A Very Special Graduate | Calgary Graduation Portraits
This very special graduation session happened in 2022—I’m just awful at keeping up with blogging(I mean, I haven’t even blogged my son’s graduation and he was in the class of 2020). These images are from my favourite niece’s graduation day. Anyone who has been following me for awhile will know her as she is my daughter’s BFF since birth ;) She allowed me to follow her around for the day so that we could get some more documentary type images, portraits of family, and some fun images of just her(and some with her bestie who got dressed up for the occasion as well). These were taken in Edmonton on the provincial Legislature grounds and at the Muttart Conservatory.
So proud of this kiddo as she is now studying dance at the University of Winnipeg. We miss her greatly though and I am so excited for her to come home for the holidays.
SCROLL DOWN for part two of this session where we did a Day After session…well, maybe not exactly the day after, but we did a session a little while after where she was just herself in her dress and her converse runners. Because this auntie believes you can never have too many images of yourself in the most beautiful dress you have ever worn!!
Those were all taken on the actual day of her graduation in Edmonton. The ones below were taken later that summer at my home in Okotoks. I love that she allowed me to take images of her with her every day hair and make up as the sun set across the street from my house.
Photography Chair for the Alberta Summer Games | Torch Relay
This summer I had the pleasure of being the Chair of Photography for the Alberta Summer Games. As the Chair, I managed a team of around 10 different volunteer photographers as they photographed 14 sports, as well as, the opening ceremonies. Our goal was not to simply photograph the events, games and matches, but to try and capture the true spirit of the games. If you have ever been a part of such an large event, you know that the Games are for the athletes, but the spirit of the games not only comes from them. It also comes from the amazing volunteers, coaches, and spectators.
Since I took thousands of photographs myself over the course of the Games, I thought that I would share some of my favourites from the different events I covered over the weekend. Starting with the torch relay. A big shout out to the folks at Atco Gas who let me ride on the back of their lead vehicle so I could capture the relay without actually running alongside the participants. It was such a fun day to see so many local people out showing their support. Here are just a handful of the images I captured that day.
An At Home Adventure | Calgary Family Photographer
Not all adventures have to be big. When you have a toddler, every day is an adventure. So, why not document a little bit of your every day? For this family, we just had an evening walk around the neighborhood with a stop at their favourite park. Then, I photographed bath and bed time. It’s a true snapshot of what your family’s life is really like right now. The opposite of a mini session…this is the full meal deal!! I like to think of my Adventure sessions as slow portraiture. It’s my way of trying to calm everyone right down and just be in the moment. Some families take longer than others. Some families never calm down(ha). But, when there is enough time and space to relax a bit, your family’s true personality shines through. If you are someone who wants candid images full of connection…THIS is the way to get them. Not a mini session. The FULL MEAL DEAL.
This family is so calm that the whole session was super chill. This guy might be little, but this is his third session with me. He knows a good thing when he sees it. hahahahahahaha. But, no really…I feel like I am training the whole family to get the best photographs possible. Here is a small sampling of the images we created together.
Canmore Mountain Adventure Session
Last year, this family from Toronto drove to Canmore to enjoy some family time all together. They rented the coolest Airbnb in town(no, really, it’s such a cool place) and spent some time exploring Canada’s beautiful rocky mountains. One of the things I love about my job is having the opportunity to photograph families from all across the world who have come here to see first hand the beauty of Alberta. I really do feel so lucky to live here.
My mountain Adventure Sessions are a combination of documentary and casual portraits that allow my to capture your family in a natural way so that the images we create together showcase your connection and unique personalities. There is some direction, but, mostly, it’s like hanging out with a friend who also brings along her camera…so, it is the perfect solution for busy families who don’t want to have to force their kids to sit still and behave a certain way. Family portraits can be SUPER FUN…they don’t have to be stressful. Trust me ;)
If you are interested in visiting this airbnb, go here: https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/18161391 and be sure to contact me to book your family Adventure Session while you are there!
~ Dana
