Have you ever watched a tv series that you loved so desperately that you never wanted it to end? For me, that was Firefly. Only 13 episodes and 1 movie and it was all over. But to be honest, I don’t know if it would have been as good as it was had it not come to an end. It’s like the book you love to read and never want to stop, yet you also wish for your favorite character to find their way home, find solace, and move forward.
Endings are hard - but they are also beautiful because they make space for newness, growth and joy.
This is a post about change.

In 2015 I found myself leaving a shared studio space that cost one tenth of the new one I was going into. It was an incredibly scary leap that I knew I had to take. From the moment I set eyes on Unit 570 I knew that THIS would be the place that I would be able to truly carve out space and experiences for the lives I wanted to impact. There was just….something about the space.

The following year I found myself with more stuff than my 734sqf could handle, so I took the leap to adding on a second studio space down the hall - Unit 560. In here, I was able to create a special space for our inclusive wardrobe, our makeup and hairstylists, and when I hosted the first Boudoir workshop in Winnipeg, I was able to split the attendees up with our models. 1 year after that, I built a wall to separate the hair & makeup station from the shooting area. This studio brought all my dark and moody dreams to life and I am so thankful that I was able to expand my business to cater to my clients’ desires.

Since 2015 I have photographed over a thousand bodies - most in studio, but some abroad, and it has given me so much joy to see so many humans look at themselves a little differently than when they first stepped in front of my lens. I have been able to witness literal transformation from the start of sessions to the end, have amazing conversations with those willing to sit with me and share their stories, create projects that change the perception of the world - not just the person participating, and create, create, create.

I have had employees come and go, but the studio was always there.
I cried with my clients and I cried by myself.
The studio held me close to her as I worked around the clock, high on the passion of an entrepreneur - providing me a safe space to sleep, nap and rest at various points in my journey.

I have learned so much - SO MUCH - about what it means to a business owner, an entrepreneur, a changemaker, a photographer, and a creative. I encountered a lot of …… learning opportunities. I faced up to my fears and I took chances on myself in ways that I never thought I could.

It was through the photographing of so many bodies that I started my journey to understand body image. It was through photographing so many willing humans, both clients and muses, that I learned to master my craft and become an award winning, globally recognized photographer (clearly, it also helped my confidence). This led me to becoming a leading voice in the photography industry, advocating and educating for diversity of the bodies that we see - only to recognize that the photographers had the same insecurities as my clients. With every client, with every session, every project - I encountered the most amazing humans who were willing to share their desires & fears around having their body photographed and this allowed me to find my purpose.

A purpose that extends far beyond the lens of my camera.

Everything is connected
and was brought to me by change.
And everything was scary, new and difficult…
until it wasn’t.

And it all comes back to the times that I took a chance on myself.
When I took a chance on myself to leave Great West Life to pursue my photography career.
When I took a chance on myself to leave shooting weddings to pursue shooting boudoir/empowerment photography.
When I took a chance on myself to take on my first solo studio.
When I took a chance on myself to add on a second studio.
When I took a chance on myself to apply to be an educator.
When I took a chance on myself to go back to school and become certified in Applied Positive Psychology.
When I took a chance on myself to execute project after project.
When I took a chance on myself to put up a body positive billboard.
When I took a chance on myself to run Body Image Bootcamp.
When I took a chance on myself to write and publish The Geode Theory: Chipping Away At Body Image.

And now, I must take a chance on myself to leave my studios.

July 9, 2022 will be my final day photographing clients and working at 70 Arthur Street: Unit 570 & 560.

For the last 2 years, I’ve been uncomfortably comfortable.

When I first started my boudoir business in 2015, I did it because no one was showcasing bodies like mine and I wanted to change that. My mission was to make every body realize that they are worthy of being photographed - now, 6 years later I am happy to say that more and more photographers have come on board and are becoming educated in how to make every body feel comfortable, safe, and empowered.
As such, my time has come to move on to the next thing.
I get restless when I know I can be more useful elsewhere.

You see, I’m a bit of a disrupter.

One of my strengths as an entrepreneur is that I am innovative and always looking to fill gaps in the industry (whichever industry I am in) that will help empower more people and this is why I shift and change so much. I have come to recognize that I am the one the loves to take the path less traveled - if I take any path at all (I’m usually the one scrabbling through the sticks and getting branches stuck in my hair). I like to chart the course, trample the grass, and clear the way so those that come behind me will have an easier time doing it.

This is my gift.
This is my superpower.

So, what’s next?

Well, my hope is that for the next year I will get to empower as many humans as I possibly can before I make my grand exit from 70 Arthur Street. During this time, I want to create as much as I can and really make an impact on clients and photographers alike.

Now, will this mean I will stop photographing all together?

No, no, no.

I will still be using photography as a medium in my purpose, but it will have a slightly different job. You’ve probably noticed an uptick in my self portraits - so this will obviously continue, but I will also be using my camera to teach, capture and continue to diversify the photography industry. I am, however, going to be refocusing my attention (you may have already noticed) on working with and for photographers and creatives to help them create the most empowering lives for themselves and their clients. When I got into this work it was to have a huge impact - but as one person I can only do so much. If I can help photographers create sustainable businesses, then they can go forward and together we can have an exponential impact on the difference we make in the world.

Essentially, I want to give to the givers.

I want to create spaces, experiences, and education that will help creatives confront the mindset and body image blocks that impact their business and life. From people pleasing to being afraid to ask to be compensated for their limited time to understanding the mindset of a client who is terrified of their body, I want to help these empathetic creatives learn how to challenge the societal standards. Just like I did for clients, I want to offer space and time for a little tough love and whole lot of compassion and education to figuring out how to continuing doing this really important heart work.

I am going to work with the empaths, the healers, the givers, the heart-centered ones.

One of the things lacking in the photography industry is support for the HUMAN behind the camera and I have the experience, know how, knowledge and passion to come in and make sure that the human is taken care of, supported, and empowered.

I will keep writing, speaking, educating, coaching and occasionally photographing content that challenges the beauty standard.

So, here’s what’s going to happen:

Before July 9 2022:

-There will be approximately 45 sessions left
- I will host 2 Beyond the Body boudoir workshops (the first being planned for September!)
- I will do 4 body image focused projects
- I will be looking to sell most of my wardrobe/studio stuff (this will happen starting in May 2022)

The pandemic really helped me realize what I was capable of and where I found the most joy in the work that I do and I am so thankful for everyone who has been a part of this journey. I can’t wait to see where it continues to take me. While there’s a lot of uncertainty, my instincts thus far have put me exactly where I need to be so here’s what I can promise you: this space + my instagram/youtube/etc. will be full of mindset/body image educational goodness and my instagram will still continue to showcase glorious bodies including my own.

In order to fulfill my mission, I must move on from what I’ve done so I can focus on what I still have to do.

If you want to book a session before July 2022, let's connect!

The Hardest Part Was Pushing PUBLISH

I have had employees come and go, but the studio was always there. I cried with my clients and I cried by myself. The studio held me close to her as I worked around the clock, high on the passion of an entrepreneur - providing me a safe space to sleep, nap and rest at various points in my journey.

Everything is connectedand was brought to me by change.And everything was scary, new and difficult… until it wasn’t.