The moment I decided to start a photography business in the back of my mind was one of my darkest secrets. I was terrified and excited for this new journey but fear definitely held me down from growing sooner. Photography has opened my eyes and helped my grow, not just as a photographer but as a mom and as a person. I've struggled with social anxiety for years, to the point of going into to Target when it was packed was a NO. Cases like that, that I thought I'd try to get shopping done and just ignore the size of the crowd was so overwhelming that I would have a panic attack and struggle breathing and sometimes just find an aisle, sit and cry.
Its pathetic and embarrassing. I lost any self control on talking to new people or to even go to an event. I don't know what started all of it but because of that, it held me up from anyone getting to know me. Plus this issue was something I wouldn't just tell anyone... freak is the word that comes to mind when I think of how others would perceive me. I remember the first time I booked a wedding... oh the butterflies and chills that I had for a week. Wondering if I could handle it, would I walk right out, would I find a hiding spot to be able to relax without having an attack. I had a stomach ache for days on top of all the emotional ups and downs. All of these plus much more was going through my head. I was so scared. Thank God this wedding I choose to do free for that "just in case". My fiancé and I had been together for 3 years at the time and even he did not understand what my struggles were let alone how to help me deal with them. Just like every other day before I head out for a session or wedding Shadow (my fiancé) wishes me good luck and as always I pray on the drive to. I discovered something new in myself that day. Being behind the camera allowed me to gain so much confidence and an empowering feeling. It felt amazing to use my creative thinking, to be able to own what I was doing. It's the weirdest and hardest thing to explain to someone who has never had this experience but it's one of the most spiritually uplifting thing. I became someone new that day. It was as if a light switch was turned on. I loved every second of that wedding. I have grown so much since that day. I can stand in front of a crowd and direct people, talk to people and even be silly. I can be at a session and completely act like a fool just to make sure I get good shots. I can go to a grocery store without having a panic attack. Picking up the camera and making the decision to start my photography business, allowed me to become closer to God, because I never show up to a job without praying. It's allowed me to be able to be ok with crowds, groups and strangers without feeling like I could pass out and the most important.... be myself. Photography saved me. I still get the upset stomach the day before a wedding, I still pray before each shoot and I still enjoy being behind the camera. My confidence behind the camera grew which has allowed me to grown in my photography skills. I am so grateful that I have such a supporting group of followers, clients and friends and most of all family because without all them I would not be where I am today and who I am. At one of the last weddings I did, this was the response from the bride. " I didn't get a chance to tell you or Sonja this but, me and Adrian are extremely happy with the work ya did at the wedding! I love how you are so outgoing and how attentive both of you were to me and Adrian. You guys balance each other out perfectly and make a great team. I cant wait to see the pictures" It's nice to know that I am not perceived as a freak or have allowed myself to withhold who I am. I LOVE photography and like I have said before I can only get better from here and I am so ready for the ride. TKP is offering a PASS Package! Here are the top reasons to get your session on PASS
"With the custom app your photos will always be with you. You can download your photos instantly. No DVD. No software. Have prints and other products delivered right to your door. Your photos are safe...forever" -PASS Watch the video to get a better idea on PASS. As a parent, I appreciate my camera more than ever. I never understood the importance of photos until I had my own kids. My girls are my world and the thought of them growing up scares me, no more like frightens me. They are growing up so fast and I keep telling them they need to stop but Starr insists she God is making her grow up. I wish these moments and many others would last forever but I know it's the process of life and with that I know God has more in store for us later. Knowing this I try to capture everything. I tend to be the weird mom photographing their child's every move... (lol) well maybe not that extreme but I am pretty bad. I am not sure if it's just a parental or because I literally have 3 images of myself growing up. That's not very many and I have always wondered how life would have been if I were not raised in the system. I've wondered what memories my mom would have caught if she was like me. I guess of past really does mold who were.... all of the good and bad somehow shapes us to who we are today. Yes, I am an 80's baby..... the flower dress says it all! My girls may get irritated, annoying and even hate but this momma doesn't plan on letting up any time soon. My girls deserve the best that I can offer! I hope one day when they are my age and have children that they would look back and appreciate all the times I took my camera everywhere we went. Well at least that's what I hope ;)
My advice to all you mom's, photographer or not, takes pictures of your children! You never know what God has in his planes for us and our children deserve not only photos of themselves but of us as well. Trust me, coming from a 26 year old who has not seen one photo of me with my biological mother, pretty, ugly, fat, mess hair, no makeup I would still appreciate that proof of history. Start snapping away moms! I have these little angels that I get to kiss and hug each day. They have opened my eyes to a whole new kind of world and life. They have managed to tug on my heart in every direction and they have the most amazing kind of love. These angels of mine are blessings. One of the greastest blessings you could ever receive. They have inspired me to do better today than I did yesterday. Their sweet giggles and comforting smiles light up my days. These angels were givin as a blessing, a blessing that I never saw coming and never wanted.
