Senior Rep Squad 2019 {Going Retro}
"Photographing attractive people who were doing attractive things in attractive places." - Slim Aarons summarizing his photographic career.
I love challenging myself to breathe, relax, and know that inspiration for my Senior Rep shoots will come across at the right time, but sometimes it's so scary wondering how in the world are we going to top last year when we have so much fun!? Well, Slim didn't disappoint. I knew the minute I came across Poolside Gossip I wanted to do a Palm Springs, poolside styled shoot. I've always had a little obsession with vintage pieces, and the old style from the late 60's and early 70's and I was so pumped when I finally had the opportunity to seek out those iconic finds!
I knew what I wanted the location to look like, but knew that being in North Louisiana, it was going to be kind of tough to find that exact look somewhat close. WRONG. I think God has such a sense of humor... somehow a free weekend in May led to me and my assistant heading five hours north to Mountain Home, AR to watch two of our Senior Reps from 2018 play ball, and what happened? We found this gem, which couldn't have been more perfect! So thankful for Tim and the crew at River Rock Hotel for hosting us and allowing us to take over a room and soak up the sun by their pool!
Imagine driving a fifteen-passenger van through the mountains all night to start hair and makeup and shooting early morning! Yep... a five hour drive in my SUV turned into an 8 hour drive with some crazy seniors in a van #wafflehousepitstop LOL!!
So, as these last days of heat and "summer" finish up down here in the south, take a moment to go back in time and relive your teens/twenties or imagine how life must've been for all our parents ;)
Have to give a huge shoutout to some amazing boutiques and stores for their totally rad pieces! From mumus, crop tops, and shoes to some FAB dresses, I was so excited to shop local and score these finds! Check them out! South Main Creative in Little Rock, Bullets & Butterflies Vintage Booth at Kings Antiques & More, The Antique Marketplace, and our very own Clutterbug and Main St Thrift in Springhill! And lawdy, these looks wouldn't be what they are without mama's amazing jewelry collection she still had ;)
I couldn't do what I do with these seniors without the amazing talent of Callie Coe at Salon One Twenty. This is our third year teaming up for my Senior Rep Group and I can't wait to show y'all what we have in store for Halloween!! Oh em gee, you're going to be so blown away! Y'all make sure to follow her on Facebook to see all the magic she works with hair and makeup!
The Joy and Fear of Loving Your Job {North Louisiana Photographer}
“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” - Abraham Maslow
Heads up, I might ramble a bit, so I apologize in advance, but when you finish I hope you see why I’m being so detailed and open with you guys :) Don't have time to read my babbling? New things are in bold!
I don’t even know where to start! Changes are being made all throughout my business, starting with the minute detail of my social media watermark! It’s been two and a half years now since I’ve started this amazing journey, with the past year being all in, full-time, make it or break it self-employed!! Time has flown by! And with it comes the fun of assessing where things stand. Ah the joys of being a small business owner ;) LOL! I’m a creative, I don’t want to think about that, I just want to take gorgeous images! But, reality is, I gotta. And that’s ok :) And the scarier part was that I was beginning to feel like I was going downhill. It scared the living poop out of me! I was beginning to feel like I was losing the connection with my clients. I got to where we message, shoot, email a gallery link, they get digitals, and then I hope I made enough of a goofy impact for them to message me for the next time.
Not ok. Maybe for some, but not for me. So I had to do something, and something big. Next week will mark one year that I have been at my studio on Main Street. Some of you might not know that I even had a studio! That’s ridiculous! How have I not been taking advantage of this amazing space and sharing it with ALL my clients, not just some when it rains or to do a quick meet up?? I have been missing out on the relationships built by face to face contact. And that’s where my main change is happening! I’m so excited to announce that I am officially transitioning into a full-service photography studio! Starting with a consult (either in studio or by phone), we will have the opportunity to discuss your session goals, what you hope for in the end product, and build your custom quote! The best part is that you will be able to schedule an in studio order session between one week and two weeks following your session instead of waiting up to, lordy I hate to admit, up to four weeks for an online gallery! Talk about a better turn around!
