My mistakes have served purpose and wisdom for others, especially for mothers and children. I am the mom who turns everything into a learning experience, especially while we play, who is not afraid to get messy, make mistakes and learn how to get it right the next time. I believe that you can learn anything, anywhere from anyone.
Entrepreneurship is not for the weak, the lazy, the easily discouraged, or the selfish, looking for only what he can get. It is strictly reserved for those who believe in a vision far greater than themselves and willing to take the bumps and bruises along the way in order to forge a path most are not yet strong enough to take.
Music is instrumental in a lot of what I do. It influences my movement and creativity throughout my portrait sessions and allows me to flow naturally to get the most authentic shots possible.
I often ask my clients what type of music do they love to listen to, as music itself is universal and can give me more insight into what makes them more comfortable.
Here are some tunes that inspire my creative work flow. A soundtrack to the sessions I snap. And some lyrical captions from some of those songs for your next social media post. Bloom, Baby, Bloom. 🌸
Listen Now
“like these roses
Send ‘em back to me
(If you don’t) like those roses
Send ‘em back to me”
“I been in my bag, adding weight
Tryna throw a bag in a safe”
“I got some time, I’m tryna spend it (spend it), uh
My tank on full, it’s never empty”
“We got the vibe, we got the juice baby”
On September 14, “National Black Female Photographers’ Day,” I gathered a small group of Tallahassee women together at Studio 715 to fellowship, learn, and have fun to sharpen our photography skills.
We practiced indoor and outdoor shooting - most of you may think that taking pictures while it’s sunny outside is the ideal time to take photos, but it’s absolutely not. 😂🙅🏽♀️ Learning to work around inevitable challenges and working with studio and lighting equipment proved to offer a valuable learning experience for all involved. We even had a photo challenge that made us stretch our creative muscles 💪🏾
I’m the founder of Photo Op, an initiative that asks brands + their agencies to pledge to present a minority female photographer option on each job, with a goal of increasing gender diversity in corporate, event and advertising photography. This was the perfect opportunity to start to build camaraderie and sisterhood.
A huge thank you goes to @amberhallesq for sponsoring our meet up - we stayed hydrated and no one left hungry! Your support of this holiday was paramount to its success 🙏🏾
I’m thankful for all the ladies (and gentlemen 😌) involved from the models @alwaysalphab @miss.walkingtrophy , to the studio owner to Mr. Strobist himself @createdifferently 💞 Thank you Shayla for the BTS footage 🔥 Your future is BRIGHT! 😘
Check out the video HERE!
We’ll definitely be doing this again in the near future so if you’re interested, join our community!
It was a pleasure shooting with you Queens 👸🏾 @mslady159 @kingchachiii @traycreates @eclectic_vixen @thatkayalove_ @zaddy_.z 👏🏾
Creating a personal brand is all about setting yourself apart from the competition. Your personal brand is what makes you and your business unique -- it’s what makes you a relatable, authentic, go-to professional instead of just blending in with everyone else in your field. While putting together your personal brand involves a lot of different parts -- from how your website looks to your logo to the words you use to tell your story -- your personal brand photos can really make or break your entire image. So how can you make sure your personal brand photos really pop? Here are a few things to consider before getting in front of the camera.
LOOK YOUR BEST
Put your best face forward for your personal brand photoshoot by hiring a professional hair/makeup artist. ( Makeup never looks as vibrant behind the camera as it does in real life -- a professional will know exactly how much makeup to put on to make you really shine. Plus, a pro will be able to make your vision come to life better than you can, whether you want a look that will make you look fun, young, sophisticated, or somewhere in between!
CHOOSE YOUR WARDROBE CAREFULLY
Wear something that makes you feel confident and that tells your audience about who you are. Most photographers allow for an outfit change or two as part of their personal brand photography package, which is a great way to try out a few looks if you can’t decide!
USE PROPS
Try using a few props to better tell the story of who you are and what you do. If you’re a blogger, get a shot of you writing at your desk. If you’re a florist, ask your photographer to snap a few shots of you arranging some blooms. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with it!
Remember: Your personal brand should be an accurate reflection of you. As long as you’re sharing your authentic self with the world, your intended audience will eat it up. Your personal brand photoshoot shouldn’t be about trying to be something you’re not -- it’s about making sure you present the absolute best and most confident version of yourself to the world. So embrace those qualities that make you uniquely you!
So you’ve started marketing yourself and your career in your own unique way. You want your personal brand to come across as exciting, engaging, and different from the rest of your competition. You want to put the task of capturing your image and your essence into the hands of a capable, professional personal branding photographer. But how can you tell whether a photographer is a good fit for that daunting task? Here are four things you should keep an eye out for as you’re trying to find a good match.
Portfolio
Every photographer has a unique aesthetic and style. Are you looking for classic and sophisticated personal branding photos? Or is your look more bright and colorful? While any good photographer will be able to listen to your vision and try to capture it, it’s best to choose a photographer whose previous work resonates with you.
Specialization
A fantastic wedding photographer or family portrait photographer isn’t necessarily a fantastic personal branding photographer. Look for an experienced photographer who specializes in personal brand photography.
What’s Included?
To have a successful personal brand photo shoot, there are usually a lot more elements that go into it than just you, your photographer, and the camera. Find out whether your photographer offers a brand story consult, styling or wardrobe advice, professional hair and makeup, or studio space as part of their personal brand photo shoot package. If not, consider those potential extra costs when working out your budget.
Connection
During your consultation, focus on how your photographer makes you feel. Do you feel confident in yourself and his or her ability to make you look your best? Do you feel comfortable and relaxed? Do you feel like he or she understands you and your vision? If so, it’ll definitely show in your photos!
Think About The Future
As you and your business evolve, you’ll want to update your personal brand photos to best reflect your new look. To keep your brand looking fresh, ask whether your potential photographer offers a monthly or quarterly photo shoot package to regularly update your photos.
When it comes to choosing a personal branding photographer, look for a photographer who knows how to tell a story with the camera, one that will make any future potential clients of yours want to know more. For something as important as your personal brand, you can’t just look for someone who will get the job done for the lowest price -- you need an experienced professional who can assist you in representing your unique persona and vision. A professional like me 😇
