Gift yourself a gift this Mother’s Day
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WPPI part one….
Oh.My.Word. These three little words are the first words that pop into my mind when someone mentions WPPI (the biggest photography conference of the year). I don’t even know where to begin to tell you how amazing my experience was there. From the classes I took to the people I met to the products I saw, every single bit of it was amazing (except maybe when I lost the key to my best friend’s husband’s truck, but that’s another story!).
Last year at this time, I was just starting my photography journey, let alone know there was a whole week dedicated to it, where people come from around the world to attend! When Me Ra mentioned WPPI last year, I definitely was not attending-1. It was across the country and 2. I had just been gifted my camera 2 weeks earlier. Now, when she mentioned it this year, I was starting to consider going. I am only 3 hours away from Vegas (where the conference is held) AND I found a stellar deal on a ticket. I just couldn’t pass it up! And, boy, am I SO glad I was able to attend!
So what happens at WPPI, well what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas……unless you’re a photographer at WPPI and then it’s flashed all over blogs and facebook! There are 3 major parts to WPPI that mattered to me. Classes, Connections, and Products.
The classes, oh the classes! There is a reason these guys and gals were asked to speak. They know how to hold a crowd! The first class I took was with Michele Celentano. She is a family portrait photographer in Phoenix. She was a girl after my own heart. She petite like me, loves to be healthy, did I mention she is training for a figure competition? She blew me away! She gave awesome tips for photographing families. One great thing to share….always make mom look better than her best. If mom looks good, not only will she buy the photos and products, but she’ll keep coming back to you because you make her look great! How true! How many times have you not framed a photo because you didn’t think you looked good? Guilty right here. I can’t wait to incorporate some of her ideas into my business..like a brochure for potential clients (mine will be ready in a couple of weeks!).
Another great speaker I saw was Jamie Schultz. This gal does it all! From photography to card designs to lunchbox food that belongs in a museum, she seriously does it all. Jamie gave some amazing advice, but the one that hit me the most was how she invested in her clients. She truly gets to know them. She takes the time to learn about them and their families before their session even starts. Jamie has been welcomed into numerous families who began as clients. And again and again they keep coming back to her, because she knows them and knows how to capture them. One of my favorite things she said was (paraphrased here…) “once I turned the focus of my business from where I wanted to go to what my client wanted, my whole business changed”. She said it made it more meaningful. Sounds simple, but it seemed so profound when I heard her say it (again, a whole another blog post..coming soon though). She sends a questionnaire to her clients so she knows exactly what type of photos they want so she can come prepared to the session. She showed emotion during her talk and let us into a little bit of her and her life. She touched my heart for sure.
Last one I’m going to talk (write?) about…..Dane Sanders. That man is awesome! He has given me the idea for the basis of my newly revamped business plan! His thinking if so out of the box, and it’s wonderful! One thing that was so great about him is he truly believes we are all better together. His talk wasn’t him standing up lecturing us. It was so interactive. When I got onstage (oh yes I did, and those who really know me know this didn’t scare me one bit!), I put a question and before he gave his answer, he asked the rest of the group…because we are all better together. Love it! One thing he says is great to do it make yourself the photographer in your neighborhood. Immerse yourself in your marketing area. Live there if you can. Get to know everyone in the neighborhood. That way it goes something like this……….You pass by a couple of neighbors chatting, only one of whom you know while on your daily run. Their conversation: “Who is that, she looks familiar?” “Oh, that’s Rachel Abelson. She super nice, her kids are so sweet. And she’s an awesome photographer.” “Really? Do you have her number? We need some updated family photos.” And bam! You have another potential client. Sure this isn’t possible for all of us, but if you can live in your target market area, do it! You’ll already be involved in their lives and you’ll always be the first one they think of for your service.
Phew, that’s enough for one post. Next up….the people!!! Stay tuned…..
Hugs to you!
Sooner than I thought!
