When I dig back into my memory banks, one of the very first memories I have is of waking up in our old truck camper. It was beige and had a big OK on the front of it (funny what sticks in our memories, right?), and it sat atop our old grey GMC truck that had these rough woven seats. But, the waking up is what sticks into my mind, because I’d wake up and couldn’t go anywhere. I was stuck. The camper was tiny, and my bed was above the dinette. This all seems like a good idea until you put a 3-year-old up there, who rolls all night long. So, to prevent me from rolling out, 5 feet down to the floor, my Dad rigged up a net that he’d hook in around me each night. I remember running my fingers across that green net while slowly falling asleep, listening to my parents talking out by the fire. In the morning I’d call for someone to undo the netting and let me out. I’d clamber down and we’d make our way outside to a chilly Alberta morning, ready to explore.

That memory of the netting is intertwined with laying on my parent’s bed in the camper and playing with Barbies while it rained, roasting Summer Sausage over the fire way past my regular bedtime, swimming in the lake, riding bikes with my Dad, and my Mom not being able to get the camper door open in the middle of a freak snowstorm in August (along with the tent beside us using a frying pan as a shovel!).

These are the memories that I’m so thankful I have a few photos of.

Because you know what?

Those summers are long gone.

That truck is gone.

That camper is gone.

My dad is gone.

On the surface, camping can be looked at as packing up a whole load of crap (so. much. work.), loading into the truck, heading out of the city, backing up the trailer (cue the arguments!), then hanging around outside for a few days.

But below the surface, it’s about so much more than that.

It’s about reconnecting.

It’s discovering each other.

It’s about experiencing new things.

It’s about testing our limits.

It’s about seeing the stars and knowing there’s more to life.

It’s about forging the story of your family. 

I feel so strongly in making sure you have these memories documented forever that I’m offering a limited few LET’S CAMP sessions. So your kids can have the whole story that they can show their kids when they talk about the things they remember from their camping days.

You pick the campsite and I’ll come to you to document your camping adventures.

The details:

• An upgrade from a Family Story session (1-2 hours) to a Half Day In the Life session (4-5 hours) at no additional cost. Session fee of $450 includes 4-5 hours of coverage, a photo slideshow and a minimum of 100 images in your viewing gallery.
• A fusion slideshow featuring both still images and video set to professionally licensed music.
• Collections of digital images and/or print products are available for purchase after viewing your images. Collections range from $650-$1150
• The session can take place within 150km from Sherwood Park for no additional charge (this is an increase from my regular 50km limit and a savings of up to $110). What’s within 150km? Pembina River, Wabamun, Pigeon Lake, Alberta Beach, Miquelon Lake, Gull Lake, Smoky Lake. Elk Island National Park. Have a favourite campground that is further? Let’s chat about options. Need campground ideas? I wrote about a few of my family’s favourite campgrounds.
• Only 3 1 sessions are available for late June, July, August and early September.
• Returning clients: this offer is not eligible to be combined with the returning client discount, but as a thank you for trusting me with your memories again, I’ll send you an 11×14″ print of your choice from your Let’s Camp session.

Want to make one of these 3 1 available sessions yours? You’re getting first dibs at these sessions and first crack at my calendar. Sessions will be released to the public on Friday. Complete the form below and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours with full package details and availability.