So, this is the one image I took in Vegas. That’s me and my roommates at WPPI(wedding and portrait photographers international–the convention). The amazing Ashley Skjaveland and the incomparable, Alicia Price. Both woman I am honored to call friends. Lucky me I had such an incredible trip. Found some great new products to offer all of you. Got some inspiration at some great classes. And, best of all, met so many incredible photographers my head is still spinning. Too many to list here. Actually, a couple I have even listed in my friday’s favorites before. We danced, we ate, we ~ahem~ shared a cocktail or two…a few of us(lucky few) were treated to a private performance by the incredible Amy Seeley. If she is not on your playlist run out and add her this instant. My favorite song is ‘I’ve Got Ideas’. I can(and have) listen to it on repeat. I love it that much.

One of the real treats was meeting Sarah and Chris Rhoads who are wonderfully authentic in everything that they do. A trait I truly cherish. So, they will be my featured blog today. AND, it is a real treat, because it is the first horizontal blog. Super duper unique and cool(like the two of them). Check them out and add them to your bloglines or your google reader(however you roll).

AND…COMING SOON…more about the birth I promise. So, do not email me. I promise more is coming. I’ll even include some technical information. I can only move so fast people. Some times I have to stop for imaginary tea with Georgia. Happy Friday!!!!

Must be the weather But, I wanted to share a recent fave. I call it The Time Machine and it’s from my new favorite location.

Friday’s favorites…who have I been loving lately..hmmmm…Amelia Lyon the last two blog posts are AMAZING…check her out And, have a good weekend.

Hi there!!! Just a quick note to share the news that I just opened a facebook page for Short and Sweet! I know you all want to become a fan so here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=580812422&ref=profile#/pages/Short-and-Sweet-Photography-by-Dana-Pugh/59505282776?ref=nf

Oh! And, just cause I thought I would share this awesome blog about Bento boxes…check it out:

Anna The Red Bento Factory

My son is a huge Calvin and Hobbes fan and I thought this was the greatest.

Just a quick share…have a nice weekend!!!

Does this image look familiar? It should…That is the fabulous Miss S gracing the cover of Calgary’s Birthing magazine. I have a pile of copies, so if anyone is interested in one and hasn’t been able to find it around town, just let me know!

So, I am adding a new category. A casting call category. There are some things that I am looking for to help me feed some of my creative juices and instead of waiting for them to come to me, I am going to actively search them out. Right now, I am looking for a maternity couple with multiple tattoos. Willing to let me photograph them and also willing to let me use the photographs on my site and in my advertising. So, you’d have to be willing to do that. Keep in mind, that maternity images are best done around the 32 week mark. In return, I will waive my session fee(currently, $200) and give you one 11×14 of my favorite shot of the session. Here’s the thing, in this case, you will have to send me images of your tattoos. I’m going to be picky. Mostly because I have this certain vision in my head and I don’t want to settle for anything less. ha! So, if you know of anyone, please have them contact me. Thanks.

On to my favorite blogs…who to show you? hmmmm…I’m not sure. oh okay…I’ll show you a new discovery. Someone I really love because of the way her photographs feel…she has me wondering if she shoots film. I am having a longing to move onto film which is weird, but the feel of it is so….well, dreamy. I might even begin a personal project that involves film. Anyways, Gemma Booth….lovely, dreamy images with a whole lot of kitsch. Which I love most of all. Happy Friday.

This is why I must hire others to photograph us.

Enough already mom!!! Seriously???? What kind of mother drags her kids out into a snowstorm to take pictures???? I want ice cream. And, I want it now. Forget the pictures.

 Yes, that’s how it went. Yes, that was about 30 minutes ago. We are fine now. Still demanding ice cream, but painting while we mumble it under our breath. Still no Christmas card image. Oh well. Who was I kidding anyways? And, I have an even better idea than cards… you’ll have to wait and see.

So, on with the whole favorites part of the post(not that shooting my own kids isn’t one of my favorite things). Erin Vey and her unbelievable images of the most beautiful dogs I have ever seen. Her image today with the saying ‘Peace, Love and Flying Lips’ is awesome. Man, she makes me want to have a dog so that she can come and take it’s picture If I did get a dog–it would be a golden doodle. Because her recent session with one melted my heart. And BELIEVE me it takes a lot to do that in this wintery weather up here. So, run over and check out Erin Vey. Beware of the inexplicable urge to purchase a pet while looking at her work.

I have missed doing this for quite a few weeks…well, I’m back. Today a couple of favorites. I’ve been etsy shopping lately. It’s that time of year where homemade gifts make such wonderful presents, but I don’t have the time to make them, so ESTY!!! I used to have something just like this when I was small. The kids are each getting one in their stockings. Find it here at Sweet Darlin’ Ranch ummm…I didn’t take these images. I got them from her esty shop. Hope she doesn’t mind.

