The simple things...

Whoo hoo! I got my camera out again today. I decided to test out my lonely 50mm f1.8. It has been collecting dust lately so I thought I would test it out for something different.

Jackson needed to get outside, so outside we went! I love that Jackson is so interested in the small things in life. Eating bark, watching the washing machine spin, touching leaves and plants.

It is so amazing to be able to watch him grow and develop. I feel super grateful that I get to stay home and be a part of it! Although I must say that today was a big day and I am ready for bed now :)

 

Doing personal photography work is actually quite fun! I can do things at my own pace, try different editing, lighting and angles without any pressure!

Today I posted a bunch of CD's out to clients which was exciting. Still more to send tomorrow. Always so much to do. Note to self, improve editing workflow and general organisation. So much to learn still!

♥Shayla

Who am I? {Building a brand for my photography business}

Is it just me, or do you hate this question too? Way too deep and philosophical for me! That was until today when I stumbled across an online "show" for photographers. The presenters were talking about 3 questions you need to ask yourself when building your brand. For those of you who don't know me, I am a stay-at-home mum who LOVES photography and this year officially decided to launch my business and really get serious about it.

So this was of course the first question they asked. Who are you? What are you passionate about? What excites you? What makes you do "the happy dance"? What things do you enjoy? What comes naturally to you?

I wasn't really sure how to answer many of these questions. I know I like photography, that's a given. I know that I love pretty things. But how do I summarise it. I see other photographers who have a strong brand/ theme and I LOVE it. I think it is so powerful. It makes me want to look at their work more and find out more about them as a person.

One of the presenters then shared this quote. It honestly made me feel giddy inside:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

There are so many amazing and talented photographers around me it is easy to become discouraged. But this quote reminded me that it is about finding and hanging onto what you love and letting it explode.

While developing my business it has been so easy to get caught up in "how to price this package", "where should I advertise", "could I edit that photo better?" etc etc. I was reminded yesterday about the powerful impact photos can have. A photographer I admire in the USA posted images which reflected (as cliche as it sounds) true moments. Real, raw, beautiful, amazing moments. Her ability to make people feel comfortable and be themselves was so evident.

She photographed a beautiful family whose son had cancer. He has now passed on. How beautiful a memory will those photos be to that family?! They will have those to cherish forever. That is why I want to do what I do. Those photos reminded me about why this is so important to me.

It's time for me to stop putting so much energy into looking at what other photographers are doing and start really defining me and my business. Let 'who I am' shine through a little more. Give to others what this photographer gave to her clients. Beautiful, amazing, raw memories full of emotion. 

As soon as I finished watching this video I jumped up and grabbed my camera. I decided I am going to start using my camera to capture and communicate more about who I am and the things I love. These are my memories to capture, as well as a journey of (dare I say it) 'self-discovery'.

So, photo number one: I love tulips! Being a QLD girl, when I was on exchange in Germany, I got such a lovely surprise when Spring came around and there were tulips everywhere! I had never seen anything like it. Maybe in the shops in pots or bunches, but never growing in gardens.

I love the flower, and I LOVE these colours!

I'm excited to share more of this type of thing in the coming weeks. Hopefully I can find out a little more about "who I am" and help create a brand and an identity for my business. I think it might be a little bit of fun too :)

 

♥Shayla

The art of blogging

The last couple of weeks I have had blogging on the brain. I want to do it, I don't want to do it, everyone else is doing it, but how do I do it? I get self conscious doing it, I'm feeling brave today I want to write to the world! Wow...talk about a million thoughts. Back in the day that's what a journal was for. A personal journal. Just for my eyes. But now I have so many things I find I want to share. It's like a world of communication from my living room. I kind of like the idea. Tomorrow I may change my mind again.

And so I want to hear from everyone...to blog or not to blog. That is my question to you.

♥ shayla

CL Wedding and Event Stylists & Callie B Photography {Wedding inspiration...}

I love the details in this wedding, as found on CL Weddings and Events. The details are beautiful. The photography is awesome too. Callie B photography is located on the Sunshine Coast. Her work is quite lovely and she seems to cover some beautiful weddings!

How cute!

Beautiful use of flowers and greenery.

This is the cutest idea ever! Although I'm not sure how long it would take for all of your guests to use it.

Another simple, but cute idea for people to leave messages. I think it's a nice way to add a personal touch and have some special keepsakes from your day.

Loving these chairs.

For some reason I love this photo! Especially the candlesticks. I think the mood of the picture is lovely too.

