yukon photographer

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!

2021...A Doozy

January 14, 2022

And just like that I’m sitting here in the studio trying to think of what I want to say about the year we all just made it through…

I think the safest word I could use is DOOZY to summarize what the past 12 months have been.

But in the end, we made it! There may have been a few tears (there were definitely tears), and a few sleepless nights (discovered melatonin this year!) but we wrapped the year by forcing ourselves to take a couple weeks off during the holidays to catch our breath a bit as a family.

As the break came to a close, we ended up heading down to the waterfront and watching the city’s fireworks display on New Years Eve which surprisingly led to a moment that really struck me… Turns out, in order to get your head back in the game, you just need to hang out with a 5 year old…

See it was our daughter’s first year she was old enough to stay up late enough to watch the fireworks. She was so excited she was vibrating, and when the first few colourful bursts hit the ice fog night sky, you could literally hear the joy bursting from her face as she screamed out “whoooaaa! Christmas colours!! Christmaaaaaas colourssssss!” She was witnessing magic in real time and it made me remember you can always find the magical moments in your day once you actually have the time to stop, breathe, and just look for them.

You see even though this year was stressful, unpredictable, and oh so very draining, in that moment I remembered how much good there also was. I just needed the time to take a breathe to remember that.

So I figured now that we’re into January and trying to plod along through what has so far been more unpredictability, let’s still take some time to breathe and remember those magical moments. The good parts of the past year, as they are always there if you look for them.

Last year, we got to work with some pretty epic clients and when trying to produce long term projects in the midst of a pandemic, you also get to KNOW your clients. We commiserated, we adapted deadlines and processes and we found ways to make things work as a team.

In the film realm, we got to work with Northern Council for Global Cooperation (NCGC) to produce a storytelling project with the James family out in Carcross. This was a huge highlight and honour for us, as we got to work with the family to take a traditional story that was originally recorded of their late grandmother Lucy Wren, and have 4 more generations of Lucy’s family tell the story in their own voices, weaving together the teachings with footage of them being together as a family on their land. There were so many laughs shared and it was such a special project to be a part of…. To witness in real time what family connection, traditions and knowledge look like and the power they have. Gunalchîsh to the James family for having us.

Then there was the literal joy that is working with someone who may be the most positive person we’ve ever met? We did a Travel Yukon spot with Gurdeep Pandher for Cossette and I am not even exaggerating when I say the skies weirdly opened up for us the night we had planned to film on top of a mountain and we got to witness an absolutely stunning sunset while filming Gurdeep dance. It was one of those moments I looked around and was so grateful that this is somehow what we get to do for a living…

And finishing off our year in filming, we were able to work with Yukon University over a multiple months to create a promotional video for their Indigenous Institute for Self Determination (IISD). Showcasing traditional on the land activities, and innovation in education and leadership, this was a project we were really proud to be a part of and we got to work with some incredible leaders and community members to pull it all off. There were hiccups along the way (like needing to re-schedule due to covid exposures, creating changing timelines, etc) but the team we got to work with on this adapted and pivoted every time ensuring we all got to create something we are proud of. Gunalchîsh, Màhsi’ cho to everyone involved. It will be released in the next few weeks and we’re excited to share it with you all then!

Then there was the incredible diversity in photography we got to do this year. From chasing dogs with Fawkestrot Adventures, to beauty portraits and BTS with Cheekbone Beauty and TSU North, to local sustainable fashion campaigns or holiday dining campaigns with Hudson’s Bay, we’ve been BUSY. This is a selection of just a few of our favourites, but I’ll be sure to share more in the coming months.

And last but so very far from the least, absolutely NONE of this would have been possible without the incredible production crew we’ve gotten to work with this year. We can’t thank these people enough, and although this isn’t an exhaustive list, we wanted to give a special giant THANK YOU to a few of our key players who kept this train a runnin’ this year.

The incredibly talented Lea-Ann McNally, who has done everything from set and prop building, to production assisting, and everything in between. Absolutely always game to hop on set, we are so grateful to have you on the team!

