Today, I saw this print on Pinterest and it made me think about that sled. It was a reminder that if I want something to happen I have to be willing to do the work to make it happen.
Find this print and more like it at lovelife.typepad.com.
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A Memory + A Reminder
Stop! I told you to STOP! I was about 5 years old and yelling at my sled with quite the authority, but it wasn't listening. My Mom had taken me down the hill on her lap several times and I wanted to go by myself. I was 5 OK... totally grown up. She showed me the brakes, had me practice and off I went. It was all squeals and giggles until I wanted the ride to be over. That sled needed to stop so, I told it to stop. In my excitement/terror I forgot that I needed to pull the brake.
Today, I saw this print on Pinterest and it made me think about that sled. It was a reminder that if I want something to happen I have to be willing to do the work to make it happen.
Find this print and more like it at lovelife.typepad.com.
Today, I saw this print on Pinterest and it made me think about that sled. It was a reminder that if I want something to happen I have to be willing to do the work to make it happen.
Find this print and more like it at lovelife.typepad.com.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Cliffs Notes of a Book Report | The E Myth
"Highly successful business people read, on average, 3 business related books a year. That means I'm going to read 3 a month." -Zach Gray
Ok, that may be more of a paraphrase than a quote but I figured it was close enough. When talking about executing the dream at the Gray Photography Workshops Z&J encouraged us put down our cameras, take a break from reading photography blogs and dig into some business books. I made a list (imagine that) and filled up my amazon shopping cart as soon as I got home.
Confession [Mom, please skip this part]: Senior year in high school I skipped writing a book report because I knew I'd still pass the class if I got a zero on the report. AND I did pass... with a C.
That's really bad and I can't believe I told you but I feel that my book review series needed a little preface. See, the bookworm gene skipped me. When I sit down to read my mind comes up with 100 other things I could be doing. I usually pick one and forget where I left the book. It's torturous because I've always wanted to be described as 'well read'. Oil meet water.
So, why would I set myself up to write a series of book reviews on the blog? Because I believe in Zach's theory THAT much. Also, because I'll be writing them more like cliffs notes or top ten lists than as actual reports.
First on the list is The E Myth by Michael E Gerber.
Ok, that may be more of a paraphrase than a quote but I figured it was close enough. When talking about executing the dream at the Gray Photography Workshops Z&J encouraged us put down our cameras, take a break from reading photography blogs and dig into some business books. I made a list (imagine that) and filled up my amazon shopping cart as soon as I got home.
Confession [Mom, please skip this part]: Senior year in high school I skipped writing a book report because I knew I'd still pass the class if I got a zero on the report. AND I did pass... with a C.
That's really bad and I can't believe I told you but I feel that my book review series needed a little preface. See, the bookworm gene skipped me. When I sit down to read my mind comes up with 100 other things I could be doing. I usually pick one and forget where I left the book. It's torturous because I've always wanted to be described as 'well read'. Oil meet water.
So, why would I set myself up to write a series of book reviews on the blog? Because I believe in Zach's theory THAT much. Also, because I'll be writing them more like cliffs notes or top ten lists than as actual reports.
First on the list is The E Myth by Michael E Gerber.
"E-Myth n 1: the entrepreneurial myth: the myth that most people who start a small business are entrepreneurs 2: the fatal assumption that an individual who understands the technical work of a business can successfully run a business that does that technical work"
My review: 5 out of 5 stars.
This book is crammed with information but it doesn't come across as a text book. It's written as a story of Michael meeting and consulting a woman who owns a pie shop. He doesn't say that if you do A or B and C that you'll be successful, but he gives a formula for you to figure out what will work in your business.
Nuggets from the book...
This book is crammed with information but it doesn't come across as a text book. It's written as a story of Michael meeting and consulting a woman who owns a pie shop. He doesn't say that if you do A or B and C that you'll be successful, but he gives a formula for you to figure out what will work in your business.
Nuggets from the book...
