So Long.... Farewell.... A-Vee-derz and WHAT?! | Hampton Roads Personal

Hi!

So, this is it. This is my very last Sunday blog post {ever?}.

 

Ok, maybe not EVER ever.

 

But I have decided to readjust my blogging schedule.

 

I realized that I absolutely struggle to wait to show you all sneak peeks from the weekend sessions and because of that the Sunday post usually gets lost in the shuffle- or WORSE it gets delayed to Monday- and well, that's just not cool.

 

I want each of you to know exactly when I will be posting my blogs and I want you to look forward to it-- not just randomly notice it when you're scrolling for the next picture from this past weekend's session.

 

So here you go: my last Sunday post.

 

You know what this means though, right?

 

That means there is a NEW scheduled day instead!

 

You guessed right: MONDAY!

 

Now every Monday morning (around 8:45 am EST) and evening (around 8:45 pm EST)  I will post the weekly blog post. It might be a post featuring a session, a personal post, or even one from a new series I'm calling "Beyond the Print."

 

So be sure to check back tomorrow for the very first scheduled MONDAY blog :)

 

And hey- at the very least it will give you something to look forward to and make Monday feel less like... well...a  MONDAY!

 

See you tomorrow!

 

Best,
Sarah

 



Nichole + Mike {Hilton Vilage} | Hampton Roads Couples Photographer

Hi!

Early in 2013 I had the pleasure of working with Nichole and Mike and their three boys for a family session before Mike left on a deployment. When I held my business birthday celebration while he was gone, Nichole messaged me to snag one of the birthday gifts; but this time around she wanted get some personal session time for just her and Mike. The thing she didn't know was that Mike had ALREADY contacted me long before the birthday celebration to set something up for when he returned! Does he win the best-deployed-husband-of-the-year award or what?!

So, the cat had to come out of the bag, or the beans had to be spilled or whatever the expression that fits the best here is... basically, the point is we had to tell Nichole! haha

Needless to say she was excited! :)

I can't tell you how much I ADORE these two. I even said to them during their shoot that when they are together I forget they're parents to three boys. To which they both laughed and said "we forget too!" haha HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!

***You'll notice in some of the shots that they're holding Starbucks cups--Since the day was pretty frigid they brought along some hot cocoa to keep warm (and they brought me one too! Doubly sweet bonus points for them!). They made for pretty cute props, too, if you ask me :)

 

As always, Nichole and Mike, it was wonderful getting to work with you! I couldn't have asked for a better session to start off the 2014 year!

Looking forward to working with you one day at your new duty station (England, baby!!)! Safe safe travels and lots of warm wishes on your new adventure :)

Best,
Sarah

Married & Phobic | 9 Goals for a Hampton Roads Portrait Photographer

Hi!

I'm married and I couldn't be happier- but the truth? I'm a commitment phobe!

It's true. When it comes to really setting things down in stone and deciding "hey this is what I'm going to do" and truly OWNING that decision: I am a total scare-d-cat! I hem. I haw. I ramble. I avoid at ALL COSTS and then finally...I JUMP!

So here I go. I am officially going to outline my goals for Sarah Elle Photography for 2014. (I avoided this last year and again avoided it this year until I was faced by a fellow tog friend who said JUST DO IT- thanks Tianna. Plus I have a good friend I meet with via skype every 2-3 weeks who forces me to set goals for the business and be held accountable for them- I officially dubbed her my accountabilibuddy :) So I kind of sort of owe it to our time together to actually make 2014 goals. See...here I go rambling and avoiding again...)

JUMP:

1. Get 3 Senior Agents for the Class of 2015
- I have found over this past year of business that I am absolutely over the moon in love with working with High School Juniors/Seniors. L-O-V-E it! So I really want to focus that love and energy and get 3 Agents this coming year (I had one this past year). 

2. Book 6 "I Love You" Sessions

- These are the "just because I love you" sessions that are such an incredible treat that very few people give themselves. They go hand in hand with my "Life: As it is" sessions where couples book a session just because they want updated pictures or it's their 6th anniversary-- no huge milestone, simply love that needs to be captured :)

3. Styled Senior

- I have this huge vision for a styled Senior shoot and believe it or not it's already in the works-- adding it the list means now I have to make sure it happens!

 

4. Streamline My Workflow

- Basically this means I want to keep things consistent. I plan to have a "start to finish" process I follow for each session and each client with whom I work. This *should* (aka WILL) help me be more efficient and in turn be able to spend more time with my family (Charlie Dog has been complaining to my husband as of late...)

5. NAIL DOWN BRANDING

- It's time to truly focus and begin confirming who SEP is and expressing that through my branding. I'm really looking forward to nailing this down in 2014 and implementing it throughout the Sarah Elle Photography experience.

which leads me to number 6:

6. Packaging

-My  next huge goal after I figure out my branding will be to express that through my packaging. I want nothing more than to be able to deliver your images and prints in the cutest most unique packaging anyone has ever seen-- figuring out what that is requires number 5 (above)--so this one is on serious hold for now. But since it's on the list it's official and I'm holding myself to it!

