NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
May 13, 2009
Hythe, Alberta

Hythe Area Photographer Captures Animal-Human Bond

Some clients slobber; some kick; some have bad breath, pass gas, or want to hide in a corner.

That’s all part of the job for Diane Schuller who specializes in pet and livestock photography. “It’s important to understand how animals behave and react, and to have a solid knowledge of animals’ body language,” says Schuller.

Schuller who lives NW of Hythe is an on-location lifestyle photographer serving all of Alberta and Northern B.C. Her forte in photographing animals does not exclude their human counterparts, though Schuller admits her lifetime being around animals adds to her suitability for photographing animals – everything from domestic pets to livestock and farmyard animals. She prides herself on providing quality images from a session that never includes placing pets or people in unnatural, uncomfortable poses and no saying, “cheese!”

In 2008 Schuller took on her first paying photography assignments although prior to then she had her photographs published in national magazines, primarily accompanying articles she wrote for the publications. This spring Schuller began the process of building her photography business and on May 11, 2009 launched her official photography website, Diane Schuller Photography [www.dianeschuller.com].

Schuller’s website has a clean, modern, user-friendly design. The website includes Diane’s portfolio presented in large format in a series of galleries, together with information about the photography sessions, her involvement with animals, and what to expect in an on-location creative session.

During 2009 Schuller is offering a special introductory rate in Grande Prairie and surrounding areas to build her client base and portfolio. Schuller plans some recession buster specials over the summer and offers her services to animal-related non-profit organizations for their fund-raising endeavours, with details on her website.

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Contact: Diane Schuller
Phone: 780-3 5 6 – 2 3 5 5
Email: dianeschuller @ gmail.com
Website: www.dianeschuller.com

Drum roll!  Announcing the re-launch of my website, Diane Schuller Photography!  There are a few minor issues that I need to work out and a couple additions but, for the most part, I am pleased with the final result. I’m delighted to have a professional space where I can proudly display my work. I also have a question to ask: my improved site has capability to play MP3 tunes but I’m not sure that everyone would be keen on music (though it can easily be turned off by the viewer). Let me know your general feeling about music on websites.

Since I plan on doing more of a push in obtaining photo shoots this year, I will be using my blog to announce specials and talk more about photography-related topics. I’ll still chat and share tidbits of life up here but the biz will be more evident in this space.

Next task: I need to make some improvements to my blog. I’m so technically-challenged (which is why it took so long to re-do my website) so fortunately for me, Jennifer has offered to guide me through the blog changes. It was thanks to a discussion at the Shutter Sisters Flickr group that I hooked up with her (if you’re looking for a lifestyle photographer in the Greater Toronto, Ontario area — check her out!). What a great group of helpful and sharing women.

I invite you to visit my re-launched website! I would love to know what you think about it.

PS: Fair warning — an official press release will be posted here later today.

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

Today at Shutter Sisters, Tracey asks some thought-provoking questions of herself — and us — such as,

“What is my true passion photographically speaking? What is my style? What direction should I really focus on? And then there’s the Name Your Dream Assignment. What, if I could hand pick my jobs? What if I called the shots? What, if there were no boundaries at all, would I choose to do with my photography?”

I’ve certainly asked myself those questions before. In fact, sometimes I’ve struggled with the questions and the answers. My struggle is less about what my style is or what my true passion is (photographically), but more on what direction I should take with my photography. The reason I’ve had to ask myself that question is solely because of my geographic location. Truth be told, I’d love to focus more on photographing people with a lifestyle perspective. I’d also love to include pets in that focus. Because I live in such a remote rural area, I’ve had to focus far less on the people aspect and have made the decision to move forward with photographing pets, livestock, and nature. Why? To photograph people you must be near people. Since there are plenty of animals (dogs, cats, horses, and other livestock) up here, I’ve made the recent decision to pursue that aspect more than any other.

I’ve lived with animals all my life (and that’s over a half a century): cats, dogs, horses, chickens, and geese. Heck we even had pigs for while. I know a great deal about dogs and horses, in particular. I understand their instincts, their body language, and individual personalities. This bodes well if you wish to photograph them. I’ve always been what some people refer to as a “nature baby”. I love the outdoors, nature, wildlife, and the changing of seasons. That doesn’t mean I dislike the city — oh no! I adore the city but circumstances have played out to remove me from that one love (at least for now). Like the saying goes, I’m playing with the hand I’ve been dealt.

So that deals with Tracey’s question about boundaries. A few of my choices have certainly not been based on constraints or boundaries, however. I have never been a fan of posed studio shots — people or pets. I do love the natural essence of lifestyle photos where the subject is photographed in his/her natural surroundings. Whether it’s animals in their homes, parks, or backyards or if it’s people in their home, attending a celebration or other event, at work, or any other surrounding that identifies with them in a significant way.

