Making a home.


Roughly two years ago my sister, Hilary, told me she was thinking of purchasing a cabin in the woods with the hopes of turning it into a homestead. My initial reaction was, a cabin in the woods? No power? No road access in the winter? While it seemed like a large undertaking to me, it was very on brand for Hilary. I knew she could pull it off, and make all of her dreams a reality. See Hilary is notorious for her non-conventional ideas and we all have come to love her for it. She has the most creative soul, she's an avid DIY'er, and the craftiest person I ever did meet. I've seen her stay up all night to crochet a full-sized quilt, and built her own fireplace unit in a day. When Hilary has an idea there's no waiting for tomorrow, there's no convincing her otherwise, and there's certainly no asking for help -- she's all in and it's getting done. Two years from her initial idea, and two babies later (she's superwoman) -- here she is with her little family living in her cabin turned homestead in the woods. While she still has a plethora of projects and ideas that have yet to come to fruition she has succeeded at making a home.

A rustic wooden house with cedar siding and multiple windows in a natural setting.

Capturing the homestead.


So here's where I come in. It's easy to tell a story in an environment so peaceful and one that is filled with love. I followed Hilary, Boyce, Sibyl and Forrest around for a few hours over the span of two days. We got some lovely shots of them doing some of their daily activities like preparing breakfast, harvesting crops, ATV rides to the beach, and more. It was chaotic and unorganized, but beautifully imperfect and genuine to their life. I invite you into their homestead through these photos. I also encourage you to follow along their journey as they tell their story the best! At the bottom of this blog I've linked their social media links including their Instagram, and YouTube channel.

A white garden shed with window boxes and screened panels surrounded by evergreen trees.
A rustic greenhouse structure nestled among lush green forest trees.

I'll make a cup of coffee for your head

I'll get you up and going out of bed


Every morning Hilary and Boyce awake with the birds and get started on breakfast. Coffee comes first! If they're lucky they will get to enjoy a cuppa before parental duty calls. Coffee time is soon followed by whipping up some fresh toutons, where little Sibyl is her mom's assistant. Watching Sibyl in the kitchen with her mom was the sweetest thing. She was very invested in her task and didn't mind getting her hands dirty! The morning sun was shining in through their windows and created such a lovely ambiance.

Steam rises as coffee is poured into a Chemex with blue and white porcelain mug on wooden table.
A couple enjoying coffee preparation with a Chemex in black and white kitchen setting.
Coffee being poured into a blue and white porcelain mug on wooden surface.

And I was catching my breath

Staring out an open window

Floral crop top and denim outfit in a rustic kitchen with wooden shelves and copper pans.
Woman enjoying a drink while standing in a cozy kitchen with wooden shelves and hanging glasses.
Kitchen scene with black faucet, wooden shelves, and decorative oranges on display.

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall

But I know you're not scared of anything at all

Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away

But I know I had the best day with you today

Baking together in a sunny kitchen with rustic wooden table and white apron.
Small hands working with dough while wearing a light blue top.
Flour-covered hands working dough on a wooden table surface.
Sweet baking moment in a kitchen decorated with plants and copper accents.
Hands kneading dough on a flour-covered wooden surface in the kitchen.
Colorful flowers in vase while baking treats in a bright kitchen.
Child in blue dress baking at wooden table with colorful flowers nearby.
A small child wearing a light blue dress helps knead dough at a wooden kitchen counter.
A small child in a blue sundress concentrates while working with dough in a cozy kitchen setting.
A cozy kitchen baking scene with floral decorations and wooden shelving.
Colorful flowers in blue and white vase with matching bowl on rustic wooden table.

A walk down Remi's Lane.


The most picturesque, shaded, and overgrown lane is directly behind the greenhouse. Here we stopped for some shots of Hilary after she picked a few wild flowers.

A person holding a basket of wildflowers stands on a forest path in summer attire.
A person in floral dress and boots twirls on a forest path surrounded by green trees.
A person in floral dress carries wicker basket while walking down a wooded trail.
A woman in a floral skirt carries a wicker basket while walking along a forest trail in summer.
A woman in a crop top and floral skirt crouches with a wicker basket on a wooded path.
A person in a flowing skirt walks along a serene forest path carrying a woven basket.
A woman in rubber boots and floral dress poses on a tree-lined dirt path.
A person in a floral skirt holds a basket filled with wildflowers on a forest trail.
A woman in casual summer attire poses with an empty wicker basket on a wooded path.
A figure in a flowing dress walks along a forest path lined with birch trees and evergreens.