It was at a really young age that I knew I wanted to be a mommy. As I got older, I knew that soon out of college, soon after I was married that I wanted to have kids. I wanted to be in my early twenties. Maybe because my mom was 25 when she had me (as I was when my daughter was born!), maybe because I had no aspirations of being a big business woman, lawyer, etc. I have a couple of friends who were the opposite. My friend Lindsay, being one of them. I think she had said no kids before 35. There was vet school to come, traveling, living different places, and a few other things. When she called me 6 months ago and said she was having a baby, I almost fell off my bed! I love when my friends have kids! I get to throw showers, pick out gifts, and then of course hold those precious little ones. The best part about this announcement was that she was thrilled, even if it was 4 years earlier than planned!
Over the next few weeks we threw around dates for her shower so I could make the drive 3.5 hours and be able to take her maternity photos. Last weekend, the time finally came! I hadn’t seen Linds since my little man was teeny tiny, and we were thrilled to see each other again. We got up before the sun Saturday because we both love silhouette photos. And did I mention……I got to try something totally new….adding a horse into the mix! It was amazing!
Here are a few of my favorites….
Treat yourself this year
I’ve never been big on Valentine’s Day. I do love getting gifts (and giving them!), but I like when they are for no special reason. I actually told my husband he really only needed to get me gifts for our anniversary and mothers day. Now that we have children we have added birthdays to the list.
Any of you with me on the whole Valentine’s Day being overrated? overpriced? But that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate yourself though! This year, how about treating yourself for Valentine’s Day? Get dolled up, put on your sexy undies, and get your picture taken! Never done boudoir pictures before? Not to worry! It’s all about your comfort level. All pictures are tasteful and you can wear as much or as little as you choose. After our time together you will feel beautiful, sexy, and ready to take on the world. Give me a call and we can chat about how to tap into your inner sexy! (’cause you’ve got it!)
Ms J steps out of her comfort zone!
I had the awesome pleasure of photographing Ms J a few weeks ago. She was surprising her hubby with something he had been asking her to do for a while now…boudoir photos! I love that she chose me to capture her in this new element. We had a great time laughing and working on her “sexy” face. Let me tell you, we had a great time. And isn’t she beautiful?
Welcome EM!
Remember my friend Stefanie? She finally welcomed baby E to the world. I was so excited to not only hold this little bundle of cuteness but get my camera pointed her way also. She was pretty much awake for most of the time we spent together, but I did capture a few of those sweet sleeping moments.
Remember this from Stefanie’s maternity shoot?
What are you thankful for?
It’s Thanksgiving week and there is so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for my two beautiful and amazing children. And that I get to watch them grow and learn every day. I’m thankful for my husband who, though he works a ton, always makes time for us to make memories as a family. And I’m thankful that he is home for our most favorite holiday.
I’ve recently done a few military homecomings. Each one of them holds a special spot in my heart. It is such a joy to see families reunited. I know each of these men is truly thankful to be home.
Thankful to be here before the baby arrives….
Thankful to hug his little girl again….
Thankful to meet his daughter for the first time….
What are you thankful for?
An ah-ha moment!!
I’ve been reading this book called The Artists’ Way by Julia Cameron. Each week I keep hoping that I’ll read a passage that will jump out at me. It finally happened!!!
Julia writes to us about finding what is luxury in our opinion. Something beyond fancy cars or mansion-esque houses. It’s more the simple things that make us happy. It could be fresh flowers on the table, raspberries to eat, fresh coffee. While reading about luxuries and trying to figure out what my luxury is (still working on that, by the way), I read this:
“When we put a stopper on our capacity for joy by anorrectically declining the small gifts of life, we turn aside the larger gifts as well.” HELLOO!!! It makes total sense. If I deprive myself of the little things (like fresh flowers or raspberries because they might be too expensive) then I will subconsciously deprive myself of the larger gifts of life (like the opportunity to make a difference or to learn).
What I don’t want to do is go through life not opening my eyes to opportunity or the beauty, or to stay hidden behind the mask of imagination.
I want that imagination to become real, and it want it to be magical-like when a little girl meets a real life princess for the first time…..
Or learns that fairies are real…..
I’m beginning to think my luxury might be fresh flowers. It reminds me of my childhood when my mom would buy fresh flowers every Friday for Shabbat. It was something that made her happy and made our home look and smell nice. But I never buy them because it gets expensive. Ding! Ding! An easy change I can make. Making the small changes will in turn bring on the big gifts that I may have been missing.
