The secret to a great candid family session? We start by getting those classic, everyone-smiling-at-the-camera shots out of the way in the first few minutes. Think of it as the Christmas card moment&mdash;quick, easy, done. Kids are usually willing to play along for a bit at the beginning, so we take advantage of that window while their energy and attention are still fresh.
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After that, we let things unfold naturally. We hang out, explore, and I capture your family just being you&mdash;laughing, playing, cuddling, whatever feels real in the moment. That&rsquo;s where the magic happens. By the end of your session, you'll have that perfect posed photo and a collection of candid, heartfelt images full of personality and connection&mdash;photos that actually feel like your family and are worthy of a spot on your gallery wall.

Candid Family Photo Session in Kitchener

Fall is the season of good vibes. The suffocating heat of summer becomes nice, cool and crisp, the sun stays low in the sky creating beautiful golden light, and it&rsquo;s a time of new beginnings as the kiddos are starting a new year of school. It&rsquo;s also the prime season for family photo sessions - but not the stiff, overly posed ones where everyone&rsquo;s fake-smiling in uncomfortable clothes. We&rsquo;re talking about the kind of photos that feel effortless. Real. Like you just happened to be hanging out with your favourite people, and someone captured the magic of it.
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That&rsquo;s the energy we&rsquo;re going for.
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The first thing? Let go of the pressure. A photo session doesn&rsquo;t need to be this perfectly curated, matching-outfit, say-cheese experience. The best photos happen when nobody&rsquo;s trying too hard. Show up in clothes you love - seriously. If your kid&rsquo;s obsessed with their Spiderman rain boots, let them wear them. If you live in your oversized cardigan and messy bun, rock it. The goal isn&rsquo;t to look like a Pinterest board - it&rsquo;s to look like yourselves.
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Instead of scripting the session, just... live in it. Laugh. Explore. Cuddle. Throw leaves in the air. Let your toddler lead the way (even if that means a few chaotic moments - those end up being the best shots anyway). Some of the most beautiful photos come from the stuff that&rsquo;s totally unplanned: the quiet forehead kisses, the mid-giggle glances, the messy, joyful in-between moments no one was expecting.
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And trust - your photographer isn&rsquo;t there to judge your family&rsquo;s vibe. They want to capture it. The way your partner looks at you when you&rsquo;re not paying attention. The way your kid&rsquo;s nose scrunches when they laugh. The real stuff that doesn&rsquo;t always make it onto the holiday card but definitely makes it onto your fridge (and into your heart).
So yeah, let it be messy. Let it be real. Let the wind do weird things to your hair and let your kids run wild for a bit. Candid fall photos aren&rsquo;t about perfection, they&rsquo;re about presence. And when you show up as your authentic, chaotic, comfortable selves, that&rsquo;s when the magic hits.
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Because the most beautiful thing about fall isn&rsquo;t the leaves or the sunset light, it&rsquo;s the way everything feels a little softer, a little more honest, a little more you.
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Scroll to see some gorgeous candid family photos we took in Waterloo Park:

