photographer . magic maker

make your own magic: a very hanki summer bucket list

i love summer.

the blur of messy, beautiful, magical chaos. complete with sunshine and laughter, bickering in the backseat, boredom and adventure, and everything in between.

this year, like every other year since the kids have been old enough to contribute, we created a family magic list.

a collection of activities big and small that we hope to accomplish in the sixty-odd days between school getting out in june and the kids heading back in september.

intentional bits of magic tucked in amidst the lazy mornings, the “i’m so bored”s, and the endless quest for more snacks.

we went extra big this year, including 60 items to cross off (with the caveat that there’s zero pressure to get to every single thing).

it’s simply inspiration to draw from when we hit a lull in the day.

as i approach the midpoint of my fourteenth summer as a parent, i can feel all too well just how fleeting (and valuable) this season is, and i’m more passionate than ever about soaking up and remembering these summer moments with the ones i love.

i want to make sure you have the opportunity to do the same with yours.

i’ve included our list below and hope it inspires an activity or two that you might want to try out with your own family.

even better, if you’ve been inspired to create a little extra summer joy, i’d love to document it for you so you can remember the magic in this season for years to come!

let’s spend an evening crossing a few items off your own family’s list. you’ll make memories to last a lifetime AND come out with some proof at the end that you were there too.

i have just THREE august sessions remaining and i’d love to spend one of them telling the story of YOUR family doing the summery things you love most.

and because preserving this time (for my family and for yours!) is so important to me, i’m offering my best savings of the year on these sessions.

save up to $500 when you book your august summer bucket list session before july 31!

simply send me a quick email and let’s chat about planning the perfect summer evening with your family.

i can’t wait to make magic with you!

download a copy of the magic list here!

edmonton newborn photographer: the magic of brand new babies

there is a lot i’m not certain about, but this i know for sure: there’s nothing quite like meeting brand new babies to make life feel a little bit lighter.

and in a time when the world feels especially heavy, i am so grateful that i get to spend my days photographing your growing families — celebrating your beautiful milestones, and finding little bits of everyday magic tucked in with all the messy bits.

all of the love as you all get acquainted, and those sweet baby yawns. the snack breaks (for baby and parents alike), and all of the cuddles. the special moments in that newborn haze that will be made a little less blurry thanks to the photos you have to remember them by, and let’s not forget, the tiniest stretched out toes.

i was lucky enough to get to create these images and tell the story of baby remington’s early days with his family a couple of years back. as we await the arrival of a new baby that will level him up to the big brother of the house, i wanted to share them this afternoon to contrast some of the heaviness in the world with a little bit of joy.

there is no greater compliment than photographing families for a second (or third or fourth…) and can’t wait to see how much remi has grown, and meet his new baby brother or sister, very soon!

edmonton family photographer: the magic in your story

there is magic in your story.

in your chaos and your calm, in your special occasions and your everyday routines and everywhere in between. i say it often, and i absolutely mean it.

but with all that goes on in a day – good and bad, because we all know it’s not ALL magic – it can be easy to overlook the bits worth remembering hidden in the mundane.

your preschooler’s determination as they work to fasten their own shoes, the sparkle in your toddler’s eye as you scoop them an ice cream cone on a warm summer evening, your kids’ mischievous giggles as they slip out of their towels and run naked down the hallway post-bathtime.

those little moments that slip by without much notice to their significance, are often the ones you miss most as your kids outgrow them.

so here’s your friendly reminder that you don’t need to travel to a studio or a golden field at sunset to get magical photos of your family.

in fact, i’d argue that years down the road, the ones you’ll hold closest to your heart are the ones that tell the story of the magic found within your own four walls.

let’s take an hour to laser focus on the extraordinary ordinary in your days, so when you curl up in bed at the end of the day to scroll photos on your phone, you’ll be reminded of everything you have to be grateful for.

there’s magic in your story.

i can’t wait to show it to you.

make your own magic: raspberry lemon hand pies

a month celebrating love and kindness could not have arrived at a better time.

we’re planning to spread as much warmth and goodness around as we possibly can this february, and what better way to start than tasty, heart-shaped hand pies?!

flaky and delicious, with just a handful of easy to find ingredients, we have almost as much fun making these treats as we do eating them and can’t wait to package some up to share some extra sweetness with our loved ones too.

RASPBERRY LEMON HAND PIES

– one box deep dish pie crusts
– 1 cup fresh raspberries
– juice from one lemon
– 1 tbsp sugar
– 1/2 cup powdered sugar
– 2 tbsp melted butter

1. roll out pie crusts and cut into heart shapes with cookie cutter.
2. spread out half of the hearts onto a lined cookie sheet.
3. mix together raspberries, sugar, and 1 tsp lemon juice, and spoon filling onto each heart.
4. top with remaining pastry hearts and press edges with fork to seal edges.
5. bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown.
6. prepare glaze with powdered sugar, melted butter, and 1 tbsp lemon juice (add a splash of raspberry juice for colour) and drizzle onto hearts.
7. add sprinkles and enjoy!

make your own magic: cherry lime mojito ice pops

summer is here and with it, the gift of time. there’s not much i love more than the magic found in warm, slow summer days with my family and i’m planning to take full advantage of every single one of them.whether we’re relaxing in the backyard or picnicking in the park, one of our most loved summer treats is homemade ice pops and with cherry season in full swing, these are our current favourites:

CHERRY LIME MOJITO ICE POPS

2 cups fresh cherries
juice of one lime
5 chopped mint leaves
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup western family vanilla greek yogurt

– remove pits from cherries.
– blend all ingredients except yogurt in blender until smooth.
– fill popsicle moulds 1/3 full with cherry mixture.
– add 2 tbsp of yogurt to each and top with more cherry.
– add sticks and freeze a few hours until solid.
– enjoy!