Just a quick note to say that I donated a $500 gift certificate to the silent auction at an awesome event coming up this weekend!!! Thinking of having  a session with me?? Want to do it while we all give back??? Call and get your tickets!! And, make sure to say hi to me!! I”ll be there dancing up a storm after a long day of shooting

**Fundraising event in honor of The Epilepsy Association of Calgary**
 OKOTOKS ROCKS EPILEPSY

Saturday October 3rd, 2009   8p.m.
Elks 31 Club   62 Elizabeth St.  Okotoks
- Live Band
- DJ
- Silent Auction
- Fun Money Casino Tables
- Late lunch catered by Hansel and Gretal Catering and Okotoks Sobeys

Tickets are $20.00 each

Contact: okotoksrocksepilepsy@gmail.com for tickets or get them at the door.

I used to  put up sneak peeks for all my clients. Well, things have changed and now by the time I get a session up on the blog, the clients have already had their gallery and seen their images. ~sigh~ Last night, I posted a solitary image as a sneak peek on my Facebook group…and I got to thinking. Why don’t I post an image there every few days…like a mini sneak peek except on Facebook??? Soooo, if you would like to see my work–hot off the presses–become my fan on facebook!!! Go here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Short-and-Sweet-Photography-by-Dana-Pugh/59505282776?ref=ts Tonight, I’m going to post this image on there!! This client currently has their gallery so technically, not a sneak peek…but a sneak peek of a blog post yet to come!!! Enjoy!!

I’m getting a lot of requests for maternity images right now!!! It seems like Calgary is going to go through another baby boom This lovely family booked both their maternity and their newborn session with me–which I love!! Because I love coming back for a visit when the baby arrives. And, I cannot wait for this one to come along! Baby is bound to be cute–just look at the parents!!! It was a warm fall evening(which is the only kind we’ve really had so far, isn’t it???) and the light was phenomenal. These guys were troopers marching through weeds and prickly bushes to get to the just the right spots!!!  I certainly wasn’t disappointed!!! Love the light and the colors and the connection between these two lovebirds!! Can’t wait to add a baby to the mix!

This family session was one of my favorite sessions of all time. I love how their outfits were casual and colorful and completely THEM. I love how comfortable I felt the second I walked in the door of their gorgeous house(it really was, you’ll have to trust me on that one). And, I could have played with their children all day(I think I stayed 2 and a half hours–oops!)–they were fun and quirky and so easy going. I can’t wait to go back and see them again(they did say something about perhaps having a skiing session!!! First biking then skiing!! How fabulous would that be???).

I had such a hard time narrowing down images for their gallery, let alone a blog post…so I put together a slideshow of some of my favorites. Let me know in the comments if you prefer this to my giant collage of images I have been doing. This gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect from an at home session with me. Except there were even more images!!!

 

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a couple of days mentoring studio photographer, Shannon Kellestine, from Red Lake, Ontario. She is looking at trying to step out of the studio and wanted to witness how us ‘lifestyle’ photographers work. Most of all she wanted to watch me work. Luckily, I knew just the people to ask–this little boy goes to school with Jack and they have the most awesome playhouse in their backyard. I knew I had to shoot there…and I knew I needed a new lens.

Now I know what you are all thinking. Photographers are all about the gear and are always eyeing up one thing or another(that is partially true as I do have a long wish list–next up underwater housing…), but I have known that I needed this lens for some time. I truly believe that your gear is just an extension of your personality and some people need certain lenses to help that translate into their work. If you have had a session with me–you know I am all about the simplicity. I usually use one lens…sometimes I will pop on another one, but mostly, I have one lens that lives on my camera. Not anymore…I knew I needed a fisheye–in my gut. Deep in my gut despite what people were telling me that it was not a lens that I would use much and certainly not for kid’s photography…well, I was right. I love that lens. It is helping me capture the world as I see it. And, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

The other thing that I loved about this session was the fact that it was at their home, in their world…I am soooooo loving capturing that right now. A more documentary approach than even I have been doing in the past…it’s moving that way. I am loving capturing families and kids as they are. In their own element. 

