Calgary Teen Studio Portraits

I’ve been photographing these girls for 10 years!! Back when they used to ride in their small battery operated car and jump on their backyard trampoline. Now this year, the oldest is graduating. Honestly, this has been one of my favourite things about being a family photographer—watching families grow and seeing who these small children become. And these girls are no exception…they have grown into wonderful young women with big dreams and ambitions. Such an exciting time for them.

Together, we have done so many different kinds of sessions over the years, but we had never done a studio session before, so this time, I got them in the studio for some simple portraits. I love modern and simple portraits. With teenagers, it’s nice to get the session over quickly as they are often busy and have other things on the go. I love my adventure sessions and they are great for younger families, but I truly find that a lot of families out grow them and portraits become the best option for them. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the weather or wait for the fall—it’s lovely in the studio year round.

Over the years, I have often shared their annual session because, once upon a time, a photograph that I took of these girls ended up on a billboard in Time’s Square to celebrate my win as the NAPCP’s Child Photographer of the Year back in 2011(it was for my work in 2010). Many photographers know them as the ‘hammock girls’ because of that moment in my career. That image came from our very first session together about 10 years ago!!! Their dad has been an annual client ever since and has a stack of coffee table books from each session as a way to document the girls over the years. I think he actually has more coffee table books by me than I have of my own kids. hahahahaha….I gotta get on that!!

Check out the official notice for my win below!! Hard to believe that it was 10 years ago!!

To mark the 10 years of the NAPCP, they recently published an anniversary magazine where I had a gorgeous spread…if you are a photographer(or just interested in photography), you can find it here: https://www.napcp.com/2019/12/20/december-2019-inspired-magazine-10-wonderful-years-of-napcp/ It’s a gorgeous magazine that I purchased in print and have in my studio—so, if you want to see it in all it’s gorgeous printed glory, drop by and say hi!!

2020 marks exactly 13 years of photographing families for me!! I’m determined to make it my lucky 13th year ;) Can’t wait to see what’s in store…

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

Exploring Niagara on the Lake

In late September, I travelled to beautiful Niagara on the Lake to teach at The Uncommon Creative photography conference. More and more, my career has veered towards mentoring and teaching—which is something I enjoy more than I would have guessed if you had told me this is where I’d be 10 years ago. Often when you teach at a conference or workshop, you are required to shoot a ‘mock session’ while students watch. This will never NOT be awkward. hahahahahahaha…true story. As someone who is concerned about what my students are(or are not) learning, I worry that they will be inevitably disappointed when they learn that mostly I am just a total spaz—whether people are watching or not(ha).

So, here is an example of a ‘fishbowl’ session where there were about a dozen people watching me as I got lost(true story) and then laid on the ground in the dirt so I could shoot through some weird portal thingy. All the while, they would take the most unflattering images of me (man, it is DECIDEDLY NOT pretty to watch me work), but these kids were AMAZING!! They handled it like pros.

These kids belong to one of the women who run the conference, Miss Stephanie Robin, an award winning newborn photographer from Ontario. We have met before a couple of other times at conferences where we were both teaching. It was super cool to meet her kids! Her and her partner, Tessa, did such an incredible job on the conference. It was their FIRST EVER event and it was so well run—I mean, I knew that Stephanie was organized, but WOW…she is crazy organized and it was so lovely to work with someone who was so prepared and dedicated to making it a wonderful experience for both the speakers and the attendees. I got to take classes taught by the amazing Lisa from The Milky Way (she really is as sweet as she seems online) and Ali Peck from Glow Maternity and the amazing Heidi Hope. Stephanie and Tessa tell me that they are planning on another conference in 2020 and I can’t wait to hear who they have in their line up!! Sooooo…on to the images:

Thanks,

~ Dana

Calgary Maternity Photographer -- In Studio Session

One of the most commonly asked questions I get as a photographer is ‘what is your favourite thing to photograph?’. And, if I’m honest, the simple answer is connection….but, that has become kind of cliche in the photography world I feel. And, so I search to find a deeper answer, but currently come up empty. Connection. That really is what it boils down to in all of my sessions. Even when I am photographing one person…I am searching for that connection between them and I. I know when I get it and it makes me the happiest. It’s the driving force behind my work, really.

All of that said…maternity and the connection that you can find in a maternity session…that is probably my favourite. I’m not sure why except maybe it’s that whole mystery connection between mom and babe before baby is earthside. I remember how very special that was for me and it is certainly very special to witness in other people. I also believe that when a couple is expecting, the anticipation brings them closer. So, often, their connection is deeper as well. Then, throw in an older sibling and that feeling that these are the last moments of them being an older child and, truly, the room overflows with love. Whether we are on location or in studio…the background almost doesn’t matter…as long as you just show up ready to let me bear witness to it all, we are good.

As I have said before, I have a large maternity closet and sometimes…even when moms don’t plan on it…they arrive and think—let’s play dress up. I like when that happens. The white dress that we used in this session is BY FAR the favourite choice of my clients. I’m currently on the hunt for some pieces that will become the next favourite! Can’t wait to show you what I find ;) So…some new favourite maternity images from a recent studio session. Enjoy!