*See the WINNER of Contest #2 in the post below this one*

it's here!

The get your LIFE back kit is for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with their life and a bit paralyzed by how much needs to be done.  With an easy read to format, lists that will get you excited about taking your life back, and a customized 10 step program just for you, the get your LIFE back kit will help you to begin to balance the demands you face as well as help you to LOVE LIFE again.

This kit is my most personal kit to date.  I share how I got started as a photographer, the crazy and overwhelming time I went through, and the rise from those drowning days.

If you got into your profession because you loved your art, craft, or skill and now wonder if it's really worth it...there is a way a way to live a sweet, beautiful life without fear again.

Why?

The majority of the women who attend the workshops that we teach come to the workshop feeling completely overwhelmed.  They feel torn between being a mom and being a business woman, loving both but feeling that both are always being sacrificed in some way.  They want to put their heart into being a mom and they also want to put their heart into being a photographer and/or business woman.  When they get to the workshop, they don't know what the first step is or how to climb out of the downward spiral that feel like they're in.  They're coming to find a way to live their life again without feeling like they are going to drown amidst all of the things they are supposed to be juggling.

By the time they leave the workshop they are rejuvenated, they have direction, and many of them write to me saying how freeing it was to hear about how to get their life back, that they are working their personal 10 step list, and that they are finally living the life they were hoping they would live.

That is the experience I'm hoping to bring you in this kit.

What is in the kit?

My story: from start up...to so crazy busy I wanted to throw in the towel...to having a life again

As assessment questionnaire to help you see where you are

A 10 step process to help you take the information in the kit and transform it in your everyday life

A list of simple straight forward ideas on how to make the changes you want...and more.

It's time to get your LIFE back.

*THE FIRST 10 people to purchase a kit will receive a free gift that will be shipped after the holiday weekend.*

$99.

so many heroic women.

I knew when I decided to do this particular contest that it would be a very difficult decision for me to make about who should win.  I can't imagine going through what some of these strong, tender, caring, gracious, and giving women have been through.  For some of them, life hangs in the balance every day and for others they know all too intimately the value of the life that surrounds them.

Thank you all for your nominations.  The beauty and struggle of each of them is not unnoticed and I wish there were a way for me to give this gift to all the women that were nominated. Thank you for sharing with me the love and heartfelt words about the women that are in your life.

I was tempted to have all of you vote for the person that should win but couldn't do that.  I have no idea how any of you would be able to measure one of these women against another...I wanted you to vote so that I wouldn't have to choose.  And then I decided I couldn't do that to you or to these sweet women.

And so...I've been sitting and wondering who to give this gift.

...and a long time later...I still haven't published this post...

I decided to narrow the nominations to 4 women.  After going back and forth, I decided to put the four women in a hat and choose.

The winner is:

Jana Kofford.

I would like to nominate my friend Jana Kofford. Jana tragically lost her four year old son Cooper this summer, something that as a mother I cannot imagine experiencing. While going through the many difficulties that attended the tragedy of her son's death, Jana has been a beacon of hope, thoughtfulness and strength. Jana is a brilliant business owner, a thoughtful friend, a loving wife and a fantastic mother of six! If anyone needs a night of pampering it is Jana Kofford and her sweetheart Quinn.

Ashley, please send me an email at davina at davinafear dot com so that we can let Jana know she's won.

The other 3 women:

Rachael Schirano.

I nominate my beautiful wife Rachael Schirano who day in and day out, sacrifices her personal needs and sanity to ensure that our family of six (including teenage daughter and 2 yr old triplets) is happy and healthy. If that isn't enough, she has battled several large obstacles in pursuing her passion for photography, and I feel that she could use a little light at the end of the tunnel for all that she does for us.

Nancy.

I'd like to nominate my sister, Nancy. She has given of herself for a year and a half to take care of her daughter with leukemia, as well as be there for our dad who recently died of cancer. She has rarely had time for herself or alone time with her husband since this all began.

Ginger Coates.

