Making Women Feel Seen: Emilie Iggiotti’s Gift of Empowerment

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What happens when fate, resilience, and creativity collide? 

Emily sits down with Emilie Iggiotti, a French-born photographer who turned life’s challenges into a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. 

From uprooting her life in France to pursue love in Canada, to navigating divorce, grief, and reinventing her career, Emilie shares how these transformative moments shaped her passion for storytelling and helping others feel truly seen. 

The two dive into Emilie’s unique ability to make people feel beautiful through photography, her love for thrifting, and her dedication to supporting women on their personal journeys. 

 Listen For:
11:48 – “All I needed was a hug”: The power of human connection in times of grief
16:59 – Emilie on women’s empowerment and creating space for others to feel seen
27:10 – Emilie’s creative ventures
38:28 – Cultural differences between France and Canada

GUEST: EMILIE IGGIOTTI
Instagram | YouTube | Website | Email

CONTACT EMILY
Instagram | Website 

Transcript

Emily Cave (00:00):

Hey everyone. Welcome back to the You Are More podcast for episode number eight. I am so excited to have my friend Emilie on the podcast today. She has such an incredible story originally from France, shares her story of how she got to Canada and now how she is one of the best photographers I've ever had the privilege to work with. And along with that, just such an amazing friend. So I'm excited for you guys to hear her story and hear a little bit about her and everything that just makes her so special and great. Hello. Hello. I am so excited to have Emilie here with us. As you guys heard in my little intro of her, she is incredible friend that I met during my time in Edmonton. So, so excited to have you on the podcast. Emilie,

Emilie Iggiotti (01:05):

Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited. I'm excited to see you.

Emily Cave (01:10):

I know, I know. I haven't, haven't seen you since the wedding. I know. I was like crying, don't we? Oh, I know. I was like, can we go back? I know. Anyways, I wanted the audience to hear a little bit about your story, kind of how you ended up in Edmonton, what you do now, et cetera. So

Emilie Iggiotti (01:32):

Yeah, well, long story short. Okay, so I am from France in case people didn't notice my accent. This is usually the first thing people notice. But yeah, so I was born in France, actually born in Romanian Island, which is super far away from Canada. From Canada. So lots of people. Their first question is how did you end up in Edmonton? I met a guy online and I got married and then I moved to Canada with him. So I started my photography business in France, and then I moved to Canada very quickly. So I was shooting weddings in France and then moved to Canada to start my business again. So yeah, it was a lot of changes and a lot of adjustment very quickly. So I started my photography business in 2009. I went to law school before I was supposed to be a Juris, a lawyer, and I wanted to work in the music industry as a corporate lawyer.

(02:49):

That didn't happen because it was some type of financial crisis in 2008 anyway, all the jobs were gone, so I had to kind of rethink what I wanted to do with my life. And photography was my passion. It was kind of like a hobby that I was doing on the side because I was so bored of applying to jobs. So that's how I started my photography business. I was like, okay, I'm going to start shooting weddings. So I started in 2009, and then I never went back to my other career because I started shooting, booking five and then 10 and then 15 weddings. And then I moved to Edmonton, and then I became a portrait photographer. I quit weddings, went into portrait photography. So that's in a very quick explanation.

Emily Cave (03:49):

Yeah. Quick little summary there. That's a lot of changes from career to leaving your homeland to, that's a lot of big adjustments. Is there anything during that time of big adjustments, either when you were in it or looking back that you wish you could tell yourself now or that you would give advice? Or are you glad it planned out the way that it played out? Or, yeah, what would you say looking back on all those big changes and in the thick of it, what you would say to yourself?

Emilie Iggiotti (04:32):

Yeah, that's a really good question because, and this more than anyone else, it's sometimes hard to look back at your story and your experiences and see, oh, this is what that happened because let's be honest, horrible things happen or very disturbing things or very things that you're like, I would never wish that on anyone.

(05:00):

I got divorced in 2017 and it's like I didn't expect to get divorced. I met this person, I wanted to, I want to get married, have a family. We moved to Canada. So for me, my life was kind of like, this is what my life is going to be and this is the plan. And then the plan doesn't happen. And it's very hard to sometimes, oh, right, this is not exactly, this is not what I thought my life would be. So I'm always like, I'm grateful because it also took me to a different place. If I didn't get divorced, I would've not probably started my portrait photography business would've not probably met you. I would've not met so many people. So I'm always like, oh my God, if that didn't happen, this would've not happened. So it's like a mix of gratitude, but also some regrets and grief, to be honest.

