move it.

I've been scouring the internet trying to find ways to get my self motivated to get exercising and eat less.  Just a year ago I was so motivated and completely on a roll.  I ate less.  I ate healthy. I walked every day.  I did free weights every other day.  I found reasons to be active.

Now...I'm really focused on getting my business up and running.  I want to do it all of the time. 

In my mind I tell myself, "you should really get outside and get some fresh air..."  but I just keep on working.  I'm on a mission.

I want to be on a mission to be healthy.  I loved the way I felt last year.  I want that back.

So here are a couple of ideas to help you get motivated if you're experiencing the same feelings.

1. Get off your butt.  Get outside.  Listen to the voice in your head.  It will be good for you to step away from the computer.  You may be surprised at what creative inspiration may come to you when you're not constantly thinking and working...oh! and it'll get your metabolism going...that would be nice....

2.  Eat smaller portions.  Take a little less.  Leave some on your plate.  It makes me feel like I'm making conscious decisions.  That's a little step.  That's how it started for me last year.  Being conscious.

3.  Measure and weigh yourself every week.  It helps to know where you're at and gauge your progress or lack there of.  It's not meant to depress...but to encourage and motivate.

4. Have a couple of friends that keep you honest.  Someone you have to report to (thanks ladies!  you've been on my mind all week and it really has helped...) so that you are accountable for what you put in your mouth and how often you get off your couch.

5.  Remember that real change takes time.  Losing the weight you want to weight is something that can take a  year or more....and it will be worth it.

6. Think about how great you'll feel.  You'll be able to walk up stairs and not feel like you may die, your knees won't hurt, you'll feel less achy, you'll sleep better, you won't feel like your gut is going to explode after going out to dinner....there are all kinds of reasons for losing weight.  Everyone is different.  Decide on what it is that will make it worth it for you and remind yourself of it everyday.

7.  Think through your week and know when you'll be out and about and be tempted to eat something unhealthy.  Make plans ahead of schedule to help you make good food choices.

So...what do you do to get and stay motivated?  I'd love to hear!  I need all the help I can get!

motivated. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Christine Hall.***

NEXT WEEK:  Jessica Kettle

{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!

Christine, You are a long time pro at being a photographer and business woman!  You started a photography business when you had no children and now you are married with a little girl.  Things have become more compliciated and yet you seem to have a great sense of calm and ease about you.  I love what you've said about being yourself with your clients...especially since the majority are children!  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

Were you always in a retail space?  What made you decide to have a retail space? I started in my home and had it there for about four years.  One of my clients five or so years ago had a space that he was having trouble renting and he offered it to me fairly cheap. At the time I did not think I could afford it, but slowly he raised it over the years and as my business grew I decided to buy my studio in October of 2008. I am very thankful for him because he helped me take the first step and my business has grown because of it.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

I do both. I am just changing the way I do my workflow. I did have a color corrector, but am now going to outsource that to Lavalu , I have a graphic designer that does the albums and cards and I have a studio manager that answers phones, does the books and the sales.

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

I talk a lot! I used to be really shy and worried that the parents would think I was crazy. Since I have been doing it so long I find the more I let go and act silly, (I am not above licking my shoe to get a 5 year old to laugh) the more relaxed clients are.

I also gage what the child is comfortable with, some like it when you come and tickle and bounce around and others like a more subtle approach like asking them questions like if they like bugs on their ice cream or If I should wear my shoe on my head. I just ask a lot of crazy questions.

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

Keep track of your numbers. The biggest mistake I made when I first started out was not knowing my numbers and just going with the flow. It is super important to know your cost of sales and to also make sure you are paying the appropriate taxes. I would also recommend to build relationships with your clients and with the owners of business that your clients frequent. But numbers numbers numbers !

It is great if you can take a great photo, but that is about 10% of the business.

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

I love to spend time with my husband and daughter.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

I am the proud that I am able to support my family and have my husband stay at home with our daughter. He comes and does the framing but it has allowed us flexibility. I am also proud of my studio I purchased and redid. It was a goal of mine a couple years ago and to see your goals become real is amazing.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun? 

We try to go on dates , but my favorite time is sitting in the backyard with him and a glass of wine.

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?

1. I did not have any children, I was like 21 at the time. So I met a mom that was in a playgroup and photographed some of the kids for Easter and sold them photos. Some are still my clients today 13 years later.

2. I did free sessions for owners of clothing stores. When I first started you have to remember that I did not have a website or seo or any of that stuff. So it was all based on relationships I created. 

3. Word of mouth goes a long way in Savannah! I spread it that way since we did not have websites back then.

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

It does get stressful at times. I handle all of the bills and work a lot , but always remind myself what my dad tells me and that is God is in control. Not to say it has not put stress on our marriage but luckily he is a very patient man!