Fall is the season of good vibes. The suffocating heat of summer becomes nice, cool and crisp, the sun stays low in the sky creating beautiful golden light, and it&rsquo;s a time of new beginnings as the kiddos are starting a new year of school. It&rsquo;s also the prime season for family photo sessions - but not the stiff, overly posed ones where everyone&rsquo;s fake-smiling in uncomfortable clothes. We&rsquo;re talking about the kind of photos that feel effortless. Real. Like you just happened to be hanging out with your favourite people, and someone captured the magic of it.
&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s the energy we&rsquo;re going for.
&nbsp;
The first thing? Let go of the pressure. A photo session doesn&rsquo;t need to be this perfectly curated, matching-outfit, say-cheese experience. The best photos happen when nobody&rsquo;s trying too hard. Show up in clothes you love - seriously. If your kid&rsquo;s obsessed with their Spiderman rain boots, let them wear them. If you live in your oversized cardigan and messy bun, rock it. The goal isn&rsquo;t to look like a Pinterest board - it&rsquo;s to look like yourselves.
&nbsp;
Instead of scripting the session, just... live in it. Laugh. Explore. Cuddle. Throw leaves in the air. Let your toddler lead the way (even if that means a few chaotic moments - those end up being the best shots anyway). Some of the most beautiful photos come from the stuff that&rsquo;s totally unplanned: the quiet forehead kisses, the mid-giggle glances, the messy, joyful in-between moments no one was expecting.
&nbsp;
And trust - your photographer isn&rsquo;t there to judge your family&rsquo;s vibe. They want to capture it. The way your partner looks at you when you&rsquo;re not paying attention. The way your kid&rsquo;s nose scrunches when they laugh. The real stuff that doesn&rsquo;t always make it onto the holiday card but definitely makes it onto your fridge (and into your heart).
So yeah, let it be messy. Let it be real. Let the wind do weird things to your hair and let your kids run wild for a bit. Candid fall photos aren&rsquo;t about perfection, they&rsquo;re about presence. And when you show up as your authentic, chaotic, comfortable selves, that&rsquo;s when the magic hits.
&nbsp;
Because the most beautiful thing about fall isn&rsquo;t the leaves or the sunset light, it&rsquo;s the way everything feels a little softer, a little more honest, a little more you.
&nbsp;
Scroll to see some gorgeous candid family photos we took in Waterloo Park:

Fall Family Photos In Waterloo Park

As a lifestyle newborn photographer based in KW, I focus on natural posing with parents and their little one(s). I don&rsquo;t use props or extreme posing, instead I specialize in capturing the natural moments between you and your little one. Your gallery will feature a beautiful blend of intimate detail shots of your newborn, along with family portraits that include mom, dad, and baby. Keep scrolling to take a peek at one of my recent lifestyle newborn sessions with Melissa and Les!
I typically shoot indoors, either in the comfort of your home or in one of the beautiful studios we can rent in Kitchener-Waterloo. Both options offer their own unique benefits&mdash;home sessions are wonderfully personal and cozy, while studio sessions take the pressure off cleaning and prep, allowing you to focus on your new family dynamic.
Newborn sessions are best held within the first 2-3 weeks of your baby&rsquo;s arrival, when they are still small, and sleepy, allowing us to document those adorable, peaceful shots.
Are you expecting? Let&rsquo;s secure your newborn session now, so you can cross it off your list and focus on the exciting days ahead!

Kitchener-Waterloo Newborn Photographer: Les & Melissa's In-Home Session

Kitchener-Waterloo has the most beautiful scenery to take at advantage of at your outdoor maternity session. With so many gorgeous parks and walking trails, I love incorporating nature and the beautiful lighting into every shoot. Not sure where to have your maternity photos taken? No worries! I&rsquo;ve got plenty of favorite spots to bring my clients to (especially at golden hour!)
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During Nagma &amp; Tej's spring maternity session, we were treated to one of the most breathtaking sunsets at one of my go-to KW locations. The lighting was absolutely dreamy, and to top it off, the Trilliums were in full bloom! Scroll down to see a sneak peek of N&amp;T&rsquo;s gorgeous maternity session below:

Outdoor Maternity Session in Kitchener-Waterloo: Nagma & Tej

"Nat has done our family photos two years in a row now. We are so grateful to have these memories captured in such a beautiful light. She managed our little ones well and was able to laugh off their constant need for snack breaks. She was professional yet easy going and really encouraged us to be our natural selves as a family. We couldn&rsquo;t be happier with her final edits and will cherish them for many years to come. Can&rsquo;t wait to see what next years shoot brings!"
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Leigh Norman

"Best. Experience. Ever. Nathalie brought our vision to life. I am a very sentimental person and couldn't get photos done with my daughter back in 2020. This was our first time getting family photos done and I couldn't have picked a better person. The experience was relaxed and she capture my 3 year old's personality in her photos. Now I can look back forever at these wonderful photos. When you find a good photographer.They become your go to. Nathalie is definitely going to be ours."
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Victoria Truong