- Know your primary aim. Focus on it. Determine what you want your life to be and define how your business will get you there.
- Go to work ON your business, not in it.
- Set standards for how everything should be done.
- Use these standards to create your operations manual.
- Use your operations manual to set up your business as if it were a model for a franchise.
- Think of your franchise prototype as a 'dojo'. A place you go to practice being the best you can be.
I've been super busy putting the formula to work in my business. If you've read it I'd like to know how it's changed your business too.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Second Shooting
Sometimes I'll have an idea for a blog post, but will get writer's block when I sit at my computer to write. When that happens I start the post with one or two sentences to describe the idea I had and then I'll come back when inspiration strikes.
I've had a post sitting in my blog queue for a while and I opened it to write this today. The title was Second Shooting and it read, 'has been awesome.' I wrote that after second shooting for the first time and I'm not sure why I didn't just post it as is. Second shooting HAS been awesome.
I've had the pleasure of second shooting 4 weddings this Spring and I've been having the best time. A lot of established photographers will tell you that second shooting is part of 'paying your dues' in the photography world. While it's true that as a second shooter you are working as an employee/intern for the main shooter, it hasn't felt like 'paying dues' to me. I'm getting invaluable on the job experience learning the wedding day workflow and finding/creating good light when there seems to be none. I'm building my portfolio, making friends in the industry and watching my dreams become reality.
Maybe I've been lucky to work with the remarkably talented photographers I have because they've hardly made it feel like work. More on them (and pics too) coming soon!!
I've had a post sitting in my blog queue for a while and I opened it to write this today. The title was Second Shooting and it read, 'has been awesome.' I wrote that after second shooting for the first time and I'm not sure why I didn't just post it as is. Second shooting HAS been awesome.
I've had the pleasure of second shooting 4 weddings this Spring and I've been having the best time. A lot of established photographers will tell you that second shooting is part of 'paying your dues' in the photography world. While it's true that as a second shooter you are working as an employee/intern for the main shooter, it hasn't felt like 'paying dues' to me. I'm getting invaluable on the job experience learning the wedding day workflow and finding/creating good light when there seems to be none. I'm building my portfolio, making friends in the industry and watching my dreams become reality.
Maybe I've been lucky to work with the remarkably talented photographers I have because they've hardly made it feel like work. More on them (and pics too) coming soon!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sprucing Up the Internets
In hindsight, I should re-word #12 on the 31 before 31 list. 'Finish a branding project' should be 'get a good understanding of what you want your brand to be and then spend the rest of forever working on it'.
Branding, to me, is something that will always be evolving. Especially when it comes to the client experience. But, I've got a good start as far as branding my internet presence so #12 now has a check mark beside it.
This is only part of the Jessi D brand. I guess you'll have to be a client to experience the rest ;)
Branding, to me, is something that will always be evolving. Especially when it comes to the client experience. But, I've got a good start as far as branding my internet presence so #12 now has a check mark beside it.
This is only part of the Jessi D brand. I guess you'll have to be a client to experience the rest ;)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
This... is Love
I have been working hard and making a dent in my 31 before 31 list lately. Last week I completed #8 on the list: Have professional headshot's taken. I needed them for a branding project which I'll be blogging about soon.
These were taken by my hubby, John. Imma go ahead and call him a pro because I'm a professional and he is my silent business partner, my rock that I could not do ANY of this without, and my second shooter so... he's totally a pro. Right? I'd like to take credit for teaching him everything he knows but the truth is that he is techie who reads manuals and actually understands them. HE teaches ME how to change menu settings half the time. When he started 'getting into photography' he dug in and learned all about the technical aspects. The rest- composition, lighting, posing, editing in camera, etc - came from me. Either I am an excellent teacher, or dude is a natural.
How many guys would be willing to take photos of their wife just to have her scrutinize them and try to find a few that she likes enough to upload to the internet to be the face of her business? My guess would be not many, but John did an AMAZING job.
