Cara Jones
Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
<div id="content-header"> <h1 class="title">Intuitive Eye Productions</h1> </div> <div id="content-area"> <div id="node-275" class="node node-type-charter_member"> <div class="node-inner"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image-required"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"><img class="imagecache imagecache-charter_member_logo imagecache-default imagecache-charter_member_logo_default" title="" src="http://www.novascotialife.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/charter_member_logo/images/logos/int-eye.png" alt="" width="160" height="95" /></div> </div> </div> <div class="fieldgroup group-contact-information"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-link"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <div class="field-label-inline-first">Website: </div> <a href="http://www.intuitiveeyeproductions.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">w</a>ww.carajones.ca</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>Cara Jones has seemingly boundless energy. The owner and operator of Intuitive Eye Productions – an Antigonish, Nova Scotia, company providing portrait photography and video production – has recently added motivational speaking to the services she offers.</p> <p>“I do definitely have a lot of energy,” she agrees. Where does it come from? “You know, the thing is that life gave me a second chance and I don’t take that for granted. Every day I’m grateful to have everything I have and I feel like there’s no time to waste. Get cracking.”</p> <p>As Jones explains, she had severe epilepsy – with more than 100 seizures a day – until she was 18. “I was told that I probably would never graduate high school, never go on to university, and never for a second did I believe it.” Following neurosurgery to remove a tumour in her brain, her seizures ceased.</p> <p>Today, Jones, a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (major in photography) is expanding the business that she began in 2007.</p> <p>“It started off as a ripple and now it’s a wave,” she says. “I’ve learned probably about five years’ worth of information in one-and-a-half years. I’m constantly growing and I think that your business can’t grow unless you realize that you don’t know everything. When you realize that you don’t know everything and are willing to learn, you’re going to succeed.”</p> <p>Recently Jones travelled to Ethiopia, working with director Peter Murphy of SeaBright Productions, to document the Antigonish Movement legacy and its presence internationally.</p> <p>Murphy and Jones are part of a group that would like to see the documentary on the Antigonish Movement become part of school curriculum and teach students “about the cooperative and microcredit movement and social justice, and how they can empower and use this template that started here in Antigonish,” Jones says.</p> <p>Jones was first introduced to the craft of moving pictures through the Antigonish Regional Development Authority’s FilmWorks II, a six-month film production skills program. “It was like the whole world opened up to me with this videography,” she recalls. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so natural at it. I loved it more than photography. It was just incredible.”</p> <p>Her talent was recognized by the 2007 International Documentary Challenge when her documentary “Yesterday’s News” received awards for best writing, best use of experimental genre and best original song. The song was by Antigonish musician Betsy MacDonald.</p> <p>Participants in the documentary challenge are given five days to create a short documentary in a particular genre. Jones was a one-person team, producing, directing, editing and starring in her documentary, which she describes this way:</p> <p>“It’s looking through the eyes of a single mother and the choices that she’s made and that her choices have led her to a life of abundance. So it’s looking at your situation and seeing the positive in it and the self-forgiveness and the forgiveness of others, and out of that you receive abundance in your life. That’s my story.”</p> <p>Through her photography Jones also conveys stories. She has exhibited in Halifax, in Antigonish and in Korea, where she taught English. Closer to home, she does corporate work, and takes portraits of families and children in her loft studio located in downtown Antigonish. And then there are the many weddings that she captures on film.</p> <p>Sheila MacNeil from Antigonish speaks highly of Jones’ talents. “I met Cara at a small business expo and instantly I loved the style of her photos and knew it was what I wanted for my wedding pictures,” she says. “I feel pictures are extremely important because long after the day is over, your pictures are what will keep the memories for you, for years to come.” MacNeil says, “Cara is passionate about pictures and takes pride in her work and it shows in her finished product.”</p> <p>Jones has also developed a passion for motivational speaking. “I’m now mentoring with a motivational speaker in Halifax, Eddie LeMoine, and branching out as a motivational speaker on overcoming life’s obstacles and achieving abundance through your business and your life and your relationships. Because how can I not? I’ve lived it.”</p> <p>In addition to delivering her own presentations, Jones videotapes other motivational speakers, which allows them to reach a broader audience. She is also writing an inspirational book which she describes as “the story of myself and others who’ve used adversity to accomplish great things and changed and healed their lives.”</p> <p>Whether it’s through her photography, video production or motivational speaking, Jones draws upon creativity. “Creativity is the whole essence of the business,” she says. “I know that people have said I exude creativity, but that’s just who I am. I think we all do to a degree, really.”</p> <p>Jones appreciates the music and culture that surround her in Nova Scotia. “I’m really lucky to be living here, especially working in my area, because I have so many artists at my fingertips who are just wanting to be successful. So we all work together, support each other.”</p> <p>She says she would like Intuitive Eye Productions to thrive so that she can hire employees. “I have this dream of bringing people back here,” she says. “There are a lot of people out there who would love to be doing film or photography in Antigonish or in Nova Scotia. They want to come home.”</p> <p>For Jones, the greatest business advantage to being in Nova Scotia is the quality of life that the province offers. “The pace is slower and I find because of that I’m able to be more productive,” she says. “It’s a very supportive environment, really supportive.”</p> <p>She adds, “The biggest city in Nova Scotia has all the qualities of a city, but at the same time all the qualities of a small town. I’m able to walk down the street in Halifax after not living there for five years, and it’s guaranteed I will see someone I know and that’s a great feeling.”</p> <p>In fact, you could say it’s picture perfect. </p> <p> </p> <p>Feature story by Marie Weeren</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>
About Me
- 2 Campaigns From the launch to the finish line, these were the campaigns you ran to make something happen for your entrepreneurial, cause-related, or creative passions.
- 2 Comments Engagement is the name of the game when it comes to crowdfunding. Sharing your thoughts on campaigns can help campaigners and strengthen the Indiegogo community.
- 1 Contribution Whether you contributed a little or a lot, this number signifies the times you helped support someone else’s idea, project, or goal.
Verifications
This person has not yet verified their account with any social networks.