Photography Studio
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!
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.
Baby Portraits | North Bay & Area Baby Photography Studio
As a newborn photographer, there is a certain “window” of time in which we prefer to work with newborn babies for portraits. The typical sleepy, squishy, posed studio images that you see in my portfolio are captured (ideally) between 5-21 days of age. When babies are older than that, if parents want those same sleepy photos, it can take much longer to settle and pose the baby as they become more alert as time goes on. In order for those poses to be achieved safely, baby must be deeply asleep, which for many older babies, doesn’t always happen. In “normal” times, when parents had the choice, if they missed the “sleepy” window, they tended to choose to wait until baby was older (like 6-8 months) when they reached their first milestone of sitting unassisted, to have them photographed instead.
What we’re noticing as an industry in THESE pandemic times, is that parents who missed their newborn window because of lockdowns are choosing to have their baby photographed as soon as possible, no matter what. Which honestly, is AMAZING because there is a whole period of babies life in that 2-5 month window where baby’s little personality is just beginning to shine through – first smiles, first giggles, bubbles, cooing, and all kinds of adorable cheekiness is starting to emerge.
This is amazing news for you if you’re a parent who was upset about not being able to access professional newborn baby photography after your baby was born during a lockdown. Not only are beautiful portraits still possible, but I have all kinds of availability for you in my Callander Photography Studio in July and August and onwards once I am allowed to reopen! Since these sessions take less time than a typical newborn session, I can fit more into my schedule (on weekdays, one session in the morning, and one in the afternoon with enough time for disinfecting the studio top to bottom in between).
The little doll in this blog post is 4ish months old. We wrapped him up and photographed him on the same sets that I use for newborns (without the strict posing) and the results DID NOT disappoint. The price point for these is lower than newborn portraits as well, because they take less time. You can choose to have just your new baby photographed, or incorporate siblings and family portraits in there too, the price point is the same no matter what you choose.
If you’re interested in grabbing one of these sessions once I’m allowed to open again in July, check out my packages and contact me!
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
Pure & Simple Studio Baby Minis | North Bay & Area Baby Photographer
I am SO EXCITED to finally have the green light to open for business again as of Monday March 8th 2021! This means that I can go forward with the annual Pure & Simple Baby Mini event for in-studio portraits! Yaaay! 😀
This is one of my favourite Studio Mini Events that I offer. It gives parents an opportunity to capture beautiful, high quality professional portraits of their baby between the milestone ages in their first year of 3 to 12 months of age, at a discounted price. Whether they’re just starting to smile and interact, kick those little feet all over the place, sit unassisted or crawl everywhere, the first year of a baby’s life is, undeniably, the most exciting time of yours, as a parent. These sessions are available all year long, in my studio, but only once a year at the mini session price point. 😉
Interested? Here are some details:
WHEN? Any WEEKDAY in March, 2021 between the hours of 9am-3pm (although for the purposes of disinfecting the studio during the pandemic, I’m aiming for 2 timeslots only, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon).
WHERE? The Raindance Studio in Callander, Ontario. Street address will be giving on confirmation of booking.
WHAT?
- 25 minute in-studio mini session on your choice of classic backdrop (white or dark wood). This includes use of wraps and props, which will be coordinated based on your answers to the styling questionnaire on booking.
- Private Online Ordering Gallery 1-2 weeks after your session (with the option to purchase more, for those who want more than the package includes).
- 8 digital files of your choice, in both colour and black and white, delivered via online download.
HOW MUCH? $140+hst ($50 due on booking, $108.20 due by session date).
HOW TO BOOK?
Click here and fill out the booking form to get the booking ball rolling! Make sure to list your top 3 preferred dates and times and I will be in touch with you during business hours (Monday-Friday between 9am-3pm) within 48 hours of receiving your form. I can’t wait to meet you and your squishy wee babies! 😀
BOOKING FORM: http://raindancephoto.ca/mach/view.php?id=72206
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
The Lifestyle Corner | North Bay & Area Photography Studio
Remember back, waaaay back…. At this time one year ago, I was SO freaking excited because drywall was starting to go up in my brand spanking new studio. I had so many big plans and couldn’t wait to see all of the beautiful memories that I could help people create in this space. I managed to use it a grand total of SEVEN times before the world changed in March. Seven. 
Even after the initial lockdown lifted, it was hard for me to try and return to “normal” and forge ahead full steam, because I felt deep down that we would inevitably be facing lockdowns again in the not-so-distant future, and so I held back on advertising, filling my schedule, and accepting deposits because I knew how much work it would be for me to contact all of those people and start negotiating whether or not I would need to refund or reschedule (to who knows when) once that time came.
Every single day, I come down to my studio and I just sit here and look at it. It’s such a peaceful, beautiful space that my soul feels comforted being in here; but at the same time I feel such a deep sadness at not being able to use it the way it was intended… and because of the reasons WHY I can’t use it the way it was intended.
I was sitting in here this morning, sipping my coffee, just looking at this corner that I worked so hard to turn into a beautiful “Lifestyle Corner” and the inklings of an idea started to trickle through…
Once lockdown is lifted, I’m contemplating creating a Lifestyle Newborn Micro-Mini Package that would utilize this set and allow me to capture a “Lifestyle” newborn session where parents would be the only ones to touch and move their baby. It would be drastically different from my typical posed studio work, but at least it would be SOMETHING that would still allow me to capture this fleeting time and create beautiful portraits while still maintaining a safe distance. I can also use this set for Mommy & Me Sessions, candid lifestyle Family Sessions, even pet sessions!
I still need to add a few elements to this set, and was thinking about a few Monstera plants… what do you think!? Any suggestions? 