(06:02):

It's lots of grief. It's like grieving the life that you wanted to have, but then you didn't get, and then so many beautiful things happened to me. And yeah, it's a mixed bag of feelings. And I would say my advice, I mean, I don't know if I have an advice to my younger self, it's more like it's trying to find the silver linings and the things that you're like, okay, this is, yeah, I'm grateful for this and yeah, this was tough, but also I can see how now this made me the person and I am today. So to be grateful for this,

Emily Cave (06:48):

That makes, yeah, I feel like you nailed it finding in the silver lining and sometimes right now or in the thick of things, you can't find the silver lining, but like you said, we wouldn't have met each other had you not gone through your divorce and moved to Canada or how we even met with Colby passing away, we wouldn't have. And in the moment, it's so hard to think that way. But yeah, it's, I don't want to say it's a cool feeling, but it's kind of a cool feeling when you look back and you're like, okay, I can see it. Or Okay, that's the way it was supposed to be. And then seeing the little bit of the silver lining that comes out of things bigger or small.

Emilie Iggiotti (07:30):

Yeah, exactly.

Emily Cave (07:32):

And speaking how we met. So do you want to give your version and then I can give my version. I feel like I was so new in my grief and still in shock, so I always hearing other people's, how you came across my story, how we met, et cetera.

Emilie Iggiotti (07:51):

Yeah. So I was thinking about this this morning. I was like, oh yeah, I wonder if we're going to talk about it. And yes, obviously. So I remember a friend sent me your Instagram and I was not following you to be honest. I am not a hockey fan, so I didn't know anything about hockey. But then someone sent me your story and I started following you and I was just so heartbroken for you. And so I started reading your posts and everything was so raw and so just heartbreaking and very honest or so what you were going through. So I started commenting because I was like, oh my God, this girl is going through the worst thing ever during the pandemic, which was already so freaking weird. And I was like, I just want to send love. I just want to be like, okay, you need this. So I was commenting, and I love social media. I love and hate social media, but social media is good for certain things. I think you can really create a community on social media if you use it correctly, obviously. So for me, it was very, I wanted to show you and be like, okay, here we hear you. This is awful. Sending you a little bit of love. And then I got invited by a friend to hang out on a, I think it was in July, I don't even remember exactly. It was July. July.

Emily Cave (09:30):

It was July 18th. I know that Our first anniversary was the next

Emilie Iggiotti (09:35):

Day. Exactly. So she invited us to, it was like we were able to gather again, and she's like, okay, let's go. Come to the rooftop of that building. I'm going to have to little get together. So I'm sitting there with my friends and I see you with your family. And I tell my friends, I'm like, oh my God, this is Emilie Cave. And they're like, oh, okay. And I'm like, yeah. And I kind of tell your story very quickly and you were sitting a little bit further with your family. Chester was there, and I was like, oh, someone asked me, I was like, oh, are you going to say, do you know her? I'm like, no, she probably doesn't know. No, I'm not going to bother her. I'm not going to go, hi, I follow you on Instagram. She's going through a lot, so I'm just kind of staying.

(10:28):

I don't want to bother you. You have a lot already going on. But then the weird thing is that you came closer to a group and you came to me and you were like, are you Emily? And I was like, yes, I am. And I was like, how do you know me? And you recognized me. I think you followed me. I'm not really, really sure. And you followed me at that time, and maybe we exchanged a few messages, but for me it was like, oh my God, I would've not thought that you would recognize me and come talk to me. Because I'm like, you have a lot going on. And so then I was like, yes, this is, yeah, hi. And we hugged and oh my God, the hug, I still remember it. I still feel it because I try not to become emotional, but you just needed a hug and I hugged you and I felt everything. And I felt everything. And I was like, holy shit, that is a lot. And just in that moment I was like, this is all you needed. And then you were like, yeah, I'm here with my family. I'm celebrating. I think you were going to celebrate wedding Wedding.

