Storytelling Sessions • Melanie Gordon Photography

STORYTELLING SESSIONS

Documentary Family Photography

Documentary Family Photography

Documentary Family Photography

Real life worth remembering.

Real life worth remembering.

Real life worth remembering.

The story of us

Is the story of FAMILY—the messy, beautiful, sacred space where we learn the language of love and the nature of belonging. It’s also the story of CHILDHOOD—where we believe in the power of imagination, feast on wonder and possibility, and find beauty in the smallest of things.

Toronto Documentary Family Photographer Melanie Gordon

The story of us

Is the story of FAMILY—the messy, beautiful, sacred space where we learn the language of love and the feeling of belonging. It’s also the story of CHILDHOOD—where we believe in the power of imagination, feast on wonder and possibility, and find beauty in the smallest of things.

Toronto Documentary Family Photographer Melanie Gordon

A Storytelling Session is a documentary family photography session that’s all about capturing the raw, unfiltered magic of your everyday life.

Why?

Children are growing up in a deluge of perfectly curated, staged, and filtered moments on screens. Kids need truth and connection to find belonging in themselves and the world. Documentary family photography isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. In a Storytelling Session I’ll photograph the beautiful ways you see, hear, and value each other—your connection—showing kids that their real lives are worth celebrating.

Toronto Documentary Family Photographer Melanie Gordon

Why photograph real life?

Children are growing up in a deluge of perfectly curated, staged, and filtered moments on screens. Kids need truth and connection to find belonging in themselves and the world. Documentary family photography isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection. In a Storytelling Session I’ll photograph the beautiful ways you see, hear, and value each otheryour connectionshowing kids that their real lives are worth celebrating.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Book your session

We have a quick chat by phone or email to get to know each other better. After we decide on a date/location for your session I’ll send you a digital contract to sign and you’ll pay a session fee of $395. (The session fee does not include any image downloads or products.)

2. Have your session

I’ll arrive at the time and place we agreed upon and will photograph your family for about an hour. During your session all you need to do is live your life. No pressure, no stress. Simply enjoy being together. I’ll be a warm and quiet presence, looking for beautiful light and capturing moments in your everyday.

3. View your photos

Three to four weeks after your session, I’ll send you a link to an online viewing gallery that will showcase a curated and edited collection of about 75 photographs. Arrange to view the photos together with your family (there may be tears of joy).

4. Order your photos

You’ll have 14 days to select your favourite images (which can be ALL of them) and place your order. Collections start at $650. I offer digital collections, framed fine art prints, and custom designed Storybooks, with complimentary consultation to help you decide which images will look best on your walls or in your family Storybook.

"Tears are streaming down my face. These are the most beautiful pictures of my children I've ever seen. I gasped with each reveal. We viewed the photos on our TV and with each reveal; my girls saw the pride in our faces and the loving words we spoke to one another about the captured moments was very special. Thank you So Very much!!!"

DAWN, MOM OF 2

"The most meaningful part about having Melanie photograph our family was that it gave us a chance to slow down and celebrate the beauty of our everyday rituals and routines. She is a true artist who is able to capture a picture/feeling/moment and create art out of it. I am so camera shy and hate having my photo taken, but this was a completely natural, easygoing and fun experience. I want to do this every year!"

KARINA, MOM OF 2

"Melanie was able to capture so many fleeting magic moments in the life of my 4 little grand daughters. Her photos made me keenly aware of what a special, loving & beautiful family we are and how fortunate we all are to have each other."

MARTHA, MOM OF 3, GRANDMOTHER OF 4

"After researching dozens of photographers in the Toronto area, we chose Melanie because her family shots were the perfect combination of warmth, storytelling, and authenticity that we were looking for. The kids were so comfortable with her, and we were thrilled with the results. We will be having future sessions through the years as the family grows!"

JENNIFER, MOM OF 2

"Melanie's is a gentle, friendly energy. We felt so comfortable with her (and I am not a person who is comfortable being photographed) right away, and then forgot she was with us, and just played. It was a lovely afternoon together in the woods. That we got photos too was an extra delight."

CARRIE, MOM OF 1

"We LOVE our sessions with you every year and love looking at our evolution as a family over the past 3 years. I never felt like we would have a record of our family because Conor and I hate having our picture taken and Sully never sits still. But being able to explore and be ourselves and be captured 100% by you has been an absolute joy every single year."

JENN, MOM OF 1

"As the usual and main family photo taker of the family, I treasure the opportunity to be in front of the camera. Childhood time is fleeting so it's also important to have those moments be documented in a professional manner. We have a lot of family overseas, so these photographs will not only be meaningful for us but to our extended family as well."

MARION, MOM OF 2

"I have reviewed these about 6 times and it made me cry with happiness at how beautiful they are! What a beautiful capture of Owen's innocence and creativity as a young boy. I am in love."