I don't mean to be all 'look at how pretty I am', but this is the best set of pictures of myself I've ever had taken. So, either I'm an excellent teacher, or dude is a natural, or he captured me the way he sees me... with LOVE. Am I a lucky girl or what??
These were taken by my hubby, John. Imma go ahead and call him a pro because I'm a professional and he is my silent business partner, my rock that I could not do ANY of this without, and my second shooter so... he's totally a pro. Right? I'd like to take credit for teaching him everything he knows but the truth is that he is techie who reads manuals and actually understands them. HE teaches ME how to change menu settings half the time. When he started 'getting into photography' he dug in and learned all about the technical aspects. The rest- composition, lighting, posing, editing in camera, etc - came from me. Either I am an excellent teacher, or dude is a natural.
How many guys would be willing to take photos of their wife just to have her scrutinize them and try to find a few that she likes enough to upload to the internet to be the face of her business? My guess would be not many, but John did an AMAZING job.
I don't mean to be all 'look at how pretty I am', but this is the best set of pictures of myself I've ever had taken. So, either I'm an excellent teacher, or dude is a natural, or he captured me the way he sees me... with LOVE. Am I a lucky girl or what??
Friday, April 8, 2011
IN-CAMERA Workshop Day 3 - Executing the Dream
I couldn't write. I sat there thinking and fighting the tears that were beginning to well in my eyes. Maybe it was because I was tired after a whirlwind week. Maybe it was because I was missing my husband and baby girl. Maybe it was because I had spent the day listening to Zach and Jody talk about executing the dream and my mind was in overdrive. Whatever it was, my emotions we ready to pour out of me.
Towards the end of the day they challenged us to write a mission statement for our life and business. They gave us about 15 minutes to spread out, be quite with our thoughts and write. I sat in their living room and stared at my paper. I thought about about this risk I have taken by leaving the security of a good job to follow my dream and finally the words came...
My mission statement:
To celebrate and honor the gift of life by running a business that serves a happy marriage and a happy family. To invest in relationships generously. To inspire and be inspired.
Not to be very good, or the best, but to BE REMARKABLE.
Zach and Jody talked to us about using a business as a tool to reach your dreams. How to avoid having a business that runs your life and makes you miserable. Specifically, as photographers, how being perfect at the craft of photography isn't enough. You've got to invest in the business of business to be successful. They discussed branding, marketing, social media and client interaction with the underlying theme of being remarkable. Being remarkable will create value in your brand will get you where you want to be.
This 3 day workshop is hands down, without a doubt the BEST investment I have made in my business to date. If you are a photographer and have been trying to pick a workshop to attend, I would encourage you to do whatever you can to go to IN-CAMERA even if you can only swing one day... DO IT!!
To Zach and Jody - Y'all are awe-inspiring. You're a beautiful couple and some amazing teachers. God has blessed you with many gifts and you blessed me by sharing them!! THANK YOU.
Meeting you was an absolute dream come true.
Love always,
Jessica
Towards the end of the day they challenged us to write a mission statement for our life and business. They gave us about 15 minutes to spread out, be quite with our thoughts and write. I sat in their living room and stared at my paper. I thought about about this risk I have taken by leaving the security of a good job to follow my dream and finally the words came...
My mission statement:
To celebrate and honor the gift of life by running a business that serves a happy marriage and a happy family. To invest in relationships generously. To inspire and be inspired.
Not to be very good, or the best, but to BE REMARKABLE.
Zach and Jody talked to us about using a business as a tool to reach your dreams. How to avoid having a business that runs your life and makes you miserable. Specifically, as photographers, how being perfect at the craft of photography isn't enough. You've got to invest in the business of business to be successful. They discussed branding, marketing, social media and client interaction with the underlying theme of being remarkable. Being remarkable will create value in your brand will get you where you want to be.
