Diane Jarvis-Schuller

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.

I love autumn. I love the angle of the light and how warm and golden it is. I take delight in all the colours as the trees begin their entry into winter. My favourite sounds occur at this time of year (the Canada Geese as they prepare to fly south). The smells of autumn are like no other season: sweet yet slightly musty, with an underlying earthy warmth.

I’m thrilled to announce that my website has been drastically IMPROVED! The company I use recognized the problems I was having and offered to let me change from one format to another. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results! Not only that, but my clients will find their client viewing area runs more smoothly, is far more efficient, and is simpler to use. What a wonderful autumn day.

Later this morning I head to Grande Prairie since I’m one of the workshop presenters for the Northern Library Conference. My workshop is titled, “Greening the Library.” Tell me (or show me) the signs of autumn where you live.

This is so exciting. Yesterday afternoon I received an email from Kari over at Mod-Dog advising me that my dog & pet photography is being featured at Snap. I have two posts sitting at the starting gate reading to roll out but simply had to delay the starting pistol for those two posts to insert this news

This screenshot cuts off the rest of the web page but the important part is there — one of my dear models from last year! Thanks Kari over at Mod-Dog for this feature at Snap! Check them out

Diane is an on-location lifestyle pet/dog photographer based from Grande Prairie serving all of Alberta and northern BC. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

Also @dianeschuller on Twitter.

I’m thrilled to announce that my website is being featured today by Macromutt! which is run by Four Legged Media and regularly features a canine photographer.

{The screen shot only clips the top part so to see the feature, simply pay a visit to Macromutt. Today we’re on the front page.}

I’m being included in their directory of Dog Photographers. If you aren’t in my province, or live in the USA, please check out their growing directory of pet photographers in your area. Also, if you’re an editor or publisher anywhere in cyberworld looking for images for your book, magazine, or special project please check out my website. Macromutt also has a dog shopping blog, Barkability, and it’s different from some of those mass consumerism sites. They support canine related fund raising projects, have some environmentally friendly options, and an array of other unique products.

Check them out and if you don’t get to Macromutt today (Saturday), after today you will find me by clicking on “Canada” where I’ll be listed.

PS: Since I’m having so many problems with this new template (my apologies to those who are having a problem leaving a comment), I am working behind-the-scenes to replace this template with a more reliable one. No address change with this, it’s purely mechanical.

Diane is a lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta, specializing in pets & livestock. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

Hi and welcome to my new photo journal (blog) digs. This is the same photo journal, same ol’ me, just some cosmetic changes and a new street address. Browse around and let me know what you think.

I’m still working out a few snags, hoping to be nicely settled in no time. None of the wonderful comments transferred from Wordpress.com to Wordpress.org but we’ll have to start on a fresh slate. Many of the photos in the old posts came across in various positions rather than all being centered — again, something we’ll have to live with; the new posts won’t have that problem. Like any move, this one has been time consuming, a lot of work and frustration, but since this is my domain, the upside is that the address won’t be changing. Please bookmark the new address or subscribe in your favourite feeder, or the RSS. I’m going to be doing a bit of unpacking but please wander around and leave me a note. I’ll get back to you very soon!

Diane is a lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie & Northern Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.