More often than not I’m taking photographs for the sheer pleasure of capturing moments or subjects that draw me in emotionally and sometimes aesthetically. It could be a spider web wet with dew in the morning light, a neighbour’s horse grazing lazily, my dogs playing & cavorting, people at an event caught off guard, or a close look at a flower in my garden. There is a connection and a satisfaction in capturing those moments. The feeling is intensified when it can be shared or appreciated by others.

Last year, on one of my earlier photo shoots, I was so elated when the client expressed her sheer pleasure at how well I captured her dog. The first birthday party I was fortunate to do was a delight from the moment I arrived to the finished products selected by the client. Each day, when I take photos for myself ‘just because’ I feel the same pleasure and gratification. The degree of gratification does jump up a few levels, however, when taking photos for someone else. So if I ask myself Tracey’s leading question, “What is my true passion photographically speaking?” I come up with multiple answers. To condense my response to that single question, I’d have to say my photographic passion is the pleasure in taking a photograph (whether for me or for others) and the images express the true essence of the subject, whether that subject is human, animal, or totally inanimate. What better than to freeze for eternity an image that expresses something from within, however that manifests itself.

So what is your true passion in life (regardless of what area you choose)? If you write a post about your passion, please leave a link to it in the comments and I’ll pop by and read it after the weekend.

I can credit one book for helping me move from a rank amateur with lots of interest in photography, yet lacking in technical skills, to an amateur who finally understands how to get the most out of her camera. This one book slapped the reins in my hands enabling me to turn my little DSLR into a real workhorse.

I’ve loved photography since I was a little girl, mesmerized by the little Brownie box camera with the leather handle my parents used. Life moved forward and I focused my creative side on writing. Photography, though still a creative outlet I loved, got left behind. That changed a few years ago.

When I finally made the decision to get serious about improving my photography skills, there were roadblocks. Where I live I don’t have the benefit of access to professional photography workshops or classes though I did take an intermediate course that helped me more with post processing than anything else. I felt a void because my goal had been to become adept at maximizing my use (and understanding) of my camera’s controls.

I tried a few online forums but got absolutely nowhere because of attitude (I should KNOW those things, don’t you know). That was the whole point: I asked those questions because I was trying to learn and decipher how to fully understand the specific details about correct exposure. Someone with less attitude recommended a book that was sure to answer my questions, so I ordered it, and voila! That book made everything perfectly clear to me.

Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson was the single most significant tool that helped me better understand exposure and how to get the most out of my camera. By the time I finished the first chapter, the questions I had been asking not only were answered but he taught it in such a way that I had no more confusion about f-stops and lens opening (and determining the best exposure without it being guesswork). As I progressed through the chapters, I learned how to achieve certain effects with my camera and experimented more (while understanding what I was doing). Peterson also had suggested exercises in each chapter to encourage the reader/photographer to try out the different lessons and to expand your capabilities. With the positive reinforcement that came as a result of trying his exercises, there really was no place to go but forward! I highly recommend this book (now available as an updated version) if you wish to better understand exposure, to get the most out of your camera (whether it’s film or digital), and to improve your technical skills with any camera.

Copyright © Diane M. Schuller. All Rights Reserved.

I still use the same entry level DSLR but I know I’m getting the most out of it. I’m still hoping to get a professional level camera like so many others have, but I’m comfortable that my little camera is like a little draught horse working his haunches off for me. The only reason I’m getting so much out of my little camera is due solely to what I’ve learned in an earlier version of Understanding Exposure.

That said, photography – like any creative art form – is a lifelong learning process. I still make mistakes but at least I know what I should be doing. We never stop learning and growing with the art.

Have you found a book that helped move you forward in any particular task or other part of your life? Or, if you are also an amateur photographer, what have you found to be the most helpful in moving your skills forward?

 {Reminder: I am again posting photos, different from here most times, at Flickr and at my daily photoblog (well, except seldom on weekends). Feel free to check them out and say “hi” if you pop by!”

One of the things I love photographing are animals, whether domestic or wild. I’ve mentioned before how much I appreciate that animals live in the moment so they’re not worried about how they look, what angle you’re wanting, or whether their hair is mussed!

This lovely gal didn’t have to worry about mussed hair did she? Though you will see a bit of mussed hair in a photo of another beauty a bit further down in this post.

In the case of dogs and cats, I do my photo shoots on location: either in the client’s home or at a park or other outdoor area. The important thing is for me to blend in so I can catch those quiet moments or the ones where they’re being frisky and full of spunk.

I love the way Henry’s lip is caught in this shot. He was continually on the go and had the most wonderful expressions every time he’d stop and re-assess his surroundings.

Of course, I love photographing other beautiful creatures equally as well.

If you’d like to see more photos of dogs, horses, other critters, and wildlife, click those links to view a small sample I have posted at Flickr. If you live in Alberta or British Columbia and would like for me to come take photos of your pets, please contact me (see the sidebar for my ‘coordinates’). Enjoy!