Callander Pet Photographer
Studio Re-Opening Announcement | North Bay & Callander Photographer
Anyone who actually reads my posts is about to be saying “What!? Steph, make up your MIND already!” and I’ll be over here nodding along with you, because you’re right. I’ve flip flopped and just about committed business suicide for the last year or more, and it’s been an annoying, nauseating ride.
I’m about to get real & vulnerable, so bear with me. When I moved North, I couldn’t WAIT for my studio to be built so that I could begin to rebuild my business. I was so excited when it was completed in February, 2020 – I couldn’t wait to open my doors to meet all kinds of new people who might become part of my new client base. When the world flipped upside down in March, 2020, and made that impossible, I entered a downward spiral that I didn’t even recognize for a long time.
Not being allowed to work, I felt like I lost my identity. By the time the roller coaster had been going on for nearly two years, I’d completely forgotten who I was, what I loved, what made me happy; and had no bloody clue what I wanted to do with my life. I kept trying to fall in love with my job again – photography has always been one of the biggest loves of my life, but I just couldn’t find the passion. By January of this year, I had decided that I was going to close my business for good. Give it up forever. Walk away from everything that I’ve worked so hard for over the past decade. I cleared my calendar, turned away bookings, retreated inward in a way that I’ve never done before. It did not feel good.
Finally, one day this Winter, after suffering far too long, I picked up the phone and called my doctor. I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, and was prescribed meds and CBT. I felt like a failure. I felt ridiculous that I needed to ask for help from someone else. I especially hated the idea of antidepressants. Part of me is embarrassed to admit all of this, but another part knows that if this story can help even ONE other person to recognize this in themselves and seek out the help they need, then putting myself out there is worth it. My doctor tells me that mental health struggles are on the rise in an incredible way these days, and there is no shame in asking for help.
Looking back now that I’m feeling better, I can’t believe I thought that asking for help meant that I’d failed myself somehow. I can’t believe that I spent so long spiraling downwards that I just about threw everything away. This week, I stood in my studio, which I’ve recently announced that I was closing and felt my passion creeping back in, renewed like fire, like I haven’t felt in a long time. I have all kinds of new ideas that I can’t wait to try, and more than anything I feel EXCITED about the idea of REOPENING MY STUDIO DOORS again, and that feels pretty damn good. 🙂
If you’ve read this far, thank you! Thank you for your continued support, love, and understanding. If you’ve been following me on this roller coaster, I cannot thank you enough for always having my back even when my decisions didn’t make a lot of sense. The Studio will be reopening in May, and I will FINALLY be able to release those Grand Opening Specials that I never had the opportunity to launch two years ago!
Stay with me peeps, this is going to be good!
Much love,
Stephanie
Muah!
Studio Christmas Minis Now Booking! | North Bay & Callander Photography Studio
FINALLY! Booking is NOW OPEN for Studio Christmas Minis! This year, we have two sets for you – both fully interactive! T’was the Night Before Christmas is made for snuggles and cuddles. Bring your favourite Christmas book, teddy, and dress in festive jammies (if you want!) Winter Wonderland is full of SNOW (the warm kind 😉 ) and kiddos get to throw snow, blow snow, and even maybe have a little (tiny) snowball fight!
There are also two package options this year! One for those who know they just need handful of beautiful images for Christmas cards and gifts, and another for those of you who know you’ll never be able to narrow it down to a handful and want to pre-purchase them all! The All Inclusive package offers an early-bird savings of $140 over upgrading at the time of your ordering session, for those of you who love a good deal. 😉
WHEN? This year, there is no set date for this “event”! The sets will be up from now until November 7th. When you book, please note THREE possible dates and times that work best for you and I will find something mutually agreeable in my schedule. I am available Monday-Thursday 2pm-5pm, Fridays 9am-5pm, and Saturday October 30th and Sunday November 7th. 🙂
WHERE? The Raindance Studio in Callander, Ontario.
WHAT ARE THE PACKAGES?
BASIC – 20 minute mini session, private online ordering gallery, 5 digital files of your choice delivered via online download and 50% off Holiday Cards – $140+hst
ALL INCLUSIVE – 20 minute mini session, private online ordering gallery for prints and products (if you’d like), ALL DIGITAL FILES (minimum 30) without needing to choose, delivered via USB with matching 4×6 colour prints, & 50% off Holiday Cards – $350+hst.
HOW CAN I BOOK?
Click this link, fill out THIS BOOKING FORM, and wait for me to contact you to confirm your session date! 🙂 $50 deposit is required to hold your space (remainder of package fee including hst is due by the day of your session).
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me at info@raindancephoto.ca.