I’m actually going to include a blog here as well today! Yipee…I’m on a roll!!! I often get asked to shoot weddings which I promptly turn down(bar a few weak moments this past year that will not soon be repeated). I do this for a couple of reasons. Mostly, because I honestly believe that people cannot be good at everything and right now I know that I am not good at wedding photography. Maybe one day I’ll change my mind, but not today. So, I usually suggest my good friend, Brittney Staddon who does not have a website(Brit get on that will you?), but when she does I’ll put it up in my links. Recently though, I met a Calgary wedding photographer whose work I adore…and, he is pretty neato mosquito himself. So, I have also started referring him as well. So, today–his blog will get a nod. Wei Quek and Photobolic I think he loves flare almost as much as me

Soon…new images! Promise!

Here it is Friday!!! And, as promised, I blogged every day this week! Phew. Don’t get used to it. That about wore me out. See this little guy–looking up at me like I’m completely crazy(which I am). That look about sums up the last couple of days So, an update–who knew I’d get so many emails about hockey? Who knew?! Seriously people…Jack is doing great. He has declared that he is not going to quit and the other day he actually got quite a bit better. I expect him to be skating well in about three weeks time. Thanks for the encouragement. I bought english muffins to make my famous egg sandwiches for breakfast on hockey mornings. So, that would be tomorrow. It’s so early it’s even before my shoot!!! Oh, I’m also going to be a fashionable hockey mom as I bought a gorgeous teal thermos for my lattes. Don’t laugh.

Georgia, on the other hand, has decided no ballet for her. WHAT HAPPENED?!!! Who knows. She’ll change her mind next week. She’s such a girl. I’ve taken to bribing her lately. First, it started out with going swimming(which is her favorite activity and my least favorite). Now it has degraded into promises of ice cream and candy necklaces. Soon, I’ll be promising trips to Disneyland. Okay, maybe not Disneyland, but the Disney store has come up(and the little costume she wants for halloween). And, I’m not a briber. I tell you all not to bribe your kids at sessions with me. Well…desperate times people. Desperate times.

 And, inspiration…this week Black Eiffel turned me on to Anna Wolf. It’s love. Seriously. If you go to her ‘lifestyle’ portfolio and see the little mini with the pink Christmas tree you’ll understand when I say this: Anyone out there with a mini, a VW bug, or a wood panelled station wagon willing to put a sparkly tree on it’s roof gets a free session with me. I’m dying for a shot like that(well, inspired like that but done my way). So, I’ll waive the session fee…there might even be some hot chocolate in it for you. Spread the word

********ETA: after a few comments regarding how thin the women on Anna’s site are, I had to add that I in no way condone starving one’s self for fashion. And, even though I am in a constant struggle with myself to get to a healthy weight(goodness knows I am nowhere near that now), I do encourage people to be happy whatever their body size. Being a photographer, the one thing I have learned is that people(women especially) of all sizes do not see their true beauty. They only see their faults. I might see the love for their child in their expression in a certain image, but I guarantee they will only ever see their double chin. Or their aging wrinkles. Or their greying hair. It is a gift to see that all people do have beauty. I just hope that I am able to capture it for others to see if they cannot see it themselves.

I do however highly condone dressing cool and carrying a pink christmas tree. Or a skateboard.

…and some notes about availability. Right now, I am working at about a three week time period to get up galleries. With that in mind, the following are my last dates that are available for Christmas delivery:

September 28th, October 5th, October 26th, November 1st and 2nd. After that, I cannot guarantee prints to be delivered before Christmas. I can try but there is absolutely no guarantee. And, for things like albums, that first weekend in November is pushing it. I do still have availability for my ‘Short and Sweet’ sessions downtown on October 18th as well.

*If you are pregnant and looking for maternity images or newborn images, I can fit you in on Tuesdays during the day. So, even though I’m looking booked–don’t hesitate to call

Now that that’s out of the way, a blog…a design blog. http://www.designspongeonline.com/ I am digging design blogs lately(pass some on to me if you know of any good ones!). Makes me constantly want to redecorate. My husband is not fond of this.

And, uh…what did I do last night? Well, it was the first time I went to a rock concert where there was a little old lady rocking out the whole night a couple of rows behind me. And, maybe a row or two in front of me…and, oh yeah, I could see a few on the floor as well. My favorite song of the night–well, aside from the obvious choice–was this one:

Happy Friday!

I saw this on Brenda’s blog http://brendaacuncius.typepad.com/my_weblog/ and I rolled on the floor laughing, so despite the fact that I was going to post a design blog, I decided to post The Heart of The Matter…always a good read and beautiful images. Happy Friday…

I hate to see you go. I wasn’t ready for autumn wind to blow…this song makes me think of the lovely Sheye Rosemeyer. Beautiful images. Beautiful words.

Calgary…today I feel like saying ‘Goodbye Summer’…man, autumn is here with a vengence.