Blog, Graduation, Portrait, Family, Journals Tamara Dayle Blog, Graduation, Portrait, Family, Journals Tamara Dayle

Jillian G.

Ah the whirlwind season of Graduation. If your a photographer who does grad sessions, you know.

June should be spelt Gune

Jilli bean, I have known this nugget since she was around 5.

So graduation photos for this lady was slightly surreal, in a how the hell is she adulting already way.

She’s wicked smart, artistic, funny, and kind. A true beauty in all the ways.

Luckily Jillian and I are a great match on the creative side of things. This shoot was beautiful and brilliant.

As you can see she’s a natural.





Boyfriend Beckett was a gem at going with the flow. - Thanks for your patience Mr. B




A quick little drop in by some of her besties, was such a blast. What a fun group!




Black and white photo of blond haired girl in her grad dress looking off to the side
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Graduation, Portrait, Family, Journals, Blog Tamara Dayle Graduation, Portrait, Family, Journals, Blog Tamara Dayle

Jacob S.

This handsome guy is officially graduated!

Congrats Jacob!

Thanks for having me capture some moments with you and the fam on this special day

xo



Jacob gets smooches from mama Jo



Young man smiles as he walks towards the camera in a light suit with a flowered tie
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Blog, Family, Documentary, Journals Tamara Dayle Blog, Family, Documentary, Journals Tamara Dayle

Family Day Weekend And A Horse

Couple of weeks back my husband and I took a road trip out to see my son Dorian, and his fiancé Brie, in Whitecourt Ab. It’s a bit of a drive that’s for sure. Six hours and 48 mins to be exact. 

Luckily (dripping sarcasm) I had just fallen down a flight of stairs the night before, sober I might add, and caused some major damage to myself. One of those injuries included a dislocated and badly bruised tail bone. So that six hours and 48 mins sitting on my assaulted ass, felt more like 60 hours and 48 mins. 


Brie’s family was throwing them a surprise engagement party and they were so sweet to include us in the lies and deception. Shall we call us the decoys?

Plans well laid ..

Most of Brie’s family lives right there in Whitecourt. Which is pretty amazing that my son inherited this big beautiful family way out there in Alberta. He is surrounded by people that love him. What more can a mom wish for? 

They live on a beautiful acreage just outside of town. It’s surrounded by forest and they even have a neighbours horse hanging in the backyard. Like come on. 

The Bait

As you can see this horse became my muse for the weekend. 


The horse up close and personal looks down at my camera lens

Should I be worried about this tongue thing?


five year old Drew feeds Lightening the Horse an Apple

Grand daughter Drew feeding Lightening the Horse an Apple

I should add that my son has also inherited 3 pretty awesome grown children, and one adorable granddaughter. 

That’s right. He is grandpa Dorian. As his mom this is both bizarre and beautiful, all at the same time. This little spitfire has stolen his heart, and our hearts as well. 

Fun fact this granddaughter and I share the same birthday.


The morning of this planned surprise was allegedly our leaving day. But our plan was that we wanted to go for a walk with Dorian and Brie before we left. You know, stretch legs, get some air, before the long drive. 

This would give Brie’s family and friends time to swoop in, decorate, and lay out some brunch. 

However dorian god bless him, decided to make us one last breakfast before we left. . Now time is of the essence and it was our only job, to have them leave the house when instructed. 

It’s 10:10 am we are supposed to have them gone about 10 minutes ago.

Dorian is just cracking eggs. Oh boy. I believe I have fucked this day up and it’s not even noon.

Internally I’m panicking, hot flashes and twitchy agitation ensues. I’m putting the pressure on about having to leave and setting these anxiously rigid time lines, without being conspicuous of course..

Toast is still in the toaster. 

Brie is very intuitive. She is going to know something is up, that, or, she will decide that her newly inherited mother in law is indeed a ridiculous, uncompromising psycho.

I text my contact for this mission, Brie’s oldest daughter Ally. I let her know we are behind schedule by at least half hour. I’ll text when the eagle flys. .

Finally dirty dishes left where they are, and pans still on the stove, we leave the house, I’m in a subdued panic. 

Ally is sent the all clear. The eagle has left the nest.

Our walk although beautiful, ends up almost an hour long instead of the half hour scheduled.  Well shit, I’m sure the whole entire family has decided Brad and I are incapable of following simple instructions. 

We finally get back to the acreage, behind schedule is an understatement, and Brie’s spidey senses were tingling the whole time.

Better late then never?

