Thunder Cove, PEI

It all began in the unlikeliest of places. At the unlikeliest of times. At a place called Thunder Cove in Prince Edward Island. During a family hike while on a summer vacation at the top of the sand dunes.

My family and I happened to be hiking on a trail along Canada’s east coast that led to a high bluff. We reached the top and were surprised to find a wedding party having their photos taken on the beach below. I made my family stop (despite the groans from my young daughters at having to wait) because I was so intrigued by what I saw.

The bride and groom were being given instructions from the photographer. I wanted to watch what she would say to them, how she would instruct them, and where she would pose them.

But my attention was torn as I couldn’t help but be captivated by another, smaller moment happening just to the right of them. The little ring bearer and small flower girl, each not more than 3 or 4 years old were playing together by some driftwood.

Their little bare feet in the sand, he with his little tuxedo, pants rolled up, she in the sweetest of little taffeta dresses, no one interrupting them, no one seeming to notice that they had wandered slightly down the beach. An unscripted moment unfolding. I could see the image in my mind already, and imagined how it would look in black and white – the makings of such a classic, timeless photo. As I always have my camera with me, I snapped a photo of these two little ones…..just to serve as a reminder to me of the kind of photos I always want to take. To this day, many years on, I can easily recall the image of those two in my mind and have played it over and over again as the years have passed, waiting until I would be ready to take the leap into the relative unknown to become a photographer.

Well my ‘carpi diem, seize the moment’ day arrived when I finally determined that there was no time like the present to start Lisa Rivard Photography and to spend more time ‘reaching in’ to life’s ordinary and extraordinary moments for and with others. I believe in documenting your big life celebrations, your families, and your children’s milestones, in a timeless, classic way because I believe that there really is no time like the present for you to capture your memories so that you can look back on them as I did with that photograph that summer and remember the real, unscripted moments that have defined your life. 

It’s my hope that being with me and my camera is all about relaxed, natural, authentic interactions that will allow us to capture and showcase your story in the best way possible, as unscripted as possible. Celebrating your life with you and those you hold dear will be an honour and I look forward to welcoming you to the Lisa Rivard Photography family one day!