Click Photography | Chris Kufske

In this episode of At Home in Waterloo Region, Cher Goetz sits down with Chris Kufske, an Ontario-based photographer with over 21 years of experience capturing portraits, events, and everyday moments. Chris shares her journey from working as a child and youth worker to building a photography business rooted in storytelling and connection. She reflects on the evolution of her work, the importance of relationships and referrals, and how creativity continues to shape her path. Chris also opens up about her recent exploration into art journaling and fine art photography.

In this episode you will hear:

• [02:15] Chris shares her background as a child and youth worker and how she transitioned into photography
• [04:05] Photographing her brother’s wedding in Italy and assisting another photographer helped launch her career
• [06:03] The story behind the name “Click Photography” and starting her business
• [08:33] Early challenges balancing motherhood, long hours, and building a business
• [09:53] Advice for photographers: finding your own style and avoiding comparison especially locally 
• [12:44] Building a business through word-of-mouth referrals and long-term client relationships
• [15:18] Reflecting on longevity in the industry and evolving mindset over time to go with the flow 
• [19:22] Funny and memorable moments from shoots, including unexpected situations during events
• [24:58] Chris shares her art journaling workshops and creative process outside of photography
• [36:00] Chris explains fine art photography and her interest in creating prints for clients
• [38:19] What makes her business unique, focusing on client experience and capturing personality
• [43:08] How to choose the right photographer through connection, communication, and reviewing their work
• [48:01] Chris shares her future plans, including moving out west, expanding her art and print work, and continuing in the creative field
• [50:38] Chris shares some of her favourite local businesses such as Fiddleheads, BJ Photos, her love of all the thrift stores, and Pho Tran

Connect with Chris:

Instagram: @click.photography.chris.kufske

Website: clickphotography.ca 

Let's Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/at.home.co
Website: www.athomecompany.ca
Email Community: https://athomeco.myflodesk.com/podcast
Contact: hello@athomecompany.ca

Thank you to our Sponsors:

• Amanda Walczyk, Mortgage Agent | Level 2 license at Dominion Lending Centres National Ltd, FSRA #12360
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltboxmortgage_agent
Contact: Amanda@saltboxmortgages.com
519.497.9256

• Den1880
Website: https://www.den1880.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/den1880.co

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hello, and welcome to the At Home in Waterloo Region podcast. I'm your host, Cheryl Getz. The purpose of this podcast is to shine a light on what makes this region special: the people. We will hear from inspiring locals and business owners, their stories and their goals. Whether you are born and raised here, are new to the area, or something in between, join us as we get to know who is part of making our home in Waterloo Region so wonderful. Chris is an Ontario-based photographer that has had the absolute honor of photographing cool humans for 21 years. Whether she's traveling with her clients or photographing them within their home, she is grateful for it all. Chris specializes in shooting portraits, commercial photography, corporate work, family lifestyle sessions, and more recently, fine art photography. What ties all these different types of photography together is that she gets to tell your story with imagery. Chris is inspired by light and composition. She loves photographing the in-between moments and the real stuff. She feels so lucky to photograph humans building their life, their businesses, and careers, and that they choose her to be the one to help them represent their worlds. Chris says she still gets a rush when shooting corporate events and can go the distance when it comes to your event team. She enjoys watching you transform during a session from nervous to empowered and believes your sessions shouldn't be stressful. So as she says, let's have some fun and see what we can create together. Welcome, Chris. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

A pleasure to be here. Thanks for asking me.

SPEAKER_01 1:33

Thank you for coming. I've never said the word photograph or photography so many times in like a one-minute period. And when you see the word photography like text it out, you're like, I don't know how to say that word all of a sudden. It's like photographs. So I'm like, okay, someone on my side.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Maybe I should shorten that a bit.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Sorry about that. It's a great bio there. It gets to know like you, like who you are, and that you are like so passionate. Like that's how the bio comes across, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Well, in 21 years, I've been doing it in a long time. It's a long time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Yeah. So what were you doing before you started this?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

Um actually I was a child and youth worker. So I was a child and youth worker, and um that's what I went to school for. I went to Mohawk. Um but I was always the family photographer, friend photographer, you know, this is before uh cell phones and whatnot, but uh I had the disposables, I had the little point and shoots and uh and uh the non-digital SLRs. And um uh so I was always that person doing the photography. But yeah, I did go to school for uh child and youth work. And I think I it's funny because I was just having this conversation with somebody yesterday um about um oh, it was a graphic designer that I was talking to at a photo shoot yesterday. And how I wish I had gone the art route, but I was surrounded by caretakers. My mom was a nurse, my grandmother's a nurse, my dad's a teacher, my stepmom's a teacher, my brother's a teacher, my sister's a teacher. And so it was thinking, I was thinking, you know, I've got to go into that kind of field. So child and youth work it was. And and I loved my job, it was a good job. I uh worked for the child and adolescent inpatient unit at the hospital, and it was um challenging but rewarding at the same time, emotional, um, came with all the things. And uh then I worked with the uh behavior team, what was called the behavior team with the school board.

unknown 3:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

And so I ended up leaving the hospital and working full-time with the um school board. And uh and it was a good job. It was a good job. I uh worked for the, like I said, the behavior team, and I had a caseload of about 32 kids, and I traveled around uh I was in the south, I covered the south area of Kitchener. And uh I'd go and support in the classroom and set up programs, help parents with appointments and and um and and different programs and things that they could do at home with their child. And and it was great. And then I got pregnant with the girls, and during that time, I believe Yeah, during that time I actually um traveled to Italy and shot my brother's wedding. And again, just being that family photographer, he said, uh, you know, he asked if I would shoot it, and I fell in love with it, and I was like, oh my god, like I want to do this.

SPEAKER_02 4:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

And so then I ended up getting pregnant with the twins, and we both knew that I'd stay home and raise them, but I've got a lot of energy. And as much as I love raising my girls, I was like, I want to do something else as well. And so I contacted a photographer that I really admired in in town and and that had done a few uh had done my sister-in-law's wedding. And I said, you know, I'd love to support you and help you in any way I can. I'm a stay-at-home mom, and she's like, You called it the perfect time, come assist me. Wow. And so I saw it as free education and uh worked with her for a couple seasons. I think it was spring and summer. And then she's like, You're ready, get out there, get your name registered, and uh start referring. And so I went from five weddings um a year to 25 to 30 weddings a year uh really quickly the next year. And uh and then it was it was it's been 21 years, so um things have really taken off and uh and I I truly feel I'm doing what I'm meant to be doing. And I did go back during 2020 to the school board um just because I had to uh we're a dual-income family and we've got twins in university and photographers weren't allowed to work. And uh and so I went back to the school board and worked at uh Cameron Heights and and it was great, I love the kids, but I you really realize what you're meant to be doing. Yeah. And so I did it for a year, and then as soon as photographers were allowed to shoot again, I got right back out. And uh and uh it's been going ever since. So yeah. So I'm thankful to have found a job that I love and that I get to do. And and that's the thing I always remind myself, I get to do this. Yeah. Such a privilege.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

And that's cool. That's that's really cool. So yeah. Your business is called click photography. Why? Other than like the obvious of like, you know, click is it click the camera? Like, is there anything else?

