love. LIFE. Hello Friends! Over to the left you'll see all of the categories that you can check out. If you're a photographer make sure to check out the For Photographers page. I just launched the new Family GTKY kit and the NEW Insight Kits Blogsite!!! Click here to see the new site! LOVE. LIFE. TIPS. These posts will help anyone who is trying to keep or get back all of the things that they love in their life and/or business. The tips are packed with ways to manage a hectic life, kids, business, meaning, love...and more. Also, make sure you check out the new Women and Business series! (Click here) Also, see how Day with Davina can come to you. (Click here) My favorite pricing guide (that I wish I had when I started my business over 8 years ago). You need this guide! Easy as Pie. Click here to visit Served Up Fresh. (affiliate link) Thanks for stopping by...and don't forget to leave a comment...or two...I want to hear from YOU! And make sure to TELL A FRIEND! |
Entries from December 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
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If you haven't heard of or haven't yet joined phototalkforum and you're a photographer...hurry over and join before it's too late. This is the last day to join and get all kinds of helpful advice, hints, tips, and more for the upcoming year...AND get $40 off!
Family of the Year.
*photo courtesy of Kevin Miller
Brandon and his family.
"I would like to put forth for consideration one of my patients named Brandon Farley. Brandon is a 13 year old young man who has brain cancer. He has been through surgery before to remove the tumor and was doing well for a while, but recently the tumor has come back strongly. Brandon in undergoing chemo and radiation treatment as I do not think the new tumor is operable. We had to remove Brandon's braces a few months ago due to the resurgence of the cancer. It is my understanding that this is one tough tumor and the outlook at this point is poor.
A young man of 13 years should not have to go through such incredible challenges and face such ominous, eternal matters. A boy at thirteen should be preoccupied with the joys of sports, school, friends, that special crush; not the anguish of watching his family worry from not knowing how many tomorrows there will be. Brandon is the perfect candidate for what you are offering."
-Kevin Miller
Merry Christmas, Brandon! I can't wait to meet you and your lovely family!
Brandon's family will receive a photo session, a beautiful album from our time together, and a piece of wall art that captures this moment in their lives.
Thank you all for your nominations. It was extremely difficult to choose who would receive this session...I wanted the chance to meet every person...every family. They each have such difficult moments, tests of compassion and strength, and so much love between the people that keep them together. I appreciate so much the gift you have given me to be able to read about the way these families live and breathe for each other. What a sweet and wonderful blessing. Thank you.
This holiday is...
pure. LOVE.
Nominate a Family: Last day is Monday, December 21st.
real life is beautiful.
This year has been a difficult for many people and families. In the spirit of the season I would like to give a family an opportunity to see their sweet life and the love they have for the people around them. I would like to give a free session to a family in need of seeing their beautiful life. I'm also including $1500 of products (album and wall art).
One family will be chosen to have a session with me, they will receive an album and wall art...at a value of $1500.
How will this work?
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Think of a family that you know that would greatly benefit from a session like this. I'm thinking of families who are deploying a family member with the military, someone with a terminal illness, a family who has had an especially difficult year financially, or just a tough year in too many ways to count.
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Send your nomination to davina@davinafear.com. Make sure to include the family's name and 3-4 sentences about what they've been through and why you think they would benefit from a photo session.
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If you have a snapshot of the family please attach it to your nomination email.
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All nominations need to be received by December 21, 2009.
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I will announce the winning family on Christmas Eve 2009 on my blog.
A couple of rules:
1. You cannot nominate yourself or your own family.
2. The family needs to be within 1 hour of the Charlotte, NC area.
3. You can nominate as many people as you would like.
Thank you so much for participating. I look forward to reading your nominations...I know this will not be an easy choice.
full. LIFE.
Women and Business: Chenin Boutwell
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***All images in this post are copyright Chenin Boutwell.***
NEXT WEEK: Jasmine Star (January 7th) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
{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!
Chenin, You have had some really big transitions over the past couple of years. Your husband and wife wedding studio switched to Chenin Boutwell wedding studio and Doug has persued commercial work. Not long afterward, you were planning for your first baby, Maxfield. If anyone can score a trophy for adapting amid big changes, I would say you should win it! Your studio is thriving in fantastic ways and you've become a mom who has figured out how to manage a very full home and business. Thanks so much for being here!
You are married and have a sweet little baby. What has the transition to motherhood been like for you?
For me, the major transition has been trying to balance work and play.
The first few months were easy, because I could set Max down in one place and tend to emails, phone calls, etc. Around 4 months old, I noticed that he was needing more stimulation and I simply could not continue to mix mommy time and working time. I immediately hired a nanny to come two days a week, 9-5, and made those days "office days." My husband cares for Maxfield on Saturdays while I shoot and Sunday is family day. The other three days, I am a full-time, stay-at-home mom; I may answer emails or sneak in a phone call during naps, but Max has my full attention on those days.
Since Maxfield was born, in what ways have you had to change your approach in your studio on a day to day basis?
