Staying Alive and Well: A Small Business Story of Survival during the Pandemic

Its Been nearly 7 months since my last blog entry- Forgive me.  How are You Doing?

Covid 19,the Pandemic has caused us all worldwide to completely stop how we  lived  our lives. I too stopped my business and went on CERB (I am grateful for it . I reopened in May after implementing the safety measures. Simply opening ones doors doesn't always mean people were ready. I looked at myself and how I was responding to this time and I found that I just couldn't take in alot at first.My whole set of priorities flipped from the excitement of life and  photographing, mentoring & teaching to basic survival, ready to work and the care now of my 89 year old mother who now lives with us (she has dementia so it was the best for her well being) It has presented its challenges but also its rewards of no regret. I have read and heard from many of you how you wished you were able to do the same for your parent and so I appreciate the opportunity to do so.

I too have incorporated into my sessions the "are you ok to be photographed" health inquiry,  along with the cleaning,the hand sanitizers and masks being worn inside our studio.  Our makeup artist Ashley https://www.instagram.com/lipsnlasshes/  is back working with me again which is super..I had a half door grate put in to be able to leave the door open for air flow but honestly many sessions are out doors (which when the weather is cooperating  is wonderful).

The classes and mentoring came to a stop completely. I refunded most but have a couple of people who are still seeing if zoom works for them but for now all classes have been cancelled and I have made the difficult decision to completely stop teaching at this time until  Spring 2021 when we will see where we all stand .  I have to say I have invested in my online presence with equipment to make my appearance of these Zooms better so if you feel that is an option  for you to learn I will keep our name on a list.. I also am learning about online streaming which i do for the church i attend https://www.facebook.com/Parish-Church-of-St-Michael-and-All-Angels-Prince-George-BC-121693677890307/ 

As to what will happen in the fall and winter months I truly do not know if I will be open in the studio as I feel we will be locked down again so that remains to be determined but with our numbers climbing upward I think the writing is on the wall. I will post again when I know. For now here is my Instagram so you can see what I am up to daily https://www.instagram.com/philomena_hughes/

So for all of you who are seeing the need to have a Stronger on line presence I am here to help with creating a good head shot for you and your business. If you need More to put on your social media we have an answer to that too. If your family is together for what ever reason then getting that family portrait done Now is even more important  as we do not know what the future holds and how long it may be till you are able to be together . For Grandparents celebrating anniversaries and wedding anniversaries I am here. For personal projects you need photographed I am here.  If you know you want to do it for Christmas I am working out side as much as possible between now and say mid Oct ..as the weather has really not been terrific as many as you know but we make the best of it while we can.

On top of my work  I am also taking a Government sponsored program to help small businesses to survive with a 6 week program run through Alacrity Academy https://www.alacritycanada.com/digital-marketing-course/ with nearly 400 other businesses of all sizes around the province and that in itself has been really inspiring. My goal is to improve my business from what I learn and help others in my community do the same so I am pivoting my business once again for that

So if you have someone that could use some help, pass on my name. I hope to offer a  consulting package (first 30 min are free ) by the Fall and over the winter help them prepare for 2021 and relaunching themselves.https://philomenahughesphotography.ca/

 It has been a delight to run into some of my former students and have a quick check in with them so good to hear you are all doing ok. Seeing my clients also out and about a bit but it is usually a wave from a safe social distance but i so miss you all.

We have a new reality to embrace. Let's make it the best we can. 

The last of the human freedoms: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor Frankl - Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, and a Holocaust survivor,

 

Transform Yourself this Year

 Photo Credit: Alice Prenault

 2019 i saw myself in away i truly did not like.My
weight has always been an issue all my life like many other people
but this was the year that I said I was done with it.  A friend sent me a photo showing me
at a function the summer before and i happen to be wearing that same outfit that day at the studio so I had one taken and sent it back to him
to show him the "new and improved" me. I was pretty shocked to see the difference as that was 10 lbs ago already so I was finally at a point in my adult life where I was getting comfortable with my body. I still have another goal to achieve but at this point I am on my way and know it is a matter of time and effort and I will accomplish it. It was along with a Keto lifestyle eating habit and my regular exercise of daily yoga, going to a gym 3 times a week,treadmill for 1/2 hr and mat workout,weights and planking workout followed now by 30min doing laps at the pool that kicked it up a notch. All this done by 8am. Just I am an early riser 450am and I love it. I am a work in progress and have been doing what I love for over 30 years so it gives me the energy i need to do it all. I teach more now with students who want to either improve their camera knowledge and others who want to improve their photography at a more serious level by mentoring with me. It has been a real year of growth and change and I can't wait to see what is coming in 2020. How about you? If you want to learn more about anything I have written about pm me and I would be glad to share what I have learned

Photo Credit Left: Kelly Bergman
Photo Credit Right : Ashley of LashesnLips

EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP AND TRANSFORMATION

REALTORS JOY AND CHERIE OF HOUSE TO HOME 

EMPOWERING WOMEN PROJECT GREY

Its been way too long since I last blogged but it has really been a busy year so pulling up my socks just before the year ends.

So now that summer is over i have been busy with 2 things. Personal Branding/Headshots..so if you are looking for a refresh or haven't done one this is your chance to book one with me.

The other is Mentoring and Education. I have been for the past year been teaching  (its been nearly 15 years of this but I took a bit of a break after teaching at UNBC  a few years ago).
I have had 8 people this past year that I have mentored  and was seeing what the response would be and how it would work out with my clients.Happy to say we have all come through and learned a lot . Would I do it again?
Yup, I am going to run it again next year and on Nov.
20th I am hosting an open house to let you see the programs I'll be offering in 2020. From 6 week classes to one day workshops to the full Mentoring Program. So if you are someone that has been thinking about this jump on it as it fills up as seats are limited to 6 per classes. Just let me know if you want to come to the Open House and we can get your name on the list. It is free to come.

