Barrie Cake Smash Photographer
Everley | North Bay/Callander Newborn & Family Photographer
Oh, do I have a blog post for you today! I swear, I thought I’d shared these sessions when they happened (ages ago now!) But it appears I did not! I’ve got to admit, I’m feeling a little sentimental looking through all of these sessions that I haven’t shared yet. I’m very quickly realizing that some of the best friendships I’ve stumbled across over the years first began as clients. These fine folks are a perfect example of that!
Many years ago, before they were even married (when I was still offering wedding photography… I no longer do), I was contacted by a potential client who wanted to “try me out” before committing to hiring me for something as important as a wedding day. I met up with them not long later for a family session, and the rest is history! I’ve since photographed pretty much every major life event for these guys, and in the process, my family has fallen in love with their family. 😛
So today, as I contemplate the fact that in 29 more days we will be moving to Callander, I would like to say THANK YOU to this family for their years of loyalty to my business and valued friendship to my family. Here is Everley’s story!
Back in the Fall of 2017, I was entrusted with a little envelope that held the secret that every parent is usually DYING to find out (whether baby is a boy or a girl!) Mama dropped the envelope off to me and I set to work, cutting out thousands of little pink (and blue, to fool them when I showed them the bags) pieces of confetti, which I mixed with sparkles for a fun reveal. The absolute BEST part about this gender reveal was Spencer’s reaction to finding out he was having ANOTHER baby sister!
A few months later, I was honoured to capture some of my favourite maternity images of all time for this family! By then, Spencer was starting to come around to the idea that he was going to have another baby sister…
By the time this little gal arrived, I was about a week or two away from moving out of our old home and into our current home (I know, I know, I move a lot…I promise this move is the LAST move for a long while!) Anyhow, because my studio was all packed up in boxes, I decided to pack up what I could and head on over to them for an in-home session, which turned out to be a mish-mash of my usual studio style, infused with some lifestyle elements using their home as a backdrop. I loved how it turned out! And also, check out how SMITTEN Spencer was with his brand new baby sister! My heart melted!
Before we all knew it, time (as it does) flew right on by and we were planning for Everley’s first birthday portraits! Her parents requested lavender and teal on dark grey and I LOOOVED how it turned out! Anyhow, I’ve mentioned a few times this week, but I will again for anyone who missed it… I am relocating to Callander, Ontario, as of May 30, 2019. I will be accepting bookings in the North Bay/Callander area as of June, 2019. If you’re in the Barrie area and are interested in booking an in-studio session (outdoor evening sessions for May are now full) then please contact me using the contact page on this website or by emailing info@raindancephoto.ca, as I have availability up until May 23rd.
Raindance Photography is Callander and North Bay’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Callander, North Bay, Midland, and Penetanguishene since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
Ethan’s Cake Smash | Barrie Baby, Child, & Family Photographer
As I gear up to meet this sweet family again next week for their annual family portraits, I realized that I never blogged little Ethan’s first birthday portraits! I mean, he just turned two last month so I’m only a LITTLE behind the ball on this one, right!? 😛
I’ve had the honour of working with this family since big brother was just a teeny little guy and was thrilled to be able to document Ethan’s maternity and newborn portraits (which you can see HERE) as well.
Last year, his Mama asked me for a super simple cake smash (my absolute FAVOURITE) and I was so thrilled with how it turned out! I’ve been helping so many little ones celebrate first birthdays lately – if you’re interested in a cake smash, donut smash, spaghetti smash, fruit smash, or ANYTHING ELSE you can dream up to help your little one celebrate their first birthday – send me an email, I’d love to help you create this awesomeness! 🙂
For now, here’s Ethan and his sweet little family! 🙂
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, North Bay, Midland, and Penetanguishene since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
2018 Shoot & Share Results | Barrie Portrait Photographer
For the last two years, I can credit the Shoot & Share Competition as the driving force behind much of my renewed inspiration, determination, and motivation to keep the creative juices flowing and business moving forward. Usually, by the end of each year, my inspiration is running at an all time low, so the timing of this International Competition is perfect – submissions start in January, voting happens in February-March, and then by the time the results are released mid-end of March I am SO PUMPED with inspiration that I cannot WAIT to take the jumble and mish mash of ideas and inspiration that the contest has infused into me and apply it to all of my client sessions in the year ahead.
Inspiration was my main purpose for entering the contest – the results that followed were humbling and so very exciting for me! This year, there were over 412,000 images submitted by thousands of photographers worldwide. Each round, thousands of images were removed, leaving only the top performing images still remaining in the contest. Here is a statistical image to break it down for you:
Last year, I did well enough to be happy. This year, I had three finalist images, and a boat load of the rest of my images placed in the Top 10, 20, and 30% (and out of over 412,000 submissions, I think that’s pretty darned awesome!)