Simply put: I HAVE to be disciplined. Since I only get two full days in the studio, I have to get my work done on those days. It requires a lot of structure and no messing around or wasting time, but it is possible to get my work done in 2 days.
You are very busy. What do you do to keep things normal at home with your family?
I think having a schedule has really helped. On work days, I come home from the studio at 5pm, usually walk the baby to the market and then prepare the ingredients for dinner. 6pm is bath time, then dinner for Max and some cuddle time before bed. He is in bed by 7pm, at which time I cook dinner (everything is usually prepped at this point). By 7:45, my husband and I are enjoying a nice glass of wine, a good meal and some quiet time.
We also schedule time to work out, time to take Maxfield to a Mommy and Me class, and Doug and I go on one date a week.
Again, there isn't a whole lot of spontaneity around our house, but we do get in some solid family time this way.....
What are the three most important things you do as a business woman?
Network. Network. Network. And be a nice person with a good reputation.
If you get yourself out there and put your best attitude and effort forward, people will want to help you succeed.
What are the three most important things you do as a mom?
The most important things I do as a mom are Work and Play. Although it is hard to be a working mom, I know that it is what is best for me and Max. I get a sense of accomplishment and independence and Max gets to see that his mom is ambitious and dedicated. Being a working mom is a big part of my identity. It is also important that I Play. Nothing makes me happier than playing with my family. I used to take life waaaaay too seriously, and now I take time to goof around.
What does your workflow look like? What have you done to make is simple and efficient?
-Saturday: Shoot a wedding
-Sunday: Download cards throughout the day; back up to a hard drive that I keep at home (as offsite backup)
-Monday: Mommy Day: cull through my images during nap times (usually two
1.5 hour stretches)
-Tuesday: Studio Day; copy images to my tower at the office; put "keeper" images on a hard drive and ship out to Colorati; pick my favorite images and rework them in Photoshop using the Totally Rad Actions (www.gettotallyrad.com) - keep for when I design the album; post favorites on my blog
-Wednesday: Mommy Day
-Thursday: Studio Day; receive last week's wedding from Colorati; generate proofbook and post images on PicPick for client to view; design an album (usually from 3 weeks prior), this includes choosing 50-100 images, retouching them using TRA and designing the layout
-Friday: Mommy Day; charge batteries and pack up equipment for tomorrow's wedding
Do you travel quite a bit? How do you make this easier on Maxfield?
I just wrote a blog post on this! -http://cheninboutwell.com/stuffforphotographers/destination-wedding-photograph.html
You were recently featured in Rangefinder magazine. What have you done to become so sought after and recognized?
I think having a reputation as an approachable person and hardworking photographer has led to a lot of these opportunities. Sometimes I think a lot of photographers get too big for their britches and blow off opportunities to get their name/work out there. For me, some of the smallest opportunities have turned it to big, big opportunities. For example, a nice woman contacted me a few years back about doing a little article for a magazine; she was not a photographer and so had a lot of questions. I immediately called her back and went out of my way to help her out. A year later, she was asked to write a book on wedding photography and included a chapter on my studio.
What are you most proud of as a business woman?
I am most proud of the way I weathered the transition from being a husband/wife studio to being all by myself. About 2 years ago, my husband left the studio to pursue another career and I was left to run things on my own. I was terrified, but instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to completely revamp my brand, launch a new website and really infuse the studio with my own, individual photography style. It was a big risk, but I learned A LOT about running a business and how to weather a storm.
What do you do that your clients rave about most?
Probably my customer service. I pride myself on getting back to clients quickly and on providing amazing service.
What is the best thing you’ve done to make your business successful?
The single best thing I've done for my business is to be true to myself.
I make business decisions based on what's right and wrong, not on what will make me the most money. I created a brand that is 100% representative of my personal style. If you base your business on your true values and style, it makes all those hard business questions so much easier. I never ask myself what would so and so do.... I am always listening to my heart and my gut.
What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?
The three S's: Structure. Schedule. Shopping.
What do you think are the 3 core things on which to build a business?
Values. Hard work. And a healthy dose of Fearlessness.
What strengths do you think we, as women, bring to the table in this industry?
Women can multitask! Women can answer an email, while holding a baby, while returning a client call, while boiling a pot of water on the stove and keep it all under control. I think what women bring to the photography business is the sense that, if you work hard, you CAN have your cake and eat it too. We can be good wives, strong business people AND great moms.
To see more of Chenin's work and make sure to check out her WORKSHOP:
***All images in this post are copyright Chenin Boutwell.***
40% off all Insight Kits and Day with Davina
first time ever sale.
This holiday sale is the first ever 40% off sale on Insight kits...actually on anything on my Product or Insight Kits pages on my blog. Yes! This means that any Insight kit is almost $40 off! And... A Day with Davina is almost $600 off! So go fill up your shopping cart and get in on this 24 hour sale...it won't last long...and it won't be back any time soon. (The sale starts right now and ends at noon, Thursday, December 17, 2009 MST) To get your 40% off just enter:
shopping. LIFE.
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