A Retro Family Photo Shoot

We are not a family who "does" professional photos. I find it's hard enough to snatch a moment with the self-timer when we are all clean and respectable looking without trying to factor in a third party and get everyone to pose. And I've never really been a fan of cookie-cutter photo shoots. But I started planning this family photo session about four years ago when I met photographer Emily Parsons of Emily Jane Photography. Her style sparked something in me and the project she had just launched, a local vintage photo calendar, inspired me. I thought, "When Wade's hot rod is done, I should get her to do a vintage style photo shoot of our family with the rat rod."

Little did I know it would take four years to complete, and in that time Emily would move. But she comes home frequently and I was able to book a shoot for late September, when our yard is golden with fall colour.

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

I sewed my girls matching skirts, and we got our hair done that afternoon. It was fun to hear comments from the other customers in the busy salon inquiring what we were up to with our retro looks. My middle girl especially looked so perfect in her flipped-out bouffant! Both my girls are so beautiful, inside and out.

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

Guys are easy to dress retro; jeans and white t-shirts were the perfect look.

 photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

The kids are at the perfect age for a project like this; they participated enthusiastically and were willing to pose as directed.

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

Our yard is full of little retro details; Wade built the shop to resemble a false-front garage and he's brought home vintage pop coolers and a gas pump. Auto memorabilia signs we can't afford to buy, we make ourselves. We could have moved indoors to my retro kitchen for even more vintage photo ops but we were having too much fun out in the sunshine.

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

 photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

These photos were so much fun! And Emily was a great sport about working with our funky non-traditional ideas. My absolute favourite photos from the shoot are the ones with my guys working on the hot rod. I'm pretty lucky to live with these creative people and we love our home and the life we've created together.

photos by Emily Jane Photography 2014

These photos will be delighting me every day - we are hanging an assortment of them in the living room as well as going with the rat rod photos in my studio bathroom - wait until you see how that is turning out! I have high hopes of moving into my garage studio before Christmas. Can't wait to show you the photos and invite you to the grand opening.