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

Last night on Facebook, my good friend, Nashville photographer Mandy Johnson, posted that she had a wish to do a camping session. I got to thinking how I never had shared this session. I also got to thinking about how lucky I was to have clients who are willing to do stuff like this. Stuff that is outside the box. Stuff that requires a wee bit more effort than simply getting dressed and showing up. I think it was worth it

That was the biggest share I’ve done in awhile If you are camping in Kananaskis this summer and would love to have your family photographs done while you are out there, just give me a shout. I’d love to do it for you.

~ Dana

Of course, I told him that the scrap piece of paper would do. I said, heck…a hug would do I don’t need anything. I have everything I could ever want. And, that’s true. Don’t get me wrong…diamonds are nice, but this year I just want to spend the day with my kids eating rolled up pancakes, working in the garden and jumping on the trampoline.

I guess I’m like most moms. We like the special gifts that dads sometimes surprise us with, but the little scrap pieces of paper with the special notes get framed or tucked away in a special drawer with other memories of our kid’s childhood. We know that those moments of childhood slip away and the gift is in the living them.

This is the part where I say that a family photography session would make an excellent gift for a mom…and, it’s true. It would. Especially grandmothers…they love that stuff But, I don’t want to diminish the handmade jars, the footprints in clay, or the sweet poems your children will give you on Sunday. Those are the real gifts…but, I would like to photograph some of those wee moments of you and your children so that you have those memories locked in a single frame. Printed on a wall or in a book for generations to come. So, dads…don’t be caught at the card store on Saturday night. There won’t be anything there for you anyways. Give me a call and we will truly give her a gift she’ll cherish. After all–how do you compete with those scrap pieces of paper and the breakfast in bed that your kids will make?

~ Dana

PS–If your wife loves to take pictures, you might consider my next class on photographic storytelling. It is online and there is a payment link right from the blog post–in case you don’t make it to the card store at all.

Truly.

So, I’m putting out some hopes and dreams of mine in the hopes that some incredible families will hire me to fulfill their photographic dreams.

I want to shoot more underwater images–maternity, families, babies…I wanna see more light down there. For the first two people to book a pool session with me(in Calgary), I will PAY the pool rental fee. That is how badly I want it. And, now that the warm weather is here–don’t you want it, too?

I would also love to visit people in their family spaces. I have been lucky this year to be invited out to people’s cabins, to come along with them while camping, to go for a hike in the mountains with them. I want to do more of this and to do more I need some AMAZINGLY AWESOME FAMILIES to email me and tell me their photography dreams. What is the one picture you are dying to have of your family, but were too afraid to ask? I want to take it for you.

My family is planning a month long cross Canada adventure next summer(2014–east)…we are going all the way out to the maritimes and back in July(although I’ll also be on the west coast in June 2014). My dream is to document Canadian families all across the way. From farms in Saskatchewan, to lake living in Ontario, to kissing a cod in Newfoundland…I want to see how Canadians live. I’m dreaming that people will want to hire me to photograph that. So, think about that…you have over a year to mull it over

I have also been dreaming about documenting my own family more. I find that most of the photographers who document their family lives have wee babies. Cute, little toddlers who will wear what you put them in and look cute even when they are acting badly. It is hard to find photographers who are documenting their kids as they begin to enter their teens and beyond. I think that this is because it is difficult to do. They think you are dorky. They want to run the other direction when you pull out your camera. Or worse-pose like they are on some weird reality television show. So, I’m challenging myself to document my family life for 5 minutes every day(or almost every day–I will not be upset at myself if I miss a day here and there after all THAT is what family life is all about).  I am embracing the imperfection of this time in my life so they are not perfect images. I’ll show whatever I get that speaks to me for whatever teeny little reason within that 5 minutes. Very little editing. Very little judgement. I’m calling it ‘The 5 Minute Project’‘ and have started posting the results on our family blog if you want to follow along.