Some of my clients may have noticed I’ve been moving towards a more print based business, and this will definitely strengthen that. I know some may think I’m just trying to make a sale; maybe in some ways, I’m not going to deny it. I have to earn a living. (I have bills to pay, too LOL) But it’s not about the money with prints. With prints, that’s what I care about, and that’s what I want my clients to see. You get to walk by that family portrait every day; you get to relive hearing your son play his trumpet every time you see that image of him, even though he may be four hours away at college now; your grandkids will be able to laugh and cry as they go through all your old albums years from now. It kills my soul for clients to spend good-earned money on a session and then just leave the images up in their online galleries or in a folder on their desktop. I want to make sure the quality you get from time with me continues on through the canvases, albums, and prints you have framed in your home and office. I want to know that they have the highest quality of color and crispness to last for years. The best thing? Getting to hand deliver these products to my clients and see the joy on their faces when they see them in person! Seriously might be better than the session itself :D
With this, yes, my prices will change a bit, and I understand I risk clients leaving me because there’s always someone who will do it cheaper or even free! When I first started, I wanted to make sure to make everyone happy and be the one that no one had to worry about getting pictures based on price, but after two and a half years of busting my booty 12+ hours a day 7 days a week, lugging my laptop to edit while I hung out with friends, and never setting aside time just for my hubby (thank the Lord he never threw my phone in the toilet for constantly answering fb messages), only to end up making minimum wage and burning myself out on something I loved? I knew I had to make some changes!
The sad thing is that I freaking love my job, y’all!! So it was really hard to step back and realize something I loved so much was stressing me to no end. I’m beyond blessed that God gave me a way to share something I love so much with others, and I want to try my absolute hardest to keep from getting burned out by never stopping and enjoying the reasons we want to photograph our lives anyway!
Some might not like this, but after a LOT of sessions, editing, researching, and drooling over other’s work, I’ve decided instead of trying to be ok at everything, I’d rather focus my energy and try to be great at something! I relish my seniors, and I am choosing to dedicate myself more in this direction and finding more ways to make their sessions unique. I am still obsessed with my cake smashes, so no fear that those and family sessions will go away. And weddings are still moments I can’t express how beautiful it is to be a part of, so I will continue to build those relationships with brides and their future husbands! I will be referring out some amazing women for newborn sessions, as there are some that are just born baby whispers ;) Travel is one of my favorite things to do, so remember there’s no location too far!
I love you guys, and I'm so excited about taking this new leap into being able to give you full service from the moment we start talking to hanging your portraits in your home! Thank y'all for being so supportive! Keep your eyes out for updates to the website and studio {231 N Main St, Springhill, LA}
To The Class of 2016... "Oh The Places You'll Go" ~ Louisiana Senior Photographer
Might get a little emotional writing this, so I reached out to the best graduation gift I got (Yes, way back in 2003!!) for the words... So, mama, thank you for giving me the coolest gift ~ Dr. Seuss :)
Might get a little emotional writing this, so I reached out to the best graduation gift I got (Yes, way back in 2003!!) for the words... So, mama, thank you for giving me the coolest gift ~ Dr. Seuss :)
Class of 2016 Senior Reps ~ DeLishia Shoals, Bailee Audirsch, Fantasia Lewis, Hannah White, Presley Shirey & Jordan Duran
“Congratulations! Today is your day!
You’re off to great places,
You’re off and away!”
Korie Fuller ~ North Webster High School
“You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own, and you know what you know, You are that guy who’ll decide where to go.”
“You’ll look up and down streets, look them over with care; And some you will say I don’t choose to go there.
With your brains in your head and your shoes on your feet, you’re too smart to go down any not so good street.
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down; in that case of course, you’ll head straight out of town.”
