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Sue - May 16, 2012 - 12:55 am

Beautiful woman.

ONE LOVE {KELOWNA NEWBORN & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER}

April 19, 2012

Even though we corresponded quite a bit through email, I had no idea what to expect when I opened the door to greet this new family….

In walked the most radiant, stunningly beautiful new Mother, her equally radiant Mother, and ‘the servant’ (as Daddy called himself). Of course, after all the hellos and ‘nice-to-meet-you’s', I looked down into the newborn car seat and saw the swirl of jet black hair, and could not wait to begin our session.

Here’s a wee peek at what unravelled.

I wish I could share the magic of their story, of how these two met in Kelowna….a boy from Kelowna and a girl from Columbia. How they came together, were married and now have a baby in Kelowna? It’s an incredibly tragic, yet triumphant story….One that was fueled by their family’s believe in one love….and the power of prayer. I feel grateful to have been in your presence….Thank you for sharing for your story…I will never forget what I heard.

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Amelia - April 24, 2012 - 3:43 am

Tacey! Beautiful work

Sarah - April 19, 2012 - 10:25 pm

Absolutely love it!!!

Believer - April 19, 2012 - 7:37 pm

Awesome pictures. How did you get little one to stretch like that? Now THAT”S talent! Good job.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT PRETTY? {KELOWNA GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHER}

April 16, 2012

Have you ever felt pretty? Like I mean look-in-the-mirror-and-see-your-beautiful-self-without-criticism-and/or-judgement-or-a-’to do list’- pretty? I’m not sure that I have….but that’s another blog post.

I had a conversation with a recent visitor to The Pretty Room (who shall remain nameless…). When she arrived to her session, she quickly apologized for not having brought anything ‘pretty’ to wear in her session.

She further explained that she doesn’t really wear ‘pretty clothes’…it’s just not how she dresses.

Hey-no big deal…that is pretty much the ‘raison d’être’ for The Pretty Room…..to give women the opportunity to dress in the most feminine and elegant dresses and don flowers in their hair and spin and twirl and revel in all that it means to be girlie…. without fear of judgement or ridicule.

However, it wasn’t the fear of ridicule that inhibited her interest in ‘pretty clothing’…..she thought perhaps it had more to do with her Mother.

My client went on to explain, “I remember my Mother telling me hat she had never really felt ‘pretty’ in her life. Which is probably why I never really dressed that way…I guess I just wasn’t shown that by my Mother…..”.

Sadly, her Mother passed away 5 years ago.

In that moment there was too much excitement and adrenaline pumping prior to the session to let the weight of those words sink in. All I could think of, and focus on, was, ”Today…..you will feel pretty“.

But now that time has passed since our session together, her words have penetrated my heart deeply….A woman, a Mother, confessed to her own daughter that she had never really felt pretty in her lifetime….it breaks my heart.

Every woman on this earth, whether blessed with high cheek bones and long legs, or cursed with an overbite, or freckles, or acne; whether living in North America or the heartbreaking slums of India…..

Every woman deserves to know how it feels to feel pretty. And not for any man…not for any group of peers…not to fit in, not for Facebook, not for any competition, just to look herself in the eye, stare at her reflection, or in this case, a photo….and truly love what she sees.

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Heather - April 17, 2012 - 10:44 pm

I positively adore what you are sharing. I am in the beginning stages of having my own photography business. This blog resonates with me in so many ways: first, because I struggle with feeling pretty myself. I hate to choose a picture of myself to include on facebook or on my website because I only see what I believe needs to be fixed (both in myself and in my website!!) More than that though, as I strive to find my niche, to decide who I really want to market to, I find myself continuously drawn back to so many woman I know…so many women I see as beautiful and amazing, who don’t see it in themselves. I want to make them know what beauties they are inside and out, and I want to start with their little girls so the can grow up knowing it too.
Bravo for what you are already doing, and thanks for sharing!

Believer - April 16, 2012 - 6:12 pm

What a beautiful, well written blog. I SO get what you are saying.

SUSTAINABLE {KELOWNA PHOTOGRAPHER}

April 10, 2012

In the beginnings of a recent yoga class, the instructor spoke of sustainability and what it means to live a sustainable life.

I don’t know about you, but when I hear ‘sustainable’, I immediately think ‘forests’ or resources or food or energy.

Never would I have ever thought to view or analyze my personal life within the perspective of sustainability.

Is my life sustainable?

Hmmmmmmmm.

As the Yogi continued on, she breathed so much unforgetable wisdom, all pertaining to the concept of living a sustainable life.

Essentially the question became, ‘is the life you are living (the energy you are currently exerting, the food you are eating, the stress you are under, the responsibilities and promises you are making, the money you are spending) …Is it sustainable????

Sustainable, by definition, is the ‘capacity to endure’.

So, in other words, does the way you live your life; the tasks you take on, the energy you expend, the daily grind you partake in…..Does it have the capacity to endure??????

Deep hey?

Where are you right now in your life? How do you feel as you are reading this post? Is this a space that you can thrive in? Is this a state you can endure for long periods of time? Is your current way of life sustainable?

We can evaluate our lives against many measures…..satisfaction, income, personal fulfillment, etc. But at the end of the day, your current way of life needs to be sustainable, because if it isn’t…..it will not support you in the long term.

If we live a life that is too fast paced, too stressful, our adrenal glands (that are activated in our body during our stress response) literally burn out. Burnt adrenal glands lead to all kinds of physical and mental issues….including arthritis (which I learned first hand).

Yes, being successful, being great at what we do for a living, chasing ‘the dream’, is all great…..but we need to go about it such a way that is sustainable.