SPEAKER_00 6:03

So funny you say that. I haven't thought about that in years. Like since you named it. Seriously, yeah. And it's so funny because that as soon as you said that, it took me right back to this little rental that we had. So we were living in Laurelwood with the girls and wanted to move bigger. And so we were building a home in Baden. And one of my clients had student housing in um uh Waterloo on I guess that would be uh uh Weaver Street. And she's like, I've got student housing, you can live in there. The problem was was we sold our house too quickly. We still had three months to build. Yeah and uh we needed a place to live with the twins. And they were only oh gosh, they were only a year at the time. Wow. And so we moved into this rental uh pink bathroom, and and you know, I thanked my client for that. It was fantastic to be able to be in that space. Uh, but we were so excited to be able to get into uh our new home. But um I remember printing off my business cards at this small little table that I kind of had set up my own little office space in that in that house, and it was 2004 and just getting so excited that I get to do this again. That comes back to me. And I have no idea where the name came from. That is so. I worked with a graphic designer and she put the put it together, and it was actually a circle card for those that have been with me for a long time might remember my circle business card. Like I had a circle logo and it was click and and it was a it was kind of to represent the camera. Yeah. And maybe, I don't know, maybe the graphic designer helped me with the name. I'm not sure. I have no idea where it came from. That's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Especially because you're in business for so long now. Like everyone just knows, like, oh, you should hire Chris. Like you should hire Chris. Like you're not like like click photography. You know what I mean? Like because you've built such a personal brand like alongside your business.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

I love that you say that because I have been trying to use my name more. Yeah. And yeah, dive into that.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:00

Yeah, dive into the name more than click.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Personalize it a bit more.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

That's so funny you asked me that. I'll have to ask my husband or my girls, like, see if they remember. Yeah. So it was always pink and it's always been pink. Okay. Uh so that's been consistent. But um yeah, I have no idea where the name came from. I love it. I'm assuming the camera, like you said. Click. I mean, it makes sense. Yeah.

unknown 8:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Yeah. Kind of obvious, I guess. Kind of funny that I would choose something so obvious. But uh yeah, anyway.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

So along the way, like what kind of challenges do did you face?

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Probably in the early years, um, being a mom, wife, friend, and trying to get a business up and running and um and make it successful. I think um I worked a lot in the evenings. I worked a lot in the evenings. Um, I was a lot younger then. And I'd be up till 2 a.m. editing. And it's funny because I see on Instagram now the reels of uh the jokes and stuff going around about photographers being up till 2 a.m. and then getting up at seven and heading into the next job. And and I I'm so thankful I don't do that anymore. Um you get to a point where you're like, I can't if if I want this to be sustainable and continue on, I've got to figure out a schedule.

SPEAKER_02 9:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

And again, like I was a stay-at-home mom with the girls, and I'd work mostly in the evenings because I was shooting a lot of families and I love that evening light. And then weddings, I was gone all weekend. And so I'd say in the early stages, those were the biggest challenges was getting my name out there, making a name for myself, and like doing the hustle. Yeah. And uh working the evenings and weekends and just um missing out on family life. So I'd say that was probably the hardest. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

But what advice would you give someone who like wants to be where you are, like a photographer who who is just starting out?

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Yeah, that's a great question. Um it's funny because one of the big pieces of advice that I think has allowed me to be in this business for 21 years is don't follow anybody locally. And I know that you know people come at me for that, but um I totally know why you're saying that. It's it's important, especially as a visual person. I took this workshop in Vegas. I used to go to WPPI all the time, and there was um a husband and wife photography team that I absolutely adored. And uh images found is what they were called. I don't even know if they're shooting anymore. But um I got to do um uh a workshop with them, and there was only six of us, and it was just such a phenomenal experience. And I remember him saying, don't follow anybody local, because unconsciously it'll get, or subconsciously it'll get into your head. You may shoot like them, even though you don't want to shoot like them. Um just you know, follow people out of country and you know, look at magazines and books and and all the things, trying to find your vision and your voice uh through your images. And uh and I took that to heart, and I think it really helped. And I think it's helped me be in this business for 21 years and not get caught up in all the hustle and the competition. And yeah, I I like to think that's a lot of it.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Probably helps a lot with comparison too. Like you can apply that to honestly almost every industry. I mean, we are going into such a place where we are cheering each other on, even though we're direct competition.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Um, but you still like can fall into comparison traps, you know, if you're having a bad day or something. Yeah. And then even the way social media is now, there's all these like trends, right? And so you could see someone even take like shooting out of it, right? You could see someone like doing something and then you want to do it, but you feel like you can't do it because like your competitor did it. Oh my gosh, I don't want them to think I'm copying. Exactly. And so it's just like, oh my gosh, it's getting in your own way so much. So I think that's great advice.

SPEAKER_00 11:49

I think too, back to 2004 when I started, like Instagram, like social media was nowhere we're where it's at now. And um, and I, you know, I feel for a lot of the new photographers out there trying to make a name for themselves because everybody's a photographer nowadays. Right. And I mean, the like we were talking earlier, these iPhones are phenomenal. Yeah. And take incredible photos. And I mean, and then with the age of AI coming in too, um, I'm so thankful that I've built up a clientele who has stuck with me over the 21 years because um, yeah, it's hard nowadays. Like it's a hard field to navigate. And like you said, especially with social media and the competition and the comparison and what it's doing to all of our souls. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

So I mean, when I even think though, of not the last 21 years, but just the last three years, you have gotten new to you clients in the three years. So, how did you get those clients?

SPEAKER_00 12:43

Um, that's a good question. I'd like to say my whole time doing this, it's all been word of mouth. Yeah. Um, I remember spending a fortune one year um on a wedding ad in Wedding Bells magazine, and it didn't do much. Yeah. Um and so it was a good lesson. I think I had to do that and see what that looked like and getting the full page, you know, ad and whatnot. Um, but uh it's all word of mouth for me. And I hold that dearly. Uh that means the absolute world to me. Actually, I just got full body chills as I said that. Um it means the world to me that people um come to me because of word of mouth.

