Happy to share a few of my winning images from the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada Summer 2015 Contest. Honoured to have my images chosen among the many submissions from incredible photographers all over Canada. Have a look here to see other exiting Canadian photographers (and some talented fellow Vancouver Island Photographers as well)
PWPC Spring 2014
I used to not enter contests. I used to not wear sunglasses or my hair down either. I didn't try yoga, or water skiing either. I didn't wear sunglasses or my hair down because I didn't want people to think, that I thought I was cool. I didn't try yoga because I was afraid I might not be good at it. I didn't try, because I was unsure of the unknown. I didn't used to enter contests I for similar reasons. What if I'm not good enough, what if I don't win. What if I don't "place" , what if my peers, industry professionals just think I'm a joke. A girl with a camera. A few years ago I started entering, for different reasons... but mainly to push myself. To try. What if I fail??? Well... what if I DON'T. What if I'm in a yoga class with a bunch of amazing yogi's, all bendy and in perfect form and I fall on my face.... really who cares.
What happens if I love it. What happens if I don't fail. What happens when I place third among talented Canadian wedding photographers for my images?
What happens if I try and fail. Oh well... Elliot {my one year old} falls down pretty much every 10th step. He always gets back up. He always tries again. He just stands up. He just falls, and then stands up again. I recently came across a quote that I love so much "The worst thing is watching someone drown and not being able to convince them that they can save themselves by just standing up." I could just stand up. I could just pull myself up and go for it. I tried yoga for the first time in October 2013 and have been hooked and in love with it ever since. I am miles from some master yogi... however, I try. I feel better. I would just never go before, I would be frustrated with my aching body but not be actually DOING anything about it. Then I thought... If I can give birth to a 10 pound 8 oz baby without any drugs or pain medication... I CAN DO YOGA. I can enter contests, I can do whatever I want.
Lets do this people. I believe the secret is to not focus on what you can't do... and just focus on what you CAN do. In any case, I feel humbly proud today. I feel honoured to share these contest results from the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada today. I wouldn't have ever known that I could place so highly, if I didn't try. I'm grateful for many things, but today, I'm grateful for the ability to always pull myself up, and try.
Be brave friends. It is your life. Yours.