We're all falling and we need a place to hide

A safe place somewhere in the woods we can start a fire

All we know is what will be our home


View of person in blue overalls standing at entrance of white building with flower boxes.
Person wearing blue overalls stands on white porch with flower boxes and decorative door.
Person in blue overalls and white top holding basket of fresh herbs by white barn doors.
Person carrying wicker basket of fresh herbs by white barn door with flower boxes.
A tender moment between parent and baby sitting on a white wooden bench outdoors.
A joyful moment captured outdoors with a small child being lifted up in play.
A person in blue overalls stands at the entrance of a cedar-sided house with a green door.
A reader in blue overalls enjoys Paulo Coelho's book while sitting against wooden siding.
Person reading a book while sitting on a wooden bench against cedar siding on a rustic house exterior.
Person in blue overalls reading peacefully on a wooden bench outside a cedar-sided house.

And they say, hold on to the ones you love

Keep 'em close to you

And they say, hold on to this time we have

And let the light shine through

Rustic outdoor scene with table, chairs, and hanging laundry under trees.
A colorful floral dress contrasts with a peaceful outdoor setting near a rustic house.
A tender nurturing moment captured outdoors on a wooden chair against a natural backdrop.
A peaceful family moment shared outdoors near a rustic wooden building with garden furniture.

Cozy moments in the Greenhouse.


The greenhouse is my personal favourite area. It’s toasty warm, bright, and filled with overgrowing plants. 

A decorative garden gazebo surrounded by lush greenery and trees creates a whimsical outdoor setting.
Parent and baby outdoors near evergreen trees and greenhouse structure.
Parent holding baby in floral dress near greenhouse surrounded by evergreens.
Family spending time together in greenhouse filled with tall growing plants.
A family shares a joyful moment together in a lush greenhouse filled with plants and hanging baskets.
A colorful floral dress stands out against the greenery of a rustic greenhouse garden setting.
A tender family moment captured outside a charming greenhouse surrounded by evergreen trees.
Inside a greenhouse, someone wearing a vibrant patterned dress tends to plants while holding a small child.
A greenhouse scene featuring a long patterned summer dress among growing plants and hanging baskets.

Cowboy take me away?


We thought it would be fun to get some fun shots of flowers in Hilary's boots. While we were taking these, Boyce giggled and told us it looked like we were taking images for the cover of a country album. Not like it's any surprise but it just so happens among Hilary's many talents, singing is one of them. Who knows, maybe some day she will make that country album. She'll already have a few shots if she does!


The most precious and unposed moment was when Sibyl came over and wanted to cuddle up with her mom, she brought along a book for Hilary to read to her -- of course I was snapping away. These are some of my favourite moments captured from the shoot.

Black rubber boots filled with colorful flowers stand in a garden with a watering can in the background.
A casual outfit with denim and black boots styled against a rustic garden shed and birch trees.
A relaxed pose against birch trees with a rustic garden shed and floral arrangement in the background.
A casual summer portrait featuring a black top and denim against a backdrop of birch trees.
A rustic greenhouse scene with someone in denim and boots tending to garden flowers.
Reading a storybook together outdoors near birch trees while wearing boots on a warm afternoon.
A sweet reading moment shared beneath birch trees with an illustrated storybook.
A heartwarming story time moment with rubber boots and flowers in a garden setting.

Together is my favourite place to be.

A toddler in white clothing taking steps on a sandy beach.
A family moment playing together in the sand at a peaceful beach.
A child in a blue dress drawing circles in the sand with a stick on the beach.
A scenic beach day with evergreen trees in the background as a family plays in the sand.
A family sitting together on a wooden bench in a peaceful forest setting.
A playful family moment outside a yellow cedar-sided house with window boxes full of flowers.

We laugh until we think we'll die, barefoot on a summer night

Nothing new is sweeter than with you

Black and white candid kitchen scene through window frame.
Romantic couple sharing intimate moment in utility vehicle outdoors.
Black and white portrait of couple in casual wear against white wall.
Couple in casual attire leaning against off-road vehicle in rural setting.
Intimate moment shared in back of utility vehicle by waterfront.

Seek to reach the heights of the alpine

Seize the golden light when the sun shines

Realise that time is a precious gift

So make these moments last

A heartwarming family moment captured in vintage style photography at a kitchen counter.
Candid kitchen moment showing tender interaction in warm interior lighting.
Joyful bath time scene at kitchen sink with indoor plants in background.

One of my most favourite things is spending quality time with my sister and her beautiful family. Another one of my favourite things to do is to capture sweet moments. This shoot provided an opportunity to do them both! I’m so incredibly proud of all of their hard work and I can’t wait to see it continue to flourish. I hope you enjoyed a little behind the scenes at Black Spruce Homestead.


As promised, you can find Black Spruce Homestead on social media from the following links.


Instagram: @blacksprucehomestead

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blacksprucehomestead

Oh, home, let me come home

Home is wherever I'm with you

Playful family interaction outside a wooden house with windows and flower pots.