Getting Started Pt 2

Being a traveling wedding photographer is the dream job, at least for me. When I tell people about my job, I get a wide variety of responses. Here are a few:

“Oh, I bet that pays well!”

“That’s a great job for a mom!”

“Oh, right. I guess every photographer has to pay their dues doing weddings for a while.”

“So people actually pay you to travel just to take pictures for their weddings?”

Each of these responses has some truth to it, and each is also WAY off. Yes, I charge in the “middle to upper” range for wedding photography. In the interest of you learning from this post, I will be very transparent: My profits are MINIMAL. I put most of my profits back into the company, to help with marketing, maintenance, website costs, classes, equipment, insurance, and a heavy ETCETERA. This makes said profits…well, not profits. Ha. Getting the dream client can be expensive. It doesn’t have to be, but marketing (the expensive kind) sure does help, of course along with good customer reviews (more on that another time). People do pay a premium price for premium service. Providing fantastic service requires a GREAT deal of time and sacrifice…and money. That’s just a fact.

Is it a great job for a mom? Yes and no. It’s great in the sense that during the week, I am home with my babies. Usually that sentence is followed by “So, I don’t miss any big moments,” but you know what? That’s not true. I miss a lot of moments because I’m trying to be a full-time SAHM and a full-time business owner. I’m often distracted from my littles (working on that), because weddings and brides and making sure my brides know how much I care is a big freaking deal. Are my babies more important? DUH. But that often gets lost in the day-to-day struggle of balance. Shall I write a separate blog post about mom balance? I think I will!

One fantastic thing I’ve been able to do in the last year is offer complimentary travel fees to most of my brides. How in the world can I do that? Yep, less profits. It’s kind of built into my price, kind of not. Basically, in 2016 I raised my prices (something every photographer should do every year or so) but instead of keeping the profits, I put it all toward a “travel budget” so that my brides would know exactly what they were paying as soon as they received my packages list—no added fees. Yay! It’s been a huge help to my strategy of marketing myself as a traveling photographer. It’s a win/win. I get to travel—WIN. My bride tells all her friends that her photographer traveled for free—WIN. Happy client, fantastic reviews. WIN/WIN.

Let me be very clear about one thing: I am in no way “paying dues” by shooting weddings! In my mind, though others may look at my job and cringe, I have arrived. And I don’t mean that to brag in any way, but just to express how much I absolutely adore what I get to do. Two of my greatest passions, travel and photography (and design makes three!), are merged into an addiction which I get paid to have! I know there are a lot of photographers out there who hate weddings and “pay their dues” just until they can earn a living off of portraits, and more power to ya! But my happy place is right here in the hustle and bustle of the wedding day and the days leading up to it. I find a rush in the “backstage passes” I get to these insane celebrations of love and mushy souls and happy tears. In the weeks and sometimes months in between my gigs, I dream of moments I may capture or new poses I could try; I read wedding blogs and try to predict upcoming wedding trends. THIS is the dream job. And if it sounds like your dream job too, well then I hope you keep coming back here to read more :)

Getting Started Pt 1

I often get texts or emails from photographers who are just starting their businesses, asking similar questions, so I just decided to write a few posts about it all! The first most common question I’m asked is, “What’s the best way to get my name out there?” 

Of course, this depends heavily on what type of photography business you plan on running. As a wedding photographer, I’ve found it helpful to advertise on The Knot when breaking into a new city. It’s definitely on the expensive side, but if you book only one wedding from your listing, you’ve most likely broken even already. I also had fantastic success at my local bridal fair. In fact, the year that I hosted a booth at the PBBA Midland Bridal Expo, I booked my full year of weddings in the first 3 weeks of January! I know lots of portrait photographers who visit high schools, mom groups, or offer tutorials for moms or seniors to get their foot in the door. In whichever way you choose to get out there, I’ve found it’s so important to have 3 main things online:

1. A strong and accessible portfolio.

    Website building doesn’t have to be expensive. Sites like Squarespace have super-simple DIY templates and how-to videos to guide you through the process. Just be sure that your entire site is well-organized, user-friendly, and works on all sorts of devices (especially phones and tablets!). Also be sure that photo files are small (so they will load quickly) and saved in SRGB color space!

