We had the incredible good fortune to invite some of our favorite photographers over to celebrate the opening of our new Studio.  Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell were in town for the last stop on their tour, so we planned the day to include them.  But there were so many more awesome folks who were also in town - Jesh de Rox and Dave & Quin Cheung among them.  Steve and I admire our fellow Canadians so much and we were so glad to be able to share our success with them.  It was super cool that Jason Groupp from New York also stopped by.

When we put our guest list together (this was a photographer only event), we also included a number of people who will be attending our October "Bebbinar".  Among these are Ral and Danelle Nicanor whose wedding we had the privilege of photographing last March.  Soon after their wedding, Ral and Danelle let us know that they were also going to pursue wedding photography as their career.  I have to be completely honest and say that I might have rolled my eyes just a little bit when I heard this - they're not the first to tell us that.  In fact two other companies here in Vancouver are also clients of ours.  

What make Ral and Danelle different is that they are determined to follow this path on their own terms and in their own way.  They look to those that came before them, but only to ensure that they aren't following.  They aren't interested in the short cuts so many other new photographers take - they don't copy or "borrow" images or ideas.  What is amazing about that is that it opens so many more doors for them along the way.  Because they are interested in exploring their own art and discovering what moves them, people are willing to share and help them on that journey.  It is exciting to watch and see what will happen next - it's rejuvenating to see the way everything is still fresh and new for them - and it's humbling to watch the dedication with which they have taken this on and the joy they get from this choice.  As much as they may find inspiration in us, I have to say they are also inspiring to us.

I wanted to quickly share with you a note I received from Danelle.  I hope she won't mind (I've taken out the more personal parts).  We get a lot of email from other photographers, but it often has more to do with what cameras we use, locations we have found, and questions like that.  Danelle's email was different and exemplifies why they will succeed.

Steve and Jen,

Thank you so much for making my year. I hate to go all corn-bally on you but seriously, I always felt uneasy about my future and now I actually feel at peace.  I see now that learning photoshop inside and out and teaching it for 5 years helped me to retain the skills for what I am really called for. I see that Bible college has helped me talk to our brides more and have them feel at home with me. And I see that having you as photographers for our wedding was a blessing from God not only because we have the best albums and shots of all of our friends, but because your hearts are bigger than you know and we've been so honored to connect and be encouraged by you two.  I know you two are busy and have a lot on your plate but thank you for the investments you've made in us. I really want to keep integrity in what Ral and I are doing and we don't mind working hard for it. But being able to meet the photographers on Sunday on more of a personal level really helped Ral and I see that the best work out there truly comes from real people who are just really honest with themselves and desire to contribute, focusing on giving rather than keeping their talent to themselves. And with that I see that since photographers like you are so focused on giving, you desire to produce more than what is enough, so much that your giftedness really can't go anywhere else but out. And I think that's so beautiful.

When the seminar finished I felt like a kid going home from summer camp or disneyland - I didn't want to leave. But I'm excited for ral and I to tweak things and give like you two do. =)

Yay! The future does look bright!

A bajillions of thanks,

danelle

If you get a chance, check them out!

If you see nothing in this post but the names of the photographers that were there, then I'm saddened by that.  What is really important is what Danelle said so much more eloquently than me:  the best work out there truly comes from real people who are just really honest with themselves and desire to contribute, focusing on giving rather than keeping their talent to themselves.

So, thanks to everyone that came to help us celebrate and thanks to each of you that may be starting out and are determined to make your own way and avoid riding the coattails of those that came first.  In a very busy August, receiving a message like that from Danelle is electrifying, motivating, and reminds me why I do this.