This 3 day workshop is hands down, without a doubt the BEST investment I have made in my business to date. If you are a photographer and have been trying to pick a workshop to attend, I would encourage you to do whatever you can to go to IN-CAMERA even if you can only swing one day... DO IT!!
Photo courtesy of Lisa Cour ~ Dayspring Photograpahy
To Zach and Jody - Y'all are awe-inspiring. You're a beautiful couple and some amazing teachers. God has blessed you with many gifts and you blessed me by sharing them!! THANK YOU.
Meeting you was an absolute dream come true.
Love always,
Jessica
Thursday, April 7, 2011
IN-CAMERA Workshop Day 2 - Light
"What's that movie where they're in a bunker during a tornado and a cow goes flying by? Twister?" -Jody
Day 2 of the workshop began under severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Gotta love Spring in the South! Zach's Light lecture was preempted by lightning, sirens and the news that a tornado had reportedly touched down in a town nearby. We all contemplated squeezing into the bathtub, but instead we watched the weather radar until the worst had passed.
Zach lectured about lighting patterns, ratios, flashes, strobes and metering - Oh My! When it was time for us to go shoot it was still raining sideways. Pouring. As a wedding photographer, this was actually to my advantage. Zach and Jody showed me how to take beautiful portraits, on location, in the absolute worst weather conditions. Lets be real... if you are getting married in the South during Spring or Summer the odds that it will rain on your wedding day are pretty high.
I wasn't sure about booking this day of the workshop because I was afraid of getting overwhelmed but Z&J are SO good at breaking down the process into simple steps and making it fun. I'm very glad I decided to go because now I feel prepared and won't go into full on panic mode if I'm ever in poor weather at a wedding. That is a good feeling :) Also, I fell in LOVE with artificial light!! You can create some absolutely stunning portraits with just one strobe. I'll be saving up my pennies to buy some lighting gear as soon as possible.
We shot at Factory in Franlkin, TN. Here the rain let up for a few minutes so we ran outside. Elly is standing under an awning in front of the parking lot. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon and the sky, while gray, was actually pretty bright. Zach showed us how to darken it.
Showing how strobes can create mood and beautiful light anywhere. This is in front of a bathroom.
Behind the scenes.
The result.
Huge thanks to the models that came out in the weather and still KILLED it during the shoot. Y'all are amazing!
What we used, aka my wishlist ;)
Ellinchrom Ranger Light
Photogenic Powerlight
Westcott 24x32 Softbox
Photogenic Speedring
Westcott 13' Air Cushioned Light Stand
Vagabond Mini
Pocket Wizard Transceiver
Sekonic L358 Light Meter w/ Light Module
Day 2 of the workshop began under severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Gotta love Spring in the South! Zach's Light lecture was preempted by lightning, sirens and the news that a tornado had reportedly touched down in a town nearby. We all contemplated squeezing into the bathtub, but instead we watched the weather radar until the worst had passed.
I wasn't sure about booking this day of the workshop because I was afraid of getting overwhelmed but Z&J are SO good at breaking down the process into simple steps and making it fun. I'm very glad I decided to go because now I feel prepared and won't go into full on panic mode if I'm ever in poor weather at a wedding. That is a good feeling :) Also, I fell in LOVE with artificial light!! You can create some absolutely stunning portraits with just one strobe. I'll be saving up my pennies to buy some lighting gear as soon as possible.
We shot at Factory in Franlkin, TN. Here the rain let up for a few minutes so we ran outside. Elly is standing under an awning in front of the parking lot. It was about 4:00 in the afternoon and the sky, while gray, was actually pretty bright. Zach showed us how to darken it.
Showing how strobes can create mood and beautiful light anywhere. This is in front of a bathroom.
Behind the scenes.
The result.
Huge thanks to the models that came out in the weather and still KILLED it during the shoot. Y'all are amazing!
