This Mama is Setting Some Goals

Posted by marti on December 24, 2012, under Personal, Picture Mommy News

I have a friend getting married on the beach in July. We have been texting about it most of the day. I have made some serious "Beach Wedding" board progress on Pinterest  which is only increasing my anticipation.

The excitement about  her wedding has me thinking about other Photography related goals I would like to set (and hopefully meet) in the next year. But, I have a complicated relationship to goals. I am not competitive so if I don't reach a goal I am never upset, knowing I can always try again.

I am going to throw my "goals" for  2013 out there. I hope to accomplish a few. But, above all else, I hope to have another fun year with my camera.

 

Goals:

 

  • Photograph 3 additional weddings in 2013. I really enjoy the spirit and feel of smaller weddings (be it a1st or 2nd wedding).  It can be tricky to find "small wedding" couples who want to hire a photographer. All of the weddings I photographed have been small or small-ish and I have loved each and every one of them. I truly believe those are "my" types of weddings to capture.
  • Photograph a  Birth Session. Like, someone giving birth. I was inspired by this session.  A birth session would be completely different from anything I have photographed previously and I am intrigued by the uniqueness of the experience.
  • I would love to find an assistant to help at sessions. This idea is still marinating in my brain, but I am excited about the possibility of having help to wrangle children and hold reflectors while I am shooting.
  • Blog more consistently and blog more of the images I capture. I edit and TON of images but I am not consistent enough at blogging to get my work "out there." I do post a lot more images to the PictureMommy Facebook page, find me on there and give me a Like.
  • Inspired by Kate, I would like to participate in a photography challenge.  Either a competition or a self-created project. She has worked seriously hard on her photography in the last year and it shows, she is rocking out the local photography scene.
  • Lastly, I really want to photograph baby twins. A girl I know is pregnant with twins…fingers crossed I can get my camera on those two little dudes!

I was worried I couldn't come up with 3 goals, now I have thought of so many I could keep on going. This list seems like a good place to start.

If you have any advice, comments or suggestions about my goals please give me some feedback. I had to turn the comment section of the blog off because the 10,000 spam messages were annoying. Talk to me on Facebook, shoot me an email, text me, call me. Whatever! I want to hear what you have to say!

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2013 + PictureMommy Changes

Posted by marti on December 21, 2012, under Picture Mommy News

Hello almost 2013! I am super excited to see the New Year. 2012 was filled with challenges, changes and I made a lot of wrong, slow turns. Nothing is more inspiring than feeling like I get to start all over. In the life of a small business a New Year also means figuring out what works, what doesn't and what needs to change. Here is my list:

1. I decreased my prices (I know what the business-y photography diehards say about decreasing prices, and I don't care…I am doing what *feels* right to me).

2. I am offering Mini Sessions year around

3. I have re-introduced the Belly + Baby Package and First Year Package

4. All images will be now be delivered via Digital Download only

5. I have cut out all paid advertising and marketing and am working toward a more organic client referral program

I am happy to feel "settled" into my routine as a photographer. After years of self-doubt it's a nice place to be.

I also want to give-back more, but I am not sure how to create or structure a program. I was thinking about taking monthly nominations for deserving families or couples. What do you think? Any ideas?

I have updated my galleries and pricing pages. Take a look and see if your smiling mug is on there!

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New Client Referral Program

Posted by marti on August 12, 2012, under Picture Mommy News

Time to announce my new Client Referral Program. It's pretty awesome, I must say. And, I do say, because I use the word "Awesome" a lot. Send your friends my way, you get a free session. It really IS that easy.

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2012 Holiday Mini-Sessions

Posted by marti on August 4, 2012, under Picture Mommy News

It seems so crazy posting Holiday Mini-Session dates in August, but fall calenders fill up fast so here is the info! These are my most favorite shoots of the year. I love seeing the same families year after year. Let me know if you have any questions. 9/29 and 11/10 will be at Hahn Woods (super close to Emory) and 10/27 will be at Mason Mill Park. Can't wait to see you!

