sneak peek.

When Jessica and I talked about all of the things her little family liked to do, a picnic was mentioned several times.  One of their favorite places to go is the botanical gardens.  However, schedules didn't accomodate being able to visit the gardens.  Instead, I scouted out this lovely location for a late afternoon picnic.  The weather was perfect, the light was beautiful, and the blossoms were gorgeous eye candy.

What a perfect way to lounge away the afternoon...wile away the hours on blankets and pillows with sunshine and balloons.

We relaxed, jumped, ate, played in the grass, walked, chased balloons, kicked a soccer ball, and had a little pillow fight.

Love all around.

perfect. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Sarah Rhoads.***

NEXT WEEK: Rachel LaCour

{To nominate women you'd like to see in this series please list them in the comments-or if you have a question you'd like to see in the interviews--make sure to include your info in the comment fields so that I can get in touch with you- or write to me at: davina at davinafear dot com }

As always make sure to leave comments for the women who are featured. They like comments as much as I do I'm sure...let them know if you have questions or just to say thanks! for their insight and wisdom...

You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!

Sarah, You are such a beautifully free spirited, genuine, fun person.  I'm so grateful that I know you and have had the pleasure of conversation with you.  I'm amazed continually by your work, approach to life, and the way you are able to suprise me with your creative endeavors.  You go outside the invisible boundaries that seem to be laid by the industry and you talk frankly about a variety of topics. Thanks for being on Women and Business!

Are you in a retail studio space?  home studio space?  Why did you choose the space you did?

We work out of our home and we love it. Doing it this way really allows us to work when we need/want to and not have to commute someplace. It also makes us feel like all our hard drives/computers and gear are safer knowing they are at our home with us rather than some other studio location that is not monitored as much.

What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?

On a photo shoot I am never afraid to laugh at myself and be a goofball I think that is hugely helpful to encourage people to let their guards down. We run around, play, skip and act like little kids on the shoot and it gets people moving and laughing J

What do you recommend women do who are just getting started in the industry?

The biggest advice I can give is to be you. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself because everyone else is already taken.” If you don’t know who you are, discover it… explore those parts of you and learn to love yourself. Because if you don’t love yourself how can you expect anyone else to love you and your work? I would say to never settle for mediocrity and to always strive for excellence. You are guaranteed to stand out of the pack if you strive for what is excellent because most people are happy just settling for mediocre.

 You and your husband work together, what is the best thing about working together?  the worst?

Chris and I LOVE working together, being a husband and wife team isn’t for everyone but it really works for our Lifestyle Design. The best thing about working together is spending quality time and really knowing what your best friend and spouse is doing day in and day out… I LOVE that we can dream together and push each other onward. I LOVE that we can really celebrate one another and our success’ together. I would say the worst part about working together is trying to maintain a healthy work/life balance… since we are both so passionate about what we do it’s hard to know when to close the office door and turn off the “work convo” ;)

What do you do for fun…that has nothing to do with photography?

I love movies, ice cream, Broadway musicals and traveling. Chris and I always try to take at least one big trip a year to someplace we have wanted to go. This year we went to Thailand for 3 weeks.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

The risks I have taken to get to where I am and the courage it has taken to get there. – none of which I could have done without my amazing husband.

You have created one of the coolest blogs ever.  Where does your inspiration come from? 

I wish I could show everyone my desktop… it is filled with about 15 different inspiration folders. We are firm believers in pulling anything and everything that inspires us… ripping out of magazines and putting things aside. Whether it is a typeface that we enjoy… a color scheme that we like… photos that we dig… an AD that inspires. All of it we like to keep. I look to a lot of design blogs for inspiration; also there are a handful of lifestyle commercial photographers that we are really inspired by and we always like to keep good tunes rolling in the office throughout the day J

You have been widely published.  What have you done to make that happen?

There is no key to success and everyone’s story is different but if there have been three things that have gotten us to where they are it would be staying true to ourselves, striving for excellence and approaching things from a different angle.

When you do that you will eventually get noticed. Editors want to see excellent work so they will seek it out for content in their magazines, on their inspiration blog etc. Bottom line, don’t seek to get published…. Seek excellence in all you do.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We take trips together and enjoy life with one another. We go to movies in the middle of the day sometimes. We will take a walk together around our neighborhood… go grab tea down the street. It is the little things.

How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?