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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
2021 Tree Farm Mini Event Now Booking | North Bay Photographer
This year has completely gotten away on me. I keep thinking I have way more time to do all the things I want/need to get done, and then I look at the calendar and realize that I don’t. It’s October, time is barrelling on, before we know it the snow will be flying again! Usually, I’m able to get my marketing material out there for promotional events before people start inquiring whether or not I’ll be “doing minis” for the year. This year, I’m so behind the ball that I’ve nearly fully booked the “Tree Farm” event before I’ve even advertised them (so grateful!)
With all that said, I have TWO timeslots left for this years’ Tree Farm Mini Event, which will take place at Black Forest Park in North Bay again.
When? Saturday November 6th, 2021 @ 3:40pm and 4pm.
Where? Black Forest Park, North Bay (in the evergreen trees).
How Much? $140+hst includes 20 minute session (this is plenty of time for one immediate family, I’m efficient 😛 ) private online ordering gallery with options to upgrade your package, 5 digital files of your choice delivered via online download gallery, 50% off Holiday Cards & envelopes.
Is a Deposit Required? Yes, a $50 deposit is required to hold your spot (via EMT, PayPal, or Square for secure online credit card processing) with the remainder due the day of your session. Please do not send your deposit until I have contacted you to confirm that there are still timeslots left for you.
Awesome, how do I sign up? Click this link, fill out the form, submit electronically and I will be in touch within 48 hours: Tree Farm Mini Booking Form
Will you be having Indoor Christmas Minis this year? YES! Because the set is large and cumbersome (think multiple Christmas trees, piles of fake snow, twinkle lights, and snowballs) I haven’t yet set it up so that I can photograph it and show you what it looks like, which is why booking hasn’t opened for these yet. I plan to do this after my next studio cake smash session this week, and will open booking likely next week. They will take place some time in the first two weeks of November. There will be TWO sets (Winter Wonderland AND T’was the Night Before Christmas – think Christmas jammies and snuggles on a Christmas themed bed set). I know some of you are dying with anticipation for these, hang tight! They’re coming, I promise! 😉
For now, here are some of my Tree Farm favourites from last year! Enjoy!
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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
Tree Farm Sessions Now Booking! | North Bay & Callander Family & Child Photographer
Time seems to just be flying by too fast for me to keep up! My mind is still stuck somewhere in August, but the calendar reminds me that we’re mid-way through October, so I thought I’d better open up the bookings for the Tree Farm Mini Event this year! There are only FIVE timeslots available this year, so if you’re interested, please contact me soon!
WHEN IS THE EVENT?
Saturday November 7, 2020. Rain date will be Sunday November 8th, so please hold both dates, just in case. Timeslots run for up to 30 minutes every half hour from 1:30pm-4pm for best light (There are 5 timeslots, total).
WHERE?
North Bay, Ontario. Full location details will be given on booking.
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
$140+hst – Up to 30 minute session (immediate families only, or just your children, or pets… Whatever you need beautiful portraits of! Extended Families will need to book 2 timeslots so that we have enough time).
8 digital files of your choice in colour and black and white, in both print quality and web-format, which you choose from a private online ordering gallery. Upgrade options are available for anyone wishing to have more than the 8 images that come with the package. Files are then delivered via online download gallery as soon as full retouching is complete.
READY TO BOOK?
Great! I can’t wait to work with you! Please contact me to begin the booking process. I will send you a booking contract and styling questionnaire to get to know you and your family better, to help your session go as smoothly as possible. 
If you contact me and do not hear back, please check your junk folders. 
Fall Minis NOW BOOKING | North Bay & Callander Family & Child Photographer
I can’t even believe it’s that time of year again already! I thought I had so much time left before I needed to open bookings for my Fall Family Mini Event this year, but then the crisp weather snuck up on me and reminded me that NOW is the time!
I don’t even need to mention that this year is different than other years for so many reasons… We will be homeschooling our kiddos this year, and as a result, my availability has changed drastically, reducing the number of sessions that I can accept each month. These Fall Mini Timeslots will be offered at a discounted price over my regular minis, as they will all be happening on two days when I have availability. If you require a date that is different from what is offered here, it is possible, but regular rates will apply.
So, WHEN IS THE EVENT?
Friday October 9th and Saturday October 10th. Timeslots run for 20 minutes every half hour from 9am-11am AND 3pm-5:30pm (There are 9 timeslots each day, total).
WHERE?
Callander, Ontario. Full location details will be given on booking.
WHAT’S THE DEAL?
20 minute session (immediate families only, or just your children, or pets… Whatever you need beautiful portraits of! Extended Families will need to book 2 timeslots so that we have enough time).
8 digital files of your choice in colour and black and white, in both print quality and web-format, which you choose from a private online ordering gallery. Upgrade options are available for anyone wishing to have more than the 8 images that come with the package. Files are then delivered via online download gallery as soon as full retouching is complete.
READY TO BOOK?
