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!

We always joke about how Alberta can have all four seasons in one day, and no where is this more true than in the mountains. Nicole and Derek’s session had to be postponed so many times because of October blizzards, and they finally got the proper autumn session they wanted in November! Other than the usual Crowsnest Pass wind, it was such a beautiful day for their Willow Drive family photos.

The kids loved the adventure we went on in the valley. The older kids especially loved being able to pose with their little brother, and had a ton of photo requests they listed off for me :) They were also pretty excited to let me know they had met my dad another day!

This area is one of Nicole and Derek’s favourite places in the Crowsnest Pass. It was so sunny and perfect to take in all the mountain vistas.

Melissa and Schuyler usually get autumn family photos every year, but between quarantines and blizzards, this year they had a very different look in their photos! Their fresh snowfall family photos gave the kids a chance to check out all the animal tracks in the untouched snow and have fun snow fights with each other.

Their youngest was full of laughter through the entire session, so I think he’ll grow into loving winter activities the most out of his siblings ;)

Blizzards and shutdowns couldn’t keep this family apart for their parents’ 35th anniversary celebration! Henk and Joanne’s children planned out a special celebratory reunion weekend, part of which included Designed to Dwell family photos.

The beautiful venue definitely came in handy to keep everyone warm during the blizzard that swept through Lethbridge that weekend. Despite the bad roads, everyone was able to make it down to visit their parents. Even luckier was being able to have their reunion before we all went into self-isolation across the province!

2020 definitely seemed to be the year for Lethbridge large family photos! An in-law from one of my previous extended family sessions that year rounded up her family and they got together to celebrate their father Roy’s 60th birthday, as well as welcome a new baby into the family!

Woutera and Roy loved a nature look so we used one of the big fallen trees in Indian Battle Park as the base for posing. This is always a win for multi-generational sessions because the kids love climbing the logs!

Once the kids’ photos were finished, all the adults had their turn getting photos with their parents.

Hilda and Basil’s daughter Margaret wanted to do something special for her parents to celebrate their 55 years of marriage, so she arranged these west Lethbridge anniversary photos for them.

Both Hilda and Basil have lived very interesting lives. Hilda is a published poet and Basil used to be a professional soccer player! He was able to bring a soccer ball to the session and was very proud to show off the Brazilian flag in some of the photos.

Margaret hopped in for a few family photos, but most of the session focused on the lovely couple. Margaret and I were grinning and giggling at how cute her parents are! They are a perfect example of finding someone who can still make you laugh in 55 years.