The Beautiful Imperfections | San Francisco Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

2015 was a year to put in the books; not necessarily because I had big successes and grew my business by leaps and bounds, but more as a learning and reflecting year. 2015 was hard. Here's a little bit of a backstory: Rob, my husband, and I moved across the country to San Francisco towards the end of 2013. I continued to travel back to Knoxville, TN for weddings up until November 2014 (over an entire year of traveling); I was over it. I love and adore Knoxville and it will always be in my heart, but I was ready for San Francisco to be home. I was ready to unpack my camera gear and really focus on planting my roots in the Bay Area. When we moved here, Rob and I didn't know a SOUL in the city. Not one person. So making a name for myself was going to be difficult. There were many nights of crying, many days of searching Craigslist for a full-time job in HR; many applications went out only to be rejected.  Even my safety net had huge holes. But Rob continued to be my support. He would tell me we have put too much time and energy into this for me to just give up...my business was right on the cusp of booming, he could feel it. Well, I'm happy he could, because I definitely couldn't. But I still went out, networked like crazy, made amazing relationships with other photographers, second shot so many weddings that my hard drives were filled with other photographer's images and my file folders were far fewer; I became envious of other photographers during October (the month that the community basically explodes) and found myself in a space of negativity far more often than I care to admit.

I don't want to sound like doom and gloom; 2015 was a solid year. I shot 6 weddings of my own, every single one of which I feel like I learned something new, had stunning images, developed relationships with my clients and began taking my business in the direction I wanted it to go. But one thing was missing. While going through and updating my portfolio, I noticed something about my images. Where was the emotion? Where were the belly laughs, the tickles, the sweet and unstaged moment of brushing a hair away, the last photograph that I take and say "that's it, it can't get any better"? I was over posing. I wanted the images to be perfect, and in those moments, I lost the beautiful imperfections. So in going through my images from this year, I went through and found the images that made my heart soar! The images of giggles, genuine hugs, twirling in city streets and the love that we all have in us. The moments that made me fall passionately in love with photography.

So here they are: just a handful the moments I long to capture. I've never been so energized, so refreshed and simply yearning for clients to be in front of my camera and to capture YOU. Your family, your loves, your LIFE and your hearts. Let's do this together!

Coffee vs Photography

I like good coffee. Like, really good coffee. But I didn't always start out that way. I used to hate coffee; actually despise it is more of the correct term. There is a funny story that my in-laws still get a kick out of telling. I showed up to work one day at the needlepoint shop with my trusty Weigel's cappuccino in hand (for all those non-Tennesseans, Weigel's is like a 7 Eleven). Anyways, I came into the shop upset because my Weigel's cappuccino tasted more like coffee than it normally did. Where was the sugar water that I drank on a daily basis?!?!?! Over the years, my palette for coffee has definitely changed and (I would like to think) has become more sophisticated. I now drink 2 cups of coffee on a daily basis (most days) and I brew it right here at home. We buy strong locally roasted coffee and I know that in my previous coffee drinking days, my poor tummy would have been doing flip flops. But I love waking up and having my morning routine; sitting down with my "Cup o' Joe" and hammering away at emails, uploading images and lets be real, peruse the morning social media storm. So why on Earth am I writing a blog post about my coffee drinking tendencies? Today, I took a rare occasion and decided to go out and buy a nice cup of coffee (in all honesty, our coffee maker is on the fritz so it was a necessity)! While standing at the local coffee truck around the corner, I started thinking about how much money I would spend on coffee if I came here everyday and just bought a regular cup. Nothing fancy...just black coffee. $2.75 is how much I spent today...on a single cup. But to me, that is a yummy treat. I don't indulge every day. I normally make my pot of coffee at home and will occasionally spring for the latte or cafe au lait when out with a girlfriend or client. So, if I got a cup of coffee every working day of the week (251 week days) that would be $690.25. WHOA! If I sprung, and bought a latte for those week days ($4.50) it would be $1,129.50. Why am I sharing this? Because I realized, I view my special coffee like I do my photography.

