Back in the summer, I promised to post an example of rep cards used as business cards. I finally got off my duff and ordered new cards, so here is an example!
Like I mentioned earlier, size matters. Personally, I am not a fan of conventional-sized business cards. These cards are roughly half the size of a standard card, but that is what makes it unique. I've debated using a luxe shape as well, but figured I would start with these rounded-edge types. 
What I love about my printer is they include a metal carrying case free of charge with each rep card order. They hold about 25 cards or so, and are just all-around handy things to have in order to protect your cards. I chose to use recycled materials in the construction of these particular cards, and they are nice an durable. 
Another reason I chose to go with a rep card is that they appear a little less formal. My business is all about client comfort, and the message I want to send with my business cards is just that - no stiff structure. The best part is these beauties won't break the bank, either. For the quality you receive, these cards are awesome!

They say, 'never work with kids or animals' in show business. This fall, I got the opportunity to shoot a session with both - at the same time! 
I loved every minute of it.
Auggie is a precaucious Basset hound of two years and Nova is a delightful baby and pal for this canine. During our afternoon together, we sniffed every blade of grass and leaf in the park, ate treats and discovered things that maybe we should not eat (but did anyway!). I had such  super time with this crew, and I hope their Mom/owner, Jenn, brings them back for another visit to the RyKie Photography studio!

I've known this family for a few years, and it was so much fun to have them in the studio! To top things off, we did a series featuring their favourite football teams. Let's just say poor Kate is outnumbered when it comes to her Rider Pride!

Came across this post recently about the case for printed images. I agree with it totally. 
Yes, it's great to have access to hundreds - or thousands - of images from a session on a disc. BUT, how often do you actually view those images? Once it's on a disc, you might transfer it to your computer's hard drive, and that's about it.
And you know what? I am guilty of it, too. In fact, I'm probably the worst offender of this exact scenario! GAH! 
Fortunately, we do offer several products to help out - especially a photo album.Now, we're not talking about the old-school plastic window where you slide in your 4x6 print, professional photobooks are an art in themselves. I am amazed by what my printer can produce - it's the reason I chose them! 
Creativity is also the key. Instead of rows of 4x6 prints, photobooks allow for unlimited ways to display your images. Given out years of layout and design experience, you will not find a boring book from RyKie. You don't have to be made of green bills to afford a book either - our products start at $60!
My challenge for you is to look at your images and decide what you want printed. Then, feel free to give me a call.
I'll be going through my hard drive, too!

This debate is likely as old as the chicken vs. egg question. Who decides whether or not a photographer is a professional? I know many amazing photographers who don’t attach the moniker to themselves. I also know of some self-professed ‘professionals’ whose work isn’t all that great.

So what is the criteria? Years of schooling? Lots of paid work? Grabbing a camera and calling yourself a pro?

Yes to all, I suppose. The case can be made for each one.

Personally, RyKie Photography contains many years of hands-on experience, paid work, public showings, extensive knowledge of editing software, an online presence, a studio, and access to high-quality printing services. Does that make ME a professional?

What it boils down to is this: if you are making money from something, then you are technically a professional in that field. However, this word seems to be lauded around too much – watering down or misdirecting the true meaning. Professional, amateur, hobbyist – whatever the title, can the person elicit quality images for you?

I sometimes see American Idol photogs out there. What the heck does that mean? Well, with the example of the popular show, it describes a person who thinks that standing in line for a few hours, belting out some tunes and appearing on TV makes them a fantastic singer. People close to them may also have built them up with positive comments, only to spare the person’s feelings. It isn’t until Simon berates them live on national television that the ‘star’ gets a hint of reality.

Same goes for the art of photography. There are some folks out there that think all you need is a camera and a Facebook page to qualify as a photographer. They may even call themselves ‘professionals’ to quantify why a client should hire them above others, many times offering a bargain basement price for their work. I’ve posted on the dangers of judging photographers based solely on price previously, so I won’t get into it here – just scroll down further!

Sure, it’s nice to have street cred, listing all the courses a photographer has taken. But if that knowledge is not applied, then how useful is it? The training centre is happy because they are a few bucks richer; of course they will pummel you with accolades – you’re paying them to do just that!

Would I call myself a ‘professional photographer’? Sure. I do make money from capturing images of clients. It’s a pretty dry definition, I prefer a more lofty and true-to-life description. Photography is an art. I would gladly wear the title of Artist over Professional any day of the week.

Except Mondays. Nobody likes those.

Here's a quick sneak peek from a recent shoot in a nearby jungle. I was going for the 1980's nature magazine look in this one - see if you can find the giant moth!

A large part of what I do is preserve a moment in time. I used to work in a newspaper in rural Saskatchewan where one of our frequent visitors was an older gentleman from a nearby small town. He would always bring in fantastic old photos from the early 1900's of typical farming practices of the time. He was an avid photographer like his father before him, and had access to an incredible camera for the time period. The images he would bring in looked as though he hopped in a time machine, snapped a few frames and returned to 2004! One scene that stuck out in particular was a field of sheaved wheat that had a steam locomotive train bisecting the landscape - great puffs of steam billowing behind.
I told him it was amazing; he said his family thought everyone was recording their history the same way. The sad part was he was wrong. His were the only evidence in the area of how farms operated from 1904-1955. He recorded such radical change over the years as innovations made work easier. 
Now, these were mere photographs. Had some natural disaster occurred at any time over the decades, they could have been lost. They were already damaged from age, but not beyond repair.
My point is this: always have a back up. Physical photos are amazing things, but they do age. One way to preserve them is to digitize a copy - a service RyKie Photography offers. Once you have a digital copy of your image, make sure to have another set of copies stored in another physical area. You might store these digital images on an external hard drive, but have a second external hard drive with the same images stored in another home, safe deposit box, or with a friend. I use the two hard drive method myself in regular workflow, and have contemplated using a third external just out of sheer paranoia!
What I'm getting at is preserving photos is something to do NOW, before something happens to them. Even if they have discoloration, rips, etc., we can transform them back to their original glory.We can even assemble a photobook for you with these treasured images; it's called our Memory Saver Service. Contact us today to save your memories!