SPEAKER_01 13:18

Right. As entrepreneurs, referrals are everything. Absolutely. Everything. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, you'll go the extra mile to take care of that person that was referred to you because you feel like you're taking care of that new person and your existing client at the same time, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I love that. I love that because I didn't really think about that, but I do. You know, unconsciously I do. It's like I and it's funny because I literally had a conversation with a past client because she texted me and said, you know, so-and-so had such a great experience with you, and I knew she would. And and so I immediately text her back and I said, Oh, thank you so much for that referral. And but I was thinking of her during the shoot because you know, you do. You you do think about that relationship um and that uh you know exchange of energy that people are giving you.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Yeah, I didn't think of it until um, funny enough, this morning. Yeah. And because you always you're always so grateful for referrals, right? But and you're always so uh you're you want to make that new person happy and you also want to do a good job because uh your client that you've already served referred you and you want them to feel comfortable continuing to refer you, right? But what someone said to me this morning in a listing appointment is um I think I said, okay, like these are these are the next steps. Unless you're talking to other realtors, then I'm happy to press pause until you let me know who you would like to move forward with. And they were like, oh no, we're gonna move forward with you. Um because, oh, how did they word it? They said something like, um something like you got more skin in the game, or you'd be more, you know what I mean? He was like, because so-and-so referred you.

SPEAKER_00 14:57

There we go.

SPEAKER_01 14:58

And I'm like, you're so right. Like it holds weight. It holds so much weight. Absolutely. It's the bread and butter of business, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:07

Yeah. And so for him to recognize that, I was like, I love that for you. That's awesome. Yeah. Really cool. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 15:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

What's something you have found completely unexpected about running this business?

SPEAKER_00 15:17

How long I've been going. Like I'm like I'm 50 and I'm still doing this.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Did you did you think 21 years ago or 15 years ago you'd be doing it at 50? No. No. Did you think anything? Like, oh, I'll probably do this when I'm 50, or I probably won't do anything when I'm 50. Like, I'm so in the moment. Yeah. I love that free.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

I am always tired. Yeah, honestly, I I I'm very in the moment and kind of go with the flow, like my husband always teases me, that um I'm kind of MacGyver things and just make it work.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:49

And uh and I was literally just saying to a friend um today's what, Friday? And Wednesday night. And that when something comes to me and it feels easy, it feels like it's meant to be. And so I just continually just ride that wave and go with a flow. Yeah. And I think with photography, it's just continuing to go with the flow and and that I've truly, like I said, found what I've meant to meant to be doing. And but I am shocked that I'm still doing this. I do admit like some of the insecurities coming up for me now are I'm the old one in the game and um, you know, sit down, you're done kind of thing. Oh my gosh. Those are narratives that I'm working on personally. But at the same time, it's like, well, wait a second though, I've got like years of experience.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Oh, I see it as such a guess.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

And so that's how I'm changing the narrative. Yeah. That whole mindset. But it I think it just pops in. Yeah. As you age, it it these little things kind of pop up here and there. And um and also uh physically, too. Like people don't realize the physicality of photography and and shooting. And it's funny because I brought my mom with me years ago to a wedding out east that I shot, and uh she couldn't believe how physical and and up and down I was all all day. And it really gave her a good eye for going, holy shit, like you work. Like you're up and down. And I I am that person. Like I will lay on my back to get a shot. I will, you know, be down on my hands and knees to get a shot and and uh whatever it is to get that photo. And um yeah, so I am starting to feel a little bit more of that, hence the IV uh therapy and and uh different uh modalities that I'm partaking in, so I try to stay younger. But um I think it's also helping me stay younger though, because of the physicality of it all. Yeah. And uh and being able to lift and get up and down very easily and continually squat all the time. And uh so that has helped. But uh yeah, those are some of the challenges I think that are coming up as of late.

SPEAKER_01 17:52

Can I offer another mindset shift? Absolutely. Other than the obvious that you've been in the industry for years, experience like definitely has his weight has its weight.

SPEAKER_02 18:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Um but as someone who's like not 21, being photographed by someone like who is older and more mature and understands women's insecurities like as they age, I think that's such a huge gift for not only helping direct who you are photographing, but also for the person to feel less insecure while being photographed.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:31

I I I feel like that is one of my gifts because I do. I disarm people all day.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

And I think that comes from my child and youth work experience as well. Um, I had to be very disarming and and build trust relationships really quickly. And um, and I think it's just my personality as well. I like I said in the bio of the intro, I love watching you open up and transform in a shoot. It's it's just it's one of the gifts that you give me. Because it's just like, oh, that was friggin' cool. Like and as I'm editing too, like as I'm editing, I will get through the you know, first, you know, 20 images and it's just like, yeah. And then it's like, yes, you know, this is this is where it's at. And then you can see the transformation in the editing. And I love that.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Yeah. Oh, that's so exciting. Do you have a funny story of from like over 20 years of?

SPEAKER_00 19:21

I have two actually, but I don't know if the one's just gross.

unknown 19:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 19:26

So I'll start with the funny one first. Um so I used to go to I I think I mentioned this, I used to go to WPPI. It's a big uh photography conference in Vegas uh that a lot of photographers will go to. And it's a lot of fun. You learn a lot. Uh again, you can do private workshops if you want. And so I went and I brought a girlfriend with me the one year. And so we went out shopping, and I bought these fantastic, like suede heels with a chunky heel, and brought them back. And at the time I was shooting in Toronto a lot, and uh my weddings were turning into bot mitzvahs, bar mitzvahs, and um I had a lot of high-end clients. And this one particular bot mitzvah was at the design exchange in Toronto. I had ice sculptures on the table, you know, Italian chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And so I thought, well, I gotta like, you know, zhuzh it up a bit here. Yeah, and instead of my runners and you know, the all-black outfit, um, I thought I'm gonna wear my new purple heels. Have I ever worn heels to a photo shoot before? No, never.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

These ideas that come into our head.

