We have recently wrapped up our final dance schools for the 2018-2019 Dance Season. This past year has been a terrific dance season for all of our clients, and for us at Gemini Visuals. We met dozens of talented dancers, past clients and new ones, throughout Surrey, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
While we have wrapped up the 2019 dance year, we have still a few spots for dance schools for 2020 and beyond. We also offer creative dance sessions and dance headshots and can do on location, or in studio for individuals or groups.
Our own staff at Gemini Visuals is well-versed in dance as they all have their own dance background. Meghann is a former student and now teacher from Richmond Academy of Dance, Paige is from Essence of Dance and Abby is from Urban Dance Co. We try to always employ assistants with dance experience so that we can help the studios pose their dancers. Even though dance school photo days are long and can be a lot of work, watching dancers grow up and seeing them year after year is one of the joys I get to witness as a photographer. Also watching the dancer’s friendships is another amazing part of it all!
We have a lot of outstanding talent in the Lower Mainland and I feel lucky to be able to capture dancers that are terrific at their sport – and also phenomenal athletes. Dance has grown so much over the past decade and it is exciting to witness the ever-growing talent in the Vancouver area.
Of course, I could not finish out the dance year with out all of my help both onsite and behind the scenes. Thanks to my helpers, Keyana, Paige, Lisa, Heather, extra special thanks to Meghann and Abby. Also Emily for everything she does behind the scenes!
We hope to see you in 2019/2020! Contact our office at info@geminivisuals.com for more information, details and pricing.
For a third season, we’ve designed our Fall Exclusives this season to work with YOUR schedule.
We want to give our clients the best possible option to suit your needs. With our 2019 Fall Exclusive Sessions, there is no need to worry about not being able to make to a pre-assigned dates. We will work with YOUR schedule to book a place and time that works for you. However the catch is, you must act fast – we are are already half-booked up! Click Here to book your session!
*Sessions may be purchased between now and midnight October 1st (or until we sell out) and must be booked between now and October 30th 2019.
Choose from one of 6 great local locations or upgrade to choose your own location:
Derby Reach Park (Langley)
Stewart Farmhouse (Crescent Road)
Elgin Heritage Park (South Surrey)
Crescent Beach/Blackie Spit (South Surrey/White Rock)
Crescent Park (South Surrey/White Rock)
Campbell Valley (Langley)
**or choose your own location for an additional $30.
Many of our families return for photo sessions year after year. However, we are always open to meeting new clients and welcoming new families. These exclusive sessions can be used for kids, teens, families and maternity.
~ Small Family Package ~ $295 including tax!
45 minute session
Up to 5 people (4+ months only)
15 high res images via digital download
~ Large Family Group ~ $560 including tax!
For up to 10 people (4+ month old only)
Up to an hour and half of session time!
15 high res images via digital download
We are booking sessions now, and would love to fit you in. The first weeks of September are busy for families, however, the weather is turning and it’s time to get those photo sessions in! To book, go to our link here.
Many of our clients we meet through all of the dance school photography that we do in BC. Over the past several years Adrienne has been doing many of the dance school photo days all over the Lower Mainland. In addition to dance school photos, we also do Dance Creative Photos and Headshot sessions for teens and young adults. We can do all types of photo sessions including stylized head shots either in-studio, on-location or a combination of both.
Similar to Senior portraits that have become very popular south of the border, we can do a variety of different shots for your teen or young adult that also include their passion or representing a hobby that they love in addition to portfolio photos. We have a Kids, Teens and Grad Packages which offers the opportunity for unique creative and fun session for your teen. Dance photography is a specialty of Gemini Visuals, but if you have an idea for a photoshoot that you would like to try, contact us.
Sometimes there are limits on the criteria required for modelling portfolio images. But if you desire, we can always extend the session to include some action shots or creative headshots for more images to choose from. One thing that many clients say is that they wish they would have brought more outfits or changed their looks throughout the shoot in order to have more selections! Once you have made the commitment to a photo shoot, it makes sense to make the most of your time behind the camera – contact us and we can advise you on how to make the most of your photo session.
If you choose to do a more informal session with lifestyle type of portraits that also include headshots, contact us and we can recommend a package that will work for you. Capture your teen in an outdoor setting for their dancer headshots or model or actor portfolio. Contact us for more details.
Over the past several years, our studio has been offering Dance Creative Sessions as part of our shoots and packages. We have found that many dancers are interested in getting more moody or stylized photos which are separate from the group or costume photos done at their dance studios. A creative dance session can be done with either fabric as a prop or using flour to highlight the movement. We can do all types of photo sessions including stylized dance photos either in-studio, on-location or a combination of both.
