Callander Child 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
Instagram Giveaway Entry Details & Official Rules | North Bay Callander Photography Studio
Hi everyone! Earlier this year, I set a little social media goal for my business to reach 1,000 Followers on Instagram. I have nearly 4K followers on Facebook, and Instagram was feeling a little bit lonely, so I thought I’d give everyone a little bit of incentive to pop on over and show my IG social page some love! I was so thrilled to hit the 1K mark a few weeks ago, and as promised, in celebration I am giving away a FREE PORTRAIT SESSION to one lucky winner!
The Giveaway is officially open now! Please head on over to my Instagram Account @raindance_photography and enter for a chance to win! For logistical purposes, and because this was a goal specific to Instagram, the giveway will happen solely on the IG platform. If you don’t already have an IG account, this may be a fabulous time to get one! 😉
All of the legal mumbo jumbo and official rules and regulations are here, as well as instructions on how to enter. Good luck everyone! Can’t wait to see who wins! 🙂
INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Eligibility: Giveaway is open to Canadian Residents who are willing and able to travel to Callander/North Bay Ontario to redeem their session.
- Sponsorship: Raindance Photography.
- Agreement: By participating in this Giveaway, you agree to abide by these official rules and regulations.
- Entry period: Giveaway opens Monday July 19, 2021 @ 10am, and closes Wednesday July 21, 2021 @ 10pm.
- How to enter: Participants can enter the Giveaway by completing the following requirements:
- On the Instagram Platform, follow @raindance_photography and comment on the Official Giveaway post when you have done so. If participant is already a follower, just make a comment to that effect instead.
- Tag a friend for extra entries (maximum of 20 additional entries).
- Like & Save Post.
- Share Official Giveaway post to stories and mention @raindance_photography.
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER and Raindance Photography will never contact anyone for financial information of any sort during the course of any contest. If a participant is contacted privately by a user claiming to be Raindance Photography regarding this contest, especially asking for financial information, please contact @raindance_photography or email info@raindancephoto.ca and also report that user directly to Instagram.
- Prizes: Participants can win a FREE Raindance/Classic Collection, which includes photo session and select number of digital files. Value varies based on session type. Session can include the Raindance Collection for regular creative portrait sessions (babies, children, families, maternity, pets, couples) OR a Newborn Classic Collection. Raindance Photography does not offer wedding photography services or business branding sessions.
- Odds: Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
- Selection and notification of the winner: Winner will be chosen at random via random name picker on Wednesday July 21, 2021 @10pm. Winner will be contacted via DM on Instagram, and tagged in a public post. Winner will have until December 31, 2021 to claim their prize.
- Rights granted by the contest participant: By participating in this free session giveaway, the participant gives Raindance Photography full permission to share the resulting images and any other behind the scenes video footage obtained to the Raindance Photography website as well as any social media pages for the purpose of promotion and marketing.
- Terms and conditions: Winner must be able to travel to Callander/North Bay Ontario for their photo session. Prize has no set cash value and may not be redeemed for cash. The prize may not be transferred to any other individual, and must be claimed by the winning participant. No reimbursement will be given to the winning participant should the session need to be cancelled or rescheduled as a result of unforeseeable and unexpected circumstances (illness, death, state of emergency, pandemic, etc.)
- Limitation of liability: Participant agrees to hold Raindance Photography harmless for any personal injury which may occur during the session. Raindance Photography agrees to never pose clients in a potentially dangerous manner or location, and all precautions necessary will be taken to follow pandemic guidelines, when applicable.
- Disputes: Winning participant will be required to review, sign, and agree to a Booking Contract, which will be referred back to in the event of any dispute regarding photo session, session location, or package contents.
- Privacy policy: Raindance Photography will never share any personal information, including email address, phone number, home address, credit card information or any other information collected from the winning participant with any outside party. All information collected during the booking process is used by Raindance Photography only for the sole purpose of providing photography services.
- Social media platform regulations: This Giveaway is not endorsed, sponsored or administered by Facebook or Instagram, nor is Facebook/Instagram associated with this contest. Facebook/Instagram is released from any responsibility to entrants or participants.
- Affirmation: By entering the Giveaway in the fashion mentioned above, the participant agrees to abide by all of these Giveaway Rules.
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
Jill & Mac | Callander & North Bay Family Photographer
After three long months of not being allowed to pick up my camera and photograph clients as a result of the pandemic, I was so ready to jump back into it when I finally got the go ahead to see this adorable little family! We did a Mommy & Me session with a little something extra for Jill and Mac back in June, and I’m IN LOVE with how it all turned out! Memories in Motion Films always tug at my heart strings – to capture video of expressions, movements, and words so that we can look back and remember not just how we looked, but how our mannerisms were and how we SOUNDED as well. Nothing gets me more than listening back on my children’s tiny little voices from their younger years, now that they’re getting older and their voices are getting deeper all the time.
