First off, happy belated new year everyone. Thank you all for the support in 2011, my best year yet! It was a year to remember…I traveled far and wide to shoot some spectacular weddings. Places like Seattle, Ontario, Golden…to name a few. I also met some pretty fun people, who I would like to thank for being a part of my success in the past year. Stephanie Koo and I bonded over our love of photography and beer. You may have seen her name pop up a few times on here before. She’s an amazing photographer who has always enriched my wedding collections with fabulous works of art. Also, a big shout out to Bryan and Becka Heck from Twitchy Finger Photography. Over the past few months we’ve developed a great friendship. Becka is an amazing women, mother, and backend entrepreneur. And Bryan is a great guy with an amazing eye for photography. They just updated their site and branding, go check it out.
Of course there are many many others I’d like to thank for helping me through the past year! Brandi-Lee: your smile, embrace, and pizazz is enough to make me melt. Katrina George from Cattleya Chic: you are a very gifted young woman that should never stop what you’re doing! You are beyond the best florist and cookie baker in Red Deer
Carson Pierce: your work on Mikes new site was kick ass, and so is your chili (bring it back?). Jenn and Jess: two words. Local Celebrities. Well merited, might I add. Pam: your passion for traveling has really inspired me! Can’t wait to check out a few more places because of you! Karin + Claude: Thanks for coming out to Alberta! It’s been a fun 6 months having you guys around. Mara: it seems as though 13 years apart couldn’t put a stop to our friendship. I am inspired and rejuvenated by your recent presence in Alberta. Thank you. To all my 2011 clients: you are truly amazing. I cannot thank you enough for the encouragement, support, love, and praise that I have received from you. You make it so worth it.
On that note, I would also like to thank my husband, Mike. I know it soooo obvious and cliche, but he is my rock. Every night when I go to sleep, I thank my lucky stars that he and I found each other that summer 10 short years ago. Of course it took him 2 years after we met to really appreciate my quirky ways and wild personality, but that’s a whole other story….for another day/blog post perhaps
I want to let everyone know that I am still here. There has been some discussion in the past few months of letting the business become casual (5 weddings per year) and starting up a whole new project (family friendly cafe which, if anyone wants to open one, there’s a huge market for It! I’ll be your most valuable customer). But….. because I still love my job, I’ve decided to let go of the cafe project, and re-embrace photography once again as a full time career!
I’m sure you guys have noticed that I haven’t been very active and dedicated as of late. Maybe even bummed out at times… Part of me wants to blame the industry. With an insane surge of “photographers” lately it’s been hard to stay positive and focused in this market. Being labeled as a wedding photographer felt a little awkward a few months ago, when the majority of newcomers were mom-entrepreneurs looking for a fun job to try out. Not to take anything away from those photographers, but I just felt a little disenchanted because of the influx in the market. It would hurt to say the words “wedding photographer” because I knew people would label me as a “mom-with-a-hobby-job” despite the fact that I spent 4 grueling years at ACAD in Photography. This is not my hobby, or a quick way to stay at home and make some money. This is my career, my calling, my source of income. I hope this isn’t coming off too arrogant. I appreciate everyone in my market, new and old.
In the end, I can’t blame the market. Its not taking any business away from me. I am the one to blame. It’s because of self pity and a temporary loss of love for something I used to live for. Mike often helps me work out my business kinks, and tonight I was asking him how he manages to stay so positive with the overwhelming amount of realtors in Red Deer. He just said you either sink, because you give up treading amongst the chaos, or you paddle faster so they can’t keep up…and that’s what I’m going to do. I will stay afloat. I will stay positive. I will love this art again. My goal is to get back to basics. I want my clients to walk away happy, humbled, and delighted with their experience with me.
So in other words. I’m back bitches.
Here’s a cute photo collection of what we’ve been up to lately. There’s a lot of Mara in this set….Just so pumped that she came from Toronto to visit! Thanks Mars. ps. these photos are a mishmash from everyone’s cameras.