I have so much work to share with you that I don’t even know where to begin…I’m finding it harder and harder to get stuff up on the blog. Not because I don’t like chatting/sharing with you all, but just because I am trying to spend more time LIVING my life than in front of a camera or a computer. I’ll try to share more now that the sun is starting to bless us with it’s presence.

~ Dana

PS–and I would love it if you shared my dreams with any families that you think might connect with them thank you for your love and support over the last 6 years.

These were taken in the front yard of the house we rented in Belize. It was the day we harvested coconuts for fun. The son of the caretaker showed us the proper way to do everything.

Just a couple of notes…first, I am teaching a class on Storytelling With Images through the month of June. You must be able to take pictures on full manual, but that is the only prerequisite. If you are a professional or a parent, you are welcome to join us. The class will be project based and there will be an opportunity to purchase the chance to shoot for an evening with Dana. During the evening shoot, she will cover sun flare and shooting into the sun. Here is a link to details on the class(make sure to share it with your friends):

http://shortandsweetphotography.ca/2013/02/online-photography-classes-for-parents/

The second note is regarding scheduling. Warm days are here again so I am excited to get out and document some families playing in the sunshine(and the water–hoping for some water sessions this year). I still have a couple of spots left for May. June and July have quite a bit of space still, but August and September are quickly filling up. They have never before filled this early, so if you are hoping for a session during that time period, I advise you to book sooner rather than later as I’m afraid for the first time, I may run out of space. This also means that I won’t be doing mini sessions this year during the fall as my priority will have to be my signature session clients. I’m sure you all understand

feels like a good day to get a slurpee….

~ Dana

Three award winning images. Yay for underwater work Yay for maternity work(I love it so). And, yay for my beautiful little girl(one of my favourite images from the last year). I am humbled by the talented company amongst the award winners.

Thank you,

Dana

If you are Canadian, you are probably wondering ‘seniors’? Hello? What? Well…in the USA, grade 12 seniors often have their own photo sessions to celebrate their graduation. Their parents will even buy full page spreads in the year book to showcase said images. Um, what? Right? Canadians are so behind the times hahahaha…when I first heard about seniors photography, I thought I’d be shooting in a nursing home. hahahaha. nope. And, Sarah Lane(who is unbelievably sweet and kind), is the queen of seniors so it was fun to work with her. Even if no one will ever hire me for a senior’s session! Check out this cute location and sweet couple.

Thought we could use a break from the underwater stuff. I promise to share more Belize images on my blog and, eventually, I’ll add a Belize slideshow to my world images gallery.

Oh! And, I’m off to Vancouver for the Canada Photo Convention. I know–ANOTHER TRIP–well, this is it for awhile, so soon I’ll be all caught up and able to blog more(at least that’s what I’ll tell myself).

~ Dana

~ Dana

* just because I get asked all of the time, I am adding that I have a professional underwater housing that holds my 5D Mark II.

While on vacation, I was also thinking lots about using your images to tell a story. Mostly because I have an online class coming up on the subject…I created a beautiful little story with these images…and another set with a coconut. I will be using them in the class I go back and forth on teaching and whether I will continue doing it or not. The truth is…I learn so much while teaching that I sometimes wonder who’s getting more out of it But, something wonderful has happened in the last couple of years….a sort of freedom from caring what other people think–that’s always held me back a lot truth be told. In all aspects of life, but especially when it came to the idea of teaching. And, so here I am…I feel like I am on the edge waiting to jump into the unknown. And, I’m excited…whatever it brings. So, if you would like to join me in my class here are the details: http://shortandsweetphotography.ca/2013/02/online-photography-classes-for-parents/ I say that it is for parents, but really it is open to anyone who can shoot on full manual. Email me if you have any questions

I promise to share more from Belize and from recent sessions and from Charleston(did you know I was there–well, I was)…in the coming weeks…

~ Dana

~ Dana