With the new year coming in hot, it’s the perfect time to update that headshot! We have a brand new promotion that is available for one day only!
When: Wednesday, January 23.
Where: Memories by Mandy photography studio
Cost: Regular: $399, sale price for one day only is $199
Includes: 10-15 minute session and 5 digital files (photographers choice).
Contact us to snag your spot!
Happy New Year!
What’s new at the studio?
-Our yearly rotating corner has rotated into a beautiful deep blue painted corner that I`m so in LOVE with!
-Short and Sweet sessions were released via our email list and social media pages and are almost full! (only one session left in Feb, and one in March). All of the info can be found HERE.
Highlights of 2018:
January:
-Had our canvas hung in the airport over the month.
-Bought a new couch!
-Did our first Pet Portrait minis for Newhope dog rescue with Joi Photo.
February:
-Went to Maui and photographed some wonderful clients/friends/family.
-Celebrated a full year at our current studio.
March:
-Installed new front entrance photo of my little ones! They’ve already grown so much since this was taken.
May:
-WON my first NATIONAL AWARD.
-Memories by Mandy celebrates 11 years in business!
June:
-We started shooting a lot more outdoors with the beautiful spring weather!
July:
-Spent some family time at the lake.
-We won a road trip with Chevrolet Canada!!! You can read all about it here!
-Saw our 2nd graduation of our mentorship class.
August:
-Went on a holiday and put down my (big) camera for 2 weeks and made some great memories with my family.
-Broke our record for Trash the Dress!!!
September:
-Craziest month of the year!
-Shot my first outdoor ceremony where it snowed (at the end of Sept!)!!
October:
-I turned 36 and had the best birthday with my little family.
-Won a Judges choice award for this image in our provincial image competition for this image.
November:
-Christmas mini’s were a huge hit!
December:
-Another crazy month.
-Enjoyed xmas with my family.
-Painted at the studio.
-Bought a new loveseat and chair!
2018 is going to be a hard year to beat… Here is to 2019!!!
As you may or may not know, I volunteer with an amazing organization here in Saskatoon called Empty Arms. Empty Arms is a nonprofit organization passionate about providing support to individuals and families that experience grief and bereavement due to perinatal loss. I was asked by my friend, and one of the founders of the organization, to volunteer as a photographer for them. I respectfully declined, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t feel like I could physically do it. I get the pleasure of photographing people at their happiest times, not the worst day of their lives, and quite honestly, I was scared. What if I cry? What if I say the wrong thing? So many, what if’s….
Fast forward 6ish months and I got a phone call from a past client of ours, Stacey. Stacey was 7 months pregnant and after a routine ultrasound, they were told the devastating news, there was no heart beat. Her precious baby had passed and she was being induced that evening. She asked if I was available to come to the hospital to photograph their precious baby, once he was born. How could I say no? I got the call saying their baby boy was born and I made my way to the hospital, feeling nervous, but honored to be asked to capture their precious baby boy. When I arrived, all of my fears melted away as I captured all of his tiny features, and the tremendous heartache that was felt in the room. I cried, and quickly realized that is OK to cry with this family who invited me capture such an intimate part of their lives. I’m only human. I left the hospital room, feeling very grateful for my experience and thought how amazing was this gift I was able to give this family. I immediately called Empty Arms and signed up to volunteer as a photographer with them.
I don’t have permission to share any images/stories from Empty Arms, so I reached out to Stacey to see if it was OK if I shared her story. I was delighted she said yes. I know this isn’t an easy thing to do, so thank you, Stacey & Mark, for allowing me to share this tender moment in your families lives.
I think when this happens the biggest thing is people don’t know what to say or do, so I asked Stacey to share her experience, and asked her, is there a right or wrong thing to say? Here is her story:
-Tell us a bit about your pregnancy with Connor (right up until delivery): I am a very organized, and calculated Type A individual so I had started my prenatal vitamins and done prenatal bloodwork months before we planned on trying to get pregnant. One doctor even joked with me about being so eager to do testing prior to even being pregnant. Our pregnancy with Connor was pretty much text book perfect, I had a bit of nausea and sickness int he first trimester, but nothing unbearable. We found out we were pregnant in April and our due date was December 21, 2015, the day before my Husband's 30th birthday. We took our weekly baby bump photos and went to all our check ups and appointments. We had a routine check up on October 26th, I was 33 weeks pregnant, and told Mark not to bother coming with me cause it would just be a quick appointment, but he insisted. In the doctor's office in town, she couldn't find a heart beat. She looked at us, very calmly and said, "I want you to drive straight to RUH, and go right up to Fetal Assessment. I will call ahead and they will be ready and waiting for you. Baby is probably just laying in a funny position but I just want to make sure". Mark and I drove to Saskatoon in mostly silence, with tears in our eyes, assuming the worst but hoping for the best. Unfortunately Fetal Assessment confirmed our worst fear, they couldn't find a heart beat with a doppler and the ultrasound confirmed no heart beat, sitting in that ultrasound room we were told "I'm so sorry, but your baby has passed away".