I promised that I would show you all which images were my top performing in the 2018 Shoot & Share Competition – here they are! Most of them are from client sessions in 2017 – scroll through and see if there are any from YOUR session! 🙂
To see 1st to 20th place winners from this years’ competition – CLICK HERE
My top performing image was from the Passion Portraits category of sweet old Nikita on her last day before crossing the Rainbow Bridge. I was so happy to see how well this one did – I will be blogging Nikita’s session very soon! Watch for it!
Iris | Barrie Baby Photographer
Happy, smiley little Iris came to visit me to celebrate her very first birthday a little while back. She wasn’t too sure at first, but it didn’t take long for her to warm up. And when she did… my goodness, those dimples were just the sweetest!
There are so many different options for first birthday portraits now! Some clients choose to keep things simple, some choose to have a cake smash, some choose a donut smash, and some go with apples (I can’t WAIT to share THAT blog!) 😉 If you have a little one turning 11 or 12 months old in the next month and are just looking for a few simple and beautiful portraits, I have a fabulous promotion going on right now. Click HERE to learn more and snag your session!
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing Barrie, Orillia, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Midland, and Penetanguishene since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
2017 Client Appreciation Contest | Barrie Photography Studio
I look forward to this moment from the very beginning of the year each year! There is nothing I love more than being able to host the Client Appreciation Contest as a big huge “Thank You” to every one of the clients who chooses to hire me each year. You could have chosen any one of a massive quantity of other photographers in this area, but you didn’t. You chose me, and for that, I am truly thankful!
So, in appreciation, each year I host this end of the year contest where you have an opportunity to win everything from an entirely free session to gift cards, canvas, and a mounted print!
So, What Are These Prizes!?
Grand Prize (Winner selected via random.org) – Complimentary All Inclusive Portrait Session ($960 Value)
Secondary Prize 1 – $200 Gift Certificate to use towards any Raindance Photography service. I’m always really excited about Secondary Prize 1, as it is chosen by the Grand prize winner! The Grand Prize winner will be required to go through the entries and select which one they think most deserves this prize!
Secondary Prize 2 (Winner calculated by number of Facebook Votes Received) – 16×20 Gallery Wrap Canvas (1″) of the entry submitted.
Secondary Prize 3 (Winner calculated by number of Facebook Votes Received) – 16×20 Mounted Wall Print of the entry submitted.
Secondary Prize 4 (Winner calculated by number of Facebook Votes Received) – $100 Gift Certificate to use towards any Raindance Service.
How Do We Enter?
- Choose 1 favourite image from your session(s) with me in 2017.
- Tell me WHY it is your favourite image! (In one paragraph or less)
Entering this year couldn’t be easier. Just CLICK HERE and fill out the form, upload your image, and press “submit!”
Deadline for submissions is January 7, 2018, at midnight.
When Will Voting Begin?
The Contest Album will be uploaded to Facebook on Monday December 18, 2017. Voting will run until January 8, 2018, at midnight. Winners will be announced on January 9, 2018, via the Raindance Photography Blog.
Sweet & Simple First Birthday Portraits | Barrie Baby Photographer
Some people love bright and bold colours to celebrate their little one’s first birthday, and others prefer a more sweet and simple approach. A while back, I was in HEAVEN when this little lady’s Mama told me that she wanted a very simple, all white set with a single clear/white balloon… and when she brought in this amazingly simple cake and fresh greens to accent the set, I was in LOVE!
We’re moving in to that time of year when newborns, babies in their first year, and little one’s celebrating first birthdays dominate my calendar… if you have a little one celebrating a birthday over the Winter, and would like to recreate this beautiful, timeless, and simple set to commemorate their first birthdays, please contact me soon (especially if you’re looking for something in February or April, my schedule is filling surprisingly quickly for those months!)
Feel free to check out my packages HERE. And if you’re ready to book your session, click HERE. I can’t wait to hear from you! 🙂
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
Why do I Love my Job? | Barrie Baby Photographer
I get asked frequently (usually during newborn sessions), how I have so much patience for doing what I do. If you’ve ever witnessed a newborn session, you know that the vast majority of the time there is a lot of rocking, feeding, soothing, shushing, crouching, breath holding, sweating, cleaning up poop, more rocking, more soothing, more feeding…. very slowly wrapping and unwrapping babies so that they stay asleep so that I can mould them and pose them just so…. very carefully positioning little hands and feet perfectly and p.a.i.n.f.u.l.l.y slowly removing my hands to take my shot… Many of these sessions last anywhere from 2-4 hours, and I’ve watched so many parents wonder how I could possibly want to do that 2 or 3 times a week (or ever, lol).
