Since school is back in and we are all adjusting to our new “normal” again, I thought that sharing my six daily time-savers to establish a flexible home, work routine was relevant to my fellow working parents or anyone who’s just busy out there! This summer was rough.  It was busy in every aspect of […]

If you’re just joining in, welcome!  If you’re reading this blog post, please know, I am hopeful that some of these tips will help you succeed in your personal life, as well as in your career, as you organize both, separately!  In Part 1, I admitted the trials I faced, being a new mom, working as a teacher and for myself, as a photographer.  In last week’s Part 2, I explained how setting boundaries and hours in business is beneficial.

If you’re just joining in, welcome!  If you’re reading this blog post, please know, I am hopeful that some of these tips will help you succeed in your personal life, as well as in your career, as you set boundaries for both.  In last week’s Part 1 post, I admitted the trials I faced, being a new mom, working as a teacher and for myself, as a photographer.  

This week, I am sharing how I create a schedule, which sounds like an easy, fortunate task, but is one of my hardest responsibilities, still!

I have thought about writing a work-life balance blog for a few years now, but never felt that I had it all figured out or had the right answers for anyone struggling with life balance.  I now know, that although I still don’t have a “perfect balance” between home and business, it’s what works now and is subject to change with my life.  I’m sharing personal tips that have kept my sanity under control!

Not many people know much about my photography studio, so I thought I would share a tour of the space, since we just painted and did some spring cleaning!  

When I first started photography, I also was a high school teacher, so it was a complete side job for me. I didn’t spend a lot of money on software, unless it was photo-editing-related and I was really unsure of what was required to maintain a workflow. I was inconsistent and inefficient. Now, there are so many business resources out there, a complete change from when I began.

When I began my photography business in 2009, there were no blogs on “How to Start a Photo Business.” Remember, I started this journey before social media was a marketing must-have, before Pinterest beat photographers to the punch, with ideas, and before I had a family of my own.  See, I had plenty of time then, and as the business grew, so did everything around me!

There are plenty of things I did wrong in this journey, believe me!  However, there were so many mentoring experiences that were well-worth my time and for some, my investment. These mentors, at some point, calmed my overwhelmed, entrepreneurial nerves, and pushed me to grow my business.

My photography studio is located in a small, lower level, of a historic building, along the Missouri River.  If you’re a client of mine, you’ve probably noticed my love-hate-relationship with the unique space, as backdrops fall, I trip over props, etc.!  It’s a narrow area to photograph families or even groups of four, and I really thought it was a problem that didn’t have an easy solution.

This DIY project had been on my mind for a few years, but wasn’t sure how I would produce something so versatile and safe without spending a lot of time on it.  After attending Heidi Hope’s studio workshop last spring, I wanted a wood plank backdrop even more, after shooting many photos in front of hers.  A couple weeks ago, my BFF and photog friend, Janelle, brought her husband’s truck to the studio and said, “let’s do this.”  That’s all it took!  I still question why it took me so long to actually work on this, because it was easy, fun, and I seriously went to bed with a smile on my face that night – only because it’s one more item, crossed off of my lengthy goal list.

Here are some tips and a simple “system” to use for saving your images. 1. Constantly Back-Up Memory Cards and Phone Photos.  If you use a digital camera, aside from your phone, chances are that you don’t back up “new” pictures every time you use it.  I had a friend who would wait until the […]

To actually work from home, I usually would set up my laptop at the kitchen island and try not to let distractions get me!  I couldn’t take it any longer, so I spent some time chalk painting the existing office furniture and organized the entire room!  Viola! 

It’s safe to say, that for a bride, the morning of her wedding can be a bit overwhelming.  All of the vendors you have dealt with, the hair, makeup, and wardrobe, along with the group of ladies by your side, are all coming together and keeping you side-tracked.  Lots of those “oh good idea!” moments […]

A winter session allows some of the best scenarios for a unique photo session!  Here are reasons to consider a cold weather photo shoot! 1. The look.  Scarves, gloves, coats, sweaters, and hats are all perfect accessories to change up your look without really trying!  No need to keep changing clothes.  Adding and subtracting accessories […]