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

Treat people the way I would like to be treated, be honest, and doing the kind of work that I like to do.

You are a mom, you have a little girl.  What do you do to help them feel part of your business life?  

She is five, so she is not that interested yet in my business. She does like to take photos of her peanut butter and jelly and dolls.

What have you done to create great family portrait clients?

Treated them as friends.

What do you think you do best?  What steps did you take?

I think I put people at ease, the steps I take are just being myself and not try to be anything I am not.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

I feel overwhelmed at times , I try to step back and see what I can do about it. I also write in my journal, recently I have been trying to exercise. I am still waiting to like that, but it does seem to take away some tension.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

A white erase board for albums

Spread sheets for shoots

And Ruth my studio manager!

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

Copy, give away everything, and not value what they do.

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

Charge appropriately, get a business license and treat it as a business not a hobby. If it is a hobby…treat it as that, but if you are doing it to make money then do it right.

To see more of Christine's Work:

Website

Blog

***All images in this post are copyright Christine Hall.***



beautiful.

Emma's ballet school, The Belmont School of Ballet,  is getting ready for the Royal Dance Academy Exams, Hansel and Gretel, and many of the school's dancers are also going to be in the full ballet of Alice in Wonderland.

Coming up soon, I'll be posting some images of their daily dancing...

To see belmont ballet images click here.

dance. LIFE.

***All images in this post are copyright Jesse of Our Labor of Love.***

TOMORROW:  Christine Hall

{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!

Jesse, you have had some really fantastic and exciting last few years within the industry.  Labor of Love is one of the hottest photography studios in the South.  You've made conscious decisions about being a wife, mother, and business woman.  I love that you and Whitney are so matter-of-fact about the way you run your life and business.  You go with the flow so easily, it seems everyone you meet is immediately enamoured with you both.  You have such great sense of style, confidence, and artistry.  You've had one success after another and you are beloved by all kinds of wedding vendors.  This year at WPPI you have joined forces with Southern Weddings and created Airhorns and Lasers.  You are doing so many things that make sense and you make it sound doable for other women.  Thanks for being on Women and Business!

How long have you been a photographer and what led you to hone in on wedding photography?

I feel like I've been a photographer all of my life but to be exact I started spending time in the dark when I was 11. I didn't have any intentions on becoming a wedding photographer... It just kept calling me. With every friends wedding I shot I put a portfolio together and before I meant for it to happen it was a full time, around the clock thing. It turns out I love the spontaneity, intimacy and story of people professing their love.

You are married, how do you divide the work that comes with having a photography business and working together? That is a work in progress. It always has been. We each try to do what we are best at. For example- Whitney is a talker and I'm a typer. When at a wedding he orchestrates and I like to be behind the scenes as much as possible.

You also have a little boy...how do you make sure that he gets time with mom and dad?

That's a hard one because I never feel like I have enough time with him. We do send him to a cooperative preschool which allows parents to be more involved and present during the school day.

When we travel for weddings we try to bring him with us when possible so we will take little mini family vacas.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

I love my cuddle time with my 3 year old, my coffee time with my husband and then it's off to work. Our office is a separate house on our property so it's a short stroll to computer land. I try to get through my mountain of emails so I don't have that weighing on me. Then by mid afternoon my husband will be begging me for a blog post. I respond to his request once or twice a week (when possible). We have an office manager that I work with most days to get allllll of that other "stuff" done. Somewhere in-between all of this I will try to ground myself with a little yoga. Then to the bank and groceries. I love to cook but we eat out way to often just because of the lack of time.

You've opted to keep your studio in your home, why did you decide that was the best option for you?

It's kinda of in my home, kinda not. We did have it actually in our house at one point and that was a disaster. We would find our compact flash cards hidden under our claw foot tub after days of searching thanks to our son. I would find myself writing emails at 11pm just because my computer was looking at me. Between  the office in it's own home and hiring someone who comes in every day at 10am I find myself more on a schedule. Home feels like home and the office feels like an office.

What does your workflow look like?  Do you outsource or keep everything in house?

We have our own editor in OLOL who has been with us for about 4 years. We have 4 teams of photographers so she stays busy to say the least.
The general workflow looks like this:
We shoot a wedding
Office manager, amber, downloads all cards and backs them up on two drives.
Whitney will pick the first round of edits.
I come in and label/rate the images. Our editor knows what all of these ratings mean in terms of what type of edit and how long to spend on the image.
Our editor, Shelli, picks up the hardrive with all of the RAW images. She has a sign in sheet at the office of pick up and drop off.
A few weeks later she brings them back beautiful and amber will upload and I will blog it.

