The Heart Behind Sunbird Studio
Hello, I’m Holly. A single mama to three wild boys. An artist and natural storyteller I’ve spent my life and career playing dress-up, making things beautiful and expressing myself creatively.
Based in Almonte, Ontario, I photograph weddings, families, and brands across Ottawa and beyond. My work is rooted in natural light, organic connection, and a storytelling approach that feels more like a lived-in memory than a posed portrait.
“Holly is a true artist and was able to really “see” the truest essence of our family as we are.”
My Approach
Photographs that feel like home. Stories told like folklore.
I believe the best photos aren’t staged—they’re felt. I’m not here to manufacture moments. I’m here to witness them.
Whether you’re saying “I do” under the pines, wrangling toddlers in your backyard, or launching your dream brand—I show up with calm energy, an eye for beauty in the ordinary, and a deep love for preserving what’s real.
My work blends documentary-style photography with editorial flair. I’ll guide you gently when needed, but mostly I’m there to observe—to catch the soft glances, the wild laughter, and the unrepeatable little moments in between.
A few things about me
On Sundays, my house smells like fresh sourdough. Baking is a rhythm I return to—slow, grounding, a small kind of ritual. I almost always bring a loaf to my clients, because to me, photography is personal. It’s about connection, and sharing what we make with care.
I’m a single mom to three wild, beautiful boys. They’ve taught me how to hold space for chaos and tenderness all at once—and that same energy is what I bring into every session. I see beauty in the unplanned, the messy, the fleeting.
I live with Pickles, my tiny, eccentric chihuahua. He’s somewhere between a fruit bat, a snorty little pig, and a grey fox—equal parts shadow and comic relief.
I used to live in a straw bale house with a living green roof, and at one point had 30 chickens roaming the yard. These days, I’m rooted just outside Ottawa in the sweet town of Almonte, but that rural spirit—self-sufficient, scrappy, a little wild—still shapes the way I move through the world.
I love a good cold plunge. My record is ten minutes, and yes—it was freezing. I find peace in those extremes, in the quiet challenge of holding still.
My days are full of slow things: fermenting kombucha, preserving what’s in season, and listening to music that feels like it was written just for me. Sierra Ferrell is my favourite—her songs are the kind that settle into your bones.
I like old things. I like quiet mornings. I like honest people. And I love getting to photograph life as it really is—soft edges, real light, and all.