Every family is different—different dynamics, different shapes and sizes. Some are loud and full of energy, others are quiet and calm. Some are big and blended, while others are small and tight-knit. But each one is beautiful in its own unique way.
So what is it that truly makes a family… a family?
Is it DNA? A shared last name? Maybe it’s the holiday traditions, or the inside jokes no one else understands. While all of those things can play a part, I believe the heart of a family isn’t found in bloodlines—it’s found in love.







Family is about the people we choose to let into our lives, the ones who show up, stay close, and make our world feel whole. Sometimes they arrive unexpectedly. Sometimes they walk in by chance. But over time, something clicks—and we decide that life just wouldn’t be the same without them in it.
As a photographer, I’ve had the honour of capturing extended family sessions for many years now, and I can honestly say that no two families are ever the same. I’ve met grandparents who raised their grandkids, step-siblings who became best friends, close friends who turned into family, and everything in between.
Every story is different. Every bond is special.
And that’s what I love most.
Each session is a little window into a world of connection, laughter, and history—sometimes messy, sometimes complicated, but always rooted in love. It’s a reminder that families aren’t something you fit into a template. They’re living, evolving, perfectly imperfect little communities built around shared moments and unshakable bonds.







So no, I don’t believe family is defined by DNA. I believe it’s defined by love—the kind of love that shows up, sticks around, and weaves itself into the everyday moments that matter the most.
And that’s something worth celebrating.






