The Last Hours of 2017 What are Yout Thinking About ?

photo by chris harris canada

photo by jo blackwell uk

So is it just me or do you feel like oh my i had wanted to get around to doing such and such before the end of the year but didn't? So here it is, a few hours left to at least write one Last Blog and that was on my list!!

This year I have been thankful for still being employed and in this industry. I am happy to say that I still ENJOY and LOVE what I get to do for People in photographing them.

I choose these 2 images to remind myself how it is important to put life in perspective - that we are so tiny and not as Big in the scheme of things as we sometimes find ourselves thinking we are.
Thanks to Chris Harris who took it of me ( yes that little "thing" sticking out on the ground is me - but it could be YOU if you like) when I took a 3 day workshop with him along with 6 others in 100 Milehouse 2 summers ago. The "heart" shape above me really gives me shivers too as we are not alone but a Creator is watching over us and yes I see Hands holding the Heart ( do you?).

The other is from this past fall, when someone I just met in Los Angeles in May, invited me to visit her if I was in England so I did. Jo is another photographer who was taking  a workshop for women over 50 still in photography or starting out in it and wondering how to do it with our Mentor Sue Bryce. We photographed and talked the 48 hours we had together from the moment she and her husband picked me up in Nottingham thru photographing 3 women, from going out to dinner and  into the next morning dashing to the train station (The Pic was taken on the road literally to the train).

 What I learned and wanted to share is I/we are not alone in this journey (as a photographer for me - insert your profession/passion) and that sometimes being honest and sharing the fears one has with someone else just allows it to be a little lighter. There is always time to make things happen if you truly want to work at it. Keeping one's eye on your own story instead of looking at who is doing what is a challenge but I am working on it. I am SO looking forward to 2018 and sharing my next great change in my community of Prince George.

With all this I sincerely wish you all Happiness in 2018 in what ever shape that comes and If I can be apart of making your year please do call . Love to meet you and yes photograph you and those you love.

Dec 31,2017 5:00pm

Top 7 Things BEFORE YOU BUY a CAMERA

If you are someone who is looking to ask for a camera or pick up a camera for someone then there are some things to consider BEFORE you make this purchase.
As a Professional Photographer who has been using a camera since I was 11 years old I have been through alot of them.I actually saved up and bought my first one a Kodak Instamatic point and shoot. How I choose it I do not honestly remember but I do Remember how proud I was of making this purchase. After that it became cemented that I LOVED this Direction and for years would ask anyone remotely interested in photography to tell me THEIR opinion of what was the BEST camera I should buy.
As I have learned over the following years using everything from Canon to Hasselblads to Nikon is the following:

1.TAKE YOUR TIME CHOOSING...Do Not Rush into this no matter what "imagined" Need you have. It is a BIG decision that will set the course of what you will build on with lenses so take time.
There is no This is Better than That one ( Canon vs Nikon etc). IT is as personal as some people Like Macs and others PC, Androids vs Apples.It has to meet your needs ( and pocketbook).

2.HOLD AS MANY CAMERAS as you can and I mean really HOLD Them. See how it feels in
YOUR hands as this is going to be YOUR camera and how it fits in your spouses hands and yours is entirely different. Do your fingers reach them with ease or do you have to go searching in the menus to change the ISO/APERTURE/SHUTTER Speeds ( and if you do not know what these mean I suggested you learn before buying one)

3. SEE FOR YOUR SELF HOW IMAGES LOOK  If you already have a camera and you are not entirely happy with it then bring your card from your camera to other cameras and take some photos with it in the shop or wherever you are and take those pics back to your desktop to see how they look. You might find you see things you couldn't see on the small screen.

4. IF YOU ARE GIVING A GIFT...Consider giving a loaded visa or money as you will find it alot easier to support their journey to find the perfect camera for themselves then hear all about the limitations of the Camera YOU Got them! If you get a something for only one shop that really restricts them. There are lots of places to look on line which can be ship. London Drugs (Prince George)   Beau Photo( https://www.beauphoto.com/)  (  Vancouver )   The Camera Store (http://www.thecamerastore.com/ ) ( Calgary)  Vistek (https://www.vistek.ca/) ( Toronto) B&H (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/) (New York)

5. WEIGHT/SIZE OF EQUIPMENT. Are you planning to travel with these? Hike? Drive ? Have your spouse carry your equipment ( cause they are too heavy for you?) Do you need to consider a smaller point and shoot or DSLR ( want lens for or do not want to bother ). Look at other brand cameras ( ie Fuji Film) Or do you only want to expand on your current Line?

6.ACCESSORIES what do you want?  They already have a camera but you know that giving them a new ____ would be super, but what is the ___ they need? Maybe they don't know either.
That is harder. Is it to learn the camera they already have ? Or a new lens? If so which one?
Here comes that cash solution again but maybe also be creative and research a couple options out for them and make them something with ideas and give them the cash to cover it.

7. TAKE A CLASS..ok yes this is a plug for me..but there are other classes and online options out there. Be Honest. Will a new lens solve your problem..when really you aren't sure which one to get or how to use the ones you already have (or were given). Learning along side others that also find photography fabulous  ( unlike your spouse/family) is more valuable than you might think. It is a real call to action but if you REALLY want to make a wise investment learning with others could be for you.  Check out the local night classes/workshops/photo clubs and see what's for you . ( and yes check out my classes .they are small and 6 classes, not too long so  see our website for more info http://www.phughesphotography.ca/#!/PHOTOGRAPHY_Courses)

Teaching Photography and In Studio Fair Nov 3 -5th

My Apologizes as I slipped from posting. No excuses.

