My name is Viara and I am a family photographer based in Kingston, and serving Toronto, Ottawa, and Southern Ontario.

me with my three children while on holiday

I was born in Bulgaria, and have lived in the United Kingdom, Saskatchewan, Toronto, and the Netherlands.

Before becoming I photographer, I was a parenting scientist. I got a Ph.D., analyzing thousands of mothers playing with their babies and I learned to notice tiny changes in facial expressions, small movements, and family dynamics. These are important to my photography today.

I now live on an acreage near Kingston, with my husband, three children, and a menagerie of animals. My days are spent with the crow of roosters out the window, while I drink ALL the coffee and spread the joy of loving your life, loving your real self, and being forgiving of yourself as a parent.

Check out my interview (below) for the Depth of Field podcast, and for ImageSource's Photographer's Eye series. I also love to write science-fiction: you can check out two of my short stories here and here.

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You should message me if:

amsterdam, nl 2014 (photo credit: galina Madjaroff)

amsterdam, nl 2014 (photo credit: galina Madjaroff)

  1. You want a photography experience your kids (and partner!) will love.

    That’s right. I said LOVE. Because they will. Kids love being photographed in a documentary way. Why? Because there are no rules. They can show off all their cool toys and gadgets, model all their cool moves, do all sorts of action shots (jumping, running, riding bikes), and it is ALL ok. And no one tells them to smile all the time. And your partner will love it because he won’t have to be helping you get the kids in line. It’s really just the perfect way to bond with your family without feeling pressure to do ANYTHING.

  2. You kind of dread doing family photos

    I get it! Traditional family photography can be quite stressful, and the prep work is not trivial. Getting the right outfits, getting everyone to smile… Well, there is another way. I have built my photography so that you don’t have to go through all that stress. You choose exactly what you want to do and where, and we make memories of that. It’s really all about capturing YOUR life. No matching outfits are required ;)

  3. You (or your partner) are not exactly comfortable in front of the camera

    I understand exactly what you’re feeling, which is why I end up looking like the Jim Carey at his comedic best when I try to pose for a photo. For that reason, I’ve built my business around the belief that the best family photographs are un-orchestrated. I make people feel comfortable, because I’m more akin to a visiting friend than a conventional photographer.

  4. You like to do things your own way

    Candid photography is perfect for you if you value discovery, and you love the authenticity of your life. If you want to cherish and remember it exactly as it is, savouring each moment. This type of photography is for those who are optimists at heart. If you love to be just a little bit different from the crowd, to make your life your own way, and not care too much about trends… then family photojournalism is FOR YOU!

  5. You sometimes feel guilt for not being the “perfect” parent.

    As a former parenting researcher, I can tell you this is a nearly universal feeling. Parenting in the 21st century is as challenging as it ever has been. As a photographer, I’ve made it my life’s mission to show parents through the stories of their lives that what they are doing for their children is wonderful, loving, and perfect.

    A family documentary photography session captures exactly those moments which you don’t see, or often take for granted - all the caregiving and loving that you give of yourself each and every day.