A few nights back Brian and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Jim Garner and Bambi Cantrell.
But before I talk about Bambi, let’s talk about Jim.
Jim Garner is one of these rare people who is both incredibly talented and incredibly humble. Take a minute and check out Jim’s website and blog. You will be in awe as you look through his photos.
They are all stunning.
We were so sad that Katrina, his wife, couldn’t make it, but I hear that she is fabulous too. Last year, their studio won Best Wedding Album at WPPI! And the best part is they are right here in Seattle with us. Who says all the fun is Southern CA? 🙂
Jim and Bambi are working on a new project together, so Bambi was up from San Fransisco. It was such a blessing to grab dinner together.
What an amazing three hours of listening to Bambi talk about her twenty five plus years in the industry; all that she’s learned, what she’s found to be the most important things, and how it worked for her as a wife, mom and “the name” on her business. I soaked in her every word.
The guys at Microsoft’s Pro Photo joke with me about how Bambi is the “empress” and I’m the “princess”. They couldn’t be more right about her being the empress. Bambi was the first woman to really pioneer a path for women in the photography industry. She was breaking ground twenty five years ago! In March 2007, American Photo Magazine awarded her with being one of the 10 Best Wedding Photographers in the World. She deserves all the recognition and so much more.
When I first started photography I went to one of Bambi’s workshops. I will always be in debt to her for how much she inspired me as a woman in the industry. There was no question in my mind that she was one of the woman to dedicate our second dvd to, Beyond the Green Box.
If you haven’t checked Bambi’s books, you must take a look. They are wonderful! And if you are the type of person who has a gift for sending encouraging emails, shoot Bambi an email and thank her for being a pioneer woman in the industry for us. She’ll probably kill me for asking you to do this, but you know what, she is someone that deserves so much thanks.
You can email her through the Contact page on her website.
Wow…she’s amazing. To think we were walled out of photography so ardently is hard enough to comprehend, but to be a pioneer…
I have one book of hers…and it was a wealth of knowledge.
I also purchased your first DVD and two of your 101 series…I am so thankful. You, her, david bell, and glen johnson are my mentors. and I have only met one of you. My teachers. My silent support just by being open with your knowledge and being of the mindset, there’s plenty of work to go around and shooting is an ever-learning, ever-changing, ever-growing experience.
Blessed be and Happy Solstice to you, Me Ra. You and your Hubby are an amazing couple.
pretty kewl i must say!!!!!!
Wow! Funny coincidence, I just finished reading Bambi’s book “The Art of People Photography”. I was just sitting down to blog about how much I loved the book when I saw your blog post!
Thanks to all of you for being such an inspiration!
Conincidences all around…I just finished one of Bambi’s books on the first leg of my journey to India.
I was totally floored when I logged in at the hotel and saw the pic of you and Brian at dinner with Bambi. 🙂 Oh, to have been a fly on the wall at that dinner; it must have been amazing!
I have to send out a big thank you to you, Bambi, and all the other brave woman pioneers out there. You all rock! It’s just so awesome to find women who are so willing to not only set the pace but teach and mentor those of us who follow. You all inspire me!