08/20/2026
hi l everyone. i know it’s been quiet on the photography side here this summer and i needed to drop in to discuss why…
some of you may know i was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in nov 2025 after having avery large tumour removed on halloween (glioblastoma the same type of cancer that stole gord downie from us).
My neurosurgeon and oncology team told me i’d be unable to return to work but you know i’m too stupid and bullheaded to listen so i refused to and fought hard to recover and carry on. fast forward 9 months and 3 normal,scans when i received another set ofresults last week. my most recent mri shows new anew tumour growth with blood flow that’s too deeply embedded in my thick fu***ng skull to safely attempt to remove. too riskyto operate
so here’s the point.
Anyone with an existing contract will have it fulfilled for sure. i’ve always been a covered by sam meggs of olive juice media . sam’s a guy i’d trust with my own wedding or family. he’s awesome as both a photographer and as a human beinga great friend and colleague!
as much as i hate to stop working ( I’m on a federal disability pension now and considered retired by the govt.
I’m physically unable to perform at even 1/ 32 of the level i expect of myself. I’ve suffered a big decline /loss ocognitive function ( tired, and slower mentally than my normal quick wit
my physical ability has dropped dramatically from the radiation and chemotherapy treatments. i’m lethargic and bump into stuff… my left side is weaker
saying I’m devastated is an understatement for sure. if we’ve worked together or you’ve seen me at a wedding, you know how much physical effort i’ve always put into creating photographs with my people and how hard i go “in the paint”-so to speak.
anyone already booked wiil NOT be required to make any further payments and will receive their coverage/ cards and prints as contracted.
in 17, nearly 18 years of business , i’ve covered more than 300 weddings and never missed a shoot. i have always worked my ass off to exceed expectations for value and quality.
you can imagine how heartbreaking and devastating it is to not only face my certain death in my early 50’s, but to experience the closure of something i’ve worked so hard to cultivate as a career, too.
believe me, this is not a msg i can write easily and i realize some ppl ppl will be upset by this announcement, but please know i dying waaaaay faster thanwe’d thought i would when i was diagnosed, and the choice was not mine to make. i love what i do and never wanted to stop. Facing death f***s with all of your emotions and this cancer drains every oz of energy I have every day. I battle daily to stay awake after breakfast. (overnight sleeping is in short spurts 1-2hrs at a time and only partially restful) I’m learning to listen to my body more so naps are my favorite part of the day after i get to see emmett during the day.
ask my wife of 25 years (and partner of32yrs) how she feels about losing her husband ,closing the business that we’ve poured our hearts and souls into all these years building together; or ask our amazingly sweet 16 yr old son how he feels about watching his father die before he graduates high-school. I -i can tell you both of them hate it and it ‘s broken me inside. it’s a lot of weight to carry as a teenager and so unfair to my beloved, wife, best friend and partner.
any msgs will be returned when time allows between dr appts and resting. My comfort and quality of life are our primary concerns now. i need to take care of me for a while to enjoy the time i have left in what’s been a pretty incredible life when i look back. Emmett and i got do some really cool s**t together and i did my best to always be there as a dad, friend, husband and photographer …i gave it all i could now i gotta be a bit selfish with my remaining time. steph deserves it.
thank you everyone for the support all these years it truly did mean the world to me.
l
it’s 130am as i write this scheduled post for later today,;so I’m gonna lay here in bed, cry for a bit now, then try to get some restful sleep.
if you’re near 50 get an mri.. we sent out an event invite for living celebration of life that i’m calling “the living dead zombie shayne party” please join us!!
cheers one last time!
b
s
