Charlotte Branding Photographer

The Robinson Family | Lancaster, SC Session

May 1, 2017

lancaster sc family session

The Robinson Family | Lancaster, SC Session

I recently had the opportunity to work with the Robinson family in Lancaster, SC. Daughter, Adrienne, and I attended Lancaster High School at the same time and I had the chance to work with her immediate family on two portrait sessions, but this one was a little different. When Adrienne contacted me she indicated that her father’s birthday was coming up and she wanted a lifestyle session specifically of him and his grandchildren. She explained to me that he adored his grandkids and they adored him and whenever they’d visit one another he would play trucks with grandson, Caden and have a tea party with granddaughter Logan so we had to incorporate that into the session.

lifestyle session

Our original plan for their session was to do it at a nearby park in Rock Hill, SC as the sun set, but as the day went on dark clouds rolled in and a heavy thunderstorm hit. Normally I would reschedule for an alternate date, but Adrienne and I had already worked up a backup plan to shoot in her parent’s home should the weather not work out and since this was a surprise session for her dad we definitely did not want to reschedule. As I pulled up to their beautiful home the clouds parted and sun began to shine a beautiful golden hue. It’s almost as if Mother Nature knew we needed the perfect light for this session.

We started out in their sunroom as the boys played and showed their trucks off. It was so fun for me to see them interact with one another. We then moved the party outdoors where all three of them had a tea party led by little miss Logan. The session ended with a walk through the damp woods as the sun rays fell upon us and Mrs. Robinson got in on some of the action. I truly enjoyed meeting Adrienne’s extended family and working with them. I hope these will be memories that they will cherish for many years to come.

lifestyle session

Joselyn + Nathan | Charlotte, NC Wedding

April 24, 2017

Joselyn + Nathan | Charlotte, NC Wedding

A few weeks ago I had the extreme pleasure of witnessing and capturing a beautiful couple say “I Do!” in Charlotte, North Carolina. I met Joselyn a few weeks prior to her big day at Panera Bread Company where we chatted about the details of her big day. During this meeting I immediately knew she was a bride I wanted to work with. Being an elopement and intimate ceremony photographer you don’t get brides and grooms beating down your door like most traditional wedding photographers do. It’s just natural for most people to want a lavish weddings filled with a large bridal party and hundreds of guests. And while those weddings are absolutely beautiful to attend, for me as a photographer, it’s not my ideal wedding to shoot. So anytime I have the opportunity meet and work with a couple that are looking for something more intimate I get excited. Joselyn was so laid back about her big day that I knew our meeting was fate.

She and her husband Nathan were true dream clients to work with. It was my first time participating in a first look for a wedding couple and we had so much fun capturing just the two of them in love. As Joselyn tapped Nathan on his shoulder he eagerly greeted her with a loving smile.

Their ceremony was held in the beautiful Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina as they were surrounded by those nearest and dearest to them both. The ceremony was followed by a reception at Joselyn’s parent’s home where traditional African fare was enjoyed by all.

I’m so excited for Nathan and Joselyn’s future as a couple. If their marriage is any indication of what their wedding was like I know their home will be filled with lots of love, laughter and good food!

Take The Plunge + The Net Will Appear

April 17, 2017

Take The Plunge + The Net Will Appear

This month’s guest blogger is Monique Elmore. She is an entrepreneur, educator and the mother of one of the brightest young men I know. Monique and I met about one year ago when she entered her son for my senior rep program. We immediately hit it off and it felt like I’d known her for years when we finally did meet. Her spirit is full of life and I’m so thankful I’ve had the chance to get to know her better. When she reached out to me for my guest blogger series I was ecstatic to see what what she had up her sleeve and her topic definitely does not disappoint! If you’ve ever wanted to quit or felt like giving up then this is the blog post for you!!

Image Courtesy Ty Funderburk Photography

Have you ever wanted to give up? Forget a do over, I’m done! I get it, we’ve all been there. I can personally attest to you, I’ve allowed life to get the best of me, time and time again. Whether it’s managing the daily hustle and bustle of life, a career where you’re not living up to your absolute God given talent, a relationship that’s not going in the direction you once hoped for. Or whatever the case may be. As time progress we seem to get away from those aspirations. Ask yourself is that what I really want? Can I leave this world in peace, not living up to everything God put in me? The answer for me and you is NO! I’ve made it my personal agenda to live up to my aspirations. No matter what kind of juggling act, I have to subject myself to. “Take the Plunge” has been my mantra for 2017. Translation: Do what makes you happy, and don’t give up. Go after whatever it is. It may seem a bit crazy at first and you may even get the side eye from some people. But who cares. It’s your life girlfriend! I am the poster child of setbacks, I’ve even got involved in a little pity party a time or two. Just when I start to settle into the artificial thinking of, “I’ll just do what’s comfortable”, there’s always that voice that speaks to me and says “I didn’t put you hear just to be mediocre”. With that I challenge you to “Take the Plunge”! What do you have to lose? Now that you’re ready, here are your next steps to having an amazing plunge.

1. The Bible says write the vision make it plain. (Habakkuk 2:2) Whether you write your steps in a journal, or on a sticky note, it doesn’t matter. Put them somewhere as a daily reminder. I also like to put mine in an extra place, my prayer box. That goes without saying. Praying, seeing and speaking daily affirmations is a for sure win!

2. Let’s get to work! Take the plunge and the net will appear. Pray, pray & pray some more. Research your plan. Connect with people that have similar interests. Spend at least two hours each day bringing your ” plunge” into fruition and never end your day without going back to the drawing board. Check off those accomplishments and jot those tweaks down if you’ve made some.

