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 June 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010
Day with Davina: Mikki


day with davina.
A couple of weeks ago Mikki came to visit here in South Carolina for a Day with Davina. We had such a great time talking about all of the ways her life and business are intersecting and the road she would like to be on that will help her arrive at the place she dreamed of when she first started her business.
So often when I get to meet with photographers the thing they feel most is: overwhelmed. They've gotten to a place where they are shooting to make it through to the next session. They're giving their clients great work but their heart has gotten lost in the hurry of the whole process. It's one of my favorite moments to get to sit with these photographers and look at their lives and their business and talk and discover ways to make it all have more meaning and more functionality.
I'm so excited about Mikki...her work, her business, her passion, her heart. The photo shoots since she got back have been so much more full of emotion and depth. I'm thrilled for her! I've loved getting updates about how she's rediscovering herself, spending more time with her family, and streamlining her workflow.
Here's what Mikki said:
"It was an absolute dream for me to be able to come out and spend that time with you. I keep thinking that I shouldn't have waited that long to do it. But I feel so grateful for the things you were inspired to share with me. Without knowing every detail about me or my background, you truly said the things that I needed to hear. You've opened my mind and my heart and it feels incredible to finally be breathing again!
I had my first shoot since the workshop...in between their outfit change, I sat in their car and felt something I'd almost never felt while shooting. For the first time, in a long time, I shot with purpose. I was shooting with my heart, instead of just my head. I totally got emotional and had chills everywhere. It was special to spend that time with this little family, capturing moments of them playing T-ball, catching bugs, tickling each other, and then to see the young parents snuggling up to each other and so in love. I felt like I was witnessing their unsaid secrets and I felt so special that they asked me to photograph that for them. What a joy your style of photography is to people. What a gift. I was happy while shooting and still feel excited about so many shots that I got. Thank you for helping me to see another way. This is going to be such a beautiful experience and I hope I can continue to attract beautiful people with special stories to tell."
...and some images from our session...
**To book your Day with Davina and learn more info click here or email info@davinafear.com.**
love. LIFE.
Women and Business: Cheryl Muhr


***All images in this post are copyright Cheryl Muhr.***
NEXT WEEK: Angie Sloan
{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!
Cheryl, You have been in business for quite a while and also made a location change moving from one state to another. You've also had a baby while in business...it seems like you've experienced the majority of big changes that can happen when you are a small business owner. I'm so excited about the tips and real life experiences you have to share here. You have done amazing things and your work is beautiful. Thanks so much for being here on Women and Business!
How long have you been a professional photographer?
Six years.
Are you married? Do you have children? How many kids?
I have been married for 11 years and we have two little girls, Kennedy (almost 3) and Averi (almost 7).
How did you keep your photography business going through the birth of your children?
I started my business when my eldest daughter was just a baby, so I’ve only been through one pregnancy and birth during my career. I shot all the through my pregnancy, up until days before I delivered. I took a very long maternity break, during which I taught workshops and took shoots that I could do quickly and/or that my baby could be nearby in case she needed to nurse. I began marketing myself for a full return when my baby turned a year old.
Are you in a retail space? What made you decide on your space? Do you have pictures to show us?
I run my business out of a work/live loft in downtown Austin. We decided on the space because of its contemporary feel, abundant natural light, urban location, proximity to great shooting locations and resale potential.
(interview continues after studio/loft images)
What does your workflow look like? Do you outsource or keep everything in house?
After the session, I download, flag and then upload to my proofer. Once I get the images back from her, I add my finishing touches to the edits, crop and then batch to make a web gallery. Then I watermark and upload to the slideshow. Clients either phone in their orders, or email them. Once orders are uploaded and arrive, my kids and I package and either deliver, ship, or have my client pick up at the loft. So basically everything is in house, except for my proofing.
What do you do to help your clients be so comfortable with you during a photo shoot?
We talk...a LOT. We laugh...a LOT. We play....a LOT. For clients, I think it’s easy to be comfortable with someone who is genuinely interested in you and your children, and I am.
What do you recommend women do who are just getting started in the industry?
I recommend they find a workshop to attend or do a day of mentoring with an established photographer. There is so much heartache that can be avoided if you start with the right mindset and procedures in place, and I think it’s an invaluable experience for those just beginning.
What do you do for fun...that has nothing to do with photography?
My favorite thing to do these days is swim with my husband and children. We are at the pool almost every single day.
What are you most proud of as a business woman?
I fully support my family, not with a job that I endure, but with a job that I adore.
You are the creator of The Secret Workshop. What made you decide to start that workshop?