Bailee Audirsch ~ North Webster High School
“It’s opener there than the wide open air; other things can happen and frequently do, to people as brainy and footsie as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew.
You’ll go right along, you’ll start happening, too.”
Daniel Lewis ~ North Webster High School
“Oh the places you’ll go!
You’ll be on your way up, You’ll be seeing great sights.
You’ll join the high flyers who fly to high heights.
You won’t lag behind cause you’ll have the speed,
You’ll pass the whole gang soon, you’ll take the lead.
Wherever you’ll fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you’ll go, you’ll top all the rest.”
Taylor Johnson ~ Minden High School
“Mmm, except when you don’t, because sometimes you won’t.
I’m sorry to say, but sometimes it’s true. Bang ups and hang ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickly perch, your gang will fly on and you’ll be left in a lurch.
You’ll come down from the lurch with an unpleasant bump, and chances are then you’ll be in a slump.
And when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun.
Unslumping yourself is not easily done.”
“You’ll come to a place where the streets are not marked, some windows are lighted, but mostly are dark.
A place you could sprain both your elbow & chin, do you dare to stay out? do you dare to go in?
how much can you lose? how much can you win?
And if you go in, should you turn left or right?
Or right and three quarters? Or maybe not quiet?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple, it’s not I’m afraid, you’ll find for a mind maker upper to make up his mind.”
Lauren LaBLue ~ North Webster High School
“You can get so confused you’ll start to race down long wiggled roads at a break necking pace.
And grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
Headed up here for the most useless place.
The waiting place...
For people are just waiting, waiting for a train to go,
or a bus to come or a plane to go,
or the mail to come or the rain to go,
or a phone to ring or the snow to snow,
or waiting around for a yes or a no,
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for a fish to bite, waiting for wind to fly a kite,
or waiting around for a friday night,
or waiting perhaps for their uncle jake, or a pot to boil or a better break,
or a string of pearls or a pair of pants, or a wig of curls or another chance, everyone is just waiting.”
“No, that’s not for you. Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places the boom bands are playing,
with a banner flip flapping, once more you’ll ride high. Ready for anything under the sky, ready because you’re that kind of guy.
Oh, the places you’ll go... there’s fun to be done.
There’s points to be scored, there’s games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball, will make you the winning-est winner of all!”
“Fame! You’ll be famous, as famous can be…
With the whole wide world watching you win on TV.
Except when they don’t, because sometimes they won’t.
I’m afraid sometimes you’ll play lonely games, too.
Games you can’t win because you’ll play against you.”
“All alone, whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quiet a lot
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance,
You’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants!”
“There are some down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you don’t want to go on.
But on you will go, though the weather be foul,
On you will go though your enemies prowl!
On you will go though the hacking cracks howl,
Onward up many a frightening creek,
Though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.
Oh, on and on you will hike, and I know you’ll hike far;
And face up to your problems whatever they are.”
“You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So, be sure when you step, step with care and great tact.
And remember that life is a great balancing act.”
Faith Phillips ~ Emerson High School
Lucas Moreno ~ Byrd High School
“Just never forget to be dexterous and deft,
and never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed!
Ninety-eight and three quarters percent, guaranteed!
Kid, you’ll move mountains!”
“You’re off to great places
Today is your day
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”
Hannah White ~ Claiborne Academy
To all of my seniors, I love y'all so much!
This year has been awesome... please, let's keep in touch!
**Copyright information**
All quotes came from my personal copy of "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. purchased and given to me as a graduation gift ~ Using this blog as a way to congratulate each of my senior clients as a whole, I passed on what was given to me. Please note, I am not taking credit for any of these previously stated quotes, all quoted material is owned by the creators mentioned above. Quoting this storybook was done under 17 U.S.C. § 107 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17 U.S.C. § 106 and 17 U.S.C § 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in an particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include: the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; the nature of the copyrighted work; the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.[1]