Autumn | Neighbourhood | Chilliwack Portrait Photographer

A sweet little photo shoot full of summer vibes - wandering around my neighbourhood with Autumn Mastin.

I have a Beauty Flash Sale running right now, too - until August 7th, book a short & sweet portrait session for $295, 5 digital files of your choice from a downloadable online gallery, and about 20-30 minutes in summer golden hour. Give me a shout to book - spots are limited!

Hope you’re all having a beautiful & revitalizing summer!

Rainbow Crosswalk for Chilliwack!

Let’s get a Rainbow Crosswalk up in Chilliwack!

I have so much to write around this, but still processing it all.

The thing most forefront in my mind is: MY HEART IS SO FULL. What a beautiful, positive event steeped in love!

Check out the article from the Chilliwack Progress here.

Check out the CTV News coverage here.

THANK YOU to everyone who spent their time, energy, funds, who generously gave their love, presence, support, good vibes, and heart to the project - and a big shout out to Amber Price for putting this all together!

More photos to come in time, but in the meantime, I’m so happy with the turn out, during a huge rainstorm, and in spite of the 5 or so protester’s who also showed up - there was just such a good energy, so much love, and I’ve received so many positive messages from those who couldn’t attend as well. Much thanks to everyone involved, especially Kate & Pam who helped assist me in the rain - here’s just a very few images from the night!

Our second photo of the evening, taken about an hour after the first image.

Rainbow Crosswalk Photo Shoot for Chilliwack!

A beautiful rainbow sunset I took over 10 years ago now on Haida Gwaii. Seemed fitting.

I am SO EXCITED to say that on Tuesday July 9th at 8 p.m. I’ll be photographing a gigantic group of amazing people - all are welcome - in order to show support for a Rainbow Crosswalk downtown. Here’s a link to the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chilliwackrainbowcrosswalk

Here are the details from the group, organized by Amber Price from the Book Man - and there will be a petition available to sign as well to show your support. A lot of people have come together to make this event work, and you know it’s my favourite thing when people create & collaborate together and make magic. This feels pretty dang magical.

This rainbow crosswalk means so much to me - I’ve talked a lot about the power of visual language - and I think it’s so important to create a symbol of support, inclusion, love & pride in our community. There’s always more work to be done in action - but gathering in the streets and raising our voices with love seems like a pretty amazing, powerful place to start. Art HEALS - and I’ve only had to spend a minute reading some of the comments below the Chilliwack Progress article (on Facebook) to know that our community really and truly needs this. A heads up that the comments could be very triggering. I was also so heartened to see so many comments of support.

I have never been someone, even through my business, that shies away from showing support to what I’m passionate about - and I am passionate about inclusion, passionate about love, passionate about making space for people to share their stories, and spaces where they feel safe doing so. This idea spoke to my heart - and while I originally envisioned something much, much smaller, I am amazed and ecstatic to see how big of a crowd is planning to come out on Tuesday. I hope you can join us and lend your voice!

Here are the details for Tuesday:

CASTING CALL!
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WHAT: A concept photography session showing what a rainbow crosswalk would look like, surrounded by people who support the idea! Sarah Sovereign Photography will be shooting photos to capture the magic!
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WHERE/WHEN: Tuesday, July 9th at 8pm at the crosswalk at Mill Street & Wellington Avenue
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HOW: Choose a solid colour to wear from the list below. Wear as MUCH of that colour as you can! (On the event page there is a poll so you can see which colours are lagging!)
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WHO: EVERYONE! Invite anyone who is supportive of the idea! Dress up your baby, bring your grandmother, your friends, your colleagues, anyone and everyone is invited!
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MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Frequent one of the local restaurants/pubs for a meal or a drink before/after and support local business! Or, just come for the shoot!

(Check out the Facebook group to see the event, join in discussion, and find out more!)

How We Self Care: Re-evaluating the Project

Model: Katrina Barson at Recraft Retreat

I started this project a few months ago wanting to connect with narratives of how women “should” self care, and how self care has become an industry, a commodity, and a distraction. I say this all knowing that accessing & allowing self care can be a privilege - and it can also be challenging. The gift we give ourselves when we show self-compassion, kindness, rest, is beautiful, but at times, it can be difficult to believe our minds, spirits, and bodies worthy of it. We are worthy of self care.

I felt that the industry was directed at women, and wanted to get away from the “marketed self care” narrative, but in doing this I think I actually fed into another narrative - the one that suggests that self care is for women only and/or that men don’t need/shouldn’t want to access care/mental health support. I 100% do not believe this, and I think it’s so important to have a platform for all genders to share the ways in which they give themselves love, compassion, care, and support. We need to have a wider conversation about what mental health & care looks like for all - and so with that recognition, I’m opening up this project to all genders/identities. However you identify, I welcome you to come and share your story.

Thus far I’ve been asking people on a case by case basis as I’ve had time to take on shooting - I’ve been attempting a bit of a balance because I tend to open sign ups and then bulldoze through, running off adrenaline, insomnia and coffee - and that seems like a real strange approach to take when we’re talking about caring for ourselves. It’s something I’ve been working on for myself - as part of my own self care. I may not have room to organize shoots for everyone who reaches out, but I welcome your stories, and if you’re comfortable, may look at sharing them as text based Instagram stories. I’ve also been considering adding these on as purchasable sessions - portrait sessions that explore our processes of care. I’d love to hear feedback on this!

Excited to share more of these stories - thank you to all of you who have created with me so far.

-Sarah