A Call to Action | Hampton Roads Business Owner

Hi!

Earlier this week I had a mini wake-up call. One I have not, admittedly, completely ingrained into my psyche yet-but I'm getting there. (Did I say "psyche?!" Yes.... it's that deep of a wake-up call I guess *sigh*)

 

On Monday my mentor pointed out a glaring issue in my business approach.

I have no long-term, purposeful, planned, movements.

Meaning I do what I want, when I feel like it, when I want to do it.

Don't get me wrong: I most certainly think things through before I do them and think long and hard before I commit to stuff. If you've met me you know I'm a control freak (which for the record I think is harsh title to carry, mkay?) so I never just JUMP into decisions and I usually need like 17.5 people's opinions and "okay's" before I commit to big things.

But what I realized (thanks to it being pointed out to me with a huge HELLO road sign convo with my mentor) was that I am listless. If I have free time I work. If I have 30 minutes I spend it planning out things on Pinterest (sometimes things I have NO date set for yet). If I have an afternoon I'll work on packaging or website or blogging or editing or or or or or. If I have 10 minutes I'll check in on facebook and try to respond to messages.

If I have time I will ALWAYS sit down to work on SOMETHING.

 

But I shouldn't be working on SOMETHING. I should be working with purpose. I should be working with direction and an end-goal.

 

Sure, editing a session has an end goal: when I send the images off to the smiling happy face of my client :)

But I do not set boundaries on myself with my work hours and I do not prioritize my work tasks.

This is changing. NOW.

With set time frames to do work I will be FORCED to prioritize my tasks.

Owning a business and being the sole employee for that business means there is ALWAYS something that can be done (hence why when I have a free second I have always been able to fill it with things for the business). This also means there is ALWAYS room for improvement on something or growth in some aspect of the business. Which translates into me ALWAYS thinking about what I can do with the few minutes I have waiting on my husband to be ready to head out the door (and what can you really do with just a few minutes?). 

 

But without direction it's like walking your dog in a field full of squirrels-- nothing gets done and you're off on this chase trying to keep your dog in line where in the end you're just tired and didn't accomplish anything (except maybe the dog had fun...).

  

So here I am. Committing to myself and my business that I will be purposeful with my time. I will be organized and goal-directed with my tasks. I will have planned out work time with specific tasks for those times each day (these planned work times will also include planned breaks-- because SURPRISE I also have trouble telling myself to breathe). And I will be intentional in my planning and execution of all things in my business.

First step: Purchase a year long wall calendar (dry erase because I don't like to be wasteful) so that I can plan out my business goals WAY in advance and therefore have every piece of work I do be purposeful towards that goal.

 

The time has come to get my act together and let my act(ions) have purpose! Here goes!

(Wish me luck!)

Best,
Sarah

Any ideas you have for staying focused and being purposeful in your actions? I'd love to hear them! Share them below in the comments!
 

What I ordered :)



A Very Special Bea-A-B-Y | Personal | Hampton Roads Portrait Photographer

Hi!

Last week I had the absolute pleasure of traveling to Long Island, NY for a shoot. Yes, you read that right, I had a session in Long Island. For a portrait photographer in Virginia traveling to New York for a session is, at least to me, a pretty big deal.

I cannot tell you how excited I was to officially become a "traveling photographer!" 

Even more exciting? This session was the first time I would also meet my newest niece, Bea.

Yep, the people who requested MY services were my very own family (my step-sister to be exact). That is a huge compliment to me- they could have easily hired anyone in their state (or even a state next door!) but instead they requested me :)

I tried to explain that there were VERY capable people in Long Island and across New York city who could EASILY fulfill their newly-born photo request- someone perhaps who even SPECIALIZES in newborn photography and family portraits.
 

Because, as you all know, I am not one of those people.

But they insisted. And I, of course, couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet and capture 6 weeks new Bea, on camera.

Congratulations you guys and thanks bunches for making me a super cute niece ;)
It was well worth the trip through the city :)

Love,
Sarah

Planning a Styled Shoot | Recap | Hampton Roads Stylized Portrait Photographer

Hi!

If you're reading this there's a good chance you saw the "Alice" blog post last week with all the pretty, warm, colorful images from the stylized shoot.

 

Since I did a 5 part series on planning the styled shoot (in case you missed one or two: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V) I thought it was only fitting to do a wrap up post on what I learned since shooting the session.

  

And OH BOY did I learn a LOT.

 Let me first start off by saying that no matter how prepared you think you are you will NEED to be flexible and know the definition of compromise- because things will not go as planned.

Don't get me wrong: things will be beautiful and incredible and a whole BUNCH of fun! But things are stressful- and everyone else involved does not live in your head- so you will need to be flexible and able to communicate your needs.

 

Let me tell you what, though: my team was freaking AWESOME. They were a BLAST to work with, they had fabulous ideas, and they were even interested in helping beyond their "roles" (e.g. my model's mom even offered to haul things in her van and helped clean up the entire set! Stuff she completely did NOT need to do at all- but my Sarah Elle Photography family is awesome like that!)