The rest of the day is kind of a blur, it seemed to take both forever and an instant all at once. We drove the hour home to pack our bags to come back to the hospital to be induced and deliver our baby. On our way home, we called all our immediate family and let them know what was happening. Once getting home, a moment that I will never forget is Mark and I both standing in the nursery, not sure what to do or say or think or pack... we just stood together, mostly in shock, staring at the empty crib and closet of hanging newborn onesies. Eventually, we got ourselves packed up and headed back into the hospital, where we were admitted to the antepartum wing and started the induction process around 10pm. We were moved into a delivery room the next afternoon and our angel, Connor Jeffrey, was born at 5:41pm on October 27th, 2015, at 2lbs 12oz and 15' long.
-Why did you choose to have photos taken of him? I first reached out to Mandy on the evening of the 26th, on our drive back into the city. Again, being the Type A, organized person that I am, I had been googling still births on our drives and taking photos was one of the things recommended to do. I remember saying that I wasn't even sure if we would want to look at the photos right away, but I knew we wanted to get them taken. We also had a few nurses and doctors suggest getting photos taken as well. Looking back, I am so grateful that we decided to get them done. We don't look at them often but I am so thankful we have them, they really are a priceless memory.
-How long ago was that and how are you doing now? It's been 3 years since we lost Connor, and while time definitely helps dull some of the pain, losing a baby is really a loss like no other. We had a happy, healthy baby girl in August 2016 and and recently welcomed our third child in November. So that has really helped distract us and keep us focused on our growing family.
-What advice would you give to others who have gone through something similar? Everyone grieves differently, there is no right or wrong way. There will be good days and bad days and that's ok. Mark and I grieved differently and while at times we may not have understood each other's process, the most important thing was that we were there for each other. It was so helpful to have that person beside you who just understood you, without having to say a word or explain yourself.
Also, we had the most amazing nurses at RUH, they deal with similar situations every day and are so very helpful, so trust them or ask them if you have any questions, they are just the most lovely people. Our doctors were also so very supportive and helpful, we never felt rushed and always felt listened too and understood. We are so lucky to have such amazing healthcare professionals in Saskatoon, they have lots of great recommendations too, so while you may not be ready, take notes or follow up when you are ready to do so, they have seen and helped many other couples through the same situations.
-What advice would you give to others who have loved ones who have gone through something similar? We are blessed to be surrounded by such supportive and loving friends and family. I don't know if there is ever a 'right' thing to do and there certainly isn't a step by step guide but, just letting them know that you are there for them with a simple text or note goes a long way. There are many ways to show that support as well. One of my girlfriends came to our house while we were in the hospital and made sure we came home to a clean house, Mark's brother hauled grain for us that week, so Mark could stay home with me, so many people brought food and freezer meals and sent cards and flowers. We did not expect so many beautiful gestures but everyone was so very appreciated. It gives you a lot of strength to know you have so many people who love and support you.
-I think people are often scared to bring up baby who was lost or aren't sure what to say. What advice would you give to someone who has a friend or family member loose a baby? This is a tough one, I often struggle with this one myself, my best advice is that there sometimes can be a wrong time and place to bring up sensitive subjects and emotions are a funny thing, you never know when they are going to catch someone off guard. Timing can be really important.
-How can a friend or family member help you to remember your child? We have received so many gifts and trinkets. This summer, almost 3 years after his passing. one of our amazing family friends gifted us a beautiful planter with a stone sleeping angel figurine, it was such a heartfelt gift and we were so touched. It is so amazing to see the ways he has touched not only our lives, but the lives of people around us as well. We also have received messages and stories about dreams people have had or angel readings where our baby has come up. All of these messages and gestures are so very special to us.
-Is there a right or wrong thing to say? Again, this depends on the person/couple and your relationship with them. I often found the people's comments hurtful, even when I knew they had good intentions. Sometimes the best this to say is a simple "I'm sorry for your loss".