Emily Cave (11:48):

It was our first wedding anniversary. First wedding anniversary,

Emilie Iggiotti (11:50):

Exactly. And your friends were there. I remember your friends were flying from some, so I was just happy to give you this hug in that moment and just be like, yeah, you are not alone. You are supported, even a stranger that you met Instagram, I am here for you. I want to show you that I'm supporting you and that you're not going through this alone. It's a lot, but you have an army of people behind you. So that was just, I don't know, it's lots of grief, but I found that was a beautiful moment and just connecting with you beyond that moment. And then, yeah,

Emily Cave (12:38):

I think that shows the power of, I say all the time, I can't comment back to everyone, but I read every single message. And during that time, even still to this day, people will message me. And especially it was a magnitude in the beginning of messages, that is what kept me going. And I don't think people, strangers get enough credit for that. And I don't even calling my followers, strangers, I feel like it comes off kind of rude. But the power of Instagram and the community, despite the hate is truly my family and friends will tell you what kept me alive. And then having that interaction in person, I always say, I love when people come up to me or they give me hugs or I had someone here in California before Christmas come up to me and she was like, I followed your story and gave me a big hug. And I went into the car and it broke burst into tears because people don't realize how much that means. And yeah, I remember that night because there was just so much. It was getting prepared for the first wedding anniversary. Matt and Lonnie were there. And yeah, it was my parents in Chester, and I remember that roof. I remember what I was wearing. I just remember so much of that, even though I was still in so in

Emilie Iggiotti (14:11):

Shock.

Emily Cave (14:13):

But it was pretty powerful. Like you said, just you commenting and giving encouragement. You truly do not know how much that means to someone, whether you know them personally or don't know them personally. And then obviously now we have a great friendship out of it. You have done a lot of my portraits, whether it was for the book or documentary or different things, and you've always made me, and I know so many people feel seen, and I think that's a true gift that you have. Em is, I remember the first time you came over and we were doing photos, and it was pretty soon after Colby died. It was like six months. And I didn't really ever have anyone in my apartment. It was still pretty tiny. I'd lost so much

Emilie Iggiotti (15:07):

Weight.

Emily Cave (15:09):

And we ended up laughing about the blow dryer because we were trying to get the shot where I was super serious and we had this hair blow dryer kind of set up, and that's just what I needed in that moment. And yeah, you've been amazing the past almost five years, just helping me in those moments and being part of really big moments. Thank you. Whether it was portraits, et cetera. But yeah, the power of commenting and then fate, us meeting

(15:43):

Up on the roof has been pretty incredible. So like you said, if you didn't get divorced, we wouldn't have been in Canada. If Colby didn't pass away, we wouldn't have met on the roof. There's a lot of things, and that doesn't take away the pain of those things, but it does make you super grateful. Speaking of your incredible gift to make people feel seen, especially when you're a photographer and you're working with you is, I know you're a big advocate for it, and I think it's pretty incredible is just women empowerment and making women feel loved and supported. Whether you are commenting on someone's social media or taking their photos, just curious on your beliefs and opinions and what you would recommend to other women, because life is pretty hard and any advice that you could give to help other women who are struggling,

Emilie Iggiotti (16:59):

Like you said, I think the most important thing that everyone wants to be seen and wants to be heard. And that has been my motto, I guess for my entire career. Because when I started doing portraits and I was shooting weddings, and weddings are fun, and it's a lot of people, it can be crazy too. Yeah. All the crazy stories I could tell on weddings. Yeah, I feel like wedding photographers and

Emily Cave (17:31):

Bitters see a lot. I don't mind

Emilie Iggiotti (17:33):

It. And I don't even sign NDAs. I should have signed so many NDAs I seen so much. Honestly, we probably should have done

Emily Cave (17:41):

That too.

Emilie Iggiotti (17:41):

Yeah, right. Thank God

Emily Cave (17:43):

Ours were

Emilie Iggiotti (17:44):

Cool. Yes. Oh my God. But portrait is different because you really get to be on one-on-one with someone, and people come to you for something very vulnerable. Having your photo taken is so vulnerable. And then on top of that, if you're going through something like grief or loss or a divorce or so many different changes in your life, it's like it is so vulnerable. So for me, I, it's really important to have this person in front of me and not just see them in that moment of vulnerability, but just see them as a whole. Who are they? What is their story? I talk a lot about storytelling and you are an amazing storyteller, and it's like, okay, and your podcast, you are more, it's like, yes, your story right now, this is what you are going through, but you are more than this. So I always kind remind myself and also people, it's like, okay, the photos that we're doing right now, it's a snippet of your story, but it's not the entire story. And also it's important to capture this.