      2. A personable Bio, with simple contact info.

    I think the key here is to stand out, without being too wordy. Think about asking someone close to you to describe you and your personality. And don’t forget a simple way to contact you, directly from the page!

       3. An easy-to-understand, and desirable product.

    Anyone should be able to look at your site/IG page for 3 seconds and immediately understand what you shoot, where you’re located, and what your style is. If there is any confusion at all, it’s hasta la vista. Remember, new eyes have no context for who you are or what you do, so be sure to keep it SIMPLE.

As one last note, with all of this online talk, don’t forget to physically get out there as well. Visit bridal shops in your area, get connected with other creatives, etc. One great way to do that is to join your local Rising Tide Society, or attend a workshop (I offer several every now and then!) where other creative geniuses such as yourself will be present. Be generous and kind, and friendships with mutual business benefits will blossom. And once the ball gets rolling, word of mouth will be your best friend! Promise!

Best Honeymoons for Couples Who Love Each Other

Today I’m obsessing over the HONEYMOON!! Ya know, the only reason our grooms put up with all the stress and froufrou-ness of a wedding (No, it’s not because they love us; it’s because we promise them a lavish vacation after it’s all over). Anyone who knows me knows that I am addicted to travel almost as much as I’m addicted to shooting weddings. I have a running tab on my computer of fantastic vacations, and the destinations range all over THE WORLD. I’m just listing a few today that I think should be in the running for Best of the Best in 2016. I hope you get as excited as I do looking through these! For photos and more info and ideas, visit my Honeymoon Pinterest Board!

With joy, Lizard.

1. The Faroe Islands

This is at the TOP of my bucket list once my babies are both old enough to travel this far with the hubsy and I. Grass roofs, Viking descendants, and tons of bike-able untouched earth and beachside cliffs makes this a MUST for me someday. It’s also extremely quiet and secluded, which would make it a FANTASTIC honeymoon destination for an adventurous couple. Hmm...on second thought, I may ditch the kids for this one ;)

2. The Palmer House in Chicago

Save some money on airfare and use it toward some amazing rooms at the Palmer in Chicago, IL. I stayed here last year and had a blast. If you go, be sure to take the tour—it is WAY more interesting than you ever would’ve imagined. There’s also tons to do outside of the Palmer—Chicago is full of activities, independent coffee shops, and some pretty rad architecture. Bundle up if you go near wintertime, or enjoy perfect weather in the summer!

3. Marfa, TX

Out of the box and absolutely wonderful. This is the perfect “hipster” destination for a honeymoon, especially if you love photography. This random little town is surprisingly artistic and has plenty to do (Hiking!) — you can even stay in a teepee if you wish!

4. Finland

Not your typical honeymoon destination, which in my opinion makes it PERFECT. Finland is absolutely breathtaking if you love the outdoors and/or some really cool interior design and architecture. It also has SO much to do—you name it, you can probably do it in Finland. Shopping, tours, swimming, hiking, Finland has it all. Ever heard of the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort? Check it out (Don't worry, I don't think you have to be able to pronounce the name to stay there!)

5. Holland

Finnish people don’t slap me, but I’d say Holland is pretty similar to Finland, and is also on my for-sure bucket list of places to go! I especially need to find a giant white windmill in a field of tulips, because that’s automatically what I think of when I think of Holland. After all, Keukenhof is called the garden of Europe. Sounds like somewhere I need to see.