Here’s a great example. I love love love love love love love love Tim Horton’s egg white and cheese sandwhiches on a biscuit. Man are they delicious. And lately, if I am out in my car before noon (when they stop selling them), I will find any excuse to drive on through and get me one of those yummy bundles of egg and cheese.

Lately, I’ve been thinkin’…..What will happen to me if I allow this egg white and cheese obsession become a regular part of my diet. I asked myself, ‘Tacey…Is that sustainable? Will these sandwhiches support me in the long term? ” Ya, I know the answer to that one (sad as it may be).

Today-after yoga, I resisted the urge to pull on into my Timmies and order my regular breakfast sandwhich……

Instead, I drove all the way home and pulled out my blender and made an incredibly healthy protein shake, complete with spinach and chia seed. When I ask myself the same question, “Tacey….is this protein shake sustainable? Will it support me in the long run? Will it help me, and all that’s in my life, endure???” Again, I think we can all agree on that answer too.

You see, sometimes we just have to ask the tough questions….I know I like to ‘ignore’ alot of what goes into my body…as if I don’t acknowledge it, it’s like I never ate it in the first place. Well guess what? Your ass knows. And so does your heart, and your liver, and your kidneys.

Take a minute and ask yourself if the way you are currently living your life (diet, exercise levels, financial health, sleep levels, family time, etc.), is it sustainable?

I feel like I had a bit of a wake up call and I simply wanted to share with y’all in case these words resonate with you too.

Here’s to fewer egg white and cheese sammies (or donuts, chips, etc.), and more healthy spinach and chia seed smoothies (which is actually quite yummy by the way).

Have a glorious day….

I’ve missed connecting with you guys….I have been working very, very, very hard on my exciting new venture…..but like I said in this post…I realize that this level of effort, and stress, etc. is not sustainable; however, I am working towards a space that will, in fact, bring me total peace and joy…..And I should have firm news by the end of this week! xoxox

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FEAR {KELOWNA GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHER}

March 15, 2012

There aren’t too many days I can think of over the past 3 years where I’ve had a sliver of doubt about pursuing photography. For those of you new to my blog, or simply don’t know, I was an RCMP Crime Analyst 3 years ago. I knew nothing about professional photography. I didn’t even own a camera. Yes, 3 years ago, shortly after my 35th birthday (yes, I just announced to the Web how old I am) I realized I wanted to exploit (leverage) my naturally ultra-sensitive genetic makeup. The policing world proved too harsh for me….Yes, it affected my health and my quality of life. Deciding to immerse myself (and my camera) in the joyous company of people in the midst of celebrating major life milestones was one of the single best things I have ever done for myself.

Yes, while along the way I have felt all sorts of emotions….joy, frustration, humility, disappointment, and loads of nervous anxiety…Honestly though, looking back over the past 3 years, I don’t ever remember feeling scared.

Until now.

(I’m imagining my yoga teacher saying to me: Let it out!! Aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. One more time!!! Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.)

Yes. Right about now I’m feeling fear. Big time.

Why?

Heck! It’s pretty scarey to dream big. It’s scarey to think about the risks associated with assuming overhead and taking a huge business leap. Don’t get me wrong….I am totally one hundred percent opening The Pretty Room….and it will be ah-mazing…but all the ‘stuff’ that goes into launching this venture is not easy….it’s not fun (well, some parts sure are…hello dress shopping!!!).

Yes, the rollercoaster associated with the launch of any business is frusterating beyond measure and scarey as all hell. (pardon my french).

I had a moment this past weekend where I felt very discouraged and my zest and energy was pretty much sapped. ‘I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. Working sooo hard but getting nowhere….Ughhhhhh. This sucks. Why do I bother?’

Yes, I was having my own little pitty party…..but heck, I was tired and frusterated and disappointed in a few things related to The Pretty Room.

Then, I received this email. (edited only to maintain the writer’s privacy):

Hi Tacey, I am a friend of ‘so and so’ and am loving your work! I was just reading your blog and felt compelled to contact you. I am a 54 year old woman who has had AS since my early 20′s. Just reading some of what you’ve written about and your determination has inspired me to take better care of myself. I quit smoking about 1 1/2 years ago and have gained a pile of weight. Once I get this weight off, I would love to have a photo session with you in The Pretty Room to celebrate the new me! Really hoping to see you soon, you are such an inspiration, thank you for sharing! xo

It totally dawned on me in that moment. The Pretty Room isn’t about me….at all. It’s about all the women that will one day have their exerience in The Pretty Room. Restore confidence, refresh femininity, build upon self esteem; The Pretty Room will benefit so many women for sooooo many different reasons….Many of the woman who are currently booked for an introductory session in The Pretty Room are treating their session as a personal reward for various personal accomplishments….I have a lady booked for the end of April whose husband purchased her TRP Session as a way to celebrate the birth of their second child and her 40th birthday. What a fabulous reason to celebrate, to pamper yourself, feel beautiful and ultimately memorialize this moment in your life with a beautiful, feminine portrait session. What an incredible gift, to give yourself, or another deserving woman.

So yes…..I am terrified by a lot of this process, but I know the true value of what I will be bringing to the women of the Okanagan….and as one of my mentors says, ‘Never build a business from a place of fear.’

No fear based thinking! No fear based thinking! No fear based thinking! And as my Mamma reminded me last night…..breathe. I need to remember to inhale deeply, let it out…and simply breathe (and yes, that’s breathe, with an ‘e’ for all my spell checkers out there)

Well, I feel a bit better now that I’ve completely vented….Thank you all for your tremendous support and enthusiasm for The Pretty Room and allowing me a safe place to share this crazy adventure I’m on. I’m working hard to bring you the most incredible place; and in fact, I’m viewing a possible home today. Wish me luck!

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