Mike Code, whether you’re on sound, camera, or aerials, you make it a guaranteed a good work day and we’re so grateful for your laid back, always amazing attitude in everything you do.

And for those of you who haven’t gotten to meet him yet…Our guy STU! Stu moved up from BC late summer to officially join GBP as our first full time employee and I’m not actually sure how we did all this without him for so long? Stu is now one of our main editors, production crew, and second shooter. He also puts up with Gary’s lame dad jokes, my “morning gratitudes” which I forget to do 90% of the time, and has jumped into the adventure that is life in Yukon full throttle. We are so grateful you’ve joined the crew and can’t wait to see what the new year brings to the team.

We know 2022 won’t be perfect, as nothing ever is…but here’s to taking a breath during the chaos and trying to see the good that is most definitely out there.

We’ve got this team.

A place for people who love dogs...

September 09, 2021

As you pull up to the large wooden building you see a colourful rainbow sign that states “A place for people who love dogs” and let me tell you, Muktuk Adventures is not lying when they say that.

The sound of excited husky’s and rescue pups alike ring out as you’re greeted immediately by the pack of friendly faces that run up as you get out of your car.

We had the pleasure of working with Muktuk Adventures this past month, creating some media for them to use to market their summer packages.

Known mostly for their years as a dog-sledding experience company, it may sound odd to be marketing in the summer, however, anyone with a dog knows that summer is just as busy as the winter-and Muktuk let’s you experience the sled dog’s summers right along with them!   From walks down to the river, to multi-day canoe and hiking trips, to taking time to relax in a cabin in the woods for a few days…you can do it all with a cozy pup or two, or 8 right along side you!

It was really inspiring getting to talk to the owners Manuela and Jeff, who have of course had to adapt quite a bit since COVID made such a huge impact on their business. But with determination and being able to pivot to offer more of their services year round to both travellers and locals alike-they are a bustling business that you don’t want to miss out on!

What am I an Expert?

August 03, 2021

When getting a project done entails everything from wading through a creek holding your lights over your heads, to finding just the right angle to shoot a tray of bird specimens, you know it’s going to be a fascinating ride…

And that’s exactly what our latest project with Yukon University was! We were lucky enough to get to create this series of portraits and action shots of some of the University’s experts.

 From Ornithology to Mine Remediation, and Climate Change, Yukon University has a vast group of faculty and researches who share their expertise both locally and globally.

We got to learn a lot over the course of this project, in particular, just how much research is happening right here in the North that we didn’t even realize!

For more info on just how many different fields are being worked on here, check out Yukon U’s website.

And here are a few of our favourite images from the series. Thanks for letting us tag along as your students everyone!

Dumplings...but make it fashion.

May 11, 2021

One of our favourite things about working with small business owners is getting to know the people behind the businesses we all frequent.

We first met Anne through her work at Solvest (a northern based solar company) a few years ago, but recently got to know that before moving to the Yukon, she actually worked in Fashion both in England,Toronto, then remotely from Yukon, right up until Covid when she decided to follow her other passion…food!

So now we’ve witnessed her grow her newest venture, Anne’s Dumplings, over the past year into the bustling and ever growing company that it is today! (If you haven’t tried them yet, please get on it…you are missing out!)

So when we were asked to do an editorial shoot of Anne, we knew we wanted to try to bring in some elements of fashion (because you KNOW she showed up with some gorgeous shoes to show off) and make this ‘foodie’ shoot elegant.

We wanted to ensure we had a minimalist set (her pristine commercial kitchen was perfect-we got in early before the dumpling making begins!) , and used a bit darker of lighting to set a more glamorous mood to the shoot. We were so happy with how they worked out and as always, Anne was amazing to work with. We absolutely can’t wait to see where she takes this venture next…

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Cheers to Polarity

February 04, 2021 in commercial photography

Whether you’re celebrating the start of a fresh new month, the fact we’ve made it through this week, or you’re just excited about this glorious sunshine that’s coming back to us a little more each day…we are lucky to have some pretty great places to treat ourselves in this fine community of ours.

