I love having the opportunity to second shoot a wedding every once in a while. Erin is a good friend of mine and I always enjoy working with her so I was super-stoked to be able to shoot alongside her at a recent wedding. Check out some of my shots from the day and definitely go check out Erin Walker Photography as well <3
Since you're here you should check out more of my wedding portfolio here and then shoot me an email if you're looking for your own wedding photographer!
connie and billy. married. edmonton wedding photography. /
It's pretty cool when former coworkers think of me for their wedding photography and such was the case with Connie. She's an incredibly supportive photography client (having hired me for her family photos previously as well). When she met Billy, it was meant to be, and they pulled off a lovely, intimate wedding with some friends and family (check out her adorable children, Sammie and Charlie!).
annette and antoine. married. edmonton wedding photography. /
I had a BLAST photographing Annette and Antoine’s wedding this past summer. A few minor hiccups (limo driver not quite knowing where he was going, starting the ceremony errr, a few minutes late (just a few, right?), insane mosquitoes, a very hot day and a crazy storm), a few missing pieces of clothing (girls…you know what I’m talking about) and then a random act of spontaneity (crash a Bluegrass festival? Sure, why not?!) resulted in a lot of fun and some great photos. While you're here you should check out more of my portfolio, too!!
winnie and geoff got married. second shooting for miranda wensel photography. /
I love having the opportunity to second shoot a wedding every once in a while and I was stoked to be able to shoot alongside Miranda Wensel Photography at a recent wedding. Check out some of my favorite shots from the day!
Since you’re here you should check out more of my wedding portfolio here and then shoot me an email if you’re looking for your own wedding photographer!
variety is neat. a grateful reflection on photographic style. /
You know what I love? That when I look around at photographers around me, whether they’re friends, acquaintances, or artists whose work I’ve simply viewed online, that they’re all different. I love that. I like that someone can love multiple people’s work even though the work may look worlds apart in style and skill. I was watching a video this morning about a photographer getting sued by his client over wedding photos and I felt gross for the photographer. I can’t imagine being in his position. I pour my heart into my sessions and, really, (aside from contractual obligations) that’s all a photographer can really guarantee. I guarantee that I love photography more and more each day. I guarantee that I’m trying my hardest to get the best photos I possibly can at each and every session/wedding. There are so many factors that affect photos: sun, clouds, shadows, weather, people, personalities, etc, etc, etc. I can’t guarantee how any of those things will be on any given day but at least I can give it my all!
Being part of different forums for photographers (mostly on facebook) I get to see and hear a lot of what clients don’t get to see and hear. I’ve felt the joy of a photographer who said that her clients were so happy with their photos that they wept. I’ve felt the hurt of a photographer who was ripped to shreds by a client who was unhappy with her photos despite the fact that the photos were COMPLETELY on par with that photographer’s portfolio. I’ve felt the tears of numerous photographers who have felt pressure to give discounts and deals to demanding clients whilst the photographer’s themselves are struggling to pay their rent and buy food for their kids. I’ve cringed at the hurt a photographer felt when another photographer criticized the first photographer’s work and pointed out their flaws without an invite for constructive criticism. I’ve felt frustrated for photographers whose clients have complained that the photographer did a bad job because they captured the client’s wrinkled clothes, tan lines, and double chins.
May I speak for photographers and just say that each and every one of us are on a never-ending journey of learning. Sure the photographer who has been shooting for 20 years will likely know more (and charge more) than photographers like me who have been working in the field for significantly less time. There are ways to lessen things like double chins in photos by getting clients to pose in certain ways that I didn’t know about a year ago. A year from now I’ll probably learn a new trick and then probably another a year after that (haven’t learned yet how to iron an un-ironed shirt by posing yet, but I’ll let you know). Bottom line is I promise, we’re doing our best. And we’re all different (thank goodness for that, right?!).
sarah and greg. married. edmonton wedding photography. /
I had SUCH A BLAST photographing Sarah and Greg’s wedding on Saturday! A beautiful morning turned into one of the loudest, craziest storms I’ve heard in a long time EXACTLY during the ceremony. It was pretty epic having an insane crack of thunder at the exact moment that Greg was asked if he took Sarah to be his wife (poor, sweet flower girl was crying she was so scared). At least everyone was in good spirits and had a good laugh about the weather. The weather cleared up just in time for our formals and thank goodness it did. I’m so happy with the images I could capture for this special couple.
