the fix :: nashville wedding photographer

As many of you who follow me on Facebook know, this past week has been CRAZY. I flew to Nashville last Sunday, ended up in Kansas City by mid-week, and finally made it back home sweet home around one o'clock this morning. I'm exhausted and overwhelmed, but so thankful that my job allows me to visit family and friends and experience new places and things.

Last Tuesday, while in Nashville, I had the awesome opportunity to attend theFIX at the aVenue (a beautiful venue, by the way... I'm looking forward to Brittany+Jeff's reception there in the fall). I was excited to be at the event not only because I love Jasmine Star (y'all know i love me some J*... girl's got charisma like no other and is just a fountain of talent and smarts), but also because I knew I'd get to see my girl Ashley, who's helping out as part of the crew of theFIX tour.

Before the event, a group of those of us attending went out to dinner (a million thanks to Cory for coordinating) and I am so honored to have met so many friendly, enthusiastic, talented, and fun photographers that I now call my friends. I look forward to keeping up with all of you (in person and via the web) and watching your businesses grow!

I have mad respect for Jasmine and her openness and integrity in an industry filled with "secrets" and naysayers, and her message at this event provided just the dose encouragement and honesty that I needed to hear right now. Throughout the evening, among other things, she talked about her own business, allowing the struggles to be part of your journey, identifying and emphasizing your strengths, and breaking the mold by being you. 

But perhaps the most important thing I heard from Jasmine last Tuesday was the real need for photographers to stop trying to keep each other down and instead, connect with one another. Not just because it will help us survive and thrive in this business (which it will) but because we truly want to see each other succeed. I believe that caring about people and helping one another will get us much further than concerning ourselves with being envious, rude or secretive because of the so-called competition.

We are much stronger together than we are apart.

In the words of J*, can I get an amen?

I know, I know... I'm really starting to sound like a broken record with reiterating this sort of message in my blog posts, but I am so passionate about seeing my peers succeed. I am passionate about helping others. I am passionate about my own business. And I know that we will be more powerful, innovative, and successful as an industry once we learn to not only work together, but to be friends, encouragers, mentors, and supporters.

That all being said, here are a few photos I snapped at the event...

Jasmine, me, and Ashley - aren't these two ladies just lovely? (Please pay no mind to my incredibly fake smile - ahem, Ashley's fault - or the extreme paleness - I need a good dose of Vitamin D ASAP)

how-to tuesday :: same-day slideshows :: greensboro wedding photographer

Okay... so bear with me, y'all. In keeping with my promise to myself to start video blogging this year (as seen on my 101 in 1001 list), I am posting my first ever video blog for all the photography world to see. You never really notice how terrible your accent is until you see yourself on video, and then, you are overcome with humiliation like you have never known.

(Also, please let it be noted that I am typing this post from a DELL laptop while I am in Nashville recouperating from yesterday's styled shoot at Carnton Plantation - watch out for that on the blog soon - and brimming with excitement for J*'s theFIX this evening... for those Apple groupies like me, you know what a sacrifice it is to use a PC)

But for the sake of sharing and learning, here is my low-budget make that no-budget video tutorial on how to easily create a same-day slideshow on your iPad to display at your clients' wedding receptions. In hopes that my embarrassment isn't in vain, here is today's How-To-Tuesday...

Apple iPad - $400

CF Card Reader for iPad+iPad2 - $35

Snapseed - $5

iPad Frame by The Rustic Poppy - $75 (Use code glessner25 to receive 25% off any frame)

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them below or contact us.

Check out more of our wedding images here!

happy birthday dr. seuss :: greensboro photographer

Image courtesy Google.

Isn't this just the best idea to instill in our children? (I don't currently have children - well, except for my furbaby Monty - but I recite this quote to him everyday) And yet, once we grow up, we seem to forget all about our childhood dreams and ambitions, or at least push them to the back of our mind. We say we don't care what people think, but we all do. We hide our emotions or our ideas because we might be ridiculed.

I have encountered way too many people lately... well, actually, throughout my entire life... who are satisfied with mediocrity. Satisfied with giving up who they are and what they want to be for the "safe" life of a 9-to-5 job and a healthy salary. Now for those of you who have dreamed of sitting at a desk all your life and who are happy to get up and go to that job each morning, my purpose is not to offend you. Not at all. I am talking to the creatives, the thinkers, those of us who have known we were entrepreneurs ALL OUR LIVES, who stifle those ideas for the easier/safer/wayyy-less-scary route.

Since I quit my full-time job as a Marketing Director over a year ago, I've had many friends confide in me their ambitions, and as long as it's not something that's going to harm them or others, I try my best to encourage and help them. To let them know that it is possible to do whatever you dream of - I know because I'm living it. But here's the thing... 100% of the time a friend or family member confides these things to me, it's followed by a "but" or "if-only." If I had more money, if I had the talent, if I had a house, if I lived somewhere else, but what will people say, but what if I fail. (Please note that these are the same people that will try to tell you that you won't be successful at {insert your idea here} because you don't have this or can't do that - IGNORE THE HATERS). That last ones the big one... I believe that most people are afraid of trying because of their fear of failing. And for those of you who don't think you're good enough, you may not be, but there's an old saying, "Fake it 'til you make it." Take it to heart.

Today, I've been listening to world-renowned photographer Sue Bryce's creativeLIVE workshop, and she made a statement that really resonated with me. She said, "Talent will get you far but not as far as ambition."

So if you're reading this, here's my advice for you: If you have the ambition, if you have the dream, if you have the idea, if you still dream of being that ballerina, firefighter or writer that you wrote on your "When I grow up..." poster in the 1st grade, and if you're not over-the-moon happy to wake up every day and do what you do, stop complaining about it. I don't want to hear it. Change it. Quit making excuses. Have faith. The struggles will only make for a great story once you achieve your goal.

If you're single, what are you waiting for?; if you're married, I hope you are lucky enough to have a spouse as supportive as my wonderful husband; and if you have children, make sure they have a home and clothes and food. But remember that you can't tell them that they can be whatever they want to be if you aren't doing it yourself. Lead by example.

And if you need someone to encourage you, holla at me!