Sandra Burns

The Best Time To Book A Newborn Photography Session?

When Should I Schedule My Newborn Photo Session? One of the most frequently asked questions in the world of newborn photography is about the best time to schedule a newborn session. There are actually two timeframes to consider in the answer. The best time to book, to do the research and choose a photographer, is BEFORE baby arrives so that everything is taken care of before the chaos of parenthood arrives and all that is left to do is reach

Keep Reading »

7 Reasons To Invest In Wall Portraits Of Your Family

1. So much more than just decor Wall portraits are a timeless & classic way to display family memories, document important life moments, and celebrate your favourite people. 2. Boost their self-confidence Wall portraits create a sense of belonging and identity within a family, and studies have proven that seeing themselves on the wall can help boost family morale and children’s self-esteem & confidence. 3. A daily reminder of the important things in life Wall portraits can provide a sense

Keep Reading »

Business Portrait Series: Headshots vs Business Portraits vs Branding Photography

Welcome to the Business Portrait Series – Episode 1 Headshots vs. Business Portraits Let’s start the series by talking about the differences between “headshots” versus business portraits versus branding photography. I have done my best to remove potentially-harmful words such as “headshot” and “photoshoot” and replace them with non-firearm-related terms like business portraits, portrait session, etc. The last thing I want is for my children to think that “Mama’s job is to shoot babies” and think of the worst-case scenario;

Keep Reading »

4 Things You Can Count On When Working With Stephanie As Your Photographer⁠

Choosing a professional photographer to work with can sometimes feel like a daunting task if you don’t know what you are looking for or where to look. The basics are the image STYLE, the ARTWORK available for creating, the LOCATION and how far you are willing to travel, and the PERSON behind the camera. Are they reputable? Are they nice? Are they experienced? Price should be your last deciding factor, because it IS one, but the others are far more

Keep Reading »

Mississippi Mills Business Holiday Fundraiser | Do Good, Look Good

Festive Photos for the Food Bank What’s better than getting together with all my local business friends for breakfast at the Almonte Civitan (including crispy bacon and fresh croissants!) before the sun rises? Doing it while raising money for the local food bank! The local Mississippi Mills businesses came together for some festive business portraits and we were able to raise over $250 for the Lanark County Food Bank (The Hunger Stop) and collect several bags of goodies. Here is

Keep Reading »

Light Up The Night, An Almonte Christmas Tradition

An Almonte Christmas Tradition Every season, the friendly town of Almonte gathers on Mill Street for a holiday concert, some festive treats and shopping, and a beautiful light show as all of the town’s Christmas lights are lit (with the help of ol’ St. Nick!). This year’s weather was a slow drizzle of wet snow (not quite rain), which didn’t stop the crowd from gathering and made for beautiful photographs in the lights. I had the honour of photographing the

Keep Reading »

Almonte’s Holiday Night Market Was A Great Success!

Holiday Shopping In Almonte Every season, the friendly town of Almonte and it’s merchants (Destination Almonte) put on a beautiful street market. This year’s holiday night market was a beautifully warm night for approaching winter and perfect for a cup of hot chocolate while strolling Mill Street. I had the honour of photographing the shops as they showed off their festive decor, and I am excited for the next few events happening in our lovely Hallmark Christmas movie town (seriously!).

Keep Reading »

8 Perks of the Boutique Photography Experience & Full-Service Studio | Lanark & Ottawa Family Photographer

1 NATIONALLY ACCREDITED & EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL Stephanie celebrated twelve years in business in the spring of 2023, is Nationally Accredited by the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) in the specialty of newborn portraiture, and has often been featured in the media as an industry expert. 2 PRE-SESSION PLANNING The pre-session planning appointment takes place in your home and allows us to fully personalize your photography experience and ensure your portraits fit seamlessly into your home decor; from location to posing

Keep Reading »

The 2023 Teddy Bear Picnic Day Fundraiser for CHEO was a Great Success!

I am thrilled to announce that the inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic ‘Portraits in the Park’ fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) was a great success and we were able to raise over $350 for the kids! we did it! thank you for your support Check out all of these lovely portraits of beautiful children and their stuffies who came out to the Teddy Bear Picnic to support CHEO. It was the perfect weather to enjoy a picnic

Keep Reading »

Back to School Portraits Fundraiser for Mississippi Mills Public Library

I am thrilled to invite you to the annual Back to School portraits event. I am even more excited this year because we’ve partnered with the Mississippi Mills Public Library to host the photography sessions IN THE STACKS! This year, the themed portrait event will take place on September 10th, 2023 at the Almonte Branch. All proceeds from the participation fee will be donated to the MMPL to keep the amazing services and resources local, so you can get those

Keep Reading »

Fun Things To Do In Almonte With Kids

It’s officially been over a week since most finished school so you may find yourself scrambling for more ideas on how to entertain the kids, so here are a few easy and free (or mostly free) options to do so right here in Almonte: Go biking; pick a different route every time. Paint rocks and display them in the park to brighten someone’s day. Go on a scavenger hunt to see how many little free libraries you can find in

Keep Reading »

Teddy Bear Picnic Day Fundraiser for CHEO

I am thrilled to invite you to the inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic ‘Portraits in the Park’ fundraiser, an exciting event will take place on July 9th, 2023 at the picturesque Gemmill Park in Almonte, Ontario. The Teddy Bear Picnic aims to bring families together for a delightful day out while supporting the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Join Us for Teddy Bear Picnic portraits at the park Join us for a heartwarming day of joy, support, and community to

Keep Reading »

Blossoming Beauty in the Greenhouse | Ottawa Children Photographer

When your little client shows up with the perfect amount of sass and style, and starts posing herself like a true little model, it’s a big WIN in my books! Especially when the fan comes on at the perfect time.  Being able to capture portraits in a greenhouse has been a longtime bucket list item of mine and I am so happy to be able to check it off this year. So much so that I want to offer the

Keep Reading »

Top 9 Tips for Spring & Summer Adventures | National Trails Day

Today is National Trails Day! I love bringing clients on mini hikes for unique and secluded portrait sessions, but even more so I love taking my kiddos on fun outings into nature. Here are some tips for staying safe, energized, and ready-for-anything on your adventures! Top 9 Tips for Spring & Summer Adventures 1. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoiding sugary drinks. 2. Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. 3. Wear bug-repellent (spritz

Keep Reading »

When Is The Best Time For Outdoor Family Portraits? Hint, It’s NOT Fall.

Technically speaking fall starts on September 21st, which means we only have two or three weeks of beautiful bold fall leaf colours. That does not leave much time—of on top of the fact that weather is often a cause for rescheduling at that time of year here in Ottawa, and it can get quite cold quite quickly.     There are often THREE factors being considered WHY someone wants fall portraits for their family:   The first is the time

Keep Reading »