This summer has looked a little different here in the Okanagan. With wildfire smoke settling into the valley, the skies have been hazier than usual. But that hasn’t stopped families from getting outside & capturing beautiful memories together.
In fact, some of my recent sessions have looked absolutely beautiful because of the soft, diffused light created by the smoke. The haze can create a warm, dreamy glow and soften the landscape in a way that gives photographs a completely different feel.
One of my recent family sessions took place on Mount Munson in Penticton, where we were greeted by a beautiful hazy pink sky. The smoky conditions softened the mountains and created the most gorgeous evening light, making for a gallery that feels both dreamy and unique.
Of course, behind these beautiful skies is a reality that has been difficult for many people in our community. With the Bald Range Fire and other wildfires affecting the Okanagan, this has been an uncertain summer for so many families.
My own family has been on evacuation alert & we remain on alert as I write this. Thankfully, things seem to be okay for us at the moment and we’re grateful to be home and able to continue enjoying these little pockets of normalcy.
It’s been a reminder that life doesn’t always wait for the perfect circumstances. Families are still growing, children are still changing, and moments worth remembering are still happening, even when the sky looks a little different than we’re used to.
So if you have a session coming up and you’re worried about the smoke, know that depending on air quality and safety conditions, we may still be able to create something beautiful. And sometimes, the unexpected conditions become part of what makes your photos so special.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about having the perfect sky. It’s about capturing you, together, in this season of your life.