 We make time for friends and get together with people outside the photography industry. We take trips. We pray together and we try to always “over communicate” J

What is the best thing you’ve done to make your business successful?

We have been true to ourselves and created a brand that is honest and authentic to us. When there was something we really believed in and everyone told us we were crazy we trusted our gut instincts and went through with it despite what everyone said. You have to trust yourself and ignore everyone sometimes (most times). We differentiated ourselves in the market simply by being true to who we are, taking risks and striving for excellence. I would encourage every photographer to do the same. Remember, there is NOBODY just like you.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

Haha… still working on this one, owning your own business is a lot of work. We are required to wear a lot of hats, which is invigorating, and fun but can sometimes feel overwhelming. I am working on seeing one thing at a time rather than seeing EVERYTHING that needs to be done. I am working to find the joys in scratching one thing off my list no matter how small it may be J

What three products or things help you stay organized?

My iCal, iPhone and moleskin

 What is something that you think women in the industry should not do?

 I think everyone should have a clear WHY and not just a WHAT. We all have a WHAT, we are all photographers.  It’s the WHY that makes us unique. A “why” is a vision and a reason for doing what we do. Your “Why” should be clear and if this is truly your passion you will have a distinct reason for doing it. We meet far too many people who don’t have a clear WHY. Everyone has a WHAT (photography) but what makes you stand out and be unique is your  WHY. (If you care to read more about my why you can check out my post here, http://www.sarahrhoads.com/blog/2010/01/why-im-a-photographer.html)

What is something that you think women in the industry should do?

 Be true to yourself, take risks and seek out excellence in all you do.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?

Follow your bliss and you will never work another day in your life. I am a firm believer that each of us was created for something… each of us has unique gifts/talents and passions… follow after those with your whole heart. Living out your passion is the only life worth living. It may be a scary road to travel but it is the only way to live the “rich” life. Rich in spirit, soul, joy and passion!

To see more of Sarah's work:

Site: http://www.sarahrhoads.com

Blog: http://www.sarahrhoads.com/blog

***All images in this post are copyright Sarah Rhoads.***

sneak peek.

What a fun day!  We had hoped that we would have a lovely, sunny day...

Instead we stayed inside for the afternoon coloring pictures, playing with toys, a serious game of go-fish, cuddling with mom, and eating ice cream.  

It was a relaxing afternoon...just what the doctor ordered for everyone.  I loved seeing how much these sweet kids love their mom...they couldn't get enough of being with her.  

sweet. LIFE.

photo booth.

Ten days ago my kids, my husband, and I created a really fun photo booth for the Baxter Village Spring Fling.  I could never have pulled this off without them.  I'm so grateful for their help and the fun we had working together.  I love them...I'm lucky.

The Baxter Village Spring Fling is one of the premier events that happen in Baxter Village.  It's designed to have a small, hometown feel with booths lining both sides of downtown, a 5k in the morning, events through out the day, and bands playing through out the night.  

During the day families come out to the Spring Fling to have fun walking around and participating in activities.  We decided having a photo booth would be a great way to add to the fun for everyone attending...and it did!  yay!

So...here's a little peek at our day.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth and had a little fun!

fun. LIFE.

just do it.

I've tried complaining about the weather and all kinds of things...(see my post last week here).

I was lecturing my husband on losing weight after he made a trip to the doctor for a physical.  (He told me that the doctor had suggested that losing weight may help solve his snoring problem.)  I went on and on about how just eating a little less and getting out and walking for 20 minutes can change everything...and you will lose weight.

Yada. yada. yada...on and on I went.  And then I realized that I need to just listen to myself.  I was saying things to my husband like..."20 minutes out of your entire day is really not that much!" and other things like..."I mean who doesn't have 20 minutes to spare in their day?"  and  "Who can't walk in the rain for 20 minutes?"  It's not THAT bad. 

And that's when it finally sunk in...I've been giving myself all kinds of excuses about how I can't fit in 20 minutes.  When really...it's JUST 20 minutes!  For goodness sake!  I can do 20 minutes.  Whatever I think is so urgent will still be here in 20 minutes.

So I made a decision.  I ate less this week...and on smaller plates.  I left a little food and didn't take dessert a few times.  I started reminding myself that I really didn't want to feel as bad as I was going to feel if I ate that delicious homemade coldstone with reeces peanut butter cup in it........right?

And I do actually feel better.  I've only lost 1/2 a pound but it feels good to be the one calling the shots.

new. LIFE.