For us and the team at Rowell Photography we had a lot of successes this year, and while it might seem like things are just happening to us, be it travel or publications or awards, and amazing clients; none of it has come with out a lot of hard work, constant study of our industry, and extreme highs and lows. When you are challenged to create something unique every week, or even every day, it takes an emotional toll on you. While we like to think of ourselves as business people first, deep down inside, the fuel for this blaze come from the artist within. Not many people get to bleed their passions in life, so with all its burdens we take every accolade as a true honour and every failure as a life lesson.
2015 gave us so many amazing gifts and experiences. By chance this past year was the year many of our long term personal goals came to fruition, and some totally unexpected ones for Rowell Photography.
– We made our goal of donating to the Barrie Food Bank & SPCA, and together with Luca, we photographed over 100 people and their families at the Royal Victoria Hospital Dialysis Clinic for Christmas.
– We joined the organization Help Us Help The Children (HUHTC) which helps orphans in Ukraine, and is located near my ancestral village. So it holds a special place in my heart.
– We photographed 5 commercial campaigns, one being for MCDONALDS!
– We watched many of our friends get married this year. Congratulations Meagan Duhamel & Bruno Marcotte, and Sarah & Jeff Calow.
– Ryan ventured to Yukon on a press pass and captured Yukon Quest 2015 dog sledding race.
– We photographed couples in Bermuda, Santorini pre-wedding photos, Paris couples photos, Quebec City, Fredericton and Banff family portraits – holiday photography
– Were published in Perfect Wedding Magazine, Muskoka Magazine, Dockside Magazine, Bermudian Weddings, The Royal Gazette Bermuda, Wedding Essentials Magazine, Wedding Trends Magazine.
– Had 5 images displayed at the Fete Chinoise Wedding Show at Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto.
Finally, a goal that was never written down anywhere, but was always stored away in my mind palace đ
A long time ago, when we first started our business my chiropractor; Marc Jakobs of Huronia Chiropractic in Barrie, Ontario, said to me that when he found the right person, that we were his choice for photographers. Now this was a very long time ago, long before Ryan an I were married, long before Marc found the ONE, long before a lot of things like smart phones, facebook and somewhat before the Rowell Photography brand you see today. I don’t forget comments like this. Ryan and I knew from day one of our business that we were in this for the long haul, that the type of photography we would do would only work is we could follow people through the most important moments of their lives. We built a business that we hoped will be around for many more years to come, but a decade ago, when Marc challenged me with staying in business long enough for him to not only find the one, but to get her to marry him too. Like a ninja, I quietly accepted the challenge. The years passed by and we never lost sight of the goal. Then one day, out of the blue, an email turned up announcing that Marc & LeeAnn would be tying the knot and that we had to join them to photograph their big day. We were beyond thrilled, we made it, Rowell Photography made it.  But the stars do not always align, and we were already booked, and so were all their wedding plans. So we did the next best thing, art gallery pre-wedding portraits, right here in Barrie, and a first look. It was emotional, personal, and intimate. In some ways it was the exact opposite of their wild Vegas wedding.
Below are some of our favorites from the session. It was beyond an honour to photograph these two. It was more than just a photo shoot for us, it was a reminder of the culmination of 10+ years of hard work, and perseverance.
Congratulations LeeAnn & Marc!
Cheers
& Ryan