God knew and knows me better than I will ever. For him to trust these little miracles and lives in my care is gift. The joys of watching them grow has more value than any other thing I could ever possess. From the moment I felt the first movement to the heartbeat then on to their birthdate and each milestone they cross. These little angels are miracles.... how could they not be. They take up so much time, energy and at times I feel drained and think I have nothing left. At those moments, thats when I somehow manage to look at their precious little faces and those simple moments like a hug, a smile, a giggle, a silly move they did or the moments where their young minds have learned how to aggravate me and they think thats the funniest thing ever come to my mind. The laughs and cries are all worth every second. I would be lost without these little ones. They have helped me grow and become a better person. There is no life without family. Family is everything and because of them we are complete. My heart hurts to know they must grow up. I want them to stay little ones forever but thats not reality. Reality is, as they grow, there will be more moments to add to our memories. There will be even better times and even harder times. The thought that God is watching over us and knowing he entrusted these lives to us is beyond amazing. He allowed me to be the mother to these three little angels, what a privilege this is. I hope and pray they will one day have children of their own and become a better parent than I have ever been. I hope and pray that God guides me to become a better parent than I am now and that he helps me instill in my children the gift that a family and children are everything. I pray God works in the hearts of the generations before me. The ones who are alive to this day and still have no remorse of how they treated this own biological children. I guess my goal is to break this cycle of bad parenting. They are so easily influenced and very sensitive in the words I use and the actions I take. This is responsibility that should never be taken lightly. They only learn what I teach and I want to teach them right. They are three little angels... a gift from God for us to raise for him. They are borrowed to me, just as time. These three little angels, gave me a purpose in life. The 2013 Annual TKP Mr./Miss. Photogenic Contest winner is...... Crystal Congratulations Crystal! You will be the face for the 2013 TKP Miss Photogenic! Please contact via [email protected] for your complimentary mini session that includes 8 images with TKP with 48 hours. Runner Up for The 2013 Annual TKP Mr./Miss. Photogenic Contest is MaKyla! As runner up for the 2013 Annual TKP Mr./Miss. Photogenic Contest you will be entitled to winners prize if for whatever reason the prize is not claimed. Also, as the runner up, your gift is a complimentary 10x10 mounted storyboard with your next session with TKP. A BIG thank you to the other 9 adorable contestants for participating! As a gift for your participation you will be provided with a $10 print credit with TKP for your next session. For more information please contact via [email protected]
It's been 10 days since a friend of ours brought over a mason jar with a chrysalis formed on the inside of the lid. We started to worry the maybe the butterfly died. The color was still bright green as of yesterday. Sparkles stayed on top of the counter between the dinning room and kitchen. So it was easy for the girls to see right up into the jar and see sparkles hanging there. This morning my daughter came in yelling that there was a butterfly. They were beyond excited and could not wait to see her fly. Around 10 am I unscrewed the mason jar lid and opened it so that she would have room and if she was ready to leave she could. {BTW were are not sure if it is a girl but don't tell my girls that} So Sparkles started moving around slowly and begin to stretch her wings. Here are a few shots of her getting used to her gorgeous new life. This shot below was taken by Starr.... photographer in training ;) Stella was so intrigued with Sparkles. She would try to get up close and personal.... even opened her mouth ready to try to eat her a few times as well. Once I placed her on the doors trim she decided to fly and flew straight to Starr's foot. She panicked so quick that I almost dropped my camera trying to get her to not hurt Sparkles. Starr ending up helping for a quick shot before Stella was about to lift her foot to her mouth. After saving Sparkles from Stella's mouth I opened the back door and let her fly off, only to fly to the fence and hang out for hours more. Sparkles is a natural ;) She just posed while we took way too many shots of her. It's remarkable and plain out amazing how a caterpillar can turn into a gorgeous butterfly. God's power and creation is beautiful. It's the rebirth of Sparkles! She has changed for the better and is free.... pretty similar to finally making a change in your life and giving your all to God and trusting in him. He is the maker of all and has the power of no other. These simple things in life are all around us! God is love. How could he not be when he can create something as beautiful as this from a caterpiller or create a child from a man and a woman. These are miracles! This is all God's work and we should never take it for granted. Life is precious and every hardship, challenge, pain, lesson, laughs, love.... the good times and the bad.... are slowly molding us to who we need to be. Never give up. Cherish the simple things and life and embrace everyone you love and love those that need love.
