Interview with: Jennifer Kirk of Jennifer Kirk Photography

I first met Jenn about 10 years ago through my sister-in-law Lisa and immediately loved her personality and giant smile (she's smiling and laughing all the time by the way). She was just getting into the photography business and travelled with us to Martha's Vineyard to be a guest and to shoot Lisa's wedding. She was so much fun to have around that when it came time to decide a photographer for our wedding we asked her. Here's the kicker... we got married in Italy and she agreed to travel with us! It was amazing having her along for the trip and she did such a fantastic job. She lives in BC now and has taken the west by storm with her business Jennifer Kirk Photography. Read more about this fantastic gal below.

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Tell me about Jennifer Kirk. What do you love to do, hate to do, wish you could do?

I love camping, hitting my reset button beside a quiet mountain lake. I love trying new things and new foods. I love fancy dinners. I hate waking up to an alarm. I wish mortgages didn’t exist so I could spend more time travelling!

How did you get into the photography business?

I didn’t know I would end up loving weddings so much. I attended a wedding show with a friend who had asked me to shoot her wedding, it would be my first. I met someone who was looking for an assistant, so I did that for a while to gain experience. I shot my first wedding in film on the island of Martha’s Vineyard that summer, which makes this August my tenth anniversary in the wedding industry!

Why did you start your own company?

I strive for a balance in my life – making my own hours has always appealed to me. Being self-employed is more work in a lot of ways, but the cliché is right, do what you love and it doesn’t seem like work. I thrive under pressure and revel in providing my clients with something that will last a lifetime. Working for myself is a natural fit.

What do you think is missing from the photography industry and how do you want to change it?

Tough question! This industry changes every year. I think there are things both missing and in abundance but I try to focus on what I am doing, and on pleasing my hard-earned customers. I don’t want to change anything so long as my business model is producing happy clients!

What types of photos do you love to take?

The kind that show personality, and realness. Somebody once told me “use what is great about you to show others what is great about them” and a few years ago, a groom saw himself in all his bear-hug, teary-eyed glory in my photos and realized what everyone loves about him, that he loves BIG. That moment summed it all up for me.

What are you passionate about outside of photography?

Fitness… if I’m not taking or working on photos I’m probably at the gym. I’m also a certified fitness trainer and I love helping people find their love for health and fitness. It’s something that works nicely with my business and in fact enhances it, I no longer feel like I’ve been hit by a bus after shooting a wedding! It’s just another day, and I’m usually spending some of it at the gym.

Favourite food to eat?

Do I really have to pick just one? I can’t. It’s a toss up between bacon, those little white donuts, crab legs and pasta.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Africa. A safari is definitely on my bucket list, along with a scuba diving experience off Matagascar with the whale sharks.

Thanks so much Jenn! See more of Jenn's work on her website here.

Patrick Lajoie Photography

I first noticed the work of Patrick Lajoie at The One of Kind Show last year and instantly fell for his work. I love how he makes everyday events and things look extraordinary. My favourites are the photos of random signs and beach scenes. I particularly love his long 6 x 48 Image Transfer pieces. I didn't bother to include them here because they wouldn't fit! 

I've been keeping an eye out for original art and Patrick's work tops the list. To see more beautiful pieces visit his website here. Or visit his Etsy shop here.

ps- Patrick is also an accomplished workworker! He has an Etsy shop called Studio Liscious where he makes and sells gorgeous pieces for the home.

leo's first year: photobook

My best friend C had a great idea after her first-born turned a year old: make a photobook of all the pics and milestones of her daughter's first year. I love the idea, especially because no one seems to print photos anymore! Well I do print some of them and then they stay in the envelope until I find a frame or somewhere to put them.

Anyway, I'm a bit of a Grouponer (just a bit, I'm not crazy about it or anything. So what if I got a Groupon for a night out for 6 to go bowling - I thought it would be fun!). Well Photobook has deals all the time for photobooks (duh), so I snagged one to make a book for little guy. Basically the deal was $35 I think for a book worth $115 - pretty good deal if you ask me!

(NOTE: If you're going to do this, just keep note of the timing of when you get the Groupon. The deals typically last a year - so that means you have a year to make your book. That also means you don't want to be buying your book when you're 8 months pregnant because you're going to have to finish the book before your mini-me is a year old - defeats the purpose!)

When it was time (and I wasn't propping my eyes open with toothpicks anymore) I went through all my photos on the computer and made a folder for the photobook. I then downloaded the program from the site and spent about 3 months procrastinating working on the book. It actually takes some thought as to where you want the photos to go. There are cheesy backgrounds you can use. I started off with a white background, but Mark talked me into doing black and I like it much better.

After adding my photos and playing around with the layout, I came up with an over all look that the hubs and are pretty happy with. It helps that I used some photos from family photo shoot care of our amazingly talented friend Jennifer Kirk. It looks so professional (well her pics do ;)).

Here are more shots of the inside of the book - I know it's likely weird to look at pictures of pictures but it's fun at the same time right?

Ahh that last pic is so sweet - one of my favourites...

So there you have it! My book of Leo's first year. I'll likely do one for the new babes too but have to wait until she gets here!

(fyi - I didn't work with Photobook for this post - it's all me! Oh and my crazy Groupon habit)

A few wedding pics

Ok time for a few wedding pics -- sooner than expected! Our photographer Jennifer Kirk from Jennifer Kirk Photography sent over some teaser pics from our wedding and man I really can't wait to see the rest of the bunch now! oh did I mention she was amazing???? She lives in BC and loves to travel ;)


At Poppi Castle after the ceremony -- M and I drove around in this fun red car!


One of our many pics taken in the town of Poppi.


Our little red car! This road led to our villa.


At the villa showing off our puckers.


We had fireworks at the end of the night and Jenn managed to catch the moment perfectly!