Cedna Portrait Stories

18/09/2024

10/09/2024

I recently had an opportunity to photograph this wonderful leader. She expressed a desire for professional images that convey approachability, kindness, simplicity and confidence. Loving a clean and crisp look and in line with her wardrobe, we did a few sets from casual to more formal.

Here is just the small slice of what we created together. With her kind and calm demeanor and soft feminine features, I wanted to capture those important elements of who she is I also wanted to portray her with power, being a woman leader whose career has spanned 3 decades; a woman who has stood her ground and navigated diverse roles and environments with success.

Kara Claypool, Senior Vice President, CFO & COO at Travel Alberta.

03/09/2024

3 weeks ago I travelled to Dallas, TX for a conference and photography workshop. I didn't have much time if any to myself in those 7 days to explore or do things I thought I would manage to squeeze in. When I travel my pace is hectic - by choice & my plans often unrealistic. I won't sleep, eat, sit or rest in exchange for the ability to see & experience as many new things as possible. I've always been that way, it's tiring but also rewarding.

I had so many plans to walk around Dallas for the half day I had free but the sweltering 43C heat made that impossible. On the 3rd day I woke up at 630am, ubered it to down town and decided to spend a few hours at the & another museum before returning to the conference at 12pm. At the Nasher I visited Sarah Sze's immersive installations that "explore how memory marks time and space and how art negotiates image and object" (more on that to come).

During the week I had taken Uber to get around & had met at least a dozen different drivers whom I had conversations with and ended up learning such interesting and often intimate stories about their lives. A sudden urge came over me shortly after my 2nd ride to take unstaged on the spot portraits of them in their cars but I never got the courage to ask.

At the Nasher Museum I saw this woman & she grabbed my attention immediately. Her look, engagement & presence while doing a tour with a senior group struck me. She had a down to earth, calm and graceful way about her. I circled around her for a long time mustering the courage & then walked up to her and asked if I could take her photo. She gifted me with the biggest smile and said of course. We chatted a bit, I asked for her name (which I have now of course forgotten because I didn't write it down right away). I took out my cell phone and snapped these two impromptu images of her & she then asked if she could take one of me. I sheepishly said yes and here it is.

My conference didn't turn out as I had expected and I didn't achieve the business objectives I had hoped for, however this trip gave birth to new realizations, new inner whispers that I have neglected for some time. Time will tell what's next.

29/08/2024

N E V E N.

This little ham is 7 years old today. He has brought so much joy and love in our lives it's impossible to put it into words. He is compassionate, sensitive, introspective, cuddly and is always looking out for others. Any frustration or anger he may feel is so fleeting, he doesn't hold it longer than a few mere seconds and is quick to apologize and seek forgiveness. He calls out at least 10 "time outs" each day dedicated strictly to snuggling and we have to make time for it - it's serious business in our household. He has a ridiculous sweet tooth, loves his numbers and art more than words and reading and he claims he is excited to be going into grade 2 next week.

When I asked him what he loves the most in the world he said: Calaway park, snuggles, playing - especially Minecraft with his sister, Mexico, candy, travel, spending time with his family, his scooter, bike rides with his dad, Stampede, village ice cream and his friends.

I don't photography my kids nearly as much as I would love to, something always comes up. Yesterday however with the crappy weather outside we took some time to create new portraits and it's been a full year since we did them last.

PS: I don't listen to Taylor Swift myself but when searching for songs he heard this one and voted on it because he said it's something we always say to him "never grow up".

We love you Neno

23/08/2024

"Love is an ever-fixed mark, that looks on tempests and is never shaken" - Shakespeare

Augustine & Darrell

22/08/2024

Beyond the headshot session with .laurel. She wanted updated professional images that are crisp, clean and reflect her in a way that feels true to who she is. I love all the women leaders I get to meet and serve through this work.

If you are in need of updated professional images and would like to see yourself from a fresh perspective, let's chat.

Our next express sessions are August 26th, Sep 2nd, 12th & 13th. Details and booking via link in bio.

06/08/2024

Ways of seeing.

Do you always look at something you have seen before in the same way as the 1st time or does your perspective change? What causes the change in the ways we see things? What is our perspective rooted in, influenced by?

In cleaning up some files I revised a session from February of 2023. These images made me pause, even though most were not originally selected by the client. With zero editing (other than black and white conversion), I see this woman more than a year later in completely different ways than I did at the time of her session. I find it intruiging. Raw and unfiltered in their nature, stripped of all colour and refined finesse, this completely new set of images caught my eye in ways they didn't before. They are unassuming and subtle yet portray the many sides of Marija that I know.

I would love to hear what your thoughts and perspective are on what you see when you look at these now 18 months later after your session and how it compares to the images that you selected as your favourites at the time.