When I first started learning about photography, it was virtually impossible to get anyone already in the industry to give you answers to any of your questions! Finding information about shooting, editing, workflow, marketing....it was very hard to come by, and much of the information available wasn’t even true. Once I figured out all the industry secrets that weren’t openly shared, I figured there were other people out there just like me. The workshop was born.
You recently moved to Austin, TX from the southeast. You mentioned that you shot over 100 sessions since moving there barely a year ago. How did you build your business so quickly after such a major move?
I have been shooting like a mad woman since moving here....and I feel incredible about how quickly things have grown. Austin is a city that was relatively buffered from the economical woes of the nation, which is certainly helpful. That, coupled with my love for meeting new people and lack of fear, has really enabled me to build my business in a short period of time.
What was the hardest thing about moving your business to a new place? What was the best thing about moving your business to a new place?
I think the hardest part of starting over is just that....starting over. You have a blank book staring at you in the face and you have to really put yourself out there and risk rejection to fill it.
The very best part of starting over is the fact that you don’t have any clients to make you second guess any changes you wish to make. So you can raise your prices, or change a policy, or completely change your brand...and there isn’t anyone to resist that.
How do you fit workshops into your crazy schedule?
Well, I currently CAN’T. It’s getting more and more difficult these days. Workshops did fit really well when my shooting schedule was reduced in the year following the birth of my second daughter, but now, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. I will likely be offering one workshop a year from now on out, since I love teaching as much if not more than I love shooting, and there is still such a demand for the workshops.
What do you do to keep shooting and teaching from overwhelming your life? How do you make time to be a mom?
I am a mother first. I am a photographer second. And that is truly how I live my life. I shoot when it’s convenient for my family. I work on the computer after they go to sleep. I have a husband who is beyond supportive. And I have people in my life that I pay to do all of the things that I don’t have time to do.
How do you get crazy, rambunctious kids to look so intently into your lens?
I lower my tone....I might even whisper...and I ask questions that aren’t funny.....very....slowly. Or if that doesn’t work, I ask for the child look and see if my lens is cracked.
What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?
I didn’t start in photography in the portrait world when I first started (I actually began shooting for the children’s division of a modeling agency), so I’ll answer with what I’ve done here in Austin.
1.I’ve met as many people as possible in my target market, even if that means operating outside of my comfort zone at times.
2. I have several great displays in really good locations that my clients frequent. I have as many if not more bartering relationships with businesses that my target market frequents,and these are invaluable to me.
3. I shot a preschool located right in my target market, which was not only incredibly successful from a financial standpoint, but also gave me a mailing list, steady stream of referrals and whole host of new clientele.
How do you keep your marriage safe from the stresses of your business?
My marriage stays safe from my business simply because my husband stands back and lets me do my own thing. He is always there with great advice or support to offer should I need help ( he knows more about marketing and sales than anyone else I know), but until I do, he doesn’t interfere and he trusts that I know what I’m doing. It works for us beautifully that way.
What is the best thing you've done to make your business successful?
If I had to name one single thing (which is very difficult considering it’s really so very many things put together that make any business successful) it would be meeting as many people as I can. I am very much a people person and I truly enjoy spending time with my clients.
You are a mom, how old are your children? What do you do to help them feel part of your business life?
My children are almost 3 and almost 7. They help me package, deliver and they are always there to offer their “opinions” on everything, from which pictures I should flag to how they like my new brochures to what they think of the earrings I choose to wear to the shoot. Lots of my business stuff is done after they go to sleep, so they don’t even know what they are missing.
What do you do to keep your family strong?
For me, family comes above all else. My children know this.
You travel quite a bit. How do you make this easier on your children? How do they feel about how often you travel?
When we were traveling all the time, I would always plan ahead and buy a bunch of new little toys and books and games that they had never seen before. It made trips and plane rides fun and something to look forward to. They would get so excited to see what I had for them! When I taught, my husband would always take the kids to amusement parks or museums. There was never anything for them to not love. Hotels and pools and restaurants and parks and children’s museums and aquariums....they really are starting to feel sad that we haven’t been doing as many workshops!
What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?
I only do the things that bring me joy and I delegate the rest as much as humanly possibly. There is no overwhelm possible living this way.
What three products or things help you stay organized?
My proofer.
My lab, Color Inc. who delivers so quickly and whose prints always are perfect
My group of best friends....who KNOW what needs to be done next, and remind me daily of my to-do list!
You have met personally with 100s of women. What is something that you think women in the industry should not do?
Underestimate the value of what they do.
What is something that you think women in the industry should do?
