New blog reminder!

Hey guys!

Just a reminder that this blog is no longer active and my new blog is http://msansoucy.wordpress.com Please make your way over to my new blog and be sure to follow and comment!!

Much love & peace!

Martine

How I really feel about Jamaica… a personal post :-)

We are outside and the heat is thick.. my hands are literally swollen to the size of small balloons (just a fun perk of being me right now). I am wiping the sweat off my brow and chatting with friends or yelling in their ears over the loud music. Despite my trying to stay still, I just can’t. I find myself involuntarily moving in my seat and wanting to get up and grind my whole body to the vibrant and sexually explosive Jamaican music. I am the only white girl in the place and my red hair and fair skin stick out like a sore thumb, attracting all sorts of wanted and unwanted attention. At times, it can be a little tiresome and all I want to do is fit in. I cover my hotel band with my bracelet and try to look casual, like being thrust into such a foreign way of life is normal for me. I run into some people I met last time I was there.. I can hardly believe I know people here already and it’s a great feeling. I want locals to consider me another local, not some tourist who’s rolling in American money.

I take a cab back home in the darkness. I am crammed in a small car that sounds like it might explode if it moves too fast with a tall dark Jamaican man on my right and a cheerful voluptuous looking woman on my left. They chatter with each other sometimes in Patois (the Jamaican language) and I struggle to understand… if only I had bought some books before I left! They start to chatter with me and within 5 minutes we are exchanging numbers and Facebook info, hoping to connect if I should ever be back in Montego Bay. The general vibe is they just want to show me a good time here in Jamaica and they are always so interested to hear about the weather where I am from. It’s nearing the end of my ride and I hand the cabby $200 Jamaican dollars, which comes to around $2 American or Canadian. No doubt I would be paying an upwards of $30 or $40 American if I had taken the “safer” and registered taxi’s that come straight to the front of my hotel. Again, I don’t want to be some rich bitch perceived by the Jamaican’s, I just want to be treated like everyone else even though my face is white as the moon.

The security guys at the gates of my hotel are by now used to my comings and goings. When I left the first night I was there with friends, they were sure to document my room number, name, the name of the person who was picking me up and the location of where we were headed. By the third day, they just smiled and waved me off as I ran off across the street. One of the security guys later told me him and the other guys were concerned about me, but after watching how I waved away certain cabs and chose specific ones they knew that I knew what I was doing. I was really flattered by this and it made me feel happy to know they no longer just thought of me as some “tourist” – confined to the prison walls of a resort.

I found myself often moving to Jamaican beats in my head, even when there was no music playing. I felt vibrant, alive, energetic! My skin was also literally starting to glow.. my pimples were disappearing and I felt less self conscious about being a bit bigger than I would like to be at this time as the Jamaican men were quite forward about letting me know how they felt about my appearance. It was always positive and I was flattered at most times. It was a self esteem boost but could also easily get tiring. My nose had cleared up.. I slept like a baby, the best I have slept in so long because I could finally breath. Back home my nose is constantly stuffed up and I often wake up not being able to breath. The only downfall was the sweat… ohhh the sweat. I don’t mind sweating during a workout I’m killing, but to sweat all the time every day for no other reason then just because you are hot and uncomfortable is unattractive to say the LEAST.

My friends are gems.. I made some real connections I feel so good about. There were other people I met and the general over all consensus from a lot of people was that a friendship could be bought and paid for. After all I am from Canada and I MUST be loaded with cash and have plenty to give away at leisure. I am not. My money is worth just as much as theirs is back home and it’s not cheap to live here in Canada. Not cheap at all. I may make more, but I sure spend a hell of a lot more on the necessities of life. There were times I felt taken advantage of and merely used for the hopes of receiving my money. It didn’t feel good and it didn’t feel right. That was the one biggest negative that I have about being in Jamaica. All the more reason fitting in as a local was so important to me. Now let’s be fair… not ALL Jamaican’s are like this. On the opposite end of the spectrum I was treated the best I have been treated by anyone in a long time by my friends, who are all amazing and wonderful people.

The last night in Jamaica my friends took me to a street party… Yes, a real street party in Jamaica. Honestly, sometimes I had to take a step back to realize that I was actually there and it was real and this was happening. The sweet smell of pot wafted around and drinks were flowing. The music was sick. I had begun to pick out my favorite songs and move my body freely when they came on. Suddenly at some point, the party went from seeing space between people to crammed and jammed up against one another.. in a sea of dark faces I was the only white girl at the party yet again and the guys walking around with video cameras seemed to be attacking me with bright lights. Being there was amazing though, and the feeling was humbling and surreal. I never wanted it to end.  I was feeling good but the last couple of days had exhausted me. By the next morning I was feeling emotional and heavy with regret at the thought of leaving this beautiful tropical paradise. I felt like perhaps I had let myself feel too fast and too much for some of the connections I made and didn’t want it to end.