(19:06):

And also it's like you're going to change, you're going to evolve. So again, it's this mixed feelings of capturing the moment and it's very important, but also it's like don't hold on to something and be open to, yeah, your story is going to change and your story is going to evolve. And something that I noticed and funny, not funny, but actually after you, I got a few widows as my clients, and something that I learned from your story and being your friend is that the grieving person, the person who is going through grief, just wants to have someone else sit down with them and just kind of listen. And also, I don't need to know all the right things to say. I don't need to have the right words. I can just be a person sitting next to this person who is going through something and at is enough. And so a lot of photo shoot that I did after that, it's like I had clients who came and they're like, yeah, I lost my husband. And I was like, yeah, tell me I want to hear about your story. And I think say

Emily Cave (20:34):

Their name. I think it's say the name. It's so important to say, me and my family just chiming here quickly on that topic. Me and my family, my parents were here. And I just think it's so important for people to acknowledge Colby on his birthday and just not saying his name or acknowledging that at all still to this day is just not really appropriate. Because when you think of your time here on earth,

Emilie Iggiotti (21:05):

Yes,

Emily Cave (21:06):

You never want to be forgotten, right? No. When you think about when I die, I want no one to say my name ever again. I want no one to talk about. It's such a weird thing that people think. So the fact that you gave these women the opportunity to share their stories and feel loved and seen, especially widows, because I feel like widows, you stop trying because in my eyes at that time, I had no one to impress. I didn't care to feel beautiful. I didn't care to feel whatever. I had no one to do that for. Not that I needed to do that for Kolby, but I didn't have that. So I think it's really powerful, like you are talking about is listening and giving widows especially that opportunity.

Emilie Iggiotti (21:55):

Yeah, exactly. And I ask a lot of questions. I ask my clients, yeah, tell me about what you do. What's your life? What's your story? And I always say a photo shoot is a conversation, and in the middle of the conversation, I take photos because this is really just what it is. And people always ask me, okay, how do you get people to look so tic and so genuine? And I was like, I talk to them, I talk to people and I listen to them too.

Emily Cave (22:31):

I

Emilie Iggiotti (22:31):

Ask question and I listen, and then I get who they are, and I give them a space where they can be themselves. Whether you are sad, whether you are very fired up or grieving or super happy or excited, it's give people the space that they need to express themselves. And it's, it's very simple and it seems so silly to say it like that, but all my photo shoots are mostly a conversation with people who are strong enough, brave enough to come in front of the camera and let me take the photos. So the least that I can do is listen to them and let them tell their stories. So that's how I really love to explain what I do. Yeah, well, you are

Emily Cave (23:27):

Incredible at it. My favorite photos are ones that you have taken. We took some fun of me or Chester. Oh my God, yes. Chester. No, Chester, you have to tell people he poses for the camera, that dog. He is not normal.

Emilie Iggiotti (23:44):

This dog is a natural poser. I've never seen an animal like a dog posing. No, I'm kidding. Chester, look at the camera and he's in your arm and he is as the perfect turn. And I was like, oh my God, it was so cute. In the photos that we took for your book, I was seeing my, I mean, all of your photos are my favorite, my podcast headshot. I know

Emily Cave (24:11):

Photo YouTube too. Speaking of that, so obviously you have your studio in Edmonton, and then you also recently started a YouTube podcast kind of thing as well. So tell me a little bit about

Emilie Iggiotti (24:32):

That. Yeah, I do too many things.

Emily Cave (24:38):

I don't know how you do it

Emilie Iggiotti (24:38):

All. Oh, thank you. I work all the time. I'm always on my phone. I'm always working, but I'm a creative person, so my brain is always going have a million ideas all the time. But yes, yes, I have my photography studio in Edmonton. It's called Low Studio yg. So we are a photography rental. We rent to other people, to other creatives who need a space to create. This is my studio. I love being there. It's beautiful. It's like a blank canvas where you can come and create and do whatever, a podcast or a photo shoot or a video shoot. And then this year, I had a podcast a few years ago and it was called French, but Nice. If you search on the earth, Spotify, it's still there if you want to listen to it.

