I Believe In You | Photography Business Tips and Ideas

Hi Friend,

You know what starting your own photography business means? It means you are following your dreams. Yup, you heard me right. 

So many times I get messages from ladies just like you who tell me that they are afraid. That they feel like a fraud or that they feel they will never make it. It is because following your dreams takes courage. Breaking away from the norm takes guts. 

Let me tell you my #1 secret to success.

I believed in myself. You can't ever, in a trillion years, expect someone to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself. 

Seven years ago when I started this crazy ride that is photography, I never said I was a photographer. I honestly didn't believe it myself.

And it took years to get the courage to call myself that. A photographer. And it took even more years for me to take the plunge and quit my day job to pursue this crazy dream full time. 

Ever hear the phrase fake it till you make it? Well there is some truth to it.

You see, you have to be brave. You have to be bold. And you have to fail. You have to have the guts to say "yes, I am a photographer." And say it loud. 

I mean it, right now, yell "I am a photographer, damn it." Don't scare your kids or the lady next to you in line in the grocery store though. ;) 

Because here is the truth. I had to travel across the country to a photography conference to learn this. I heard many powerful women and men speak about photography and when I came home I said. "Screw it, I am just going to go for it!"

And I did. I started promoting myself like crazy and calling myself a photographer, an artist at that. And things changed for me. Because I was now attracting attention. I was beckoning it.

Because I FINALLY believed in myself. 

This is going to sound like a bad example but it's true. You know the "cool" kids in school? Who said they were cool? Nobody. They did. They decided that the would carry themselves that way, and BAM, everyone notices them. 

So today, believe in yourself. Be brave. Because I am here to tell you it is worth it. I have never been happier in work and life. I make my own schedule, photograph families just how I want to, and get to teach other budding artists how to do the same. It's amazing. 

And you can too! Believe in yourself friend, because I believe in you! 

Hart | Seattle Family Photography

I may have gone a little overboard on how many images I am sharing from this session. Buuuut I was so excited about it I couldn't resist. :)

I have known this family a long time. Our kids go to the same school. When mama said she wanted to have photos done because A. their oldest is about to move to Germany for two years and B. They haven't had family photos done in 10 years!! I was super excited. 

We met on one of the longest days of the year. Which means we met at 8:00 pm as the sun was setting around 9:30! I had so much fun spending my evening with them. I know the parents may have thought they were being a little too rowdy but I thought they were perfection. 

Enjoy this gorgeous family! 

Why Does Everyone Hate The Word Pose | Family Photography Tips And Advice

Don't miss the free download at the end! 

With the gaining popularity of "lifestyle" and "documentary" family photography the word "pose" has gained a bad rap. 

One of the things I see photographers posting on social media all the time is "I just love the in-between moments." Or "I swoon over candid moments." 

You guys! Let me let you in on a little secret. Unless a photographer is a 100% documentary photographer. Meaning that they are coming into a home or location and standing back and doing zero guiding, almost all those amazing "candid" moments you see were orchestrated or "posed" by the photographer. 

Yup. True story. 

Take the image in this post for example. It looks unposed. It looks candid. But I literally made the entire moment happened. I told them where to sit. I told them what to do right down to where dad is looking. I guided the children. Everything. And there is no shame in that. My families trust me to make them into my art. They trust me to tell them what will look the best and yield the best photo. 

Posing and guiding is an art form. It is important that you know how to direct a session so that it yield the results you and your clients are expecting. 

I like to say that I guide my clients but really I pose them. Then I direct them to interact and that is where the moments come from. 

Heck, I will come in and move their heads how I want them. 

So don't believe the lies social media is telling you. Not many are showing up with their camera and simply getting lucky catching beautiful candid moments. They are gifted in making those moments happen. 

Posing is not a bad thing. In fact I proudly do it every time I photograph a family. 

Have a great week, friend! 
 

Baby Alex at Home | Seattle Newborn Photography

You may remember this little dude and his family from when I photographed his NICU session. :) Well I am happy to report that this little guy is healthy and strong and at home with his family. 

I had the absolute honor of capturing him for his in home newborn baby session here in Seattle. His family is very happy to have him home, especially his sweet big sister. 

We spent the morning exploring the light in their lovely home, snuggling, and talking about how wonderful it is to be home after a long haul in the NICU. 

I immediately connected with this family and was so honored to capture them during this season of their live. 

Enjoy. 

E Family | Seattle Family Photography

Oh how I adore my families. Seriously. I fall in love with all of them. 

This was my second time photographing this sweet family. We met at a mountain lake on a sunny spring evening. It was one of the first sunny days we have had around here in a long time. Seattle has had a very rainy winter and spring, even for us! 

We played in the woods, explored the lake, and even got our feet wet in the cool water. 

It was a wonderful evening spent with wonderful people. Oh, and of course their fur babies came along as well. They have the cutest little pups that always join us for photos. 

Enjoy this beautiful family and this gorgeous location.