The truth is, I LOVE what I do. If all I ever did was newborn sessions for the rest of my life, I would be one happy girl! There is literally NOTHING more satisfying than being able to freeze this time forever for tired new parents to look back on when their little one has grown faster than they ever imagined. By the time they see their images for the first time, a few weeks after their session, already their baby has changed so much. I love documenting flaky little overcooked fingers and toes, fuzzy ears, delicate little eyelashes, milk bubbles on sleepy little lips, the way a new baby curls back to the way they were in the womb… I could go on…
What’s even MORE fascinating to me than the newborn session alone though? Getting to watch that new tiny human grow! It usually feels like I just blink, and before I know it I’m doing a one year session for a newborn client. It’s during these one year sessions that the reason for what I do is really driven home. To see how much a human being changes and grows and learns in the first year of their life is astounding! I do what I do (and LOVE to do what I do) because pictures never grow old. Every tick of the clock, every minute of every day that passes by we are all growing older, changing, learning…. every minute that goes by shapes us into the new person that we grow into. That is probably most evident in the first year of life. My job is to freeze moments in time, so that when our memories begin to fade, photographs will still be around to help us and our loved ones remember these moments.
I would ramble on forever about why I love my job so much, and why it’s so fascinating… but instead I’ll just let the images speak for themselves… Enjoy seeing each one of these babies during their newborn session, and again one year later!
(And if you’d like to take advantage of the February Promotion, email me soon! Spaces are nearly filled! Save $150 off regular priced newborn sessions and $200 off first year sessions!)
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, and family photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
February Promotion | Barrie Newborn Baby, Child, and Family Photographer
I have a big, exciting promotion available! Book your session for the month of February and receive a huge discount off regular session pricing! This promotion applies to all types of sessions (Family, Cake Smash, Baby’s First Year Milestones, Maternity, Pets, and even Newborns!)
- 1 hour session, in studio or at a location of your choice within Barrie (3 hours for newborns, held in Studio)
- 10 fully edited, high resolution digital images on USB
- 4×6 prints of each image you choose on our luxurious deep matte paper
- Choice of Exclusive In-Person Reveal & Order Session OR Online Ordering Gallery (24 hours only)
- Option to purchase additional digital files and products if you wish
Please contact me for pricing (info@raindancephoto.ca)
Booking Hours:
Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 2pm
(Newborns typically booked at 10am)
I look forward to hearing from you! 😉
Reid | Barrie Cake Smash Photographer
Well, busy season is finally starting to come to a close (phew!) which means that I can sit back and enjoy the holiday season, catch up on some blogging, and plan for the New Year!
For the last three years, my year has ended with a cake smash (this year it will end with a newborn) so I thought that today I would share a super fun cookie monster themed cake smash that I did back in the Summer for a super special little guy! I was over the moon excited when mom sent me this theme as an option for Reid’s cake smash, and I was even MORE excited when Reid came in and loved every second of it! I just love cake smashes – watching these tiny humans experience new tastes and textures for the first time is always a riot, you just never know what sort of reaction you’re going to get! I couldn’t believe how fast one year flew by… it seemed like just a few days had passed since Reid’s Newborn Session (see that HERE) before he was suddenly ONE!
Do you have a little one celebrating their first birthday soon? Contact me to book their first birthday portraits today!
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, and family photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca
Paris’s Cake Smash | Barrie Baby and Child Photographer
It’s about that time of year again where I start seeing A LOT of messiness here in my little photography studio! On this day, I met up with sweet little Paris to celebrate her first birthday with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired set! I was so honoured to be able to watch this little ball of awesomeness grow for the first year of her life, from her newborn session all the way through to her first birthday portraits. That first year always amazes me so much… how one tiny human can grow and change SO MUCH in the blink of an eye. One day they’re brand new, curled up and sleepy with that new baby smell… and the next they’re starting to talk, walk, and show off for the camera.
If you’re expecting, or are looking for an awesome way to document your new baby’s first year (or even their first birthday!) now is a GREAT time to book, as I am having a Limited Time Promotion! $200 off any package of your choice. Contact me for more information or to book your session. I can’t wait to hear from you! 🙂
Raindance Photography is Barrie’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, and family photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions since 2011. To book your indoor or outdoor photo session with Raindance Photography, please contact info@raindancephoto.ca