A Bowtie That'll Knock Your Socks Off

So this is basically the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I am totally obsessed with this copper wire bowtie that I made for my styled shoot during my Telos Workshop for professional photographers. You don’t have to love them but…you should. I’m a sucker for anything unique, and although I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of this, I hadn’t seen this done before and I was so excited to try it out! Now if I could only get the hubby to get on board and start sporting them around town (hint hint).

Supplies:

Copper wire

Wire cutters

Hot glue (optional)

Two safety pins

Step 1:

(Before beginning, understand that the more layers you do, the more “finished” the bow tie will look. You can add as many layers as you want or keep the design very skeletal and only do one or a few layers. For this project, I did just 5 layers.) Cut 10 pieces of copper wire approximately 9 inches in length. Set remaining spool of wire to the side (you will need more later.)

Step 2:

Using your fingers as anchor points, form your first triangle half-bow thingy (very technical term) and don’t quite bring the ends to a point, but instead leave some room at the end to wrap together. Try to keep them all close to the same, but a little variation in shape and size adds dimension, so feel free to play with the template a bit. Repeat this step with all 10 pieces of wire.

Step 3:

Connect all 10 pieces in the middle by wrapping the ends around each other (Try to keep any sharp ends pointing inward. If needed, VERY lightly dot with hot glue to soften, or file down). Stabilize the pieces by cutting one more piece of wire from your spool and wrapping around the center—as many times as it takes to stabilize the bow. (Fabric would also be a cool choice to add on top of the wire).

Step 4:

This could also EASILY be done with fabric, which would look much nicer. My version is pretty crude, but it got the job done. Cut one more long piece of wire to loop around the center. This will stabilize the bowtie and keep it centered on the collar. Safety pin these loops to the shirt and you’re done!  This could definitely be done in a more polished manner, but it keeps my supply list short and it’s so easy!

Step 5:

Be obsessed. Because this is the coolest EVER.

With joy, Lizard.

Jacy the Bride

I am SO excited to share these bridal photos with yall today! They have been top secret since December, and I’ve just been busting at the seams to post everywhere. This lovely lady got hitched Saturday in Midland, TX and I was so honored to capture the big day. Congratulations, Jacy and Blace!! Enjoy your honeymoon, and I can’t wait to share your wedding photos with you! Link to the full engagement and bridal gallery HERE.

With joy, Lizard.

A Look Back

2015 was a BIG year for me, both professionally and personally.

In September, Derek and I decided it was time to start trying for another baby. With our crazy amounts of stress between 2 jobs and a toddler, plus housewife duties, honey-do lists, and just plain life, I was sure it would take me a while to get pregnant; Stress-free is not how I would describe myself lately. Well, surprise, God gave us another child just a few weeks after we decided we wanted one! I feel so blessed to have had 2 relatively wonderful pregnancies so far, and only had to cancel one wedding (still a bummer, but I was able to do it just before the contract was signed, and gave her almost 10 months to find another photographer). Call us crazy, but we’ve decided not to find out the gender so in just 5 months, we’ll be getting another life-altering surprise and I can’t wait!

I decided to take on 12 weddings this year, and before January was even over, I had ended up booking 16 (plus all the engagement and bridal sessions that go along with weddings). I hosted a workshop for professional photographers in Oklahoma—an all-inclusive 3 day retreat with a styled shoot at the end. The year was crazy, hectic, hard, and FAN-flipping-TASTIC. I traveled all over Texas, Oklahoma, LONDON, Mexico, Phoenix, Chicago, and loved absolutely every minute, trying my best to push away any mommy guilt of leaving my (very independent) toddler with her daddy. Derek, of course, never punishes me for doing what I love, and I’m a lucky girl to have so much support. The people I met along the way, the photos I took, the projects I’ve started (and have yet to complete) continue to inspire me and remind me to keep traveling and keep setting ridiculous goals.

I have so many photos to share from the year, but for now, I’ll just post a few of my favorite memories. Here’s to another great year in 2016!!

With joy, Lizard.

