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
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
I love, love, love photographing babies, children, and families of all ages… but it’s no secret that I have a soft spot for newborns. There’s just something about these tiny, fresh little humans that is so amazing, mesmerizing, and inspiring to me – I will never tire of photographing babies in the first 14 days of their lives. The way their legs still curl or stretch into the same positions they were in for 9 months, the way the light glints off of their pouty little lips… the soft, downy layer of hair that will disappear all too soon.. and even the dry little flakes of skin that will shed and be gone just a few days later.
Newborn photos are so important because this is, literally, THE most fleeting time in your little one’s life. By the time you see your portraits for the first time, your baby will already be so much different than they were at the time of your session. My purpose is to document every little bit of your tiny miracle, so that in your sleep-deprived, foggy state of new-parenthood, you will have something to look back on and cherish forever. I know it feels like you’ll never forget this time… and you won’t… but it will get a little bit foggier as the years pass by.
If you are expecting, now is the best time to book your session to ensure that you are able to snag a timeslot. Because of the unpredictable nature of when newborns will actually arrive, I only book a handful each month so that I can guarantee them a spot whenever they decide to make their appearance. 🙂
Feel free to contact me using my Contact Form to inquire about or to book your session today. 🙂 And for now, enjoy Lilirosa’s newborn gallery – she was the very first newborn that I saw when my brand new space opened back in October.
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 so excited to announce the winners for the 2017 Client Appreciation Contest! It was a FABULOUS contest this year with more entries than years past and amazing participation in voting! It was so heartwarming to see contestants voting on entries other than their own as well… I really do have some pretty amazing clients!
Without further delay, here are our 2017 winners!
GRAND PRIZE WINNER – Contestant No. 11 – Kerri Nolet
Drawn by random.org, Kerri has won an All Inclusive Creative Portrait session (worth $932.25), which includes her portrait session, all high resolution digital files (between 35-60) on USB with print release in both colour and black and white as well as 5×7 colour reference prints. Congratulations Kerri!!!
SECONDARY Prize 1 – Contestant No. 22 – Maureen Phillips
This prize was chosen by our Grand Prize winner. Kerri chose Maureen’s adorable, bright-eyed little dude Wesley! Maureen has won a $200 Gift Certificate to use towards her next portrait session. Congratulations Maureen!
Secondary Prize 2 – Contestant No. 1– Tagan Caplan
This prize was determined by the number of Facebook votes received on their entry. Tagan’s maternity image received a grand total of 110 votes! She has won a 16×20” Gallery Wrap Canvas of her entry. Congratulations Tagan!
Secondary Prize 3 – Contestant No. 4 – Carlee Brownlee
This prize was also determined by the number of Facebook votes received on their entry. Carlee’s photo of her sweet little family received 105 votes. She has won a 16×20” Mounted Wall print of her entry. Congratulations Carlee!
Secondary Prize 4 – Contestant No. 3 – Shannon Charland
This prize was also determined by the number of Facebook votes received on their entry. Shannon’s photo of her little gal and a ladybug received 91 votes. She has won $100 gift card to use towards her next session in 2018. Congratulations Shannon!
Thanks again everyone! Congrats to all the winners! Looking forward to a great 2018! 🙂
Sincerely,
Stephanie
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?
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.
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…
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. 🙂
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…
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…
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 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…
Best photographer!! Stephanie is amazing with newborns and a phenomenal photographer!!! Definitely going back 🙂
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…
Great with my baby and offers lots of choice!
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…
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…
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. …
My husband and I have had the pleasure of working with Stephanie 3 times now and it was always a wonderful experience. She makes you feel very comfortable in front of the camera and she was also just amazing with my son when he was only 6 days o…
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 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…
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…
Loved our family photo’s! Very accommodating and great with kids 🙂 Excellent Customer Service! Nothing but 5*’s for Raindance Photography!
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…
What an amazing experience! Stephanie was super comfortable to work with and exceeded all expectations!
Amazing photographer, some of our best family photos are from Stephanie.