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 September 1, 2009 - September 30, 2009
Move it Monday.
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family and fitness.
Getting family on board for eating right can be a challenge. This morning I had a mom's group come to my studio for a "How to take better pictures of your kids" mini class. After it was over I was talking to a mom about getting our kids to drink milk and eat veggies...especially the ones who are 100% against the idea. I wish I could say we had some fantastic ideas after a completely enlightening brainstorming session...but no such luck. If you have ideas PLEASE put them in the comments so that we can all benefit from your wisdom!
**Don't forget the contest challenge this month! It will go thru next Monday. The top 4 people who log the most miles of walking/running/biking will win a $30 gift certificate each to the store of their choice. You can still win! Make sure to post your miles everyday here on this blog post...**
In the meantime, here are some tips from my health insurance lady that will get your family more active:
* Laughter: Activity has to be fun to keep the interest and imagination of young ones. Whether it’s tag, ring around the rosy, or a game of catch, it all counts as exercise. Active play helps kids learn that it’s fun to move.
*Family time: Evenings and weekends are great opportunities for walks, hikes, and bike rides. Enjoying exercise together speaks volumes to your children – they learn that activity is a natural and positive part of life.
*Freestyle fun: Sometimes the best activity is the one they make up. Spontaneous running, kicking, throwing, and jumping strengthen young bodies and help them burn off steam.
*Moving vacations: Make a point of including active fun in your travel itinerary. Enjoy water parks, the zoo, and other attractions that involve physical fitness.
*Fitness friends: Build exercise into your family social time. Get together with other kids and parents to enjoy active time together. Enroll your kids in community or school sports teams/games.
*Role model: Making fitness a priority in your own life encourages your kids to do the same. Show them how cool it is to be active and healthy.
*Less screen time: The more TV and computer time your kids have, the less active they’ll be. Set clear limits and stick to them.
fit. LIFE.
Love Affair Models
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awesome.
We had some incdredible models at Love Affair this year. Our ratio of models to ladies was the best ever. And the stylists and makeup artists were just fantastic. We had 3-4 women with each model. The ladies loved it! They got to take their models anywhere they wanted and they found some great places.
I went out around town trying to find a couple of groups and met up with a couple of women. When I got back to the hotel there were a couple of groups in the lobby. I grabbed some super quick shots as I was walking back for the next class. Here a few.
fun. LIFE.
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Women and Business: Susan Stripling
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***All images in this post are copyright Susan Stripling.***
NEXT WEEK: Carey Schumacher
{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...
Make sure to check out the rest of the series by clicking here. Tell a friend!
Susan, I have loved your work. It is cinematic and intimate and has an emotional feel to it that draws me into the moments. I remember quite a while ago when you posted about the Columbian wedding you had photographed...I just couldn't keep away from it. I first met you about 4 years ago when I had a much too short mentoring session with you a the DWF convention. You are a straightforward business woman and a great artist. Thanks for being on the women and business series!
How long have you been in business? What was the process you went through to get things running smoothly?
I started my business as a part-time venture in early 2002. I was full time within a little over a year. In 2005 I opened my portrait studio in Tallahassee, Florida and in 2008 closed up the portrait shop and moved to Brooklyn, New York. I feel almost like I started a new business from the ground-up here in Brooklyn since I no longer work from a storefront and made the conscious decision to drastically reduce the number of portraits I do per year. Now I'm an almost wedding-only enterprise and I'm exceedingly happy.
I feel like my portrait business was always a growth in progress with employees and a commercial studio and a high-volume client base and I was always struggling to make it run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. When I moved to New York I made the decision to work from home and (most importantly) work by myself. I now do all of the work on my own and therefore have only me to answer to - and it's made me rethink and rework almost every aspect of how I do business.
What do you do to keep things simple in your life and studio?
I was extremely unhappy running a portrait studio. I felt that it was the logical "next step" to add on to my wedding business but all it did was add a lot more work - and work that I didn't feel compelled towards. I adore photographing weddings. I like photographing children and families a great deal - but not at a high volume and I don't like running a storefront studio.
I know this sounds crazy and utterly simplistic but I just don't take on more work than I can handle. Sure it can be profitable to pile on the jobs (and hey, who doesn't like profit?) but at the end of the day stressing myself out to the point of tears isn't good for me OR my business. I know precisely how long it takes me to edit a wedding or design an album and I FINALLY realized when it's time to say when and just where the profit is not worth the stress.