What we used, aka my wishlist ;)
Ellinchrom Ranger Light
Photogenic Powerlight
Westcott 24x32 Softbox
Photogenic Speedring
Westcott 13' Air Cushioned Light Stand
Vagabond Mini
Pocket Wizard Transceiver
Sekonic L358 Light Meter w/ Light Module
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
IN-CAMERA Workshop Day 1 - Shooting & Post
Voice over intercom: Are you here for the in camera workshops?
Me: I am!
Voice over intercom: Great, I'll buzz you in.
A huge butterfly started going crazy in my stomach. I was about to meet Zach and Jody Gray. Like f'real, shake Zach's hand and hug Jody meet them. Not only that, but I'd be spending the next three days in their home for the IN-CAMERA Workshops. AwwYeah!!
The Gray's believe in running a business that serves their life and marriage instead of having a business that runs them. A big part of this includes how they shoot and their streamlined workflow after the shoot. We learned their process of getting exposure, color (setting custom white balance) and composition right in the camera and then went outside to practice. It was about 3pm and the sun was blazing. Zach and Jody taught us to look for open shade and how to create it using a diffuser. They also demonstrated some fill techniques using a reflector.
Let me say that I was so blown away by the results of setting custom WB that I went and bought an expodisc as soon as I could the next morning. This was my moment in the workshop where I thought, 'how have I been shooting without knowing this... I mean, really WHAT have I been doing!?' This alone was worth the trip for me but I got so much more.
Obviously it didn't hurt that we had two gorgeous models, but I am very pleased with the results. Especially since there is very little post processing on these images. (I shoot RAW so there is a pop of luminance that I was able to batch process instead of touching every single image one at a time. HUGE time saver!)
Part of the group. It was so much fun to be out shooting/chatting with other photographers!
Once our natural sunlight dipped below the horizon we went back inside and Zach showed us his post processing workflow. Dude is a culling animal!! I took good notes for John to study :)
If you are thinking about going to a Gray Photography IN-CAMERA Workshop, stop thinking and DO IT! You will not regret it.
A wrap up of Day 2 and 3 coming soon...
Me: I am!
Voice over intercom: Great, I'll buzz you in.
A huge butterfly started going crazy in my stomach. I was about to meet Zach and Jody Gray. Like f'real, shake Zach's hand and hug Jody meet them. Not only that, but I'd be spending the next three days in their home for the IN-CAMERA Workshops. AwwYeah!!
The Gray's believe in running a business that serves their life and marriage instead of having a business that runs them. A big part of this includes how they shoot and their streamlined workflow after the shoot. We learned their process of getting exposure, color (setting custom white balance) and composition right in the camera and then went outside to practice. It was about 3pm and the sun was blazing. Zach and Jody taught us to look for open shade and how to create it using a diffuser. They also demonstrated some fill techniques using a reflector.
Let me say that I was so blown away by the results of setting custom WB that I went and bought an expodisc as soon as I could the next morning. This was my moment in the workshop where I thought, 'how have I been shooting without knowing this... I mean, really WHAT have I been doing!?' This alone was worth the trip for me but I got so much more.
Obviously it didn't hurt that we had two gorgeous models, but I am very pleased with the results. Especially since there is very little post processing on these images. (I shoot RAW so there is a pop of luminance that I was able to batch process instead of touching every single image one at a time. HUGE time saver!)
Part of the group. It was so much fun to be out shooting/chatting with other photographers!
Once our natural sunlight dipped below the horizon we went back inside and Zach showed us his post processing workflow. Dude is a culling animal!! I took good notes for John to study :)
If you are thinking about going to a Gray Photography IN-CAMERA Workshop, stop thinking and DO IT! You will not regret it.
A wrap up of Day 2 and 3 coming soon...
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Socially Acceptable
"Listening to Ike Pigott talk about social media. #ALsocme"
Sitting in the front row I grabbed my phone, opened twitter and tweeted this message while Ike was speaking. He was standing three feet in front of me and I did this in plain sight. Rude? Not hardly.
