Social Media

     I just want to discuss my love/hate relationship with Social Media.  #SocialMedia has now become the number 1 thing to promote my photography business is through my Instagram and Facebook.  They have however set up if you don't get the likes and comments no one ever sees your posts.  So you have to pay for followers!  You try word of mouth and getting your work in stores.  The stores change their style or people come in and say they like your work, but they just do not follow through with buying it.  You keep trying to sell your work and keep working hard to promote your name.  You have business cards with you in your purse constantly to give to people.  You tell people about what you do even though you are an introvert and would love to be sitting at home editing photos with your dog.  They say post at least once day, but two to three times is ideal!  They tell you to make your feed look cohesive!  You try, but how do you do that?  You make digital skins that you put on gold or silver leaf woodblocks.  You have photographed at rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, birthday parties, sip and sees, traveled around the world, and baptisms.  You have been a second shooter at a wedding.  These people are experts and get contacts through #Instagram and #Facebook throughout the year.  You blog fairly regularly, but have not gotten comments and feedback.  

     Now my opinion on this is probably different then everyone else's.  I believe we should all have a life away from #socialmedia and get outside.  Maybe spend some time with your family and friends. So I show photos from hikes and tell you how fun it is to #optoutside.  I have a part- time job, try to exercise daily, and work on eating healthy while trying to maintain my photography business.  I 100% take my business seriously and get all my work done for my clients!  I work with them.  I might not post everyday, but when I do I hope you enjoy what I post and take the time to read what I write.  I love hearing from all of you.  

Ruffner Mountain, Alabama

A View in Alabama

Would you want to miss an opportunity, because of #socialmedia if you had the chance to see something new?

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Mentors

     The other day I was meeting someone for coffee and later that afternoon I began thinking of what I wanted to talk to you all about in my next blog post.... Mentors!!  Mentors are very important in our lives these days.  Eventually your mentor could even become a friend you want to hang out with weekly or monthly.  You go to this person for advice or even when you just want another opinion.  Mentors may have been through some of the things we are trying to figure out doing today or even a month from now.  You do not only find them in business, but when you go to the gym.  You have that one friend who you may have met in your class you go to for advice.  Mentors sometimes are your age or maybe they are a bit older than you.  They may have been in your life since you were young, but somehow they were put in your life to help you.  According to dictionary.com a mentor is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher; or an influential senior sponsor or supporter.  Both of these are a great definitions.  Some of my mentors have become more like family.  Who are your mentors?  Where did you find your mentors?

     Meet two of my mentors who are like older sisters.  I have gone to them many times for advice while growing up.  They babysat me when I was younger.  The one on my left asked me to be her oldest daughters godmother.  I love how much they have helped mentee me into who I am today.


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Goodbye 2016

     It is almost time to say goodbye to 2016.  I learned a lot in 2016 in my business and with life.  The thing I learned in life is that I have a guardian Angel.  I know that sounds absolutely crazy, but I really do.  In an earlier post that I wrote The Truth about Fear I talked about my accident where I was hit by a car while riding a bike.  I walked away with seven stitches on my chin, a bruise all down my left leg, and loss skin in two or three places (which not many people can say that happened to them).  I still have to say in some ways I am in shock I was not more seriously injured after the car hit me.  I am surprised I was able to go back to working out just six weeks after my accident. Honestly, I did not think that I would be committed back into my exercise routine like I am today.  I still do IronTribe, but I have also started some home workouts through a program I heard about through a high school friend.  These home workouts have been great for me, because I was able to join an accountability group.  The people in my group give me tips on modifying my workouts and great healthy snack options for work.
     Another thing I have done this year is become more active in my creative life.  I have become more involved with my Instagram through an Instagram group where we try to post every day and comment on everyone else's photos.  I love this, because it gives me great feedback on my photographs.  It also gives me feedback on my gold and silver leaf pieces.
     When it comes to thinking of the New Year and New Goals for 2017 I always say to myself I am going to keep up with my networking.  I also think of how I can get my gold and silver leaf pieces to be seen.  I think of stores that might like them.
     However, the one thing I have to say about 2016 is that you taught me fear is real, but you have to keep going.  You showed me how to keep pushing myself when I wanted to give up.  2016 I have to say I think you taught me some of the best life lessons ever.

Here are a few photos from the trip! Enjoy! 

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Thanksgiving is Coming!

