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, 2010 - December 31, 2010
The New Year is coming.
things change.
I love this calendar for the year. My favorite thing is that you can use it every year, change it, use it for something new. Whatever. All kinds of options.
I love keeping my options open.
merry. LIFE.
50% of for 48 hours.
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for a very limited time only.
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sale. LOVE.
Women and Business: Natalie Norton
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**all images in this post copyright: Natalie Norton. **
{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.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...
NEXT WEEK: Merry Christmas!
You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!
Natalie, You came into photographer after the loss of your brother and when you stepped into it you brought a tenderness and insight that many photographers don't have even after years and years of shooting. Now, less than 3 years later you've been published in national magazines, travel to clients, and shoot quite a bit, you have a studio, and someone that helps you on a regular basis to keep up with business. You seem busy and at the same time very go-with-the-flow. I love the beauty you've created in your blog, business, and life. Thanks for being here on Women and Business.
How long have you been a professional photographer?
I shot my first wedding in May of 2007. I made $300, included an album, a fully edited disk, aaaaaaand an extended family session for allllll the family who had flown out for the wedding. Come to think of it, I don’t know that anything about that qualifies as professionalism.
What drew you to photography?
Hands down, it was the death of my little brother Gavin in 2007. At the end of the day, when all we had left of him were images, I realized how very much this photography thing really matters. I wanted to be a part of something THAT significant in other people’s lives.
You are a mom and wife. How many kids do you have?
I have 4 amazing sons. Raleigh 7, Cardon 5, Lincoln 4 and Angel Gavin
Raleigh:
Cardon:
Lincoln:
Gavin:
I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet little baby Gavin, what has helped you through this heartbreak the most?
God, family, proper nutrition, amazing friends and running. In that order.
Are you in a retail space or home studio? What made you decide on the space you have?
A home studio makes the most sense for me. My office is actually a converted studio apartment that’s adjacent to our home. This kind of a set up is really the only way for me to balance work and wife/mommy duties with any level of success or consistency.
What does your workflow look like? Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
I believe in outsourcing. PARTICULARLY for women who are committed to running a business and maintaining balance on the home front, because the bottom line is, you can’t be 100% for everybody 100% of the time. Either your home life or your business will suffer if you try to do it all. Period. No exceptions.
One of the realizations I made after my son died earlier this year was that I really only wanted to focus my time and energy on the elements of my work that I’m the very most passionate about. I hired a REMARKABLE assistant, Ashley. Being able to hand things like paperwork, culling and color correction over to Ash. . . well it’s just the greatest blessing in the world. Having her help with some of the less satisfying pieces of my business allows me the ability to remain in a good creative space mentally and thus allows me produce better work overall. Hiring her was the best decision I’ve made for my business to date.
Now, I recognize that hiring someone on isn’t a realistic option for everyone. Before Ash (and even now if we’re in a pinch for time), I hand post processing over to www.fotofafa.com. Kenny is SUPERB. A real rock star. I recommend him wholeheartedly.
What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?
Honestly? I show up emotionally. How can I expect them to give me the kind of authenticity I’m looking for if I don’t do the same for them?
What do you recommend women do who are just getting started in the industry?
1. Avoid comparison like the plague. It’s human nature (especially for women) to compare ourselves, our families, our photography to that of others. DON’T do it. There is no light at the end of that tunnel.
2. Set up good balance from the get go so you don’t wake up a year in only to realize you’ve painted yourself into a corner. If you’ve got kids and a husband to look after, ALWAYS put them first. ALWAYS. Everything else will miraculously fall into place. Trust me. I’m living, breathing proof.
3. Don’t pretend like you know it all. Don’t be too shy to ask questions.
Your post processing looks so clean, beautiful, and simple. I love it. Is it really that simple on the backend? How much time do you usually spend in photoshop?
I know VERY little about Photoshop. Truth be told, probably less than I should. My main adjustments are curves and levels. Occasionally some sharpening if necessary.
What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?
Bikram yoga, beach with my boys, aaaaand I RUN! Running is the most hellish and wonderful thing ever for my body and spirit.
What are you most proud of as a business woman?
That I have FOUGHT to achieve balance. That I have REFUSED to meet with success at the expense of the relationships in my life that matter most.
What do you do to keep your marriage fun?
We LAUGH. Our heads off. All the time.
How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?
I’ve learned that I have to shut the door–physically, mentally and emotionally–on my business when my kids and/or husband are home.
You travel quite a bit. In fact, it looks like you're currently in SLC. How do you make this easier on your children? Or do you typically take your children with you?
I’m really glad you asked this question. I think people often have a false perception of what travel really looks like for me. 90% of the time one or all of my kids come along with me when I’m on the road. For that other 10% of the time, my kids are home with their dad. My husband and I are both entrepreneurs. With the flexibility that that allows, one or the other of us is ALWAYS with our kids. Richie is an amazing man. Every bit as much involved in our kids lives as I am. Plus, he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty! Dishes, laundry, diapers, you name it. We’re in this together, 100%.
What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?
I make a plan. I keep it simple. I work my plan. Every day.
What is something that you think women in the industry should not do?
I can’t speak for women in general, but to mothers I would say, I don’t think we should sacrifice our families for our businesses. We chose to be mothers. We should do it well.
What is something that you think women in the industry should do?
Find a space of inspiration, and FIGHT every single day to remain in it.
What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?
1. Get enough sleep. I sleep 7 hours a night, without exception.
2. Drink enough water. For me that’s 3 liters a day, at least.
3. Exercise.
4. Pray/meditate.
5. Dream big, set goals and make stuff happen.
6. Put your family first. All the time. No matter what.
We tend to focus too much on action steps when I think we should be spending more time building a proper foundation. If your foundation is strong, everything else you do in your life will be more successful. Scouts honor!