Great! I can’t wait to work with you! Please contact me to begin the booking process. I will send you a booking contract and styling questionnaire to get to know you and your family better, to help your session go as smoothly as possible. 🙂 If you contact me and do not hear back, please check your junk folders. 😛
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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
Re-Opening Plan Update | North Bay & Callander Photographer
As we near the end of May, I wanted to give you a bit of an update as to wear I stand on re-opening. At this time, photographers are not mentioned in any government documentation, and we have been pushing to be included so that we can be certain about the legalities of going back to work again, when the time comes. As of today, some wonderful colleagues have gotten an answer from the Canadian Government Agency for Essential Services that we may be able to begin taking clients again as long as we can adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines and wear proper PPE while doing so (newborn sessions excluded). No official green light has been given, and we have nothing in writing at this point, but this is very promising news!
Being that we are currently only in Stage 1 of the re-opening plan, I am not going to jump the gun and start having sessions immediately, but rather have decided that I will begin accepting bookings for outdoor sessions to take place after July 6, 2020 (obviously completely dependent on whether or not the numbers situation continues to stay stable or improve). I’m also keeping in mind that even though we may be granted permission to begin shooting again, many of my favourite locations (specifically beaches) are currently inaccessible to gather on, so I’m hoping that this restriction might be lifted by July.
In the meantime, I am working on developing updated studio policies, updated contracts, and acquiring the proper recommended PPE. I cannot WAIT to begin photographing your families again and will be offering a super awesome promotion that will be valid July-September, details will come soon!
To all of my Barrie clients who have sessions booked with me in June, I will be in touch within the next week to discuss options for rescheduling your session to July or August. If you would like to reach out and contact me about this sooner than that, please don’t hesitate to do so!
Thank you all for your continued understanding and support. I miss my clients so very much, and am so excited at the idea of being back at it (in some capacity) soon!
Take care,
Stephanie, Raindance Photography
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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
Hope – A Photo Series – Day 6 | North Bay & Callander Photographer
Fine Art Mini Portrait Event | North Bay & Callander Photographer
I’ve been waiting 9 long months for my studio to be complete enough to launch my Grand Opening Mini Events! The day has FINALLY come and I’m so excited for you to all come and see my beautiful new space in Callander, Ontario! This event is available at Door Crasher pricing, in my classic fine art style, on the backdrop shown in the images below.
Fine Art portraits are clean, classic, and timeless and are perfect for immediate families, children, babies 3+ months of age, maternity sessions, and pets.
Package comes with 20 minute in-studio mini session, private online ordering gallery, and 8 digital files of your choice to be fully retouched in both colour and black and white and delivered via online download. Upgrade options are available.
AVAILABLE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: Saturday March 21st and Monday March 23rd, 2020, between 10am-5pm.
Ready to book? Awesome! I can’t wait to meet you! Please click here and fill out the booking form to snag one of these timeslots: http://raindancephoto.ca/mach/view.php?id=66898
Don’t worry, if you’re not feeling this particular style, Kids Personality Portraits will be another door crasher deal, and booking will open TOMORROW! The Regular Annual Portrait events schedule will be released this Friday and booking will open for select events at that time.
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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
2019 Client Appreciation Contest | North Bay & Callander Photographer
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 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 in 2020. 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 with me in 2019. If you had more than one session with me, choose one image from EACH session!
- 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 18, 2020, at midnight.
When Will Voting Begin?
The Contest Album will be uploaded to Facebook on Tuesday January 7, 2020, as soon as entries begin rolling in. Voting will run until January 21, 2020, at midnight. Winners will be announced on Wednesday January 22nd, via the Raindance Photography Blog.
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Day 3 | North Bay Photographer
12 Days of Christmas Giveaways – Day 3!
Each day for 12 days I will be posting a giveaway on my Facebook Business Page. All you need to do to enter, is answer whatever question I’m asking for that day.
For today’s giveaway – Click here for the Original Facebook Post and tell me what you usually do for your pet for Christmas! Winners get a free Sweet & Simple Pet Portrait Session with 5 digital files of their choice any time after February, 2020!
Winners must be able to travel to my Callander Photography Studio for their session. If you know someone who would love to enter this contest, tag them or share this post to your page to help me spread the love around! 
Ready? Set? GO! Tell me your what you do for your pet for Christmas – winners will be assigned a contestant number and chosen by a random number generator. Winner will be announced tomorrow morning right before the next contest opportunity! 
Congratulations to Shyy Woods for winning Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Contest!
*This contest is not endorsed, sponsored or administered by Facebook, nor is Facebook associated with this contest. Facebook is released from any responsibility to entrants or participants.*
Raindance Photography is Callander’s exclusive newborn, baby, child, family, maternity and pet photographer. Specializing in studio photography and outdoor portrait sessions and servicing clients from Callander, North Bay, 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