But here it is October and we are back from traveling and working with
so many clients from before our trip.( If you are curious do check out my Instagram Feed
under https://www.instagram.com/philomena_hughes/ )
I was in Amsterdam Underground ( England ) and all Around

  I do have room for only have time for a few more  portrait sessions
before the end of the year and for us that will be Dec 1st this year as we have
alot going on so do call me if it is something you really want to do.

Our pricing has recently changed as well to offer an even more archival product .
We just love it. It is more but You are worth it.

We are going to be participating at STUDIO FAIR  with several other artisans upstairs
of the Regular Show Downstairs. We will be sell a few art cards and our services
as a portrait studio so if you are looking for a lovely gift of a family portrait sessions
you can pick that up from us there.

I have also begun teaching again!! Yes Took a few years off but we began already in Sept
with smaller class sizes so that I can give more personal attention to those who come out.
They are offered through me ( as I used to teach at the UNBC Continuing Ed Program ).
To check what we teach please see the tab PHOTOGRAPHY Courses on our WEBSITE
http://phughesphotography.ca/index.php?site=DECLAN#!/PHOTOGRAPHY_Courses

Those classes will also be available to book at STUDIO FAIR too.Sizes are limited so make sure
it works for you and pay your deposit and the SEAT is yours.

See you out there!!

Alison in the Looking Window July 28 & 29th Prince George BC

Live Window Performance Alison Keery performing her Rendition of the Sculptures made by Rodin Vivant! This Friday between 12pm-2pm  and Saturday 11am-1pm from  come see the live performance of Rodin Vivant, a french sculptural dance with beautiful poses by Alison Keery! Alison is a resident of Prince George who migrated to Toronto for performing arts school and she will be in town this weekend only to perform her choreographed rendition dance based on the Rodin Vivant sculptures! This is going to be an outstanding opportunity to view performing arts live in a bold unique way.  For you artists out there studying life drawing, bring your cameras.  She will be in a draped silver cloth.  To help support her endeavors please leave a donation in the shop that will go directly to her. Performances will be held every half hour for 15 minute intervals; with breaks in between for the performer.

OFFER FROM THE VIDEO...HOMEBUILDERS HOMESHOW SPECIAL

Now if You saw my video on Instagram or my Facebook you will know  I said to come here for something.

 If you Book & Prepay  during  the HOME BUILDERS HOME SHOW you will get $100 off our Fee and  an extra digital Personal Branding Image! 
  You Do NOT HAVE TO HAVE ATTENDED THE HOME SHOW TO GET THIS OFFER .

  BUT MUST  Prepay during the HOME SHOW Weekend
( send me an E transfer  up and until SUNDAY 4pm only)
and receive it for the  $100 off the regular fee!! A BONUS TO THE BONUS!!


 That will mean  you will get an additional digital file Retouched and ready to go into your LinkedIn/Website/Business Card/Advertising/Facebook/Twitter /Instagram.

S0.................. Total for Women will be 504.00 ( 450 plus taxes ) GET 3 DIGITAL FILES
                        Total for Men  will be 392.00 ( 350 plus taxes)     GET 2 DIGITAL FILES


  If you book after it goes back to our New Regular Fee ( see below), so if you need to do it, why not take advantage of the offer. It will be another year till we offer it at that low price.

(Our  Regular Personal Branding Package is 550 for Ladies  and 450 for Men
                                                            ( Plus taxes 616/ 504 respectively)
 Both includes hair and makeup for Ladies with a professional Hair  Salons ( ie Shine/Razors Edge)
 Shave and Haircut for Men
 
2 Retouched Digital files of your choice
3 Outfits included 45min photo session
Additional files are available at $100 each)*

*Business Consult 15 min consult to go over your company needs and what to wear for your shoot.

 WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA?
 I have really been interested in business and how much social media plays into the marketing aspects of it. I have been teaching Instagram to small business and medium business owners as well as taking Personal Branding Images of them for their Social Media uses. I met Robert Quibel about a year ago and starting  on Business Marketing Program . You Might know him as he completed his MBA here at UNBC and is now riding around on the back of a bus in an advertising that is!!

Robert and his team are VORTEX Social Marketing and this weekend will be at 2017 HOME BUILDERS HOME SHOW. We have a booth promoting Social Media business and I have teamed up with him and will be doing some Live Facebook Feeds. Check us out if you want to learn more about Social Media. I work with his team doing Social Marketing Strategies and Branding Images.

1. What is Social Media?
2. Do I Need it?
3. How do I learn more about it? 

2017 Easter a Good Day To Start Again

Happy Easter Everyone....Now i have to apologize that I took a few months off writing a blog as I just wanted to get myself caught up on so many things in the office and I had a trip in there as well to Mexico and time just slipped faster than I could keep up with. I have been working with alot of people these last few months on several projects  including putting these together. Thanks to Robyn and Michael and their family for letting me showcase their story to you. I looked back  on all the sessions I would do for people when they were feeling they had to make a choice to "pick" the one or 10 images they loved leaving so many many others aside so I created a package that would allow for clients to keep those memories in a book and an enlargement to see everyday. The book is gorgeous. If you have had a session with me you know our work but if you are interested in having a look at the book give me a call and see it for yourself. Its Free to see me and i would be very happy to meet you. There are lots of occasions that these can work for everyday life in a family,special occasions and gatherings except for weddings ( sorry I gave those up 10 years ago)....though I do baby showers and birthday gatherings - even for Adults!! They start at $2500 . Lots of interesting projects are on the horizon.so I will be back posting at least once a month if not twice.If you are wondering why one has sound and one doesn't. I wanted to see which one people responded more to. If you have an opinion you care to share I would love to hear it. Marketing is always interesting to me.
Of course I am on Instagram if you are wishing to see more images and stories I am at philomena_hughes and I would love to follow you too. I love Prince George and telling its story too and maybe one day YOURS!