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!
Up on the blog today is Lawson! I met him back in December, and was pretty pumped when his Dad showed up with a guitar and a drum set to photograph him on! After all, even before photography captured my heart – music was my first love. There’s nothing quite like picking up an instrument and losing yourself in the music – it used to be therapeutic for me. Which is actually exactly how I ended up feeling about photography, eventually! So to have the opportunity to create a photographic art piece using an instrument made me pretty happy! 🙂
In case you missed my blog from yesterday, I’m planning on blogging a newborn session a day for the rest of this week – and within these blogs there will be a little “code” for anyone to mention when booking their own full newborn sessions for the months of June, July, or August – mention “Lawson’s Blog” and receive a complimentary “Sitter Session” (usually between 6-8 months of age) for January, February, or March of 2019! I’m only giving away 6 of these and will advertise them more publicly as of April 23rd if they don’t book up before then.
I photograph newborns between 6-14 days of age and it’s best to secure your timeslot while you’re still expecting. So, if you’re expecting between June-August and want to snag a free Sitter Session, contact me today!
And now, here’s Lawson! 🙂
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
I have been working with this adorable family since big sister was just a year old, and it’s been an absolute honour to help document all of these children along the way. I was thrilled to meet Little Miss Lennon, the latest addition, who graced my Barrie photography studio just before last Christmas. Lennon was a dream to work with – big sister was clearly thrilled to have a little sister to call her own…I’m not too sure how big brother felt about everything, but for a little guy his age who just lost his “baby of the family” status to his new little sister, he did amazing! 😉
I’m planning on blogging a newborn session a day for the rest of this week – and within these blogs there will be a little “code” for anyone to mention when booking their own full newborn sessions for the months of June, July, or August – mention “Lennon’s Blog” and receive a complimentary “Sitter Session” (usually between 6-8 months of age) for January, February, or March of 2019! I’m only giving away 6 of these and will advertise them more publicly as of April 23rd if they don’t book up before then.
I photograph newborns between 6-14 days of age and it’s best to secure your timeslot while you’re still expecting. So, if you’re expecting between June-August and want to snag a free Sitter Session, contact me today!
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
I’m not entirely sure where the time is going – but as per usual it’s FLYING by faster than I can even imagine! Back in the Fall, I had the pleasure of meeting little baby Wesley and his mom and dad for their newborn session here in my Barrie Photography Studio. I’d met Mom a few weeks earlier for her studio maternity session, so I was pretty excited to meet their new little one once he arrived!
Wesley was a rockstar, sleeping soundly and also flashing me the sweetest bright eyes ever-so-briefly, giving me some of my favourite newborn images ever!
Are you expecting in July and August? If you’re planning on booking a newborn session for the Summer (I see babies in their first 14 days of life), I only have 2 timeslots left per month at this time. Book your July or August newborn session before May 1st and mention “Wesley’s Blog” to receive a COMPLIMENTARY 11×14 Mounted Print of your choice from your session!
And now, meet Wesley! 🙂
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
I need to start sharing newborn blogs! The last 6 months have been some of the busiest months I’ve ever had in newborn photography. In the last 6 months, I’ve seen 21 newborn babies (which is usually about what I see in an entire year)! As much as it breaks my heart to turn away a squishy newborn baby, I can only take so many per month in order to guarantee the exceptional level of service that I strive to provide, and so I’ve turned away a few in the last few weeks, with my next availability at this time being in May.
Back in October, just as my new studio was finally completed, sweet little Kylie came to see me for her newborn portraits. I feel like every baby I’ve seen in the last six months has been a total rock star, and Kylie was no exception! I’m excited to finally share her gallery today. 🙂
If you have any questions about booking a session, please feel free to email me at info@raindancephoto.ca
And now, here’s Kylie!
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
In acknowledgement of World Down Syndrome Day today, I wanted to celebrate a very special little client of mine and her absolutely amazing family. I’ve had the pleasure of working with them a few years in a row now, and I always love every minute of it! They are really no different than any other family – they show up all prettied up and adorable with a pretty stressed out mom who’s worrying that the entire thing will be a gong show just like EVERY OTHER FAMILY that I work with. lol!
I will tell you what IS different though… Violet, who has Down Syndrome, is like working with a little beacon of light. Her smile shines so bright and my heart feels so big and happy when I work with her and her family, it’s indescribable. She’s always full of big, warm hugs and huge smiles and she always, always wants to see her photo on the back of my camera.
I know that some people have a hard time talking about Down Syndrome. Maybe you don’t know exactly what it is. Maybe you’re not sure how to talk to a person with Down Syndrome. Maybe you’re not sure what to say to their parents – and that’s okay. World Down Syndrome Day is about bringing awareness and ending that fear. Violet’s amazing Mama has shared a fabulous link with me that I think is super helpful for those who may want to learn a bit more – Click Here to visit the website for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, which contains a wealth of information!
“The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is a registered Canadian charity that accepts donations to fuel its efforts to progress advocacy and education on behalf of people with Down syndrome and their families”. If you’re interested in donating, please CLICK HERE.
And now, enjoy some beautiful family portraits from last summer. 🙂
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
Back in October (was it really that long ago already!?) I had the opportunity to work with Emrys & Everett and their amazing Mom & Dad. They were brand spanking new at that point, and oh so little and sweet! My assistant and I managed to do this entire session (you’ll see the WHOLE gallery below) in just under an hour and a half… yes, we gave ourselves a pat on the back. lol
If you or someone you know is expecting multiples, send them my way! Every twin newborn session booked with me comes with TWO sets of experienced hands in safe newborn handling. I’m currently booking sessions in May, June, and July, so if you know you’ll need a timeslot during those months, please email info@raindancephoto.ca today to book!
