Me & 2023
It’s hard to believe we are ending 2023 and entering a new year as the holiday rush winds down. I’ve been asking my family and friends about their memorable moments from the past year and what they hope to see next year. My mom said she hopes to see the end to the terrible tragedies on the other side of the world – I couldn’t agree with her more. Many of my friends said they want to work more to have more money coming in for rising expenses – me too. My dad said he had a busy year and wants time to slow down – which prompted me to reflect and write on my busy year.
First official year in business
At the end of 2022, I registered Marina Black Media and went full-time with my photography. I increased my main client base, photographing a variety of private, corporate and sporting events while maintaining a diverse portrait portfolio. I also took on more contracts and collaborative work with other media businesses like Garcia Creative and Telltale Studios Niagara. I’m very grateful to all my clients who chose me to photograph their important moments, and in return, they also created memorable moments for me.
I didn’t believe the call I received when I was offered to photograph the first Mrs. Canada beauty pageant. It was a big job, one I often assisted on rather than leading. I was recognized for my previous work for someone else - I rose to the occasion and learned a lot in the process. It was MBM’s beginning in the beauty and fashion industry.
Lifetouch
In January, I took on stable work as a school photographer with Lifetouch. I worked with a terrific team of people, travelled to different schools every day and got lots of experience interacting with kids behind the camera. Some days were harder – waking up at 5:30 a.m. for a long drive to the office, organizing hordes of students because the supply teacher doesn’t know what’s going on, or dealing with school administrators who were not impressed with previous photography days. While every job has its challenges, I loved the opportunities to problem-solve. Whether it was a technical problem with my equipment or an upset five-year-old who wasn’t ready for picture day, I did everything I could to create a smooth process and capture the best smiles.
Throughout all my photography, I’m incredibly proud to capture special moments and milestones. Now having been behind the camera for school picture day, I feel a greater importance in the power photography has to freeze time and materialize one’s journey starting from a young age.
I moved from Niagara to Downtown Toronto.
I’ve lived in cities before, but nothing like Toronto and its rat race – the endless noise of traffic and emergency vehicles, the overly crowded and continuously delayed TTC, or the worries of some unexpected or unfortunate inconvenience. I grew up in the country where CCTV cameras were not recording your every move and people waved at everyone walking by. I’m not trying to say one is better than the other - I am falling in love with this city regardless of its downsides – but I know I will return to the countryside one day.
Starting my Masters
The main reason for moving downtown was to be closer to Toronto Metropolitan University where I’m pursuing my Master’s in Journalism. The first semester went well; I connected and interviewed a variety of city workers, business owners, subject experts and community members while reporting on community concerns in the Church-Wellesley Village (my new neighbourhood). There were many hurdles – the city councillor ignoring my interview request until showing up at his office, multiple sources declining to be interviewed because they didn’t have time, or the story I wanted to write was already over-saturated in the media. It was a great introduction to the world of the modern journalist, and I look forward to what the next year has in store.
Adopting Felix
It has always been a goal of mine to live on my own with a cat – this year I made that happen. After my failed attempts to take in a stray, I decided to browse the SPCA for a kitten where I found Felix, a 10-month-old rescued grey tabby. Felix was very shy and was not bribed by treats but purred the moment I pet him. As we spent more time together and modified my apartment to suit his needs, we quickly bonded. On November 25, we celebrated Felix’s first birthday with tuna and new toys. Over the holidays, he enjoyed playing in a mound of wrapping paper, chasing Hot Wheels around a track, and patrolling my parent’s house for a mouse on the loose (TBD if he actually catches it). After three months together, I couldn’t imagine life without Felix now and I can’t wait for all the adventures that await us in the new year.
What’s on for 2024?
Overall, I’m impressed with how many positives I had during 2023, considering the past few years were not as fruitful. The past year had some pitfalls – cutting ties with certain people, bad romance, hefty car repairs, increasing bills, etc. Yet I wouldn’t be where I am today without going through it all.
In 2024, I want to maintain and develop my healthy habits – working out five to six days a week, spending more time with friends and family, taking more work breaks to prevent burnout, and removing any bad energy that comes my way. I will continue to pursue my career in journalism and grow my photography business. I will also try to make more time for the little things that make me happy – movie nights with Felix, reading the books that are collecting dust on my shelf, playing board games with family and friends, and meeting new people in my neighbourhood.
I hope this year will be as good as the last – happy new year everyone!