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

{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

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