I nominate my wife, Ginger Coates.  She has been working full-time as well as helping to care for my daughter (her step-daughter), Melinda that has the begining stages of MS.  In her spare time she has been volunteering her time at her church's girls group so we can spend more time with Melinda that has kept her very busy that she needs a break. 

To those who nominated the above  three women, please send me their mailing address.  I would like to send them a little something.

I've also decided to send a kit to Marta as a gift because of this nomination:

Marta.

I am nominating Marta, a woman I don't even know. She responded to my blog and this really tugged at my heart. These two sentences say it all:
"I recently started doing photography for experience and extra money, but it took off faster than I was prepared for. I was soon pulling all nighters (once I stayed up over 38 hours, skipped 2 classes just to get caught up) and booking up to 6 photo shoots a weekend.... it started interfering with my relationship with my husband real fast, my 3 year old daughter was going to bed at night crying that she missed me and she didn't want me to do pictures anymore."

*Marta, I feel the pain that you are going through and I want to say that things will get better….

Thank you to eveyone who participated in this contest.  I've been moved by the stories of these beautiful women and the lives that they are heroically living. 

beautiful. LIVES.

NOTE:  This contest is CLOSED.  See the winner here.  Make sure to check back on Tuesday. November 24th for the launch of the Get your LIFE back kit!!

this is for you.

Getting your life back means taking some time for you...a moment to rejuvenate and listen to your heart.  In the spirit of the get your LIFE back kit that will be launching on Tuesday I want to give away $100 spa treatment to Massage Envy (or a local spa near you).  You must know someone who is in need of a pedicure, manicure, relaxing facial, or a massage...

Here are the rules:

1. Enter a woman or person you know that needs a day at the spa.  Everytime you enter someone else, you are automatically entered as well.  (Make sure to tell the women that you've entered them in the contest...they may want to enter you, too!)

2. To enter a woman or person, just put their name (and yours) in the comments or send your entry to davina at davinafear dot com.

3. If you facebook, blog, twitter (@insightbydavina or @davinafear), or link to the new INSIGHT kit prelaunch post about the GET YOUR LIFE BACK kit, you will receive another entry for yourself. (just email me and let me know)

4. The last entries will be taken at Midnight ET on Saturday, November21st, 2009.

5.  The winner will be drawn from a hat...or something like that.

6.  I will announce the winner and another CONTEST on Sunday.  So be ready!

NOTE:  Please put your email address in the comment section so that I can contact you if you or your friend wins the spa gift.  VERY IMPORTANT. 

On your marks, get set, go!

fun. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Millie Holloman. ***

NEXT WEEK: Thanksgiving!  I'll be posting the NEW schedule through April 2010 of fantastic women you'll get to hear from on Women and Business.  Make sure to check in.

{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!

You have a very large studio with four associate photographers, a studio manager, and an image editor/album designer.  How do you do it all? 

It's a learning process! To think that just two years ago I was doing about 15 weddings a year and lots of family sessions on my own with a studio manager and now we have 4 photography teams doing 70+ weddings a year with 2-3 full time studio staff (depending on the time of year) still blows my mind. We grew fast so we just take it one step at a time getting through each day by trying to set systems in place that make our business scaleable. Having ShootQ helps so that we can all stay organized. Some of my photographers live in different cities so having a program like ShootQ is huge for lead management, booking, correspondence and more. I also could not do it all without an amazing team who puts their heart and soul into being the best at what we do!

You are very busy.  What do you do to make time at home with your family?

I have a 2.5 year old nephew and I really love getting to see him on the weekends. I try to keep my personal wedding booking down to about 15 weddings a year and hope to eventually get to only 5-10. This way I'll be able to spend more time with my family on the weekends. This past two years has taken a lot of my time and I know that this sacrifice of time now is going to reap huge rewards of being open to do whatever/whenever I want in the future. However, there are some things I do to set boundaries... I don't work on Sunday so that is a good day to be with my family and if I don't have a wedding on Saturday I don't schedule anything else either. I also try to stick to the office hours I have set so that my evenings are open for family and friends.