Our dance sessions have been so popular that we have created a separate dance Instagram account! Follow us @geminivisualsdancephotography, for all things dance.
These sessions are not just for high level competitive dancers! Thet are open to dancers of any age and skill level and are a fun way for dancers to express themselves. The photos are professional and also make amazing keepsakes. We have a variety of print options and can create beautiful canvases and other print products.
Many of our clients we meet through all of the dance school photography that we do in BC. Over the past several years Adrienne has been doing many of the dance school photo days all over the Lower Mainland.
With each session, Adrienne spends time capturing each dancer and their unique dance skills. Some dancers excel at leaps and jumps and others are trained in acrobatics or gymnastics. Every dancer brings their own set of skills, experiences and technique to their dance photography session.
For the past several dance seasons, we have done creatively stylized dance photos for the Essence of Dance Senior Dancers. This year we had 19 dancers participate and chose an outdoor location at local equestrian centre, Willow Acres. We can work with your dance studio to create a specific creative session for your competitive or senior dance group also.
For Encore Dance Academy, we provide a small creative shoot done at the start of photo day for their Epic pro program dancers. We provide fabrics to play with if they choose and they choose their favourite dance wear or costume.
Contact us to learn more and book your own creative dance session. With flour or fabric, outdoors or indoors, we are open to creating beautiful for your senior dancers or competitive dance team.
Nothing is better than beautiful Spring sunshine and celebrating your upcoming baby with a maternity session amongst the flowers and blossoms. We have photographed expectant moms in a variety of locations around the lower mainland, and find that our Spring Maternity sessions have become a favourite amongst our clients.
Of course, a Spring session doesn’t always work out for some expectant parents if your due date may not fall during the Summer season. We suggest that expectant moms start looking for a photographer during their second trimester. Think about booking your shoot around 33 weeks pregnant so that you have a good bump but aren’t so uncomfortable that you can’t move around. If you are in the Vancouver area, we have a long Spring season from March until nearly mid-June, which gives us plenty of dates to choose from if you are expecting a summer baby.
There are no rules about what to wear for your maternity shoot. Some people like to wear something more casual, and some prefer a more glamourous look. We have a full selection of wardrobe, including Sew Trendy Dresses, which you available for you to use during your session.
Channeling your inner supermodel is not always easy for some, but it is best if you can come relaxed and prepared for your session. Make sure to be well-hydrated and have some snacks, and just enjoy the process of your session. Take a look at our Pinterest Maternity board for some ideas, and create your own Pinterest board if you like, to save poses and photographs of styles you prefer. This will ensure that you get everything you want out of your maternity photos.
Milk Bath Sessions are also popular for maternity clients, if you are interested in trying something different. Those can be added on to your photo session or done separately. Click here for details on pricing.
For those interested in booking before May 31 2019, we have a special for $25 off your session. Just mention it when you book. If you have been debating about getting maternity photos done, now is the time to take advantage of this offer. Tulips are in season and blooms are everywhere!
As a photographer that does a lot of Newborn Sessions, we are always on the lookout for new props and vendors to create new and unique imagery for our clients. While some clients come in with ideas, many leave it up to us to create different sets and looks for their sessions.
We do our best to try to use local Canadian vendors whenever possible to support the other local small businesses. Two years ago, we found an Etsy seller based in Victoria BC that creates knitted baby outfits. Goodnight Baby by Nook, is owned by knitter Rebecca, and her baby outfits have become a favourite of ours, and ourGemini Visuals clients!
We asked Rebecca a little bit about her business and how she gotten started on Etsy, as we are always intrigued to hear the stories of other small businesses.
“I have always loved knitting. I learned how to knit when I was young. At 8 years old my Oma and auntie taught me. In 2000 I ended up picking up my needles seriously and have never looked back. I started by knitting for Jessica, the former owner, when the business was called Goodnight Mouse Baby Knits. We developed a fantastic friendship and I’m happy that I was able to continue on in the business when she decided to pursue photography.”
“I am always happy to work with custom requests too. As well as Goodnight Baby By Nook, I manage a professional sample knitting business, and work for a yarn company. I also teach knitting privately on Vancouver Island.”
A great thing that we’ve found about Rebecca is that she has definitely whipped things up in a hurry to get them out to our studio for an upcoming photoshoot. And her latest little panda outfit (a custom piece) is currently en route! Thanks Goodnight Baby by Nook for providing awesome props for newborn photography.
