The National Music Centre | Calgary Photographer

Urban Adventure

It is Canada's 150th Birthday this year and so I thought it would be a great time to share with you all of my favourite things right here in my own backyard. I feel so lucky to be a Canadian, but feel even luckier to live in the Calgary area. There are so many amazing places that it is hard to know where to start. So, I thought I'd start with a newer attraction to the city--The National Music Centre. 

Now, of course, the building itself is one of the most beautiful in the city. It is worth a visit just to admire the architecture(if you are into that sort of thing--which I am). But, it is so much more than just a pretty building. There are interactive displays, museum like exhibits, and regular performances. They have a Kimball Theatre Organ on the 3rd floor. There are demonstrations of it Wednesday thru Sunday at 3:00pm and I highly recommend scheduling yourselves to be there for that demonstration. We have seen it more than once and have enjoyed it each time. 

If you are also local to the Calgary area, consider getting an annual pass. This allows you to received notification of cool opportunities to experience music at the centre. I saw that there is an After Hours event on March 24th that looks super cool--open to adults only. Might make for a fun night out. 

While you are there, consider getting a coffee at Rosso--one of the best coffee houses in the city. It's located in the lobby. Or, if it's a warm day and you are willing to walk just a couple of minutes, maybe you want to head on down to the Village Ice Cream shoppe and indulge in some of the best ice cream in the city. It would be a great way to end an awesome downtown adventure.

~ Dana

Baby Studio Session | Okotoks Photography Studio

There is always such a rush to get maternity and newborn photographs. And, for good reason. Those moments are fleeting. They rush by in a blur of doctor's appointments and sleepless nights. A baby is only a newborn for such a brief window, that many people actually miss getting those portraits. They don't realize that newborn photographs are best booked by due date so that they can be sure to leave space for them before the moment passes them by. If you are an expectant mother looking to book a professional photographer, it is best to contact a photographer before you hit 32-34 weeks. This way, you can take advantage of any maternity photography specials that they'll offer to their newborn clients. Maternity photographs best happen at 32-34 weeks. You can also get in their schedule for your newborn session. They'll give you information on how to prepare for that session ahead of time, so that once baby arrives, preparation for the session is at a minimum.

All of that said, 6-9 month portraits...those are my favourite. This is how you will remember your baby. The big happy grins, the chubby cheeks, and the pure joy at just being with mom and dad. I'd like to say that you'd be better slept, but the truth is, you'll probably just be better at managing your lack of sleep. You'll be hitting your stride with parenting and these moments are worth capturing for your family just as much as those itty bitty newborn toes. Many photographers offer 'first year' type of packages for their newborn clients. If this is something that interests you, please ask!!! All of my newborn clients are eligible for a 6-9 month session in studio for a flat rate of $500(+gst). That includes the session and the digital files. I thought today, I'd share with you a sample of what one of those sessions looks like. This is wee baby Wren and her amazing parents. I have photographed this family starting at their wedding all the way through to these portraits. They are what I call one of my 'legacy families'. Watching families grow is one of the greatest joys of my life. 

So, bring my all of your babies!!! I'd love to see them in the studio or in your home. Contact me for more details. 

~ Dana

This Little Light of Mine

I love my clients. 

I got a studio so that I could try new things...explore and play. Lots of other photographers kept asking me what my plan was...no plan I'd say. I mean...I had PLANS but that was the plan--no plan. hahahahaha. Just to try and get back to my roots. Back to those days when I used to ask my clients to do things and I'd take risks that maybe wouldn't pay off, but maybe they would. I figured that now that I had years of experience behind me, I'd have a better chance of pulling off some of those risks. How's that for honesty? hahahahahaha. I often don't know what the outcome will be...for me, it is a journey. A process. And, we work through it together. And, in the end, the images are a collaboration. 

I am not a poser...I had to say that. I mean, I make teeny adjustments from time to time, but mostly, I give you a task and the 'pose' is a result of that. I felt the need to say that in light of a slew of comments on Instagram about one particular pose from this set. It made me chuckle because...not a pose. A cuddle. That's all ;)

I simply cannot wait to meet this wee little one.

And...if you check out the section of my website called 'For Photographers' you will see that I am teaching a class all about taking risks ;)

Love,

Dana

Calgary Fall Family Session

This was the last session of the fall this year. We could literally see the first winter storm coming. We could feel the leaves being whipped off the trees. It made for a wonderful night for family photos in all honesty! I mean--look at that sky :) 

I had to include the first two because that sign saying 'no girls allowed except for his beloved sister Kamble'--utter perfection to me.