Emily Cave (25:38):

Yeah. Oh, I'm going to be listening to that

Emilie Iggiotti (25:40):

One. Yeah, so it was just audio and then I did I think free episode, and then I was like, and then, I don't know, I got so busy, it was too much. So I kind of gave up on it, and this year I was like, okay, I want to go back to having a personal project because that's the thing is that I do a lot of things. I'm very busy with my businesses, like my photography and then my clients and then my studio, but then it's not really personal projects, so it's like I needed something else that It's for yourself, just for fun for me. Exactly. So I decided to create this YouTube podcast called Creativity with Emily, and I interview women entrepreneurs or creative women. So my goal is to really have conversations like you have with different artists, business owners, women, just to talk about what creativity, I love talking about how people come up with an idea or how they create something. So that's the goal of the new podcast. So it's a lot of work though, I must say. So I'm trying to have, the next episode is coming up, but it's a lot of work to film and edit and then post and all the things. So yeah,

Emily Cave (27:10):

I feel like YouTube is also a big beast to work with. So kudos to you. I feel like I can't, I have social, I have different social medias. I have Twitter, which I hardly ever use.

Emilie Iggiotti (27:26):

Oh my God,

Emily Cave (27:27):

Don't use it. I don't even remember the last, I think you, yeah, TikTok, I haven't posted. I always forget about TikTok and then I'm like, dang it, I really need to be more on there because I'm also definitely more spicy on TikTok

Emilie Iggiotti (27:45):

Than

Emily Cave (27:45):

I am on Instagram. And I have a few drafts lately that I am You

Emilie Iggiotti (27:54):

Post it before it disappears.

Emily Cave (27:57):

Yeah. I honestly don't even know what's happening there. Someone mentioned it to me the other day, I was like,

Emilie Iggiotti (28:01):

But

Emily Cave (28:02):

Honestly, I'm not going to lie. My first thought when they were like, oh, I think TikTok iss leaving, I'm like, oh, I feel a little bit better because I wasn't good at it anyways. I can't keep up. I feel like you're so good about posting and you're so consistent, Emilie, on all your socials where me, I'm like, yeah, I'm, my goal today is to post a life update. Will I do it? I dunno knows, but I'll try so close to you for balancing all the socials because as weird as I feel like that's when people don't understand the influencer world or that, especially if you're an introvert, it's exhausting. I also don't think I'm that special to post every day. I don't know what I'm, but I'm trying to work on it. That's my 2025.

Emilie Iggiotti (28:59):

But you're right, social media is a game of consistency and it's exhausting. It's like another job. So yeah, the algorithms are like,

(29:14):

It's growing me crazy, all the changes, and now they're doing this and we're not Instagram, we're not a photo app anymore, and now we're doing reels and you have to do videos and it's exhausting. I would say if anyone I was out there is a new business owner and I'm like, just stick to one thing and don't overthink it. Like you said, you're like, oh, I'm not that special. Why would I post? But I think people, they just love to photo your story, and that's the beauty of having a community on social media. It's like people actually, you are part of their routine. They're part of their habits, so they check on you, they like to see your posts.

Emily Cave (30:10):

People do check on me. I know I've been quiet for a few reasons the last few months, which I feel like I owe people an explanation, which I need to do soon. But I had so many people message me being like, are you okay? I had people message friends being like, is she okay? Because I wasn't posting. I was more quiet than usual. And I do appreciate that quite a

Emilie Iggiotti (30:40):

Bit.

Emily Cave (30:41):

Quite a bit.

Emilie Iggiotti (30:42):

Yeah. Yeah.

Emily Cave (30:45):

Okay. You also have another, because you can't sit still. I love you for it. A hobby of intense blood, sweat, and tears, thrifting. So tell us about that.

Emilie Iggiotti (31:03):

Yes, it's so funny now I feel like people talk to me more about thrifting than they talk to me about photography, and I'm like, am I going this hard into, yeah. So I started rifting. My friend introduced me to Rifting a few years ago, and first I was, let's be honest, absolutely disgusted. I was like, oh my God, I can't go through people's clothes. And it's like sometimes frit all don't smell really good. It's just a lot of fabric and a lot of things that has been sitting there anyway. But then I don't really know how, I was like, okay, I need to change the way I am consuming fashion

Emily Cave (31:58):

Because

Emilie Iggiotti (31:59):

I was the fast fashion girl. I was like Zara, h and m, I was constantly ordering new clothes on h and m anyway, so I was like, I need to change this. There's something I don't feel fulfilled also, I order all those things and I look in my closet and I have nothing to wear and I don't like, my style is like, it's not working for me. And just as a disclaimer, this is a very personal journey, and I'm not people who shop. I'm like, you do what is good for you. Totally. But for me, this was not working anymore. And I was spending money and I was like, I don't love what I'm wearing. So anyway, I started thrifting and I was like, okay, I'm going to really try. So I went by myself and I was like, okay, I'm going to be patient. Thrifting is a game of patience, and I want to find unique items that I can incorporate to my wardrobe. So first it started with jackets and blazers. I love blazers and I wanted you do love again

Emily Cave (33:11):

Blazer.

