Documentary Photography - Life Stories Kamloops, BC
Documentary Life Stories is a photography experience that honors real moments and meaningful seasons, from quiet beginnings to once-in-a-lifetime celebrations
The best photographs don't just show a moment, they bring you back to how it felt..
Life Stories is documentary photography for the seasons and celebrations that matter to you and your loved ones - couples sessions, engagements, weddings, elopements, family milestones, boudoir, and everything in between. We bring a story-first approach to every session: present without being intrusive, intentional without being rigid, and focused on capturing what unfolds naturally.
While we'll create beautiful portraits together, my attention is never limited to what's happening in front of the camera. I'm equally drawn to the moments unfolding around it. Moments are remembered in feelings. The deep breath before you walk down the aisle. The quiet look before the vows. The nervous laugh in the getting-ready room. The glance you share when no one else is looking. The overwhelming joy of being surrounded by the people you love most. The full truth of the day or session, preserved exactly as it was
Based in Kamloops, BC, and available throughout the BC Interior, the Okanagan, the Thompson-Nicola Valley, and beyond.
Couples, Family & Maternity Sessions
Some of the most meaningful stories unfold in the quiet moments..
A couples session, a family portrait, a maternity session - these are photographs of who you are right now. The stage of life you're in. The connection between you. The way you hold each other, or hold your child, the look in your eyes when you look at the person beside you.
I design these sessions to feel natural, unhurried, and unforced - built around the moments that happen when people feel comfortable enough to just be themselves. I'll guide you when it helps, then step back and let the moments unfold to give space to be yourselves.
These aren't just photographs, they're a record of preserving a moment in time of who you were right now - in this season, with these people, in this chapter of your life. That's what makes them worth having.
Time moves faster than you expect. These images make sure you don't forget.
Where life begins and love never ends
Beautiful sessions designed to preserve everyday connections and season of life memories.
Investment: 1 Hour $299+ GST
Includes 15 professional edited images delivered in a private online gallery.
Engagement Sessions
Your engagement season is a chapter worth remembering. It's the in-between space before the wedding day, the quiet evenings at home, the routines you've built together, and the excitement of everything still to come.
These sessions are relaxed, personal, and centered around your story. I begin with what feels meaningful to you: how you move through the world together, the places that are already part of your story, and build the session around that. The result is a gallery that feels effortless, personal and captures your connection.
These sessions also give us time together before your wedding day, so when the day comes, you can be fully present in the moment, knowing we're already comfortable with each other.
Kamloops and the BC Interior give us extraordinary settings to work with - from the high desert light of the Thompson Valley to mountain trails and river banks. I'll help you find the place that already feels like you.
Home is where the heart is
Story-driven sessions focused on connection, and the precious life transition from couple to fiancé.
Investment: 1 Hour $379+ GST
Includes 15 professional edited images delivered in a private online gallery.
Adventure Elopements
More couples are choosing to elope because they want something more intentional. A day that reflects who they are, free from expectations and focused on what matters most to them.
Whether it's exchanging vows beside an alpine lake, overlooking a mountain valley, or standing together beneath a desert sunset, your elopement should feel as unique as your story. Intimate, meaningful, and rich with connection - creating space to be fully present with one another.
My approach is documentary and unobtrusive, allowing the day to unfold naturally while preserving the moments that make it unforgettable. The excitement, the emotion, the stillness, and the landscapes that surround you all become part of your story.
The BC Interior offers endless opportunities for adventure, and I'll help you create something that feels entirely your own.
Love is an Adventure
For the couple who chooses the road less traveled, where the journey becomes the story.
Collections starting at: $1399+ GST
( Travel and location fees may apply.)
Elopements & Weddings
A wedding day passes in a blur. Months of planning suddenly become laughter, tears, embraces, celebration, and fleeting moments that can never be repeated. My approach is to document the day as it unfolds - capturing not only the big moments, but the quiet ones in between. The overwhelming joy of seeing one another. The hugs, the happy tears, the moments shared with loved ones.
With a balance of documentary storytelling and guided portraits, you'll receive images that are both timeless and cherished.
Multi-hour documentary coverage with thoughtful storytelling and intentional pacing.
