Category Archives: Calgary Family & Lifestyle Photography

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The Le Family in Hawai’i!

I have known Cynthia since I was 15 years old when we used to be “Birthday Party Co-Ordinators” at Easy Street.  Those were the days I tell ya, making $4.20/hr and serving pizza to 5 year olds.  It was actually really fun and we had some great times there.  When Cynthia and Buddy heard I was going to be in Hawaii at the same time as them, she asked if I could do family photos for them.  Of course I was more than happy to shoot a session in Hawai’i.  Like I’d ever say no to that!  We shot all these photos right on our beautiful timeshare resort that we own in, Ko Olina O’ahu.  Taelienna and Cao were awesome kids to shoot.  They were willing to do anything I asked and we had a blast!  I know you guys will cherish these family photos for a long time.  Kids grow up so fast, love every minute of it.  Thanks for the sushi dinner and making me try oysters for the first time ever!

Nancy & Thuan – Trash the Dress | Calgary Photographers

Nancy & Thuan came to me last month about trashing her dress.  Although I was not their wedding photographer in Calgary, I was more than happy to help Nancy trash her dress!

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And here’s me setting up a shot.  Photo by Ryan.

Alisa & Ray – Baby on the way! | Calgary Maternity Photographer

Ray and I go way back. We first met working at Moxie’s in 1997. That’s 12 years already, wow. Ray is one of the few buddies I still talk to from my Moxie’s days. We even lived as room mates once upon a time in Rundle. I was supposed to shoot Alisa and Ray’s wedding last year, but they had to change their date due to venue conflicts. Unfortunately it had to be a day that I was already booked.

Ray recently told me Alisa was 7 months pregnant.  I have always wanted to do a maternity session, but never really had a good opportunity… until now.  I knew these two would make a good shoot and Alisa looks good pregnant!  We got some pretty hot shots that are for their eyes only ;) .  Here are the ones I can share.   Thanks for having me over and starting your first family treasures for you.  I can’t wait to meet your boy or girl!

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Alisa & Ray’s Maternity Session from Johnny Tran on Vimeo.

Sweet Little Nyrmin | Calgary Family Photography

My really close and good friends Baaj and Herpal had Nyrmin on January 23rd weighing 5lbs 10oz.  Congratulations guys!  We can’t wait to watch her grow up!

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JT Images

Jonas gets his first haircut!

Jonas hit another milestone yesterday.  He got his first every real haircut.  I say real because when he was about 5 months old, I buzzed his hair with some clippers to get his messy hair evened up.  Since then, he has not had his haircut and he’s 16 months old now!  Ok, so finally I decided, he really needed a haircut.  I didn’t know how he was going to react, but usually he’s a pretty chillin kid.  Every thing was going well, until the hair dresser sprayed his hair and that when he started to cry.  But all in all, he was a trooper and his haircut looks great.  He looks like a little boy now….. but even more bratty!

The Brown Family at Lac Des Arcs – Family & Lifestyle Photography

Although I do most of my family photography in Calgary, I am always willing to take a drive to visit a client.  I prefer to shoot my clients in their environment.  I find it more relaxing for the client and much more fun too, of course!  Brent remembered my work at Rebecca & Vedran’s wedding this past August.  He emailed me and wanted family photos done, so I asked him what do they like to do for fun?  He said his cabin!  So he invited me out to their cabin right on the shores of Lac Des Arc, near Banff National Park.  It was a chilly -28 that day, but that didn’t stop us from having fun.  We shot inside the cabin for a little bit and enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace.  It was nice to see a real fireplace, because all ones we see nowadays are the fake gas fireplaces.  Throwing in a new log always reminds me of my childhood when we had a real fireplace in our home.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you guys for a great time and the awesome chai and gingerbread cookies.  I hope we can do it again sometime in the summer or when it’s warmer. :)   We can play on the lake and capture the beautiful Rockies surrounding it.

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Kim & Duane’s sweet little Hayden | Calgary Baby Photography

If some of you have been following my work, you’ll remember Duane and Kim’s wedding out on Two Jack Lake in February.  Duane is one of my good friends from when we used to work at Moxie’s together.  Hayden is now over 5 months old and he’s is growing so fast!  He’s a perfect split between both parents and it was such a joy to photograph their new family.  Duane and I have already created a line combination for when our sons are ready to play hockey.  There’s so much in store for Hayden.  And he’ll only look like this for a short time, so enjoy it while it lasts!

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The Tam Family | Calgary Family Photographer

I met the Tam family through my friend Bao, who’s family pictures you may have also seen on my blog a few posts back.  They really loved what I was able to do with Bao’s family photos and wanted to see if I could shoot their new arrival, Elliot.  When I finally met Henry and Tanya, we talked about the idea of shooting them.  And to prove what a small world it really is, I went to high school with Tanya and we both graduated in 1996!  Of course I game to shoot photos for them.  This time I decided to ditch my studio lights and shoot in the style I truly love, with natural light and in a relaxed non intrusive way at the client’s home.  Elliot was quite the trooper as he was awake most of the time I was there.  They are a young family just like mine and it was almost to easy to get good stuff out of them.  Thanks for having me come over to your wonderful home to spend a few hours with you guys.  We’ll definitely do it again when Elliot’s 1 year old!

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The To’s | Calgary Family Photography

Bao approached me about doing portraits for his family about a month ago. We were very old childhood friends back in the early/mid 80’s. As a matter of fact, his father was on the same boat as me and my family when we fled Vietnam. Anyway, I thought I’d give shooting his family a go. But instead of shooting in a studio atmosphere with forced poses, I figured, why can’t I make a style out of shooting families like I shoot my weddings? The results speak for themselves. I might have to add this kind of service to my business, because I really enjoyed it.

Their cute little boy, Aiden, was a great subject. I mean, how can you go wrong shooting such a handsome and cute little boy. I think every photo I shot included him in it! I am sure Bao and Chi don’t mind.

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JT Images

All in the family

For mother’s day I wanted to give my grandmother (and grandfather) something.  I am embarrassed to say I have never given her anything before.  My grandparents are getting quite old and I know they might not be around 10 years from now.  I wanted to take a photo off all their descendants, but the logistics would have been too much to handle.  Especially getting all my uncles and aunts to come over.  So I made a photo of their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  I had this photo metallic printed and mounted in a 20×40 print.  It is HUGE.  As soon as it was ready, I picked it up, went to their house and put it up on their wall for them.  I looked at the picture and looked at them and said “look what you did!”.  Grandma smile back and said, “yeah not bad, and it all started with you and your parents escaping Vietnam 2 days after you turned 1.”