WHAT DO YOU GIVE A PARENT WHO HAS EVERYTHING?
They don't need more stuff.
Give them an experience they'll remember and portraits your family will keep.
A fully guided portrait experience for Mom, Dad or both of them.
Not another thing.
Not another gift they'll forget.
An experience for them.
A legacy for you.
Their portrait experience can happen in January—after the Christmas rush.
"What are we getting Mom for Christmas?"
"What are we getting Dad?"
"What are we getting them?"
"I don't know."
"They don't need anything."
"What about a gift card?"
"No."
And then there's the sibling who contributes absolutely nothing to the conversation until somebody else figures it out. 😂
Call me. I have a brilliant solution.
Give Mom, Dad, or both of them a Willow Creek portrait experience.
They get something wonderful to look forward to after Christmas.
And you get the photographs.
YOU KNOW THE CONVERSATION.
BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT YOU ACTUALLY WANT MORE OF.
Not more things.
More of them.
Their face.
Their laugh.
Those expressions you've known your whole life.
The stories you've heard a hundred times.
The person behind the title of Mom or Dad.
We photograph our children constantly.
But somewhere along the way, we stop creating beautiful photographs of the people who raised us.
Let's change that.
YES, YOU'LL STILL HAVE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL TO PUT UNDER THE TREE.
Their portrait experience will be presented as a beautiful gift voucher in a special gift box, ready for Christmas morning.
So there's still something to unwrap.
But instead of another thing for the house, you're giving them something to look forward to.
A day that's entirely about them.
And there's no need to squeeze it into an already busy December.
Their portrait experience can happen in January, after the Christmas rush.
THEN WE SPOIL THEM A LITTLE.
"THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL. BUT YOU HAVEN'T MET MY DAD."
Fair. 😂
Maybe Dad hates having his photograph taken.
Maybe Mom insists she isn't photogenic.
Maybe one—or both—of them is already preparing a list of reasons why this is completely unnecessary.
They don't need to know how to do this.
That's my job.
I've spent more than 30 years photographing real people.
They don't need to know how to pose.
They don't need to perform for the camera.
And they certainly don't need to be "photogenic."
They just need to show up as themselves.
I'll take it from there.
Maybe it's Mom.
Maybe it's Dad.
Maybe you're lucky enough to have them both here and want beautiful photographs of them together.
Whatever your family looks like, we'll create an experience around them.
We'll plan everything together, including what they'll wear and how they'd like to be photographed.
Professional hair and makeup for one person is included, with additional hair and makeup available for an additional fee.
Then I'll guide them through every pose and expression, so they never have to wonder what to do in front of the camera.
We'll create different looks.
We'll talk.
We'll laugh.
We'll probably hear a few stories.
And we'll create beautiful portraits of the people you know as Mom or Dad—and the people they are beyond those titles.
THEY GET THE EXPERIENCE. YOU GET THE PHOTOGRAPHS.
They get a day that's about them.
A reason to get dressed up.
A chance to be fussed over.
A reason to laugh, tell stories and do something a little different.
And you?
You get more of them.
Photographs of Mom.
Photographs of Dad.
Photographs of both of them together, if that's your family.
The kind you frame.
The kind your siblings all want.
The kind that becomes part of your family.
AN EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
A LEGACY FOR YOU.
AND YES, YOU CAN GET IN A FEW TOO.
This experience is centred around Mom, Dad—or both of them.
But children and grandchildren are welcome to join us toward the end of their portrait experience so we can create some beautiful photographs together, too.
Because if we're doing this, let's not stop with photographs of them.
Let's create photographs with them, too.
The generations.
The relationships.
The people who belong together.
I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE VALUE OF A PHOTOGRAPH OVER TIME.
This is my mom, Lois.
That's her with the big smile, it was always hard to get a good photo of her because she was always talking, but one night in a cold, wet sunflower field we got this image of her.
My mom has since passed away.
And I can tell you something from the other side of losing a parent:
You will never wish you had fewer photographs of them.
Not photographs where everything was perfect.
Photographs where they were themselves.
Their smile.
Their expressions.
Their relationships.
Their story.
This photograph is priceless to me now.
That's one of the reasons I care so deeply about creating these portraits for other families.
This isn't about waiting for some enormous milestone.
Sometimes the relationship itself is the milestone.
Give them a day to be themselves.
Give yourself the photographs.
A COMPLETE GIFT.
Christmas Legacy Portrait Experiences begin at $2,000 and include the fully guided portrait experience and 8 beautifully finished portraits, matted and presented in a Reveal Box with matching digital images.
Larger portrait collections are available if your family wants more.
Professional hair and makeup for one person is included.
Children and grandchildren are welcome to join toward the end of the experience for family portraits.
Most importantly, you're not giving Mom or Dad a photography appointment that comes with a purchase they weren't expecting.
You're giving them the gift.
You take care of it.
They simply get to enjoy it.
THIS MAY BE THE EASIEST SIBLING CHRISTMAS GIFT YOU'VE EVER AGREED ON.
Instead of everyone buying something separately, go in on it together.
One meaningful gift.
One beautiful experience.
And portraits your whole family will enjoy.
No guessing what Mom needs.
No more gift cards.
No buying Dad another thing for the garage because nobody could think of anything else.
And possibly...
the first Christmas present your siblings will actually agree on. 😂
A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING...
Can this be for just Mom or just Dad?
Absolutely. This experience can be created for Mom, Dad or both of them. Every family looks different, and we'll create the experience around yours.
Does their portrait experience have to happen before Christmas?
No. That's one of the best parts. You'll have a beautiful gift to put under the tree, and they can enjoy their portrait experience in January after the Christmas rush.
What if they hate having their photograph taken?
They're in excellent company. They don't need to know how to pose or what to do. I'll guide them through everything.
Is professional hair and makeup included?
Professional hair and makeup for one person is included. If someone else being photographed would also like professional hair and makeup, it can be arranged for an additional fee.
Can siblings purchase the gift together?
Absolutely. This is a wonderful gift to give together.
Can children and grandchildren be photographed with them?
Yes. Their experience remains centred around them, but family members are welcome to join toward the end so we can create beautiful photographs together.
What if we want more than eight portraits?
Larger portrait collections are available. We'll explain all of the options when we help you plan their gift.
MORE THAN 30 YEARS TELLING PEOPLE'S STORIES.
I'm Lorraine Hjalte, an award-winning former photojournalist and owner of Willow Creek Studio & Boutique in Nanton, Alberta.
I spent more than three decades photographing real people and the stories of their lives.
And all those years behind a camera taught me something:
The photographs that matter most aren't always the ones we realize we need at the time.
Today, I create fully guided portrait experiences that celebrate people exactly as they are.
No modelling experience required.
No knowing how to pose.
No pretending to be somebody else.
Just them.
And that's exactly who your family wants photographs of.
SO... WHAT ARE YOU GIVING THEM FOR CHRISTMAS?
Mom.
Dad.
Or both of them.
They probably don't need another thing.
But a day that's entirely about them?
A reason to get dressed up?
A chance to be fussed over?
Beautiful photographs of the people who raised you?
That's a gift.
They get the experience.
You get the photographs.
An EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
A LEGACY FOR YOU.
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