Carmen VanDyck Photography » Anaheim Hills family photographer

I may have slightly underestimated how much time a big move like ours takes. I had great plans, but they all fell to the wayside as we packed up, said good-bye to friends and family, had a few good-bye parties, and tied up loose ends in BC. We are now in Anaheim Hills, still in the ongoing process of getting settled, finding our way around our new community and all that entails. It is a lot. Let’s just say that. But I did promise a post of some of my favorite lower mainland photographers. So this is it

I have to admit to being sort of picky when it comes to photographers, but I think you should be. That being said, I don’t think you should necessarily go with my picks either. I happen to believe that choosing a photographer is a very personal thing. I think there is a right photographer for everyone. I don’t think you should ever go with someone because they are cheaper, or even because they are someone you know. I think you should choose someone because you absolutely adore their style of photography. Everyone’s is slightly different, and you need to find the person that is most “you”. There are so many photographers that I think are amazing, and I follow their blogs and love their work, but I still may not hire them just because it’s not “us”. My family. How I want us captured and portrayed. Does that make sense?

So here are a few of the photographers in the lower mainland that I would choose, for us. See if you like them, and if you do, book them!! They are all very talented and wonderful people to boot. I think personality shines through a photographer’s images. And it’s been my experience that if I like a photographer’s style, I always seem to really like them as well.

First up is Becky Chalmers. I fell in love with Becky’s style and use of light, and the fun she brings to her sessions the minute I first saw her work. She has three kids close in age to mine and that just bonded us further. I LOVE her images and had her take our family photos in the fall (of which I have a huge beautiful 36×48 canvas waiting to be rehung in our new home.) Here is her website:

http://beechalmers.com/

Follow her on facbook and see her amazing project 365 that I am absolutely loving! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bee-Chalmers-Photography/109791412397759

Here is a snippet of my family’s session with Becky:

Next up is Rachel. Rachel and I met through my sister and bonded over our love of all things photography. I have mentioned her more than once on here and she has done quite a few sessions for my family and they are some of my most treasured photos ever. I can’t say enough about either her, or her photography. She is taking on limited clients right now as she is also a mommy of three with lots on the go, so if you want to book her, I suggest doing so quickly. She does beautiful work. Here is her website:

http://www.rachelludwigphotography.com/blog/

I wish I had snippet from our last session with her, which was a little while ago now, but I searched her blog instead and found usHere is our last family post on her blog: http://www.rachelludwigphotography.com/blog/2009/07/the-vandyck-family-burnaby-family-photographer/

The rest of the photographers aren’t photographers I have personally used, but I am still a huge fan of their work, and think you should definitely check them out if you are looking for a great photog:

First up, if you are looking for someone who specializes in Maternity and Newborns, I love Melody’s work, here is her blog:

http://www.melodyhilmanphotography.com/blog/

She is located in the Langley/Cloverdale area so very close to where I was. Beautiful work!!

Another photographer that does beautiful weddings, if you are looking, but also does family and child portraits is Rebecca Sehn:

http://www.rebeccasehnblog.com/

Karin Louwerse is also a fabulously talented and fun local photographer:

http://www.karinlouwerse.com/

I often get wedding requests and even though I don’t do weddings I thought I would also include my favorite wedding photographer in this post. Melody Davis is beyond fabulous when it comes to weddings, definitely who I would book if I were getting married all over again ;o) She has done our family photos before but is strictly a wedding photographer these days, even if you’re not getting married, check her work out just for the beauty of it:

http://www.melodydavis.com/

There are SO many amazing photographers around. Google, search. I used to always pick up the West Coat Families magazine, and check out the photographers advertised in there. There are way more photographers than I even know of, so this is by no means an extensive list, just a few of my faves to get you started. There are lots of bad photographers too though, so be choosy and do your homework. If you think you are getting a super good deal, there is probably a reason. And while there’s nothing wrong with supporting a photographer that is starting out, just be clear of what you are hoping for and sure of what you will be getting. That’s my two cents.

But most of all, don’t forget that I will be coming “home” at the end of September or beginning of October, if there is enough interest (and I don’t mean just from friends, haha) to do a few days of sessions and mini sessions, so keep your eye out for that. Or contact me and let me know you’d like to be on the list for that weekend. We can still make our relationship work people!! Hopefully I will have some sessions here in Anaheim Hills in the not too distant future. If not, expect posts of my kids (who, believe it or not, have barely been photographed since we’ve been here! Eeps!) Either way, there will be lots of past sessions posted in the next little while…so don’t forget about me just yet!

Happy photographer searching!