24/07/2024

I met Tanya Roach, SCMP back in 2018 when she interviewed me for a supply chain position at TransAlta. We worked together for 5 years and I had the privilege of collaborating with her, learning from her and alongside her and watching her career evolve over the last 12 years. I always found her to be steadfast in her views and beliefs, a woman of integrity, someone who stands by their word, leads through action, is willing to share knowledge and elevate those around her.

Recognized as the “Women to Watch In Supply Chain by SCMA 2019, she is a progressive Supply Chain Professional passionate about affecting positive change, delivering bottom-line results and creative problem solving in challenging setting. I knew her as a lover and strong advocate of enhancing operational efficiencies, establishing standardized processes and improving productivity. Throughout the years, she has negotiated complex contracts, delivered outstanding results, developed meaningful relationships and she keeps pushing forward in all aspects of her personal and professional development to this day.

I am grateful for the friendship over the years, even though our paths diverged we came together in a new environment and new context - creating updated professional images for her. Some of them my favourites, some hers, I wanted to capture her as a friend that I know first and foremost, to convey her laugh and warmth and contrast it against her highly professional and composed professional demeanour.

Keep blazing your way my friend!

Only 3 summer Headshot Express Dates are available. July 25th & August 26/27th. If you are looking for updated professional images that go beyond the generic headshot, let's chat! Link in bio.

23/07/2024

When your clients make you cry. Thank you Rachel, your words really touched me and I loved working with you!

16/07/2024

New Blog Post for those who still like to read and engage with content beyond 10 second video clips. It was a tad too long for a social media post but it's the most raw, honest and hot topic I have ever posted about.

If you are curious what drives our diverse perspectives on what things are "worth", what's too expensive and how I have navigated the comments as my business grows, head on over to the wrbsite Blog for a read. Looking forward to your thoughts.

https://www.cednaportraitstories.com/cedna-portrait-stories-blog/you-are-expensive

21/06/2024

For those of you who are new to my account - Welcome & thank you for your interest in following along! My name is Chedna & I am the owner of Cedna Portrait Stories - a boutique portrait photography studio. I am dedicated to telling emotionally engaging stories of everyday people and bold business brands in an authentic and soulful way. My mission is to make people feel seen & to show them a side of themselves they may not see often and sometimes it’s the side they have NEVER seen before.

My mission and passion are intricately connected.
- create intentional, meaningful and dynamic power portraits
- challenge & transform how people see themselves
- celebrate individuality, character and our shared human experience
- inspire more self-compassion and courageous change
- create legacy products that transcend the digital only space
- Elevate the art of Photography through excellence and connection.

On a personal front:
- I struggle with social media and I find the content driven world we live in often overwhelming
- I believe in the importance of human connection, meaningful conversations, tolerance and empathy
- I have 2 children that I love beyond measure. My hardest role in life is to raise them with freedom to be themselves without my influence or control
- I am a lover of learning, self-development, the arts, afternoon naps, great food, red lipstick and obscure fragrances
- I believe in the importance of constant change. Whether it’s my ever-changing hairstyles over 23 years or always doing things outside of my comfort. Change is progress
- I am a recovering perfectionist.
- I am a certified makeup artist and skin-care ju**ie
- I have a memory box that holds meaningful mementos I have been collecting since I was 12 years old

20/06/2024

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) featured my Worthy Series as part of the Alumni Profile in their recent spring issue of Link Magazine. I am grateful for the years of education obtained through their business programs, from Supply Chain Management and Business administration to various certificates I pursued over the years. Many valuable lessons learned along the way and to see this now feels like a small full circle moment.
Thank you for your interest in featuring my work.

Special thank you to Michelle Atkinson https://www.michelle-atkinson.ca - a wonderful fellow creative for all her contribution to this and her original recommendation to Sait for the feature. When past clients go out of their way to bat for you and offer their support so generously especially without you knowing - it is something I hold with greatest regard and value. Thank you!

10/06/2024

I was invited to take part in the Calgary Petroleum Club's Back to Business Podcast recently. The podcast shares diverse insights and stories from local professionals and I have enjoyed listening to this platform for some time. Check it out.

05/06/2024

I am grateful to be recognized as one of Calgary's Best Rated Photography Studios. Although external recognition is not my primary measure of success, it is always wonderful to be recognized for one's hard work and dedication. I express my gratitude and will continue to strive to deliver a standard of excellence I believe in. Thank you!

https://calgarybestrated.com/best-photography-studio-in-calgary/

26/04/2024

You asked for it. We listened.

In celebration of Mother's Day ❤️ we are excited to announce the first ever Essential Series - mini sessions.