One of the newer ones on the block is Polarity Brewing! They started up last year…admittedly a bit of a difficult time to open up a pub, but nothing can stop delicious brews, and awesome meals featuring as many local farm products as possible!

They even have an outdoor deck you can cozy up to a fire table at to stay Covid-safe while you toast to your weekly accomplishments!

We always love celebrating our local businesses, but especially during a time that has been so difficult on the food/beverage industry, we’d like to cheers to all you hard working businesses owners out there still making it work and providing us with little local escapes.

Here’s to Friday everyone-cheers!

And so it begins...Hello 2021!

January 13, 2021

New year…SAME US! (just slightly more grizzled…)

Last year was a DOOZY to say the least, and we’re certainly not naive enough to think that a change in calendar year is going to take away all the hardships. HOWEVER, that being said, we do know that even a perceived fresh start can go a long way…

It’s also a great opportunity to simply take breath and reflect on what WAS good last year. As challenging as it was, there were some pretty great moments too.

We had the privilege of working with an incredible group of clients last year. As much as we were able to help them reach their goals and complete their projects, they also helped us…we were able to keep this family run business up and running throughout a global pandemic and that was all because we have the best community and clients we could ever ask for who believed in us, who trusted us with their visions, and let us get creative.

Looking back over our work this year, a few things stuck out to us.

First, it was a year of composites! As we had to ensure we had safe spacing between people, one of the most efficient ways we could still get teams together was to actually photograph everyone separately and then bring them together in post production! We have always loved composite work, but it just became even more practical this year as a way to keep people safe.

Secondly…our small business community! What an absolute roller coaster of a year for so many small business owners. We were absolutely honoured to be able to work with many of them as they found new and innovative ways to continue to serve their clients-whether that was moving their products and services online, or ensuring new PPE standards were in place to keep both staff and employees safe. We are so damn proud of every single one of them for making it through this crazy year.

And finally…the thing that always gets us through our hard times…a sense of humour. Without it, we wouldn’t have made it. Thanks to everyone who shared a laugh with us either in front of the camera, or behind the scenes as part of our crew.

So thank you to all we worked with over the year, and we absolutely can’t wait to see what adventures the new year brings…although if it was a little less intense, we wouldn’t be mad about it… ;)

Twisted Gourmet and the bountiful forest...

October 22, 2020

When I was prepping for one of our latest shoots a few weeks back, I didn’t expect i’d be getting a full body workout in before the day was over…but that’s what you get when you shoot on location with Twisted Gourmet….

We started the day by winding our way through a moss covered forest, excitedly yelling out every time we found a mushroom, to get to a lookout with one of the best views in town…and by the afternoon, I found myself holding a light stand high up over my head, as I attempted to tip toe through another forest, dodging the patches of giant red cranberries with each step…

For those who don’t know Deborah, she’s the powerhouse behind Twisted Gourmet, a Yukon based spice company that creates small batch seasoning and spice blends. Her delicious products feature local Yukon harvested ingredients like low bush cranberries, wild rose and sage. (Just to name a few)

With the support of the Yukon University’s Pivot Program, we were able to work with Deborah this fall to create some new imagery for her website and marketing. Just like many other businesses, when COVID hit, Twisted Gourmet needed to ensure online sales were easily available, all the while continuing to stock local grocery stores and vendors.

We wanted to ensure that we stayed true to her wild, Yukon foraging roots with the look and feel, so we took her products to their natural habitat-out to the forest where she gathers some of the very ingredients you can find in her product!

We couldn’t have asked for a better fall day to do the shoot-the sun and the eagles came out to ensure everything looked it’s best, including our wonderful models (and real life Twisted Gourmet customers!) It was one of those shoots that was varied, and playful, and all around enjoyable and we were just so stoked to be able to team up with such a great local company.