You constantly have new projects, workshops, and products that you are working on.  How do you decide what to work on next or right now?  How do you keep everything straight? 

My staff actually pick on me for this. My image editor recently stated in a blog post while I was out of town one week, 

                        "Millie isn't here to run around with too many things to do in one day, make me laugh out loud from the other room, dream too big, rush in from the latest grocery store trip and excitedly say "We're having a team lunch today!!!!", or come up with a brand-new, brilliant project to tackle in the midst of our other 2,372 projects we're currently tackling... "  

I often create new projects before one project is finished because I get so excited about it. I just try to go with the things that make the most sense for my business and drop the things that don't. Keeping a tight eye on my vision is key for this because it's easy to get distracted. 

I keep everything straight by making folders for everything (both physically and for my email program) and I try to keep the current workshops to a minimum because as you and I both know Davina, they take a LOT of work!

How do you keep things organized and running smoothly?  Do you have a system that works for you?

I do have a system that works for me and it's way too much to share in this interview. I am about as ADD as they come so I MUST have a system in place to get anything done. You'll get to find out this March when our "Get It Together" kit goes on sale at WPPI. Here we'll share out secrets of how we do it all and run the back end of the studio.

What are the three most important things you do as a business woman?

Keep scaleable systems in place and FOLLOW them! 

Put the right people in the right positions and maintain clear communication with my team

say NO, things don't always fit like a glove so I've had to learn to recognize when they don't and go with my gut.

What are the three most important things you do as a friend/daughter/sister?

Take time to be with those you love / quality time is HUGE!

Send fun little gifts/tokens to let other's know I am thinking of them and offer a nice surprise.

Verbalize your appreciation for others in your life often!

You have a nephew that you adore, what do you do to make time for him?  What’s your favorite thing to do with him?

I will drop by their house, call them up and say I need some "Gavin time" and he comes over to my parents a lot so I see him there as well, I also babysit him once in a while. Our last BIG outing was Chick-fil-A and a trip to the theater for a 3D showing of Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. My favorite thing to do with him is to take him places for new experiences. This year I took him to the circus for the first time and I learned just how hard it is to deal with a little one and try to take photos solo in a public place. I also love to just sit with him on the couch and read a book or when he pulls my arm for me to come play with him on the floor. He really warms my heart!

It seems like you travel quite a bit.  How does this fit into your extremely busy schedule locally?

The more I travel, the less I like it. Don't get me wrong I enjoy exploring new places and shooting in new cities but I also really LOVE to be home. The bigger my business gets, the harder it gets to manage from the road but because of my amazing staff I'm still able to do it. As far as my schedule locally, I try to make travel plans months in advance so that I can still book sessions, appointments and commercial shoots locally. Somehow it all just comes together!

How do you know that you need to take a break from business?  What do you do when you need a break?

When I need a break, I usually get really unmotivated, become blocked and get irritated easily. Some breaks are small like me coming in late, scheduling a massage, treating myself to lunch with a friend, etc. Other breaks need to be more extensive so I book a trip to visit a friend, take several days away from the studio or tackle a new creative project that pulls me away from my computer. 

What do you do to stay inspired?

I flip through a lot of magazines; try to find beauty in the small everyday things life has to offer and most of all I talk with all of my amazing friends. The people I have surrounded myself with bring me so much passion and vision and I always get fired up after a good phone call with them!

What made you decide to have have a large photography studio instead of a small boutique studio?

I was turning down a LOT of weddings because I was booked and I knew I had the potential to grow. I am an entrepreneur at heart and I love to dream and create so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. It's more like it chose me! But honestly, I love the hustle and bustle of a BIG studio and would not trade it for anything.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I'm proud of how far we have come. When I look back at MHP from the beginnings as me just out taking photos for friends and families I can't help but smile and thank God for his provision and guidance. It just feels good!

How do you post on your blog so often?  Do you have a system for quick blogging?

