won’t remember the circumference of your waist or if you had a clean kitchen. But, they will remember the time you cannonballed into the swimming pool, the time a food fight started in the kitchen, the time everyone snuggled by the campfire waiting for northern lights. If you wait for the time to be ‘right’, it may never happen. Every day that you wake up is the right time.
“When I first heard about the work Paula does, I thought, what an incredible way to capture our ‘real’ life! Then I immediately thought, ‘Great, 3 hours of kids on screens, or asking to be on screens, or better yet – fighting.’ But that was not how it happened. With the time set aside, it actually became a really special 3 hours of connection between me and each kid and between the kids themselves. I adore the photos, but I also marvel at the experience we had. The time spent with Paula gave us an opportunity to slow down and appreciate those things and the photographs will forever serve as an incredible reminder.“
— Nancy S.
But our family is kind of boring...
Your family photos are for you, your relatives, your future generations, and for the purpose of remembering your life together. Whether you have toddlers bouncing off the walls, teens hovering over screens, or it’s just you and your partner – those people are yours and you are theirs. There is no manual or checklist for what makes an interesting life, and you all deserve to exist in photographs together doing only what you like to do. Just leave the rest up to me; let me show you how much beauty I see hiding in your mundane.
Does this approach work for newborns?
Definitely! Newborn photography can be so much more than a swaddled baby in a basket. Your newborn session can take place at home, in the hospital, or wherever you feel most comfortable venturing. The beauty of a documentary-style newborn session is that it captures the core beauty of your growing family— unscripted, honest, and full of connection.
Documentary-style newborn sessions tend to be more relaxed, meaningful, and memorable than the traditional posed variety. Best of all? There’s no need to dress up, curl your hair, or even leave your house—unless, of course, you want to.
From my own experience:
I wish I had known about documentary family photography when my first child was born. It was +25°C outside with noisy construction drilling on our street, yet inside was this beautiful bubble of learning how to be parents. I probably took 1,000 photos of her that week—99.5% of them close-ups of her angelic face, fingers, and toes. What I wouldn’t give now to have photos with her… To see how hilariously awkward my husband and I were while trying to change a diaper, pull a shirt over her floppy newborn head, or the half-hour we spent figuring out the stroller for our first walk. We had wanted this baby more than anything, and suddenly she was here. The sleep deprivation, the laughter—and oh god—the love.
“Initially we were apprehensive about getting family photos done within weeks of having a new baby. However, as soon as we met Paula we were at ease. She has a warm and welcoming demeanour and made the whole photo experience relaxed and positive for us all – postpartum mama, husband and toddler included! There was no awkward posing, she just effortlessly captured some precious moments as we went about our daily activities. It was such a treat for her to come to our home and candidly take photos so there was no need for us to stress about traveling anywhere or coordinating fancy outfits. This was especially nice as we were sleep deprived parents with a newborn and toddler. We are so grateful to have had Paula so artfully capture our beautiful chaos during this precious time in our lives.”
– Alissa M.
This feels a little personal
Nervous that the photos might feel too vulnerable or embarrassing?
Worried it’s going to feel like the paparazzi are following you around?
People often say I have a knack for making them feel instantly relaxed—like we’ve known each other for ages (see client quotes below). At my core, I believe there’s nothing better than someone who is unapologetically themselves. I’m not here to air your dirty laundry.
Do you toss Baileys into your morning coffee or enjoy an afternoon joint on the deck?
Most comfortable in just a housecoat or skin-to-skin with your loved ones?
It’s okay to let the F-bombs fly. YOU DO YOU.
Nothing really fazes me.
Do your kids (or you?) have meltdowns on the regular? I get it—I’m a parent and a real person too, and I know life can be heavy sometimes. However you show up is exactly right for a documentary family session, because there’s so much beauty in diversity—diversity in people, moods, and all kinds of days.
If I photograph a tantrum, it’s never for shock value. It’s to show how hard parents work, the comfort and connection that often follow a breakdown, and above all, the love in your family.
I’m your camera-happy new friend who came to hang out for the day—nothing more, nothing less.
What previous clients have said:
“The idea of having someone you don’t know in your home for 3 hours taking photos of your family in order to capture the everyday, hardly sounds natural. But it was. I credit most of this to Paula, who, from the moment she stepped into our home, brought with her an openness to the way we live our life, an absolutely judgment free approach to what she observed, and a gentle kindness that welcomed each of us to be ourselves.” — Nancy S.
“As soon as we met Paula we were at ease. She has a warm and welcoming demeanour and made the whole photo experience relaxed and positive for us all.” — Alissa M.
I'm worried the photos might not be flattering...