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has done through to achieve that beauty." -Maya Angelou Bryce's senior session was fun. His mom and him both are very sweet! Thank you both for allowing me to be apart of this, I enjoyed your company and being able to photograph such a handsome boy.
Often times I think most of us start photography because we love it. One thing or another sparked this idea that we could start a photography business just based on our love for it. I jumped into the photography world with no clue where to start or what I was doing. I was clueless to all the talent out there and I definitely did not know anything of workshops. Looking back, I see how silly this idea was. That I would jump into this photography world, take pictures and get paid for something I love. Who doesn't want to make a living from doing something they love to do, right?! Well, when your talents are based on being a mommy photographer and your experience is just family and friends, that doesn't say a whole lot. Here is an image from one of my earlier sessions. I cringe looking at it. I see so many things I could have done differently as far as the shot and the edit. My prices were very cheap too. I was one of those $50-$75 shoots with all images on a disk included cheap photographers. When I started this business these are a few things I wish I would have known: Definition of a business- is "an occupation, profession, or trade. The purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit". It's extremely hard trying to run a photography business charging low rates. I was working hard for little money. In a sense that sounds impossible and awful but I truley was. I was getting on average a little over $1 per hour. Thats not even taking in consideration for the time there at the shoot, gas, editing time and etc. Not much of a "business" is there? Giveaways and Freebies- I love giveaways and freebies! Winning or giving is always fun in my eyes but I know now how I feel doesn't matter because everyone has there own opinion and perspective. I learned the hard way that I have a large group of followers on my Facebook page that were there just to win something free. Pathetic isn't it! I had this idea that since I love to do games and give things away that It would help me boost my business adn others would appreciate me being so giving and hire me. WORNG! Not sure were I got that idea but people don't think that way. They see free as in free and nothign further. Free isn't free! I, the business owner, is losing money to give you something free. What a mess that was. No bookings, but yet I had many who would question about the next giveaway. I knew I did something wrong when I was being contacted more about giveaways and freebies than I was session bookings. I fixed that issue real quick. Now that I learned that lesson, sure I will giveaway something but in return you must book a session. I will just you a gift certificate for $20 off your session or a 10x10 canvas print. Easy as that is seperated those who were seriously in my work and who actually wanted to book a session with me. Full Time or Part Time- This is complicated for me. I still not sure what my time is considered. I return emails, phone calls and messages weekly. I edit weekly and I shoot on the weekends. Time management is a must. For myself the combination between homeschooling, photography and my regular mom duties it becomes overwhelming. I personally don't see how being a photographer is a part time job. I spend on average 7 hours a day between editing, designing templates for client orders, ordering products and returning contacts... thats on average 35 hours per week. Top that with homeschooling and regular duties... I need a vacation. I don't care if you work a regular full time job beyond photography but I can't see photography being a part time job. Running your own business is a lot more than that hour shoot on Saturday. Mistakes- gahh. Who doesn't make mistakes?! I tend to have to learn the hard way due to my stubbornness. In this line of business mistakes can easily be made. I once had a lady contact me for a wedding service. This is when I never had done a weddign so I was was open to doing this wedding almost free. I recieved very little info other than this wedding was 1 1/2 away from where I lived and who the bride was. I quickly quoted this person $200. Never thought about it, shows my experience. ;) I never had a contract between this person and I. Mistake number one. I never took a deposit. Mistake number two. A month away from the wedding I had already done a wedding, learned about needing a contract to ensure everything was agreed and all that legal junk. This person contacts me for an update and assumes expectations like adding in that I must be there for 6 hours and all the litle details rather than speaking to me. Mistake number three. 