7. Get Published

- This is a very new one for me. It's easy for me to tell people "you won't win if you don't play" but when it comes to actually submitting my own stuff I'm all over the place. So there. It's on the list. Now I have to keep submitting sessions for publication-- no excuses!

8. Shoot 4 Installments of "Life: As it is"

I love this project of mine SO much. But I'm so sad because I feel like it has been pushed a little to the side after the first shoot this past Fall. Whether it's been because of other sessions and being "too booked" at the moment or weather pushing back a shoot and it end up having to be canceled or what have you-- it's been pushed aside for too long and I am going to make sure it continues.

9. One-on-One Mentoring

This past year I did a Q&A, a "Sounding Board Session," and a one-on-one mentoring session and I was floored at how rejuvenating and EYE-OPENING they each were! It is a serious investment in myself as a photographer and as a business owner that I feel shouldn't be overlooked- so I am going to book another one-on-one session in 2014!

So there are 9 HUGE goals for 2014 for SEP. Whenever I make concrete decisions like this I usually feel a little sick at first (and it really peaks when I hit that "OHMYGOSHWHATDIDIDO" moment) but then, almost immediately, joy and excitement and pride flood in to me with having truly owned who I am and what I want for me (and for finally making a decision)! And having actually written out my goals for 2014 and owned them? Well, now I'm  over the nerves and avoidance and ready to go!

Today is 12/5/2013. I'm officially ready to take Sarah Elle Photography and OWN 2014. 

Here goes nothing!

Best,
Sarah

Not What You Think | Hampton Roads Little Known Facts

Hi!

The other day I was talking to a fellow 'tog friend about photography business names and it came out that "Sarah Elle" is, in no way shape or form, my actual name. Cue the: tires screeching, cars crashing, heads whipping around whaaaaat?!

It's true. My name isn't Sarah Elle. My last name isn't "Elle." My middle name isn't "Elle." My maiden name isn't even "Elle." 

Truth:

I MADE IT UP.

Ok ok ok before you STONE ME for being an imposter let me explain:

As a lot of you probably already know my background and formal education is in clinical mental health counseling. When I was working with clients I was encouraged to change my online presence to anything but my first and last name so that it limited the ability for clients to "find me." Not a bad decision considering the goal of counseling is to help others through their own life struggles without bringing your own personal stuff in to it.  (And, truth be told, I have had clients find me on some of my other social networks; like LinkedIN)

So, years ago as I thought about changing my "online" persona to my real middle name, Elizabeth, I decided that was too easy and too boring and that I was going to be "more creative." I finally convinced myself that "Elle" was short for "ELizabeth" and thus Sarah Elle was created.

When I opened my photography business I liked the idea of a creative name and since I had already "created" one I decided to go with it! Lots of folks assume it's my middle name or even my maiden name but in reality it's just me with a twist ;)

So, there you have it. It's true, I'm not who you think I am. I mean, well, I'm still ME but my name isn't what you think it is. But it's not meant to be a secret- just...no one has ever asked before "WELL, WHY SARAH ELLE?" So I decided I'd just tell you myself!

There it is; the big mysterious history behind "Elle."

Best,
Sarah

And since we're talking about history and where Sarah Elle came from I thought I'd dig up this rockin' picture of me and my sister and show you a bit more of where I came from.
 I'm the ham on the right ;)

Victoria and Jaron | Hampton Roads Couples Photographer

Hi!

This post comes at almost the perfect time as tomorrow happens to be Veteran's Day- a day that has increasingly taken on more and more significance in my life as each year passes. My grandfather was a veteran. My step-father is a veteran. My cousin is a veteran. My husband is a veteran. And many many many many many of my friends, friends spouses, and Sarah Elle Photography family members are veterans.

So to be able to honor and highlight a veteran in tonight's post is extra special.

Jaron and Victoria were one of my very first clients in Virginia; so being able to work with them again was a personal treat for me! They are young, fun, super in love, and willing to let me try pretty much anything when it comes to locations, poses, theme ideas, etc.- anyone with that much trust in me is definitely high up on my list of people I love to work with! Plus they love cowboy boots and she's big on fun accessories- both things I love (be sure to check out her pink cowboy boots! Yeehaw!!)

Gah! Aren't they just so pretty?!!

On top of Jaron being a veteran this post comes at a doubly perfect time because he is about to deploy. He is about to go off to continue to fight for all of us here in the United States. And I can confidently say after having worked with these two twice now that Jaron couldn't confidently go forward in his duty without the strong support and unconditional love Victoria provides him here at home.

Jaron and Victoria it is ALWAYS my pleasure to work with you guys and I look forward to doing it again when Jaron returns!
Thank you both.

Best,
Sarah