Yes! We do have a system! Our fastest thing we do for blogging is use a custom created action by Brent Holloman Design (www.brentholloman.com). This helps us resize the images for blogging in seconds and it's the best blogging investment I’ve ever made!

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I don't. I often feel overwhelmed but I just keep making lists, delegating responsibilities and trusting my team to make things happen!

What three products or things help you stay organized

ShootQ 

Our Flow Boards in the office (which we'll share more about soon)

Our Flow Stand (something else you'll hear more about soon)

You give quite a few workshops that I imagine are largely attended by women.  After having the chance to see up close and personal the that struggles that women have in our industry,  I have two questions…

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

Try to do it all. You can't be all things to all people. You just have to define what it is you want in life and try your best to stick to doing JUST that!

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

Take more time for themselves to pamper themselves and take a moment to inspire themselves by really dwelling on their accomplishments.

To see more of Millie's work: 

website

blog

***All images in this post are copyright Millie Holloman. ***

attitude and your health.

"Does your attitude affect your health? Does a positive, happy one keep you healthier? Or a negative, unhappy, even angry, one hurt you? The answer to all these questions is yes. The mind and body are snugly interwoven, and this connection affects you in more ways than you might be aware of.

It used to be thought that the mind and the immune system existed independently of each other. But research now shows that they may act as a single unit. Feeling stressed, for example, can make you more susceptible to whatever virus is going around. On the other hand, when you feel joyous and lighthearted, your immune system has a better chance of protecting you from it"...see more here....

Thomas R Blakeslee, author of The Attitude Factor, believes that attitude can change how long a person lives.  He has two tests that he asks visitors to his website to take to determine what type of attitude they are carrying around in their life.  His theory is that people can change their attitude with attitude training spread out over a year...and that the training will prolong their lives.

Here are some tips to help develop a more positive attitude: (these are from here)
 

postive. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Melanie Nashan. ***

Above image:  Melanie and her husband taken by James Emerson

NEXT WEEK: Me Ra Koh

{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!

You’ve been in business for 16 years.  What process have you gone through to get to this point?  

There have been a lot of trial and errors over the years.  The most important things for my business have been perseverance and knowing what my weaknesses and strengths are.  I think being able to realize your weaknesses and then hire people who are good at those tasks is imperative to running a successful business.
 
From all of your experience, what are 5 things you recommend to women NOT to do?
Don’t try to do everything.
Don’t forget your priorities.
Don’t take yourself or what you do too seriously.
Don’t do things that you are ashamed of.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
 
And on the other side of things…what are 5 things that you’ve learned that women must do to succeed as a business woman?
Do what you LOVE.  And LOVE the people you are around.

Surround yourself with people who do their job better than you can.

Exceed your clients expectations.

Try to live a balanced life, take care of yourself and have fun.

Diversify.  I love wedding photography, portrait photography, working on assignment for magazines and hosting workshops for groups and for individual photographers.

Dream big and do your best to make them come true.
    
 
You are very busy.  What do you do to keep things normal at home with your family?
I work as little as I possible can so I can stay home with my kids and husband.  My husband also owns his own business, the Montana Watch Co., and while that is sometimes difficult it also offers us the opportunity to be very flexible.  I am involved in my kids school and try to coach at least one sport for Colem our youngest child.  (I did the same for Keegan when she was younger.)  We live out in the woods, about 20 minutes from town, which is time consuming to commute, but it provides a place that is quiet and away from distraction.  I also cook as many meals at home as possible so that we can eat together.  We also travel a lot as a family.  We have always taken our children with us on trips and LOVE to travel together.
 
What are your top 3 tips for bringing in the clients that you want and love?
Know what your market is and focus on those clients.
Exceed every clients expectations so they talk about you to their friends.
Take the time to make a personal connection with everyone I work with.
 
