Diane Schuller, Your All Occasion Custom Photographer

“Not on one strand are all life’s jewels strung.” ~ William Morris.

Mr. Morris had a great point. I’ve had so many diverse experiences in my life and have travelled along numerous side roads that I feel I’ve picked up some of life’s jewels Mr. Morris spoke of in that quote.

Lately, I have been so busy and working such long hours that I’ve become incredibly tired. I’ve also realized that I’ve been so bogged down with work I’ve really allowed myself to forget about posting anything other than work notes here, even after promising I’d begin posting more about me — the person behind the camera.

While my computer is busy backing up, which takes nearly 2 hours, I’m taking a much needed break to have a wee visit with you. I’ll try keeping it fairly brief though since I like keeping my posts fairly short and as sweet as possible [insert a silly grin here].

As I mentioned earlier, that photo of my tree hugger was picked up by Canwest and the journalist informed me it will appear in next Friday’s (August 27, 2010) edition of The Edmonton Journal in their lifestyle section.

Since I’ve been so busy and working so many  hours, I’ve been getting antsy for some fresh air, exercise, and simply getting away. I had a trip planned for Edmonton to take a photography workshop next weekend but had to cancel because my husband’s relatives will be coming to spend the weekend with us. I’ve been wishing I had a small little Tab trailer or a tent trailer because I’d love to take a week off and drive down to see my dad and camp along the way. He was honoured a few weeks ago by having the air terminal named for him and I’ve been wanting to go down and get photos of him at the terminal.

These are my darling little barn swallows. This was taken early one morning and I loved the silhouette with the soft hazy sky as backdrop. Early morning is when they line up on the power line to preen and chatter. This morning ritual warms my heart.  The one thing I will really miss when we move from here are the barn swallows. We only have two families of them each year — we open up the attic of our old garage plus one of the empty granaries for them to nest in. I love watching the antics of the young once they fledge. They tend to play and cavort much like human teenagers — well teenagers who aren’t obsessed with phones, video games, and the like.

This last photo is one I took on my last trip to Edmonton, my home town. I love that city. I was on my way back to our condo from my son’s home and decided to take a walk in the river valley. Although I took numerous photos of the walk itself, of some boaters on the river, and all sorts of other interesting features along the way, this is one of my favourites. There was only a hint of light left just as the sun was about to slide over the horizon. I loved these new (well new since I lived there) benches the way they’re shaped like a treble cleff on the ends. I also loved how they were catching the last of the day’s light so took a couple quick shots before the sun slid away.  And now it’s time for me to slide away until the next time. G’night and thanks for popping by — you’ve been great company.

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Photographs Never Forget!

Meet my tree hugger. Some people might call me a tree hugger because of my strong views on caring for our planet and ourselves, but most people don’t think of dogs as tree huggers. Well, if we take the term literally you can see one of my dogs truly is a tree hugger. I’m sharing this because, the dog in this photo is actually very unwell at the moment. We rushed her to the vet yesterday and, though she’s not yet out of the woods (no pun intended), she seems to be likely making a recovery. The other reason I posted this particular photo of her is because this photo has been picked up by Canwest and will likely be printed in The Edmonton Journal this week.

Since I brought up the environment, I realized I haven’t shared links for my environment column, Everyday Earth Wise, for a long time. It does appear in print each week in the Peace Country Sun newspaper and then a week later, each column is posted online. Here are a couple of the recent columns you may be interested in, but you can always view the archives online to check out other topics:

“Tips to Becoming a Lifelong Clothes Pegger”

“Serving Up Some Compost Tea”

“Greenwashing is Everywhere These Days”

Speaking of trees, they are already beginning to change colour. You know what that means! Fall photo sessions are the busiest time of year. Since they are popular and because I really limit the number of photo sessions I take on, dates book up quickly. If you’re thinking of having a fall photo session, contact me today to book for your colourful autumn photo session (whether you’re one person, a couple, or a family — and yes, we can definitely include your dog(s) or horse(s) too!).

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Photographs Never Forget!  Keeping memories alive with custom portraits and albums.

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.” ~Gilda Radner

Those of us with dogs, cats, or any pets feel the same as Gilda.

If you have learned your pet is nearing the end of its life, consider a Pet Bereavement Session in which I tastefully and thoughtfully capture the special bond between you and your pet.

Since time can sometimes be compressed when we learn of a terminal diagnosis, I do my best to accommodate an emergency session if it’s deemed necessary. I understand that special place in our hearts we have for our pets so I’m particularly aware of how a pet bereavement session can be comforting for creating a beautiful keepsake of your pet. The session is dealt with compassion and sensitivity. Images from these sessions are not posted publicly unless requested by the family.