Wondering why more Kamloops couples are choosing a documentary approach for their wedding day?
Read: 7 Reasons Kamloops Couples Are Choosing a Storytelling Wedding Photographer
Together they built a life they loved
Multi-hour documentary photography coverage with layered storytelling and intentional pacing.
Collections starting at: $1000+ GST
Boudoir Sessions
A boudoir session is not about looking a certain way. It's about feeling seen exactly as you are, and walking away with images that remind you of your own strength.
These are intimate, intentional sessions rooted in self-expression, self-love, and empowerment. We create a space where you feel celebrated and entirely yourself.
Every session begins with a conversation - about what you want to feel, what you want to see, and what this experience means to you. There's no script, no mould to fit into. I follow your lead, and we build the session around what feels right for you.
The result is a private gallery of images made for you, by your own definition.
Nothing can dim the light that shines within
Intimate, intentional sessions rooted in self-expression, self love and empowerment
Collections Starting at: $299+ GST
Special Events
Graduations. Milestone birthdays. Community gatherings. Cultural celebrations. The moments that mark a chapter closing and another one beginning.
Special events photography is custom coverage designed around what matters to you - the people, the details, and the moments that will anchor this milestone in memory.
Every event is different, and every session is built to reflect that.
I bring the same documentary attention to special events that I bring to weddings and portraits - fully present, genuinely invested, and focused on the real moments rather than just the scheduled ones. The ones in between are often the ones worth keeping.
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
Custom coverage for meaningful gatherings and milestone moments.
Custom pricing available.
What Clients Are Saying
Carmine Carpino
Gina is a fabulous photographer, she is very easy to work with, has an amazing eye for the small details, and just loves helping capture the moments that are important to her clients.
My wife and I had Gina as our wedding photographer and we are so greatful we did, she captured everything beautifully.
We happily and easily recommend Gina to anyone looking for a photographer!
Tammy Delaney
Gina photographed our wedding and the pictures were amazing. She was very professional and such a friendly person. Highly recommend Gina!
Linzi Malcolm
Gina's photographed our wedding on May 28th, 2022, and she was amazing. She was attentive to all, was dragged all over by family and friends for pictures and always had a smile on her face. She was everywhere and the pictures speak for themselves. Thank you so much Gina! We could not have asked for a better photographer.
Ready to tell your story?
Every session starts with a conversation. Tell us what you're planning, what matters to you, and what kind of photographs you're hoping to walk away with. We'll take it from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is documentary-style photography for weddings and family sessions?
Documentary photography captures real moments as they naturally unfold - without posing, prompting, or interrupting. For weddings, that means the smile shared before the vows, the tears you didn't expect during the first look, the in-between moments that make a day feel fully alive. For family sessions, it means images that look like you, not a version of you performing for a camera.
What is included in a Life Stories session?
Every session includes professionally edited images delivered in a private online gallery. Session length and image count vary by package - from 1-hour portrait sessions with 15 edited images to multi-hour wedding and elopement coverage. Full collection details are available upon request through the booking inquiry form.
Do you still take posed portraits and family formals?
Yes, absolutely. Family formals, bridal party group shots, couples portraits, multi-generational groupings - all of that is part of every coverage. The documentary approach doesn't replace traditional wedding and family photography, it compliments it.
You walk away with the images your close family will frame, and everything that captured how the day actually felt.
How far in advance should I book?
For weddings and elopements, booking 6 to 12 months in advance is recommended - especially for summer and fall dates in the BC Interior, which fill quickly. For couples, family, and engagement sessions, 4 to 6 weeks notice is generally sufficient, though popular weekend dates can book up faster than expected.
Where are you based, and do you travel for sessions?
We are based in Kamloops, BC, and work with couples and families throughout the BC Interior, including the Thompson-Nicola Valley, Okanagan, and Shuswap regions. We also travel beyond BC for adventure elopements and destination weddings. Reach out with your location and date, and we'll put together a plan that works.
How do I know if this style of photography is right for my wedding?
Start by looking at the work. If the images make you feel something, if you see yourself in them, that's a good sign. From there, reach out and let's have a real conversation about your day. There's no obligation. Just a chance to find out if we're a good fit.