Cochrane, Alberta bound!
It’s been a wild 4 years in Southern Saskatchewan. I’ve met so many amazing people and forged friendships that’ll last a lifetime. I’ve grown so much, both as an individual and a photographer. The time has now come for me to move on. Sask was originally a 1 year plan, that evolved into a 4 year stay due to many unforeseen events. Now, if you are reading this and we have something scheduled, don’t worry, I’ll be commuting back and forth for this transition period.
My time in Saskatchewan: When I moved to Estevan, I knew 1 person and somehow wanted to rebuild my photography business from scratch. The warmth that the locals showed, paired with A LOT of networking, allowed me to grow in many directions, shooting stuff for businesses, organizations and families, across the province. I will forever be grateful for my 4 years in the flattest place I’ve ever seen.
Having grown up in a ski region, I’ve missed mountains since the day I left. I’ve missed trees and I’ve missed hiking with elevation changes. For me, a great view has a mountain in it. It’s funny, because most of the prairie-folk I’ve talked to feel closed in around the mountains, which is totally understandable. To anyone contemplating a move to the prairies, do it. It’s a family friendly place with lots to see(if you are motivated to go see it instead of sitting indoors and complaining) and the people are quite welcoming. At the very least, you’ll have an experience and that’s really what life is about.
Cochrane, Alberta: Oh boy! This decision was a LOOOOOONG time in the making. I’ve spent a few years in a state of over-analysis, trying to analytically pick the perfect place to move. Countless hours of research, watching YouTube videos, talking to people, only to end up questioning it all a week later. Finally, a decision was made to wind up near Calgary. i’ve always been attracted to Calgary, with its mountain proximity, sprawling suburbs and calmer feel than the Montreal-vibe I grew up near. From there it was narrowed down to 3 possible areas. A trip was planned to get a feel for each one instead of just words a screen. Eliminating the first was easy, but then it came down to 2. Cochrane was the last visit of the trip and I didn’t think it could get any better than visit number 2. But it did! The minute Cochrane came into view as we were driving down that long hill, it felt right. It felt like we were driving down into a little mountain town. The downtown has a charm that the others did not. It’s the most I’ve felt at home since I left the mountains back east in 2022. Sometimes, your gut just knows.
It’s a scary thing to move everything, restart what took 4 years to build and start over. Fortunately, I’ve made friends in the region and have already begun lining up business, but it’s a whole new adventure with a whole new set of challenges and rewards.
Thank you to everyone that has supported Canadian James Photography. Thank you to everyone that has been a friend and continues to be. Thank you to everyone who watches and shares my work. The gratitude that I feel being able to do what I love every day is more than words can capture. At the end of the day, I just want to take pictures that tell stories in amazing places, and I believe that new amazing place is Cochrane, Alberta.
-James