"Nathalie will be the only photographer we use for our family photos going forward. The photos she took were better than I could have imagined, and will forever be treasured. She was SO easy to work with, was very patient and engaging with our energetic 5 year old, and captured so many sweet candid moments. Highly recommend!"
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Chelsea Wagner

"Nat is seriously the best photographer you could find to capture all of life&rsquo;s special moments! I have used her for engagement photos, maternity photos and newborn photos and I will most definitely be using her for any other occasion. She makes your session feel so fun and natural!! Truly so talented! I will be highly recommending her to everyone I know!!"
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Melissa Jopling

"Nathalie, where do I start! As a professional photographer, you can imagine I was very picky with my choice in booking family photos and I can honestly say I was NOT disappointed whatsoever. Nathalie made my family and I feel super comfortable and like we were reconnecting with an old friend (who happened to be taking our photos), and the photos/art she produced was so incredible it brought all of us to tears. Nathalie is beyond talented and definitely has an eye for detail, lighting, posed &amp; candid shots. I would highly HIGHLY recommend Nathalie as a photographer and will 100% be booking with her again."
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Kirstyn Rubie

"Lucky to have found her as our photographer, she makes you comfortable and love the camera. And the photos are simply phenomenal, she went the extra mile for us and gave photos on Mothers day! (2 weeks earlier than promised) Nathalie is simply the best."
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Tej S

"We worked with Nathalie for family photos and had such a great time shooting with her. She was very easy to work with and captured the most stunning sunset photos ever! We have 3 very young children and she was able to capture the cutest individual photos as well as our family photos. She is passionate and has a great eye for beauty, making every photo look perfect. I would highly recommend choosing her to capture your photos!"
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Erin Dumart

"My wife &amp; I had a wonderful time with Nathalie. She was very friendly, professional, and patient with us. She knew how to make us feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera. The photos she took were stunning and we loved them! The photos were delivered online on time and they were of high quality. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a talented and creative photographer. She is the best!"
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Saj P. George

"Nathalie was not only fantastic to work with, she produced the most stunning candid pictures of my family (including a busy toddler and a dog)! She turned around the photos in a week and I&rsquo;m beyond happy with the results! Highly recommend."
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Kacie Shuster

"Nathalie is very easy to communicate with both online and in person. Working with her is a piece of cake - she's professional, timely in communication, and effortless to talk to. We enjoyed our photo session with her and she made it so natural. We look forward to working with her again in the future."
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Simone Gurnik

"We had an amazing experience getting our maternity photos done with Nathalie. She is very friendly and wonderful to work with. We received way more photos than expected and they were all edited beautifully. The photoshoot turned out amazing and we are so happy to have chosen her. Would definitely recommend!"
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Sabina &amp; Mac Czachor-Mills

"Nathalie was such a joy to work with! She was easy to be around and very organized and accommodating. We are thrilled with how the pictures turned out. She captured my family so perfectly. Thanks again Nathalie!"
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Jessica Potter

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Are you in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and looking for a fun, relaxed family photography session that captures your crew in their most authentic, candid moments? Let&rsquo;s make it happen! I always tell my families to treat the session like a fun outing&mdash;let's choose a spot or activity that feels natural, exciting, and totally you. My goal is to snap photos that genuinely reflect your family&rsquo;s unique dynamic while making sure you all have a blast in the process.
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Whether it&rsquo;s a playful park adventure, a cozy moment at home, or an outing in the beautiful outdoors, I&rsquo;m here to capture those sweet, unscripted moments between your family.
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With over 60+ five-star Google Reviews, take a peek at what some of my amazing clients are saying about their experience below!
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Kitchener-Waterloo Family Photographer Reviews

Nat has done our family photos two years in a row now. We are so grateful to have these memories captured in such a beautiful light. She managed our little ones well and was able to laugh off their constant need for snack breaks. She was professional yet easy going and really encouraged us to be our natural selves as a family. We couldn&rsquo;t be happier with her final edits and will cherish them for many years to come. Can&rsquo;t wait to see what next years shoot brings!
&nbsp;
- The Norman-Fitzgeralds

