Happy Canada Day everyone!

We had a great day around here, heading to my mom’s place for a BBQ. Her birthday was last week and we were able to give her the birthday present we’ve been planning for awhile now. She thought she was getting an iPad, she even told us she was practicing her surprised face for when she opened it. Hahaha! What she got though surprised the heck out of her – I’m taking her on a Caribbean cruise this November. All that practice for nothing, lol.

And speaking of iPads and giving – today is the magic day that I give away the 16GB iPad to a lucky blog reader!
Without further ado, the winner is:
(drumroll please . . . . )

I have to admit I got a giant grin on my face when I saw who won this. Nancy is a fave client of mine and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. Trust me when I say it goes to a very good home.

Thanks to all that entered, I was stunned that we had so many entries. Lots of you told your friends about Fresh Sugar too, so there were many people who got multiple entries. It’s been fun for me to be able to giveaway something so cool, so I think we’ll definitely be doing something like this again.

Just one final housekeeping note:
While I always try to fit in newborns into the schedule, I would strongly urge you to book now if you are planning for a session in 2010.
There are only a handful of spots available until October, as most clients have been booking very early this year. I don’t like being booked so far ahead because I never want to turn someone away, so please please please book early to avoid disappointment. Visit freshsugar.com to book your session.

The countdown is over and I’m super proud to unveil the NEW Fresh Sugar Photography website: www.freshsugar.com.
I absolutely love it, I think it still showcases the bright, colourful Fresh Sugar style but also has a more grown-up feel that reflects our fabulous clients!

One thing you might notice is the address – I’m now the proud owner of freshsugar.com – which literally took 6 years to get! www.freshsugar.ca is still around, but will send you to the .com. So it’s easier than ever to get to the site!
The new site has a new look, new photos, a new gallery and videos! Have I mentioned that it’s new?

The new gallery is called the heartwork and it’s a gallery dedicated to my own first photography loves – my children. I always have such a great response when I blog images of my girls, and I’ve decided to have a gallery just for them. Here you will find funny moments, and some of my more out of the box and creative work.

Be sure to take a look at the video section to see some examples of client videos I’ve done this past year. Video is always free of charge to include with your session, and a slideshow of video and images is complimentary at purchases of $3500 and over. The videos are designed to just be little tiny additions to your session to help document this moment in time.

To celebrate the new website, we are giving away a SUPER fantastic prize: a 16GB Apple iPad. I got an iPad last month from the US, and have been addicted to it ever since. Now that the Canadian iPad app store is open it’s even more fun. So when I was thinking about what I could give away to celebrate our new look, I thought: “iPad!”. The contest is open to residents of Calgary and surrounding areas and no purchase is necessary. One entry per person, BUT you can earn 5 extra entries by booking a session with Fresh Sugar between June 1st and 30th, 2010. The session can take place anytime in 2010, but must be purchased in June. You can also earn extra entries by telling your friends to come and enter, and tell us you referred them!
Click Here To Enter Now!

Winner will be chosen by a random draw and announced on July 1st, 2010. (Happy Canada Day!)

So go on and take a look at the new freshsugar.com. Enter to win, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the new look!

I always go with the greatest intentions of attending a ton of classes, and this year was no different. And like all years past, I only attended one class. However, I left feeling incredibly motivated and in love with photography. I’m excited for some personal projects I have been thinking about, excited about sharing new ideas with clients, and excited for some new things coming up for Fresh Sugar.

This was probably the best WPPI I’ve had (and possibly will ever have, lol) because much to my amazement, I won the Fresh Faces contest on the last night of the convention. WPPI puts on a pretty fantastic awards night, complete with stage, crystal awards and gulp . . . speeches! What they don’t tell you however, is if you win. I got an email requesting my presence and reserved seating in the front row, which was a good tip off – but until that moment that they say your name – you don’t know for sure and don’t want to get your hopes up too high.

Walking up to the stage is all a blur for me, all I was thinking was “Don’t fall, don’t fall. Are my Spanx showing? Is my dress tucked INTO my Spanx? Oh God, my butt is hanging out, isn’t it. Does it feel drafty? Don’t FALL!!!!!”

I got up to the stage and my mind went blank. I can now totally relate to those people you watch winning awards who either say nothing and say that it was a really big surprise, (you can believe them now, because it probably was!) or the ones that run on and on until the music drowns them out.

I had visions of a giant hook dragging me off stage so pretty much all I said was thank you. Well, and something about if I said more than that I would throw up. Seriously, my big moment in front of some of the most respected photographers in my industry and I talk about my bodily functions. You can dress me up . . .