I was doing my part to generate buzz about the Alabama Social Media Association's inaugural event. At the check-in table I was encouraged to check in on Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter. I took a moment to do just that and there were already a flood of tweets using #ALsocme. People were saying hello from across the room, inviting others to sit with them and generally tweeting their excitement to be there. One brilliant girl even tweeted the hashtag along with a link to her resume to everyone at the event. THAT is (social) networking!
Ike Pigott spoke to us about Social Media: The 21st Century Canary. He discussed how to measure a social media 'crisis' so that you know when to respond. He also explained the concepts of framing and sharing. Framing gives context to fact. If you provide the right context you can frame someones perception. What makes a message sharable? Ike gave us the ABC's...
Authority
Brevity
Clarity
Detail
Emotion
Focus
Gossip
Canaries make a lot of noise. Noise lets you know you are in the right place but it doesn't let you know what to take seriously. Measure before you react. But, by all means, be prepared to react.
You can see Ike's slides plus a full transcript of the event here.
Thanks to ALsocme for a great event. I think you should host one here in Montgomery :) Oh, and thanks to Zoes Kitchen for a free lunch!
Sitting in the front row I grabbed my phone, opened twitter and tweeted this message while Ike was speaking. He was standing three feet in front of me and I did this in plain sight. Rude? Not hardly.
I was doing my part to generate buzz about the Alabama Social Media Association's inaugural event. At the check-in table I was encouraged to check in on Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter. I took a moment to do just that and there were already a flood of tweets using #ALsocme. People were saying hello from across the room, inviting others to sit with them and generally tweeting their excitement to be there. One brilliant girl even tweeted the hashtag along with a link to her resume to everyone at the event. THAT is (social) networking!
Authority
Brevity
Clarity
Detail
Emotion
Focus
Gossip
Canaries make a lot of noise. Noise lets you know you are in the right place but it doesn't let you know what to take seriously. Measure before you react. But, by all means, be prepared to react.
Thanks to ALsocme for a great event. I think you should host one here in Montgomery :) Oh, and thanks to Zoes Kitchen for a free lunch!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
"It's All Happening."
I could look up the origination of that quote, but I'm not going to. I want to always hear it in Kate Hudson's voice as she is whisked away into her dream life in Almost Famous.
This week is here and it's all happening. Tomorrow I'll be in Birmingham attending the inaugural meeting of the Alabama Social Media Association. Thursday I'll be blogging about the event and packing. Friday I'm off to Tuscaloosa to see Band of Horses. Saturday I'm second shooting a wedding!!!
Sunday I am heading to Nashville for a 3 day photography workshop. Wednesday I'll be home, squeezing my baby girl tighter than ever. Then, Saturday I'll be second shooting another wedding. SMILEY FACE!
It's. All. Happening. - Jessi D
This week is here and it's all happening. Tomorrow I'll be in Birmingham attending the inaugural meeting of the Alabama Social Media Association. Thursday I'll be blogging about the event and packing. Friday I'm off to Tuscaloosa to see Band of Horses. Saturday I'm second shooting a wedding!!!
Sunday I am heading to Nashville for a 3 day photography workshop. Wednesday I'll be home, squeezing my baby girl tighter than ever. Then, Saturday I'll be second shooting another wedding. SMILEY FACE!
It's. All. Happening. - Jessi D
Monday, February 14, 2011
31 Before 31
Happy Valentine's Day to any bride that loves Anthropologie. They launched a bridal boutique, B H L N D, today. Who needs chocolate with all that eye candy? (For the record... I do). As I drooled over one particular gown I thought, 'I can't wait to photograph a bride in this,' And for the first time I really felt REAL. I may not have a wedding on the books yet, but I know with hard work I will.
Part of that hard work is setting goals for myself and my business. I've recently been inspired by fellow (and kind of amazing) photographer Amanda Pair to create a list of goals for the year. Since I am turning 31 this year, here are 31 things I'd like to do in 2011.