Remind themselves daily WHY they do what they do. If they always set their mind on that, the rest just falls away.
What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?
- Put your family first.
- Start delegating...and stop doing the things in your life that don’t bring you joy.
- Hire another photographer to photograph YOUR children!
- Laugh as much as possible.
- Delete other local photographers’ blogs from your feed.
To see more of Cheryl's work:
***All images in this post are copyright Cheryl Muhr.***
I'll be there by your side...
sneak peek.
One of my favorite things about photographing a wedding is when I get to go back and see my favorite couples after they've lived life together for a little while. There is something wonderful about people who know each other and have been through some of the difficult things of life together and weathered daily life so wonderfully.
Joanna was a gorgeous bride and Ali was so smitten with her and although I didn't get to do their wedding I had a great time photographing their get to know you session and getting to see Joanna in her gorgeous wedding dress. I was so excited when I got to spend some time with them and their sweet little boy.
Joanna and Ali are such attentive and loving parents. It's so wonderful to get to see parents interacting with their kids and the different ways that moms and dads play with their children. Ali was always having his son jump into his arms...Ethan even jumped to him from the top of the fridge (more of those to come later)! Joanna was so relaxed about how much Ethan was running around and busy making truck sounds and then being distracted by any and all trucks that drove by while we walked to the park.
There were drinks at the water fountain to get, hills to climb, slides to slide down, skies to see airplanes in, mulch to throw, circles to look through, bikes to ride, cars to push, and things to explore. We had a fun morning and I loved watching how in love Joanna and Ali are with each other and with little Ethan.
beautiful. LOVE.
pancakes and balloons: Charlotte, NC family photographer
sneak peek.
I could not wait to see this little family when I got out to Utah. Nicole and Jim had a lovely and intimate wedding on a mountain top in Park City three years ago. At that time they had the sweetest ring bearer ever and since then they've added another boy to the mix. There family has changed and yet they've stayed the same. There's still a sweet peace about them and Nicole's patience and attention to detail makes for a really fun morning.
These two boys have such different personalities. I love the way Andrew is so protective and such a big brother and it makes me laugh how his younger brother is completely oblivious to pretty much anything but being as busy as he can possibly be...
Mr. Chef made me some gourmet pancakes with syrup and strawberries and I have to say they are some of the best I've every had. It's good he made me only 2 or I might still be sitting at their table waiting for another hot pancake.
We played with bubbles...lots of bubbles, balloons, read books, and ate jellybeans...it was a full morning (more of that to come later).
Thanks for the delicious start to my day.
yummy. LIFE.
Move it Monday: The big 4-0.
this is the year.
Later this year...September 13th to be exact...I will turn 40. It doesn't seem possible that I've lived 40 full years. It's surreal and at the same time I hardly feel old enough to count myself among the grown up people I thought of as old and wise and 40. Back when I was 16 I thought I would probably not turn 40. The end of the world would come or some crazy something would happen...and yet...here I am on the brink of something wonderful.
I hope I learn even more great bits of goodness in my upcoming decade than I have this past decade and I hope the little bits of wisdom I've acquired will help me to have more compassion, sensitivity, ability to say "I'm sorry", and live with more graciousness over the next years of my life. I hope I become sweeter to others and more comfortable in my own skin and so much more.
I love where I've been and I'm so excited about what's ahead of me.
And...since it's Move it Monday...I'd like to be my healthiest, most fit self by the time I'm forty. I've got 20 pounds to say hasta la vista to...and 3 months...and it's time to get serious. I've had about a year where I've not been super focused. I haven't kept my full 25 pounds off but I haven't gained them all back either (I had originally wanted to lose 35 pounds). I've tried to keep up with Move it Monday and now it's time to do more than keep up with it...it's time to live it again.
So...I'm going to get up in the morning at 7am and go walking before the sun gets blazing hot and before the green leaves rise up to meet that ball of fire in suffocating humidity. I'm also going to hit those free weights...they are what I like the least. (anyone have some good ideas about muscle strengthening other than free weights? I know they're the best for building strong bones, etc...is there anything that measures up that's more fun? I like yoga but does yoga do the same thing?)
And eating less...I'm going to start doing that. As I've said here about a million times...it's all about eating less than you burn. Time to get back to eating on smaller plates and looking for ways in my everyday life to burn calories.
So what is your motivation this summer? What are you doing to get fit?
Weekly Challenge: Even though it's hot (at least it is here...a blazing 95 degrees with too much humidity) find a cool time of the day to workout outdoors or find a way to workout indoors that makes you feel great.
best. LIFE.