3. Lastly, we can’t escape the age of social media. What I like to refer to as the “Who’s Who Of The Internet”. Don’t get caught up in the hype of who’s doing what. If you feel the need take a break from social media outlets, do so. Sometimes we become hopeless by watching others seemingly taking their “plunge”. I myself have had to unplug a time or two. We must constantly remind ourselves my journey is not someone else’s and theirs is not mine. The major ingredient to being your authentic self is blooming like the flower that you are and not worrying about the rose garden that’s next to you. Surround yourself around people that are positive, who believe in YOU until YOU believe in YOU! I promise it will change your life!

Branding YOU!

April 10, 2017

Branding You!

Over the last year or so I’ve fallen in love with branding images! I have been an entrepreneur for all of my working adult life and I know first hand that it’s not an easy feat. There are many early mornings and late nights and sometimes the money doesn’t match up to the grind. But in the end it’s so rewarding and after doing this for 15 years I honestly can’t see myself working for anyone else. And with that background I’ve gotten excited to watch others build their dreams as well. I love when someone comes to me for the first time and is looking to create their visual brand or even someone looking to re-brand themselves. When an entrepreneur comes to a photographer for a branding session it let’s me know you’re serious about your business and are willing to do what’s necessary to put your best face forward! So if you’re thinking about possibly scheduling a branding session here are a few tips on how to get the most from it:

1. Communicate your vision with your photographer. No one knows your business better than you so it’s imperative that you discuss your ideas with your photographer in advance. Sure you can go into things winging it and hope for the best, but then it’s the photographer’s vision that becomes the visual for your brand, not yours. This is a collaborative effort and in order to get the most from it don’t hesitate to schedule a meeting with your photographer to discuss/brainstorm ideas in advance.

2. Your wardrobe is imperative. All of my 60 minute branding sessions come with a wardrobe change. This allows you to get the most out of your session. Start off with something a little more upscale or business attire to show off your professional side and then ease into something more fun or casual to show off a bit of your personality. You want all aspects of you and your business to come through in your wardrobe selection.

3. Think beyond your website. Most business owners think headshots when it comes to branding sessions, but it reaches far beyond that. Incorporating props like your telephone, a planner, a tablet, mugs with your company logo, etc make great tools to use throughout your website and social media. Social media is crucial to grow your business these days and having unique marketing photos tailored for your business are a great way to make your business stand out.

4. Put your best face forward. This not only means having a professional capture your images, but it means hiring professionals to do your hair and makeup as well. Not used to wearing a lot of makeup? Hire someone that can give you a natural look. Do a pretty great job at doing your own hair and makeup? Go for it! I enjoy doing my own makeup and am not half bad at it, but I know for the investment that comes with a branding session I want to hire a professional that can make me look my absolute best. But if you feel comfortable doing your own makeup and knowing it will turn out exactly how you envision it, then do it. Makeup will enhance your natural beauty and make you look like a million bucks in front of the camera!

5. Don’t stop at one. Branding yourself can be costly so make sure to stock up on enough images to last you at least a couple of years, but don’t stop there. Over the years you and your brand will evolve so you want to make sure you find a photographer whose style you love so that you can have a great working relationship with them and continue to grow your brand. I suggest getting updated headshots and branding images once every 2-3 years. It doesn’t always have to be a full session. If your photographer offers mini sessions that’s a great way to mix things up and get fresh, updated shots for your business.

If you’re a business owner that is looking to take your brand to the next level I would love to hear from you! Contact me at [email protected] for all booking and pricing inquiries.

DBP Coaching Experience

April 3, 2017

DBP Coaching Experience

March 18 officially kicked off The DBP Coaching Experience. I actually had two sessions that weekend so I was super excited to get things started and get past the hump of having my initial sessions out of the way. In case you weren’t aware I am now adding photography coaching sessions to my brand of business. Over the last few years I’ve been asked by up and coming photographers questions on different subjects concerning their own business or craft. Questions like what lens do I like to shoot with, how do I get my images so crisp, how did I find my ideal client, etc. I thought to myself the way that I can be the most effective for any photographer looking to grow their business is to create a course where I can talk to them face to face, one on one, and let them pick my brain. In February I promoted my coaching sessions, offering an early bird discount for anyone that booked their session during that month and then began to schedule sessions for March and beyond.

My first session was with Izzy and we were both nervous with how things were going to go. Thankfully it went better than I’m sure either of us expected. Izzy is new to the Carolinas so it was fun to get to know her a little bit before beginning our session. When I first created the course I felt like two hours was more than enough time for the Pick Your Brain portion of the session, but I was surprised to find out how quickly that time went by! We managed to get all of Izzy’s important questions answered as well as glossing over the Coaching Session Guide which I provide to each client. After enjoying a yummy lunch we then moved things to downtown Rock Hill for her branding and headshot photos which is included in the In Person Coaching Session package.

At first she seemed a bit shy in front of the camera. Having bystanders constantly walk past you will definitely do that. But once she warmed up to it she was a natural! The camera definitely loves her. We had fun capturing some brand images for her as well as practicing shooting. I think she took a lot of knowledge away from the field training portion of her session. I’m super excited to see where her business will take her and am so glad that she’s in the Rock Hill area so that we can make plans to get together in the future as well! And if you’re interested in a coaching session for yourself then I would love for you to reach out to me. Investing in yourself and your brand is the beginning of the business you’ve always imagined for yourself.

The Robinson Family | Lancaster, SC Session

Joselyn + Nathan | Charlotte, NC Wedding

Take The Plunge + The Net Will Appear

Branding YOU!

DBP Coaching Experience

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