SPEAKER_00 20:24

Oh my god. And so again, I'm running around everywhere trying to get the shot. And there's they're kids, right? Like they're 13-year-old kids, and so they're everywhere. Yeah. Yeah, I wasn't thinking. I almost took out the grandfather because I fell over on my heel, like I went over on my heel. Yeah. And I went and grabbed, and I like grabbed him. Oh, almost took him to the floor with me, and I realized what was going on, and I grabbed a chair, I think. But uh yeah, it was pretty embarrassing, and I just thought, oh my god, like I'm so sorry. But you do those things, you try to, you know, get the shot, but I also wanted to kind of dress up and you know, feel the event. But no, you're just working, wear your running shoes. Yes, yeah. So that lesson we're learned or that lesson I learned uh pretty quickly. So my god, never wear heels again. Yeah, yeah. And then the gross one, um, it's funny because my clients will laugh about this uh because I'm actually shooting them in two weeks. Oh nice. So this was about 15 years ago. I started in weddings and I shot weddings constantly. And so this is was a couple of mine, and um we were shooting. I can't even remember what the venue was, unfortunately. But uh we were shooting, and my assistant was with me, and um, and unfortunately I got a bloody nose. Oh my gosh. But we were on a time crunch, and I'm like, we gotta go. So I'm like, guys, I'm gonna shove this up my or like shove this Kleenex up my nose. Hopefully it makes you laugh and we have a good time. And we get the photos, and they just started howling. They're like, Oh my god, this is awesome. Wow. And so I yeah, literally shooting them with a Kleenex shoved up my nose and trying to get the shot and get it done. And and and we did, and it was great. So, um, and I think just being authentic and honest and owning your goofiness, and I I totally own being weird. Yeah and um You know, and here I am shooting them 15 years later for family photos, you know, in two weeks. So um it didn't screw things up, you know, yeah, being real and gross.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

So especially when it's something you cannot control, right? Would you imagine if they like judged you for it?

SPEAKER_00 22:15

Oh God. Yeah. Oh man. I was really lucky. A lot of people ask me, you know, do you have any bridezilla stories? I don't have one. Oh wow. I had such great brides and grooms. Yeah. I had interesting stories at the weddings. Yeah. Um, but uh no, I have I have I have really great clients. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes it's who you attract is a big testament of who you are, right?

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, because I've had some clients where it's like, hmm, no, we're not really a match. Yeah. And and that's okay. And I've learned that over the years that that's okay. You can lose my number.

SPEAKER_01 22:45

That's okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

Yeah, exactly, right?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Just go ahead and delete that. That's fine.

SPEAKER_00 22:50

Yeah, I've got lots of others I can refer you to.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

It must be so cool photographing someone like from engagement to babies. Like that must be wild, eh?

SPEAKER_00 23:01

Yeah, absolutely. Well, and like with this family coming up next weekend. Um, well, even this weekend. Like I'm in Grand Bend for I love shooting on the beach. You have me by the water. Oh, I love shooting in Grand Bend. It's probably one of my favorite spots to shoot in uh all of Ontario is uh the pinery, the beaches in the pinery. With the grasses and the sand and the sunsets and the boardwalks, and and uh so I have a family, uh three families coming on Saturday and they're all returning clients. And the one, like I've been shooting them for 17 years. And uh and they're just excellent clients.

SPEAKER_02 23:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

So um yeah, it's really cool that they continue to follow along and support and and trust. And and it's just like these like their girls are gonna be like, I think their oldest is gonna be like 13. And that is so cool to see them growing up from infancy, well, even from their parents' engagement to now, you know, they've got a 13-year-old child. So uh I hu I that's a huge honor for me.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

Yeah, because I was gonna ask you like what are you loving about this business? And I imagine it's something in addition to that. Like, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 24:05

The freedom. The freedom to have my own schedule. Yeah, absolutely. I was just thinking that this morning. Like, I love having that freedom.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

Yeah, it feels so good.

SPEAKER_00 24:14

And it and it's it kind of really gave me that hindsight too when I did go back to the school board and I was in that classroom from nine to three every day, and it was like, oh my God, get me out of here. Yeah. You know, like I hated being in those walls. Yeah. And uh to be able to have my own schedule and pick and choose when I want to work. I really love that.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Yeah. Yeah. It's really cool too, because speaking of freedom is like you have the freedom to make your business however you want to make it. Absolutely. And you have incorporated something so cool into your business, like these workshops. Do you want to talk more about these workshops? Absolutely. Because I'm obsessed.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

It's funny, I just got chills when you said that. Um I'm a big energy person, so the chills always tell. They're always coming. Chills are always happening. Um, I think it's part of the whole evolving. Like again, 50, 21 years, my husband's done work in uh a year and a half. So we're both kind of looking at what's next. Yeah. And I guess it was just shortly after the pandemic when I started kind of getting more curious and experimenting with different mediums and paint and oil pastels and watercolor and sketching and drawing and and all the things. And uh and just really fell in love with that. And I've done a few big pieces, I've done some pieces for friends, but um I've recently started the art journaling. And I have a variety of books. Actually, it's funny because um uh I used to watch um The Twilight Zone. This is really dating me, but uh with my dad, and so I have a book that's just like right out there with I have these 1952 magazines that people can cut up if they want and use, but uh that's one of my favorite books. And then I have the kind of the manifesting book where you know all the great quotes and things that you want to become, and then I have the more abstract art where I'm taking my bigger pieces into a smaller journal. And I love it so much that um I got talking with somebody else and they're like, I want to incorporate this into uh some somatic work that I do. And so Aisha um and I created um a workshop day. So she did the somatic piece uh for the first hour and a half, and then we dove into doing uh the art journaling. And uh and it's just I creativity is so important for the brain. Um it's so great for us to be able to turn off that logistical side of ourselves and the planning and the doing and just get abstract and lose ourselves in creating. And I crave it. And when I'm feeling stressed, I have a my girls are now off at school, and so I've got a little bit more space in the house, and and I've uh turned one of the rooms into my art room and uh I walk past it and I'm just like it's like a magnet. I just I want to be in there and and just creating and and uh and more so I want to start doing some more content and explaining it more and and sharing. Um most recently I made a book out of paper bags that I got at a thrift shop and uh like it can be as simple as that and it's accessible to everybody.

SPEAKER_02 27:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:11

And so um, yeah, so Aisha and I did the um somatic uh workshop and we've got another one coming up on uh October 19th, but I've also started doing some of my own and I'm hosting them in my studio space. And I ran the first one last week. Last week, the the 11th. And and it was so much fun. Like um, I have a crap ton of art supplies.

SPEAKER_01 27:30

I know.

SPEAKER_00 27:31

I've been correcting, yeah, I've been collecting for the past, you know, I guess three and a half years, uh even longer than that. But um, I just want everybody to come and use everything, use everything and experiment and get curious and and uh and have that opportunity to just play and let go and let go of the expectation of what you think it should be. And uh so I'm excited to see where these go.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

Just a quick break to thank the sponsors that make this podcast possible. Amanda Walchuk, also known as Saltbox Mortgage Agent, with a level two license at Dominion Lending Center's National Limited, FISRA 12360. Amanda is a passionate mortgage professional on a mission to educate clients about mortgages. She ensures her clients benefit from trust, confidence, and the security of knowing that they are getting the best mortgage for their needs. If you've got mortgage questions, Amanda's got the answers. Be sure to check the show notes for her contact information. Welcome to Den 1880, Uptown Waterloo's premier, boutique, coworking, and event space. Step into a workspace that fuels ambition and sparks connection. DEN 1880 offers a variety of memberships with everything from hot desks to private offices. They've got the perfect setup for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and growing teams. Think beautifully designed spaces, curated programming, and all the amenities you need, including unlimited coffee. Need to host? Den 1880 sets the stage for meetings, workshops, and unforgettable events. They even have a fully equipped podcast studio in a vault. Come see the benefits of working in a community. Explore the memberships, or book a tour at den1880.co today. I have been scouring Facebook Marketplace for those dang magazines ever since I left your house. I'm like, where did you find these? I can give you my contact. Every day I go on and look, and none of them are just right. Like none, like you found the perfect stash. And I'm like, okay, like those are cool, but like that's not the vibe. Like they're not just right.