And thanks to Sarah and Greg for making my job so much fun!
jordyn and chris. engaged. /
Check out these engagement pics from a previous session with Jordyn and Chris. So much love.
photography isn't free (or cheap). part two/what we spend our money on... /
I've been reflecting a lot on my business and on business in general (the rights and wrongs, the costs, the fees, the fear...). If you've ever looked into hiring a photographer and were a bit taken aback by the price, I get it. I heard a while ago the simple statement that "People put their money towards what they value" and that really resonated with me and got me thinking about my own life. I hate debt. Hate. It. I can't wait for debt to be out of my life. I would say that this is something I value.
I love Starbucks. Although I don't drink it as much as I used to thanks to my beloved Dolce Gusto machine, there was a (not so distant) time that I was buying a Starbucks every day on my way to my previous job. I did this for probably about 2 years (*blushing*). After a few simple calculations I realized that this meant I was spending approximately $100/month on Starbucks. $100 x 2 years = $2400. Meanwhile, I'd have myself a few good frustrated cries about how my car payment was brutal (it wasn't; it was $300/month) and be a downer about how frustrated I was that I couldn't get rid of my debt.
Insert epiphany here.
It's not that I couldn't get rid of my debt faster. It's that I valued my Starbucks more than putting $2400 towards my debt. There's nothing wrong with spending money on Starbucks. But I did realize that I wasn't as broke as I thought I was. This opened a floodgate of realizations for me (did I tell you I love clothes?!) which has actually been incredible.
This simple statement has also helped me to relax a bit more when it comes to business. I used to be TERRIFIED of charging any more than I charged when I was starting out and building my portfolio (even back when I was charging $100/session I received feedback that I was waayyy too expensive). Once I realized I needed to do a business plan and charge according to what it costs to run a (successful) business I realized that EVERYONE (like me and my Starbucks) puts their money towards a plethera of random or not-so-random priorities. So, if someone can't afford me because they'd rather spend their money on other things then that's okay and I don't need to take it personally!! Pretty liberating, no?
I was perusing my InStyle magazine (yep...I value a subscription to that magazine...) and saw some of the following things that people value (no judgement, believe me, just lots of "Aha" moments):
-Rain boots - $70
-Wedge shoes from J.Crew - $198
-A gorgeous dress from Lida-Baday - $850
-Louis Vuitton Handbag - $1000
-Gaming system (PS3 or the like) - $250
- iPhone - $649
-Eating out 2 times a week at a decent restaurant - $60
-Taking a cab - $30
-Leather Belt - $70
Etc.
Yes, I know that, genuinely, not everyone can afford a $300 photo session. But I also feel released from thinking I need to lower my rates (and my chance of my business becoming successful) because someone tells me they can't afford it (while they walk towards their nice car with their Starbucks in hand with their InStyle tucked under their arm in their J.Crew wedges).
Thoughts?
catherine and steven. second shooting with erin walker photography. /
I love getting the opportunity to second shoot with friends in the industry. Take a look at some of my favorite shots from this shoot with Erin Walker Photography.
Check out more of my work here and then shoot me an email if you're looking for your own wedding photographer!
lisa and brad. married. tofield wedding photography. /
I had the unbelievable privilege of photographing my cousin’s wedding last June. Even though the forecast called for rain it ended up being a gorgeous (aka scorching) day for their outdoor ceremony! Lisa (and her sister, Tracy) have probably been the cousins that I’ve been closest to my whole life. Being a few years older than Lisa, I used to coerce her and Tracy into playing with my hair (head rubs!) for hours at our family gatherings. Years later I was the older cousin that got to babysit them (although it was just less like babysitting and more like hanging out with my friends, watching movies and ordering pizza with the money left by my Aunt and Uncle…good times). We got even closer after the loss of their dear brother, Tim, and then even closer after Lisa and I got to be roomies for a while before I got married last year.
