Photographers, especially those in the wedding industry, are used to breaking up their year into busy and slow seasons. However, nothing could have prepared any of us for the drastic halt in business that occurred as a result of COVID-19. It's literally like...
Living and working in Southern California comes with a few perks. Ok - I'm lying - it comes a ton of perks. The main perk obviously being the weather. We are very spoiled when it comes to our beautiful year-round climate and days of endless sunshine. But every once...
We’ve all been there. You leave a wedding, after a long and exhausting day of shooting, with a pit in your stomach. Maybe it was a high maintenance client, malfunctioning equipment, a very drunk wedding party, challenging vendor dynamics, or weather conditions that...
Ok, let me start off by saying, the information I have below about the 3 things I do at every session is not rocket science. In fact, the tips I share might seem super simple and obvious. But I'm telling you - they are so important and I wish someone had expressed...
Editing is one of the more unglamorous sides of being a photographer. It's just you, your computer and hundreds of images to sift through and refine. One pro hack I have to make my time editing more enjoyable is listening to podcasts. Seriously, what did...
If you've been working in the photography industry for a bit, you've probably experienced the following scenario. You get a seemingly perfect email inquiry, set up a consultation, drive across town to meet with the world's loveliest engaged couple. You have the...
You don't hear of many people getting into photography for the money. It's more common to hear that people decide on the industry because they have a love for connecting with people and a passion for creating. We pour our heart and soul into what we do, so it’s...
Maybe you’ve been photographing professionally for a few years, you’ve honed your style, and you feel super confident behind the camera... but you still feel like there is room to elevate your photos. The next big question is, HOW? I've been there and that's why I...
Are you curious as to what I bring with me on a newborn session? Turns out [according to a recent Instagram poll] that a ton of you are and I'm happy to share the details of my newborn session kit with you! For my newborn shoots, I focus on in-home sessions which...
There is a lot of advice floating around the wedding industry. While this can be helpful because our community is full of amazingly knowledgeable professionals - it's very easy to get caught up in what your “supposed to do” rather than focusing on what works for...
Many of my wedding industry friends are expecting their first child in the coming months - making the topic of conversation pretty consistent. Everyone is asking the same question. "HOW will I be able to simultaneously balance becoming a parent and being a business...
Here's the truth: I'm not a techy photographer. I'm not impressed by mega pixels, and I'm not the first to pre-order the newest camera body. I will always care more about what results I get from my gear than the actual gear itself. I'm a true believer that the best...
Over my career, I have worked as a second shooter for well over thirty different photographers. I've also had the pleasure of having many of those same photographers work as a second shooter alongside me at my weddings. If you're not familiar with the term "second...
Like many aspiring to get into this industry, I thought being a professional wedding photographer would mean my days would be full of sessions in exotic locations, drool-worthy weddings, epic dance parties, and over-the-top in love couples. Sure - I've experienced...
If you know me well - you now that I am a creature of habit. If you don't know me at all - now you know something important about me. I don't like change. At all. My motto: If it ain't broke, don't go trying to fix it! Am I right?? Well, most of the time I am, but...
Every business deals with the ebbs and flows of being busy. As a wedding and lifestyle photographer, winter is typically my slowest time of the year. It's easy to sit back and want to relax during these months, letting business matters slip to the wayside - but...
On this blog, I share beautiful photos and helpful photography tips - but I’m also big on sharing my personal experience as a business owner. And today, I want to tell you about one of my most valuable secret weapons - my Virtual Assistant (VA), Raquel. I...
I am no stranger to burnout. There, I said it. But honestly, let's get real for a minute. If I'm being 100% transparent, I struggle with burnout several times a year. Fall is particularly challenging (hello busy season) and things can quickly feel like they are...
I recently read Shonda Rhimes' book, Year Of Yes - which was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c. I could stop this blog post there, a true one-liner because the book was that good. But I won't - because I want to talk about a part of the book that really stuck out to me (and...
When it comes to conversational topics, there is a pretty lengthy list of things that are considered taboo to talk about. Money, politics, and religion all come to mind. Before you click out of this blog post, I want to assure you - I'm not going to get on any...