-Do you prefer to talk about him or keep him to yourself? - I would like to talk about him more but even 3 years later, it is still hard for me to do so. I don't want to make a conversation awkward or sad when we're talking about pregnancy or new babies with another mom. Even though it is sometimes hard, we really do like when others talk about him and share thoughts and memories of him!
If you or someone you know, has experienced baby loss at any gestation, please contact Empty Arms. They have an amazing support staff, as well as private facebook groups to help you connect with others who have gone through something similar. HUGE thank you again to Stacey and Mark for sharing your story. Even if this helps one person reading it will be worth it. XO.
I absolutely love shooting in our Saskatoon photography studio all year long. This family was a treat to have at our Saskatoon studio last month. We did manage to get quite a few ‘looking at the camera smiling’ images considering the kiddos didn’t have much interest in sitting…. Smiling, on the other hand, wasn’t an issue! Can’t get over how cute my clients are!!!
Our Christmas mini's are here!!! They are happening Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, November 4!
Our Christmas mini’s are SOLD OUT! If you wish to hear about them first next year, please get in touch to get on our email list. Cheers!
Take a look at what this year's set looks like!!! We are so excited!!!
2018 Christmas mini set
Come to our north end Saskatoon photography studio for your 15 minute session on our Limited Edition Christmas Mini set for just $60 for the whole family (or just the kids)! Digital files, and extras are available at an additional cost. Please see packages for info.
We also have a few add on's available this year!
Christmas Cards:
25 cards: $150
50 cards: $225
75 cards: $250
100 cards: $275
Framed prints:
5x7 framed print $49
8x10 framed print $59
11x14 framed print $99
16x20 framed print $199
Christmas ornaments: $49
FAQ
What do we wear?
-We suggest wearing festive clothing. (However, no big logos or busy patterns! Plain always looks best) Feel free to dress up in your pretty Christmas outfits or come in your Christmas PJ’s. It’s up to you! (As long as it matches Red, as our set has just the right amount of pops of red!)
Is the session fee just $60? What does that include?
-Our session fee for the mini’s is just $60 and that includes your 15 minute session. Digital files and add on's like Christmas cards are additional.
When do I place my order for my preferred package?
-We ask that you please choose which package you would like at the time of booking your session.
What type of payment do you accept?
-We accept Cash, cheque, email money transfers, Visa & Mastercard, Amex.
What do you require to hold our day/time?
-We require the full amount of your session and package as your non refundable retainer. If something comes up and you aren’t able to make it, your package is transferable to another family.
Can the parents be in the images too? Or is this just limited to children?
-The whole family is welcome! Depending on the ages of the kids, we suggest the sessions for families of 5 or less due to the size of the set. If the kids are too large for your lap, the set will be too small for your family, sorry. Please ask if you have a special situation!
Do you have examples of your work from previous mini sessions?
-Yes! You can take a peek at last year's mini sessions HERE.
Someone in my family is in a wheelchair. Is your studio wheelchair accessible?
-Sorry, our studio is upstairs without elevator access.
How do I book?
-You can book your session by emailing us at: mandy@memoriesbymandy.ca , or through our website: memoriesbymandy.ca.
I think that covers it! If you have any other questions, please contact us through email: mandy@memoriesbymandy.ca! Cheers!
These adorable kids came into the studio a couple of weeks ago to get some updated photos. They LOVED every minute of being in front of the camera. I wish I had more time to spend with them!!! Here are a few fav’s from our day.
Last spring, our mentorship student, Suzie, from Suzie Colleen Photography, had a baby!!! We did our ‘newborn mentorship class’ in Suzies home. Here are a few images from the day. Thanks again Suzie for having us!
Looking for some sweet ideas for your own baby photos? Check these out!!!
As photographers, we are always showing the best images of the cutest smiles, but in reality, sometimes it doesn’t always go as planned. I just love this outtake!
This fun family decided to go with our CASUAL extended family session. It includes an extra 30-45 minutes to ensure we get some great candid’s along with the posed shots. It also ensures time to get plenty of shots of the grandkids, playing and having fun. This crew was a blast! I feel so lucky to have such wonderful people grace my camera.
We did one year anniversary photos for this adorable couple around the Broadway area here in Saskatoon. I wanted to do an evening session, and they obliged. I'm so glad they did. They were naturals in front of the camera:). Here are just a few fav's from our session! Saskatoon is so beautiful, It's so fun to utilize it in the summer months.
