Lethbridge Weddings & Portrait Photography by Tanya Plonka

I rang in the new year with west Lethbridge winter family photography of this lovely couple. I photographed their engagement session a few years ago and they’ve now added little Nathan to the family! Nathan is such a huge smiler. Any silly sound and face I made behind the camera had him squealing with delight!

We timed our session perfectly between the beautiful snowfall and wind that carried it away. A herd of deer were enjoying Aperture Park during our visit and Nathan loved watching them. One even joined our session!

(more…)

Tricia and Colin always love to work their geeky interests into their photography sessions. For a while, they were stuck on what theme to pick for their maternity photos for their second baby. Dinosaurs? Harry Potter? While teaching their little boy Thorin about where his new brother or sister is, he repeatedly pointed to Tricia’s belly and exclaimed, “Batman!” I am thus convinced they are having a Batman, and so they decided to go with a Batman themed maternity session!

Equipped with capes, masks, and custom made shirts where they each wear the emblem (including the Bat Baby), we kept warm inside at the university for their photos. Thorin loved looking at all the art sculptures there and getting to fly around (we didn’t have the heart to tell him Batman can’t fly on his own).

Since then, their new superhero has joined their family!

(more…)

Vanessa and Robbie planned an elegant Galt Museum ceremony and wedding reception on the cusp of autumn. With glimmering rose gold and soft pink accents and well tailored suits, their wedding party looked so sharp!

They started their day with a first look at Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and had their family join them there for photos. After their romantic and joyfully emotional ceremony at the Galt, we headed to the University of Lethbridge, which is where their journey together began.

The couple placed so much importance on family, including all of their siblings in the wedding party and making sure everyone close to them felt as important as they are. They were so ecstatically happy all day! Even as the pre-dinner sleepiness started to set in, they were still elated to be in each other’s presence and couldn’t stop grinning.

Congratulations, Vanessa and Robbie!

(more…)

Ray contacted me when he was in need of a men’s fashion portrait session to build up a talent portfolio for himself. We decided on the University of Lethbridge so that Ray could easily change between his different looks. I’m glad we did because it was COLD outside! Luckily one of his looks was made for the cold weather and we started the session with some winter fashion. Don’t let the autumn colors fool you – it had been snowing a few minutes earlier!

Ray is just getting started with modelling but he was already a natural in front of the camera. I think he’ll have a good career ahead of him!

(more…)

Christine and Joe didn’t quite have the engagement session we were expecting! We had booked their photos many weeks in advance to take place over the February long weekend. Our plan was to drive out to the Crowsnest Pass, and we hoped there would still be some snow left. The last two Februarys have been a little dry here, so we didn’t want to get our hopes up too much! As their photography date approached, we heard tales of daily highway closures. Then it came: yet another heavy snowfall warning on our travel day! In the end, they had a very snowy west Lethbridge engagement session just as the huge snowfall began its descent.

As a substitute “forest,” we met at Aperture Park on the west side and hiked through snow that ranged from one inch to two feet deep. Christine and Joe were such amazing sports about it! Christine feels the same way about winter as I do (which is not favourably), yet they perfectly acted like everything was warm and fine. Even while being pelted by snow, they were so lost in each other. Joe couldn’t resist nuzzling into her and making them both break out in huge grins.

(more…)

John and Beatrice were ecstatic to have their whole family together for Christmas! Once the holiday excitement died down a few days later, I met up with them for Lethbridge indoor three generation family photos at the University. We had hoped to do the photos outdoors, but with wind chills that week of -30C and colder, the University was a very appropriate backup!

The kids were a little iffy about having to hug their siblings, but the adults gladly grabbed onto each other for tight squeezes! They are definitely a closely knit family :)

(more…)