SPEAKER_00 29:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:35

Um, so I'm still waiting for them to like pop up.

SPEAKER_00 29:37

I'll give you my contact. He's out of Toronto.

SPEAKER_01 29:39

Oh, I'd love that. Yeah. Because they are so stinking cool. Yeah. Like I want to do.

SPEAKER_00 29:43

I love that stuff. Like I love that old stuff. Yeah. Because it's almost kind of creepy. Yeah. But it's creepy, but artsy in a way. And I love like twisting.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

Oh, the fonts are not. Like the fonts are really neat. And then like the imagery is really cool. It's also nostalgic.

SPEAKER_00 30:00

Exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

But it's almost interesting because you look at when it was printed and you're like, oh, even when it was printed, they were going for the look of nostalgia. Does that make sense? Yes. Absolutely. So it's not nostalgic because it was like printed in 1980. Yeah. In 1980, when they were printing it, they were trying to like evoke an emotion of nostalgia.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

The font is very different from the 1950s font. Yeah. And it's funny, when you look through some of those books, the 1950s books, you will see like what you're talking about, but then you will see the odd ad where it's like, whoa, that's like totally new, like going forward beyond their time. Right. And you know, those graphic designers or whoever uh the artistic director was uh for those ads was trying for that new outside of the box. And so that's kind of cool to see back then.

SPEAKER_02 30:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:46

That people were still trying to push things outside of the box and be different and creative. Um and I love that. But yeah, art journaling for me is is definitely an addiction and um it's it's a release. And um I find I'm becoming more creative by doing it, just having that extra creative piece in my life, other than photography. And I have incorporated my photography into my pieces because it's a lot of closing too. It's not just using paint or uh oil pastels or watercolor. I'm ripping things, I'm layering things, I'm creating papers to put in. And um so it's a whole process.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so I have to tell you a story. I was really inspired by one of your reels. So do you remember the table that you bought that you showed me?

SPEAKER_00 31:32

My Italian dinner table. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:34

You brought it into your studio and you did a reel about how you were painting it. Yes. And you felt like you were supposed to rush to like get this done and get it painted. And then the reel was talking about how it's like, why am I rushing? Like I can actually just slow down and paint this at whatever pace I have. And it must, it might sound so silly, but literally it was like that night or the night afterwards. I am cleaning up the house. And let's say it's like 8:30, 9 o'clock, and I'm trying to clean up the house, and I am repeating your words in my mind of being like, Cheryl, like there is literally no rush. You're in your own home. You can take deep breaths. Yes, I love that. You can slowly put these dishes away. You can slowly wipe this counter down. You can think about like where you want to store the coffee maker from now on. Like, just slow down, like just have more ease, have more calm. Yeah. And it was like game changing. Like something that you hate doing, like to hide in your house, became actually a little cathartic.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:37

And you're like, no, like I don't know how to explain it, but it's so like, this is my house. This is these are my things. Like I think these. Yes, you're caring for something that is so meaningful, right? And I think that's lost. Yes. In the day-to-day sort of hustle society. I love that you posted that.

SPEAKER_00 32:56

Oh, good. I love that. Because I'm not much of a poster. I'm a pretty private person and I don't post a lot. Um I'd like to post more, yeah. Um, but it has to be authentic for me. Yeah. I don't want to just be posting to post. For sure. And um yeah, so I I appreciate that feedback and I appreciate that. Yeah. I'd love to see more of those messages.

SPEAKER_01 33:15

Because I know you have them in you. I do. You have so many of those messages in you, but maybe you're just like, oh, maybe this is just me like feeling this way, but like I'm telling you, it's not.

SPEAKER_00 33:24

Sometimes, but also it's just I have a love-hate relationship with uh social media and Instagram. I think we all do. And I think um, especially now where everything's going and and all the stuff happening in the States, it's just like, don't I want to be on here right now?

unknown 33:37

No.

SPEAKER_01 33:37

Yeah, mine is very curated, let me tell you. But it still put seeps in there. It seeps in, but I am like algorithm by yeah, like, yeah. I tell that algorithm algorithm. Like, I don't want to see that stuff. Or it's like um you can create like a favorites list. So when you go on social, you just look at your favorites and like that's in it. That's really powerful. And then if you want to like and painters, yeah. And like when I'm mentoring like other realtors and stuff, and they're like, okay, because I tell them like stop wasting time scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. Like you have to be more productive. Like you should post more than you scroll, you know, like create more than you can create more than you consume, right? And so they're like, okay, but you also tell me that part of the business is engaging on social media because it's supposed to be social. It's like, yes. So either make that favorites list or go to the search bar. Like you're not opening it to scroll, you're opening it to search someone or something. Sometimes it's a mindless scroll though. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:38

You know, sometimes it's a mindful scroll. There's a time and a place. There's a time and a couch on the late evening. It's the mindless scroll sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. No, I I've definitely curated to have a lot of um art journalers, um artists, art curators, and um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:56

Which is amazing to consume. I should try to switch my algorithm to that. Yeah, it's just some art. So good. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my god. Really inspiring. Yeah, I should borrow your phone one night. Yeah. With a glass of wine in your phone. Absolutely. Yeah. Um okay. Something that you mention in your bio is fine art photography. What is that?

SPEAKER_00 35:18

So fine art photography uh for me is creating pieces that people can use in their homes. Oh, okay. Yeah, for um, art, uh, for decorative art. Aaron Powell Is it different than like landscape photography? Uh no, landscape photography can be fine art photography. It's just in how and how you shoot it. You'll see a lot of um fine art photography being black and white. Okay. Uh soft blur, uh long exposures, um, double exposure. It has to be interesting. Although you'll see some incredible. I I was just looking at a book last night with my husband because um for the art journaling, I've um created a um ransom letter ABC uh alphabet box. And so I'll sit with the magazine and cut the letters. So I've got a spot for A, B, C.

