Capturing Unbreakable Bonds | The Caswell Family Session
As a photographer, my lens has been fortunate to capture countless moments of love, joy, and connection. Each family I have had the privilege to photograph has their own unique story, but the Caswell family holds a special place in my heart. Their journey through life, love, and resilience is truly inspirational, and I am honoured to share their story with you through my lens.
The Caswell family, hailing from Chilliwack and Alberta, is a living testament to the power of love and unity. Not only a large and tight-knit family, their family has also faced significant challenges together. Their collective spirit and unwavering support for one another are awe-inspiring, and it’s an honour to witness their journey and document their moments of togetherness.
One of the pivotal moments in the Caswell family’s story was when they experienced a life-changing accident involving one of their beloved grandsons. He had to relearn how to talk and walk, and the family rallied around him in unwavering support. This difficult time tested their strength but ultimately brought them closer together. In fact, the brothers of Levi stood around to support him to stand for these family portraits, a touching sight of brotherhood in action.
Through my lens, I’ve had the privilege to capture the Caswell family in their purest moments. I have photographed their big group shots, where the sheer number of family members is a testament to their legacy. These images portray the essence of togetherness, as they stand shoulder to shoulder, showing that no matter the distance that separates them, their hearts are forever entwined.
Candid shots of family laughing are some of my favorite moments to capture. The Caswell family has laughter is infectious, and it’s clear that their humor and joy are strong bonds that hold them together. The genuine happiness that flows through their family is evident.
In addition to the big group shots and candid laughter, I’ve also had the privilege to capture some special moments within the family. It’s in these intimate moments that you truly see the heart of this family.
The Caswell family’s story is one of perseverance. They have walked through the fire of life’s challenges, emerging stronger and more closely knit. My time spent photographing them has given me a glimpse into a family that cherishes each other, no matter the distance that separates them. Through their trials and triumphs, they serve as an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the power of love and togetherness.
As a photographer, I am grateful to have been a part of their journey and to have captured the moments that make their story so extraordinary. The Caswell family is a reminder that, no matter the obstacles, with love, resilience, and a sense of humour, you can overcome anything that comes your way.
The photos I’ve shared here are just a small glimpse into their family’s remarkable journey, and I hope they inspire you as much as they have inspired me. It’s a privilege to share their story through my lens.
I met Jocelyn through photography when I moved to Vernon, and our friendship is something I cherish. We became fast friends and I was blessed to help her document this amazing time in her life when her littles are this age and still as protective and adoring to their siblings.
As you will see flipping through these photographs, Jocelyn and her husband Carlos have loved each other well and it is reflected in the joy and love their children show to each other and those they meet.
Katelynn has always had a very special place in my heart.
Born 6 years apart my little cousin and I were always together, at 6 I thought that a new little girl in our family was sheer awesome. I remember spending summer days at their house and giving her cuddles and her learning to give awkward baby kisses back; and as the years went by we went camping with our families and had sleepovers at our grandma’s house. Never were we without fun and amusement, including our many meals with grandma’s homemade bread, peanut butter, and canned goods. We had an amazing childhood and that will never be argued!
Time passed as it often does and I had the opportunity to rent with a few different amazing people, but early on in my ‘independent’ life I lived with her family for a year when my parents moved to the Philippines, we made memories with her mom and dad that I’ll treasure forever.
A couple years passed and the moment that evolved our relationship from cousins to close sisters was when Katelynn lost her dad to cancer and I moved into their home again for a couple years. Ken had been a sudo father in my life and was exemplary in showing both Katelynn and I how we should be treated by our future husbands. That we should be treasured, loved unconditionally, and have some true deep laughter along the way.
Now that you have a glimpse into how Katelynn means so much to me, you can understand why I was beyond honoured to be asked to photograph her wedding. Her father helped support my jump into professional photography gear and never asked for anything in return, he cheered me on and I am forever changed by his love. My ability to show Katelynn my love through photographing her wedding is a reflection of her fathers love invested into me. There was rarely a moment that a thought of her father wasn’t close in my mind as I captured each moment of the day. He would have loved their quiet intimate family wedding, he would’ve been proud of his wife for planning such an amazing event, and praised his little girl and her new husband as they promised each other forever.
