The Wilcock Family

There are some families I’ve had the joy of photographing so often, they feel like old friends the moment they walk into the frame. The Willcock family is exactly that. Two spirited boys who don’t walk — they charge into the landscape — and two parents who meet their energy with love, laughter, and a deep appreciation for these fleeting years.

This session was shot in winter, when the sun dips low and golden before dinner, and the air has just enough chill to keep everyone huddled a little closer. Taryn had reached out to book this shoot for one beautiful reason — it was her birthday gift.

“It was my birthday in February and Daniel asked what I wanted. Honestly, the only thing I wanted was updated family photos, but updated family photos from you!”

It had only been a little over 9 months since her last session with just the boys, but anyone with growing kids knows how quickly everything changes — the height of them, the gap-toothed grins, the new freckles, the way they laugh. And Taryn knows exactly what these photos mean to her.

“You truly have a gift. I am reminded of that fact every day as we have photos all over the house that are taken by you. There was nothing I was hoping to capture per se — I just trust you completely.”

That trust shows. The boys tumble and giggle, completely themselves, and the camera doesn’t demand stillness — it just follows. There’s a kind of permission that happens in sessions like this: to run wild, to laugh loudly, to be completely real. And for the Willcocks, real is always enough.

“It is always just so easy; so relaxing; so enjoyable. The time goes so quickly that I hate it when it's over. I'm never ready to say goodbye to you!”

The part that sticks with Taryn most isn’t just the photos (though those matter deeply). It’s the experience itself — the feeling of being known, held, and celebrated exactly as they are.

“My favourite part is watching you with the boys — when you're photographing just the two of them. You have so much fun with them, yet are able to get the most adorable photos at the same time.”

The Willcocks have worked with other photographers over the years, but when asked what she would say to someone considering booking with me, Taryn didn’t hold back.

“To say that Ryan is the best in the business is an understatement. She is simply unrivalled. She is an artist; a craftsman in her field. The experience you will get with Ryan is unparalleled to anything else you will ever receive.”

“It truly is one of the best investments you will ever make.”

It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to read that. This job is so personal to me. And to know it feels that personal to the people I work with — that it becomes woven into their homes and memories — that’s the heart of all of it.

When Taryn opened their gallery for the first time, she said:

“Every single time I receive my gallery, I am blown away with the absolute magic you were able to capture. There are so many micro-moments I don't even notice — which are captured forever.”

Those micro-moments are where the story lives.

To the Willcock family — thank you for trusting me again and again. For letting your boys be themselves, for letting the session breathe, and for showing just how beautiful life looks when it’s a little bit loud and a whole lot of love.