3 mistakes that could have easily been avoided IF I knew enough at the beginning to know that a contract is a must. Not just to protect me but to ensure the client and myself were both aware of the details and what they were getting and that the client knows that what to expect from me. With me not doing this those 3 BIG mistakes cost me. I had very bad things said about me and that I think hurt my feelings more than anything. Those mistakes forced me to grow, I never do anything without a contract now. Lessoned learned! I lost a client and more experience but in return I learned that I am worth more than 6 hours at a wedding for $200 with a 3 hour drive to and from. I learned I had a voice and was not going to be stepped on. Easy to get into- When I jumped into the idea of starting my own photography business I never once considered the costs. Photography as a hobby or business is not cheap. Between the camera body, lenses, flashes, diffuses, reflectors, a computer to edit, editing software like Photoshop, actions, website, domain, workshops, studios need lighting like backgrounds, props, business license, all the legal documents and paperwork. I'm sure I have missed many other things that are needed but just with this list could cost you at least several grand. Did I say at least several thousand?! Don't assume photography is a cheap business to get into because you will soon find out the little costs. You're more than a photographer- I have had to find a way to coordinate between marketing, being the photographer, being an editor and being a receptionist/secretary. Thats just the business part of it all... if you are in my situation beyond work you have to manage cleaning house, being a mom, being a teacher and so on. You get the idea. Editing/Style- The process of trying to figure out what our style and editing is can take time. It took me starting our with bright vibrant editing with not a clue on how an image should be done. I know one thing is I do not always do is follow the photography rules, though these rules are there for a reason but more of a guideline to assist rather than direct. The rules like composition, rule of thirds and so on. I view photography as an art. Each of us have a different perception on art and how it should look. Why conform to be like each other when we can be different? I choose to shot my style and that style may not be everyones cup of tea and that's ok with me. I also have heard negative connotation about photoshop editing. Opinions like actions over photoshop, your not a real photographer if you photoshop is just plain ignorance. The thing is, I am going to edit the way I feel free to edit. This is again... my business, I steer the direction of my business and it is based on my idea of art. One of the many great things about photography is being able to meet someone new and taking pictures of them through your eyes and your idea of art and beauty. Taking those images home and processing them into either a clean edit or over the top image that isn't even realistic. That is why they hire though... for your photography view. Successes- My definition of success is different from yours. Dictionary.com defines success as "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals". Success to me is knowing I have managed to work out this combination between a mom, a teacher and a photographer all into one. That I can still keep clients coming to me for sessions and still manage to teach my children the importance of life, love, God, math, english and so on. Success to me isn't on how many weddings can I get this year or how many sessions can I get. It's more of mainting a duable amount of sessions without hurting my children's education. What is success to you? This should help guide you to where you need to be in the future. TKP 3 year anniversary is coming up. It's exciting to know how far along I've came. Here is an image from a recent session. Never Sell Yourself Short...
I remember being told this when I was little. Little like still in elementary school little. It always stuck in my head and more than ever does this 4 word statement mean so much. As a photographer we need to value ourselves. We need to value ourselves to know or worth and to respect one another in our community. As photographers we should build each other up... not try to destroy their reputation because you fear them. We should help each, teach other and join forces. We struggle with the same issues, we love the same thing, we have at least one interest in common and we should respect each other. I know I have gone off topic with the statement but it starts with us being a photographer in general to know that we are all in the small business trade and investing every second to improve ourselves. Value each other, value yourself. Don't charge cut rate prices to get more business, charge based on your talent and your time. Your selling yourself short by charging $50-$75 per session and giving a disk with all the images. I'm sure you are worth more that measley $1 per hour as I did a couple years ago. I value the time I put into one photograph to get the image exactly how I want it rather than editing 3 images for the time of one now without a clue of a direction and editing just to edit. I believe in helping each other out. For the sake of clients needing a photographer and for the sake of the photography industry. We need photographers that give quality work and clients who recieve nothing but the best from each of us. Reach out to other photographers, take classes, join workshops, improve your skills and value yourself enough to know that in this work enviroment learning is a must. Never settle for second best. Be your best! What's your value? What's your worth? Maybe this will quide you now, to help you get to where you want to be as a photographer. |