ST xo

Beautiful Marquees and furniture hire

While reading the latest addition of the Wedding Style Guide I saw these beautiful marquees by Splendid Days.

 I love the chairs used here, and the chandelier. 

 This looks so relaxed, but still stylish and classy.

Tea party! I love the colours and the country feel.

They also hire out individual furniture pieces:


If I could do something like this it would have to have fairy lights! I'm on the search for a nice picture but so far they are all tacky. Will post one when I find it.

ST xo

All things floral...{Beautiful fine art photography}

See more beautiful photos here.

Colour me Katie... {Inspire me}

This girl is crazy! Click here and scroll to the end of the post for a dance that made me smile. It has inspired me to make a video. Just need a camera :-) I love what she does with her art and her perspective on life. Make sure you check out her "about" me video. It's pretty awesome. What I take from Katie is to smile a little more, and let go of your inhibitions. Why are they even there? Life is for living!

Anyone who can make sky out of a sheet and paper is worth blog-stalking. Especially if it makes you smile :-)

Love ST xo

{Inspire me}...Moodboards

I love "moodboards". I guess you could call them "inspiration" boards too. Here are two beautiful ones from my new favourite blog Jacqueline Rose. I would love to put together something like this. The trouble is I would run out of printer ink really quickly! Maybe this can be one of my new projects!? I'm gathering ideas of what sort of projects I can do at the moment.

Here are some of my ideas for topics:

--> Weddings (what a surprise I hear you say!)...but real ones, with real brides. And local ones too. I love the wedding blogs out there, but some are very busy and not relevant to the local area you live in, or they don't include budget specifics.

--> Inspiration boards

--> 365 gratitude project

--> Learn a new skill every week (for example, how to make a flower bouquet)

--> Get to know Brisbane

--> Wedding photography mood board!

So now for more of a plan. Lol...I get all of these ideas but starting them is the issue. I want to do everything at once!

Here are a few moodboards I found through google images:

Love ST xo

If I had all the money in the world...{Inspire me}

I would plan mini photo shoots like this one.


How pretty! Jacqueline Rose is my new blogging love :-) hee hee

Inspire me...{Beautiful fine art imagery}

I found the most BEAUTIFUL images today and I am so in love I had to share. This person has compiled beautiful photos that inspire her, and also sells some of the images seen below. She does beautiful fine art photography. See her Etsy shop here.

My new photography props...

Today I ventured outdoors to run some errands and when I arrived at the shops I saw a Lincraft store and that angellic choral sound echoed in my head. Why the excitement you ask? I have been wanting to purchase some material I can use for backdrops when photographing babies/ children. At the moment I am a little bit into polka dots so I thought these would be fitting. Not cheap though hey! I was sort of surprised.

Hopefully I will be able to use them this weekend as I'm taking some baby/ children photos! :-)

Today is a beautiful day!

So after my long-winded post the other day, I realised I was complaining and feeling down about something I have complete control over. Also, it contradicted exactly what this blog is meant to be about...so here is to a new day with new and exciting things ahead! I have so many project ideas coming up I'm excited to share. I love feeling positive and motivated. Life is a beautiful gift to be cherished! So I'm ready to live it!

Random thoughts of a tired mum...

Lately I have been feeling really lost about what I should be doing during the limited free time I have at the moment. Some may say sleep, and others are probably thinking I'm crazy because I'm sure they could think of a million things they would love to do with some free time. But that's just me. I am a career- minded- working girl who is now at home. It's a change. It's different. Don't get me wrong, I love being at home, I love being a mum, but I have been feeling a little lost in it all lately.

I am someone who has always been an *average* achiever. I watched all of my intelligent friends get amazing grades in school and at uni. They were so dedicated. I did the work, I studied, I passed. I got the degree...although I also procrastinated! lol. I have also, never really finished a lot of things. Well, I don't know if *finished* is the right word. For example, I started learning instruments and gave up pretty quickly...lol. I am not someone with an abounding natural talent in any particular area. I wasn't super at any one subject at school. I don't know how I got through university sometimes. I think it was pure hard work. I have to practise things over and over and over. 

Right now I have to decide what it is I want to pursue. Because in this digital age, I am resorting to the computer. Sure, I find blog after blog, photographer after photographer and things to drool over and be inspired by, but do I really want to be on the computer in my free time? Not really. Surfing the net. It's such a time waster. I learn a lot sometimes though.and other times I get lost in the abundance of information you can access.