Looking for a family session in Kitchener-Waterloo that truly captures your crew in their most authentic, candid moments? You&rsquo;re in the right place! I&rsquo;m all about keeping things relaxed, fun, and&mdash;most importantly&mdash;real. I want you to feel completely comfortable so you can just be yourselves in front of the camera. No stiff poses here, promise!
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My approach blends the best of both worlds: a mix of natural, candid shots and a few perfectly posed ones, so you get a full range of photos to update your gallery wall and showcase your family&rsquo;s personality. Every family is unique, and I love customizing each session to match your vibe and energy&mdash;whether you&rsquo;re laid-back, goofy, or somewhere in between.
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So, are you ready to have some fun and make some memories? Let&rsquo;s book your family session today!

Nat has done our family photos two years in a row now. We are so grateful to have these memories captured in such a beautiful light. She managed our little ones well and was able to laugh off their constant need for snack breaks. She was professional yet easy going and really encouraged us to be our natural selves as a family. We couldn&rsquo;t be happier with her final edits and will cherish them for many years to come. Can&rsquo;t wait to see what next years shoot brings!
- Leigh Norman

Nathalie was such a joy to work with! She was easy to be around and very organized and accommodating. We are thrilled with how the pictures turned out. She captured my family so perfectly. Thanks again Nathalie!
- Jessica Potter

Nathalie was not only fantastic to work with, she produced the most stunning candid pictures of my family (including a busy toddler and a dog)! She turned around the photos in a week and I&rsquo;m beyond happy with the results! Highly recommend.
- Kacie Shuster

Nathalie will be the only photographer we use for our family photos going forward. The photos she took were better than I could have imagined, and will forever be treasured. She was SO easy to work with, was very patient and engaging with our energetic 5 year old, and captured so many sweet candid moments. Highly recommend!
- Chelsea Wagner

Candid Family Photographer in Kitchener-Waterloo

We worked with Nathalie for family photos and had such a great time shooting with her. She was very easy to work with and captured the most stunning sunset photos ever! We have 3 very young children and she was able to capture the cutest individual photos as well as our family photos. She is passionate and has a great eye for beauty, making every photo look perfect. I would highly recommend choosing her to capture your photos!

Erin

Nat has done our family photos two years in a row now. We are so grateful to have these memories captured in such a beautiful light. She managed our little ones well and was able to laugh off their constant need for snack breaks. She was professional yet easy going and really encouraged us to be our natural selves as a family. We couldn’t be happier with her final edits and will cherish them for many years to come. Can’t wait to see what next years shoot brings!

Leigh

Best. Experience. Ever.

Nathalie brought our vision to life. I am a very sentimental person and couldn't get photos done with my daughter back in 2020. This was our first time getting family photos done and I couldn't have picked a better person. The experience was relaxed and she captured my 3 year old's personality in her photos. Now I can look back forever at these wonderful photos. When you find a good photographer they become your go to. Nathalie is definitely going to be ours.

Victoria

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This package is perfect for parents who want to capture a mixture of candid and posed moments of their family members. Do your littles want to pick up bugs or play in wheelbarrows? Let's do it! Do you want to have a family picnic on the beach? Save a spot for me! When’s the best time of year to book family photos?For outdoor sessions, May through October will be the best time to capture your family while it’s warmer and we have nice foliage here in Kitchener-Waterloo. For in-home and studio family photos, anytime of year will work well. If you have an interest in studio sessions, let me know and I can recommend some local studios available for rentals! What does a lifestyle family photography session look like?I love capturing moments in natural settings around KW or in meaningful locations to your family such as your home, a favourite park or even your favourite ice cream shop! I'm here to create a fun and relaxed environment where your family can be yourselves. There are no rights or wrongs with family photography, come as you are and we are bound to have a blast capturing your family in their element. If this sounds like the perfect family photography package for you, let’s book a session!

Lifestyle Family Photography (Kitchener-Waterloo)

This package is perfect for parents who want to capture fun and candid moments of this next chapter of their life! This package is perfect both for couples expecting their first babe and families welcoming a sibling (or siblings) into their growing family! Where should we take our maternity photos?Often we will take photos either outdoors in one of KW's beautiful parks or in-home in a setting that feels more personal and intimate as you prepare for your little one(s) to arrive. (We can even take photos both at home and at a park near your home!) When should we schedule maternity photos?Maternity photos should be captured around 30 weeks. If you are interested in both maternity and newborn photography, take a look at my bundle package.