Yes, I do believe I made real connections and also a couple friends for life. The number one question I am being asked by all is did I find love in Jamaica? Well the answer to that is simple. No. But I believe I could. It would be easy and effortless and it scares me to death. There are some things a girl doesn’t need to share with the world either. What I really need to do now is fall in love with myself.

What are the things I brought back with me that are the most treasured? First and foremost, the memories and the friendships. After that, I would have to say the mixed CD’s of music I bought from random guys selling burnt discs from their cars and on the streets. I still feel like dancing and it has me motivated to start dancing once again. Overall I brought back a sense of myself.. a longing for change and self appreciation. Yes Jamaica will change you and affect you in many ways if you are open to let it in.

Will I be back to Jamaica? I have no plans as of right now to be returning to the beautiful country, but sometimes fate has a way of intervening and whatever is meant to be will be. For now I am studying up on learning some Patois and dancing around the house in my underwear to these ripped Jamaican beats , feeling more free and irie than I have in my life.

*Stay tuned for a mega blog post on the AHHMAZING Wedding I shot in Jamaica and all the fun details behind it and other shoots I did while there!*

Finishing up some wedding edits!! :-)

What a great day with my boys!!
I have some amazing shoots coming up tomorrow so I am excited for that!

 

Had to share some of these edits I was finishing up from weddings!

 

Nite everyone xxoo Martine

Saskatoon Wedding Photography

Saskatoon Wedding Photography

Saskatoon Wedding Photography

Saskatoon Wedding Photography

 

Saskatoon Wedding Photography

 

 

What a very cold and gross day! Here’s a little something to warm your thoughts….

Good morning!

What a gross cold day! I can’t believe this time of the year has come already… [insert excitement for Mexico Destination wedding here!]. I am so so excited for a weekend of fun with the boys and also some amazing photoshoots with some old and new clients! I am also getting ready for an awesome concept shoot on Monday… yay.. wait until you see what I have up my sleeve for this one!
Anyway I got so warm and fuzzy looking at these photos from the summer. My son Christian is fishing for minos at a Blackstrap and I love all the things the sun did that night 🙂 Thought I would share and hope it warms your thoughts as well ❤

xxoo – M

Saskatoon Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Photography by Martine Sansoucy

 

Vote for my photo!

Good morning everyone!!

This morning my post is going to be about shameless self promotion! I really want to win this contest so that I can buy MORE props for photoshoots! I would absolutely love your help to win this contest. You can access it through Facebook and you can vote once a day! My mom made the costume out of old sheets bought at Value Village! 🙂

Thanks so much in advance for your support and votes!

http://bit.ly/Tca2HM
❤ Martine

A little sneak peek of the vintage boudoir sessions!

Here’s just a little sneak peek of the vintage boudoir sessions! Hair & Makeup done by Tamsen Rae 🙂

Vintage boudoir sessions by Martine Sansoucy

Vintage boudoir sessions by Martine Sansoucy

 

Last Breath … Child Concept Photography by Martine Sansoucy in Saskatoon

I hope everyone is having a great night!

I was CRAZY enough to have a sleepover birthday party with 7 boys and man.. . it doesn’t look like I will be getting any sleep tonight! Hence the late night post haha 🙂

So since I have not been posting lately I wanted to catch you up on a few of my latest shoots and work! This is another recent shoot I did with an amazing little girl named Kayleigh who I had such a great time working with! Thanks again to her mom Tangyne for allowing me to use her daughter for this concept shoot, I had such a blast with both of you! I have literally wanted to do this concept for a couple of years now and I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out! 🙂 Thanks to Tamsen Rae for doing the makeup for this concept shoot as well 🙂

Last Breath
By Martine Sansoucy

A thousand days have past
Since I felt your last breath

Forever I am a prisoner
To this lost eternal world
Without haste it has taken from me
Taken every last thing I loved
A darkness that reaches so far
Setting mercifully with the sun

Death once held my hand
Closed around me with its angry fist
Never gracing me with its ending
Never whispering its last words

So here I remain
Lost but not found
A slave to the days and the nights
One heartbeat away from a breath
One breath away from life

Model: Kayleigh B
Makeup by: Tamsen Rae
Photography by ©Martine Sansoucy 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Melancholy Clown.. Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Eeek! Just had to post a little sneak peek of what I was up to yesterday with my oldest son Vincent! Thanks again to the amazing Tamsen Rae for doing makeup and to my mom Constance Sansoucy for designing and making this awesome clown costume!

 

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon child concept photography by Martine Sansoucy

 

 

Winter is coming …. brrrr! :-(

Hey everyone!
I can not believe another year has flown by… and so quickly! We are almost done with the short fall that we had and moving into the cold winter months. I seriously am NOT a fan of the cold. The snow can be beautiful and wonderful but that feeling can wear off pretty quickly in 30 below weather.  I am so excited about some things that have been happening for me lately and so I wanted to update a little bit!

I was asked to come teach as a guest speaker at Marion Graham Collegiate for a photo class recently and I absolutely loved it! I definitely think it’s something I would like to try again! Thanks to my cousin Caryn for the great experience!

