2022...A big one!

January 11, 2023

So as I sat down to look at our 2022 year in review, I realized that in the entire last year I posted a whopping….TWO blog posts! And that, my friends, is how you know 2022 was absolutely bonkers…It wasn’t that we didn’t have stuff to share- it was that I was literally just too busy to sit down and write!

SO, sitting here sipping a coffee on this fine January day ( I can see blue sky and sun out there team!!) I figured it’s about time I got to that good old year end reflection…and what a year it was!

Looking back, I am realizing this was a year of a lot more larger scale, long term projects. So instead of a one-off shoot, we were looking at film projects that are expanding over the course of another year, and photo campaigns with multiple phases, often being released months after the actual shoot happened.  

We travelled for our National clients, and had our Manitobah Mukluks photos released in stores nation wide!

GBP and Nwtel make it to the Arctic Ocean! (Definitely no photoshop used here…)

We’re also seeing more of our larger clients taking full advantage of the fact we have taken our initially small (just Gary and I!) photo company back when we started, and developed into a full service production company…it seems like it all happened so fast, but turns out 14 years have gone by since we first got started! 

It’s been really exciting (although I’d be lying if I didn’t also say stressful at times!) being in this industry during a time where such big shifts are happening. Now, it’s seen more and more that Photographers are also being asked to be Directors. Clients need both photography and film on the same campaigns, and in growing into a full service production company, that’s what we now offer to many of our clients.

One of the biggest things we have both talked about this year so many times, is how truly grateful we are for the clients we have that are putting their trust in us and empowering us to execute their vision. Having clients that trust in our process and our style is truly the biggest compliment. (And that also goes for the incredible agencies and collaborators we’ve gotten to work with as well. Aasmans, Cossette, Design Station, Pixie Ingram…so grateful!)

We also now have a full-time employee (Shout out to Stu!!) and a big team of amazing crew we bring on so that we can scale to whatever size production is needed depending on the project at hand. We are SO grateful to them all and if you don’t know them, you should definitely check them out as they are the DREAM TEAM!

From our RANDOM requests for props I didn’t even know were possible to find (Sweet Tara how you had an original 1950’s tanning reflector I still will never understand), to helicoptered in Hair Styling on top of a mountain (Victoria got her first helicopter ride this year!)…We are so grateful for this crew of talent that continues to join the team.

Tara Kolla: Our props, wardrobe and set design extraordinaire IG: @wishfactory

Akiko Allen: Make up artist and absolute pro

Victoria Williams: Hairstylist and seasoned helicopter passenger IG: @hairbyvictoriawilliams_

Caroline Westberg: Special effects mastermind!

Mike Code: Aerials, audio, and all around best energy on set

Dave Hamelin: Audio wizard, editor, film production pro

Henry Gilson: Production Assistant Champion

And special shout out to all the AMAZING Catering provided all year to our various productions. No job goes well if people are hungry…and these pros kept us fed with ridiculously delicious goods no matter the location or the weather! Alicat Catering IG: @alicatcatering, Bonton IG: @bontonandco, Caribou Crossing Coffee IG: @cariboucrossingcoffee

We also have been teaming up with other amazing Production companies in town which we are so damn grateful for. Getting to collaborate with other creatives, helping make large scale productions happen just never gets old. So much gratitude to both TSU North and Shot in the Dark Productions-here’s to many more collabs ahead!

We’re so stoked to be hitting the ground running this year-we’ve got some very meaningful and exciting projects in the works and although I don’t make resolutions, I will say I’ll try better to get on here and share a bit more this year.

Until then, here’s a few of the highlights of 2022…Grateful for what we’ve been able to create, and so looking forward to even more. 2023 let’s gooooooo!

Manitobah Mukluk's

November 09, 2022

What did I get Gary for his birthday this year?….WORK!

BUT…we flew to the top of a mountain with a group of the best crew and talent you could ask for, and there was cake so…I still call that a win.

This past spring, we got a call from TSU North, asking if we wanted to work on the new Manitobah Mukluk’s campaign they were doing, and the obvious answer was immediately yes.

So while TSU created a stunning film piece featuring the talented Notorious Cree and Kendra Jessie in some of Yukon’s most epic locations, we created the partnering photography campaign. This project took us from industrial wearhouses to insaaane Yukon mountain tops, and we also got to feature a set of local powerhouse Indigenous models as well!

This project was so special to us, as anyone who knows our company, knows that working with brands that are doing good in this world, with strong values is so vital to us. Being able to work with such an incredible set of talent from both the crew and the modelling side was the perfect way to kick off our summer season.

We’re so stoked this campaign is now out in the world and that we’re able to share it!

Hiy Hiy to our unbelievable cast and crew and to TSU North and Manitobah Mukluks for bringing us onto such a powerful project.

Photographer: Gary Bremner

Producer: Brianne Bremner

Photo Assistant: Stu Davis

Makeup: Akiko Allen

Hair Styling: Victoria Williams

Wardrobe/Props: Tara Kolla

Models: Kendra Jessie, James Jones, Tianna Reti, Marlon Scarff, Jiah Dzentu, Tanner Coyne

And a little BTS for good measure….

Hey Yukon...What's your recreation?

September 11, 2020

Pulling up to a stop light the other day, I looked over and saw a bunch of familiar friendly faces smiling back at me, lookin’ photo shoot fresh…Perhaps you’ve seen something similar in the past few weeks?
That’s because the Lotteries Yukon Recreation Campaign we worked on is out in full force, including a bus wrap, featuring just a few of our awesome models!

Thanks to Sue Gleason for the photo of the bus!

There’s nothing better than the feeling of seeing a project, which was a year in the making, come together and be released out into the wild. We were lucky enough to work with the amazing Amanda Leslie of Mosaic Communications on this campaign, the goal being to both explore and celebrate the wide variety of recreations that Yukoners do, from across the Territory, and at every age.

What we always loved about this concept was how inclusive it was of the variety of different recreations that we’re all so lucky to have access to here in Yukon. From berry picking and hiking, to lawn bowling and pickle ball, and everything in between, we got to work with real Yukoners, out experiencing their communities throughout every season.

It was one of those feel-good projects, as no matter the weather, people were getting out and doing activities that were good for their bodies and their minds-staying active and connected to others.
Shout out to all of the awesome people we met and worked with along the way-you’re all pros both in front of the camera, and out doing what you do best!

T1D Portraits-Part Two

February 10, 2020

We were recently approached by the Yukon T1D Support Network to add a few more portraits to the series we started with them back in 2018. Knowing the impact this organization has on families who are navigating a life with T1D, we were of course happy to make it happen.

The Yukon T1D Support Network helps Yukoners who have Type 1 Diabetes through education, advocacy and support. We heard first hand through some of the families we worked with, how incredibly important their work is. Within a day of having a new diagnosis for their child, for example, people from the network had reached out and offered supports, helping them through the first overwhelming and frightening days trying to navigate this new reality.

Yet another incredible group of people in our community, putting everything they have into helping those around them. We are completely honoured to be able to work alongside them to create images that celebrate the strength, resiliency, and joy these families have in the face of T1D. They will be used as part of a new advocacy and awareness campaign.

And we also wanted to take the time to thank the incredible models/families who volunteer to be a part of this portrait series. To share your story, and to be an advocate while many are in newly diagnosed stages, and still trying to navigate this ‘new’ life they are leading. Thank you. You are inspiring.