Emilie Iggiotti (33:12):

Oh my God, yes. And I wanted

Emily Cave (33:14):

You like a blazer green,

Emilie Iggiotti (33:16):

Thank you. And I wanted to find unique pieces that, not that nobody asked or something that really I love and it's like, oh my God, I'm so excited to wear this. So it was more about really reclaiming the excitement of getting dressed like dress. And I love fashion. I love to get dressed, I love dressing up. So I was kind of at a point where I was like, I need something different for my style. So then I started rifting and I started finding those pieces, and then I was like, okay, now I'm really into it. And then I started slowly replacing the things in my wardrobe. I donated a lot of things that I was not wearing, and then I started buying things that really, I don't know, made sense in my closet because it's like, okay, that is a me item. This is really me, like a blazer, like denim dresses. So it has become a very consuming hobby. You have

Emily Cave (34:25):

Thrifting parties at the studio

Emilie Iggiotti (34:27):

Sometimes? Yes. So we do, I would say every two or three month, like a closing swap organized by my friend Jen. She is the closing swap queen. She's the one who started closing swap in Edmonton. And yeah, it's like a new level of excitement, like, oh my god, for $20 you can just swap 10 clothes for 20 more new clothes that someone doesn't want. But for you it's a new treasure. Yeah, I love it. Yeah, it's so fun. It's fun. And that's what I love about, it's bringing fun back into my life. Of course, I can go to a Zara and then just buy an entire outfit, but I'm missing creating an outfit, like an entire outfit myself, finding all the different pieces myself and then put them together for me. That's the fun part of dressing up. So that's why I, yeah, I am so into thrifting now, and I'm trying to convert people, but also I don't love to be too preachy. I'm like, you know what? This is what I do. If you like it, you can do it too. You like to give it a

Emily Cave (35:48):

Try. I think you had a TikTok go viral or something.

Emilie Iggiotti (35:53):

Thrifting,

(35:53):

Didn't you? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. This viral TikTok on reels, this reels has 12.2 million views. So this is a reel of me in a free store trying on a dress, and it's like a summer dress. It's long, and I put it on top of my clothes, let's be honest, because rift drawers don't have changing rooms anymore. So anyway, so I posted this reel where I say, I got this dress, I paid $17 at the thrift store, which for people who dunno anything about f thrifting is actually a little bit expensive for thrift stores because it's like whatever, you want to get things way cheaper. So I post above this, and my mistake, and this is what I share on the video, is that my mistake was that I didn't Google the tag, the brand tag. And I was like, oh, $17 for that. It looks brand new.

(37:04):

That summer dress perfect. I got home and I Google at home. I'm like, oh my God, I'm going to Google this brand and I Google it and it's the brand and they are selling the same dress on their website for $13. So I paid more at the first store than I would've paid if I had ordered this dress. And this video got viral because every mom in the comments are telling me how stupid I am for first thrifting. So many people are like, that's why I don't thrift. Of course, that people are saying that it's disgusting that I'm trying the dress in the store. And then people are like, what? Who has $17 to spend on the dress at the first store? So this was a very funny experience to have a video go viral. I'm like, I'm saving you

Emily Cave (38:07):

Tag our dean.

Emilie Iggiotti (38:09):

I think I did.

Emily Cave (38:12):

Yeah. I'm bringing a lot of attraction to your website. Your algorithm's probably going to go re up. Yeah, exactly. Is that common in, that's not common though in thrifting for them to raise?

Emilie Iggiotti (38:28):

It's not common, but sometimes, yeah, things are priced a little bit more because also the people who are, let's be honest, people who work in the Rift store, they're not paid a lot.

(38:42):

Also, sometimes they don't know. And it's also the Rift stores is trying to adapt, adjust, okay, all this brand is, they know that Zara or other brands, aia are more valuable. People would buy more those brands at the first store. So I think sometimes they are probably adapting the pricing a little bit. So that's why for them they were like, oh, this looks like a fancy brand. It was not even Aldi. It was a brand by ine. So it's like if you don't know, you don't know. So there's a lot of you have to do your research, you,

Emily Cave (39:21):

But I feel like that's anywhere you have to do your research on not thrifting or

Emilie Iggiotti (39:26):

Thrifting.