     Wow this year has flown by so fast.  It is already time to start thinking of shopping for Christmas presents.  I know many photographers are finishing up their mini sessions and advertising for Santa photos.  They are also putting up some specials for the end of the year.  While this year is quickly coming to a close as a business owner I have to renew my business license.  I am doing all of this while keeping a part-time job, helping my mom with her Christmas cards and delivering some of her Christmas presents to friends, and have a life.  Haha!  Holidays are crazy - with last minute orders and holiday parties.  I sometimes wonder how any and all people who run their own business get it all done?  I think that is why to do lists and organization is key.  

     I would love to hear from you all how you all get everything finished over the holidays.  What do you do to keep your stress level down?  How do you find time for YOURSELF while running your own business?

Leaving you all with a sunset: Take your time this holiday season and enjoy nature.

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Dedication

     It is a Saturday afternoon turning into night while I am sitting here editing some photographs to the background of football.  Photography is my passion so sometimes I have learned I have to do things I would not like to do, but the brilliant thing about photography is I am able to bring my laptop with me to edit photographs wherever I go.  Yay!!  This is really helpful when I am with football fans who do not want me asking questions about what is going on during the game.  My dedication to photography reminds me of how I am sometimes with training my dog.

     My dog is a rescue dog and lately I have gotten compliments on how she is not barking as much when the postal worker is outside the door delivering the mail.  Even when I would love to just sit back and watch a funny TV show I think I have work to do.  I might be in a hurry, but I still take the time to make my dog sit before she exits behind me to go outside or come back inside.  It is hard at times to work constantly, but in the long run I am doing things to help my business succeed.  I take this dedication with me when I am on a vacation and take a job.  I could say no, but I think to myself about my schedule.  I consider how this will effect the others with me. 

Photos from Little River Canyon

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The Truth about Fear

     Starting a business is scary!  Why did I do it?  Because I wanted to follow my passion of being a photographer.  Sometimes during the first few years of any business or new endeavor we have fears. We have to knock those fears down with our head held high.

     Today, I want to talk to you about an accident that happened to me over the summer.  A little over a month ago while I was on vacation in France with my family a car hit the bike I was riding.  I was in shock, but I was hungry.  While waiting for the ambulance in France with my cousin and his wife and a bunch of people speaking French I was eating m&m's and having some water.  You never know how organized you are until they are asking you for every detail like your medicine, your birthday, your insurance, your passport, and so on.  I had my phone with me so I could take photographs when I was not taking photos them with my DSL camera.  In my phone I had a list of all the medicine I take daily.  I had my passport on me since we were changing hotels, my ID, my health insurance card (like it would really help in another country), and I knew my birthday.  Did you know in Europe when they write down your birthday they write the day then month?
     Since arriving back to the states I have had irrational fears.  I have to keep telling myself I am stronger than I really am.  I walked away from being hit by a car while riding a bike with only seven stitches on my chin, a few places where skin came off, and a big bruise on my leg.  I still however see someone riding a bike with no helmet and want to yell 'idiot' at them or I see a biker not obeying the traffic laws and have a mini panic attack where I have to take a deep breathe to relax.  I see a child riding a bike when I pull into my apartment complex where cars are trying to park (not focusing on the child at all).  I want to say something calmly, but inside my head is saying 'I just got hit by a car please use the sidewalk.'
     The thing about fears whether it be in a business or from an accident it is not always easy.  We have to work hard.  We have to be BRAVE and keep putting our name out their for people to see we are available.  We have to tell people about our unique business and how it might be different from others.  We have to be vulnerable.  We have our supporters who have followed us from the very beginning.  We have people who are spreading our name out in their the community.  We have to do our part and say fear is not going to keep me from what I love doing.  I am going to keep doing my photography.

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Believe in Yourself

     One of the hardest things to do as a photographer, in my opinion, is to believe in yourself.  Sometimes you have a lot of projects that keep you busy and other times you are actively seeking job opportunities.  Recently, I had an accident while traveling through France with my family on vacation.  It could have been way more serious than it ended up being.  While being in France I enjoyed traveling on bikes through the countryside and experiencing the culture.  It is not everyday any of us get to be a part of new cultures in general.
     Photography is more than art to me.  It is my way of being who I am.  I express myself through my photography and I find myself in different ways when I am able to find something I want to remember forever.  I see poppy fields and immediately think my dad would love this.

Poppy Field in the French Countryside

     Besides being enjoying the French countryside I saw a movie being filmed in a small town, a coffee shop I remembered enjoying with my family on a previous trip to Paris, France.  Half of the time I was traveling I was enjoying every aspect of the trip with my family and the other half I was injured.  I kept going, because I thought to myself when will be the next time I am able to come back to this place.  I am a travel photographer at heart and that was one of my motivations that kept me out exploring France.  If I am able to walk throughout France after an accident than we should all believe in ourselves!

Movie being filmed in France

Beautiful Fields in France

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