One day I hope I have enough readers and we can discuss it together. I think it's awesome to gain support. And like another fellow blogger wrote, there is no reason to use blogs as another medium to compare ourselves to others! See here for what she wrote about blogging and depression/ negativity. I can see how people may get down, but I think this is another reason why I want this to be a happy place!

So, I am still working on it, but I am looking into what hobbies or talents I can develop further, or what adventures I can have while being a mum. I'm looking forward to when I can decide on something. But for now, confusion reigns.

So funnily enough, now I have written this I feel like I can go to bed. And if it makes no sense to anyone other than me I don't mind because my head is clearer. *midnight! Oh so sleepy.

Night

Shayla
xo

Mummy Monday....How to find joy in your day

I nearly forgot it's Monday. I have had a lot of thoughts swarming through my head today. I'm sure the weather is contributing, and the fact that I have had Jackson in his Baby Bjorn sling for four hours asleep (my neck/ shoulder muscles are starting to go numb)!

Is it just me, or do any other stay-at-home mums question how much they are doing (or not doing) for their families, their children, themselves? Sometimes I think I get so caught up in making the most of the moment that the moment just passes by. And sometimes because I don't conquer the "motherhood" world I feel a bit glum. I stumbled across a post written by a photographer which included a letter to her son who was turning four. She reminisced over the daunting and ever-consuming first year of life and it was obvious that she really missed it. See her entry here . It's a nice reminder to appreciate every moment. And funny enough her sons name is Jackson!

So, today I am grateful for sore shoulders because I get to hold my little boy close and listen to him taking small breaths, kiss his forehead and smell the sweetness of milk (lol...possibly gross to others?). It's actually quite beautiful. Today, even though I didn't get the dishes done, it rained on my washing and I doubted my abilities to start my dream business...Jackson smiled beautifully at me so many times, he has slept and I know when he wakes up he will be excited to see me again (after I feed him..lol).

So to my little boy....I love you sooooo much and am grateful that you make me smile every day!

I'd really love to hear from others mums, or even those who aren't about how they spend/ would spend their time at home!

Oh, and don't forget to drink lots of water everyday!

xo Shayla

Inspire Me...{Children's party decoration ideas}

I think in my "other" life I was a children's party planner. Every time I see beautiful creations like these below I get so excited! The inspiration and creativity behind these images is amazing! Does anyone else hold parties for their children like this? Please leave me a comment if you know of anyone who is super creative and puts this much effort into their child's parties!

I really love the colours used and the general idea of a "spa" party. Such a girly thing to do but how much fun! Attention to detail is definitely evident here! Oh, and I love the photography too :-)

Images taken from TheTomKat Studio.
Be sure to take a look at this ladies work. She is amazing!

xo Shayla

Inspire Me...Mathilda's Markets

Amongst my searching yesterday I found these gorgeous markets that I wish were on every week. I had never heard of them until yesterday. They showcase local talent of all things beautiful for children. There are some really original hand-crafted items by some very talented people! Check it out here. I know where I will be on the 6th of November! Anyone want to join me?

I love my baby boy...but....

...I'm sure I was meant to have a girl! lol

Click here to see more beautiful girls clothing.

By Pirouette Petti Skirts

Mummy Monday...on Thursday...

So I'm a little behind the eight-ball with this one. And it's only going to be quick because my boy is screaming...again. He doesn't seem to want to sleep today. And meanwhile I am feeling a little nutty, however I was lucky enough to get some beautiful play time with him and one of these:

Makes it all worth it hey!

Off to rescue the little man...

Shayla xo

Things that make me smile...

Today as I was walking to the car with a trolley full of groceries, baby in the sling in-front, mobile phone to my ear in the other hand I realised I am getting better at being a multi-tasking mum! As I finished putting the groceries in the car (and still on the mobile), the trolley-guy came up, smiled at me and took my trolley back! I said thank-you, but it wasn't until later on I realised he had made my day! It's the simple things that make me smile, especially now since becoming a mum.

Called to serve...

My family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and as some of you may know the young men in white business shirts with the black badge serve in an allocated country/ city for two years.

My brother Matthew came home from Serving in the Adelaide mission where he spent time in both Adelaide and Darwin. He was hard working, sacrificed his time to serve and I admire what he gave up during this time. He has been an example to all of us. If you ask him, he will tell you about the amazing time he had.

So this week I am grateful for family, especially Matthew who has made us all so proud. We are super excited to have him back home! Some pictures of the anticipation and joy of having our Matt home!

xo Shayla