Those of you that follow us know that I (Mandy) have a couple of little rugrats. My girl is going to be 4 in a couple of weeks (where does time go??) and my boy turned 2 in April. They go to daycare a couple of times a week which is essential for us. It gives me time to get a lot of work done and it gives them some time to hang out with other kids without mom there, which I love. It's also so nice to have a few days with them, where I can focus on just them (well most of the time anyhow!). I think I can finally say I have found a perfect work/life balance. It has take a long time to get here, but it is so nice that we have found something that works for us. I know so many other photographers who struggle with this, trying to work every evening and weekend. If you happen to be reading this, feel free to message me to gain some sanity in your life:). My hubby and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary on July 25! Got any fun ideas for us to do? Let me know! I would love to hear them. Here is a family photo from our session last fall with In Love with Photography. We already have our session this year booked at the end of August.
Tidbit Tuesday - PPOC
While doing my own search for a photographer for my annual family photos, I realize that so many photographers put very little on their websites about themselves. I find this so odd, because in my opinion, the person behind the camera is just as important, if not more important than their portfolio... so I decided to write a little something about me over the next little while. Every second Tuesday, I will write a little tidbit, naming the blog posts, Tidbit Tuesday. This week's Tidbit is all about an association I'm a part of, the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC). You can check out their website, Here.
We are so proud to be an accredited member of the PPOC. We currently hold an accreditation in weddings, and working on our accreditation in families. What does that mean? Here is some great information from the PPOC website.
Why Choose an Accredited Professional Photographer?
PPOC’s accreditation process recognizes photographers who have reached a nationally accepted standard of proficiency and knowledge in photographic arts. Achieved by submitting samples of photography to a PPOC Board of Review, this peer-reviewed program challenges candidates to demonstrate their capability of delivering exceptional quality photography in a chosen category.
As a specialist in their chosen field, a PPOC Accredited professional photographer has the proven experience, knowledge and equipment to provide you with a quality product in their area of expertise.
Why become a member?
PPOC welcomes photographers of all genres to join our community. Meet new friends and mentors and take advantage of the wealth of experience and knowledge.
PPOC offers photographers a way to rise to professional status. Educational opportunities, networking, direct member benefits and the ability to earn awards and designations will assist in your potential for growth and economic improvement.
Once an Accredited member, your personal area of specialty and images are promoted on our website so clients and other photographers making referrals know who to contact.
There are currently only a handful of photographers who hold an accreditation in weddings in Saskatoon, and we are so proud to be one of them! This is really the only type of organization across Canada that recognizes and holds photographers to a higher standard. In my opinion, this shows so much more value to our clients. When in reality, anyone can go out and buy a camera and start up a Facebook page. How do we separate ourselves from the rest? We keep pushing ourselves to become the best photographers we can be, as there is so much competition in Saskatoon. The PPOC helps us achieve that.
Tidbit Tuesday - Getting to know your photographer!
While doing my own search for a photographer for my annual family photos, I realize that so many photographers put very little on their websites about themselves. I find this so odd, because in my opinion, the person behind the camera is just as important, if not more important than their portfolio... so I decided to write a little something about me over the next little while. Every second Tuesday, I will write a little tidbit, naming the blog posts, tidbit Tuesday. This week's Tidbit is all about my love for travel.
Our first family trip out of the country was when I was in grade 6, we went to Costa Rica. Our little family of 4 rented a car and drove all over the country seeing everything we possibly could. While I don't remember too much from that trip, I do remember getting up early one morning and heading out in hopes of seeing wild toucans, and not seeing a darn thing! I also remember the rain forest (walking in the clouds), monkeys stealing food from tourists on the beach, and the smells of San Jose, which mostly consisted of exhaust and pollution. This first trip was so exciting and has instilled the 'travel bug' in me at a young age.
4 years later our next family trip was Jamaica. Not an all inclusive resort trip, but again, renting a car and traveling across the whole island trip. It was pretty cool to see the whole island and seeing all the culture there. I do have a few more memories from that trip, like climbing the dunns river falls. Partaking in beach parties in Negril, getting lost in the most dangerous city on the island, Kingston, (which we luckily didn't get shot or robbed, lol), as well as the abundance of marijuana and having the locals pushing it on us (mostly our parents), even though us kids were right there beside them. After this trip, the travel bug hit hard!
The following year, in grade 11 I went on an exchange to France. It was such a positive experience! For the first few days we toured around Paris, seeing all of the touristy things, like the Louvre (seeing the Mona Lisa in person, as well as the original painting of the last supper was pretty cool!), the arc de triomphe, the Eiffel tower, along with many famous castles etc. Once we arrived with our host family, the next 3 weeks weren't nearly as eventful, but never the less, we made the best of it and ate cheese everyday for dessert and hit up the bakery for 'pain au cholcolat' (chocolate chunks baked in bread) on a regular basis.