I was pretty stoked when Brad asked Lisa to marry him (in a combine…lol) and even more happy to be able to hang with her and help capture her wedding day. Brad, you got a good one.
photography isn't free (or cheap). part one. /
Some tidbits about my journey from want-to-find-a-hobby-photographer to trying-to-run-a-successful-business-photographer :)
- It was not my plan to do photography professionally when I first picked up a camera in 2006 (Canon Powershot).
- I taught myself most of what I know and then took a 12 hour class on understanding my DSLR with Metro Continuing Education to help cement the things I thought I knew and correct the things I was wrong.
- I got a better camera (Canon Rebel XT).
- I started to love it.
- My sister and her husband were probably the first people to insist on paying me. Rather than assume that they'd get a deal because they were family they said that that was one of the reasons WHY they wanted to pay me (because they believe in investing in people and HELPING them succeed rather than wishing me well but wanting me to photograph them for free).
- I gave some ridiculously sweet deals to some parents I knew through my previous day job in order to build my portfolio and get my name out there. Incredible experience (except for one client who decided to berate me and verbally attack the images I gave her one by one...not fun).
- I started getting better.
- I latched on to an incredible mentor (Jeff from Trident Photography) and he let me shoot with him throughout the span of about a year.
- I kept learning.
- I started getting more inquiries.
- I started Aeris Photography.
- A friend from high school hired me to shoot her wedding (eeeek!!!!).
- I got more inquiries (Awesome!) and then realized that after time driving, shooting, editing, and starting to invest in products like discs, etc. that I was coming out of a $100 session with about $4.
- I raised my prices to what "sounded" like a good number for my business (I was off lol).
- I purchased a website to build and paid the yearly fee.
- I shot some more weddings and other family and portrait sessions.
- I got better.
- I realized that I was burning out having a full-time job plus spending my evenings and weekends shooting and editing.
- I upgraded my camera (Canon 50D).
- I shot more weddings and other family and portrait sessions.
- I dropped to part-time at my other job so I could dedicate more time and energy to my photography clients and shoots.
- I upgraded to a fantastic pro camera (Canon 5D Mark II).
- Fast forward through more time and shoots.
- Did a business plan (FINALLY!!!) and used ACTUAL information and formulas to determine what it actually costs to make a business succeed.
- I raised my prices so that I can actually lead my business towards success!
- More shoots.
- Married my love, Noel, and quit my day job to pursue Aeris as a full-time business :)
I've heard that it's not uncommon for businesses to not see any profit for the first few years so that gives me hope. I also KNOW that God gave me this skill and desire for a reason. I also have an incredible network of supportive friends and family who believe in me and desire for me to see success (*blushing*...my husband is my biggest cheerleader. LOVE HIM!). I know photography can seem like a hefty expense but really, a photographer either has to treat it like a hobby or a business. If it's a hobby then that's awesome if people want to pay you a bit of money! If it's a business and you charge like it's a hobby then you're not going to get anywhere. You'll sink because "hobby money" just doesn't even begin to cover the costs of running a business (or paying taxes on the money you earn!).
Here's a visual to sum up my journey. Photo on the left was taken in 2012, photo on the right was taken in 2008 :)
diana and shawn. married. edmonton wedding photography. /
I worked with Diana years ago in retail and was so honored when she asked me to photograph her wedding. Check out some of my favorite shots!
kathleen and ryan. engaged. edmonton engagement photography. /
Kathleen and Ryan's wedding has already come and gone but I'm so excited about my blogsite that I can't help but go back and blog things I never had the chance to before. Check out some of my favorites from their engagement session last year!
lisa and brad. engaged. tofield wedding photography. /
My sweet and beloved cousin asked me to photograph her wedding and I was so honored to accept. Check out her engagement photos out at her fiance, Brad's, family farm!
