1. How did you get started in photography and when did you start your business?
My love for photography
began when I was very young. My dad came home with a tripod and a white
backdrop one day when I was about 7 and I thought it was the neatest thing!
From then on, any time I would see a photographer at a wedding, I was
fascinated and I watched every move they made. As an adult, I began a career in
healthcare before my children came along. When my son was born, my passion for
photography just exploded. I was obsessed with documenting everything about
him. I remember, one day, taking a picture of his belly button and thinking
that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I began portfolio
building, and then two years later, a few months after my daughter was born,
Raindance Photography was launched in January of 2011.
2. Where are you located? Do you have a studio space or do you shoot on-location?
I am located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I have a home-studio in the basement of my home. This space is dedicated solely to my business and includes a sitting/sales area, shooting space, an office, prop storage, and a client washroom. I don't typically shoot in client's homes, as it doesn't jive with my style of photography, but I do shoot outdoor sessions quite often.
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3. What do you shoot with and what are your favorite lenses?
My main camera body is the
Canon 5D Mark III. I have a Canon 7D as a back-up. My favorite lenses are the
Canon 24-70 L for indoor studio work (newborns, cake smash, etc.) and I use the
Canon 100mm L for all of my outdoor portrait work as well as newborn macro
shots. When working indoors, I am not a natural light photographer, and all of
my in-studio work is done using an Alien Bee 800 with a big softbox (for family
sessions) and a Westcott TD6 Spiderlite for newborns, babies in their first
year, and children with sensory issues (it is a continuous light).
4. How would you describe your style and where do you find your inspiration?
I would describe my style
as clean and classic. I find my inspiration in the world around me. Sometimes
I'm so caught up in the race of life that I forget to just stop and enjoy. It's
in those moments that I remember to stop and breathe that I find myself
inspired by everything from the way the light hits a tree branch to the colour
combinations of my shampoo bottles and shower poofs in the shower!
5. Do you photograph anything besides newborns?
I do not have newborn
portraits of either of my children. It was that one simple fact that drew me
into newborn photography. I want to give to other families what I so badly long
for - beautiful portraits of my babies at THE most fleeting time in their life.
Children are constantly changing, but the newborn stage only lasts for a few
short weeks and then they will NEVER look like that again. Everything about
this stage of a baby's life for me is a miracle, I want to help parents to
remember all of those little details that they will never remember because
they're too sleep deprived and fatigued to cherish them right at this moment.
I specialize in photographing newborns, older babies, families, maternity, and children. I also do ladies boudoir portraiture. Kind of a funny combination!
6. Where do you like to shop for your props? Do you have favorite vendors?
Most of my props come from
antique shops and yard sales. My mom is the yard sale queen, and she's been
properly schooled in exactly what it is I'm looking for when it comes to props.
She has found me some pretty awesome stuff over the years!
For newborn outfits, I'm currently in love with Steele Stitches. My girl at Tutu Sweet here in Barrie always hooks me up for maternity dresses, baby headbands, and cake smash outfits. I get all of my lace rompers for cake smashes from Chloe Rose Headbands.
7. Have you taken any photography workshops and/or training?
I think I've read more
books on the technical aspects of photography and running a business than I can
even remember. I have no formal education, but I've watched and re-watched
Kelly Brown's Creative Live workshops on newborn posing, and photographing
babies and pregnant women more times than I can count! At this point in my
career I have worked with over 200 newborn babies, equaling approximately 600
hours of hands on experience!
8. What are three things you wish someone would have told you when starting out?
1. Value yourself, your
time, and your talent and price yourself accordingly.
2. It's okay to say "no" to work that you're not comfortable doing.
3. It's okay to be competitive, but don't get hung up on what everyone else is doing. Figure out who you are, what your vision looks like, what your voice sounds like, and be that 100%.
9. What are your favorite things about NBP.com? How long have you been a member?
I first joined back in
2013. I absolutely love how supportive everyone here is! I love the kind
constructive criticism! I love these blogs on spotlighting photographers and I
LOVE the studio tours! There is so much support and insight from some of the
world's most talented artists and it's an amazing place to learn and grow.
10. Please share with us your Top 5 Favorite Images. Why are they your favorites?
These are my current
favorite images, and all for very different reasons.
The "heart baby" on the black backdrop - I just love the shape and the simpleness and everything it symbolizes.
This image is of my
daughter and her best friend, every year we do a session of the two of them
together, documenting how their friendship blooms over time. This particular
image captures who they are so well. 
I love this because it's pure and simple. The stuffy belonged to his mom when she was his age, and looking at this image makes me think back to my own childhood.
The new baby girl on the box I love because this shot was a challenge. She didn't like being on her belly and I was just about to give up when she suddenly settled in and I got exactly what I was looking for. Just a little reminder to never give up! :)
The photo of the mom with her baby, I just love so much because there was so much emotion in this session and I can still feel it every time I look at this image.
11. What is your photography site and NewbornPhotography.com url?
Blog | Facebook |
NBP Profile
12. Lastly, tell us about YOU! Who are you other than a photographer?
I married a wonderfully
supportive man, who I've been lucky to spend the last 12 years of my life with.
He's supported me in this crazy adventure of mine and has been a driving force
behind much of my success. I have two wonderful children, who at this time are
4 and 6 years old, they are a huge source of my inspiration.
I love to read time travel romance and dystopian novels. I love Starbucks Chestnut Praline Lattes, with Second Cup's Vanilla Bean latte's pulling up in a close second. I have a weakness for chocolate. I'm a sucker for country music!
Would you like to be our next Spotlight Photographer? Fill out our Spotlight Photographer form HERE! We look forward to featuring you!