Lifestyle Maternity Photography (Kitchener-Waterloo)

This package is perfect for parents who want to capture natural, candid moments of their newborn and family in their home or in a setting that feels personal and intimate. Often we will take photos in the nursery, living room, or parents' bedroom.&nbsp; What does a lifestyle newborn session look like?My goal is to capture the emotional connection between your newborn and family, capturing the essence of your family’s life at a very special time in a realistic and heartwarming way. It is less about getting the perfect post and more about capturing the connection, emotions, and beauty of your family’s everyday life. If you are looking for extremely posed and retouched images, this package will not be a great fit for you. When should we schedule newborn photos?Newborn photos are often captured 2 - 3 weeks after your little one is born, capturing them at their smallest and sleepiest. Please reach out as soon as possible to book your newborn photos. I only accept a number of newborns each month as the timing of the shoot is unpredictable and I want to ensure I have availability when your little one arrives.&nbsp; How much time do we need to capture all the shots?Newborn sessions can take up to two hours of photography to ensure we can capture photos of your little one sleepy and cuddly between feedings. If you are interested in both maternity and newborn photography, take a look at my bundle package.

Lifestyle Newborn Photography (Kitchener-Waterloo)

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This Kitchener-Waterloo family session was a literal dream. The Trask-Truongs have to be THE cutest familly. Mom thought of everything, from snacks (an essential) to a picnic blanket for some really cute family photos at the end of their session (scroll to the end - your heart is going to burst). I absolutely adored that they came wearing gorgeous bright colours and florals to their fall session - their outfits worked seamlessly with the warm backdrop of the yellow fall leaves.

You know what's one of the best things about having family photos taken in Kitchener-Waterloo? There's SO many options for beautiful, kid-friendly, parks and natural areas to have your session! For this beautiful family session we made our way to one of my favourite parks on the outskirts of North Waterloo. I have so many areas I LOVE to take families, send me an inquiry at <a href="mailto:hello@nathaliemonique.com">hello@nathaliemonique.com</a> to book your family session today!

Kitchener-Waterloo Family Photo Session with the Trask-Truongs

The Norman-Fitzgeralds were one of the first families I photographed, so it&rsquo;s fitting that they are the first blog on my new family website. Our first session was more than three summers ago now, and has since become a tradition that I document their family each summer when I drive up from Kitchener-Waterloo to visit my parents in Lakefield.
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With the Norman-Fitzgeralds living only a few houses down from my parents, it&rsquo;s been wonderful watching the little ones reach new milestones and start developing interests similar to mine growing up. I never thought I&rsquo;d find common ground with a 4-year old, but here we are comparing frog catching techniques (and very much enjoying the conversation hahaha).
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I&rsquo;m always thrilled when families come back for updated photos each year. I am so thankful for the trust and kindness my clients have for me. I wouldn&rsquo;t trade this job for anything in the world.
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If you are a Lakefield family hoping to have your photos documented this summer, send me an email to <a href="mailto:hello@nathaliemonique.com">hello@nathaliemonique.com</a> and I can let you know when I am in town next!
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Cheers,&nbsp;
Nathalie
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Golden Hour Family Photos in Lakefield, Ontario with the Norman-Fitzgeralds

Bree and Brent's maternity session was nothing less than pure magic. I mean, golden hour in the WINTER? What. A. Dream.
&nbsp;
Bree had a vision for their maternity photos, and dare I say we brought her vision to life. Starting with a cute &amp; casual vibe for their in-home photos then ending with an elevated black and white outfit choice for their golden hour photos, Bree &amp; Brent absolutely nailed both looks. But the best part of the entire session? The joy, love and excitement shared between Bree &amp; Brent awaiting the arrival of baby G.
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A huge congrats to Bree &amp; Brent, baby G is going to have the best parents in the world.