Reflections on my first experience showcasing my pet photography at a market in Ottawa.
Today, I’m excited to share my first experience at a pet-focused market in Orleans, which took place on October 26th. As you may know, I moved to Ontario from Montreal a few months ago, and now that I’ve settled into my new life, it was the perfect time to take charge of my photography business.
The event was held at the Shenkman Arts Centre and featured a variety of businesses and fascinating offerings. I must admit, I had a limited time to prepare and order everything I needed, but that added an extra layer of excitement to the experience!
Preparation
I already had a portfolio, but it was in serious need of an update. To start, I selected some recent work and printed a few 11x14 photos to include. I designed new business cards, ordering four different styles to highlight a variety of my photos and showcase my work. I also created a vinyl banner featuring my logo, along with a few other materials. Deciding which products and framed photos to bring was challenging, but once I made my selections, I was thrilled with how everything came together.
Setting up
Setting up the booth was an adventure of its own. We had a beautiful, sunny day, though it was a bit chilly, but there was one unplanned factor: wind. It was so windy that we struggled to set up the canopy, secure the banner, and keep everything on the table from blowing away.
This being my first event as a photographer, I’m sure my setup wasn’t perfect, but I’m still really happy with how it all came together and the final result.
I also brought my camera with me as I was offering mini-sessions on-site, and I had the pleasure of meeting the Suicide Squad and Cedar, a beautiful Border Collie.
Plus, I was offering discounts for same-day bookings, and I ended up with not one, but two people booking! (I’ll be sharing their sessions in separate blog posts soon).
Everyone was so friendly, and I got to meet so many adorable dogs! I also made time to visit other vendors and met two local photographers (though not pet photographers). The atmosphere at the market was fantastic, and it was clear that everyone was having a great time!
Anxiety
I was incredibly nervous about attending. In fact, I was so anxious that I had trouble sleeping (typical me, lol). It was a mix of excitement and nerves. But once everything was set up, I finally had a moment to relax and clear my mind before the start of my first market. A special shoutout to my amazing boyfriend, who supports me in everything and is always there to help!
Highlight
The highlight of my setup was definitely the large canvas displayed in front of my table. I received so many compliments on it! It was also a great conversation starter.
As I mentioned earlier, I booked two sessions that day, both of which took place in early November, and they turned out amazing! I was really proud of myself for pushing through my stress and deciding to attend the market. After all, we all need challenges in life, right?
General thought of this event
This first experience really pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and explore new opportunities for my business. I also participated in another market on November 30th in Navan and a Christmas market in Hawkesbury on December 7th—both were amazing and offered unique experiences. I’m definitely planning to attend more markets in 2025, and I’d love for you to come say hello and check out my exclusive offers for market visitors.
Christmas setup in Navan Photo taken at the Navan market Christmas market in Hawkesbury
Thank you,
In the meantime, if you’d like to see more of my work, I’m very active on Instagram (click here to see and give a follow), and if you’d like to book a session, feel free to click here to fill out my contact form.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post!
I hope you enjoyed learning more about me, my experiences, and everything MFS Photographe.
I look forward to connecting even more with local pet lovers.
See you soon!
Marianne