Ok, so things I learned after completing my very first solo styled shoot:

 

1. Have EVERYTHING ready to go at least 4 DAYS before the day of the shoot.

I had a few little things I needed to pick up the morning of the shoot and figured "hey, no big deal, I'll grab those in the a.m.- everyone isn't set to show up until late this afternoon anyway- no big deal!"

Despite being a planner, I somehow manage to continue to find ways to add stress to my life. Waiting to pick things up until the day of the shoot is one of those ways-- because guess what? While I was out getting those "few little things" I received a call that the furniture for the shoot was not going to be able to be dropped off as originally planned.

*cue the screeching tires on my "no big deal" morning*

I now had to find a way to get a vehicle big enough to haul furniture over to NORFOLK (remember my fear of the bridge tunnel?!?!) and back in time for hair and makeup that afternoon.

I won't bore you with a description of my trip over the water so fast forward a few hours and mission accomplished (thanks to the HUGE HEARTS of my ridiculously wonderful neighbors who let me commandeer their explorer the entire rest of the day).

  

But having everything with YOU days in advance will really help you the day of the shoot: you'll officially be prepared and will simply have to execute the set-up. Trust me this will alleviate large amounts of stress the day of your shoot. And anything to reduce stress levels is a big gold star in my book!

 

2. Have a bunch of helpers.
It's awesome when you've got a fabulous team of folks who are willing to help in any way they can but, for me personally, iIlike people to be able to enjoy themselves and not be overworked- so while I did have a designated helper that day one person was not enough. So don't be afraid to have multiple people on board to help out-- things will go faster, easier, and everyone will be able to have that much more fun with even more awesome people around!

This is also probably one of those times where having collaborated with a professional designer/event planner would have really made a difference!


3. Have the session at a location that can accommodate on-site hair and makeup.

I didn't realize how important this idea would be until the day of the shoot when I was running back and forth between the set location and hair and makeup. I can't be in two places at once. I tried. It doesn't work.
 

Having hair and makeup AT the set location means you can oversee the set-up of everything while still being accessible for your model and the rest of your team. Plus that means getting more done at once- and who doesn't love efficiency? You're being an awesome host to everyone and there to answer questions for your model and hair and makeup team while still directing and helping with the set-up of your set. Pretty great!

So, if you have the ability: choose a set location that can accommodate the model prep.

 

That's it. Those are three really BIG things I learned from the styled shoot. It was truly an incredible experience and a fantastic time. I love each person involved and truly could not have done it without them- so a huge THANK YOU to everyone involved (from my neighbors, to the model, to my model's mom, to Papa John's for delivering awesome pizza really fast, to my friend who helped that day, to the hair and makeup team, to the vendors, and to my husband for dropping everything to get me across the bridge and back in a really short period of time).

So what's stopping you? Get out there and plan your OWN styled shoot! Because I know with all the things I learned from this experience I'm definitely doing another one!

Which reminds me: what theme do you want to see next for a styled Senior session? Give me your ideas for what you want to see next in the comments below! If your theme gets chosen I may just need your help to plan it!

Best,
Sarah

"Alice" | Stylized Shoot | Hampton Roads Senior Portrait Photographer

“There is nothing so very remarkable in that;
nor did Alice think it so very much out of the ordinary to hear the Rabbit say to itself
'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!'

...but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat pocket,
and looked at it, and then hurried on,
Alice startled to her feet...."

 

“If I had a world of my own everything would be nonsense.

Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t.

And contrary wise: what it is it wouldn’t be,

and what it wouldn’t be it would.

You see?”

 

"There is a place.
Like no place on Earth.
A land full of wonder,
mystery and danger!
Some say to survive it:
You have to be
MAD AS A HATTER.
Which luckily I am."

THE BIGGEST THANK YOU to....
Paper Goods: {Paper} Dolls Design

Dress and accessories: Bridal Boutique of Gloucestor

Cake and table design: Sugar with Vanilla

Cupcakes: Sweet Bite Cupcakerie

Chairs and Vintage Props: Folk Art by Christine

Tables: Southern Belle Custom Furniture and Decor

Hair: Markia Nicole MUA/ Hair Stylist
Makeup: Makeup by Vega

 ...and my good friend Tiffany, of Tiffany Joyce Photography for her unending help the day of the shoot and for helping me trudge all the furniture from here to the moon and back.

Best,

Sarah

Allison | Agent Spotlight | Class of 2015 | Smithfield High School

Hi!

Meet Allison- this year's representative for Smithfield High School!

You maaaay recognize her from last week's Alice shoot (more from that session will be on the blog this weekend- so don't miss that!).

When I got in touch with Allison and her mom for the role of "Alice" I immediately fell in love- Allison is sweet, friendly, and has a fantastic laugh- just one of those people you feel immediately comfortable around-- know what i mean?