Are you expecting a baby? Book your Maternity Session Photos with Gemini Visuals, and then pre-book your upcoming Newborn Session at the same time and receive a $20 credit towards your package.
Our Creative Dance mini sessions have become one of our favourite things to shoot. As a former dancer herself, Adrienne has a sense of how to get the best out of dancers to create beautiful photos that they can use for their portfolios, or as beautiful art photos to showcase their talents. These sessions are growing in popularity as more and more dancers see their peers doing the shoots and the amazing photos that come from their sessions.
This season we have done both Mini Dance Photos sessions using Fabric and Flour, with two dates left on the calendar February 9th and February 10th 2019.
We still have limited spots for booking – click here to inquire about booking your session.
This year, we decided to host a social contest on our Facebook Page and Instagram account to award a lucky dancer a flour session this upcoming February 10th, 2019 for one of our open time slots (11:40am or 1:40pm).
We have had over 50 people enter the contest; parents of dancers, dancers, gymnasts, and dance teachers also. Our sessions are for any age and any skill level.
So our winner is…
*DRUMROLL……..
Hayden Rivas!!
Congratulations Hayden! **You have 24 hours to claim your prize and book your spot. Email info@geminivisuals.com or contact us on Facebook or Instagram.
We wish that we could award more sessions as there are many talented young athletes out there. Stay tuned, as there may be more in the future.
For more sneak peeks and creative dance photo snippets, follow us on Instagram – @geminivisuals
Adrienne Thiessen, the owner and principal photographer here at Gemini Visuals, has been photographing newborn babies for well over a decade. She has honed her skills through her years of experience and many parents call her the ‘baby whisper’.
Read our second blog of Questions with Adrienne. This one about newborn photography and her tips for your newborn session, featuring a beautiful newborn and family that was recently in the studio.
Have you always photographed kids and newborns? What got you started?
Yes I have! As someone who worked in childcare, it was a natural thing to do while taking care of the kids. I would capture them just in our daily routines. I’ve been babysitting and working with kids since i was 11, so it was just a natural thing to do when I started photography.
How long does it take to photograph a newborn session?
Newborns can take anywhere from 2-4 hours – sometimes more depending on the baby. A fussy baby that won’t sleep deeply can be tough to photograph and often most of that time is spent feeding and soothing.
What has been the biggest contribution to your current ‘style’ of photography?
Various props have definitely inspired my current style, as well working with other local photographers, and taking workshops. Newborn photography goes through trends like everything else, which is always reflected in the ever-changing styles of a newborn photographer.
What type of photography would you like to try?
I think I’ve tried everything that has interested me. I would love to do underwater maternity and dance sessions, but then I can’t open my eyes under water so that might be tough! I would love to get more into fantasy photography, more fairytale looking outdoor sessions, but then a lot of that is photoshop work, versus all photography.
What other newborn photographers do you admire?
Obviously Anne Geddes was the pioneer in this field and has done some amazing work, especially taking into account that much of her work was shot on film. I work closely with Eden Bao from Seattle, so she is a big inspiration and mentor. There’ is a long list of photographers that I follow on Instagram and Facebook, both local and from around the world.
What is your favourite newborn photo that you have captured?
It changes all the time. I love using my dream catcher prop. And a huge favourite was the newborn on the plane who’s parents are both skydivers. Love the pose of mom with baby in the roses. I always like when parents bring in props to include a personal spin on it and the challenge to include that item.
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you during a newborn photo session?
This is an obvious one, but the typical shocked reaction of parents being peed or pooped on is always funny. Or baby’s pooping on the bean bag backdrop (see above photo). I find that how the parents usually react that’s so funny. One mom in trying to avoid her shoe, put the baby right over her phone and baby was peeing on her phone.
Any advice for new moms wanting to book a session?
I would suggest that you look for a photographer with experience, patience and a style you like. A photographer has their own style, and generally photograph according to that unless they are happy to take on a new challenge. I would suggest booking because you love the photographers work, and hopefully can build a relationship with them.
Always watch out for photographers that put a very strict short time limit on the session. You can’t always capture every new born as a mini. The more experience a photographer has the more likely the emphasis on safety. Cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to photography. You only get a small window with newborns and then they grow out of that stage. I’ve photographed older newborns for many moms who were devastated that their first session with a less experienced photographer didn’t work out.
Even if you aren’t exactly sure of your baby’s impending arrival, we can book your session prior with some flexibility in the date. Contact us to book your Newborn Session, or Baby’s First Year Package. We offer a $25 discount if you book your Maternity Session and Newborn together.