It's not a commodity; its a luxury.

Now, do I believe this ideology is right and everyone should believe it? Absolutely not. This is my own personal opinion, and how I have chosen to run my business going forward. I can, in all honesty say, I used to be a Weigel's cappuccino. I photographed family sessions for $100-200, I gave all the images on a disk. This was great at the time. I was growing my skills; I was having different people in front of my camera; I was gaining experience. I by no means was making money...let's be real. But I'm not going to dive into that analysis; here is an amazing article if you really want to understand all the expenses being a professional photographer/business owner entails. ***I also want to reiterate that I am not calling other photographers who charge similar and who deliver images on a disk a gas station cappuccino photographer. I am simply drawing a comparison in my silly, coffee thinking head to MY situation.***

Once I began building my skills and was really in-tune with my camera, I realized I was doing myself a disservice by not charging appropriately for my photography. Not only was I doing myself a disservice, but I was also not providing the best for my clients; I was so busy, I never educated my clients or took an interest in prepping them for their sessions; I was so behind in editing I just dumped photos onto a disk and dropped it in the mail...no customer service; and yet I would get upset if I didn't get a glowing email saying how amazing everything was. I was expecting a latte response. So, instead of being a Weigel's cappuccino, I want to be that locally roasted, luxury cup of coffee or heaven forbid, that latte. I know that I won't have the same customer base; and that's ok. Some clients will want that beloved Weigel's cappucino. I know I will be a lot slower; and that's ok. I get to spend more time with my family and working "normal" hours. I know its going to take some time for me to build a solid customer base...and that is OK!!!! I'm excited for clients that take a deep interest not only in my photography, but in documenting special moments and times in their lives and purchasing heirloom products to share for generations. I'm excited for this change in my business and in myself. I'm excited to spend a significant amount of time on each individual client, and I'm excited to finally be able to have my photography business be a contributing member to our family income and not a expense!

TN FAMILY FARM LIFESTYLE SESSION | THE BYRDS

I had the incredible pleasure of photographing the sweetest family EVER last summer at their farm and home in TN. Not only are they the absolute SWEETEST family, but they fully enjoy spending time together, are wonderful hosts (anytime I've offered sweet tea and pie I'm smitten) and genuinely care for those that come into their lives. I adored exploring their farm and finding such incredible scenery to use for their session. The light was incredible...I've never seen any like it. When we were around the hay, seeing all the little dust flutters dancing in the light was so beautiful, even Rusty commented on how magical it looked!

Stacy & Rusty are incredible. You can see in the way they look, talk and touch each other just how madly in love they are after 20 years! Can you believe it?!?! 20 years!! Actually...its 25, they are high school sweethearts! Eeek! So wonderful! Both Elizabeth and Auston are super, super talented young adults! Auston is very intelligent, an awesome soccer player, active in 4H and so handsome (and somewhat bashful, I can see him blushing at me stating that)! Elizabeth is a true musical talent. She writes her own music and lyrics, plays the guitar and piano (among other instruments) and is such a vibrant and beautiful lady! I honestly feel so lucky that this incredible journey brought us together! I hope you enjoy their session as much as I did!

Ps...they had a donut and old bottled coke picnic with their pup, Sophie. I mean...how could I not love them?!?

 

TENNESSEE SUMMER FAMILY SESSION | THE GANANCIALS

One thing I have come to learn from being a photographer is kids will be kids. I have photographed the Ganancials for (oh my) almost 5 years and not only are they clients, but they are incredible friends! That is one thing I LOVE about my job...my clients really and truly become treasured friends. Well, Sebby was having a "I don't want to be photographed" day. So while I tried my darndest to grab some great family shots, we decided to let Sebby be Sebby. And man oh man, did he end up shining!!! His smile is soooo awesome and when he says "Kaya" I just melt!

Ps. Does this little spot in TN not just make you swoon?!?! It's one of my all time favorites because the colors are always to brilliant, the path is always nice and clear and the area is so intimate. I miss these little nooks and paths!