SPEAKER_01 36:06

I really hope this isn't this episode is not used against you in a court of law one day.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

The art journals will art journalers will will get it. You use the um letters to spell out things in your art journal. And yeah. And so I was sitting there and I was cutting up actually a fine art magazine. And uh there are some phenomenal black and white portraits in there that are just so incredible, and I could see them on people's walls. So um, as of late, I've got an obsession with flowers. Okay. And so I've been photographing a lot of flowers, and I've been sharing them as free wallpapers on Instagram. Cool. So you can find those under my highlights under free wallpapers. But my goal is to create a print shop and uh and get that going. So hopefully by the time this airs, I've gotten it off my ass and I've launched that um print site. Because uh people have been asking for prints for years, and I've just never ever done that. Like, how have I never done that? So uh so now's the time. Uh and I'm excited to do it too. I just have to figure out the avenue in which I'm gonna go for that. Okay. Um I want to make it super simple for clients and for customers to be able to just click purchase and it's delivered right to their home. Right with no issue. So and any size they want. So I'm working on that right now. I do have a fine art website, but um it's in the works.

SPEAKER_01 37:23

So exciting.

SPEAKER_00 37:26

But uh yeah, landscape, I love to travel, so um you'll you will see some of my travel photography um on the uh website. But um, yeah, the art and the double exposure and and with flowers is what I'm loving right now. Blown up. I've got a thing for dying flowers right now.

SPEAKER_02 37:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

Yeah, and I'd love to do you know, a piece or even a show on just these dying because flowers are beautiful no matter what stage they're in. Yeah. Even like dried flowers are gorgeous. Just so beautiful. Yeah, and I've been pressing flowers for for the journaling and and uh so people always walk away with some pressed flowers as well.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Ooh, you should do a cool like partnership collab with Ainsley from Harpinfin.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

Yes, yes. I've talked to her.

SPEAKER_01 38:06

She's got like a cool edge to her, too. Absolutely. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:10

Yeah. I've talked to her about uh coming in and getting some over dead flowers. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 38:14

Yeah, make that happen. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

So what do you feel like is unique about your business?

SPEAKER_00 38:21

I think because it's been word of mouth for 21 years is their experience with me. Um I'd like to think that. I mean, when I started 21 years ago, I was different because I was shooting differently. I was very bright, very colorful, um, wide open, um, you know, 24 millimeter kind of that wide open space. Um it wasn't your typical portrait at Sears or sitting in a chair kind of work. Like I had a lot of movement in my photos. And I think that's kind of what started the ball rolling back then, because there wasn't a lot of that photography out there. And digital was just taking off. Like I went to Conestoga for a little bit for a few uh courses in photography, but uh I already felt I had a handle on it all.

SPEAKER_02 39:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:04

And uh and I wanted to start working. So uh I bought my first digital camera. I shot my brother's wedding in Italy on a uh uh film camera and then came home and I actually I think I shot my financial wedding uh I shot my financial advisor's wedding too uh on film. But then as soon as the girls were born, I bought my first digital uh SLR. Okay. And uh and then it was I'm known as an overshooter, and because film is you know 2436 uh role, um, with digital, it's just go crazy wide open, and you just keep shooting. And so unfortunately, yeah, I am an overshooter. But uh I think it just gives people a lot of variety, which is nice. And um I'm forgetting the question now.

SPEAKER_01 39:45

What's unique about the business?

SPEAKER_00 39:47

Oh yeah. Um I again, I think just my the experience with me. Yeah, I would agree that um I like to make people feel really comfortable in what they're doing and really see them. Like one of the biggest compliments is oh my gosh, you captured the personality perfectly. Yeah. Or these are exactly what I was looking for. And I love hearing that. So I hope people know that I really listen and I really see you. Yeah. And try to capture the true essence of who you are, whether it's your family or your business or an event. Um, I want to make sure that I capture that. I take that seriously, especially when I'm doing an event too, and they're like, capture the mood of this. And uh and I again it goes back to that energy thing. I really feel people and um and I I think that's a gift in doing what I do.

SPEAKER_01 40:34

I like your home studio too. Oh, thank you. Yeah, yeah. I think it's a really nice option. Um I've always booked studios and it just makes the session that much more um expensive. Yeah. Yeah. Um so the home studio is such a nice tree to be able to have that just included in your package. And like you really do make people feel at home, which pun on at home. Um you make you make people feel like it's it's just more comfortable. You know what I mean? Rather than like a studio that you might be scared of, you know, ruining some things that looks perfect.

SPEAKER_00 41:14

I remember one. Yeah. And my girls were so little at the time. Again, this is when I first started the business, and uh and I didn't have a sitter for them. And I contacted my client, and God, my girls are 22 now. They were only probably about five or six. Yeah. And I contacted my client, I said, I'm so sorry, but I have to bring my kids with me. There'll be another part of the studio. And this was an old studio space on Duke Street. And I don't know if you've been to Duke Street, the old um and this was again, well, if they're 22, it was six years ago, so like 14, 15 years ago. It hadn't had the redo that it, you know, Duke Street's been under. And I remember taking my girls up the stairs at Duke Street, and they're like, they were terrified. Like they thought I was taking them to uh you know haunted house. But thinking about the clients that had to do that as well. Yeah. Probably like, where the hell is she taking me? But um, yeah, when my girls left for university four years ago, um, my husband and I, it's just us and the dogs, and I said, you know, what are your thoughts on me turning the sunroom into a studio space? This way, you know, it my clients don't have to pay the extra$120 an hour for rentals of studio space. And it's a small space. Like I don't do I did start doing families in it, quickly realized that I love space and more space, and I love movement, and it didn't allow my clients to move a lot. So I've just primarily been focusing on headshots and um small team photos in that space. Um, but it's really nice to have. Like it's it, and I worked with uh Shannon from the design factory and um who's a phenomenal designer, and she helped me. I said, I just want a clean white space and some kind of architectural detail, so that's why we added the arch in the in the uh wall and uh just light oak floors to keep it neutral, and and then I can add whatever we want. Yeah. And make it whatever kind of vignette people want, and a shit ton of plants. So yeah. My girlfriend was over the other day and she's like, it feels like a jungle in here. Yeah, there's a lot of plants. I need enormous plants. I'm like, wow, that is Big Joe. Big Joe's a big guy.

SPEAKER_01 43:06

Oh my gosh. So how would you suggest to people like to find the right photographer for them? What should they look for something? Ask certain questions.

SPEAKER_00 43:18

Absolutely. Ask all the questions. Okay. And interview and um phone call, text, DM. You'll get a vibe. Like you'll get a you get a feeling. And I truly believe the people that are meant to come your way will come your way. Yeah. And um and just trust that. Yeah. Yeah. And obviously look at the work. Yeah. You know, the work speaks volumes. Yeah. But uh personality is a big deal as well. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:42

You mentioned that you like to travel and you like to take photos while you travel. What have been your favorite places?

