JM Oliver Photography is Going Coastal!

Well, its officially official!  As of December 01 2011 - JM Oliver Photography will be making the move to the Sunshine Coast of BC!!!  This was a difficult decision to make, but one I am very confident is the right choice for a number of reasons, both business & personal.  

As some of you know, I'm originally from the Pacific North West where I lived my entire life, until around 5 years ago when I came to the flat prairie lands of Alberta.  I have a lot of very old friends & family still on the coast whom I miss greatly and will be so excited to see! I also miss the coast and its smells, sights & sounds!  

For those who do not know where the Sunshine Coast of BC is, I've included maps below.  The white arrow is where I'll be moving to - Sechelt, BC! I've lived there before and it is simply breathtaking and I cannot wait to get there and start photographing!  You can check out more about both Sechelt, the city I will be moving to and also Gibsons where I'll be also spending a lot of time (its just a little ways away from Sechelt) visiting family & friends as well by clicking on their names which will take you to their websites.  

For those on the Sunshine Coast, here are some of the amazing Grande Opening, Referral & Holiday Specials I have cooked up for you all to enjoy!  So be sure to book quickly! They are limited time offers!

For those who are still in the Medicine Hat area - I do have some moving specials as well! So be sure to book them quickly because these specials have an expiration date of November 15th 2011!!!!!

Now I know some have also asked about what will happen to SOS whom I've been working with helping take photographs of and have really enjoyed working with!  I have found another great local photographer and friend of mine who I know is a PERFECT FIT for them - Renee from Striking Poses Photography!

I know she will work well with SOS & will enjoy working with & helping these amazing pups as much as I have! 

I will really miss so many of my friends that I have made here like, Kelly from La Crosse Photography, CJ from Southern Star Entertainment, Kathy & Ged from the Sheer Insanity Race Team,  Colleen from Henna Artistry by Colleen Garland, Renee from Striking Poses & Sharon from T's Treasures to name a few!  They have all promised to visit - so be sure to check them out and if you're local - be sure to keep them busy so they can be able to come visit me lots! 

So thats a little bit about my big announcement! Ill be adding more about my big move soon so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!  

A Fall Afternoon with Miss Kelly & an amazing family

After a very emotional morning at the breast cancer run, my good friend Kelly, who was shooting just up the road from the run, invited me along to do some back up photography for her. Being such a great friend, she knew it was just what the doctor ordered to lift my spirits after an emotionally exhausting morning.  

The location was simply stunning, there was a TON of laughter and Kelly and I had a blast doing what we love to do best.  We even got the chance to see several doe around the forest too!  Thank you so much to Kelly from La Crosse Photography & to the amazing family for sharing a ton of laughter & fun with me and making my day end on an amazing note!  

Bustin Loose For Breast Cancer Run October 2011

The Run for Breast Cancer this year was extra poingent to me.  Not only was I going to cheer the amazing people at the race on for a good cause, but it was also to honor & in memory of some very special family members as well.  

My mother is an 8 yr survivor of stage 4 breast cancer.  Her sister, my wonderful Aunty Judy, was a 26 year survivor of Hodgekins Lymphoma.  My father died last year of pancreatic cancer and his brother, my wonderful uncle Nat, died of Lung/Brain Cancer - they passed within months of each other.  So it was in honor & in loving memory this fight for those with Cancer, I went to attend.  I ended up going alone and I'm sort of glad that I did, because there was a large number of tears shed.  

The race began and I thought of all my loved ones, survivors and those who lost their battles.  It was hard to hold my camera straight at the start line as the tears started streaming down my face again.  There was a great turn out and all I could think is how do you thank so many great people for coming out and showing their support for finding a cure to something so many of your loved ones have had to fight.  

I heard my friends Judy & Ricochet in my head then.  I couldn't run due to my poor health, but, I could capture the memories from the run for those running in memory & support of THEIR loved ones.  Photography is a family wide hobby.  My father had an old Canon with all the lenses; my mother has the same camera as I do, and my brother has a Canon & a Nikon.  It was a great way to not only say thank you to all of the great folk running, but also a great tribute to my parents.  I know my dad was smiling down on me as I shot photo after photo trying to capture it all.  I have no doubt he would have enjoyed being there at the run & the beautiful location too - which is one of my favorite spots to shoot at.  

I took around 800 photos and tried to capture as many of the great folk there as I could.  Then, just before I left, I went and sat on the grass by the lake & fountains and watched the last of the runners coming in, and people mingling after the race was done.  It was a great time to sit and remember those I was there for, as I watched the pink rose petals float across the water.  It was a tearful morning but it was an amazingly beautiful one too.  Thank you so much to the organizers, the runners, the vendors and everyone who was there to show their support!  

I'm going to close this blog post with two things: 

one is a ton of love & gratitude to my father, mother, aunt & uncle for

all the amazing things they've taught me. 

and second is with a poem read by one of the pastors at the end  of the run.  

A little something we should all remember......

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

- Linda Ellis

Spook-tacular Pet Photo Contest

I know there are some pets who love Howl-o-ween as much as us people do! So be sure to send me a photo of your pet dressed up for Howl-O-Ween and enter to win a FREE OUTDOOR MINI PAW-TRAIT SESSION!  What are you waiting for?! Send your photos in to me here and enter today! Deadline is October 22 2011 and winners will be announced October 25 2011.  All entrants must be local to Medicine Hat, AB.

Two New Fall Session Specials!

Hey everyone! I know I am super behind on my blog but I'm hoping to get caught up STAT!  

Here are two great specials to say farewell to fall! Be sure to book now before old man winter starts 

snooping around and deciding to stick around!  These specials will only last until the snow starts flying 

so hurry and BOOK NOW!!!!