🎙They pack the same award-winning imagery, authentic connection, excellence & service our brand is known for, but with more practicality, honouring busy schedules and smaller budgets.

Honour the moments and people you love the most, see yourself and your loved ones through our lens. Celebrate your individuality in a more streamlined format and walk away with legacy artwork that's meaningful and expressive.

💫 Book any session: Mother + children, branding session, children only portraits, grad portraits, pet portraits, family (up to 4 individuals)

⏳ 2 days only: MAY 3rd & 4th.

🫶 Bookings & details: https://www.cednaportraitstories.com/essentialseries

✌️Tag an exceptional mother you know + follow us & be entered to win your own session! Each tag/post/story earns one entry

Includes:

📸 30 min in studio session

🎯 Full guidance and direction

🪞2 styling and set changes

🖼️ 2 edited, high resolution digital portraits

23/03/2024

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing Gemma Stone. Transitioning from being a professional psychologist to a new career path has brought on many new and exciting changes for her.

She wanted updated branding images and an elevated aesthetic for her new website, diverse business and marketing needs, speaking engagements etc. Keeping her brand colours and new website design in mind, we worked together to incorporate all of those elements as well as some of her favourite things and create a dynamic set of images she can use going forward. We even managed to squeeze in some portraits towards the end of the session with her fiancé to celebrate their new journey together.

They were wonderful human beings to work with, warm, pleasant and present. It has also always been my small secret wish to photograph a beautiful redhead one day so that has come true.

Here is a small sample of their images and I know she will be super successful in her new chapter. Grateful to have been part of the journey.

18/03/2024

I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who attended my "Worthy Woman" photography exhibit on March 9th. Hosting this very first exhibit & event in support of Women on Wings Society was an immense feat for my small business and I couldn't have imagined the support, attendance & generosity that was extended. The response from my community was truly overwhelming, with 140 people in attendance. I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of you. Your presence and encouragement meant the world to me.

For those who couldn't make it, you were greatly missed and I thank you for your messages and well wishes before and after the event. Here is a brief recap: The "Worthy Woman" exhibit was a culmination of a year's work photographing diverse women and sharing their stories of resilience, courage as well as their perspectives on worthiness, aging, purpose, identity etc. The intent is to have this be an annual series and exhibit, a celebration of intentional art, authenticity & human connection while also supporting a local charity of our choice. Through my work I strive to shine a spotlight on diverse and grit filled stories that make us human, the importance of the relationship we have with ourselves & create legacy art that celebrates individuality.

🎯 $4700 Raised for Women on Wings
I want to express my sincerest appreciation to all the businesses & individuals who donated to the Silent Auction and everyone who made the auction a success while helping us raise $4700 for the charity. We had close to 30 items on display, an immense testament to our community's support and giving nature.

💗 Congratulations to Maeghen Cotterill who won a $2600 custom portrait session

💌 Over 45 individuals took part in the "Write a Letter to Your future self" activity and those will be mailed out to them on their specified dates

📸 The Second Installation of the Worthy Portrait Series is underway!

Applications are being accepted now through to December 1, 2024. This transformative portrait experience seeks to explore the multi-faceted nature of being a woman and inspires women to see themselves through a new lens. If you have a perspective to share or have never existed in a legacy portrait or you know inspiring women who have overcome adversity all information and applications can be found at: https://www.cednaportraitstories.com/worthy-woman

A limited # of copies of the Magazine were printed and 10 remain available for purchase at $35. You can get your copy here: https://buy.stripe.com/9AQbM33VR5dn01O4gh

⭐ A special thank you to all the vendors who made this possible
Venue 308, New West Video (https://newwestvideo.ca), Gulpa Photo -(www.com-photo.com), Danielle Rook (musician), Impact Framing (Exhibit artwork), Nancy Hughes http://www.hughesfineart.ca/about.htm, Emerson Clarke - Magazine Printing, Blooms by Bridgeland (www.bridgelandmarket.com) for the beautiful flowers, Ezmic Balloons for Decor, Roma Catering, Lina's Italian, Bridgeland Market & Sweetsbydali for all the food and desserts.

A few image highlights

02/03/2024

Come and celebrate International Woman's Day with purpose and in style. Join us for an intimate and inspiring social event featuring 33 local women, their soulful portraits and touching stories of resilience, identity, purpose, aging and worthiness. This event is a celebration of stories that make us human and is bound to inspire self-reflection, compassion and challenge your perspectives.

🎶 Live music
💫 A silent Auction in support of Women on Wings Society
🥗 Delicious food and delectable treats
📸 Signature portrait session giveaway valued at $2600
🤲 A community of inspiring women, meaningful connection and moving conversations. All are welcome!

Come with a curious spirit, present mindset and desire to be inspired, moved & entertained.

