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
Your work is amazing
stunning^^
Beautiful, surprising, powerful ❤️❤️