You have a huge studio with 7 photographers in addition to you.  How did that change the dynamic of your business and family?  Are you glad you did it?
In one regard I am glad that I have a lot of photographers working with me.  I really enjoy each and every one of them.  One is my daughter, the other my sister, another a friend from middle school and the rest people that I have met along the way whom I really respect and enjoy.  I am actually trying to focus more on my work in the future rather than gathering associates who work with me. The people who work with me now know their job well and do it to the best of their abilities.  They are lovely to work with and take little of my time to manage.  Over the years having associates has taken a lot of my time and energy and I now think I could have spent some of my time a little more efficiently.  
http://nashan.com/artists.htm
 
What are some of the most important things you learned in taking on additional photographers/team members?
I try to treat everyone with the respect that I would want if I were them.  In return I think for the most part my associates have done the same thing to me.  All relationships take time and I am happy I spent that time with the people who work for me.  There was one incident of an associate who took some liberties that I believe were not fair in our relationship.  So in hindsight I would be very careful choosing the people who you work with.  If you don’t know them very well I would have them sign a contract spelling details out.  Some of the details include ownership of images, expectations on both sides of the relationship, payment schedules, etc.
 
What are the three most important things you do as a mom?
I am present with my children when I am with them.  They know that I love them unconditionally.  I give them the tools to be independent thinkers, self motivators, and encourage them to take responsibility for their actions.
 
With so many people working under one roof, I imagine that you have a pretty tight workflow set up that works every time.  What are some of the things that you believe work best to have a simplified and efficient workflow?
My father once told me that every job should be done so that another person can come in and pick up where the last person left off. We try to make sure we have processes and procedures written down and follow the same order of tasks each time.  Unfortunately as we get bigger it is harder and harder to do because there are so many details to manage.  I am NOT good at doing repetitive tasks. I think I am good at taking photographs, establishing relationships with people, thinking of ideas that are interesting for my business and treating the people who work with me with respect.  I am not good at managing details and being consistent with tasks for each job afterwards. So Chieko, Cindy and Angela do those tasks and they do them really well.  We have a checklist for every job that we do so we know who did it. Each client has their own folder and has their booking form, contract, backup cd’s, and the checklist in it. We also back every job up in three different locations on hard rives and DVD's.
 
Your 16 year old daughter is one of you seven photographers and she shoots her own weddings.  How did this come about?
Keegan started photographing weddings with me when she was 7 years old, as did my son who is now 8. She has a natural aptitude for seeing beautiful things in a way that is very unique.  I LOVE shooting with her for several reasons primarily because we can communicate by just looking at each other.  She knows when I need something covered and vice versa.  We also have a healthy competition with each other at weddings trying to always photograph something in a way that the other doesn’t see.  I have tried to make it fun for her and she enjoys photography.  She has photographed some of her friend's senior portraits and is shooting weddings independently.  I have encouraged her to photograph weddings because it is easy work for her and is a wonderful way to earn a living wherever she goes in life.
 
What are your three favorite creative tools and how do they help you to be inspired?
I love looking at other people’s work in magazines and on the web.  When an image inspires me I try to make it my own.  

People’s personalities inspire me to create images that reflect who they are and the connection they have with each other and the people they love.  

The feeling that I get when in a certain place inspires me to document that visually.
 
What do you do that your clients rave about most?  

I think people enjoy the moments  that I capture that reflect their relationships with the people they love.  I think they also enjoy the fact that I fit into weddings as though I was a guest instead of being the obtrusive photographer.
 
What is the best thing you’ve done to make your business successful?  

Getting my first wedding published and all of the subsequent weddings into a variety of magazines.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed? 

I wake up early, like right now, and get things done when nobody needs me.  I had read Madeline Albright balanced her family life by doing that and I started doing the same thing eleven years ago when I started working on my Masters Degree.  I also spend time with my girlfriends hiking, skiing, running, and playing tennis instead of working solo in the gym.
 
What three products or things help you stay organized?  

Omni Focus has been a great tool, my calendar in my office and on Google, and the women who work with me.
 
What made you want have to have such a large studio?

It evolved into what it is today.  I hadn’t planned on it being this large.
 

 
 
To see more of Melanie's Work:

Website

Blog

Melanie and her team taking a break from a day of work to hike a mountain together...