Emily Cave (39:27):

You have to do your research on everything these days because you just don't know

Emilie Iggiotti (39:31):

Exactly. There's so much going on. It's

Emily Cave (39:35):

Crazy. Yeah, seriously speaking on so much going on, what are things you miss between France and Canada or things that are different or things that you experienced? I know you still have family back in France for me, I'm not going to lie. I went to Paris and the chocolate croissants are just to die for. And the McDonald's tasted different. People said that it tasted different, the cheese crops. I'm saying all the cliche things, but what are some things that you really notice?

Emilie Iggiotti (40:14):

Yeah, definitely the food. I must say the food is just different. The quality. I mean it has to do with European standards and things like that. So you are right. It's like the McDonald's probably different because they have to adapt. They can't just take the American McDonald's or put it in France. People are going to be like, what is this you?

Emily Cave (40:43):

Yeah, the food's very fresh.

Emilie Iggiotti (40:45):

Yeah, exactly. And also I think they have different things. They change certain sauce because it's French people have a way of cooking. I'm actually, my partner is learning to cook, and I mean he learn to cook, he knows now, but he's like, he learned to cook the French way. So he's always telling me, oh my God, you guys using herbs like that? Or you use so much of this and that. And I'm like, yeah, for me it's like normal, don't you? You're like, of course,

Emily Cave (41:21):

Why wouldn't you?

Emilie Iggiotti (41:22):

Exactly. So he's like, oh my God, I'm always buying fresh herbs and all type, and I cook all my ingredients separately before putting them all together. And it's like, first you make this and it doesn't make any sense, but at the end it all makes sense. I'm like, yeah, that's how French people cook. But it's very interesting to see because he's Canadian and I'm French and I can really see the differences sometimes in cultural food. Food is on Bain difference because we grew up in so many different environments. For me, food is everything fresh. And it's like my mom spends so much time cooking. She's waking up in a morning and right away she starts doing one thing and it's like another thing after. And you're like, why are you starting cooking at 9:00 AM But then when you get to lunch and you see the meal and you're like, I get it now. It's like everything is cooked nicely properly and you have different vegetables and all the things. It's like, I don't know, it's a different food is probably the main difference. Yeah, we love, I mean we love French. People love food. We love good food. And I know you love good food too. I love food. Food, yeah. We bonded over, okay, the food we need the good, delicious food. Yeah, so definitely the food.

Emily Cave (42:59):

Okay. Definitely the food. I know it's funny, even obviously it's nowhere similar, but being in the states compared to Canada, the food is the same. It's not stuff like that. But it is funny how different countries are, and obviously it's very different for you. It's Europe to North America. But totally, even for me, some of the names I say or some of the things that I call things or certain people will look at me like the other day I was somewhere and I was like, do you know where the washroom is? And they're like, where are you from? And I was like, Canada? And they're like, yeah, we don't really say it. They were super kind and super polite.

Emilie Iggiotti (43:35):

Wait, what do you

Emily Cave (43:35):

Say? I guess they say restroom or bathroom.

Emilie Iggiotti (43:39):

Oh,

Emily Cave (43:39):

Okay. Or in the thing in the sink that you can put your food down. I call it a garburator here. They call it a garbage disposal or disposal. Just little things like that. So it's always funny when you move or living in another country, all the big and small things that you can kind of totally see the difference in. But I will say we did bond. I didn't get a piece of it, but I do have a lot of photos from you at the wedding, eating the pizza. The pizza was, wait, I

Emilie Iggiotti (44:15):

Need to post this photos. Well, that pizza, okay, that pizza was, I felt like I was in Italy. The pizza was so good. The scenery obviously was amazing, but it's like, oh my God, this is how this,

Emily Cave (44:31):

I felt like we were in Italy, we

Emilie Iggiotti (44:32):

Were in Italy in that moment. I was like, I'm in Italy, it's warm. I'm eating pizza at midnight. I don't remember. And there was no way I was going to miss on that pizza. I heard the hot pizza. I heard there was

Emily Cave (44:45):

A herd originally where the pizza oven was the opposite side of the dance floor around the building. And they purposely were like, we're going to make them over here so we can carry them to the dance floor and trays.