Please share this information with your friends and family (the “email a friend” button below to the right will make it convenient). If you would like further information regarding the Pet Bereavement session, please contact Diane (using the contact tab above).

{Available anywhere from Edmonton north for Pet Bereavement, in the Grande Prairie region, and north as far as Grimshaw.}

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Photographs never forget. I can help you keep your memories alive. Contact me at photos @ dianeschuller . com (remove spaces) or use the contact tab above.

There are advantages to living in a small rural community — it gives people like me a chance to start small. I’m pleased to announce my first photographic gallery show & sale. And, there is a second one planned (which was booked before this upcoming show) at our local library in August. I’ll give details on that one later. Here’s the 411 for those who may be interested:

The Beaverlodge Area Cultural Society is one of the major attractions in Beaverlodge. They support a very active arts community and conduct a variety of workshops in many different art forms. My gallery show opens on June 27th and continues through to July 23rd, 2010. If you are in the Grande Prairie / Beaverlodge area during that time, I hope you’ll stop by. You’ll find the building quite interesting as well, not to mention their lovely gift shop and tea room.

Oh, you’re probably curious about what the theme is for my first gallery show: “life’s sweet ordinary”.

“Photographs Never Forget!”

The book has arrived! My copy of the 2010 Paws for Charity Art Book arrived and I’m so pleased to be included in this incredibly worthy cause. Many thanks go out to Sara Harley for all the work and dedication with this project, now in its second year.

I warned you all that I’d be mentioning this book every chance I get throughout the year to help encourage sales. Don’t forget the proceeds from the sale of this book and the sales of the greeting cards go towards the chosen cancer charity (a different cancer charity is chosen each year). Many of us have been touched by cancer in some way whether it’s a family member, friend, or coworker. There have been several of my own family members, including my beloved mother, who died of cancer. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have survived cancer, nearly a full ten years ago and continue to remain cancer free.

The book is available either in softcover or hardcover, but I highly recommend purchasing the hardcover for the small extra amount. Many of the artists have made their images available as greeting cards which also make a great gift, but are equally worthy to use yourself as gift or notecards. So, I hope you will consider supporting the Paws for Charity 2010 Art Book. I’ll provide links below again so you can learn more.

• About the 2010 Paws for Charity Art Book project
• Diane was the featured artist last week, April 30, 2010
• The 2010 charity recipient
• To preview and purchase the book
• How to order the greeting cards

I do not receive a penny from sales — my photography simply appears alongside other artists’ work in this book. I hope you will help get the word out about this project (book and the greeting cards). Tweet about it, blog about it, link to this post or directly to the Paws for Charity site, mention it on Facebook, any way you can.

I hit the front page! It’s not the Globe & Mail or the New Yorker but it’s the front page of the Hythe Headliner! You have to love local newspapers — and the editor of course. I know that the editor of the fund raising book my photo was selected to appear in, sent press releases out to local papers for all of the artists and photographers whose work appears in the 2010 Paws for Charity Art book, but it’s pretty exciting when one of the papers picks up the story!

I promised you that throughout 2010 I’ll be promoting this book because it’s a fund raiser after all and for such a good cause. There are so many of us who are touched by cancer in one way or another. I survived cancer, I lost my amazing & loving mother to cancer, and many other relatives too. Cancer is all around us. I hope you may consider purchasing a copy of the book — I don’t get anything from the sales of course — all profits go directly to cancer support. If you’d like to see a preview of the book, click to visit the 2010 art book.

Anyway, I couldn’t resist letting you know my news, hit the news  My copy of the book should be arriving any day so you can expect yet another post when it arrives.

Back to business. I’m encouraging anyone in my service area (Grande Prairie but the entire central and northern Alberta regions plus Edmonton) to consider purchasing a gift certificate as the most amazing Mother’s Day gift ever! Imagine how excited your mom would be to receive a gift certificate for a custom photography session dedicated just to her?!! Even I would LOVE to get that as a present. Also, I have a super duper deal coming up. You won’t believe how great a deal it is for a custom photography session. I’ll make you look great — that’s a promise — and we’ll have a good time while we’re at it. I’ll announce the special soon. Stay tuned!

Let the bells ring, the book I’ve been telling you about is hot off the presses! I was fortunate that one of my canine photos was chosen to be included in the 2010 Art Book Project. I see Sara Harley (the hardworking editor) got the press releases out to the media already. Here’s the scoop.

The Paws For Charity Art Book Project is a unique fundraiser that celebrates our love of pets, and raises funds for a human cause. The 2010 Art Book is a compilation of artwork and photography of dogs and cats from by 65 artists and photographers in 7 countries. All funds raised from the sale of these books are donated to The Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, a registered charity with programs in over 50 countries. This charity also carries the Humane Charity Seal of Approval.

