Contributing to the Neighbours of Hanlon Creek Magazine

Although I had yet to become a photographer for The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek Magazine, living in that neighbourhood, I was familiar with it as I received it at my door monthly. This magazine features stories of residents and connects those living in the Hanlon Creek, Kortright East and Rickson Ridge neighbourhood groups in Guelph.

I have been photographing the amazing people featured in the Clair and Gordon magazine articles and Exhibition Park neighbourhood magazine for a while now. However, mid-last year, I stopped photographing for the Clair and Gordon magazine as its publishing was put on hold until further notice. It felt a little empty with only photographing for one magazine for over nine months. I thoroughly enjoy giving back to the community connecting with fellow Guelphites, and hearing their stories. However, I was hoping for a time when I could contribute even more to my own neighbourhood, too.

The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek Photographer

Photographer for The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek

Family Session for the The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek

The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek in Guelph

How did I become a photographer for The Neighbours of Hanlon Creek?

The opportunity to work with my neighbourhood magazine came a little over three months ago. I am pleased to share that I have now taken on the role of a contributing photographer for the Neighbours of Hanlon Creek magazine! This magazine serves the residents of two other neighbourhoods: Kortright East, where my house and photo studio are located, and Rickson Ridge, where my children attend school. I was warmly accepted and introduced to the rest of the magazine’s contributors, including the publisher I had communicated with previously, the content coordinator, Anumeha, and the graphic designer, Brittany.

So far, I have photographed for two monthly issues, March and April. One of these issues featured Lori’s story, which I would love to share, along with my experience with her family at her family’s business, Secret Garden Boutique. Her business just so happens to be located in the Exhibition Park neighbourhood, where I also photograph for their magazine.

When scheduling sessions for this kind of coverage, I always try to accommodate the dates and times that work best for the family or person being featured. Lori, a busy business owner, had private appointments in the mornings and worked at her store in the evenings, so we scheduled our session at 6 pm on a cold February evening in her store. Although the dark evening in winter made capturing everything we wanted challenging, I focused on capturing happy faces rather than a perfect background and great lighting.

Secret Garden Boutique, botanical heaven in the heart of Guelph

Lori’s store was located on busy Norfolk Street and had great front-store exposure. Although I knew that taking after-work photos could be tiring, I tried to establish a quick connection and settled into the work promptly, allowing them to prepare the store for the next day. During the photoshoot, Lori was accompanied by her daughter and husband, and we had a great time capturing some lovely family pictures in their store.

I have found that when photography sessions are part of an anticipated coverage or unpaid assignment, people tend to be less stressed and more relaxed. They know there is no price tag attached to it, so they don’t feel as much pressure to get the maximum return on their investment. However, I always approach each of these sessions as I have done before with my shoots, regardless of whether a financial reward is attached. I am blessed to be doing what I love, and those who know me well understand that it is just not in my personality to do anything halfway!

After the initial introductions with Lori and her lovely family, we quickly got into the photo session with smooth transitions from one scene to another. Without expectations, we could relax into the session knowing that the resulting images would benefit the families or people I photograph and complement Lori’s story that the content creators had been working on.

The great value of teaching kids to be part of your family business

As a self-employed person, seeing children and young people taking an interest in their parents’ work really resonates with me. It was rewarding and pleasant to see little “A” expressing curiosity about her mom’s business, which specializes in rare and uncommon plants that her parents provide to the residents of Guelph.

Teaching kids about their parents’ work is a great way to introduce them to the business world from a young age. It can also help them gain experience in communication, work, respect for income, and other essential life skills.

Thank you, Lori, for allowing me to share your story and my photos with the residents of the Hanlon Creek neighbourhoods. I can’t wait to share the featured pictures with you and your family.

So long for now, and until the next time, when I have the pleasure of working with another family from the Neighbours of Hanlon Creek magazine and becoming a part of their photography story.