Kelly Renee Photography

07/24/2025

In the harsh light of a midday sun,
we wandered—Willow leading the way—
through tangled greens and shadow-dappled trails.
Most frames, lost to the stubborn glare of a clock striking one,
were never meant to be keepers.
But this one… this one whispered stay.

What began as a simple scouting trip
became a quiet reminder:
Sometimes beauty waits in the in-between,
and grows through imperfect conditions.
__
I’m completely taken with the painterly tones that I was able to bring to this image—soft, wild, and wonderfully unexpected.

⭐Have you ever found something beautiful in a moment that didn’t go to plan?
Tell me below—I’d love to hear.

07/21/2025

Back in May, I photographed the incoming 2025/2026 executive team for the Red Deer Polytechnic Students’ Association—my third year working with this fantastic crew. These spring sessions happen just before summer break and are always set in a naturally bright spot on campus. We returned to a familiar location in the library, chosen specifically for its big windows and soft, diffused natural light.

The timing of the session was key—we shot at 11 AM to catch the light while it was still high enough to stay even and flattering. I paired that natural light with flash as a subtle fill to get the clean, fresh look the team was after. (This has become my go-to approach in that space, and it’s always worth the extra thought to make the most of the light.)

I also tried something new: I brought my husband along as my living light stand. 😄 We’re still perfecting our teamwork, but it definitely gave me more flexibility with lighting—and I really love the results that come from mixing natural light with just a pop of flash.

Swipe through to meet the executive team—and I’ve also included a couple of headshots from last fall’s student council session, which was done with a studio setup and custom backdrop. (Fingers crossed I get to do those again this year too!)

If you're looking for fresh, professional headshots—whether for your team or yourself—I'm booking now for summer and fall sessions!

06/18/2025

Summer break is just around the corner! Annie and I have so many fun activities planned to keep your kids happy and busy!

Use the form link to sign up your littles!
3 options to choose from-a full 4 day week, a full day or a half day-y for everyone’s busy schedules!

Feel free to text me wuth any questions 😊
https://forms.gle/NeCRScQUMbSdkTow7

06/15/2025

*******canceled due to poor registration numbers ********

Are you signed up for Monday’s 🍁🇨🇦workshop yet?
My next version is going on a t-shirt!
If that’s more your wheelhouse, bring along a 100% cotton article of clothing and stitch on that instead!

Registration closes tonight! 😱

06/12/2025

🎉That’s a wrap on the 2025 MYMD Dance Photo Days!

To Make Your Mark Dance and all the dancers and families—thank you for your patience, your grace, your joy, and for having me capture your dance season milestones - It is always a privilege. ❤️ I look forward to seeing you light up the stage tomorrow!

Photo orders were officially sent out a couple of days ago, so if you haven't yet, check in on your emails.

I can’t wait to see your favourites—tag me if you'd like to share!

12/20/2024

*after and before* The original concept when I shot and edited this photo was he had ducked into a cave to escape a bear. I used generative fill for the lens of the glasses, and wanted to have it reflect a bear outside cave entrance but couldn't find anything that looked right. So I settled on a reflection that was still at least viewing the out in the wood. I also wanted the image to have a subtle painterly effect.

11/27/2024

01/01/2024

Wow, another year gone with another one full of possibilities on the horizon 😀. I wish you all an amazingly joyful and blessed 2024!

12/31/2023

I believe that sharing our challenges and how we overcome them is as important as sharing our successes. So, here we go...😬

Before any of my sessions, I do a lot of planning. This includes visiting the site in advance to see the space available and to observe the available light, drawing out possible setups, taking test shots, and testing all the equipment to ensure that it works properly on the day. I also do a secondary test the day before to be extra sure. Despite all this preparation, things don't always go as planned.

For instance, during the RDPSA session, I tested all my lights the night before, but my higher-powered set of lights, which I use for group shots, refused to trigger on the day. I tried everything I could think of, but they still wouldn't work 🥺. Additionally, since there were so many people to be photographed, it was important to stay on schedule while at the same time effectively engaging with each person to help them feel comfortable to capture headshots with expressions that are relaxed and authentic. Unfortunately, the schedule was thrown off course because the clock in the room was inaccurate 😫. This was a challenging situation, but I was determined to get the job done and meet expectations.

In the end, I was able to make up some of the lost time and come up with a lighting solution that allowed me to capture the required group photos effectively (preplanning the areas/posing was a great benefit). The SA Executives and Council were incredibly understanding and gracious, which helped make everything work out in the end.

Regardless of the job or career, we all face challenging situations at some point, but how we choose to react to them can make all the difference. Although these experiences are never pleasant, they provide valuable lessons and growth by testing our patience and resilience and helping us develop emotional and mental flexibility. In turn, I think it prepares us for greater creativity and success in the future.

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.” – Roger Crawford