I’m proud to have been invited to make a submission and, even more proud to have had a photo chosen for this great cause. The book can be ordered in hard cover or soft cover but I recommend the hardcover. It makes a great gift whether for someone who loves dogs & cats, someone who appreciates fine art, or for someone who has had a struggle with cancer. I hope you’ll consider supporting the cause. Since this book is a fund raiser, I will be making reminder posts over the balance of 2010. Why not get yours today! You can see a preview of the 75 page coffee table book (the first 15 pages) when you visit the 2010 Art Book.

PS: On another paw-note … BOY oh boy have you people made it extremely difficult to narrow down to 5 finalists for our pet photo contest! We got a nice representation of both dogs and cats. I was near tears when I read some of the entries: we have some really heartwarming entries from people who have rescued their pets. As promised, I will have the finalists posted on Wednesday, later in the day, and then the voting can begin to choose a winner!

Diane’s website ||  Diane’s Facebook photography page

I’m excited to finally let the cat out of the bag and bark out some exciting news! One of my canine photos will be published in a book that is a fund raiser for breast cancer! I had been invited to submit photos for consideration for the Paws for Charity Art Book and out of over 300 photographers and artists, I was fortunate to have been included as one of the 65 for the book. Please follow the link to find out more about the project. I am honoured to have been included and hope we raise a lot of funds for breast cancer. Once the book is ‘fresh off the press’ I will be promoting the book here and at Facebook.

Update: The pet contest I have been telling you all about and that I’ve had to delay due to the regulations at Facebook regarding promotions, is finally sorted out. So as soon as I finish up my current project I will announce and commence the pet contest. I will run the contest right here rather than at Facebook and the instructions for submitting entries will be announced here on Friday. Finally!

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Diane is available to do on-location custom photography of you and your dog, cat, horse, or any other pet or livestock. Please visit Diane’s website to view her portfolio and click on the “Dogs-Pets” and “Horses-Livestock” from the Category menu tabs above.

I’ve made some changes to how I conduct certain aspects of my business. I was so busy doing my 2010 planning in January that I forgot to actually announce one of those important changes, even though it’s something I have already implemented.

I now do in-person gallery viewings in my client’s home when the proof gallery is ready to rock. I used to get the proofs done, load them in my private viewing gallery on my website, send a how-to email to clients and wait. I realized this was really not in keeping with the personalized and custom service that is my focus in serving my clients. I’m growing and improving as I go along.

For two of my clients in 2009, I did an in-home gallery viewing and I enjoyed it so much and my clients were the ones who were so pleased with this additional service. Not only that, but it allows my clients to ask any questions about planning wall portraits, storyboards, canvas gallery wraps, or gift ideas. I realized then and there this was something I had to offer for every single one of my clients to provide an even higher level of service. So, beginning 2010 every single client receives the same opportunity to have me come to their home, samples in hand, to provide the first showing of their visual keepsakes. I’ll be there to answer questions, offer suggestions, and to walk each client through the ordering process.

So how does this work? Once I have all the images ready for proofing, I get in touch with my client, set up a day and time for me to come to their home. I bring my laptop, we sit somewhere comfy, or the kitchen table, and I roll out the gallery of their images. As I mentioned, I can also bring along some samples of prints and other photographic products that can be ordered to showcase your special visual keepsakes. We chat and if you want to order right then and there, we can get it done. I head back and place the order immediately. I will still upload the photos to the private viewing gallery, especially in case other family or friends wish to check them out; they can order direct from the website if they so choose.

It was those in-person viewing appointments that made me realize how important it is for my clients and how it fits in so well with my focus on customized service. So, let’s get together soon. It’s going to be a great experience for each of us!

PS: Please remember that as a custom photographer, every session is different and is customized to suit each individual client.

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Visit Diane’s website for more detailed information about the sessions or to view her portfolio. Diane has finally caught up with the current century and has added her business to Facebook — become a fan and be among the first to learn about upcoming specials, promotions, model searches, contests, and more!

I am thrilled. I just learned that one of my photos is featured today at Shutter Sisters One Word Project. Their theme word for February is “nurture”. Check it out and let me know what you think. Thank you so much Shutter Sisters.

While I’m at it, I should let you know that while I was on my road trip there was another of my posts published over at Vision and Verb if  you care to see that one as well — it’s an abstract image paired with a haibun. As if this wasn’t excitement enough, I just received notification of something else really exciting regarding one of my canine photos. Please stay tuned; I’ll be able to announce the news by the beginning of March (keeping secrets, especially such great news, is so darn difficult to keep).

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”  ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

Photo information: The fish market at the end of Beacon Avenue in Sidney, BC. One of my favourite places to be.