I am obviously a big hand talker but I had no idea I am this animated. Apparently I am a cartoon character. A big thanks to my friend Noel Dodd for having the presence of mind to take pics for me!

It was an amazing feeling though, and that I will never forget. I will never forget all the love and support I received throughout the week with photographers I knew and had never met before telling me that they voted for me. A big thanks to all of you out there that took the time to vote for me too. Apparently my image received over 16 000 votes, so all I can say is . . . thanks Mom.

I had another great moment seeing another of my prints hang (winning an Accolade of Excellence), apparently my daughters are very good print competition subjects. I was also up for Portrait Image of the Year from my 8X10 competition first place win, and while I didn’t win – it really was an honour to be even included for consideration.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf

My final thrill was walking the tradeshow floor and seeing my images in some beautiful sample albums that my album company used for their booth. It was neat to see other photographers looking through my work and smiling. I also picked up WPPI’s 2009 book that featured 3 of my photographs. It’s a huge coffee table book full of some of the most amazing photographers. I feel so lucky to be included.

I’m still in shock and awe from the week’s events. Trying to catch up on my sleep and hugging my kids. I am so excited for sessions to start again this weekend, and I can’t wait to see old clients and new. I have so much great stuff to offer, I feel like 2010 is truly going to be my year.

I’m leaving on Friday for a week, and while sad to be leaving the beautiful Calgary weather (and for once, there’s actually no sarcasm in this!) I’m looking forward to connecting with other like-minded photographers to improve my business and my photography.

One of the highlights for me this year is the fact that I’m one of the top 20 finalists for WPPI’s Fresh Faces award, which has some amazing prizes from Adobe and a spread in Rangefinder magazine. I’m so excited to have made it so far in the contest, and would be absolutely thrilled to win. You can vote here, and if you want to, vote often: http://www.rangefindermag.com/storage/contest/freshfaces_voting.html

It’s an open voting system, which means you can vote as many times as you’d like and voting ends on Tuesday night. I don’t know how the results will turn out, but I would be very grateful for any votes anyone would like to send my way. My image is #14, my daughter Emma’s first day of school.

Thanks so much, and I’ll see you all when I return! If you need to get a hold of me to tell me that baby has arrived or to book a session, please email and I will get back to you.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $2850 worth, to be exact. A session with Fresh Sugar Photography and a complete set of digital images and it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $350 credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in Calgary. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : info@freshsugar.ca

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine. This post will remain stickied to the top of the blog for the month of December.

With love,
Brandy

Each day there is a new image, check back daily to see if it’s you or your child! You can download your photo right onto your iPhone for a completely custom background. We also have specials running on the app just for iPhone users! The first 10 app downloaders have a pretty sweet prize coming their way, so go download now!

Get the Fresh Sugar app now!

(Photographers, there will soon be a blog post on Two Photogs with all the info on getting your own app for your business, keep checking the blog: Two Photogs Blog)

And because I know you are all wondering which prints won – take a look! All the twins I photographed last year really paid off, lol!

Two Little Monkeys

Barefoot and . . .

Big World

PS – While you are there, sign up for their newsletter too. It’s FULL of great ideas for things to do around Calgary as a family. I love getting it in my inbox every week.

And now for the anti-climactic announcement. The winner is going to be contacted by phone tomorrow, so I don’t want to spoil the surprise for her. Buuuuuuut, if your name is Danielle S, you might have just won yourself a $500 gift certificate for nominating your friend and her family!

Thank you again to all that entered. I was truly touched and very humbled to read your letters.

One more note. Ok, two more notes.

Firstly, I will be in Las Vegas from February 12th-February 19th. I am taking a limited amount of child/family/maternity sessions while I am there. If you are interested, please email me ASAP for the deets.

Secondly, the new blog and site *are* coming, I swear. I’ve been working diligently, haven’t you seen my tweets? I’m hoping next week. Sign up for the newsletter if you want to be the first to see them!

And now I promise and cross my heart that this is the last you’ll see of me until the unveiling. Soon, it will all happen very soon!

You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $2750 worth, to be exact. A session, a complete set of digital files and a set of bordered 4X6 prints, it’s in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $500 print credit for a future session. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside in Calgary. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : info@freshsugar.ca

The winner will be announced on January 15th — get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries! (yes, I extended the deadline to give the slackers a chance. LOL)

Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,
Brandy