Thanks for being so lovely Deborah, and we promise not to reveal the location of the bountiful cranberry patch…your secret is safe with us! ;)

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The Collective Good-Growing up and getting cozy

September 03, 2020

You know when you were younger, and you’d run into a parents friend and they would exclaim “Look at how big you’ve gotten! I remember you when you were just a baby!” and you’d blush and not know what to say? 
I’m now that friend, as I step into the multiple rooms of the Collective Good, seeing all that it’s grown up to be… I think to myself “I remember you, when you were just a little corner shop by the stairs here in the Horwoods mall, that could only fit one person at a time!”

Established in 2013, The Collective Good, owned and operated by Jen and Paul, has grown into one of Yukon’s most unique shops, bursting with treasures from beautifully crafted greeting cards, to Canadian clothing, jewelry, books and furniture. The variety of products featured in The Collective Good all have one thing in common-good design.

We recently did a two part shoot for them, first, capturing just a bit of the store itself, highlighting the different areas you can browse, and secondly, an apparel shoot to show off one of their newest unique products: The Handknit Yukon Coat of Arms Heritage Sweater.

Being a Yukon family run business ourselves, it is one of our favourite things to be able to work with and celebrate other family-run businesses. With this one, we got to get the whole crew together, just days before school started to take in one last quiet Yukon summer morning.

Lucky for us, Jen used her skills to not only find and purchase the perfect red pick up that matches their “Yukon Truck” design… (Ok, she may not have purchased it specifically for this photoshoot, but it sure did come in handy) but she also secured this iconic Yukon location which was an amazing backdrop to work with. (HUGE thank you to the Grant family for allowing us to do our shoot on their property.)

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We wanted to showcase the sweaters and truck t-shirts, but without them being the main ‘focus’ of the image…it’s more that they just fit into the scene naturally. A Yukon family, enjoying a beautiful little cabin experience. Looking good-with good design.

(Also, bringing in the ringer…Miss Honey didn’t hurt either. 10/10 dog model. Would work with again.)

Here’s to many more years of watching you grow Collective Good!

A thank you to Essential and Front Line Workers

August 06, 2020

Early March of this year, we did what we do every spring…we loaded up our wall tent, sled and every bit of warm clothing we own to go out on a Bison harvesting trip. We were out of cell and internet range for just 7 days, but what we didn’t know was that as we left the tranquility that is winter camping, we’d be coming back to an entire new reality.

As I turned my cell phone on, a text popped up from a family member that I could not make sense of. “The Arctic Winter Games have been cancelled and people are hoarding toilet paper!”

March 2020…a month that will be burned into our collective memories for decades to come…It seems like a lifetime ago, even though just a few months have passed since then.

Those early months of the COVID-19 pandemic felt like time stood still. For us, over the course of 4 days, the majority of our spring/summer contracts were cancelled, our daughter’s daycare closed down, and like many others, we didn’t know what our lives were going to look like a few months into the future.

While we witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic start to spread across the country, the Yukon quickly prepared its response. When many of the Territory’s citizens were asked to stay home whenever possible in attempt to flatten the curve, there were others who continued to go into work, all the while also trying to process this ‘new reality’ we were all facing collectively.

These essential and front line workers are the ones who helped keep Yukoners as safe and secure as possible. Everyone from Dr. Hanley, our Chief Medical Officer of Health, to those working behind the scenes like IT staff adapting network systems so entire work forces could suddenly work from home, and child care workers who continued to care for children who’s parents also had essential jobs to go to… there were people working hard across sectors to keep our communities safe and resilient.

It was absolutely heart warming to witness Yukoners come together throughout this time, and we knew from the start we wanted to do something to celebrate those who continued to push through the uncertainty and continue to offer those services our community depends on.

This photo series, released in the latest issue of Yukon North of Ordinary magazine, is a thank you to all the front line and essential workers who got us through those early days and to where we are today in the pandemic. None of this could have happened with out you, and we will forever be grateful.