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Life Happens!

Posted by marti on July 31, 2012, under Picture Mommy News

I just looked back, my last blog post was in February. Ummm, whaattt? That's crazy. I am posting quite a few pictures to the PictureMommy Facebook page. It's quick and easy for me to throw images up there. If you're on Facebook give PictureMommy a "Like" and you will see the fun images I post there. There are some discounts offered at the end of this post if you're so inclined…check them out!

Despite my lack of blog content, I have kept  busy with a few family shoots, two weddings and some cute kiddos. I have also been swimming with the girls, running the trails and putting some serious hours in at the hospital. I am a nurse by schooling, working part-time for the last 7 years. In March I started working more hours to get a few projects off the ground. The increase in workload and time away from the house was significantly harder than I ever expected. I hadn't realized how much my little  family ticked right along because I was around and accessible to the girls and Chris most of the time. I am returning to part-time hours again in August. I am forever grateful to my sponsoring physician for being understanding and flexible. It's not often that one person gets to have two equally fulfilling jobs.

This week I am putting together my fall shooting schedule for Holiday Mini-Sessions, I hope to announce those details by the end of the week. These sessions are so fun for me, I look forward to them every year.

I am offering 20% off any Full or Half session booked between now and Thanksgiving. I am also offering a referral "Thank You" if you refer a friend who books a Full or Half Session.

Have an aweome August! With any luck I will have a few more blog posts up between now and September!

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Bravery + The Argument of Now

Posted by marti on January 3, 2012, under Editorial, Picture Mommy News

I am surrounded by photographs. As I sit at my desk to my left is a cubby of old pictures from my childhood. Directly in my line of sight over my computer monitor is a mantel with photographs from our last beach vacation. In my bedroom I have boxes of prints from high school and college. Most of these photographs are not professional. Some I have taken, some others have taken. But, each image is a piece of a memory I want to remember.

People who hire me to take their picture are brave. They are brave and they understand the importance of remembering The Now. I don't love how I look in pictures (there, I said it) but I force myself to be in them because what if I am not here tomorrow and these snapshots are the main memories the girls have of me? I am in awe of the mother I photograph a week after she has her baby. She is letting herself be memorialized in a less-than-perfect physical state. She understands that someday that picture is going to make her smile. That picture will make her look at her husband and say, "Remember when…." And, I promise it will be followed by, "We were so young and THIN."

I have been working on this post for some time. It started around November. I got lost in what to say. Today I saw This Post. Please, PLEASE follow the link and read it. It says everything I have been wanting to say…but in a much more lyrical way.

The bottom line: All of my clients are so, SO brave for choosing to have their picture taken and so, SO wise for understanding the power of capturing their family right here and now.

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2011 Retrospective: February

Posted by marti on January 1, 2012, under Families, Kiddos, Peanuts, Picture Mommy News

The 2011 Retrospective continues…February!

Reena is so gorgeous, I can barely stand it!


 

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They Had a Baby

Posted by marti on December 31, 2011, under Families, Peanuts, Picture Mommy News

She was really early, and tiny, and adorable. But most importantly, totally healthy. And, I have never seen happier parents.

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2011 Retrospective: January

Posted by marti on December 30, 2011, under Picture Mommy News

When you have little kiddos and a young family looking back is fun. It's amazing to see where you were a year ago and see how much family life has changed. As a way to bid adieu to 2011 and hello to 2012 I have decided to do a retrospective of sorts. Here we go!

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Winding Down

Posted by marti on November 8, 2011, under Picture Mommy News

The Holiday Photography Season is coming to a close. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are falling and Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away.  I have teamed up with Bean Work Play Cafe to offer one last set of Holiday Mini-Sessions. These sessions will be held at Bean, in a comfortable indoor setting. Check out the details below, I hope to see you there!

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