Too Cool For School Portraits 2020

Every year, I have a special event in my studio called Too Cool for School Portraits! These portrait events are designed to create a back to school portrait that truly shows us your child’s personality. It is a relaxed setting where I let the child lead. A quick portrait experience with 5-10 minutes per child. This year, school is looking different than ever before, so I wanted to offer these portrait sessions in a different way than ever before.

For the month of September, you can book one of these sessions in studio Monday-Friday for $99/family. This will get you a session that includes 5-10 minutes plus one digital file per child. The session can include up to 3 children from the same immediate family. Each additional child is $49. Additional digital files, prints and other products can be purchased as well. There will be a limited number of sessions available so that I can allow for social distancing and sanitizing of all surfaces in between sessions.

I will also be making space for the children of 4 families on Saturday, October 3rd(this is available for children only). I believe that is the most number of families I can manage in the studio and still maintain a high level of sanitization. Same deal—just one session per hour from 10:00am-2:00pm. First come, first served. This truly is the portrait event with the best prices of the year!! Act fast as I have limited availability.

So, for all of you folks out there that find yourself homeschooling this year. Or, for all of the people who are truly just too cool for school portraits…this is the portrait event for you!! Contact me now to grab your spot.

And—I still have space for a few more family sessions this fall season, but I’m booking fast…don’t miss those fall colours this year and book your family session today. Contact me for more information.

Calgary At Home Adventure Session

One of the great things about Calgary is that so many homes back right onto beautiful natural parkland. One of the not so great things about Calgary is that the weather is incredibly unpredictable. Even thought this session happened when it was arguably NOT fall yet, we got a huge dose of fall weather. Wet, soggy, and incredibly foggy. I gotta be honest, I was a little afraid that things could go sideways pretty fast. I mean, with a not quite one year old, you never know how they will handle being uncomfortable. But, this beauty was a trooper. We ended with a warm sink bath that was completely unplanned but very necessary.

This family purchased what I call my Adventure Sessions. Which means that we try to capture a combination of portraits and documentary images. I think sometimes people get intimidated by the word ‘Adventure’ and think that they need to do something truly adventurous in order to satisfy the call…but, here’s the thing…Adventure is everywhere if you are looking for it! Bubbles, watermelon, sink baths…Grandma and Grandpa…all of this is quite adventurous when you aren’t even one year old.

So, here is a smattering of the images we created together while on our Adventure…

Thanks for stopping by my blog…if you have any questions about my Adventure Sessions, please ask!! Winter is the perfect time for one!

~ Dana

Baby Session in Studio | Okotoks Photographer

One of my favourite families came to see me in my studio for their ‘baby’ session. Families who book their maternity and newborn sessions with me have the option of adding on a ‘baby’ session as well…which means when your baby can sit and is full of big smiles and chubby limbs. It’s definitely one of my favourite times to photograph babies. In my baby plan, you can also mix and match studio sessions with in-home lifestyle sessions so that at the end of the first year, you can create a first year album that truly documents each stage of this exciting time in your family’s life.

At a ‘baby’ session, the focus is truly on your newest family member, but I love when siblings come! My studio space is natural light so there is no big, scary gear that kids can tip over. Instead there are toys and treats…and, at this session—my teenage daughter who is home schooled help with managing it all. A built in babysitter!!

Email me now to learn all about belly to baby plans in my studio!

~ Dana

Family Photography Studio Session | Okotoks Family Photographer

Recently I heard that this mama is on the short list to be the next Canadian astronaut. Like...to go to SPACE people!!! So, I thought I'd share her studio family session from awhile ago. 

I think people have this horrible idea of studio sessions. Like it will be in some grungy room with tonnes of equipment so they will spend a great deal of time stressing over their children's behaviour instead of enjoying the photographic experience. My studio is not like that AT ALL. It is a natural light studio--meaning, big windows, white walls and bright, kid friendly decor that hides things like Lego and Playmobil. The result are modern, simple photographs that focus on your child's personality and the connection that your family has together. For this session, I suggested the parents bring along some of the children's favourite items. So, one child choose her blankie while another brought his hockey stick(how Canadian is that? he even sleeps with it). There is never a rush--if a child needs to take a break to play with a pirate ship, we take a break to do that. If someone needs to go potty, there is a child friendly bathroom. And, if they need snacks, I've got you covered there as well. So, don't think of this as a studio photography session--think of it as visiting a friend who will take some sweet photographs of you all!! It's a nice alternative to going outside on those crappy days or for families who want a more modern look to their family photographs.

And--a little heads up for all of you local people!! My birthday is coming up and I will be having a HUGE SALE on both studio and on location sessions. If you are planning on a session with me this year--this will be the time to book, so WATCH FOR IT!!!

Enjoy!

~ Dana