This is for you if you are:
- seeking an uplifting and unique experience & are a lover of the arts, creative expression, culture and meaningful human connection
- are dedicated to personal growth, learning, contribution & supporting meaningful causes in your community
- enjoy engaging with diverse people
- looking to spend a fun, immersive evening with inspiring women in your life
- navigating a challenging season in life, have emerged from one and/or are in transition personally or professionally

Come and support a great cause, view a dynamic exhibit dedicated to everyday women and be inspired to look within, reflect and honour your individuality, personal story and your own unique voice. Tickets on Eventbrite "Worthy Woman Exhibit"

20/02/2024

Calgary, the countdown is on! 17 days only to the Worthy Woman exhibit. Join us for an intimate and inspiring social event featuring 33 women and their raw and gritty perspective on resilience, identity, purpose, aging, worthiness and beauty. Live music, a silent auction in support of Women on Wings charity, food, self-guided activities, a community of inspiring women and a portrait experience giveaway valued at $2600. All are welcome.

This event is a celebration of stories that make us human, of strength & resilience that lies within each of us. Come with a curious spirit, present mindset and desire to connect with others for an evening that promises to inspire, entertain and shift perspectives. Come and celebrate International Women's day in style and with purpose.

This is for you if you are:

● seeking an uplifting experience and are a lover of arts, creative expression, culture and meaningful human connection
● are dedicated to growth, learning, contribution and supporting meaningful causes
● enjoy engaging conversations that challenge your perspective
● looking to spend a fun and engaging evening with inspiring women in your life
● navigating a challenging season in life, have emerged from one and/or are in transition.
● want to be inspired and moved to look within, reflect and realign with who you are, who you aspire to be and what you value in life

🔥All early bird tickets sold out

18 general admission tickets remain. LINK IN BIO. TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

12/02/2024

9 yrs ago today I lost my grandmother, my “nana". It was the largest loss I had experienced up to that point. I still feel waves of grief to this day; I miss her so very much. She had countless massive surgeries, survived colon cancer & lived with a colostomy bag for over 15 years. She was a fierce & complex human, she had enough spirit, wit & character to fill the world. She was a mother & grandmother to everyone, a friend to doctors that treated her, to priests, musicians, artists. Where ever she went she left a ripple. She was resilient, opinionated, strong, intelligent, kind - her home was everyone’s home. She always supported every single decision/action I ever took. I still remember her embraces, the feel of her skin, her arms wrapped tightly around me as though I was the only person in the world; every hug so fervent, so intentional & filled with so much love. She loved me & oh how I loved her.

Endless sweltering summer nights during my visits home filled with conversation, laughter, singing, reminiscing & story telling. With her a million lifetimes of conversation would not be enough. She was my home. I was fortunate to have her meet Nastasia, we shared so much joy during those visits. As a child I loved watching her meticulous grooming habits, from hygiene to her wardrobe to her household. There was order to everything.She had style & grace, even after she couldn’t buy clothing that fit with her colostomy bag, she paid to have beautiful clothing made for her.

She taught me how to recite 5 page long poems by memory, creative reading & penmanship which I won competitions with, she starched my dresses to perfection for first days of school, sat in first row of all my recitals & performances. This same grandmother considered herself to be an ‘exceptionally ugly’ woman, which she told me a few yrs before passing. The comment ravaged my heart. How could she not know that was the most beautiful person to me. My aunt passed shortly after, she was only 60 and I miss her so much also. Her acts of love were acts of service. She loved me and welcomed me each time, she was feisty and funny. My memories of her are mostly of dancing together, music and singing.

Everything in this life is transient. One day we will all be forgotten. For a time some of us at best may be a photograph on someone's wall, at worst, in a box or on a hard drive removed from daily life…and then we’ll cease to exist & fade from memory altogether.

10/02/2024

I photographed Andrea back in December for the Worthy Woman Series. I have known her for many years but she wanted to be part of this particular initiative to take a much needed self-connection pause after decades of devoting herself to her family, career and others. After a series of emotionally tolling events that took a great chunk out of her physically and emotionally, she was at last making a committment to herself to do something just for her. She wanted to mark the years that have passed, the present moment and where she is currently at and document herself in a way that is true and meaningful. We had an exceptionally fun day, filled with so much laughter and humour, she is bold, unapologetic, feisty, hilarious and here is just a tiny preview of our time together.

Her full story and portrait will be on display at the Worthy woman exhibit on March 9th at Venue 308, alongside 30+ other women. If you haven't gotten your ticket yet, only a handful remain on Eventbrite (link in bio). Come down for an evening of live music, food, giveaways, silent auction and support a local charity (Women on Wings). Custom portrait session valued at $2600 each will also be given away.

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