Even though I believe there is nothing more beautiful than a genuine smile and people being unapologetically their self, I know some clients worry about how they will look in a real-life photograph. Let me tell you what previous documentary family photography clients of mine have said about this concern:
“Photographers always make me apprehensive as I’m not one who is eager to be photographed and I was even more nervous when I wasn’t being posed (Would I look TOO natural? Are my kids going to be obnoxious? How do I hide my double chin?). But when Paula started photographing us, none of that mattered. The moment in time when I was mixing chocolate chips into batter or when my husband was having a snowball fight with the kids was all that existed and double chins or screaming kids or the spill on my husband’s shirt was totally irrelevant. It was just time and space and Paula capturing it all.“
— Stephanie M.
“The photographs Paula took of our family captured so many aspects of our daily life that just don’t get documented… knowing glances, moments of affection, unexpected hilarity, and the ‘just being’. Having these photos that remind me of what life ‘feels like’ is an incredible keepsake. I even loved the less flattering photos (of me). I will forever be glad for the 3 hours with Paula. It is a wonderful thing to be seen.“
— Nancy S.
Why are the sessions so long?
It can take time for genuine moments to unfold and for everyone to settle into a place where they are relaxed. The beauty of a longer session is how it holds space for variety – variety of setting, variety of activities, and variety of emotions. It is so fun to have photographs of joyfully exciting moments! Yet, when the energy runs out and things get quieter, we get to see another side of family connection where sooo much beauty hides in the pieces you wouldn’t usually think to photograph… But I’m right there waiting!
No matter how hard a person tries to cement the best moments to memory, they will still fade like a drawing left out in the sun. Yet, with documentary family sessions, from that moment on you get to have pictures helping you remember when life felt full of the very best things.
With Full Day sessions or a Year in the Life, this is when you get a genuine grasp of life at that moment in time – a family yearbook. You aren’t just cherry-picking parts, you get to have it all.
Does it have to be at my home?
“I don’t really want photos at my home, can we go somewhere else?”
You bet! Near or far, the options are endless. We can go to any of your favourite hangouts such as the playground, a restaurant, the grandparents’… Want to swim in the lake or hike in the mountains? I love adventure and am happy to tag along. Or, if you have bigger plans on the horizon, I can even meet you on your vacation. Depending on how far you’re planning, there may be a travel fee, but my wandering soul will follow you anywhere.
What about delicate life situations?
Documentary family sessions aren’t just for happy people with animated little kids, they are for all the highs and lows throughout your life. Birth sessions to end-of-life photo sessions; random Saturdays in the kitchen to vacationing in the mountains; navigating teenage years to an empty nest. All moments and all moods are part of life, and therefore, part of documentary family photography.
If you have a delicate life situation that would be meaningful for you to have photographs of, then please, let’s talk.
“I don’t know you, but having you by our side felt like you were a caring friend. I am in a challenging place right now and looking at the pictures genuinely brings joy to me.”
— Farrah C.
“From the moment Paula arrived, she made us feel completely at ease. It was an end-of-life shoot with our beloved dog, Vixen, and these photos will bring us comfort for years to come. We are so grateful to have had such a warm, kind, and talented photographer capture such a meaningful session for us.”
— Natasha L.
What if our family has unique needs?
Whether your family’s needs are physical, cognitive, sensory, or social, I take the time to provide the extra care and attention you deserve. My documentary-style family photo sessions are especially well-suited for families with accessibility considerations because there’s no pressure to pose, perform, or behave a certain way. Everyone is free to be themselves, just as they are. I am happy to adapt the session in any way that supports your comfort and ensures your family feels seen and respected.
Support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community?
Absolutely. I am a proud LGBTQIA2S+ affirming photographer offering a safe, inclusive space for all identities, families, and expressions of love. My photography practice celebrates diversity and welcomes people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds. Whether you’re part of the queer, trans, non-binary, or two-spirit community—or an ally—I am honoured to document your story with the highest level of respect and care. Come as you are, and expect a warm smile, open heart, and a photo experience that’s free of judgment and full of authenticity.
About me
Hello, I’m Paula (she/her). I have been described as someone with a quirky and somewhat dry sense of humour, a positive attitude, and a calming aura. After graduating university with a Commerce degree, my 20’s and 30’s were spent mostly in Europe chasing dreams and love, and that’s where I discovered that I wasn’t destined to climb the corporate ladder but I had an artist’s heart all along.
Edmonton, Canada is where I have built my home and business yet wanderlust still runs strongly through my veins and I will eagerly go anywhere.
For me, photography is a form of time travel, bringing stories and loved ones vividly back to life, making me smile with appreciation of the experiences I’ve had and inspired for things yet to come. This is what I want my photography to give to you.
P.S. Want the random "About Me" stuff?
- I love being outdoors and believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only badly dressed. Water and I are like magnets, but I’m terrified of lake weeds and sea cucumbers.
- I’m crazy about music and it plays 24-7 in my house. We bounce around all genres, but I’ll take a pass on R&B. I’ve played the piano since I was 6 years old and my favourite songs to play are cinematic moody ones from composers like Ludovico Einaudi.
