Diane Jarvis-Schuller

A potpourri today. With this first image I love the story it tells.

The next one simply shows how pigs are meant to be raised, not crowded in concrete pens where they can’t move or breathe fresh air, or do what pigs are meant to do.

This family walks the walk. They are a great example that it is fully possible to raise cattle in a sustainable way. This was an excellent assignment.

I sure miss waking to the sound of a rooster crowing …

A few images from some of my freelance editorial assignments. Enjoy.

PS: I often forget to remind readers but each week the newspaper that I write for also posts my environmental columns online after the paper goes out in print. Here is last week’s Everyday Earth Wise.

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Diane is a freelance photographer serving the Grande Prairie and Peace regions of Alberta and BC from her rural residence near Hythe, Alberta. She is available for commercial, environmental, editorial, and portrait assignments. Contact her (above) or visit her website to view her portfolio.

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All photos on this site are Copyright © Diane Schuller, All Rights Reserved. It is illegal to copy, download, take screenshots, or otherwise use these photos without the express written permission of the photographer. Thank you for your respect.

Kids are so enjoyable to photograph. Even the sweet shy ones always come around in no time at all! Even if you haven’t met this delightful young fellow, you still get a sense of his personality. Isn’t this better to capture real personalities rather than placing family members in awkward poses and asking them to say “cheese”? Simple. Natural. Genuine.

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Diane is a freelance photographer serving all points north & south of Grande Prairie, Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller’s portfolio. As she did for this client, she accepts assignments for editorial and environmental projects.

Oh my gosh peoples — this has been my busiest week ever photographically speaking. And talk about a wide range of experiences. I can’t yet share many sneak peeks because I must, must, must finish editing one from last week first. It’s interesting sometimes the people I meet. I was exposed to some intriguing people and, if I was still active full time in freelance writing, oh goodness did I encounter stories this week. One of which I must keep quiet until the magazine is on the news stands, but at least I can share a photo or two (this is from the magazine shoot I did). Then it’s back to finishing an earlier photo shoot so one of my clients can finally see all their selected proofs. Oh gosh, I love what I do and do what I love. Tell me what you love to do!! I LOVE to meet people and capture their stories (Love it!).

This guy has a great vision! I could spend all kinds of time with this sustainably-minded family. What a great evening that was (above). {This one isn’t SOOC; I did a bit of a vintage treatment to it obviously.}

This 14 month old boy is already a savvy Saskatoon picker! No, he wasn’t one of the subjects of my photo shoot but I couldn’t resist quickly moving over and squatting to get a shot of him.

One day he’ll be able to pick n’ run like his older brothers!

Doesn’t her calf look like a buffalo calf? This family runs their cattle operation in a highly sustainable way, raising them and finishing them on lush (rotated) pastures rather than sending them to feedlots. This is just one aspect of their amazing life. I could write oodles about this family — not to mention everyone else I’ve had the pleasure to shoot. Did I mention I love what I do? Oh yea, I did already.

This is a long weekend here in Canada. My dear husband has headed out to Edmonton for the weekend (missing him already) though I have another photo shoot over the weekend. Have a truly enjoyable and fulfilling weekend everyone!

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Diane is a lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie and the entire Central/Northern Alberta regions. She loves to capture your stories whether they include people, pets, livestock, cars, hobbies, families, children, couples — oh heck — everyone!! Visit Diane Schuller photographs.

PS: Since I live so close to the Alberta – BC border, I also have happy clients who have had me come to photograph their horses and livestock in Dawson Creek, BC.

In Edmonton, I didn’t have to look far to locate a tree-climbing princess.

[caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="tree climbing princess"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_907" align="aligncenter" width="598" caption="serendipity ... or could that have been a dream?"][/caption]

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Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer based near Grande Prairie but serving all of Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

Above: I’ll likely Photoshop that dark circle from under her one eye.

Sisters. Children can be so wonderful to work with and sometimes you catch the magic in their eyes (and the photographer too!). Notice that cute bit of attitude with the younger sister I’m so looking forward to another family booking very soon!

