I am extremely lucky to be able to do something I love every day, and to be able to have the freedom to work for myself. But there are days, (many of them), where the work gets the best of me. Being a working artist requires so much more from one than just making art. That is only a small fraction of what we do. It is the contracts and client meetings, it is the marketing and emailing and the finances. It is the blogging and the portfolio updating and the website updating and the promotions and continued education and on and on... It is a lot of work, and we take it home with us(or like me, we work from home!). It can feel exhausting, and at times can make people want to quit.
It is so important as a working artist to take time to create for yourself, with no pressure. To connect with other creatives to help inspire one another and to remind ourselves why we work so damn hard doing what we do, whether it's photography, floral design, hair and makeup, event planning, calligraphy, painting, performing arts, or culinary arts. We NEED to refuel. Which is why when Melanie approached me and my dear friend Stéphane who is also an incredible photographer(he photographed my wedding!), to see if we would want to collaborate in a styled wedding shoot she had in mind to grow her newly launched Event Planning and Coordination branch of her business, I accepted without question.
We started at 7 o'clock in the morning, and finished shooting around noon. It was literally exactly what I needed.. meeting a whole bunch of beautiful creative people, making new friends, laughing, connecting, sharing my passion for the industry with others.. (It gets lonely spending hours a day editing in front of your computer by yourself!!). Days like this one; working with tons of other creatives to bring a vision to life is the fuel to our artist's fire.
Here are some of my images from this creative concept shoot at Le Batinse Restaurant in Québec City.. grab a cup of cocoa or a glass o vino, and enjoy.
Concept, Planning + Design: Melanie Vallerand / Québec, QC
Photographer/Photographe: Jennifer Marcuson
Collaborating Photographer/Photographe Collaborateur: Stéphane Audet / Québec, QC
Location/Lieu: Le Batinse / Québec, QC
Flowers/Fleurs + Decor: Conter Fleurette / Saint Jean Port Jolie, QC
Hair/Coiffure: Olivia Eadie / Québec, QC
Makeup/Maquillage: Maquillage Camille S. / Québec, QC
Bridal Looks; Dresses/Robes; Long with feathers: Sonia P. / Québec, QC // Short: Kimchi Blue, Urban Outfitters // Shoes/Chaussures: Kate Spade
Groom's Looks; Pants and Jacket/Pantalons et Veston: Le 31 -Simon's (Tessuto Marzutto) // Shirts: Le 31 - Simon's // Tie/Cravate: homemade by Stéphanie Bélanger // Watch/Montre: Vitaly Design // Shoes/Chaussures: Browns
Bridal Hair Accessories/Accessoires de Cheveux: Capelio / Québec, QC
Models/Mannequins; Charo Foo // Maxime Bouchard