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Just a reminder that this blog is no longer active and my new blog is http://msansoucy.wordpress.com Please make your way over to my new blog and be sure to follow and comment!!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

New Blog reminder!!

Hey guys!

Please remember to come visit my new blog and follow it! http://msansoucy.wordpress.com

xoxo – M

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

 

 

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 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saskatoon Rainy Day Wedding!!!

Hey everyone..

Just had to share a quick sneak peek from the wedding this past weekend. It was an AMAZING and fun day despite the rain!

Saskatoon Wedding Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Cheers! Have a great week everyone!

xoxo Martine

My beautiful cousin Danielle gets married! Saskatoon wedding photography

Hey everyone!

I know it has been awhile, I have been super busy!!

I am heading to bed but before I do I wanted to post a really quick sneak peek from my cousin Danielle’s wedding this past weekend! It was fantastic, everything was perfect and the overcast weather couldn’t have worked out greater for photos!

🙂 Yay! So happy for Danielle & Gordon, they are both such wonderful and genuine people! Will post more later xoxo – Martine

Martine Sansoucy Saskatoon Wedding Photography

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding – The Getting Ready Photos!!

Hey everyone!

This week is CRAZY hectic busy, and I just got home from doing a shoot with a gorgeous model from Masala Modeling & Talent agency here in Saskatoon! Wow, so excited about the photos, we are wrapping up this evening with her 3rd look and more models are coming my way for the weekend! I also have a VERY exciting photoshoot planned on Sunday with makeup artist Jennilee Cardinal Schultz..so excited and nervous about the shoot. Just wanting it to turn out like my visions!

Anyway, I am getting WAY off track!! I just really wanted to share a few of my favorite shots from getting ready with the bride and groom in Cuba!

I hope everyone has a great day, post more soon!

xo Martine

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Stunning Cuba Destination Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy

Love is such a beautiful thing .. Happy Sunday everyone!

Morning everyone,

Just a quick hello and I am off to make some yummy bacon and eggs for the boys. Hope you all have a wonderful and beautiful Sunday!

xoxo – Martine

Saskatoon Wedding Photography by Martine Sansoucy

*Just a little sneak peek of today’s gorgeous Saskatoon Wedding!*

Hey everyone!

Hope you all had a FAB Saturday! I know I did 🙂

It was a perfect day for a wedding, not too cold, not too hot, great clouds in the sky and of course a fabulous couple to take photos of! Congrats again to Melissa & Jeremy and thank you for a great day. We found some awesome locations including some grain bins, an old classic truck and a beautiful big old red barn. Thanks to the owners for letting us use their properties for the pictures this afternoon, that was really great of you.

The wedding party was a wonderful group of people, some of who I actually knew from another wedding I photographed (the bride’s sister) and even an old high school friend! They were just such a wonderful, upbeat and fun bunch of people to work with and while the guys cleaned up really nice, I was really digging the stylish green dresses the girls had on. LOVED them!

Anyway, it was a fab day, and I thought I would post a quick shot before heading off to rest my psycho twitching eye haha!

More coming soon!

Love & peace – Martine

Gorgeous Saskatoon Wedding - Photography by Martine Sansoucy