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I'm Alicia, your effervescent Peter Pan, helping you add a sense of color to your home or shop.
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Last year, I attended a workshop for small business owners which focused on branding and marketing, two things that don’t always come naturally to a creative. I came away with great advice to help me improve my business, along with the realization that so many bloggers and small business owners need help visually representing their brand, which is a roundabout way of saying they wanted to learn more about photography. These girls had their dSLR cameras with them and expressed how frustrated they are when it comes to shooting outside of Auto mode. I tried to personally chat with some of them and answer the questions they had, but I started thinking about how they would benefit from a hands-on course specifically for learning the basics of photography and their cameras. After the workshop, I came home and contacted my friend Beryl, a photographer and teacher, and asked if she would be interested in teaching a course targeted toward bloggers rather than her usual students, moms. She loved the idea, and our weekly coffee work dates went from doing our own individual work to excitedly planning our workshop.
Beryl has taken over the blog today to answer a few questions about herself, her business, and what is so special to her about photography. I hope you enjoy getting to know her! When you’re done here, be sure to check out my takeover of her blog as well. We’ve also got a GIVEAWAY for our upcoming inaugural Blogtographie class. If you’re interested in blogging or simply in taking better still life photos beyond the day to day snaps, our class is for you!
The tagline on my site is, “love your photos, love your life”. My mission is to teach moms to embrace who they are embark on a path of self-discovery post motherhood. The tool we use is the camera. My journey into teaching actually began in the public school system. I taught Kindergarten and First Grade for 3 years and then transitioned into teaching technology to teachers and students for another 7. After my daughter was born (she’s a vibrant, playful 4 year old now) I began blogging and sharing with moms my photography journey. Teaching is my passion, but my true purpose is to help women realize that the are valued, they matter, then deserve to celebrate themselves. So many moms crave a simple creative outlet and photography allows them to both have that and care for their families by capturing beautiful memories. I eventually left the school system to focus on give my blog and business all my attention. I now teach several classes both online and locally (Washington DC suburbs) aimed at women who are seeking a hobby that will leave them fulfilled and viewing their life from a more positive perspective.
I love the storytelling element. How photos can document our pains and sorrows. Our joy and happiness. Our moments big and small. There are so many different angles and perspectives we can explore in capturing the stories of our life and that little bit of creativity is what I absolutely adore about photography. Also I love having a visual diary to remember the intricate details of our life we so quickly forget. There is such power in being able to lock our memories in a time capsule and then use those to connect in deeper more meaningful ways with the people that matter most to us.
My favorite piece of advice is to shoot with intention and don’t take on too much at once. There is A LOT out there that can be learned when it comes to photography. Choose your subject matter and start with the basics. Learn the technicalities that make your camera operate first (ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, White Balance, Focus), and then decide what other bits of knowing can help you enhance your chosen subject matter even more. If you try to learn it all at one time you’ll quickly land in a place of self-doubt, frustration, and overwhelm. Take it one step at a time and celebrate every little bit of success.
Start with what feels the most fun. What hobbies or interests do you enjoy? What are you passionate about? Start there and simply tell stories. Share the 5 W’s through your posts. Where did this passion, hobby or interest stem from? Why do you enjoy it so much? What does it mean to you? How did this enter your life? Who else is along this creative path with you? How do you fit this passion into your day to day? These questions can guide you no matter what topic you choose: food, crafts, art, family, nature, etc… For the technical component of blogging, I recommend beginners start with blogger.com. They are owned by Google and make getting up and running (with a beautiful design) a breeze. I’ve heard that non-tech savvy types love Blogger because it’s super simple to use.
My first bit of advice when it comes to documenting and blogging about your family is to know your limitations and privacy concerns. What are you willing to share on your blog? What photos are you ok with including? If you children are old enough, will you give them a say in what photos get posted online? If you don’t want to ‘overshare’ about your family but still want to blog bite sized bits of what’s happening in the home get creative with capturing details. Avoid faces but still capture chubby baby hands playing with a toy, your child’s back as they sprint to the playground, or their feet as they pedal a bike or zip around on a scooter. There are ways that you can share about your home life without feeling like you have to share it all or get too vulnerable.
The number one book I recommend to any beginning photographer is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It’s a great book to complement our Blogtographie workshop. For aspiring family storytellers, I love the book Elevate The Everyday by Tracey Clark. She was one of my very first inspirations when starting my photography journey and I always love hearing her perspective on life and shooting. Plus her images are inspiring to boot! Me Ra Koh is another professional photography that has written several books for capturing family: Your Baby In Pictures, Your Child In Pictures, or Your Family in Pictures. Another creative book I love is A Year of Mornings. The was a collaborative creative project between two photographers, one west coast and one east coast who documented their morning rituals for an entire year. It’s really stunning to observe the way their collages of images came together. Pinterest can be both a blessing and a curse as a source of inspiration. You can search for almost any type of image but it’s also easy to fall into a spiral of comparison and doubt. Find images you love, start an inspiration board, and then use that as a spring board for practicing your own photography skills. Also look for patterns in what you are drawn to. Are you more interested in photos that have soft, blurry backgrounds, or photos in which everything is in focus? Do you like items that are photographed on a white backdrop, or items that are styled in some way? Also, there is nothing better than in person hands-on learning. Having access to an instructor to show and demonstrate exactly what you’re hoping to achieve is invaluable. Seek out local workshops, retreats, and classes that inspire you! Our upcoming Blogtographie workshop is for beginner photographers who want to learn how to use their dSLR cameras for the purpose of lifestyle or blogging photography. The technical skills we will teach can be used in any situation, but we’ll have hands-on experience during the workshop geared specifically toward still-life styled photography. Feel free to reach out to Alicia or I if you’re curious if this class is for you! We’d love for you to be there.
Beryl and I are thrilled to be teaming up for Blogtographie, so we’re giving a spot in our first workshop away to one lucky reader. Hooray!! Early bird enrollment is currently underway and space is limited, so if you do register to secure your spot now and then go on to win, we’ll happily refund your registration fee! The giveaway goes from now through March 31st and you can submit some entries daily, so get to entering! If you have any questions about the workshop or are wondering if it’s the right fit for you, email us HERE and we’ll get ‘em answered for you. a Rafflecopter giveaway
I've pulled together my favorite and most-used art supplies + tools to make the process easy for you!
I make whimsical art for color-lovers and California dreamers. I'm based in Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. where there are most decidedly no palm trees in sight.