KAITLIN, MOM OF 1

"Last spring, my four-year-old son and I met Melanie in a patch of woods aside the Humber River in Étienne Brûlé park. The photos of him running wild down a dirt path now hang in our home, constantly warm my heart, and act as an important reminder of what really matters."

JEN, MOM OF 1

HOW IT WORKS

1. Book your session

1.
Book your session

We have a quick chat by phone or email to get to know each other better. After we decide on a date/location for your session I’ll send you a digital contract to sign and you’ll pay a session fee of $395. (The session fee does not include any image downloads or products.)

2. Have your session

2.
Have your session

I’ll arrive at the time and place we agreed upon and will photograph your family for about an hour. During your session all you need to do is live your life. No pressure, no stress. Simply enjoy being together. I’ll be a warm and quiet presence, looking for beautiful light and capturing moments in your everyday.

3. View your photos

3.
View your photos

Three to four weeks after your session, I’ll send you a link to an online viewing gallery that will showcase a curated and edited collection of about 75 photographs. Arrange to view the photos together with your family (there may be tears of joy).

4. Order your photos

4.
Order your photos

You’ll have 14 days to select your favourite images (which can be ALL of them) and place your order. Collections start at $650. I offer digital collections, framed fine art prints, and custom designed Storybooks, with complimentary consultation to help you decide which images will look best on your walls or in your family Storybook.

"Tears are streaming down my face. These are the most beautiful pictures of my children I've ever seen. I gasped with each reveal. We viewed the photos on our TV and with each reveal; my girls saw the pride in our faces and the loving words we spoke to one another about the captured moments was very special. Thank you So Very much!!!"

DAWN, MOM OF 2

"The most meaningful part about having Melanie photograph our family was that it gave us a chance to slow down and celebrate the beauty of our everyday rituals and routines. She is a true artist who is able to capture a picture/feeling/moment and create art out of it. I am so camera shy and hate having my photo taken, but this was a completely natural, easygoing and fun experience. I want to do this every year!"

KARINA, MOM OF 2

"Melanie was able to capture so many fleeting magic moments in the life of my 4 little grand daughters. Her photos made me keenly aware of what a special, loving & beautiful family we are and how fortunate we all are to have each other."

MARTHA, MOM OF 3, GRANDMOTHER OF 4

"After researching dozens of photographers in the Toronto area, we chose Melanie because her family shots were the perfect combination of warmth, storytelling, and authenticity that we were looking for. The kids were so comfortable with her, and we were thrilled with the results. We will be having future sessions through the years as the family grows!"

JENNIFER, MOM OF 2

"Melanie's is a gentle, friendly energy. We felt so comfortable with her (and I am not a person who is comfortable being photographed) right away, and then forgot she was with us, and just played. It was a lovely afternoon together in the woods. That we got photos too was an extra delight."

CARRIE, MOM OF 1

"We LOVE our sessions with you every year and love looking at our evolution as a family over the past 3 years. I never felt like we would have a record of our family because Conor and I hate having our picture taken and Sully never sits still. But being able to explore and be ourselves and be captured 100% by you has been an absolute joy every single year."

JENN, MOM OF 1

"As the usual and main family photo taker of the family, I treasure the opportunity to be in front of the camera. Childhood time is fleeting so it's also important to have those moments be documented in a professional manner. We have a lot of family overseas, so these photographs will not only be meaningful for us but to our extended family as well."

MARION, MOM OF 2

"I have reviewed these about 6 times and it made me cry with happiness at how beautiful they are! What a beautiful capture of Owen's innocence and creativity as a young boy. I am in love."

KAITLIN, MOM OF 1

"Last spring, my four-year-old son and I met Melanie in a patch of woods aside the Humber River in Étienne Brûlé park. The photos of him running wild down a dirt path now hang in our home, constantly warm my heart, and act as an important reminder of what really matters."

JEN, MOM OF 1

Art matters

I help families make art out of their lives with beautiful custom Storybook Albums and framed fine art prints.

When children see themselves as subjects of art, they feel valued and loved. They see themselves as protagonists in their own story. Studies show that children who see printed photos of themselves and their loved ones regularly have higher confidence and self-esteem.

Art matters

I help families make art out of their lives with beautiful custom Storybook Albums and framed fine art prints.

When children see themselves as subjects of art, they feel valued and loved. They see themselves as protagonists in their own story. Studies show that children who see printed photos of themselves and their loved ones regularly have higher confidence and self-esteem.

Toronto Documentary Family Photographer Melanie Gordon

FEATURED SESSIONS

FEATURED SESSIONS

forest adventure

sporty family fun

riverdale farm outing

dinner/bedtime routine

newborn session

at the cottage

Activities we could document:

Your 3 year old’s bedtime routine
A lazy Sunday afternoon at home
A walk through the park
Running through the sprinkler
Playing board games
Making cookies
Getting ice cream
Brunch with the grandparents

All you need to do is be yourselves, leave the rest to me.