SPEAKER_00 43:47

Gosh. Amalfi Coast was one of my favorites. I just did that. Oh, did you? Oh, it's so good.

SPEAKER_01 43:52

Last October, I want to say. So good. Oh my gosh, almost away. Positano.

SPEAKER_00 43:58

Positano, yeah, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 44:00

Yeah. We went in October. Yeah, that's when we went. And we were like, as if people come here in July. Like October was busy enough, but there was still like lots of space. But I was like, wow. Yeah. Times this by 10. Absolutely. And we were hot. Like I took at least two showers a day. Yeah. We were swimming too. Yeah. And I'm like, as if people come here in July. Yeah. It would be so hot and so busy. We're so grateful that we did like, we're big shoulder season travelers. Yes. You know? Yeah. Oh, we are too.

SPEAKER_00 44:30

We went the first week of October. So we were in Rome and Florence the first week, and then the last week, uh, which was the first week of October, we were in Al Malfi. And uh I've been to Cinquitera. Actually, that's where I shot my brother's wedding. And uh Chinquatera was phenomenal, so great, you know, um, kind of otherworldly and just forgotten, but beautiful and kept well and not overcommercialized. I mean, I haven't been there for 15 years, but uh um I really enjoyed Amalfi only because it was bigger and allowed us to, we rented scooters and oh my god, it was the best. Yeah, my husband was white knuckling it. The whole time around the hills and I'm like shooting, and he's like, hold on. I'm just like, this is fun.

SPEAKER_01 45:14

I don't think Chris will ever forgive me for not allowing him to drive there. Yeah, he loves driving, he loves driving in other places, he loves road trips. Yeah. And I was just like, we have toddlers at home. Yeah, it's you can't end it now. No, sorry. But like, we'll come back in 20 years. If you want to end it then, you can without me. But like, you're not ending it now. Well, terrifying. They're so scary. Yeah. So I yeah, he probably still doesn't forgive me, but I was just like, hey, you're breathing.

SPEAKER_00 45:47

We stayed in Maori, and so we traveled to the different uh other towns, and we went up to um I can't remember the name of it, but it was it was up the mountain instead of the coast. And that was probably the most terrifying. Like I was the one white knuckling and just like holding on tight. Oh god. And he had been used to it because this is our second time out, and he was just like, wee, you know, and I was just like, oh my god, get me home. Yeah. So being way up there on the mountain in the hills coming down was terrifying for me. Whatever reason.

SPEAKER_01 46:15

Yeah, but the water, I was okay.

SPEAKER_00 46:17

Like hanging out over the water, I was like, Yeah, let's go. But there was the mountains that got me. I have no idea why. Oh my gosh. Anyway, but yeah, Amalfi, stunning. But I love the off-the-beaten path. Like the commercial stuff, whatever. Yeah. But uh, show me the side streets with the old cars and the markets and the the families, you know. Somebody asked me the other day, and uh what was my favorite, and it'll always be people.

SPEAKER_01 46:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:42

Uh, even in travel. Like I love photographing people. And uh and that's one thing you need to be aware of too, is just asking for permission and making sure you're respectful.

SPEAKER_01 46:50

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 46:51

But uh, I'd love to do more of that. Just kind of some more random. I had a um corporate shoot in Toronto. Um I I do it every January, but um I was leaving the hotel and there was a uh concierge, and he was dressed up in a long fur coat, fur hat, long white beard. Like he looked like Santa and a fur coat. Yeah. And I was just like, Chris, ask him if you can shoot him. Yeah. Like just ask. Like this is the stuff like that just fills you, and you just want to do this random stuff. And he was like, Oh my god, yeah, of course. And so I shot him right in the middle of the street in Toronto, right in front of the hotel. And it was just so satisfying because I love being able to photograph people like that, just randomly. Did he think it was the coolest picture ever, too? Oh, I don't know about that, but I sent them to him and he was very thankful. But um, but I want to do more stuff like that. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:40

So you see these TikTok accounts of like young photographers. Yes, where they do. Like they go up to people and be like, hey, I'm a young photographer. Like you guys are such a vibe. Like can I shoot you? And the photos are so cool.

SPEAKER_00 47:52

Absolutely. I love those reels. Yeah. Yeah. Really cool.

SPEAKER_01 47:55

Okay. What are you looking forward to most, either personally or professionally, in the next like one to five years?

SPEAKER_00 48:01

Moving out west.

SPEAKER_01 48:02

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:02

In a heartbeat. Yeah. I mean, you you and I have talked about this. Yeah. Um, my girls uh go to UBC and uh they're finishing their last year. And uh and so they won't be coming back to Ontario. They love it out there. Yeah. And and we get it. And we love it out there too. Actually, every time I land, it feels like I'm coming home. Oh, wow. So and it's both my husband and I. Yeah. And so our goal is to head out west. Okay. And I mean, I don't know if the girls will stay out there. I know they won't come back to Ontario, but um they will stay out there for a bit. One's talked about New Zealand, the other one's talked about Europe. I don't know where they'll end up landing, but uh wherever they will be, we'll be out west.

SPEAKER_01 48:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 48:40

And uh so whether it's the island, um, I don't know if it'll be Vancouver um area, but um we want to be on the water. So if it's Vancouver, it won't be uh it won't be on the water. Yeah. Um but uh yeah, we're definitely talking about the different islands and stuff. So nice. That's so exciting. Yeah, I just and it's funny the landscape, and it's funny because I was talking to a client, I sent her photos uh two days ago, and and she said, I noticed you shoot us every two years. And uh I said, Oh, well, I'll have to shoot you guys before I move out west in two years. And she said, Oh, or we just come out to see you there. Yeah, please. I said, Because the the landscape is so beautiful and so different. And uh and I have a few clients out there, so I'm hoping to build that more and see what happens. So yeah, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. Definitely looking forward to seeing what's gonna happen with the art journaling and uh the fine art and what I can do with that in the print shop. Yeah. And uh just continually I I want to stay in the art field. Yeah. And I always want to be in that space. And and I will always shoot. That's just part of who I am, and I find it easy to do, and I f I love doing it. And I came home from a three-hour photo shoot uh for a commercial shoot yesterday and continued shooting flowers in my studio. So it's like, yeah, Chris, you still love this. You love it. Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:55

What have you loved about building this business specifically in Waterloo region?