To see more of Natalie's work:
**all images in this post copyright: Natalie Norton. **
Move it Monday: The Holidays.
holiday stress.
While the holiday season can easily be the most joyful and festive time of the year, it can also be an especially stressful time for many of us. We can get caught up in the pressure to buy the perfect gift, the stress of preparing for out of town guests and the hustle and bustle of getting it all done.
When you feel overwhelmed take a moment to stop and take a deep breath. Reflect on this quote:
“Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. “
Yoga and yoga breathing can help you achieve that calmness. Sit down in a cross-legged, or lotus, position. Make your spine nice and tall, suck your belly button into your spine, close your eyes and take several deep breaths in through your nose, exhaling out with a sigh. Do this five times. Then sit quietly for a few breaths. Let your eyes flutter open and notice how you feel more relaxed.
It might surprise you, but if you take the time to take care of yourself this holiday season, to get centered and to move your body and get oxygenated blood running through your veins to your brain, you will find that time expands. You will have more energy to get your tasks done.
Taking some time out this holiday season to give back to yourself may be the best gift for yourself and your loved ones. Because when you fill up your own well, you can give freely to those you love. It's not about being selfish, it's about being centered and calm, and at peace.
Lisa Brownstead is a former TV news anchor who believes in the transformational power of yoga and helping young and old alike find more balance, self esteem and joy in their lives through yoga. She also believes that yoga (and a little bit of humor) leads to a significant decrease in stress and keeps those practicing looking and feeling young! As a mom of three kids who love yoga, Lisa has followed her passion teaching yoga to both kids and adults. Lisa is the founder of Pretty Postures. For more information on private in-home instruction, classes, and yoga parties check out www.prettypostures.com.
holiday. LIFE.
Women and Business: Emilee Fuss
**all images in this post copyright: Emilee Fuss. **
{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.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...
NEXT WEEK: Natalie Norton
You can check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!
Emilee, You have been in business a short 2.5 years and already you've grown your studio. You photograph families, children, and pets...you especially love pets! I'm so excited to have you here and I'm so grateful for the breath of fresh air that you have about you in terms of just loving who you are, where you are in your life, and making your business fit into your life in a very natural way. Thanks for being here on Women and Business.
Are you in a storefront space or home studio? What made you decide to on the space that you have?
Home studio! I love the convenience of working from home and getting to be with my family and pets while I work. I use our living room to set up all of my gear when I’m doing a studio session with a pet, and I also use that space for ordering sessions with clients.
What does your workflow look like? Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
I upload and organize all of my RAW files in Lightroom 3. After deleting the rejected photos and deciding on the keepers (about 40-50), I do a light edit in LR, then export to Photoshop CS3 to add final touches and resize and watermark images for my blog and the client’s online gallery. As for outsourcing, I do it all myself. I’m way too much of a control freak to outsource, at least at the moment!
How long have you been a professional photographer?
About 2.5 years now. I got my first DSLR in 2007, and launched my business later in 2008. While I had a business name and blog early in 2008, I don’t say that my business really started until later that year, when I began going to events and really getting my name out there.
What made you get into photographing pets?
How could I not? I’ve loved animals since I was in the womb and always wanted to work with them while growing up. I wanted to be a vet, a competitive horseback rider, a dolphin trainer at Sea World–anything that involved animals! So, when I fell in love with photography, I knew I wanted pets to be my main subject. They are amazing creatures that brighten our lives and give us so much, and it is wonderful to be able to capture their personalities with my camera.
What is the hardest part about photographing pets? How do you work through a dog or cat running around? How do you get a close up (in focus!) picture of a pet?
The unpredictability has to be one of the hardest things about photographing pets, but it’s also one of my favorite things, too! You never know how an animal will respond to being photographed. They don’t say “cheese” or pose exactly like you want them to. It requires a lot of patience to work with pets, but it’s a challenge that I absolutely love.
If the dog wants to run around, great! I’ll work on getting some action shots! But, of course, I don’t want the pet to be running around the entire time. I always bring treats and toys, and ask the owners to do the same, so I can figure out exactly what motivates each animal. Some dogs will stop for a tennis ball, some for a treat, and some for affection. And sometimes, they just need to be a leash for a bit. I’ve worked with hyper dogs and distracted dogs that just won’t hold still, and while they may like treats and toys, they’ll only sit still for a second, so I have to work very, very fast!
I just love details shots. They are harder to get of those hyper pets that won’t stop moving, and sometimes I’ve had to just give up on getting that perfect detail shot that I had envisioned. Like I said, figure out what will make the animal hold still, then zoom in and fire away!
What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?
Well, I try to get the owners and myself more comfortable by talking about what we obviously love best, our pets! We could go on for hours just talking about how they came into our lives and all the funny things they do. For the pets, I always spend some time getting to know them before I pull out the camera. I let them sniff me and my bag while I talk to them, pet them, and give them treats. And if they’re in a new environment, like my home studio or a park, I like to give them time to get used to the new setting before I start working.
What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?
I love watching old movies from the 30s, 40s, and 50s in my spare time. About 80% of the films I watch were from that time. I also love to spend time with my family and friends, read (currently working through Gone with the Wind), play the piano, and listen to Frank Sinatra.
What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?
Attended events, put business cards in various pet businesses, and formed relationships with like-minded business owners. I still do all three things, and am excited to see my business continue to grow!
What is something that you think women in the industry should do?
We should help and support one another. After all, we’re in this together and we can learn so much from one another. Also, learn to say no. You can’t be everything to everyone, and that is okay!
To see more of Emilee's work:
www.emileefuss.com
www.emileefuss.com/blog
www.twitter.com/emileefuss
www.facebook.com/emileefussphotography
**all images in this post copyright: Emilee Fuss. **