We, Michael and I, met this beautiful family – George, Claudia, Pedro, and Valentin – when we hosted our Christmas sessions last year. It is now officially April, and I have procrastinated, hoping that somehow not posting will help prolong the inevitable. Honestly, until you get in front of a certain client session, you really don’t know what you are walking into, regardless of all the planning and pre-consultations. As professionals, we have to hold it together and get the work done and leave all the emotions at the door. When Valentin and his family came, we were aware of the time-sensitive nature and wanted to make sure we captured these beautiful fleeting moments with justice. As I type this out, my heart feels like it is on fire. So easy to take time for granted, isn’t it? And we are reminded how precious time and love are.

We had chosen Studio By House as the location for its minimalistic setup and, as always, were going to put in our personal touch to bring the sessions to life. The theme was Nordic minimalism because we truly wanted to concentrate on people’s interactions. When you strip back the layers, it heightens the being in the moment, it allows you to focus on the experience. This session brought tears to Michael’s eyes, stirring up emotions about his own mom and what she must have gone through bringing him up.

Last week, I got a call to let me know that he had passed away. This is in memory of Valentin (this beautiful young soul, and yes, that is his name), whom we fell in love with and we dedicate this to his beautiful family.

Thank you to everyone at SickKids who helped make this possible. We are humbled.

Michael & Chats

Let’s cherish every moment we have with our loved ones and remember to spread love and kindness wherever we go.