I will be offering a special promo for AUGUST ONLY, and there are only THREE of these deals available:
- Book yourself an outdoor sessions (either early morning at 7am OR evening at 6 or 7pm)
- Choose either the “Raindance” or “All Inclusive” Collections
- Receive a FREE Memories in Motion film with your package
You can check out package pricing here. Contact me if you’d like to snag one of these offers! 🙂
For now, please enjoy this sweet session, and have a great day! 🙂
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
Myrtle the Alien Baby | North Bay & Callander Photographer
Guys, I’m dying. DYING inside because I can’t wait to share these! LOL! If you’ve read back two blog posts ago, you’ll have seen The Cherished Stuffy Session that I had with my daughter. In that post, I explained how she has always found real baby dolls absolutely terrifying. When I was growing up, baby dolls were my whole life. I played with those dolls until it was socially unacceptable not to anymore, so imagine my sadness when I proudly presented my daughter with her very first baby doll years ago and she recoiled in horror, bottom lip trembling and tears in her eyes.
Fast forward to Winter of this year, when we stumbled across this little alien baby doll online and she LOST.HER.EVERLOVING.MIND! She gushed and screeched and cried actual tears and begged and begged for me to bring this “baby” to our house so she could love it forever and ever. I said no. I mean, this thing was bloody expensive, guys. So then she marched to her room, unearthed all of her birthday money, threw it in my lap and said “Is that enough?” As it turns out, it was, and so 2 weeks into the pandemic, we adopted Myrtle. So regular baby dolls are apparently nightmare inducing, but this guy is what makes her heart sing. My girl, I tell you, she’s some kind of awesome! 😛
Now, Myrtle took so long to get here that the ongoing story was that he must actually be coming from Space! Eventually, after 3 months of waiting, we were actually starting to believe that maybe he ended up taking a wrong turn and was lost in another galaxy somewhere. But then, much to her delight, Myrtle arrived on our doorstep yesterday and I don’t think that Bill, our mailman, knew exactly what kind of awesomeness he was delivering when he dropped this guy off!
And, what does every proud new parent want when they welcome their new baby into their family? Newborn photos, of course! She asked if I could do a whole newborn session with him, just like I do with my clients. She wanted all the little details, right down to his 4 perfect fingers and 3 perfect toes. 😛 I was only too happy to oblige.
Without further ado, please enjoy these unique photos of my incredibly proud daughter and her new “baby”, Myrtle! I’ve got to say, I’m kind of smitten with him too – like seriously, how cute is he!? 😀
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
A Cherished Stuffy Session | North Bay & Callander Photographer
Remember a few months back, when I put out a model call looking for kiddos who had a cherished doll that they would love to be photographed with? I needed marketing material for a portrait series that I’ll be putting out (once this Covid craziness is over with). Why did I need a model, when I have two of my own in the house, you ask? Well, let me tell you. My boy child has no interest in dolls, and if he did, there’s no way he’d allow me to use pictures of him with it for marketing purposes. My girl child is (and always has been) TERRIFIED of actual baby dolls. So. I couldn’t get her to pose with a doll, but she WAS happy to pose with her beloved “Marcel”. A stuffed French Bulldog Beanie Boo that she purchased with her birthday money many, many years ago.
This kid always puts on a pretty good show for the camera, but she was seriously GLOWING with happiness to get to do a mock “newborn session” with Marcel. This beloved stuffy has been with her through 2 house moves, he’s been in the Operating Room with her (twice), has been to the top of the CN Tower with her (after having Starbucks Hot Chocolate spilled all over him, no less) and has accompanied her to every sleepover she’s ever been on. She’s even brought him to school for Show and Tell. THIS was the kind of “bond” that I was hoping to capture with kids and their dolls (or stuffies) and these images make my heart (and hers) happy!
Why I am sharing these with you now? Marcel is about to become a big brother! And guys, I CANNOT WAAAAAAIT for you to see what his little sibling looks like! This new “baby doll” hasn’t yet arrived in the mail, but when it does, we will be doing a whole “newborn session” just for it, and when I share it with you, I want you to keep in mind that my child finds regular baby dolls creepy… I’m dying inside with anticipation for this, it’s going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before! LOL!
Anyhow, for now, here are some adorable images of my sweet girl and her cherished Marcel…
Have a great day!
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