1. Run a 5K
2. Run a 10K
3. Run a Half Marathon
4. Try a BodyPump class
5. Taste a cupcake from Cooper Cupcakes
6. Make french toast
7. Have a professional family portrait taken
8. Have professional head shots taken
9. Second shoot a wedding with 5 photographers
10. Build a wedding portfolio
11. Re-work website to focus on weddings
12. Finish branding project
13. Make a sample mini site
17. Set up a photo booth at a party
18. Attend a photography workshop
19. Find 3 new shoot locations in Montgomery
20. Blog every day for one week
30. Finish a painting for O's room
31. Take O swimming
What do you want to do this year?
Part of that hard work is setting goals for myself and my business. I've recently been inspired by fellow (and kind of amazing) photographer Amanda Pair to create a list of goals for the year. Since I am turning 31 this year, here are 31 things I'd like to do in 2011.
1. Run a 5K
2. Run a 10K
3. Run a Half Marathon
4. Try a BodyPump class
5. Taste a cupcake from Cooper Cupcakes
6. Make french toast
7. Have a professional family portrait taken
8. Have professional head shots taken
9. Second shoot a wedding with 5 photographers
10. Build a wedding portfolio
11. Re-work website to focus on weddings
12. Finish branding project
13. Make a sample mini site
14. Have a sample canvas made
15. Book a wedding of my own in 2011
16. Be a part of Help Portrait in Montgomery17. Set up a photo booth at a party
18. Attend a photography workshop
19. Find 3 new shoot locations in Montgomery
20. Blog every day for one week
21. Blog 20 days in one month
22. Meet (lunch, coffee, photo walk) with local photographers
23. Contribute to an online photography forum twice a week for one month
24. Work on a personal project
25. Figure out how to be relevant on Twitter
26. Create a facebook landing page for my business
27. Help an up-and-coming vendor by taking photos for their website/FB page
28. Vacation at the beach
29. Have dinner with my sweetie at Village Kitchen30. Finish a painting for O's room
31. Take O swimming
What do you want to do this year?
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Focus on Fitness
Bobbi + Mike are a husband and wife photography team based in Indianapolis. I've followed their blog for a while and Bobbi periodically blogs about being on the healthy train. She recently started a new train and I hopped on. Now that Olivia is 10 months old I don't feel like I can get away with the "I just had a baby" excuse any longer. I also subscribe to the school of thought that my image is a division of my brand. I believe that brides book out of emotion and want a photographer that is not just going to snap great pictures, but also someone that is going to help make their wedding experience fun and fabulous. In the end, what makes Jessi D Photography different than the hundreds of great photographers in the area (other than price at the moment)? ME. JDP is the only place that has me.
Since I am selling myself as much (if not more) than my skills as a photographer I think it is important to look and feel my best. If I am confident behind the camera, my brides will be confident in front of it.
Fitness is also another way for me to connect to my clients. I don't know a woman that didn't think about getting in shape before her wedding. Even naturally thin (lucky!) girls want to look their absolute best on their wedding day. Wouldn't it be awesomesauce to find new running buddies this way?
So, I am introducing the first 'column' on my blog. Focus on Fitness.
Today's FoF starts with a thank you to Bobbi for the encouragement. Next is a shout out to the Y's up at Hampstead. You are always clean and non-judgy. I love that your cardio room is upstairs with a view of the beautiful Hampstead farm. I love/hate your gravity classes that give me noodle legs. The only thing I don't like about you is that you make me wish I lived in Hampstead, and that just isn't in the budget... for now :)
This month I am focusing on cardio so these shoes are my besties. I. Heart. ASICS.
Since I am selling myself as much (if not more) than my skills as a photographer I think it is important to look and feel my best. If I am confident behind the camera, my brides will be confident in front of it.
Fitness is also another way for me to connect to my clients. I don't know a woman that didn't think about getting in shape before her wedding. Even naturally thin (lucky!) girls want to look their absolute best on their wedding day. Wouldn't it be awesomesauce to find new running buddies this way?
