Family Photos at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks | Where Cows are Part of the Family

Little Qualicum Cheeseworks; a Family Favorite in Parksville

Little Qualicum Cheeseworks is an 88-acre working dairy farm located in Parksville, BC. Here, they make a variety of artisan cheeses, seasonal ice cream, and even boast a milk-on-tap dispenser- Canada’s very first opened in 2017. Cows, calves, goats and rabbits can be visited throughout the grounds, which is open to the public with zero admission cost!

What’s so special about Little Qualicum Cheeseworks is their mission to connect buyers to the products they consume. They encourage the community to visit their farm where guests can explore the cheese plant, meet the dairy cows, and learn from self-guided tour displays. Try out the farm-fresh latte at their coffee shop, or browse their farmgate store where local gifts, meats, and of course, cheeses of all kinds can be purchased.

There is no shortage of entertainment and wonder here. The Voluntary Milking System always wows me when I visit. This machine allows the cows to be milked whenever they choose to do so. Instead of the traditional methods of twice-daily milking, the cows can milk more often, releasing their milk whenever they please! You can view this in action at one of their main barns, where you will likely see a lineup of cows waiting.

The herd of 45+ dairy cows include Jersey, Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds. If any of them could speak to you, they’d tell you how well-taken care of they feel, and how happy they are living and working at the family-run farm!

With their acreage, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks grows their own hay feed and fertilizes the fields with the cow manure later on. This cheese is about as local as you can possibly get!

Why I Love Photographing Families at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks

Little Qualicum Cheeseworks has become a favorite local setting of mine for photographing families. I’m a huge fan of incorporating movement into all of my photoshoots, and this comes naturally here at the farm as we wander from place to place. I find that movement helps loosen people up and gives plenty of little breaks in between the posed photo parts. In the event of rain (very likely here on Vancouver Island!) the middle barn is a spacious and pretty setting to keep dry. The baby cows are a big perk to this space too, as well as the lovely string lights that hang in the rafters.

The farm is fun for everyone. Taking family photos at Little Qualicum Cheeseworks will likely mean that you’ll capture some photobombing cows in your pictures. Cows truly do become part of the family here, and both kids and adults alike delight over that!

• The cows become part of the family
• Two large covered barns make for great photogenic shelters during rainy days
• Movement, play and wonder come easy here
• Distant views of Mount Arrowmsith, Mount Cokely, and Mount Moriarty
• You’ll probably end up buying cheese at the end, and eating cheese is always a great idea!

Little Qualicum Cheeseworks Family Photoshoot