So what was I doing before spring? 2 projects with other creatives honestly. Hairstylist Jackie Collyer of Sweet Horizons Sailaica of Pommette Beauty Salon and Bri of Urban Alchemy Jewelry teamed up with 6 women who were all going through the choice of going grey or dabbling in it. We Made a video as well and then went on and did another project with men showcasing their hairstyles. What a lot of great feed back from everyone on both projects. So if you want to see more about those just go to my Instagram page ( philomena_hughes) and go back to spring and see the clips .

Coltan and Fintan Men's Hair Styles Project

2019 E D U C A T I O N and M E N T O R S H I P

Well it has been a long time since my last blog ( my apologizes). 2018 was a VERY busy year
but we have now sorted out our new programs and made a commitment to education so 2019 has already seen our plans for M E N T O R S H I P  take off and we have 9 people at various levels
for the entire year working on bettering themselves in photography and we couldn't be happier .
I am starting a wait list for next year so if you are interested send me a message and we can talk.

I have also started several 6 week and less programs so if you have been waiting to learn your camera we have it covered.
Camera Basics has 2 seats left for March 14th start date for 6 Thursdays 630-830pm and another one starting in the fall in Sept and there are 4 seats left in that one.
The second level is Composition Plus and has a fall and a Nov date so again checkout our website for info and give a gift to someone you know loves photography but just needs some help.

I am also offering a Pro D Day workshop next one is April 12th. 99.-- and your child will come back full of knowledge.

You will find a Cellphone and Instagram class as well  so check it out .Great for Bday gifts or just because you know they will appreciate you giving them a gift to improve their love of photography.

See you out there.
Follow me on Instagram  philomena_hughes

Your seat is booked when you put our deposit or full payment down ( e transfer to phil@phughesphotography.ca) Check out our website for more info on the classes...and don't put it off again.
http://phughesphotography.ca/bluadmin/index.php

Family Portraits They Can Be Fun

As i grew up the idea of getting our family portrait "done" loomed over us every few years
and honestly I don't know why people have such an aversion to them. Certainly in my day, it was such a formal event but here we are now in 2018 and the style of family portraits has definitely changed .
Clothing and photo styles? Funky clothing,unusual locations and less formal studio setups,more relaxed "poses",bringing in our wild and crazy pets ( a must in my opinion) but most importantly the "feeling of connecting" with real expression.

Recently the Mayor Lyn Hall and his wife Lorrelle and daughters and beau  along with Arlo the adorable mini Aussie (who stole the show). We were doing a formal Portrait for the Mayoral B&W Ball,  but the for the family, we wanted a lighter side so these are some of the ones we created for them.

                                                                               

Maybe its your first family photo shoot or its been a few years,let us help make it a fun process as we know how to make it enjoyable.

Exist in your photos as waiting to be the "exact" person you want to be can go on for years and your families will change and sometimes it just doesn't get done.

Give us a call and let's talk at least about it and start booking a date and soon you  will be looking at your proofs ordering the images for your home and sitting back and looking at them over and over saying " I am so happy we finally got it together and had them taken, it was alot of fun to do , what were we so afraid of?"

MOTHER'S DAY - We Have You Covered.

OK I know this one is a little crazy Just wanted to show you how many it takes before I get one I like.

I have been delighted working with people in my new space on Dominion Street and am nearly ready to announce the address and the opening of it officially you know with a cake and fanfare!!
But  I have been so busy working and testing and teaching that I just can't set a date yet. Honestly it will probably be JUNE at the rate I am going! If you have driven down Dominion you will see it though as the signs were just put up last month by ALL MOBILE SIGNS . We had to wait till the weather warmed up enough and we all know how long THAT took. 

So I am booking already into May and June and August ( Sept is practically full)  for family sessions as well as Business Profile Sessions that I wanted to say if you are serious about wanting to give someone a Super Mother's Day gift we have GIFT CARDS available in a number of denominations that you can easily order them from us and drop them into your MOTHERS DAY cards to put an even bigger smile on her face!! All our sessions come with hair and makeup and can be indoor or outdoor on location.

PHONE ME at 250 301-4744 (c) or email me phil@phughesphotography.ca and I will get those to you.

Prince George Citizen

The Local Paper - The Citizen, called and asked for an interview
as they heard about the article  published in The Lancet.

 I also have to mention that Allan from CFIS-FM had called me as well for a radio interview  on the same subject.

" How did a photographer from Prince George BC Canada get the job of photographing for the Prestigious Medical Journal The LANCET?" You will have to read the article to know that answer!
Or read my previous Post on my Blog!

The article is about me essentially, these were the 2 images that were chosen to accompany the article.
 I was thrilled to see Megan Hunt and Earl Henderson taking up the majority of the page. LOVE the image of Megan and to bring attention to both what  she and others do for so so many deserves the focus.  Thanks so much to the Citizen and their new writer - Stuart Neatby for writing it. Stuart is new to Prince George so watch out as he was an excellent listener.

Now as a followup to all this ...do you see that there is a call for Nominations  for Healthier You also in the Citizen Newspaper? Its right there beside the photo of Earl.
It turns out that a couple of people from the articles were Nominated including Dr Nadine Caron and Myself!  We all have no idea who put our name up for nomination but we thank you who ever you are. The chance to bring more attention to what good work is being done here is most appreciated!!
So on April 6th we will be attending the Awards Night presented by PG Citizen. Good luck to all nominees and  I will follow up and let you know how that turns out!

‘Reprinted from The Lancet, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30468-9, Palmer, Picturing health: health advocates for Indigenous communities in British Columbia, Canada, Copyright (2018), with permission from Elsevie