Fresh Year, Fresh Start

I have hopped on the “tidying up train” … Or perhaps I’m just nesting. Either way, I’m excited for another fresh start! I’ve been so blessed in my business in the last couple of years, and this has allowed me (*cough* FORCED me) to begin saying “No” to some things that tend to pull me away from my (much too specific) career goals. One of my biggest time munchers in 2015(besides laundry) was managing my SEO for my wordpress blog. It seemed like every time I gained some ground with Google, the silly thing would break and I’d have to re-design everything immediately. A very long, painful, story short, I don’t have time for that headache anymore and so I’m starting with a clean slate on this blog. Simplifying. Tidying Up. OK, nesting. I can’t think of a better way to kick of this blog than to reveal my photos from my first TELOS workshop’s styled shoot.

This was definitely my most favorite styled shoot that I’ve done, and of course I couldn’t have pulled it off without a few people. Alex and Olivia, my supermodels, THANK YOU! Thank you for getting up at a horrid hour to prepare for a sunrise shoot after driving all night into the very edge of the Oklahoma woods! An equally huge thank you goes to Amy McCord of Flower Moxie for creating the most jaw-dropping bridal bouquet I’ve ever seen in my life. I gave her complete creative freedom and she did not disappoint. Lastly, thank you to former Bachelorette star, and current newlywed Desiree Hartsock for understanding my vision and publishing my photos on her blog. Someone should warn her, I feel like we’re friends now and shall henceforth refer to her as Des, my bff.

This workshop and styled shoot has been in the works for the better part of two years, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how everything turned out. Inspired from paintings by Daniel F. Gerhartz, I wanted to use colors found easily in nature to create a breezy, ethereal vibe. After deciding on hues of pale blue, green, ivory, and copper, I found THE dress by Milamira bridal. In the last few years, the wedding industry has seen a growing appreciation for a unique wedding gown, and brides are becoming more and more bold in their style choices (which is FANTASTIC news for photographers and stylists!).This shoot was set in the untouched woods of Watson, OK during my Telos Workshop. I themed it as “I’m the Lucky One:” A morning brunch wedding, which felt light and whimsical.  This photoshoot was, in a strange way, artistically therapeutic for me—Since I hosted the workshop and styled the shoot alone, I had complete creative control. Anyone who knows me knows how out-of-hand that could have potentially been (wink), but I managed to stick to my color scheme and really pull at my interior design roots to make decisions and stick to them. It was incredible. I used pennies to really get the copper accent to come across, and the theme “I’m the Lucky One,” just really seemed to work on multiple levels for me.

We began shooting at sunrise to really set off those hues of blue and copper. After an early-morning drizzle, we moved inside to a gorgeous Cedar-planked wall to shoot the tablescape, dripping with local moss and “lucky” pennies. The table was set with several goodies from sister companies Anthropologie and BHLDN, and the shoot was complemented by custom invitations with genuine copper leaf by Pearly Gates Designs. The whole workshop and styled shoot was a huge success, and we couldn’t have asked for better lighting, decor, or models! I can only hope this shoot has made you drool and feel inspired and excited to get married, to style a shoot, or just to get outside and explore!

With joy, Lizard.

(vendor credits below)

Venue: River’s Edge Cottages

Invitations: Carrie Hawkins of Pearly Gates Designs

Olivia’s Dress: Milamira Bridal

Alex’s attire: H&M

Alex’s Wire Bow Tie: Handmade and I’ll have a tutorial up soon!

Olivia’s Hair: Also DIY and tutorial coming soon—it was SO easy!

Bouquet: Amy McCord of Flower Moxie

Table and Décor: Anthropologie/BHLDN

PS-Behind the scenes GIANT thank you’s go to my workshop attendees who made this whole thing even work, Emily Hullet who catered all of our meals, and my hubsy extraordinaire, Derek, who took care of our daughter and helped me with tons of little details for the shoot! I live my dream every day because of him <3