What’s your luxury?
Smile and Go For It!
Rachel
Color Scheme
Everyone has a favorite color. Red, green, blue, yellow, black, pink, the list goes on and on. Have you ever sat down and thought about why you love that color? Have you looked around your house? your closet? your purse? Where does that color pop up? My favorite color is pink.. for so many reasons. It speaks to me. Take a look.
Then and Now..a little about SOAR!
Knock Knock…who’s there? “Wendy Zippwald on behalf of Me Ra Koh to present you with the SOAR! Scholarship. Will you accept it?” Me: Ahhhhhh! Baby: Waaahhhh!!! Wasn’t it just yesterday that I scared my 5 month old baby when I found out I was a SOAR! recipient? Nope. That was about 10 months ago. Holy Cow!!!! Did this year just fly by or is it just me?
This year I have grown in so many ways. I have learned so many things from so many different people. I have found comfort and certainty where before there was none. I have added a new title for myself. Heck, I learned how to use a digital SLR camera!
After Wendy and Christine left my house, I was still in shock. I was so excited, honored, and scared! I was so nervous about being able to run a business while still being mommy. I was nervous I’d fail and let all of you down. I was simply nervous about learning to use the camera! Then my husband reminded that’s what this year was for-to learn. Who cares if my pictures weren’t perfect every time? (I did) Who cares that I might not have a booming business at the end of 2011? (I did) As long as I took in everything that was given and offered to me this year, it would be a success. He was right. (such a rare occurrence 
And I truly feel that this year was a success. I have learned everything from what shutter speed is to how to figure out my target audience and almost everything in between.
When I first applied, I had just received my first dslr a week prior. I asked a girlfriend the best way to learn to use it. She pointed me one direction. Then the next day she emailed me and told me about SOAR! and that I should apply because I’d make a good photographer. And so I did. And here I am. I’ve always loved taking pictures (and being in them-not gonna lie!), I just never knew how much I loved it until this year. I never knew I could make a difference by capturing special moments. That’s another thing I figured out this year-what I want to do with my life. I want to make a difference in someone’s (or many people’s) life. Be it through photography or fitness (or a combo of the two-wouldn’t that be unreal!?), that is my life’s dream. Thanks to SOAR! I am completely confident that I can do just that!
Oh my word! I just looked at a couple of pictures from before my SOAR! time. Yipes! So many things….let’s take a look.
1.all the distractions on the floor, on the wall. 2. the yellow tint–ahh the yellow, story of my life before SOAR! 3. How about that line coming out of Pete’s head. 4. the shadows. oy.
Dont’ get me wrong-I love this picture! It was something they did together at that time and I love having captured it. Now, I know how to make it better for next time.
Or this one..
the distractions on the side. the flash. oy!
Fast forward……I have Me Ra’s workshop under my belt. Whoop!
Taken at the workshop. Not perfect, I cut off some of her head and his knees. But Much better than before!!!
And most recently…..
Captured at the first military homecoming I photographed. Though you can’t see his eyes, I don’t think you need to. Emotion, love, happiness. All right there. Bam! Now I’m on to something.
As the year has gone on, with my skills growing, so has my confidence. When I went into my first shoot, I was a wreck! I was so busy worrying about all the details that I don’t think I totally captured the essence of the little boy. His parents were happy, but I wasn’t overjoyed. Now, I go into a shoot and I’ve still got those nerves, just on a smaller level. I know that when I show the family their pictures, mom’s gonna love ‘em. Here’s one thing that I really, really love about how I’ve grown—most of the pictures I put in the proof gallery are unedited! That’s right…..I know that I know my camera because I”m not spending hours on end editing-that, folks, is something to be proud of!
I cannot say “THANK YOU!!!” enough to Me Ra and all the partners for giving me this awesome gift. You have changed my life more than you can imagine. Me Ra, your goal is to empower women-you have done that for me with this Scholarship-thank you isn’t enough.
I wouldn’t be right without thanking my husband-he is my biggest supporter. I love you-forever, a day, and then some.
And with that, I am ready to SOAR!
Smile an Go For It!
Rachel