2017 // a year of stories, laughter and travel

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this series for seven years. That I’ve been taking pictures for almost ten years (ten years on a dslr in September 2018). And 2017 has been an amazing time – the amount of travel that sweetmoon has given me – this is the kind of life I wanted, that I worked for. I travelled from Vancouver to Toronto to Whitehorse this year, all for work, all for photography. And that is crazyyyy to me. That this life is my life.

I have been up north for weddings and grads and family photos. I have been in urban indigenous territory for the exact same things. I have worked with youth on multiple occasions, and I have seen the most amazing teens step up and smile through the general awkwardness of getting their photos done for the first time. I have seen people show me incredible honesty and love and tenderness in front of my camera, and I have seen my Indigenous queens stand tall and let their power shine through, never shying away from my camera.

I feel like this was one of my best years, and one of my hardest. I’m a full-time PhD student, a blogger and editor for tea&bannock, a single mom, and a first time author of a poetry collection, #IndianLovePoems, published through Signature Editions. All of this meant I was incredibly stingy with my time in 2017 – saying yes to the weddings and sessions that really spoke to me – and saying no to things that wouldn’t allow me to grow as an artist, as a storyteller. And that was hard. But I see this collection of personal favourites and I see a reflection of my chosen art, and I’m so happy with what it is.

I’m excited for 2018 as well – I’ve been invited to be a speaker at the Real Life Conferance, a photography conference for women. I have a few weddings already set up for the summer, and three amazing trips, including two to places I have never been before. My summer is looking hella booked, and I am so humbled and proud to continue showcasing the beauty, strength and honour of my Indigenous people, my family, my relations.

Here’s to a great 2017, and looking forward to another amazing year with everyone in my sweetmoon family <3