SPEAKER_00 50:01

The loyalty. Yeah. The loyalty. And and I I like I've said my clients are fantastic, and I've had continual great clients, and I'm meeting new clients. And and that's just so exciting too. But the loyalty and the referral base. And and another thing too is I love the new places that I'm still finding through clients. Right. Like I'm like, how did I not know about this spot? Like this is phenomenal. Like I gotta shoot here again. And um, yeah, so it's funny, even though it feels like a small town and I've been here forever, I'm still finding new inspiration and new places to go. And uh and I love that. That's amazing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:38

What are some of your favorite local businesses?

SPEAKER_00 50:41

Oh god, I have so many. Um I was literally having a conversation with Andrea this morning about shopping too much. Um first shout out, I think, because I'm there two to three times a week as Fiddleheads on Bruce Street, Kim. Um yeah, I uh I'm there a lot, and all the staff there are phenomenal and always answer all the questions. But uh great um ground turkey and and organic chickens there and but all the supplements. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:07

Bridgeport is mine.

SPEAKER_00 51:08

Energy cookies. Have you had their energy cookies? Oh yeah. God, I love those things. Yeah. That's lunch some days. Yep.

SPEAKER_01 51:14

Yeah. Oh, that and the smoothie is lunch. Yes. Or one of their meat sticks and a smoothie. Like that is the perfect on the go for me between showings popping into it.

unknown 51:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:25

That's why you have the smoothie. Yes. Right? You have the rid of the pepperettes. And then you have the smoothie after. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 51:32

Yeah. Um, BJ Photos in Waterloo, family run business, phenomenal. They have been so great. I needed a massive order done um in a day. Yeah. And they ended up going in on a Sunday for me, and they don't work Sundays, and they printed this job for me. Wow. I can't rave about them enough. And I get all my prints there, and uh they sell camera equipment, lenses, used equipment. So knowledgeable. So yeah, BJ photos, I definitely recommend. Um and then I have to give it a shout out to um all the thrift stores because I frequent them quite a bit. Yes. So I am a huge thrifter. It's the thrill of the hunt for me. Yeah. I could spend hours. My girls love thrifting. Um, my husband benefits from some of the things. Yeah. Um, Vancouver thrifting is great. Yeah. I got him a beautiful Friol Raven uh hoodie, uh brand new. And I think I paid 20 bucks for it. Wow. And um some different North Face uh pieces for him. So he he appreciates some of the pieces. But um, yeah, Mission Thrift, amazing for um magazines. Um I didn't get the ones that you like there. Um I do get my national geographics there.

SPEAKER_02 52:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 52:45

And children's books. They've got wild children's books, like old school, like creepy cartoon children's books. Um and then thrift on Kant. Thrift on Kant is amazing. Love that one. But uh yeah, all the thrift stores. I mean, yeah, love those. Nice. Yeah, and then Faux Tran on Bruce Street. Faux tran, we probably are there once a week. Bruce Street. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Faux Tran, amazing faux. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So pho. Fu. Yeah, pho. Tran. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 53:17

I'm always like, how do I say this? Fuck ph I don't know. And then I'm like, should I be saying pho? Or is that for other people? I don't know. Like, what's I know. Should I just say pho? Should I just stick to that? I don't know. Oh, mess it up. Am I trying too hard? Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. I'll have to try that. Yeah. I'll have to try that.

SPEAKER_00 53:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 53:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:38

Do you like thrifting?

SPEAKER_01 53:40

Yeah, I do. But you know what? I wish I liked thrifting for clothes. I just can't do it.

SPEAKER_02 53:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 53:45

I'm not good at it. I think it's too it's too much. Like there's just so much happening, like on the rack, and you have to go one by one. And as I'm going one by one, I was having this like weird feeling in my hands. And like I just can't shake it. Yes. Yeah. So I love thrifting for everything else. Like home decor. Yeah. Home decor, like old books, old frames is my jam. I'm like working on a gallery wall right now. I'd love to see that. And every I'll send you a picture. Every couple of months, like I get to add a frame to it that I kind of come across. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:20

And um I love that. Yeah. Yeah. My whole living room is marketplace. Oh, yeah? Yeah. Because I love that mid-century modern look. And uh so I've found some really great pieces uh on marketplace.

SPEAKER_01 54:31

Yeah. Yeah. You've got such great patience for it.

SPEAKER_00 54:34

I do. And that I I love that. Like I that's why I love it, because I could spend hours. Right. Yes. It's when my girls were home in the summertime for a week and we finished the week at Value Village. And um they had to fly out that night. And so we're like, okay, we got two hours. That's all we got. Like, we gotta go. And so we went, it was two hours, and it was like two hours and fifteen minutes. We're like, okay, we gotta go. Like let's go. Dad's got dinner waiting for us. And uh yeah, so like Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:01

Yeah. I'm a big um chair person too. We have so many chairs in our house. Like I actually don't know where another chair would go other than just in the middle of a room at this point.

SPEAKER_00 55:13

So renting them out for uh events?

SPEAKER_01 55:15

I should, yeah. Because like in our living room, you know, like you have the classic like couch and like two chairs, right? Yeah. And then we have so many chairs that each person has a chair in their room now. And then on top of that, we moved our dining room so that we could put two chairs in front of our dining room window. Like where do you find it? Okay, so sometimes it's list sometimes it's like properties. Oh, like so yeah, I got this amazing dusty rose um like rocker chair, like upholstered though, like not a wood one. Um so cool. Like it swivels and rocks and everything, and it's super, super comfy. And so my clients bought the house. Yeah, and I knew that the story behind it was they moved into a retirement home. And so I messaged the listing and chair and was like, if by any chance they forget to take the chairs, if the kids forget to move the chairs out, just leave them. Don't worry about it. And they did. Oh my god. Like, thank you. We don't have to move one more thing. Right. Yeah. I'm like, give me all your old chairs. Yes. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 56:22

Well, thank you. Thank you so much for coming on. This was awesome. This was really great.

SPEAKER_01 56:27

Yeah. We we just did a photo shoot together, so I have to tell like a little bit of a story, and it was so fun, and I love all the photos. I couldn't choose favorites. I'm like, give them all to me. They were so good. It was so fun. You let me like swing a mic around in the studio. I love that. Can I do this? Yes, do it. So such a good time.

SPEAKER_00 56:49

I love creating together, and I love that you suggested that. And I thought, I'm like, hell yeah, let's go, right?

SPEAKER_01 56:55

Yeah. Well, thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it. My pleasure, and thank you so much for having me. Thank you for tuning in to the At Home in Waterloo Region podcast. It's been a pleasure sharing another incredible story with you. If you've enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. It helps us reach even more people who love this community as much as we do. To stay up to date on new episodes and everything Waterloo Region, from the housing market to community events, follow At Home Co. on Instagram and join our email newsletter community, both linked in the show notes. Until next time, take care of each other and let's keep celebrating the stories that make this region home.