About Sara: Sara McConnell Photography

"You used to be a therapist? That's quite a career change!"

Although I am no longer a practicing therapist, it may surprise you to find out just how similar the two careers are.  Just like I did when I worked as a therapist in private practice and in community mental health, I spend my time connecting with clients in ways that help them to feel confident and safe. When my clients are comfortable, relaxed, and able to share their emotions and stories with me, that experience translates into meaningful and beautiful photographs.  

When I see a crying toddler, a scowling teen, or a nervous parent, I don't think "ugh", I think 'what do I need to do to connect with this person and have them walk away from our time together with a smile on their face'.

"Why photography?"

I first picked up a camera 30+ years ago when I was in high school.  After making the transition from film to digital photography, and photographing humans instead of landscapes, I re-discovered my love of the art form in my mid-twenties.  

When working as a grief and trauma therapist, I saw over and over again how one of first things people did immediately after a loss was to start looking through photographs.  As they pored over the images, they would share favourite memories and it wasn't until I shared that experience with grieving families that I realized that photographs weren't just "pretty pictures". 

"Watching the aftermath of traumatic grief gave me a profound appreciation of the moments we share with our families. Photographs are a part of our families story, history, and memories of the people we love the most."

"What do you love most about your work as an Ottawa Family Photographer"

• The relationships I've developed with my clients over the last 15+ years. Watching families grow and getting to be a part of milestones like births, birthdays, annual traditions, and graduations, is a gift.  My first newborn clients are now in high school: how incredible that I've been a part of their lives for over a decade!
• The trust people place in me to photograph them: I know how vulnerable, nerve wracking, scary, and anxiety provoking it is to step in front of the camera and I take that responsibility seriously.  
• Knowing that the photos I take bring families joy every single day when they see them hanging on the walls of their home.
• That I still get goose bumps when I'm photographing sessions: the photos I take are incredibly meaningful to me.
• Holding brand new babies, high fives & hugs from kids, adults who tell me "you're the only person I let take my photo", belly laughs, and JOY. As my kids are now all tweens and teens, I love that I still get to play on a daily basis.

"What else do you do?"

I am a mother to three boys, who are 14, 18, and 20.  My husband I have been together for more than 25 years: he is my biggest supporter and the one responsible for all the amazing sets you see in my photos. You've never seen someone leave a room as quickly as he does when he hears the words "I have an idea...".  It inevitably involves a lot of trips to Home Depot and some complicated design for a new set or my studio.

When my boys were little, I took them outside every day to tire them out and escape the echoing noise in our house.  We've continued our "get outside" lifestyle into their teen years.  We love to swim, hike, camp, and explore Canada with our two dogs and our kids.

I am happiest by the ocean and in the forest, reading books, and trying out different art mediums like painting, drawing, pottery, and glassblowing.  I love to laugh, hate scary movies, and am still working on not killing every plant I bring home. I try to lift heavy weights, personal organization is my jam, and I drink more tea than I probably should. 

 I look forward to telling your family's story with my photographs.