"Who am I?

Who am I?

I'm Leah Rempel!"

So, this clearly doesn't sound as eloquent as Jean Val Jean (if you don't get this reference, watch Les Mis and thank me later).  But I want to give a solid introduction as to who I am and what I value. I want to be transparent. Here are 5 things you need to know about me.

1) I am a follower of Jesus Christ. If you have followed my accounts or journey for any length of time, this will become quite apparent to you. I am unashamed of this as it literally saved my life. It is daily  transforming every part of me. I want to love deeper, live a life of forgiveness and grace while serving the lost and marginalized, just as Jesus did. I want to admit that I fall short every single day and my worth is only determined by God, who has covered all of my sin.

2) I am a dedicated wife and mother. I truly do not deserve them but I have been blessed with an amazing little family that just keeps surprising me. Caleb is the most devoted husband and my best friend. Never have I met someone so loving, life giving and wise. Micah is our precious son who is teaching me about my own selfishness while at the same time giving me a clearer picture of how God loves me. He is fearless and sweet. Not enough can be said regarding Caleb and Micah. They are the most precious gems. I am so in love.

3) I am a teacher. I taught in the public schools for 2.5 years but I have been a teacher at heart my whole life. Surrounded by teachers in my family means that I have been deeply impacted by teachers on every level. One day, I hope I can go back and teach on a more full time basis but my giftings are not being wasted right now as I teach English as a Second Language once a week and lead a book study. Not traditional teaching roles but they still allow me to use my gifts to serve others. I love to share what I have learned, get creative and lead with intention, all valuable assets as a teacher and now a photographer!

4) I am a life long learner. I LOVE to read books, listen to podcasts, take classes and  listen to those who have gone before me. This means that my brain never stops spinning! I am constantly reflecting, perfecting and growing. This also means that I can be really hard on myself. I feel like I will never know enough or there was always more that I could have done or could have said. What  I am realizing is that that is the truth and it is 100% ok.

5) I am an "obsesser." If I get hooked on something, I am HOOKED. If I watch a movie I like, I will look up the actors and find out every movie or production they were ever in. I will watch every interview they ever did. If I love a product, I will find out everything I can about it and tell all of my friends. If I heard something that made me think, I will tell anyone that might find it remotely interesting. But let's not say I am a stalker or creep.. let's say that I am a dedicated supporter. I would also like to say that this makes me a pretty loyal person. I truly do lead with my heart and I will be your biggest cheerleader!

6) Bonus Fact: I am so far from perfect. I am a hot mess mom. I am a wife that doesn't treat my husband the way he should be treated. I can be irresponsible and selfish. I hold grudges that I should let go of. I often judge first and love second. I am an emotional, anxious wreck. I am a work in progress. On social media and online, we show our best selves but no one has all the answers. No one is without flaws or imperfections. No one has it all together. We are in this together.

Sending you all of my love!

Leah

Some If you have had me as a photographer and asked where I think a good spot would be for your photographs, you will have gotten the frustrating answer of, "I love when you choose a spot that means something to you."

You are thinking "WHAT!" Yet you answer sweetly. "Well, we do not really have somewhere like that" or "We will think about it but I do not have somewhere very close that is meaningful."

Here is the thing. I love when we are in a place that is comfortable for you and that draws you out of.. you! It is the best and really defines my style.

However, I of course have some favorite spots for photos that have been highlighted throughout my work. Here are my top 5 with some example photos. Some of these I have only visited once before but I love the backdrop they give, the flavor of the city they exude or they have just been very memorable shoots!

When I walked the campus of the University of Alberta, all I could see was photography locations. The greenery is stunning and the architecture is gorgeous. Literally, you have such diversity in styles and spaces. I have done a maternity session here as well as wedding formals.

This space has open spaces, a small beach next to the North Saskatchewan, and narrow walking paths. Yes, this is a dog park but it is so beautiful and it is large enough you do not have to even get close to a dog to get the perfect photograph.

This is where I had my own family photos done. That is how much I love this spot. There are old buildings, a gazebo, trees, pathways and a look out that it is to die for at sunset. The grounds are almost always open to take photos but you can also pay to take photos inside some of the buildings.

This is just a little spot in a residential area that is in the Riverbend area of Edmonton. It is a lookout that is between the Fort Edmonton Footbridge and the Terwillegar Footbridge. The view is spectacular especially as the sun is going down. I had the most amazing maternity session with Colter and Carla here.

