Love in the Winter

Her glasses kept fogging up whenever they got close :) We trudged through some pretty deep snow(well deep for short me).

And, we laughed a lot.

Winter engagement sessions are not for the weak of heart, but...for those who can embrace the weather and roll with the punches...the pictures can be pretty beautiful.

We had so much fun, I didn't even realize how cold my legs were until I got in the car. hahahahahaha!!! Thanks for being such troopers you two! See you in August!

~ Dana

Friday's Favorites: Zoku Slushie Maker

I like really cold drinks.

And by that I mean REALLY COLD. I have often thought 'if only every drink I drink can be a slushy'. This is a true story. And, now it can be...I bought one of these on a whim and I freakishly love it. I bought mine at Williams-Sonoma, but you can get yours online here: http://www.zokuhome.com/

I never know what to get older kids for birthdays and Christmas. This has just become my go to gift for them. You keep the insert in the freezer and then when ever you feel like a SLUSHIE you pull it out and put your juice, pop, iced coffee(for real this is so good) in it and stir it around a bit until you have a real slushy. And, so much better for you than the ones at 7-11.

What colour are you going to get?

~ Dana

2014 Travel Schedule

So, I have some news.

Life throws you curve balls and sometimes you just have to go with it.

For almost a year, we here in Pughville have been planning a cross Canada trek. The plan was to take the month of July and go east from Calgary--hopefully, all the way to the Maritimes which is a bucket list trip for me. Then, the first week in January, everything in our lives came to a screeching halt. True story.

The company my husband worked for suddenly found themselves closing their doors. It was completely unexpected. Luckily for us, my husband has quickly found a new job(Calgary is nothing if not a prosperous place for engineers), but what it does mean is that we will not be taking our trip as planned.

Now, we will find a couple of weeks in our schedule to go somewhere, but right now, we just don't know where that will be. I did have a list of people who were hoping to have me photograph their families while we were on our trek...and I feel awful having to let some of them down. I have decided that...since most of them are in the Toronto area...I will make the trek to Toronto in early July by myself. Right now, I am planning to arrive on the 4th and stay through to the 10th. I will take 5-6 sessions while I am there. Priority will go to the people who are already on my list. These travel sessions will cost $2000(+gst) and will include my time to capture, as well as, the complete set of digital files. Additional things can be added to the travel package, but this will be the base. A $500 nonrefundable deposit will be required to reserve your spot.

If you have inquired about a session with me somewhere across Canada this summer, I will be sending you an email shortly detailing this change and giving you the first opportunity to book in Toronto(and area--I know Muskoka is on the list). If you live in the Toronto area and are interested in a session with me during that time period, please email and get on the list. Priority will be given in order of contact. Finally, if you are a photographer who is interested in mentoring, I would be open to half day sessions while I am there as well.

Thanks for understanding. The good news is maybe I'll get to go to a tropical destination this year after all now! The lock on my backdoor froze shut yesterday. It got me thinking that it might be nice to go sit on a beach somewhere.

~ Dana :)

PS--I will be in Vancouver at some point this summer as well(and all points on the road from Calgary). I just haven't firmed up those dates yet. If you are from the area and would like a session or mentor session with me, please contact me to get on the wait list. Thanks.

Jack in Jura Creek

I have fallen into the habit that I see many photographers who once documented their own kids falling into. My kids are getting older and more resistant to having their picture taken so...well...I just don't. Especially with my oldest, most resistant child.

It's true that sometimes they don't even notice I am doing it. They are that used to having a camera in their lives. But, often they would rather just live their lives than have it documented. And, I think there is a lesson in there....truly...one that sometimes I agree with. But, I don't want this chunk of time to disappear without any photographs of them.

I was chatting with my friend Leigha Graf who graciously took our family photographs last week...about having older kids(boys in particular) and how there seems to be a reluctance to share our parenting experiences once kids turn about 8 years old. I think that is there for a reason. Potty training, playdates, and learning to explore as a toddler/younger child does are universal experiences. As kids get older, the experiences become more specific...more personal. And, there are limits to what I feel comfortable sharing with the world. One day my kids will apply for jobs and upon googling them their prospective employer will find many, many online images and stories. I feel compelled more and more to curate those stories. So, there is that...

Then, there are the technical reasons why it is harder to photograph your older kids...in Canada, right now, it gets dark at about 4:30pm. My kids get home from school just before 4:00pm. Some days even later...especially Jack who will stay out and explore or stay after school for activities. They simply aren't with me during daylight hours anymore. It is a sad reality that just goes to prove how fast time flies. Arriving at that conclusion helped me to decide to make my weekends more my own and charge a premium for my sessions on those days. My weekends are my family time now. And, I want more than ever to document my own kids again. And, spend time with them while I can.

These were taken this weekend while hiking in Kananaskis. Jack didn't really want to go. He would have preferred to stay indoors doing his solitary thing...he isn't good at transitions, but once you get him there, he enjoys what he is doing. That coat is too small and we keep meaning to buy him a new one. He is wearing sweats and his ugly boots, but that is my boy. My in-between boy...somewhere between being a child and being a teenager. I love him so...

~ Dana