Emilie Iggiotti (44:58):

And

Emily Cave (44:58):

Then everyone just flocked where the pizza was

Emilie Iggiotti (45:03):

And

Emily Cave (45:03):

Watched them make it. But I never got any, I wish I did, but I know they made me a pizza and they were like, what one do you want? Et cetera. And it got put into a box and I gave it to Colin and he ate it all himself. I got in the shut and I was like, Hey, can I have a piece? And he was

Emilie Iggiotti (45:23):

Like, it's gone. Oh my God. I was like,

Emily Cave (45:28):

I'm so upset. But yeah, I have some good photos of you eating the pizza. Amazing. You like Ty and Stefan doing silent disco.

Emilie Iggiotti (45:38):

There's some good, San Disco was amazing. Yeah,

Emily Cave (45:42):

The silent disco was, yeah, so fun. Good. I feel like there was a good, it was really cool for me, the people, obviously I had a smaller group there since Collin's family is very big. But it was cool that seeing all my people there and being there to support me that knew me pre or post Colby, but still held space for me that whole week and were just incredible. So yeah, I was really thankful that you made the trip. That hotel lobby saw quite a few tears left, all the Canadians left. Yes. I think I was like, don't leave, not live, please. Yeah, it was a little tough. But we'll be back to Edmonton hopefully soon. But yes, welcome.

Emilie Iggiotti (46:37):

Come see you

Emily Cave (46:38):

Anytime. Oh yeah, that's true. That's true. But is there anything else you want to say or would love people to know, et cetera? Come

Emilie Iggiotti (46:51):

Find me on Instagram

Emily Cave (46:53):

Or YouTube or TikTok or TikTok.

Emilie Iggiotti (46:56):

Well, you know what I'm like, should I keep posting on TikTok? I'm like, I don't want to put my editor

Emily Cave (47:01):

There. I do research on that.

Emilie Iggiotti (47:02):

Yeah, I know. Apparently I kind of

Emily Cave (47:04):

Like tune stuff

Emilie Iggiotti (47:05):

Out. Yeah, totally. I think it's January 19 that this is when there's a decision going on. So anyway. Interesting. Definitely Instagram, even if sometimes Instagram is a lot, but, and yes. Yeah, YouTube. I have a few videos if people wants to want to listen to my French accent.

Emily Cave (47:27):

People want to deep dive into your French, but nice old podcast

Emilie Iggiotti (47:31):

And French, but Nice is available on Spotify. Definitely.

Emily Cave (47:35):

We should maybe bring that back.

Emilie Iggiotti (47:37):

Oh my God, yes. Right. Oh, now that you say that, I'm going and stop brainstorming like actually

Emily Cave (47:44):

Origin.

Emilie Iggiotti (47:45):

I'm so bad. No, no, it's all good. It's so good. I love having lots of projects and doing fun things and being creative and yeah, it's keep me going. So yeah. That's awesome.

Emily Cave (47:57):

Yeah, I love that. Thank you so much for, thank you for chatting and coming on and sharing your story. Like I said, you have a big gift on making people feel seen, and you've made me feel seen through the highs and lows these past few years, so thank you for that. But yeah,

Emilie Iggiotti (48:16):

You are so welcome and thank you for having me, and I love you so much and you are so special and unique to me. Yes. And thank you. I love chatting with you all the time. Spicy and sour and sweet. That's what Emily's are. Yes. We should start a new podcast m and m.

Emily Cave (48:41):

Ooh, that's a good one,

Emilie Iggiotti (48:42):

Right? I do

Emily Cave (48:43):

Like that.

Emilie Iggiotti (48:44):

Yeah,

Emily Cave (48:44):

That's a good one. As you guys can see, Emilie's pretty remarkable. I feel so lucky to have her as a friend. She has always made me feel loved and seen, and yeah, I hope that you guys follow her journey, her podcast. If you're in Edmonton, seriously go to her studio. It is so much fun. And if you have the opportunity to work with her, I highly recommend it. It will be you'll walk away from the photo shoot or your experience with Emilie and just feel like I always say seeing beautiful loved. That's her true gift. So yeah, definitely check her out if you're in Edmonton or the surrounding areas. But thank you guys so much again for listening to the podcast. I'm excited for the future guests this year in 2025. But have a great rest of your day and go make someone feel special, loved, and seen today.