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

I think just being present and personal on our blogs gives them a sense that they know us. Whitney and I have very different personalities so they are bound to like one of us ;). I like having some communication before the wedding so we have some footing with each other.
I also make sure we spend some alone time with client on wedding day. We photograph at this time but we also talk, walk, play... This is a time I feel like most clients really appreciate after the wedding because it's quiet, real, with each other and with us. It is sometimes the only time the clients has some time together before all of the kaos.


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

Know who your ideal client is. List your priorities. Don't take it all on. Find people you like to spend time with and work with them.

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

Yoga, I am really into automatic drawing but I have a hard time finding time for it because it's so messy.   Family time and good food makes me happy- always. A good conversation with a friend.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

Clearly finding people with whom we have a deep connection anywhere in the world just by our photos. I am always amazed that most of our clients I would have been good friends with if our paths crossed before.

What do you do to keep your marriage fun?

we plan new projects together. we set goals and try to achieve them. i remind my husband to surprise me ;)

What are the top three things you did when you were first getting started in business to bring in clients?

we came up with a logo first. once we agreed on the design it was easy to stay with the look. them we created a website that only showcased the moments at a wedding that we personally cherish. the only thing we did that didn't pan out is that we paid for a very expensive full page ad and i don't think it was worth it for us at that time.

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

can someone else answer this for me ;) just kidding. we try. its not easy. sometimes i feel like i would rather not work together but i know we are supposed to. i couldn't do it without him and he couldn't do it without me. so when i get into the space of gratitude the stresses seem to slip away.

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

we’ve developed real relationships with our clients, others in the business, and just in general. i think people KNOW who is taking their picture they are much more at ease.

What are you most proud of as a photographer?

 these relationships.

What are you most proud of as a business woman?

i set goals and reached many. i am proud to be so rich- rich in family, rich in work, rich in friends. and i still have a lot of life ahead of me.

What do you do to keep your family strong?

i think routine is so important. coffee time. reading time. bath time. i also think adventure is really important.

You travel quite a bit.  How do you make this easier on your son?  

How does he feel about how often you travel? i know he likes to come with us. from the airplane to the taxis- he is all about it. we visit friends and families when we travel and i think he looks forward to the familiar faces.

What do you do to keep from feeling overwhelmed?

yoga. routine. i am also part of a group called upward spiral. we meet often and experiment often which keeps me in the present.

What three products or things help you stay organized?

internal hard drives, our bookkeeper and our office manager who has a better memory than me.

You've created some great relationships with other vendors, what have you done to make this happen?

just like any friendship...it just kind of happens naturally.

What five suggestions do you have for women who are trying to have a more whole, content, and blissful life?
find something that opens your spirit- whether its a religion or a good cup of tea or a walk in the park. make time for that no matter how busy you are.
gratitude. staying in the present. setting goals. be very clear as to what you want.

To see more of Jesse's work:

Website

Blog

***All images in this post are copyright Jesse of Our Labor of Love.***

getting a healthy start.

I'm so excited that there are so many women wanting to get healthy!  There are so many aspects to having a healthy life that reach beyond getting on the scale.  For me though, getting on the scale everyday gives me a goal and something to measure each morning.  A little reminder that what I'm doing is worth the trouble.  I love seeing a 1/4 pound come off here and one pound come off there.  It also helps me to recognize that I'm feeling better, more fit, more positive, more aware of what I'm doing to be healthy.

Here are 10 steps to better health that I found here.

Look through these and see how you're doing.  Take one of these steps and incorporate it into your life this week.  Better yet...pick two! (Kind of like you can at Panera...ummm...I may have good food on the brain too much...)

1.  Eat a healthy breakfast (that may or may not be a bowl of Golden Grahams...)

2.  Drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water everyday.

3.  Take a good quality mulitvitamin/mineral supplement.

4.  Connect with other people everyday...many times a day.  For good health give and receive plenty 'o hugs and kisses.  Talk to the people  you love.  Laugh.

5.  Express your emotions appropriately.

6.  Eat fruits and veggies.  Eat the rainbow.

7.  Spend at least 30 minutes outdoors.

8.  Do something physically active.

9.  Take some quiet time for yourself.

10.  Keep regular sleep hours.

bonus:  Establish a relationship with a doctor you can trust.

So what's the contest this month, you ask?

Here it is:

1.  Post here every day this month.  Tell us what you weigh.  Yes.  You read that right.  Tell us what you weigh and what you'd like to weigh by the end of the year.

2.  Tell us what you're doing every day from the list above to be healthy.

3.  The person who is the most consistent poster here everyday in March will be the prize winner this month.

Prize:

1.  A $25 gift certificate to your fave place to shop!

(I'd like to have some really great prizes that inspire you to get healthy...so send me an email or tell me in the comments what kinds of prizes will motivate you!)

healthy. LIFE.