Paula Gerein Photography

01/09/2026

“It takes a village” went through my head watching these parents work together to put skates on their one-year-old. Both mom and dad are Olympic speedskating medalists so it was no surprise that their toddler would have skates on when they can barely walk.The joint effort of this not being a one-parent task and the shape of their bodies made me smile. Whether or not this little one follows in her parents’ footsteps is to be seen, but at least she’ll always have photos of how they set her on the path they love.

12/20/2025

Teens used to scare me. Ridiculous, of course, but they seemed so critical with their scowls and side-eyes. As a parent I was terrified of facing my kids doing so many of the things so many of us were doing at their age. As a photographer, I was worried they would hate my presence and see it as punishment their parents had bestowed upon them. I have been so wrong.

Teens are slowly becoming my favourite to photograph. They still have that human desire to be seen, they just don’t want to be judged or seen unfavourably. They’re part adult, part child, so beautiful in their awkwardness and in their discovery of who they are.

They don’t hate my presence— at least once they see that I’m not there to force them to smile or perform. They can give me all the stink eye and 6-7 they want and I take it. Gladly. I know that they often don’t let their parents take real photos of them anymore and so it is an even greater honour that I get to. These photos mean something. They’re memories of this phase of life.

When I show the family their slideshow, there has not yet been a time when the teens weren’t smiling and laughing at the photos, eager to watch it again. Why? Because they are seen and they can see the love around them.

If you’ve been afraid to book a session because your teen might ‘hate’ you even more than they already pretend to, or you’re worried I’ll judge them (and you) if they act like a jerk during the session, then you’re wrong too. Let’s do this.

12/16/2025

This session goes down as the one where I photographed until my fingers froze, no longer had feeling, and I couldn’t tell if I was actually pressing the shutter button or just willing my finger to do it.

I’ve photographed a wedding outdoors at -44’c, I grew up in Canada’s prairies, and I am not shy of winter. I knew better. No such thing as bad weather, only badly dressed…

The session started at the house with some singing practice, some hanging out with the pup, just random indoor stuff. Then the family decided to go skating and anytime a family wants to go outside, especially for an adventure, I am game-on.

We headed to the Edmonton Victoria Park Skating Oval but all I had were my fingerless wool gloves and I quickly discovered they weren’t near enough. At that temperature I should have had an extra mitt layer filled with those Little Hotties packs. It was getting darker and colder— a gorgeous night.

The kids were hilariously slipping and sliding all over the ice and creatively, I was in my element. Behind-the-scenes though, my dreadfully cold fingers passed the painful burning staging and I lost sensation. Was I still making pictures? I hoped so! Without feeling my fingertips, it was a literal shot in the dark.

The wind blistering outside was brutal and unforgiving; the moments though—pure gold. It was worth the frost bite.

12/09/2025

Your family is never boring. Daily life makes the best art because it is genuine, it’s you, and it’s your memories. Booking documentary family photo sessions for 2026.

10/11/2025

06/10/2025

Never underestimate the power of unscripted moments.

04/23/2025

I’m obsessed with the brains of kids and how they come up with the most random stuff.

From a summer Day in the Life session where we hung out in the basement for a bit and where this beautiful weirdness unfolded. You are never as boring as you think you are.

04/14/2025

Truly excited to be prepping for wedding season. Bring me all the couples who just want to have a blast with their loved ones on their wedding day.

“I came for the vows. I stayed for the snack table. I live for the dance floor.”

09/24/2024

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a cause deeply personal to me as my own little girl was diagnosed with Leukaemia at just 5 years old - a little peanut starting kindergarten.

Each year, about 100 new children are diagnosed with cancer at Edmonton's Stollery Children’s Hospital. It’s heartbreaking, and what’s even more shocking is that childhood cancer research receives only a small fraction of overall cancer research funding. We're talking about kids with life-threatening diseases, and the need for more attention is critical. The care at the Stollery by the oncology team and Child Life Specialists was PHENOMINAL, but this post is about the gap in research funding.

Why does childhood cancer get so little funding? Here are some reasons:

Complexity: Childhood cancers are biologically distinct from adult cancers, requiring specialized research that is often more challenging and resource-intensive.

Long-Term Impact: Research must consider the long-term effects of treatments on survivors, demanding sustained funding over many years.

Lack of Advocacy: Historically, childhood cancer hasn’t received as much attention or advocacy as adult cancers, though more support is desperately needed.

Profitability: Since childhood cancers are rarer, pharmaceutical companies may invest less due to the smaller market for treatments.

Policy Priorities: Government funding often faces competing priorities, which can impact childhood cancer research allocations.

Though survival rates for childhood cancer have improved, many survivors live with long-term side effects—physical, cognitive, and emotional—that impact their quality of life.

How can you help?

Donate: , ,
Spread the word: Share information about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of research funding.

09/18/2024

How much fun is it when someone has a special reading voice? When they really get into it like they're acting and not just dictating.

When Dr. Seuss was a child, his mother, Henrietta, would read to him and his siblings every night, but she had a unique twist - she would sing them to sleep using rhymes she made up on the spot. Henrietta had worked in her family’s bakery, and she would memorize the names of pies and other baked goods in a rhythmic, sing-song manner to help remember orders. She carried this habit into her storytelling for her children, filling their bedtime with quirky, rhyming lullabies. These playful rhymes not only helped young Dr. Seuss fall asleep but also nurtured his love of words and rhythm.

Another inspiring story about the importance of reading to kids, is the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. Malala grew up in Pakistan, where her father was an educator and a passionate advocate for girls' education. From a very young age, Malala’s father read to her every night, filling her with stories about courage, education, and the importance of standing up for what you believe in. One of her favorite books as a child was The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a story about following your dreams and overcoming obstacles.

When the Taliban took control of her region and banned girls from attending school, Malala continued to advocate for girls’ education, inspired by the books she had read and the values her father had instilled in her through storytelling.

The books and stories shared with children don’t just entertain - they can empower young minds to make a real difference in the world.

Photo from a 'Day in the Camping Life' with the Sullivans.