A few days after signing on as "Alice," Allison's mom contacted me about the Senior Agent position- so of course I said YES!

(I mean, seriously, how could I not accept her as an Agent? She is clearly a SUPERSTAR! haha)
 

Allison is a Navy kid and the eldest sister to her three siblings (two brothers and a sister). She is actively involved in her school's JROTC program and works after school at the local pharmacy (she just started this job, by the way, and already loves it!).

Allison is one of those sweet souls who is content just being with her family or spending time at dance class, drawing, or cooking. But since working with her on "Alice" it's obvious she has a fun, outgoing side to her, too.

 

And of course, when I asked mom for a picture of Allison she had to include one of her as a baby cheesin' for the camera:

Allison, it is a joy to be able to welcome you to the Sarah Elle Photography Class of 2015 Senior Agent model team and I KNOW working with you the rest of the year is going to be GREAT!

Best,
Sarah

Greer's Agent Spotlight, Rayanne's Agent Spotlight

Planning a Styled Shoot Part II {Timeline} | Hampton Roads Stylized Portrait Photographer

Hi!

In my first blog post about planning a styled shoot I talked about making sure you've got your {key players} involved before moving forward with the planning portion and picking a date.

Now that you've got your key players picked out and everyone is on board that you "MUST HAVE" for your styled shoot AND you've picked a date you're ready to start planning your TIMELINE.

Sure, sure, picking a date automatically gives you a timeline to work with, right? Technically, yes.

BUT when I say timeline I really mean: how much time does your cake vendor need to make the 4 tiered cake that you want? Or how long will it take to get those awesome rhinestone shoes in from Italy that you just KNOW will be the incredible focal point of your theme? These are all super important things to lay out from the get go.

There is nothing worse than contacting someone or going to place an order ten days before your shoot only to find out it will take SIX WEEKS to complete.

You don't want that and I CERTAINLY do not want that for you- so to help yourself out from the get go, once you have your theme and your {key players}, immediately start making lists of what you will need to accomplish your vision and how much time you will need to do it.

Do you need 4 DOZEN boxes of rose petals? Probably not (but hey if you do that's cool, too). But either way buying 4 dozen boxes may be the only way to get them in the color you want and therefore you might be forced to wait the eight week ship time to get them in for the shoot.

This is a great time to point out that it is also important to give yourself time from initial planning to actual shoot date. 

This is definitely something I have learned *fortunately the easy way* this go around. I originally conceptualized my idea months and months ago but when I actually began planning I chose a date for the shoot that was 3.5 months away (and I cannot tell you how many times in this planning process I have realized how much of a blessing having this much time really is). 

It feels like FOREVER to wait because of course I am EXCITED- but choosing a date so far out has given me time to get all my ducks in order, come up with back up plans (because trust me I've already had to move to plan C on a few things), and also give my vendors time to get things in stock that I am looking for and time for us to work together as a team to really bring my vision to life.

So my Part II of planning a styled shoot: create timelines for what you need/ want for your vision and start with a big enough window to give yourself the ability to fall back on plan C, D, E, and F because chances are you'll need it ;)

Best,
Sarah
See Part III here!

2nd sneak peek from the inspiration board for the shoot ;)

Rayanne | Agent Spotlight | Class of 2015 | Poquoson High School

Hi!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to working with Rayanne!

Rayanne is representing Poquoson High School's class of 2015 for my Sarah Elle Photography Senior Agent model team and she is, simply put: a fantastic fit!

She has this awesome unique style that truly is her own- you know the kind that only a few girls can really pull off but lots of people try? (ok maybe it's just me and I always try to have the look Rayanne has and I seem to just fail miserably...)

PLUS she is super active in school: band, French Honor Society, Spanish Club, Key Club, AND she is part of International Club and gets to travel to the Czech Republic starting THIS WEEKEND for a trip with the club! How cool is that?!

Oh! And maybe the neatest thing I learned about Rayanne at our meet and greet? She just had a BREAKFAST CLUB inspired birthday party!

Yep, you read that right: BREAKFAST CLUB inspired! She had all the foods each cast member ate during the infamous lunch scene and everyone dressed like their favorite character. 

I was seriously blown away when she told me that! I may just have to have a party like that next year (not even kidding)!!

 But beyond her awesome birthday party choices Rayanne is a fantastic big sister to her 3 younger siblings. I love how much my Agents love their brothers and sisters- so much so that when I ask them to send me pictures of themselves they think to send me one of them with their family!

And of course, it's no surprise that Rayanne has a supportive and sweet mom who didn't miss a beat when I asked her to share images of Rayanne for her blog and happily sent these along to me:

How cute is she?!

Everyone please join me in welcoming Rayanne to the Class of 2015 Sarah Elle Photography Senior Agent model team and wish her one AWESOME time in the Czech Republic!!

Best,
Sarah

p.s. new here? Be sure to follow the facebook page to see Rayanne's Junior shoot later this month! You won't want to miss it!