- I’m the oldest of three girls, and I’m married to a Dutchman. We have two daughters (ages 15 & 12) and two cats (Gus & Gloria).
- My culinary guilty pleasures are Mr. Noodles, ketchup slurped straight from the little takeout packs, and peanut butter by the spoonful. I also get pretty excited anytime I find popcorn, prosecco, and deep fried pickles.
- I volunteer regularly for the Kids With Cancer Society and Make-a-Wish.
- I have an ongoing street photography project of discarded banana peels I find laying around. As a kid I thought it was hilarious when cartoon characters would slip on peels in the street and I guess the fascination has continued.
Awards
- Named one of the Top Photographers Globally of 2024 by Fearless Family Photographers
- Named one of the Top Photographers Globally of 2024 by Inspiration Family Photographers
- 2024 Fearless Family Photographers, Collection 16 Award Winner
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Top 20 Worldwide
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Best Family Collection 27 Award Winner
- 2024 Fearless Family Photographers, Collection 15 Award Winner
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Collection 46 Award Winner
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Collection 45 Award Winner: One award and two honourable mentions
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Collection 43 Award Winner: Two awards and one honourable mention
- 2024 Inspiration Family Photographers, Collection 42 Award Winner: Four awards and one honourable mention
- 2024 Fearless Family Photographers, Collection 13 Award Winner
- Named one of the Top10 Photographers Canada of 2023 by This is Reportage Family
Earlier Years
- 2023 LensCulture, Black & White Photography Awards, Editors’ Pick
- 2023 Made For Documentary, Award Finalist
- 2023 This is Reportage Family, Collection 18, Award Winner
- 2023 Fearless Family Photographers, Collection 10, Award Winner
- Exhibiting photographer at the InFocus Photo Exhibition at the Wild Skies Gallery in Edmonton, Alberta (February 1 – April 29, 2023)
Named one of the Top100 Photographers Worldwide of 2022 by This is Reportage Family
Named one of the Top10 Photographers Canada of 2022 by This is Reportage Family
2022 This is Reportage Family, Collection 15, Award Winner
2022 Fearless Family Photographers, Collection 5, Award Winner
2022 This is Reportage Family, Collection 10, Award Winner
2021 Documentary Family Awards, V2, Finalist in the “Water” Category, the “Joy” Category, & the “Person’s Best Friend” Category
2021 Documentary Family Awards, V1, Finalist in the “Pandemic” Category
Named one of the Top100 Photographers Worldwide of 2020 by This is Reportage Family
2020 This is Reportage Family, Collection 3, Award Winner
2020 This is Reportage Family, Collection 3, Award Winner. Featured in Vanity Fair Italy and Bored Panda.
2019 Documentary Family Awards, V3, Finalist in the “100 Days of Summer” Category
2019 Documentary Family Awards, V3, Finalist in the “Environmental Portrait” Category
"To say we were blown away is still an understatement"
Raw photographs of pure joy, intimacy, and real life. Treasured long after kids grow up and memories fade.
Raw photographs of pure joy, intimacy, and real life. Treasured long after kids grow up and memories fade.
Reviews
Client love letters
Session Options
Note: I believe everyone deserves beautiful photographs of their family memories, and I’m happy to work with you to create a custom package that fits your needs and budget. Reach out anytime and we’ll run through options.
Slice Of Life
3-Hour Session- 3 hours of documentary family photography
- A photo slideshow set to music
- Three 8x12" photo prints from your session
- Optional add-ons: digital files, albums, and photo prints
SLICE OF LIFE:
A slice-of-life session often centers around a main family activity and is great for families new to documentary photography. Does your family have a Friday games night tradition? Taco Tuesdays or Sunday morning hike? We’ll choose a part of the day that will remain dear to heart for years to come.
HALF DAY:
Magic happens when people have time to let their guard down and relax, and a half-day session is perfect for this. This is the most sought-after session as it gives time for activities while also fitting easily with a daily family schedule. A great mix of excitement and downtime.
Full Day
12-Hour Session- 12 hours of documentary family photography
- A photo slideshow set to music
- Twelve 8x12” photo prints from your session
- Optional add-ons: digital files, albums, and photo prints
FULL DAY:
Seasoned lovers of Documentary Family Photography will tell you a full-day session is the immersive experience you didn’t know you were missing. This is absolutely the best way to capture your family adventures, giving you a family yearbook that encapsulates genuine personalities, your connections, and the places that are most memorable to you.
"The most precious capturing of my family I am forever grateful for"
OH HEY!
Once a month I send a fun email with quirky musings and “insider” specials. Join us!
Paula Gerein Photography
Documentary photography for families and businesses of Edmonton and Central Alberta, Canada. Available for travel.
© Paula Gerein Photography 2025
All rights reserved.