My family portrait session with the Roberts was very refreshing! Not only it take place on a crisp sunny morning, but my assistant Laura and I got completely soaked to our knees!

The Roberts chose the Coquitlam River that is right by their house, since they spend so much time there on hot days. Choosing a location that has significant meaning to a family enhances the symbolic value of a portrait.

At first, to accommodate our schedule, I had booked the session at 2pm. At my first location scout, I realized that I had made the most stupid mistake of scheduling the portrait session at the worst time possible! Midday in the summer! Even my students will tell me off!

Luckily the Roberts were extremely understanding, and we switched the session to early morning of 9am. Thank you for all the guys who are getting up at the crack of 8 for the portrait session. I can tell how much you love your lady of the house!

Since the time had been changed, I had to do another location scout. The way I do my location scout is to find a few suitable pockets to arrange the group, so that I don’t have to do that at the time of the session. I also take a few snapshots of my planned composition. When I work on my portrait design in my studio, I can “put” the people in the shot with the right light and right focal length. Here you can see how some of the location scout shots were used in the final portraits.

From my first location scout, I knew that to get some of the best angles, I would have to wade in the river. I had diligently prepared rubber boots for Laura and myself. To get the river in the background of the portraits, I had to go knee-deep into the river. A few too many times, I became so wrapped up in what was in front of me that water started pouring into my boots. Thank you Laura too! Your jeans were completely soaked, and you never complained once! (You can see my bright banana rubber boots and my soaked pants!)

I love portrait sessions that take me to places I have never been. Apparently Coquitlam River is the local swimming pool on hot summer days. I have no doubt about it—on my first location scout, I saw two women lounging in lawn chairs with drinks in hand in the middle of the river!

Thanks for my assistant Laura for taking these “behind the scene” shots!