Starting off our sessions for 2019, we will be hosting Dance Mini Sessions for the Vancouver market in our Surrey studio using both fabric and flour (which creates that smoky look in the photos!). These are open to dancers in the Lower Mainland of all ages and skill level. Click here for dates and signup info.
To kick off this upcoming dance season, we thought a Q & A with Adrienne Thiessen about her dance photography would be interesting for readers to learn about how she has become such a renowned dance photographer in the Vancouver area.
What inspired to start Creative Dance Photography?
My love of dance and desire to be artistic and create art pieces that capture the beauty of dance.
How long have you been photographing dancers?
I am not exactly sure of my first year, but it’s been over 10 years that I set out to improve dance “photo day” images from your typical school photo to something parents want to display, and dancers can be proud of.
Richmond Academy of Dance
What are some of the favourite dance photos you have done and why?
It’s hard to pick just a few. One of my top faves to this day is still one of the first creative sessions I did in my own studio probably 6 years ago now. The dancer’s name is Jasmine at she was wearing her pink costume from one of her senior dances. I loved the pop of pink and the flow of the fabric and how easy she makes it all look. It is still used on my business card today.
You photograph dancers in studio and on location. Which is your favourite to do and why?
Obviously I love the control of the studio and being able to alter the image just by adding gels to the lighting or changing up the backdrop, or adding some fabric. But then some locations just add the perfect element for the dancer to add their own input by incorporating some of the environment into the movement.
You shoot both with fabric and flour to create the magic in your sessions. What inspired you to shoot this way? Have you tried other mediums also?
The fabric was just a natural addition as it is inspired by the flow and movement in some of the dance costumes. The flour was just a fun element that adds a lot of impact to an image, but also adds some fun challenges and learning curves. I have also done a session adding milk and the movement of liquid. While the results are beautiful, we don’t do this often as safety is a large factor. I’ve also added glitter, and rose pedals.
Are there other dance photographers that you follow and admire? Why?
The first that comes to mind is David Cooper. He is a photographer who shoots for Ballet BC and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet that I did a private workshop with a few years back. And of course, Rachel Neville, as her creative dance work is very much along the same lines as my own ideas, and as a past dancer she is also very particular about form!
What do you want to create with your Dance Sessions coming up in 2019?
Lasting memories and art pieces for dancers. Something they can proudly hang on their walls, or be proud to use as portfolio pieces. Also to give young dancers a fun learning experience, as working with still photos versus performing on stage is very different. And it’s a skill any young serious dancer should have.
Over the past several years, we have done creative dance mini sessions open to dancers in the Lower Mainland of BC, taking place in our South Surrey Studio. These are open to dancers of any skill level are a fun way for dancers to express themselves. The photos are professional and also make amazing keepsakes for any dancer.
Adrienne has over 25 years experience as a photographer and over 10 years experience working with dancers of all ages. These mini sessions are meant to offer your dancer a chance to do an affordable and fun professional photo shoot to show off their dance skills. Whether it is to develop a professional portfolio or just to capture some beautiful art keepsakes, this is the perfect chance.
Sessions take place at our studio which is located at 15-15515 24th Avenue in Village Center in South Surrey – across the parking lot from our old studio.
The details are as follows:
Fabric Sessions will take place on January 20th & February 9th 2019.
All sessions have a pre-paid $125 sitting fee (taxes included)
Movement incorporated with fluid fabrics
30 minute session time
One outfit change (body suit to costume etc). Please wear pointe shoes or bare feet (no tap shoes!). We provide the fabric! You may use any of our fabrics and skirts, but you provide any other wearables (ie body suit, favourite costume)
Included with your session is 1 watermarked social media image (low res) that you select from your online private gallery with the option to upgrade to digital files, prints and print products as well. You can find more info on our prints, products, & files on our website at www.geminivisuals.com
Flour Sessions will take place February 3rd & February 10th 2019
$125 sitting fee includes:
Movements highlighted by ethereal showers of flour!
30 minute session time
One outfit change is allowed if wearing something over a body suit. (Change must be the removal of an item of clothing in the studio, due to the nature of the flour)
We provide the flour. This is regular flour so those with medical conditions, such as celiacs, must let us know while filling out the sign-up form so that we can accommodate and use another substance in place of flour
Included in the session is 1 free watermarked social media image (low res) that you select from your online private gallery with the option to upgrade to digital files, prints and print products as well. You can find more info on our prints, products, & files on our website at www.geminivisuals.com.
Message emily@geminivisuals.com for more information or to book your spot. These sessions generally fill up quickly. awe would love to see your dancer in 2019!