Enough about all my sentimental attachment to my favourite little cousin Katelynn, here is but a taste of the love that Mike and Katelynn’s love story…
Mike and Katelynn were quite simply destined for each other. In high school they met through mutual friends, and for a boy who lived in the Kootneys and a girl who lived in the Fraser Valley it may have seemed like a dream to fall in love with such distance between them at such a young age, but Katelynn has told me that she knew then that he would be her forever, and his love for her was echoed in his teenage poem recited by their maid of honour at the reception.
It wouldn’t be till years later after her dad had passed away that Mike would come into her life full force and it was clear as soon as he was here, that it was the right season to pursue this relationship. Mike’s deep love for Katelynn and respect of their shared faith often sparked long conversations with Katelynn’s mother Linda on their porch on warm summer nights. There was something unique about them as a couple from the start, and to watch my ‘little sister’ fall in love with her future husband melted my heart.
I wish you only the best, a marriage full of love, and a friendship full of laughter for the rest of your life and there after!
Mikes father was his best man, and when he asked to have a photograph with his new daughter in law I nearly fell apart when he placed a kiss on her head, such a fatherly gesture on a day like this meant more than anyone could possibly know.
It was a beautiful touch on Katelynn’s bouquet had a opened faced locket with a picture of her father, he was there in memory for every moment, including walking her down the aisle.
The cake stand was an amazing labour of love, hand crafted by Mike’s father and sister, with gourmet cupcakes on rugged tiers and a lovely birch inspired wedding cake at the top it was a conversation piece of the night.
Brittany and Dustin met when they were in high school, grade 8 and 9 to be exact. Their love story is an intricately woven tale of young love that had to wait; Now more than a decade later they fell head over heels once again.
It was my pure joy to be asked by Brittany to photograph her wedding day, after all, we had giggled about boys back in high school together. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better man for her, and a sweeter father to her daughter. Dustin is her prince, her knight in shining armour, her soulmate, and her best friend; he is a man of unadulterated love for her and her daughter.
From the moment he gave Brooke a necklace with an eternity pendant my heart melted, every moment after from the first look to the final dance was enveloped in joy. You couldn’t wipe any of their smiles of their faces, Dustin beamed when he gazed at Brittany, Brittany blushed in her wide grins, and Brooke looked like she won the parent lottery which I completely agree!
If you could ever fall in love with someone else’s love story, Dustin and Brittany’s would be a tale as old as time and as sweet as any Disney story ever told.
Carolina contacted me back in July asking about booking a family session to commemorate all of her siblings in the same place at the same time. Carolina and her Husband live in Dubai and to mark their visit I had the joy of photographing their family, which consisted of her brother and his wife and kids, her sister, and her mom and auntie. It was a slightly rainy day but we persevered and in the end the photos were so full of laughter I couldn’t help but smile as I edited and delivered their photos!
Henry and Joka’s wedding from start to finish was beautiful, it was a sunny day that gave that heavenly glow wherever we went. I cant begin to describe how meaningful their nuptials were, both families gathered to celebrate their marriage, some even came from across the globe. As Henry and Joka embark on their life as husband and wife I want to wish them the very best, full of blessings and joy!
Kyle and Christina’s Pitt Meadows Wedding was absolutely stunning. I had already loved our time doing their engagement session, and just like their first session with me, they could barely contain their smiles all day, when you love someone so deeply you just cant help but smile at all the days to come, shared in their arms.
Enjoy their wedding blog, I know I enjoyed every moment; from capturing the day, to editing them after, and the smile on their faces when I delivered their images in a package wrapped in a hand made bow.
Christina is a professional cake designer/baker, so when she asked me to be her photographer my first question was “are you making your own cake?!” she responded “I’m making two, and cake pops!”. As you can see she is a very talented artist and each bite was just as delicious as the last!