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Finding the beauty in your everyday life…

I had the opportunity last year, this time, to teach a workshop to a very sweet and talented group of girls in Texas. It wasn’t fancy or formal, I used my basic equipment to show them what can be done within a small beginning budget, how to gain experience and challenge yourself, and I even learned a trick or two from them! The best part of this workshop is continuing the friendship and mentorship with these ladies, being able to network and share and laugh and cry with them. True friends! This morning one of these sweet girls texted me asking me “what am I doing wrong, why do I offer great deals and still get hardly any business? Do I need to upgrade my editing software to make {it} look better?”

This is what I told her: “All I use is PS Elements(!!) :) you can fool yourself into thinking you need better equipment, but you don’t (right away). I tell myself all the time I need a better this or that. But it’s not always true. (For the first few years of my career I shot with a Nikon D40x. A simple, basic, semi pro camera. Yes, I shot everything from newborns to weddings with this small camera. You have to continue to practice and grow, learn your basic software and camera like the back of your hand before moving on to something more advanced and fancy!) Look into taking another workshop, class, or mentorship by a photog you like that offers online or personal mentoring! Some people have a natural talent that blossoms into a successful business overnight, they might just happen to be in the right place at the right time or go to school for it for a long time. Some people are artistic (like you and me) but have to work very hard at improving their business skills. You will get there and it might take a long time. Never give up on what you love and don’t try to force it either. When you get down, maybe try to focus on personal photography like the place you live, your family, everyday story telling. Gain experience and find the beauty through your own daily life. See the beauty in what surrounds you. Take the business slow. Let clients come to you. Continue to offer inexpensive shoots to build your portfolio, because it takes time! But know that you don’t have to stay there very long. You can do it! :) what you don’t want to do is burn yourself out by constantly trying to overachieve your own goals, or doing shoots for next to nothing. Be realistic about how much you should charge and how much you can do as a mom and with a full time job outside of photography. Focus on what’s around you! Take pictures around town, submit them to the local paper, shoot shoot shoot and expect failure. That way when you nail something, it’s a surprise! Remember you didn’t go to school for this, and you are still learning. It’s a cruel and unrealistic goal to think you can make good money in this line of work overnight, it’s art! It has to please the eye of the buyer, be appreciated. Pretend you’re the buyer and just love what you do, constantly challenging yourself to learn new things. I know you will get there my dear, I wouldn’t encourage you to keep working at it if I didn’t think you had an audience that will seek you out.”

Every photographer has a unique approach, for me, I use simple photo editing software, a simple camera, but I have learned how to use them properly, and creatively (through a lot of trial and error) My style has changed over the past few years, my eye and knowledge has grown. As your business grows, and you can afford to upgrade, that’s wonderful! But having the best equipment doesn’t make you a great photographer. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My art isn’t appreciated by everyone I know, and thats ok. I put my heart into it, and that’s what makes it my own, and I love doing it. xoxo to all young beginning photographers! I was once there too :)

here are some simple iphone photos of my family, my beauty in everyday life.

{follow me on instagram @sycamoremomma}

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May 10, 2013 - 3:08 pm

Jena - LOVE this <3 and love you! I am so thankful to have become friends with you.

Henry ~ born at home

Henry’s birth story was probably one of my favorites to shoot. ever. I was super excited to document this home birth and his daddy called me on this particular morning just beaming through the phone. Jen gave birth early that morning and they decided to keep it calm and quiet with only the midwife and doula there. Even though I missed the actual first breath, I was there to capture all of his little firsts, this time is so special to a momma who is so tired and overjoyed with a healthy baby.

Moments like these are so precious and unique! Thank you Jen and Mark for asking me to be here to capture this! xoxo

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a jazzy new york girl ~ Lola Senior 2013

Theres pretty much nothing i love more than a girl with freckles. i LOVE them. the more the better, and this girl GOTS em! She was the sweetest cutest little lovely, who traveled all the way from Rochester New York to let me take her senior pics. This gal loves to sing, and with that inspiration, we thought up a fun jazzy session where she belted some blues and found her soul notes in the country of colorado. Her name is Laura, but goes by Lola, so here she is… with a little love from Ella Fitzgerald to sing along with.

“Forgive me if I don’t have all the words. Maybe I can sing it and you’ll understand.” – Ella Fitzgerald

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February 11, 2013 - 10:09 am

Sally Owens - soooo fun!!! love the audio as i perused the shoot… can’t get enough of this girls freckles! she is adorable. would have loved to have been a mouse in this field when you were taking this one. squeak!

a delicate summer wedding in the mountains

This darling little wedding was such a simple and elegant one. The bride had her children escort her up the pathway under the trees where she met her groom in front of the majesty of green mountians and beautiful blue sky. I loved all the vintage aspects this bride incorporated, from her dress to reception venue, every touch was perfect. It was a most lovely day.

the brides kiddos (cutest things ever) were running around barefoot that morning and so grandma washed their feet all up.

 

Hair by Jessica - Double Dutch Hair Studio

Makeup by Maria – Wonderfully Made Makeup and Artistry

Dress – Little White Dress Bridal Shop, Designer – Claire Pettibone

Shoes – Hot Kiss

Flowers – Boulder Blooms

Ceremony Location – Lily Lake Trail Head, Estes Park CO

Venue – Bristlecone Inn

Catering – Jubilations Catering

Cake – Indulge Bakery

 

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February 3, 2013 - 8:44 pm

Sally Owens - This is so pretty, Kadi! Your work… The wedding style… The backdrop!! Especially loved the image of the daughter watching her mommy put on her wedding dress. Lovely lovely!!

Mark and Mary ~ {oh} the journeys we’ll have

This session was super fun to plan and prop for. I had this idea for awhile now, and when i met Mary, i knew that it was just meant to be. She and Mark are both world travelers. Alone, apart, and now together. I once envisioned a life of travel for myself, and even managed to get overseas once… i love to live vicariously though adventure seekers such as these! Based on their love of travel, the spot i chose was downtown denver, at the old union station. Usually a bustling building full of passengers, it is now under construction and quite empty and closed off as they rebuild the old tunnel. I got there a tad early, and convinced the cleaning crew to prop a door open for us, since the rest was all locked up. Then we snuck in for an hour or so and had a marvelous time in old benches and glorious streaming sunlight. Mary is such a rockstar. Her boots were so catwalk diva. I loved the dynamic of these two lovebirds, Marks humble spirit so adoring of her… Marys glamorous adventure thrilling spirit calling to him. I hope they can always pack up their suitcases and journey across the seas together, so in love as this day.

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January 3, 2013 - 6:28 am

Christina Block - Loveliness!

February 26, 2013 - 7:55 pm

Alisamarie - Oh I love this! How adorable. Totally love that map blanket! So so cute.