Our grade twelve year, for the class trip, we had the opportunity to travel to Africa. Tunisia to be exact! I'm so thankful that my parents really valued travel and pushed me to go on all of the trips that we had the opportunity to go on. We did a 10 day tour around the country where we slept under the stars in the Sahara Desert, rode camels through the Sahara Desert, and swam in the Mediterranean sea, just to name a few. This was such a cool trip to go on!!! and even several years later, have so many memories from it.
The year following high school, a friend of mine who worked for Air Canada at the time, asked me if I wanted to take a trip to Europe. Of course I said YES! We hit up 5 countries in 3 weeks, and spent a lot of time waiting in airports (the beauty of flying with an employee is the buddy pass, the draw back is flying stand by). We did Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Holland and Germany, where we got delayed a few days due to 911 happening. It's funny that you always remember where you were when 911 happened. I was in a shoe store in Germany that had TV's everywhere, and seeing these two planes crashing. Because I couldn't understand a word of German, I thought it was pilots who were just out of control. A little while later, we found out it was terrorists. The trip was a whirlwind, but I was so thankful to do it!
Fast forward another year and I took the TESOL course (Teaching English as a Second Language course), which took me to Veracruz, Mexico, where I lived for a year. Again, another amazing opportunity! It was pretty cool living and working in what I like to call 'real' Mexico, where the pot holes put Saskatoons to shame (hard to believe, I know!), the tacos were delicious and the sweat dripping down every inch of your body even at 11pm, was completely normal, because we were too cheap to turn on the AC. Some of my fondest memories were from living abroad, and if you are considering teaching English somewhere, go for it!!!! It was an amazing experience! I have to admit, I'm so glad I did all of these things when I was young because the older I get, the less desire I have to be adventurous.
Each year following my living abroad, I have gone on a trip. Mexico a few times (a couple of those to shoot weddings), Jamaica (again, to photograph a wedding), as well as Maui for the last few years. We've fallen in love with Maui, as it he scenery is that beautiful, tropical palm tress, without the litter, harassment and food born illness that seem to come along with third world countries.
So... as you can see, I love to travel! Even if it is just up to a northern Saskatchewan lake for the weekend. Getting away for a while is good for the soul!!! I feel so thankful I'm able to do it.
I leave you with a few images of our first year in Maui.... why we fell in love!
Tidbit Tuesday
While doing my own search for a photographer for my annual family photos, I realize that so many photographers put very little on their websites about themselves. I find this so odd, because in my opinion, the person behind the camera is just as important, if not more important than their portfolio... so I decided to write a little something about me over the next little while. Every second Tuesday, I will write a little tidbit, naming the blog posts, tidbit Tuesday. This week's Tidbit is all about my childhood!
I was born and raised here in Saskatoon, growing up on the westside (Avenue I North, to be exact), where I looked forward to summer and playing with all the neighbor kids. I remember following my brother and his friends around a lot (he is 4 years older than me), and always picked fights because me, and my best friend, loved to wrestle with him. Until we would end up hurt and crying to my mom who always have him crap for beating us up. Luckily my brother and I have a much better relationship as adults, and now that we have both started families of our own, we get along great.
It's funny because my earliest childhood memory happens to be me getting my photo taken, when I was 3 years old. My brother and I in our PJ's standing in front of the sterio and my parents telling us to get closer together and smile! I'm not sure if I just remember it because I have the photo evidence, but I love that my first memory is of me being in front of the camera. I will have to go and dig that photo up one day, but until then, here is an oldie of my brothers kids a couple of years ago. It's amazing how much changes in just 2 years! They are so big now!
Tidbit Tuesday - A little bit about Mandy!
While doing my own search for a photographer for my annual family photos, I realize that so many photographers put very little on their websites about themselves. I find this so odd, because in my opinion, the person behind the camera is just as important, if not more important than their portfolio... so I decided to write a little something about me over the next little while. Every second Tuesday, I will write a little tidbit, naming the blog posts, tidbit Tuesday. So, my first tidbit... geeze, where do I start?! Let's keep the first one light...
Something you may or may not know about me is that I know 3 languages. Well when I say I know, I use that term very loosely, lol. English is obviously my first language, my second being French. I was in French immersion throughout my entire education, so I think if I went to Montreal I would be able to pick it up quite quickly, as I am super rusty. And the last language I picked up while living in Mexico: Spanish. I lived there for a year teaching English and decided that I had to learn some while living there, so basically I know the basics. I know how to tell a cab driver where to go, how to order off a menu, how to tell someone off, you know, all the basics that you would need to learn being a blond 19 year old female living in a Mexican town where we are the only white people. So when I say I know 3 languages, I can't speak them fluently, but I can totally get by, as long as you speak really slow! LOL. Well being a photography blog, I suppose I should include a photo! I photographed these beauties a few years back. Want to know something about me? Just ask in the comments! I'm an open book!
