Internships!!!

I have been so blessed in this past few years to have such wonderful growth in my photography business. I started off as a one-woman show and never thought that running things alone would not be possible in such a short time. Last summer I quickly realized that I cannot do it all myself....there are simply not enough hours in the day to maintain a great working relationship with my clients, edit images, update my blog, prepare client files, balance the books, have photo shoots, meet with potential clients, answer the phone and reply to emails and so on, as well as also juggling my personal life where I need to be a great mommy and a wonderful wife and friend. I seriously have tried to do it all, and maybe its because I am wiser after turning 30 (yay to getting older), but now I know that I do not even WANT to try to do it all alone.

Luckily for me, I am also committed to sharing knowledge and giving others a boost that may be looking at getting into this field. So I am getting an early start to make sure I find the right people that clicks with who I am and how I work. If you are someone who might be interested or know someone who may be then send then my way....


Internship Requirements:

If you are easy-going, able to make it to Hudsonville, MI 1-2 days a week, must be great with kids (this is key), an excellent multi-tasker, able to enjoy wrinkle-faced dogs, have a commitment to excellent customer service, great at staying on task, well-organized & goal-oriented, lover of lattes, have the ability to commit to at least 5-10 hours per week for 6 months to receive hands on training in various aspects of running a photography business as well as credit toward photography services and possible permanent employment

*Experience with Mac computers and programs such as Adobe Lightroom, Indesign and Photoshop a plus

**I am more than happy to arrange College Credit by working with your professors to provide the progress reports and documentation of your hours etc..

What you'll learn as one of my interns:

• Image editing...how and why we select the perfect images to showcase the best of each session and event
  
• Color correction...how to make your images pop and maybe even how to add a little of my special sauce to kick it up a notch :)
  
• Data management...protecting and managing images and client files with multiple back-up storage systems
  
• Office Management...answering phones, preparing & organizing client files, scheduling, marketing and product ordering
  
• Album Design...organizing files for design, using InDesign to create the most beautiful heirloom for each wedding client, album proofing, and even album ordering
  
• Camera Technique...lenses, camera modes, and lighting oh my!
• Personal Assistance...lets face it, I might also need you to run to the post office, play Barbies with Madyson, Remind me to eat, pretend you are Thomas the Tank Engine with Harrison, grab me a latte here and there, etc...

Those awesome people that are chosen will also be in for a few special treats that are not listed here.....its all very hush hush so don't ask! Just trust me you'll walk away knowing more than you ever expected :)

To Apply:

To apply please call 616.669.7207 and leave me your name and number and I will get back to you to conduct an initial phone interview. I will also be conducting personal interviews February 16th-20th to fill all 3 positions. I have also gotten a few inquiries in the past few months concerning internships that I will be contacting for personal interviews, but feel free to call if you haven't heard from me yet.

Good Luck!!!

How to Rock it out :: Celebrate Your Love

There's nothing more important in a relationship than celebrating your love for one another. I truly believe that making a big deal about things when it comes to anniversaries is an amazing way to keep your love alive. Thankfully my husband seems to agree! This year marked our 3rd year of marriage (but 7 1/2 since our first date!) and we spent some much needed time away from work and the kids and it ROCKED!! Coming from a family where divorce happens as often as some people change their socks, I have realized that "dating" even after your married is one of the keys to staying together.

On our anniversary Drew presented me with a bottle of Ice wine...that just made my night! If you know me then you know I LOVE wine....and I have been dying to try this for over a year. We only had a small conversation about it almost 12 months ago and somehow he remembered and hunted down a bottle for us to try. Not only was it a perfect present, but I nearly cried because it meant that he really listens to me......that in itself is amazing and if you are married or in a relationship then you know exactly why.

Sometimes celebrating each other also calls for some hot new photos! Earlier this month we headed out to Indianapolis for an awesome photo shoot of ourselves. We stayed at the Omni in downtown INDY and then headed out the next day with my fave photogs bobbi+mike who made us look ah-MAZZ-ing!! I think I may do this every year!! If you haven't heard of bobbi+mike then you NEED to go and check them out NOW--then you'll see why driving 6 hours was totally worth every minute! Here are a few images from their blog : Let me warn though, we are a bit TOO SEXY!!!! hehe!

How to Rock it Out :: Be yourself!

I have decided to add a little spice to my blog posts..and in doing so it'll give you something regular to look forward to reading. Basically its a "tips and tricks" kind of theme--but staying true to my style I'm hereby name it : How to Rock it Out! I know you love it! I can hear your heart pounding in anticipation! drumroll please!!!!!

ok, so maybe you were expecting something much more profound....but the simplicity of this tip is actually very deceiving. This is my absolute most important piece of advice to anyone in any aspect of their life.....and yes it also applies to photography and *gasp* planning your wedding. I am just now coming to a place where I know who I am--the good, the bad, and the ugly, and I love ME! Its so much easier to enjoy life when you feel comfortable with who you are. Others will enjoy you too on a much greater scale once you are simply true to yourself.

Planning a wedding?
That process is full of compromises...and I often see some brides that wish they would have done things a bit differently. So save yourself the trouble--and rent that hot dog stand for the reception that you've been eyeing, or get married on a rooftop somewhere so you can dance under the stars. Its your day...and it should reflect who you are and what is important to you as a couple. I am not saying to walk up to mom and slap family tradition in the face--just make sure to include yourselves into the process, even if you're worried that people will think its silly. Most of the time the silly things make an awesome wedding!

Stuck in a creative rut?
The demands of having to come up with something amazing all of the time can take its toll, and maybe it can leave you in a creativity vacuum. Many photographers and other artists find themselves in this position and search for inspiration by examining the art of others ( I know I am the first to admit my addiction to blog-stalking!). Just be careful not to copy what you have seen. Its so important to stay fresh and focused on the direction that YOU want to go and not head down down someone else's path.

Next time you find yourself in a rut do a few of these exercises to get your creative juices flowing:

• Challenge your boundaries.....Make a list of things that you normally wouldn't do and do the complete opposite! ex....you normally never shoot in full sun.....so challenge yourself and run out there high noon on a cloudless day and create a masterpiece. You get idea.....sometimes changing your surroundings forces you to come up with something new.

• Give yourself a break....from the internet, from the media, from your art and just indulge your senses in what makes you happy. Play with your kids, go on a hike, build a snowman at midnight all by yourself....don't limit yourself. When you return to your work you'll feel refreshed and be able to start with a clean slate.

• Keep a creative journal....I have seen a few inspirational photographers mention this lately and its fun to know that I am not the only one! Be it a leather-bound journal or just a folder with torn out magazine pages, just make sure to keep an eye out for inspiration and don't rely on your mind to be able to keep up with it all. Jot down ideas, cool locations, sketch poses or a lighting set-up that you would like to try. This will serve as your bible of creativity....some days ideas will be pouring out of you and you may not be able to keep up---so put it in your journal and save it for a day when you feel drained and in a rut.
  

In life, in art, in celebration--find inspiration in yourself. Don't copy what you think that the world wants to see...be original. You'll thank yourself a thousand times over as you look back and know that you didn't compromise. Life is much too short so lets all try to leave the biggest legacy possible and just be ourselves.

Okay do I sound like an after school special or what!! Oh well--that's me!