For now, enjoy a bunch of really sweet newborn photos! 😉
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
I can’t tell you what an honour it is to meet a family and photograph the very first days of their very first newborn baby. The only thing that is a bigger compliment than that is when that same family hires you to capture their first child’s first birthday, their second child’s first few days and then the first birthday of that second child as well!
A few months back, I met up with this sweet family to help Bennett capture his first birthday portraits. You can see his Newborn Session HERE (it was a favourite of mine!) I’ll be honest, as enthusiastic as big sister Piper was to be in front of my camera, her little brother was NOT feeling the same. Eventually, he found some props I had laying around the studio (a school-inspired set) and a bunch of bright red apples. He proceeded to hoover every apple he got his hands on and was then happy as a little clam. I absolutely LOVE that he, somehow, created his own first birthday set AND inadvertently had an “Apple Smash” instead of the usual “Cake Smash”!
Keep marching to your own beat, little buddy, I love it! 😉
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
Moms. This one is for you. If you’re like me, you probably have a photo album each year that has maybe ONE photo of you and your kids together. It’s probably a selfie, too.
That’s why, each year around Mother’s Day, I like to have a special event just for moms to get out from behind the camera and in front of my lens instead! Let me help you document you and your children together, so that you can see the love in their eyes when they look at you. So that you can remember forever just how loved you are!
This years’ event will take place from April 30th to May 5th, and May 7th to 11th from 10am-2pm. Each session is 20 minutes in length and comes with your choice of 3 digital files with print release as well as a 5×7 colour print of each one. Upgrade options are available, if you’d like. Cost is just $150+HST.
If you’d like to secure your timeslot, please click here and fill out the booking form: 2018 MOMMY & ME MINI BOOKING FORM
I look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces! 🙂
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
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
I am a firm believer in the importance of recommendation. I think that when someone, or a company (big or small) goes above and beyond your expectations you should not only tell them, but tell others! My husband and I had such a difficult time…
Loved our family photo’s! Very accommodating and great with kids 🙂 Excellent Customer Service! Nothing but 5*’s for Raindance Photography!
Great with my baby and offers lots of choice!
I first took my four children to Raindance Photography in 2011. I told Stephanie I didn’t need a group shot of them as they wouldn’t sit nicely together for more than two seconds anyway, just take individual shots. I couldn’t believe when I re…
Stephanie made our newborn session a special experience! Her studio is clean, organized, and professional. She totally takes control by helping sooth the baby. She definitely has the most care and patience I’ve seen and a special vibe to soot…
From boudoir to kids to family – this lady will amaze you with her ability to capture your moment! The kids photos are so life-like, real… showing the personality, the age, innocence, and mischievousness! Family portraits are fun, real, and n…
We have been having our photos taken with Steph at least once a year for the past few years! Every time I book an appointment, I am so excited. she is amazing with kids and always gets pictures when I don’t think we will. We are still keepin…
Words can’t express the amount of admiration I have for this photographer. She is capturing all of the biggest moments of my familys life. She has a natural talent that you cannot teach anyone. Her pictures are beautiful and she is so easy to wo…
Stephanie, The pictures are absolutely beautiful! Everyone is so happy! You did an awesome job and made our bachelorette party very memorable. You are an extremely talented photographer. 🙂
Stephanie from Raindance Photography was very professional, and was able to capture the personalities of all three of our young boys. We were extremely happy with her friendiness, photography skill and editing talent. We absolutely loved the…
Amazing photographer, some of our best family photos are from Stephanie.
Stephanie from Raindance Photography did our amazing family photos, she was absolutely fantastic. My family “may” have been at each other’s throats mere seconds before arriving at her studio, but with her friendly, easy-going nature, she had us…
Just wanted to say thank you for the GREAT experience! I was so disappointed at the hospital when the nurses were too busy to get a family picture of the 3 of us. After having our photo session with you, I felt a lot better. You were so pa…
I just wanted to take a minute to express how grateful we were to work with you! You are a very talented, patient, and sweet person and I’m so happy you are pursuing what you love… it’s very clearly what you’re meant to be doing! You took suc…
I found Raindance Photography through another Facebook group. I checked out the work, and really liked it, so I then followed it. After my son was born, I knew I wanted pictures of him, (what mom doesn’t?!), so I just kept waiting and looking. W…
Best photographer!! Stephanie is amazing with newborns and a phenomenal photographer!!! Definitely going back 🙂
I just loved doing our gender reveal photoshoot. It was so much fun and I just love the pictures. I can’t stop looking at the blog!! I can’t believe I am having another girl! It is so awesome to have that moment captured forever. Our litt…
Absolutely fantastic! Stephanie was so great with our daughter, Ellie! She had beautiful props and backdrops and the pictures were stunning!!! Number one photo studio! We absolutely loved Ellie’s photos and couldn’t ask for anything better. …
The pictures you have captured have overjoyed me and brought me to tears. Words cannot describe this journey for my daughter and I and I cannot thank you enough. I am sincerely thankful that we have met you. You don’t just take photos, you re…
What an amazing experience! Stephanie was super comfortable to work with and exceeded all expectations!