I photograph families...

and pets are family too!

Monet -Bichon frise puppy
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When life gives you lemons...

2004 was a year of major changes for me ... and all were very good for my well-being...but at the same time stress-filled!

My background

I have made a new career of what has been my passion all my life...

Photographer of People, Pets and Plants

I moved to a new home in May 2004, and 1 month later I was restructured out of a horticulture sales job I had thoroughly enjoyed for 14 years, that is, until about 2002, when my enthusiasm began to wane. In August 2004 after deliberation, I decided to combine my horticulture background, with my natural creativity, and my life-long love of photography, and begin heading in a whole new career direction! I wanted to sell horticulture products that I created with my camera.

Turn it into lemonade!

Thus began the quest to increase my skills to become a professional photographer. In September 2004, I began a year of classes at Focalpoint Visual Arts College in West Vancouver, followed by a workshops and classes at Vancouver Photo Workshops . The total enjoyment of all aspects of the photography profession, and feedback from teachers, strengthened my determination. Special thank-you to all my instructors who taught me well and made a lasting impression:Syx Langemann, Ken Nash, Kaj Svensson, & Frank Vena, and an extra special thanks to James Emler & his wife Gaëtanne Leduc.

James Emler had a way of teaching that was so inspiring...I have a printed list of his quotes that work as reminders to me every day, about the business and passion of photography. For example:

Photographers speak visually.

Photograpers sell an 'idea of a picture' and deliver a 'picture of an idea'.

"Budd's In Focus Photography"...

2005 saw the start of my new business, "Budd's In Focus Photography", thinking at the time I would work as a commercial photographer exclusively in the BC Lawn & Garden/Horticulture Industry - an industry I knew so very well. And the business name was most appropriate.

more like Budd's Into Everything

The most challenging part of starting my business, ironically, was my lack of 'Focus' though! The problem was that every photography class I took, and every type of photographic subject I tackled, I loved. I wanted to do it all - from nature & landscape, to commercial, stock, to studio portraiture, to pet photos! For a workable Business Plan I needed to pursue and excel at a specific type and style of photography, not try to do everything.

Focus on a Business Plan...Yikes!

WOW - the business of starting a new business has been....lots and lots of hours, lots of work, lots of stress, has cost lots of money, and has been lots of FUN! I discovered within about 6 months that working as a commercial photographer exclusively in BC Lawn & Garden Industry was not going to make me a living.

But I also discovered to my utter amasement that I loved to take photos of children as well as the still life in the garden. And this was where I could make a living as a photographer.

Serendipitously in the summer of 2006 I met Ellen & Stephen, the owners of ToyBox Studio, on Granville Island in Vancouver, and a great supportive working relationship formed. In the fall of 2006 I began to offer their adorable style of baby & children's photography to residents in the Fraser Valley, traveling to the parent's home with a mobile studio. I absolutely love photographing babies & children of all ages, even the terrible 2's.

I now have a fully equipped studio in Maple Ridge, and still continue to do mobile sessions in client's homes as well.

So I still dabble in a few areas - I enthusiastically accept any horticultural assignments when they come my way, and I also market myself as a portrait photographer, for family and business. I even dabble in Real Estate photography.

My focus is portrait photography:

Portraits of people for business head shots as well as for family memories. I photograph newborns, to silver-haired grandparents. I photograph family groups, family pets, family celebrations, family homes and family gardens. I was thinking about changing my business name from Budd's In Focus to Budd's Family Portraits but then I realized that the existing business name was really quite perfect after all.

Budd's Now Really is In Focus! And Yes I have managed to combine horticulture, people & pets in my business plan!

In Jan 2007 I began to develop a new website, learning 1 baby step at a time, separating my commercial horticulture & stock under www.BuddsInFocus.com from family photography under www.DonnaBudd.com and this is nearly done.

But a website is always a work in progress.

 

to be continued... as Donna - the photographer, is also a work in progress
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All Images on this website are copyright protected. All rights reserved. ©Donna Budd 2007 www.donnabudd.com / www.buddsinfocus.com