Despite the morning panic and delayed start time, these two love birds were greeted with balloons, a champagne brunch, a plethora of family and friends, and a couple of afternoon card games. It was a perfect family day. Celebrating two amazing people, their love, and the joining of families.

It’s truly about the who, and not the what.

Hug your people, and hold them close. I hope your family day was as unscripted and full as ours.

Chilled mimosa cheers

xo td

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Blog, Family, Graduation, Journals Tamara Dayle Blog, Family, Graduation, Journals Tamara Dayle

Mr. Tucker Grad of 2022

Something to be said about having your whole life ahead of you. I mean the skies the limit, right? Can you remember how that day felt?

I barely can.

But when that Summer solstice time of year shines down upon us, and I get to do a few grad sessions, it all comes flooding back.

Here are some pictures made with fun and care of Mr. Tucker, his family, and lovely girlfriend.

Grad 2022







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Documentary, Day in the life, Family, Life, Journals Tamara Dayle Documentary, Day in the life, Family, Life, Journals Tamara Dayle

The Lettuce Episode


So this lettuce incident happened the other day. It was a calamity of errors so to speak. You see when I left the house that day I was confident i had placed it far enough back on the counter that my vegetable seekers would not be able to reach it. .

A bag of Romaine lettuce is strewn on the kitchen floor. Dog bones and part of a dog toy lay beside the mess of lettuce.

What I didn’t realize is that they would have the foresight to employ the services of a vegetable hit man - Sir Finneus, the Irish Wolfhound.

So when I got home, there it was, the romaine lettuce I was to have for supper, strewn all over the kitchen floor. Princess Ayva shamelessly feasting on the greenery right in front of me. No guilt. No shame.

And Finn staring down in awe of her brazen zero fucks given.

Dog Ayva stands eating the shredded bag of lettuce while Wolfhound Finn stands by her watching amazed at her lack of caring
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Family, Lifestyle, Journals Tamara Dayle Family, Lifestyle, Journals Tamara Dayle

Porch Session

Porch Sessions - they are a thing, thanks to COVID-19

A safe way for families to have their photos taken, while documenting these crazy times.

This pandemic will someday will pass, hopefully along with this awkward and necessary social distancing.





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Documentary, Family, pets, Blog, Journals Tamara Dayle Documentary, Family, pets, Blog, Journals Tamara Dayle

Mr. Connor McDavid - The Dog

Connor’s family happens to be some of our best friends. They live too far away for my liking but when we get together we make up for time lost.

When we visit Connor McDavid not only does he put up with our (haven’t seen my best friends in forever) shenanigans.. but he also graciously obliges me shoving a camera in his face. Sometimes I think he even appreciates the fact there is a human rolling around on the floor with him.

Here are a few pictures made of this slobbery - big teddy bear - heart of gold, fur turd self.

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❤️

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Blog, Documentary, Family, Lifestyle, Journals Tamara Dayle Blog, Documentary, Family, Lifestyle, Journals Tamara Dayle

One Christmas Night In The Kitchen

Documenting a night over Christmas, in the kitchen.

As with most homes my kitchen is the heart of most of the action. This was one of many evenings spent here, but the only one that I decided to pull out my camera. For shame, I know.

The evening like many others, was well spent, laughing, cooking, eating, clearly some drinking, and playing games. Christmas tunes playing on Spotify..

Confession- I’m relentless with the Christmas music, when the opportunity of repetitive indulgence becomes available.

It is not very often that every one is able to get together under the same roof, at the same time. And at the time of these photos not all family had arrived. Lucky for mom, she’d had enough of the shenanigans and wandered off to bed earlier in the evening.

I am so very grateful that this holiday season was one of those rare occurrences where our Reesor side of the clan gathering, was not missing a single soul.


In the series below and ones to follow are in no particular order, my dad Dennis, my youngest son Daxon, his girlfriend Shylo, husband Brad, sister Tonya. Niece and nephew Jayce & Jaryn, and last but not least, Dany the elf.




Till next year.

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Blog, Family, Portrait, Photography, Journals Tamara Dayle Blog, Family, Portrait, Photography, Journals Tamara Dayle

Jasmine

Jasmine looks up at her mama

Jasmine looks up at her mama


This sweet old girl had a photo session with her family the other day. But we all know who the star of the show really was. She probably doesn’t have many more Christmas’s left and so we made sure she got some special treatment.


I am a animal lover, and this old girl had my heart.



Such a beauty

Such a beauty

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