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

Photography, The Lancet and Instagram

 As a portrait photographer every once in a while you actually get an opportunity that you can not believe comes your way. For Me it was in January when a past client recommended me to work on a project that was looking for a photographer to document the focus on Indigenous Health and Wellness in Northern BC. Honestly at first when the people at The Lancet (a prestigious Medical Journal in Oxford England) looked at my website to see if I was a fit for them there was doubt. So I asked them to check my Instagram thread and with that I was offered the job of producing 10 images to show case Indigenous Peoples who are working within the medical  system as physicians,social workers,elders to help improve  health and wellness.
There was alot of coordinating of schedules in a short amount of time as we had to get everyone to answer 3 questions about their job and for me to figure out from those answers where was the best place to take those images. Thanks to Nadine Caron and her husband and daughter (and yes the family dog!)  for the fun shoot we did for the Lancet. Nadine and Patrick are both physicians who I met when their daughter was a baby and came to me for a newborn session. Nadine was the one who put my name forward to the people at the Lancet and I am so grateful that it meant we got to work together again.

Here is the link to the article and photos
http://www.thelancet.com/gallery/lancet/canada



: ‘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 Elsevier’

January - What are you taking up this year? Photography? Knitting? Writing?

Not going to lie, last day of the month nearly and here I am getting down to Writing my Blog
which I always wonder is it being read?

Regardless, I feel it is important to write, to give myself a goal of connecting to you but I don't feel
so connected when I don't hear back from anyone. So IF you read this, please can you send me a
note and tell me? Tell Me what is on your mind that you and I could Solve. Nothing Earth shattering but something doable like learning something you have always wanted to learn or book a photo session with me.

 I have 5 people with me right now who are taking a photography class with me. Yes I am teaching again.  Night Class so they come 2 hours once a week for 6 weeks.  So Here's to THEM who actually signed up paid the bucks and are doing the work of learning their camera. This is the second Basic Class I have taught since Sept. 

There will be the Improving your Photography one next in April open to those who have done the 1st one or have my permission ( by way of a portfolio review/interview). That runs April 12,19,26 May 3,10,17 in the evenings 530 -730pm . Limited sitting so 2 seats gone already. PM at phil@phughesphotography.ca if you want to have a spot or gift one .

I also held an Introduction to Instagram for a couple of artists which was a 5 hour workshop .
I have been asked to hold another follow up one for them so will have to see if I have the time to
slip one in . If you know of anyone else who is in need of learning it please let them know I am here,
It isn't overly difficult but there are some things to figure out before to make it work for you better.

PS I took a writing course last year with Vivien Lougheed and I am looking for one maybe on knitting next!!

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!

Last Session of the Year

  

Can I say that Family Photo Sessions are my favorite to do? Yup Guess I can when I am the one writing the Blog right?! It may be stressful getting everyone together and over the holidays it seems nearly impossible that it will happen but when your family is only together during the holidays it becomes the Gift you give yourself that means the most. 

Thank you to this family who I have worked with over the years since boys came on the scene 18 years ago and their little sister a few years later. We wanted an outdoor session with everyone in the family which means the family dogs who both were super. 

Happy New Year Everyone. Thank you for making me your Professional Photographer to photograph the events in your life that are precious to you. 

Maybe next year you will consider asking us to do the same for you .

HELP Portrait 2016 PG Participated

Prince George has alot of heart...the pic of the little girl with the Heart in her Hair who came with her family of 17 in total, was taken by me at our HELP Sessions here this past Saturday as we here  we were able to once again put on 
HELP PORTRAIT . What is HELP?

Each December, photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists all around the world will find people in need, take their picture, print their picture and then deliver it—free of charge.

We did it  at St.Michael and All Angels Church Hall, who provide the use of their hall for free to us. We like to thank Peggy from Loxx Academy and all her girls who come out each year to do the hair and  this year makeup too, for our participants. And many thanks to Bill from WD West Studios who provides the Free 8x10 print for each family that we delivered later the same day to all. Where would we be without all this acts of kindness. To those who gave coffee and cookies thank you. To each of you who gave of your time and talents thank you but most of all Thank you to those who came out to spend time with us so that we could Give you A Portrait.

5100 Instagram Post

Tonight I am posting my 5100 Instagram photo and I saved this image for that very Post.
These are some of the people who have supported me by making me "their" photographer over this year and several more than once. I have to say a heartfelt thank you to each of them ( and to other yes so please forgive me as i only had a 9 block to fill). You are the reason I am still in business and honestly if it weren't for people like you who hire professional photographers we would not be able to stay in business.Thank you for recognizing how valuable YOU are to Hire a Professional. I am delighted to be in this community as a photographer for 27 years. If I haven't seen you yet,give me a call as I don't think it will be another 27 years !

Studio Fair Celebrates 40 Years but we need your support (please)

 

 I LOVE the Arts. I Support the Arts.I really Do.

I have been working on this project for nearly as long as the 

Fire men's Calendar

This one is Their Biggest Fundraiser - Studio 2880.

 It's this weekend Nov 4,5 and 6th. 

But STUDIO 2880 is a Non Profit organization and so The 40th Annual Studio 2880 Fair is run by the Prince George Community Arts Council ( Studio 2880 is under their umbrella).

 So when you come to the Fair you will be asked to support us by purchasing a button for $2  or a  50/50 tickets for $5 or to check out the  INVESTLOCALBC campaign that you can donate to online or at Studio Fair or at the Gift Shop on 15th Ave ( Studio 2280). Please consider one or all of these to show that You Too Love and Support the Arts. Funds are being used to help keep the aging building updated and to keep programs running as grants don't always come in.
Many artists have donated pieces of art/service and when you donate at certain levels you  will then have the option to get the perk( art/service)  You can also just donate and not claim a perk. Its Up to you . Its really up to all of us to keep the services going here in our community. Hope we see you there. I will be upstairs as well selling mini cards for the holidays and Firemen Calendars!!

OCT 22nd LAUNCH OF PG FireFighters Calendar.Get Yours First

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM pgfirecharitable for behind the scenes videos to watch videos.

Since the early spring some of the Prince George Firefighters have been preparing themselves for the 2017 Calendar featuring them in the traditional style of Firefighters around the world to raise funds.
We photographed them in various places around Prince George and area so lots of  fun which resulted in great images.

The Fund raising is for the Burn Unit that was built this past spring in Vancouver for all residents of British Columbia in need. Prince George Firefighters pledged $100,000 to be raised and have been doing various fundraising activities to see that promised fulfilled. So we want to see us run out of them!

The Launch and Release of the Calendars will be Saturday Oct 22 at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club Restaurant called Fore Bistro at 6:30pm till 9pm. There is a DJ and a cash bar. So grab some friends and come down and support these guys. They heard you  and have made a calendar that YOU want to see and own. Buy a couple extra for Christmas gifts too!