Just Be Yourself

I love Shel Silverstein. He was a favourite when I was a kid and I have bought all of his books for my own kids. We are currently redecorating their rooms and I keep thinking about framing one of his poems for Jack's room. Not this one, but I saw this on Pinterest today and it made me smile so I thought I'd share it with you all.

I've been thinking lots about what it means to be a portrait photographer lately. This is what I tend to do in the winter time. Reflect upon my own work as I don't work as much as the rest of the year so there is time for that. I know that for some people, it is simply about making their subjects look pretty--and, I agree that is important. Mostly because as I age I see the importance in photoshop tools on images of myself ;) and I know that no one likes to see a picture of themselves where they look totally awful. But, what I also know is that I want more than to look pretty. I want to see your blue. I want you to remove your masks...and I know it's hard, but I also know that it is so so worth it if we can work together and make it happen.

It is a process that doesn't happen quickly. There is a reason why it can't happen in a department store portrait and that reason is a simple one--time. Lots of other photographers like to spend time with you after the portrait session in sales and design consults. I like to spend mine during the session...I like to spend it in helping you remove your masks and showing me your blue. I think you can see that in my work...if you can see it and that is something you value, then I want to work with you :)

2013 is going to be a time for me to shed some masks. I'm going to be more myself. And, I'm excited. Most of 2012 was spent half awake, but something has happened recently and I feel more alive than ever. And, I am ready to embrace life and capture it along the way. Here's hoping you stick with me ;)

~ Dana

Baby's All Around

It's been awhile since I have posted an entire session... Lately, I've been booking a lot of newborn sessions. There must be a baby boom in Calgary...this one isn't in Calgary. This was a travel session--did you know that I can travel to you? Have camera will travel.

It's also the newest addition to one of my best friend's families. So, I am sure to be able to watch her grow into a lovely young woman. I cannot wait.

I posted a little video of her brother earlier...here it is again in case you missed it

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/59266929[/vimeo]

How to Shoot Your Kid's Hockey Game

I am NOT a hockey mom, BUT the number one question I am asked by other moms is how to get images of their kids on the ice. I know that many parents go out and buy fabulous gear with this intent, but can't quite figure out how to be more successful at this. This past family day weekend, I went to my nephew's game and I thought I would share a few things that--not being at a rink very often--I had never considered...as well as, all the things I always say ;)

#1: Turn Off Your Flash

Now that you have this fancy dancy camera--learn how to use it on full manual. This is always the first step to great images. If you can't figure it out on your own, email me to get on the list for my next online class for parents :) PLUS....if you shoot with your flash up against the plexiglass at the rink, the flash will bounce back at you and destroy your image by flooding it with light. The same goes for shooting through a window or at a wall of mirrors(think: ballet class)--flash off. Step one.

One quick little exposure tip for shooting in all that white--you will probably need to overexpose by a bit as the camera will read all that white as neutral grey causing the meter to stop down a bit. You'll need to manually compensate.

#2: Proper Gear

You will need a lens with reach. A telephoto lens with a good zoom and a nice wide open aperture(f2.8 is preferable). Professional lenses like this are very expensive, but often a lower end model(f4.0-5.6--that sort of thing) can work, too. At sporting events(even at my son's fencing tournaments), you can't get too close to the action. When you can't physically get yourself in there, you need to have gear that lets you do that. That is the purpose of a good telephoto lens :)

I am not a big fan of my 70-200mm 2.8, but boy oh boy is it necessary when you are shooting a hockey game. This is a lens that if I was a hockey mom, I would try to buy second hand.

#3: Get Close

Or at least as close as you can...often the plexiglass is all dirty/scuffed/marked up and you are trying to shoot through it and get a clean looking shot. The best way to do this is to shoot with a wide open aperture and to shoot as close to the glass as you can(without looking silly--although, if you are like me at these things, I'm the mom everyone shakes their head at, but hey--I get the shot I want). If you have a professional quality lens--that is at f2.8--make sure the aperture is at f2.8. If you don't, just shoot as wide open as you can--meaning keep the F# as low as possible...usually that's somewhere around 5.0. This may or may not allow you to be successful--depending mostly on whether or not your camera has a cropped sensor. If you do have a cropped sensor, you will have to open your aperture and get as close to the glass as possible(maybe even right up to it). Just keep in mind that the key is always to open up the aperture to avoid the marks on the plexiglass distorting or downright ruining your image.

And, don't be afraid to walk around the rink and go to places where you think you might get a good angle ;) Be that pushy mom with a camera...I guarantee the other mom's will ask you for your pictures even if they complain about you behind your back.

#4: Watch Your Shutter Speed

Those little dudes can move...and the only way to avoid motion blur will be to increase your shutter speed. I found with my little nephew that unless I was trying to do something creative(panning or intentional blur of some kind) I had to keep it up around 1/500...and, he is only 6 years old...so, I imagine that the older they get the faster you are going to have to keep your shutter speed.

#5: Watch Your Focus

When you are shooting through glass that is all scuffed up, the camera may want to grab focus on something on the glass. Watch the game through your lens. Move along with your kid and constantly be grabbing focus on him or her. Release the shutter when he/she does something awesome--like trips. Or gets a goal ;)

#6: Don't Forget To Shoot The People Watching

Many of your memories will be of your friends cheering on their own kids, drinking their Tim Horton's while the younger kids fight over who gets what timbit. That is just as important to remember :) Ditto for stuff happening in the dressing room...soon enough, they won't need your help to tie up their skates and you'll wish you had captured it while you had the chance.

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If you are a parent who is interested in getting better images of your kids--email me to get on my waitlist for my next online class. Tomorrow, I will be announcing the next beginner class and, by popular demand, an advanced class for parents. And, if there is a situation where you are having trouble getting great images, leave a comment asking me what I would do and maybe I'll write up a list of how I would approach it technically.

AND FINALLY...if you want to see the pictures I take of my own kids, check out my family blog--Pughville.com .

~ Dana

Valentine's Day Special

Let Me Show You What Your Love Looks Like

This Valentine's Day why not give your love a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Let me create a custom session showcased to show you exactly what your love looks like. A session to celebrate--Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just because you haven't done it in forever. Take a couple of hours just for the two of you--away from work, away from the kids--just to tell each other exactly how much your love means to each of you. And, I'll be there to make sure that your images reflect all of that. I can't think of a better gift this Valentine's day.

A La Carte Session Fee is $200(+gst) prints, products, and digital files purchased separately

or

Purchase the session and the digital files for $1200(+gst)

Just for Valentine's Day, I'll package up a pretty little box announcing your gift in a fun and fabulous way.

PS--Gentlemen, I'm not good at getting you these things last minute...the offer for a pretty little box expires February 10th. Just saying...after that you're on your own. Why not be the guy who all the others guy hate because he got the perfect gift and, at the same time, avoid the lines at the card store on the 14th? ;)