Summertime Sessions

School is almost out...and, I know I am not alone in saying that I simply CAN.NOT.WAIT. FOR. SUMMER!!!! I wanted to send out a note about summer and fall sessions. My August and September are nearly booked...so, if you are hoping for a session in that time period, please book soon! I promise to do my best to accommodate everyone, but the sooner you book, the better. I am in Edmonton from August 4th-10th and have room for a couple more sessions. If I had a few families interested in doing underwater there, I would look into booking an outdoor pool for underwater mini sessions(just saying).

I am doing underwater mini sessions in Okotoks on July 3rd and have room for one more family. Here is the information about that(just in case you missed it)

The session fee does not include prints, products or digital files. Those are all extra, but the digital files are at the lowest price EVER $500(+gst). If I have enough interest, I will do another pool party, but the files will increase in price...sooooo...interested?

AND...if you have your own pool and are interested in hosting your own 'pool party' for you and your friends, email me and we'll work something out :)

2 hours to go and then there are just 9 more days of school!!

~ Dana

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

These are the new Faces of Short and Sweet Photography!!!!! Check back after July 9th to see how their photo session went! I can't wait to get these cuties all together and take some great shots!! Thanks everyone for participating! Watch for my next contest in September!! It's a goodie :)

~ Dana

Big Changes--Be A Part Of Them!

I am preparing for some big changes here...BIG ONES! They have been a long time coming truth be told. Things that I have thought about for awhile, but finally have the courage and the peace with my work and life to put them into action. And, in anticipation of these big changes, I've decided to call upon my loyal followers to help me find FOUR AMAZING KIDS to be the faces of my new promotional pieces. That's right--these four kids will be featured on my Facebook page, my blog, my website and a bunch of printed material to help me launch these new changes.

Contest!!!

So, do you think your kid could be a model?! Well, if you do, just follow the link to the contest on my Facebook page and upload a recent photograph of your child. Then encourage your friends to go and like your picture. The two boys and the two girls with the most likes will receive a complimentary photo session on June 29th in Calgary, AB. I will gift them the digital files from the session, as well as, an 11x14 print. The contest will run for two weeks from today. Winners will be announced on June 14th.

Things to note:

*to participate, children must be between the ages of 4-12 years old (NOTE: AFTER A FEW REQUESTS, I HAVE LOWERED THE AGE TO 4 YEARS OF AGE)

*children must be able to participate in the July 9th photography session. It will be in the early evening in Calgary. If they are unable to participate in that photography session, the prize will go to the child with the next highest number of votes.

*parents must be willing to sign a model release allowing Dana Pugh to use the images created for promotion and stock photography.

*it makes sense to only enter your child one time as only one child can win from each entry, but you can enter each of your children separately if you like. You can share the link to vote on twitter and instagram using the hashtag #shortandsweetvotes, but only votes on the Facebook page will count.

*votes will be counted until June 13th at midnight.

Soooooo go to my Facebook page and get those images uploaded!!!! Let the voting begin!!!

~ Dana

Beginnings

I've been mentoring a lot lately. It's something that I love to do for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, photography can be a lonely occupation with large periods of time sitting at home planning, editing, invoicing, blogging, etc...and it is nice to chat with someone else who is passionate about something that you are passionate about.

Secondly, I truly enjoy watching people succeed after I help them. I have even seen some of the people I mentor go on and do amazing things. Like win awards and stuff. Secretly, it feels a bit like I've won, too. I guess that's what being a teacher is all about and I have to admit that I like that.

Thirdly...and by no means lastly...I learn a lot. Chatting with photographers who are earlier on in their journey than you is an interesting thing. You remember when you were there. It inspires you(well, me at least) to look back at your work and to see what inspired me to start this journey in the first place. And, THAT is a good thing. It has helped move me past the worry of where the industry is headed...the bitterness that so many feel over the changes that are happening and embrace the changes. To see that the changes are inevitable and that change is a GOOD thing.

More people loving and valuing photography can never NEVER be a bad thing for our industry. It has just become more difficult to find our own place in this sea of loving. For me, I have found that it lies squarely in being yourself and embracing your imperfections ;) But the thing is...if you are looking for your own place...yours is in a different spot than mine. No two people can occupy the same place. It's not so easy to find now, but ... if you can't find it....I would argue that you aren't looking hard enough :)

It also pushes me to get better. It helps me see that I should embrace more of what I teach. Truly...because saying something and doing it are two totally different things. Watching them improve so quickly--for some of them it is a daily thing(truly)--reminds me that the more photographs you take the better you will get. Period.

Don't hate the people in the beginning of their journey. Remember you were there once...

~ Dana