More Than A Photographer

If you’ve been here before, well—you already know who I am. But for those who haven’t met me, hi! I’m Gabby.

My adventure into photography started about 11 years ago. I would do anything I could to pick up a camera and capture whatever moment was happening—whether it was real life or my friends posing behind the lens for me.

Luckily, I had an amazing art teacher who let us explore any genre we wanted, and a family who truly knew how special my photography was going to be. Picture a teenage girl who gets to take photos and then sit at the computer with her weird editing website, creating what she thought was artistic magic.

Then came the moment I got my first camera from my mom—that thing went everywhere with me. Birthday parties, family functions, hanging out with friends, and every nature walk I could do.

But the real game-changer was when I got a laptop for Christmas in grade 12. Now I could use Lightroom. That changed my entire perspective on editing. I would spend hours curled up watching YouTube tutorials on how to edit, soaking in everything I could.

A lot of my growth as a photographer was self-taught, which meant I was constantly experimenting—with light, posing, and different genres of photography. After graduating, I kept up with it. Photography became an outlet for me while I was babysitting or working at Walmart.

On my days off, I’d spend time figuring out what styles and subjects I enjoyed most. I started offering free or low-cost sessions to help build my portfolio and gain experience.

A few years passed, and I found myself trying to figure out what I really wanted to do for work. I had kept up with photography, but I also realized how much I loved working with children. Around the age of 24, I decided to go back to school to become an Education Assistant.

After university, I landed a job in a group home in Nanaimo. But during that time, I also began to miss capturing love stories through my lens. I started connecting with other photographers and began photographing weddings. Slowly, my work started to spread and connect with people across the island—and before I knew it, I was able to save up for a new, more professional camera!

With better gear and more experience, everything started to fall into place. Couple sessions, family shoots, and weddings began to grow, and things became much more clear.

Before I knew it, my 2024 wedding calendar filled up fast—and then, somehow, my 2025 bookings filled even quicker. What once started as a hobby became something much more. It became clear that photography was meant to be my second career.

Fast forward to 2025—taking on weddings has truly taught me how to balance my life. I work as an Education Assistant in the Cowichan School District, supporting children with special needs, and I spend my weekends capturing love stories through my lens.

But if I were to truly tell you who I am, I’d start with this: I’m 28 years old, living in the beautiful Cowichan Valley with my two loves—my boyfriend and my pet rabbit, Shadow (who, let’s be honest, is my whole world).

When I’m not working or shooting weddings, you’ll find me mountain biking, playing volleyball, or spending quality time with my family—who are, without a doubt, the most important people in my life. Evenings are for winding down with a good book; lately, I’ve completely fallen in love with fantasy and romance novels.

If you ever invite me out for a matcha and a thrift store adventure, I’ll be there in a heartbeat—especially if we can squeeze in a stop at an antique shop too. My friends mean everything to me; we hike, color, party, and when the whole group gets together, you better believe we’re breaking out the Mario Kart.

I may wear many hats—photographer, educator, friend—but at the heart of it all, I’m someone who deeply values connection, creativity, and the small joys that make life meaningful.