So, I am introducing the first 'column' on my blog. Focus on Fitness.
Today's FoF starts with a thank you to Bobbi for the encouragement. Next is a shout out to the Y's up at Hampstead. You are always clean and non-judgy. I love that your cardio room is upstairs with a view of the beautiful Hampstead farm. I love/hate your gravity classes that give me noodle legs. The only thing I don't like about you is that you make me wish I lived in Hampstead, and that just isn't in the budget... for now :)
This month I am focusing on cardio so these shoes are my besties. I. Heart. ASICS.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010 Favorites
This year brought change, surprise and happiness. First, John and I became parents. It's cliche to say that becoming a parent changes your life. Duh, of course it does. But, it changes in ways I never expected. Every thought, tear, smile, worry, headache, joy, moment of sleep .. ever.ry.thing. revolves around a tiny baby. Becoming a mommy didn't change my life, it re-defined it. It re-defined ME. To quote Ramona from the Real Housewives of New York, "I'm going through a re-newal"
I also stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to finally take the plunge into a photography career. I will be a full-time-f'real-self-employed-photographer starting next week. I am a little terrified (is it possible to be a little terrified?) and extremely excited to see what 2011 has in store for me.
Here are some of my favorite portraits of 2010. Do you have a favorite?
Michelle and Josh (click to see more)
Augustine and Mark (click to see more)
Beth and Kirby (click to see more)
Sarah and Jason (click so see more)
And, naturally, Olivia! You know I couldn't post just one... do you know how hard it was to pick three?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Inspired
If you're reading this you probably know that I studied photography in college at the University of Alabama. Since graduating over 6 years ago I've not used my 'talent' as a photographer for anything other than a hobby. However, I have a truly incredible husband who believes in me whole-heartedly and he has encouraged me to dream, and dream BIG. He planted the seeds for my success by purchasing my first digital camera and working tirelessly on my website. My family and close friends have also been pushing me along the way. With all this support I still held back. Whenever I started to dream about what could be, I'd always get weighed down by the obstacles. All I could see were all the reasons why I shouln't do it. The biggest reason... fear that I will fail.
Recently I have been inspired to go for it! A friend introduced me to creativeLIVE -an amazing source for artists to learn more about their craft. This June they hosted a 3 day lighting workshop with guest 'teacher' Zack Arias - Atlanta based editorial music photographer. I tuned in and the wheels started turning. I discovered Chase Jarvis (CL is his brain child) and began following his blog, along with Zack's. I started dreaming again and then, it happened... CreativeLIVE announced a wedding workshop with world renouned lifestyle photographer Jasmine Star. I'd never heard of her but minutes after the workshop was announced I fell in love with her. I am now a j* blog stalker!! I cannot get enough of looking at her work and hearing what she has to say about her career and her life. She's unbelievably talented yet humble and I LOVE her! I won't bore you with the rest of the story because then you'd know just how stalkerish I can be, instead I'll just say I'm ready. Ready to dream HUGE and take a chance.
Recently I have been inspired to go for it! A friend introduced me to creativeLIVE -an amazing source for artists to learn more about their craft. This June they hosted a 3 day lighting workshop with guest 'teacher' Zack Arias - Atlanta based editorial music photographer. I tuned in and the wheels started turning. I discovered Chase Jarvis (CL is his brain child) and began following his blog, along with Zack's. I started dreaming again and then, it happened... CreativeLIVE announced a wedding workshop with world renouned lifestyle photographer Jasmine Star. I'd never heard of her but minutes after the workshop was announced I fell in love with her. I am now a j* blog stalker!! I cannot get enough of looking at her work and hearing what she has to say about her career and her life. She's unbelievably talented yet humble and I LOVE her! I won't bore you with the rest of the story because then you'd know just how stalkerish I can be, instead I'll just say I'm ready. Ready to dream HUGE and take a chance.
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