“We sat side by side in the morning light & looked out at the future together.” from Story People by Brian Andreas

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Diane is an on-location lifestyle family photographer serving Grande Prairie, Alberta & points north and south. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

I’m finally re-doing my business cards to reflect more of the lifestyle and portrait photography that I’m doing. I’m also going to be producing a 5 x 7 postcard with multiple images on the face of the card. For now though I’m trying to narrow down suitable images to use for my new business cards. The portraits here are in contention because they will allow me to add my logo off to one side plus my website & contact information. (With the father/child image, if I use that one, I’ll be removing ‘dad’ from the image so I have a spot for the logo, etc.). For a tip on self-promotion for photographers, read on.

Now I have to narrow down to one so I can get busy and prepare the image and create the business card mock-up. With each of these I’ll be able to nicely add my logo (watermark won’t appear) with all the contact information. The alternative is to buy 2-sided business cards but I like having one-side business cards since often I can scribble some information for people on the reverse or even use it as an on-the-spot discount card.

SELF PROMOTION TIP:  I always, always have business cards with me. I have them in my purse; in my vehicle; in my camera bag; and in my laptop briefcase. Here’s a self promotion tip that I do all the time: as long as you always have business cards with you, hand them out like candy. Anytime someone asks for your name, or your phone number snap them a smile and a business card — and leave the business card there with them. Whether you’re at the dry cleaners (they always ask your phone number), creating an account somewhere, paying bills, at the dentist or the vet’s office, use those cards. For the immediate purpose, whether they wanted the correct spelling of your name, or need your phone number, they have it right there in print. They are much more apt to remember you as well. Since you’re leaving it with them, they’ll either hang on to it (and you’re likely going to be the first one they check on when they need a photographer) or they may even pass it on to someone else. Either way, it’s a win-win. A lot of people are so curious they’re also quite likely going to check out your website so, when they see your online portfolio, you’ve just made another great connection. Great tip, eh?

What tips do you have in using business cards for self promotion?

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Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer serving Grande Prairie & Edmonton areas in Alberta. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

I thought I’d share a few horse images from my archives. My peonies have begun to bloom, the last lilac bush is in full scent, the penny-shaped leaves of the quaking aspen flutter and wave at me, and the scent of fresh mown lawn (hubby is busy) comforts me today.

For the horse lovers out there, I’ve been reading the inspirational words and admiring the amazing artwork of Kim McElroy for several years. If you enjoy inspirational poetry or soulful prose and love equine art, I recommend checking out Kim’s website or her Spirit of Horse blog.

[caption id="attachment_815" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Free & easy :: On Duty"][/caption]

Diane is an on-location horse photographer based near Grande Prairie serving all of Alberta plus northern / central B.C. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.

Although I no longer have horses, I adore them and am thrilled to bits every opportunity I get to photograph them. These are all clients’ horses — I’ll have to dig out some of the old photos of my  horses one of these days and scan them to share here.

Living in the country seeing wildlife is a regular, often daily, occurrence. This morning, however, my  husband and I saw something we’ve never seen before: a mule deer doe with triplets. Yes, three little fawns in tow. No I didn’t take any photos because, even with my 300mm lens, the resulting photo would have shown a lone deer as a spot on the photo with three tiny specks … you know one of those photos where someone says, “if you look really closely you’ll see ___”. So, I chose simply to watch them with our binoculars until they slowly made their way across the field. Triplets! Oh, and more horse photos to come soon.



Diane is an on-location lifestyle horse & livestock photographer serving Alberta & central/northern BC. Visit Diane Schuller Photographs.

The other day I was in the yard, camera-in-hand (surprise surprise) when my dogs began to bark like crazy. Moments later three horses and riders showed up from behind our garage. It was our nephew, his wife and daughter. It was midday (the worst kind of light) and they wondered if I’d take a few photos. Naturally, I was delighted to oblige!

These are two of the images from that day though I took scads. The midday light causes such bad shadows and/or blowouts as you can see. I’m going to play around with a few of the images and hope they like the ones I show them. The second one below could have been a dandy despite that harsh light but he sure was handsome. I’ll need to lighten up the shadows on this one for sure to show more of his beautifully structured head.

Diane is an on-location lifestyle photographer based in the Grande Prairie, Alberta area. This includes horse & livestock photography. Visit Diane Schuller Photography.