I did another fabulous child concept shoot today with my oldest son Vincent and fantastic makeup artist & friend Tamsen Rae 🙂 It was a lot of fun and …. I can’t wait to post the result! Check out my Facebook page for that! We also have another really exciting child concept shoot coming up with two little girls at the end of the month!!  I have been making plans for some really awesome concept shoots to happen this winter with both makeup artists Jennilee Cardinal Schultz and Tamsen Rae! It’s going to be a fab winter that way!

I also finished up my Vintage Daydream sessions with Tamsen Rae doing hair and makeup and it turned out amazing!! I have posted a few shots from that shoot on my Facebook page as well, but I will definitely update the blog with some pics soon 🙂

 
Some other exciting news! Kittens!! Piper and Richard have six beautiful healthy babies, some with some gorgeous rare colors and I am so excited to do some high concept photoshoots with them, and watch them grow. 🙂 We are excited also for an upcoming cat show where Dave and Richard will be entered with Vincent, Christian and Nicholas. The boys are so excited to show off their cats and have some fun! I will definitely keep you all updated on that!

More exciting news! I am leaving for Mexico in November for another amazing Destination Wedding and I can’t wait! I know my clients are wonderful people and I so so thrilled to be sharing in this experience with them! I have of course already done some research and have found some out of the loop locations and interesting spots for photos. Eeeek! Very excited for this coming up so soon and hoping to lose a few lbs before then 😉

Other than that…. things have been CRAZY BUSY! Such a crazy crazy wonderful and amazing year full of weddings and more soon to come as well! I am working hard these days to finish up all the wedding edits and starting the craze of family, maternity and child sessions that come in time for fall and make great Christmas presents. I am looking forward to seeing and working with some families that have been repeat clients of mine for awhile. It’s always so nice to catch up and see their families grow and change over the years! I am so blessed to have such amazing clients who have supported me from the beginning. It’s hard to believe that next May it will be 5 years since I picked up a camera to begin this journey. . . WOW!

I wanted to share this recent Facebook status I posted because of a unbelievable milestone crossed:

**22,000 FANS!!!** WoW! Where to start… Next May it will be 5 years since I picked up a camera to start this journey and back then I never would have anticipated being where I am today and how AMAZING all of my fans and clients would be! Personally I was left a single mom to three boys, struggling to make ends meet (literally having to go to the food bank for my families next meal) and worrying that I would never accomplish anything of worth in life. Now I am flying across the world to photograph Destination Weddings (My DREAM ♥), getting published in magazines all over the world and collaborating with some of the most talented and successful people in the industry on projects! I really can not BELIEVE sometimes that this is MY life, and these are my accomplishments… I am truly so so blessed with the most wonderful people as clients and I am also so incredibly thankful for my friends and family who have stuck by me and always always believed in me even when I doubted myself! I love you all sooo much and all of your continued love and support means the WORLD to me! ♥ ♥ ♥

So in other words, I can not express how happy I am to be where I am today and to have met and worked with such awesome people is such a great reward. I love you all! Please check out my Facebook page for more recent updates and news at http://facebook.com/saskatoonphotography

I wanted to share today one of the amazing families that I have watched grow through the years and I am so happy to still have them as my clients! It was so beautiful to see the relationship between big sister and her little brother! Hard to believe that a few sort years ago she was a little baby herself getting her photos taken down by the river with me 🙂

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Much love & peace – Martine

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Saskatoon Family Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Whoa what a week in Vegas!!!

Hey everyone!
I am so sorry, I have been super neglectful of my poor blog the last couple months! But let me tell you… this summer has been so busy I have barely had any time to breath!

Most recently I did a fantastic wedding last Sat that could have went a little more smoothly. After driving to a location we all got knee deep stuck in a large mud pile in the middle of a huge parking lot… in a LIMO. Thanks to one of the superstar hero groomsmen we actually managed to make it out! Whew! It was a little bit of a nightmare let me tell you.. Because of all the lost time, we will be going out on a different day to do an awesome couples session and we will NOT be taking a limo 🙂

The next day I left for Vegas with a dear friend and makeup artist Tamsen Rae for a super super fun and exciting Destination Wedding!!!! It was amazing! Overall a great experience and probably one of the funnest weddings I have ever done. In the midst of seeing shows, eating insanely delicious meals, enjoying the 2 for 3$ beer experience, and walking the strip, the wedding was set in the middle of the desert in the Grand Canyon. It was spectacular and HOT. I can not WAIT to sit down and edit these photos… It was so so wonderful 🙂

Tomorrow I have a wedding with a gorgeous bride who will be wearing a …. RED wedding dress! I am super pumped to see what it will look like!

Mmm other than that, things have been pretty great! My boys and I took off and had a much needed vacation at the cabin and I took my usual yearly photoshoot of the three of them! So in love with my boys and my family, it’s always refreshing to get away and enjoy every moment of them ❤

With that, I am posting a few shots from my vacation with them!

Much love xx Martine

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂

My boys 🙂