These beautiful kids and their beautiful playhouse have a wonderfully witty, intelligent mother who has a momblog. It’s called ‘Parenting Without a License’ and is so worth a read!! I hope you all love the images! I am crazy for them!!!

We are busy getting back into the swing of things here in Pughville. Georgia, on her first day of preschool. She is officially choosing her own outfits. That jacket is one that I got on sale from Crew Cuts(one of my favorite catalogs) and I have begged her and begged her to wear. She decides to wear it to school. At least she didn’t paint anything that day. I am looking at it as a good sign that perhaps she will one day wear it for the photo session in my head that it was intended for…a photographer can dream, can’t they???

This spring, I received an email out of the blue from a young girl I once knew…well, she was a young girl when I knew her. So was I. She is now a mom with three young kids of her own…but, once upon a time, she was a young girl with whom I dug tunnels through snow banks, played baseball at the tot lot, and walked to school with. Of course, time passes and you fall out of touch. It was such a treat to get an email from her and to hear all about her family. It was even better to actually meet them all and have the opportunity to spend an evening documenting her life today. There were sooooo many great images, I had such a hard time narrowing down a blog post. What a beautiful family–and such a gorgeous night!!!

I hope this post brightens up the day of my number one fan(my mom)…she had a rough weekend. She, too, remembers the little girl from through the tot lot. I thought I would take a moment to give an update on my mom’s condition…she is still undergoing treatment(for bladder cancer, in case you didn’t read that post). The outcome has always been very positive and we are now in the preventative measure stage. We cannot wait to be in the ‘clear and free’ stage sometime next year. Thank you all for the emails, the comments and the facebook messages. We feel lucky and grateful for your love and support.

Another Edmonton family…well, not for long!! This family is moving far away and wanted some images to leave with family and friends until they return! What a fun family!!! We did the session at Fort Edmonton and I called it Lewis and Clark because whenever their parents call them–that’s what it sounds like to me! Lewis and Clark don’t go too far!! Lewis and Clark time for a cookie!!!

For fun, the mom brought along these fake moustaches and the kids had such fun playing the ‘villian’ role(I think mom and dad got into it quite a bit as well)! And then we had a quick change before we hit up the old fashioned fair for some fun…as you can tell by the last image, I wore the kids out. I stuck that in there because to me…well, that is parenthood. We can’t all be happy ALL OF THE TIME…right?

Thanks for the gingersnap, the lemonade and the wagon ride(I know my job is REALLY tough). Best of luck to you as you head off on your adventure!!

PS–I wanted to add that I picked my winner in the engagement session contest. I can’t wait to share their story as it is AWESOME!!! but I have decided to wait and share it with their images!!! Thanks to everyone who entered!!! Have an awesome weekend!!

Okay…my neighbour shared these with  me as for the first time in FOREVER we missed the Folk Fest…Michael Bernard Fitzgerald was one of her favorite things I have known for a long time that wonderful people come out of Calgary. Here’s the proof I love him. If he reads this can he please put out a record that I can buy. Please.

Can I say how much I love this time of year?? All of my old clients coming back to see me again. It’s like getting visits with old friends

Can I also say that I have a general rule to say no to large family sessions? It’s true. I do. Well, I did. I said yes for these past clients of mine who are always a treat to see. And, I’m so glad that I did!! Just a casual walk through their neighbourhood with a stop for ice cream and photos What a great way to spend a morning!! And, they got images of them being a family–all the love and the chaos that comes with that.

If you follow my blog, you are now guessing how far behind I am on the whole blogging thing as I posted a couple of these once before–quite awhile ago!! I promise to start catching up!!! I’m in August now–which is good…I know it’s September now, but still…it’s only a month