If you are looking for an amazing indoor shooting location, this is it. I often see people looking for indoor locations in case the weather is not looking as they hoped. The Shaw has amazing lines that make stunning composition. There is also a little lookout that overlooks the river valley and has the Edmonton skyline the other way out side as well. Phoenix and Dylan had their engagement session here!

Photographers, where is your favorite place to shoot in the city? Friends, where is somewhere you think would work perfectly for a photo shoot?

Have I got news for you!

The time has come.. for me to announce that I have been thinking about making a change.

For 5 years I have been dabbling in the art of photography.

I have gone from..

• Begging my sister to be my model (a natural!) to having clients beg me to be their photographer (I mean.. no one really had to beg.. It is a pretty easy yes for me).
• From shooting in auto to manual.
• From my first DSLR as a gift from my husband to buying a camera I earned from taking photos.
• From feeling like a 'little fish' out of water to really feeling ownership in my craft.
• From  being afraid to admit what I was doing to really being proud of how far I have come.

There have been a lot of changes, growing and OWNING my own style.

When I started I just wanted to see where it would go so I made a Facebook page and took some pictures for those who wanted to give me a chance. I used a name that would hide my identity until I was ready to come out and really own it (aka. NO CONFIDENCE!) I attended workshops and bought online classes and slowly, I started to see myself improve.

Now, I am here to shout it out that I am changing the name of my little venture to reflect my signature style and to really go deeper into developing a business that reflects my vision.

So, welcome one and all to...

This has been a big decision for me. I hummed and hawed for a long time about the name I wanted, the logo and how I wanted to brand myself as a photographer. I think that this change better reflects my style of photography and what I want to bring to the table for you! It was no small thing to make this happen but I am proud to really take ownership over my photos and to say that I, Leah Rempel, am here to do what I can for you, my amazing clients.

Another thank you to all those who have supported me, referred me and showered me with unconditional love as I stumbled along, trying to find my way. I am still here. At times, I still stumble. I am still growing. But I am so thankful that people have really encouraged me to keep going and pursue this crazy dream of mine.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I have felt exceptionally absent from my little business in the last few months. For those of you who do not know, I am expecting a baby in early January. It has been a very busy time as we have prepared for his arrival, wrapped up my time teaching and prepped for the Christmas season! Now, as we anticipate the arrival of our son, I have time to reflect and just be thankful for this last year including this little business that has grown to be near and dear to me.

2016 was an amazing year for Little Fish Photography. It was one of growth and learning, making mistakes and producing incredible images that I am really proud of. As I look back, I see just how much I took on and how much it has inspired me to continue pursuing photography throughout my maternity leave . I was able to shoot four weddings, several couples and engagement shoots as well as my first maternity and newborn shoots. I grew my repertoire, learned where I need to grow and what I need to put aside.

2017 holds new promises for me. I am starting my journey as a new mother, learning how to manage new responsibilities and reassessing my goals in all areas of my life. I have always been a goal setter and as a teacher, I pushed my students to have goals. I can just see them rolling their eyes as we write a new set of goals together ("Seriously, Madame Rempel?"). There is something about writing new goals. Something promising. Something beautiful. Something exciting. It means new possibilities and opportunities to feel empowered.

When it comes to my photography, I have always been setting small goals, mostly in the area of technique, however this year I am opening up new goals in hopes of growing my business. This year, I am posting them here, being vulnerable and open about them just as I ask my students to be. So, I invite the rolling eyes and the "Seriously, Leah?" But here I am, sharing with you, inviting you to share in my anticipation of an amazing new year.

1. Find an opportunity to volunteer my photography and time.
2. Book 8 weddings throughout 2017 and 2018, double what I did last year.
3. Collaborate with another photographer.
4. Go on 2 photography weekend getaways, exploring new places and spaces!
5. Create more dynamic, multi-layered images.
6. Attend one learning opportunity or workshop.
7. Have someone professionally critique my work.
8. Create a watermark and brand that reflects my photography style.
9. Blog consistently, once every 2-2.5 weeks.
10. Be more active on social media! Post 2-3 times a week.
11. Update my website with a fresh look, more consistent with my brand.
12. Triple my Facebook followers! (630 likes. I CAN DO THIS!)

Well, here they are. Ready to be achieved! Bring it on 2017!