What do you do to separate yourself from your business?
I run it, it doesn't run me. When my kids come home from school I stop working - it's just that simple. While I might plug in a hard drive and start a backup or get PhotoShop to begin a batch I am NOT at my computer when my kids are at home. At night I DON'T do ANY work other than occasionally uploading a blog post or answering a few emails. After my kids go to bed is my time to myself to watch bad TV on the DVR while chatting with friends or just randomly surfing the internet. When my brain is on business all the time it's not a healthy place to be - I have to remember that besides my children and my work I have to give MYSELF time to just be.
What three products or things help you stay organized?
About two years ago I switched from my Westhost-hosted POP email to Google Business IMAP email. It sounds like a small thing but it revolutionized my email. When I travel and send emails and sort my in-box I come home and know that my desktop email will look just the same as my laptop, it will sync up and remove deleted emails, file emails into labels that I've done on my laptop, and will be neat and organized for me. I always have to be able to see the bottom of my in-box so I'm very diligent in keeping my email organized.
I use a Mac-based program called Things to keep up with, well, everything. There is an iPhone app that syncs with your desktop and without it I would simply be lost. It tells me when I need to finish deliverables for weddings, keeps me on top of album designs, and really lets me know what needs to be done and when I need to finish it.
I also could simply not live life without my iPhone. It carries everything for me .... and it even makes phone calls. :)
What plans do you have for your business this year? How will your plans impact your family?
I used to do 100% destination weddings and traveled far too much. This year I plan to continue cultivating a local market both here and in Philadelphia which has been absolutely incredible for my personal life. I'm around a LOT more for my kids and no longer feel that horrible stress when your business starts to get in the way of your own life.
Are there times that you feel overwhelmed? What do you do?
Funny you should ask that now - I shot two weddings last weekend that were three hours apart and this weekend will do a triple with seven hours of driving in between each wedding. I'm doing that while trying to get my daughters signed up for a new afterschool program and making sure that the dust bunnies in my apartment don't rear up and stage a coup. This is when my no-work-at-night policy is helping; last night I saw the eight things in my Things list begging me to work on them but I had to just walk away and know I could get it done today. I laid on the sofa and watched Gossip Girl and when I went to bed I wasn't thinking about work. Sometimes I do get overwhelmed by the amount of things I have to do but then I sit down, update Things and make sure everything I have to do is written down and assigned a due date and honestly, that helps IMMENSELY in lowering my stress.
***All images in this post are copyright Susan Stripling.***
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Move it Monday.
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lean meat.
Here are some thoughts on lean meats from...you guessed it...my health insurance lady.
Keeping it Lean
Protein is an essential nutrient. It’s found in nearly every tissue including muscle, bone, and skin. Even your hair and nails are made of protein. But some sources – certain cuts of red meat for example – add unnecessary calories and can raise cholesterol and triglycerides. So choose lean protein for good health…without all the unwanted fat. Learn how to get what your body needs without the extra fat with these suggestions:
-Substitutions
Try lean ground turkey instead of hamburger. You can put tofu in your stir-fry instead of beef. And use more beans in your chili than meat.
-Lean Choices
Pick leaner choices – skinless chicken, turkey breast, or fish – more often than red meat. Remember to be careful with marinades and sauces…they can add fat and sodium. Try seasoning with fresh herbs, citrus vinegar, and spices.
-Preparation
Trim off all visible fat before cooking. Then use a cooking method – baking, broiling, or grilling – that doesn’t retain fat like frying does.
-Vegetarian
Remember, meat isn’t your only protein source. Make vegetarian meals with protein-rich beans, soy products, and grains as the base, plus produce.
-Low-Fat
Dairy products are a great source of complete protein, but they can be high in fat. Opt for skim or low-fat milk, cheese, and yogurt (avoid added sugars and flavoring).
-Lean Cuts
Going lean doesn’t mean you can’t ever have red meat. Just minimize the amount and cook leaner cuts.
Take Action!
Think about your favorite meals. What dishes can you make that use lean meats and non-meat protein sources? Write down your ideas so you have a handy list of options!
healthy. LIFE.
Naked Studio.
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new life.
We've finished putting my floor into my studio. Yay!
This is my naked studio. Nothing in it. And now, I only want to put back in it what I really love and really need. I have been looking like crazy for the things that I love.
Here's some of my inspiration...
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