How Did You Get Into Photography?
During the summer I was going into grade 9, my mom’s side of the family had our family portraits done – professionally. The photographer put a black cloth over his head to take our picture. Yes, it was one of those 4×5 view cameras with….film! It was an afternoon event mixing and matching with different family groupings – grandparents, cousins, parents, etc. We had never done this before and during the session I thought to myself – I would love to be a photographer for a living! And it went from there. My great aunt gave me her 35mm film SLR and I taught myself all the camera basics throughout high school.

Have You Received Any Formal Training As A Photographer?
Yes, I trained at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario for 3 years which is Canada’s leading post-secondary photography program.

Are You Influenced By Any Art/Artists?
I just loved Art History in high school and college. In my second year of college we were required to do this huge art history research project – The Analysis of 20th Century Art. This was back in 1997 so internet research was non-existent. In order to complete my project, I had to do what is now considered unthinkable – going to an actual library and looking through encyclopedias for information (yes, real and classic encyclopedias) and track down books in the aisles of the library with assistance from an actual librarian and actually sign out the books to take them home for research! Strange eh? During the study of this massive project, we needed to research many movements of art such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Russian Constructivism, De Stijl, Regionalism, German Expressionism, Post War Europe, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and Neo-Dada, Minimal Art, Conceptual Art, Earth Art and more. One of my favourite movements was Surrealism with Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali as my 2 fav artists at the time.  My other favourite movement was and still is Pop Art and Neo Dada. Claes Oldenburg was my favourite. He did a lot of sculptures of household furniture, appliances and “edibles”. His most famous soft sculpture might be his “Giant Hamburger” from 1962, one of his “edibles” – a huge hamburger made out of cloth. You also had to love his “Soft Fur Good Humors” from 1963 – ice cream bars made from fake fur! This type of art has probably influenced my love for the detail photos during a wedding day (especially food during the reception).

Is The Work On Your Website Recent?
Most of the images on my website ( www.photographybystacey.ca ) were photographed within the past 2 years. Some of my destination wedding images have been seen in Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazine, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine and have also been featured on WeddingBells.ca and Lifewise.Canoe.ca.  Please bookmark this blog to stay in the loop about my most recent work.

How Many Hours Of Wedding Day Coverage Will We Require?
Generally speaking, couples that do not wish to have reception coverage would do well with 4-6 hours of coverage only. For partial reception coverage, 7 hours is usually perfect and for those that would like full coverage from the bride getting ready to the bouquet and garter toss, 9-11 hours is the best option. Every wedding is different so I would be more than happy to help you determine how many hours of coverage would be perfect for your day.

How Do We Book You For Our Wedding Photographer?
If you decide that I am the photographer for you and would love to have me tell the story of the most important day in your lives, all I require to book your wedding date into my calendar is a non-refundable retainer fee along with a signed contract (that we can do in person or via phone/email/fax/snail mail). The balance is not due until 30 days before your wedding day.

Where Can We Have Our “She Said Yes” (Engagement) Session Done?
The choice is entirely yours. I always recommend to my couples to have their session done at a place that is meaningful to them (ie. where you met, where you had your first date, where you were engaged, etc.). If these locations are not suitable or not possible, there are many fabulous locations that I will suggest to you. Mileage fees are complimentary within 100km of Flesherton. $0.50 per kilometer applies if you would like your session to take place outside of my local region.

What Is Pictage?
Pictage (pictage.com) is my professional photographic lab and services partner used for proofing and print fulfillment. Your family and friends may view your wedding photos from the comfort of their home and order prints online which are shipped directly to their door. Pictage ships worldwide.