The Story of how Carol’s Photography got started 15 years ago! » Award Wining SK Wedding & Portrait Photographer

OUR STORY:
This is our humble beginning’s. I have won many awards over the years and our weddings been published in wedding magazines but my greatest accomplishment is the beautiful friendships we’ve made with our clients.

I started Carol’s Photography in the spring of 2003 at our ranch to help offset the significant decline in family income due to the BSE crisis in the cattle industry.
I had always been interested in photography and taken courses. So after doing some research, I determined that there was only one photographer in my area. Thus, this seemed like an excellent business opportunity. However, it was not without significant challenges and risks. For example, the nearest town was 60 km away.

I took a chance and bought a professional SLR digital camera, a good lenses; along with all the other photography equipment I needed.
Learning Photoshop for the digital photographer is a must, I knew nothing about this program. This was an big challenge for me because the only access to video tutorials was on the internet. Unfortunately, our internet access was dial-up, which made video tutorials almost impossible to use, which meant that I had to settle for written examples. It all seemed so new & confusing, many times I almost gave up, thinking I’d never learn it.

I built my portfolio by doing pro-bono sessions of my family and friends. I had some photos of my nieces wedding I had taken so I had some photos to show potential wedding clients. I took out advertisements in all the local newspapers . I designed business cards and fliers to distribute in the towns in my area. I canvassed grocery stores, garages, and hotels, wherever I could put up any type of advertising. I gave business cards to anyone that would take it. Some times I think I had more guts than brains. …ha ha!

At times, it seemed impossible . I swallowed many rejections, but I knew people had to know who I was and see the beautiful photos I could create. I’m a terrific salesperson when it’s something I believe in, and I knew I’d give my clients 110%.(still do) My husband Jimmy joined the business later that year and we have never looked back.

I also understood the power of the internet. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the $1000 price tag of a professional website. I used my stubborn nature to find a free site builder on the internet and I learned how to build a website, meta tags, coding, and web optimizing . When I look back now I don’t know how I kept going …. dial-up access, it was like a turtle speed. Trying to learn all that stuff made my head spin, it all seemed so confusing.

The first couple of years were extremely hard. We were running both the ranch and a photography business. We would often go from photographing a wedding, then work in the hay fields for the remainder of the week. Each night, when we came in from the fields, we would then work until 2 or 3 am editing photos. When we had a portrait session booked, we’d come off the hay fields, pack up the backgrounds and props, and go to their home or location. We kept our ranch going this way for the first couple years. We also started to get some hockey organizations on board, which helped out sales in the winter months.

Due to Jimmy’s health issues with Addison disease in 2007, we sold the ranch . We moved to Dauphin, opened a studio in our home, and expanded our services to include all of Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan for weddings and family reunions.

In 2007, Hockey Canada phoned us from Calgary and asked us to photograph the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team ( that totally blew my mind). They were the World Champions that year, and to this day those photos generate significant traffic to our website. Photographers from across Canada and the United States have called us inquiring about our lighting techniques, how we were able to capture such dynamic photos using a black background, and how we managed to make women from a tough sport like hockey still show their femininity.

I was nominated for a award at the MB Outstanding Business Women Entrepreneurs of the year awards. I felt like a princess in a fairy tale, accepting my award. There was 20 of us that won out over 156 women entrepreneurs. They judge on how we grew our business ,actually had to send our financial statements to them, they investigate your honestly within the community, talk to other businesses owners about you, and your clients…they are thorough ,I’ll give them that!!
Walking the red carpet, lights shining on me, CTV was there filming the awards night. A beautiful venue in Winniipeg, MB, my family by my side…it was a night I’ll never forget!

We moved to Yorkton, SK in 2011 and photograph weddings all over SK, MB & Calgary. It’s a job we both love.
Our nichè is glamour, a little daring, and romance; since our specialty is weddings, we work with our couples in creating edgy, romantic photos that look natural, beautiful and breathtaking.

We also take family photos to a new level, always looking for unique ways of showcasing their families for great wall art in their homes.

We feel we are unique because we look at things differently, know what angles to shoot from, what looks good and what our couples want.

We have a small studio here but prefer on location for family portrait session because outdoor photos are so amazing.

In 2013, we started photographing Miss World Canada and still are part of their organization team of photographers.

There were other awards along the way that I proudly display in my studio. We were also voted “1 of the 3 Wedding Photographer in Regina “ last year…by the Best three website of Canada.
Website here:https://threebestrated.ca/wedding-photographers-in-regina-sk

As I look back now 15 years later, I’m amazed at how it all happened, I guess there’s a path in life that we all have… that we never in a million years would have thought would be us. Out of something bad …like having to leave our ranch for a different life, God has our backs and the old saying “ When 1 door closes, a new door opens” is true. I hope everyone reading this finds the happiness that we have in our job and life! My hubby is not only my partner but he’s my best friend!

We’d love to meet you, please feel free to call us for a consult. We love all our wonderful clients, we specialize in wedding but also photograph family, grads, children, boudoir, pin up and commercial photography.

CHECK out a few WEDDING images from 2017’s Weddings here
CHECK out a few PORTRAIT & FAMILY photos here

Our Community and Business Associations

· Mentored a local girl with her photography.
· Contribute to sports organization fundraisers in my community.
· Donate gift certificates to many charities or organization in the Yorkton + Regina areas.
· Give gratis sessions for families with sick/dying children.
· Belong to the Wedding Photographers of Canada Association.

Our Mission Statement:
My mission is to create beautiful images by capturing moments in time that will touch your heart over and over again. I will provide and keep up with the latest trends and design for my clientele. I will always provide my clients with an environment that is not only comfortable, fun, and relaxed, but has only the highest quality of service possible.

Our Vision Statement:
My vision is two-fold: to provide innovative portraits and products that capture the spirit of today and preserve the memories for tomorrow; and to provide my clients with the quality and services I am known for at a comparable price. I am committed to excellence and total client satisfaction in the products I sell and the services I offer.