Lethbridge Weddings & Portrait Photography by Tanya Plonka

Weddings and events may have been postponed in 2020 due to COVID, but once restrictions eased up in the summer, everyone was grateful to spend time outdoors with their families! I was so thankful we have such beautiful, wide open outdoor spaces around Lethbridge so I could keep photographing all of these awesome families. I ended up hoarse on many occasions from yelling through my mask, but it was always worth it.

Two of the biggest trends I noticed this year were all of the babies who arrived (and these aren’t even the quarantine babies yet!) and all of the larger families who made an effort to celebrate important anniversaries and birthdays. I adapted quickly by bringing most of the newborns outdoors on warm days and talking their parents through poses. Everyone did so well!

Some highlights from 2020 include not one but TWO marriage proposals, a cat birthday, and a few more secret projects to come that I can’t share yet, including album art for local musicians and a children’s book. Each season was so amazing this year, from the long blossom season we had to the vibrant colours in the fall. Even the early snow was warm enough for outdoor photos!

When Daenerys arrived, her parents debated between bringing her to their hometown of Lethbridge for a photo session or staying at their new home together in Calgary. I’m so glad they chose the latter for her St. Patrick’s Island newborn photos because it was gorgeous there!

The park is conveniently next door to their neighbourhood of Inglewood. It wasn’t too busy when we went out, but it was a lovely warm day (perfect for diaper shots) with lots of lush greenery.

Daenerys loved going on the stroller ride to her photo spot. Any time she fussed, a quick bounce with her parents was all the movement she needed to calm down. She stayed awake for most of the newborn session so she could fully enjoy all the cuddles she received, but once we set off in the stroller again, she was quickly asleep!

Baby Adelita has arrived! (Which means Groot the dog is a big brother now!) I got to meet her at her Coaldale newborn session and loved seeing how happy her parents are every time they look at her. Adelita was used to company by now because her grandmother was visiting to help the first time parents out.

Ostara got all dressed up for her six month baby photos with a special flower crown designed by BLOOMdiggity. We did the photos down in Indian Battle Park where the bright colours in her crown really popped against the lush spring greens. Ostara loved getting hugs and kisses from her mom and dad. She totally embraced being adorned in a crown!

Rory’s family were the runner up winners of my Awkward Family Photo Contest earlier this year with their head to toe in denim Sears photo from the 90s. Lucky Rory didn’t have to wear any denim at all! We did very heavily guitar themed newborn photos since her mom and much of her extended family are all musicians. Rory spent much of her time before being born listening to her mom play guitar and it immediately calms her down to feel the vibration of the strings.

Her mom and dad are also big Disney fans, frequently travelling to the theme parks for marathons. Rory’s room has a fun Pixar blue sky wall and we included all kinds of Disney items in her newborn session.

Maybe one day she’ll think it was awkward she had to wear Mickey Mouse ears on her bum while she was naked. ;)

Lochlan’s newborn photos were very special to his parents. He was their rainbow baby, a term many families know all too well. (A rainbow baby is a baby born to a couple who has experienced a previous pregnancy loss.) We celebrated this adorable boy by including a rainbow cloth in a few photos, as well as a special bear in honour of his sister.

This adorable red head had his newborn session at his grandparent’s house in a beautiful bright room with sunlight streaming in. The warmth from the sun had him peacefully sleeping the entire time! Big brother Bodhi helped grandma and grandpa make dinner during the photos, taking a few breaks to come hold his new brother and get some special photos together.

Lochlan notoriously never kept his eyes open during his first few weeks home from the hospital. His grandma lamented that she never gets to see his beautiful eyes! At the end of the session we had a big surprise when he opened his eyes long enough to get a few different photos! We were still using the rainbow cloth at that point, and the colours really made the blue in his eyes vibrant.