As a brand strategist, it’s the number one question I get around social media. “How do I grow my following?” and the answer is never what people want to hear, because it’s...
Social proof, it’s the thing we as humans need in order to build trust with anything. A new person in your community, an animal, and of course, a new brand. We want to know that it works,...
Bite Size Bits: Having a support system is the only way to run a successful business. They are the ones that spread the word about your business and the ones that hold you up when you’re...
If you’re selling to everyone, you’re already losing. Sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it? Shouldn’t you want to sell to as many people as possible? Shouldn’t your...
There is a common misconception that selling is somehow “icky.” Whether it’s the image of a used car salesman or the phone calls that interrupted your dinner as a child, we’ve all been exposed to...
There is one debate that I have again and again with brand owners and it’s the concept of freebies. There is a fear when it comes to offering something for free. That it lessens the value...
I have yet to meet a business owner who enjoyed creating their about page. Or for that matter have found a lot of value in their about page. And that’s usually because they’re making it about...
The ever growing to-do list, the new social platform that launched last week that you have to be on, taking care of the family, cleaning the house, finding an opening to see your best friend and...
You could hear the desperation in her voice as she listed her to-do list to me. 2 businesses, kids, a husband, pets, and whatever counts for self-care all folding in on her, all reminding her...
For as long as I can remember I’ve been an artist. I took private classes as a child for 6-years, I went to art school, and to this day when I can’t process emotions I head back to my...
Email will forever be my favorite marketing tool. While social get’s a lot of buzz and creates the feeling that you’re making progress in your business, an email funnel is what will...
There’s a difference between just throwing content out there to have something posted and creating content that converts. The difference is value. Having a content marketing strategy that...
“When you know your why, your what becomes more impactful” – Michael Jr. What’s your why? Why did you start your business? Was it a lifelong passion you had since you were...
I have the luxury or not worrying about photography when it comes to my brand. That’s the perk of being a photographer. But I know that’s not the case for most brands. While...
She walked into the room in a dress that made her look and feel like the queen of the world. Better yet, a boss. Hair done, outfit on, and favorite album playing and we were ready. Ready to...
“A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.” –Seth Godin....
Choosing your brand colors isn’t as simple as grabbing your favorite color and building a logo off of it. Instead, put intention to the colors you choose and the emotional response that...
“There’s nothing wrong with finding the right size and then focusing on being better. Small can be a long-term plan, not just a stepping-stone.” – Paul Jarvis What does it mean to...
I’m a photographer, so you might think I’m biased here, and that’s your right. But when it comes to your brand, having cohesion across all platforms is so important it actually...
You started your business with the hopes of making a difference. To reach your audience and tell them what their life could be like. To solve a problem and ultimately make the world a better...
“More what you’d call guidelines than actual rules” – Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl The thing that makes it easiest to run my business is creating...
I’m gonna come out and say it with the cold hard truth, because I care and want your business to flourish. Your website, marketing, social media, brand is NOT about you. I know, that cuts you...
Ever been on a website that was impossible to navigate? Like no matter where you went on it you couldn’t find your answers. (I’m thinking any government website I’ve ever been...
As a brand you’re here to solve problems. It doesn’t matter what you sell. You saw an area of the market that wasn’t working and you created something to fix that gap. So what wasn’t working that...
She stared at me like deer in the headlights when I asked her to tell me the specifics about her audience. Not the ideal customer we had created together, but who was actually showing up and...
The brands I most want to work with I start by following on social media. After all, that’s where people go to get social isn’t it? Follow Your Dream Clients You follow their accounts so that you...
Her name is Meghan. She’s 32, lives in Seattle, and vacations in Vail, Colorado. She’s started her own sustainable clothing line which she designed all on her own. Meghan is married...
When you need an electrician do you go to best buy and talk to the TV sales man? Or if you need a haircut do you talk to your nail technician? No. Why? Because they aren’t the expert. You...
How much does your audience know about you? Not just what you sell or where you’re located but about what makes you tick. Do they know your favorite show or how your team likes to get together...
When I first started in marketing I thought that the goal was to simply get a product in front of an audience as often as possible. Why wouldn’t someone want to buy what I had to offer? I...
Picture your favorite brands. What comes to mind? Is it the sweater you bought from them last fall? Was it the storefront you visit every few months? Or was it the photos that captured your eye...
When you choose to go into business not just to make money or serve your customers but to change the world, that’s something you should be talking about. Today, sustainability in business...
A one-liner, an elevator pitch, an ice breaker, whatever you call it, it’s the way to market yourself in 30-seconds or less. So who are you? I don’t mean that in an existential kind of way....
Let me tell you a secret. The most powerful marketing tool in your business is your email list. More than just a way to announce sales, emails are marketing that your audience has agreed to....
2020 was an awakening, both for my business and my personal life. It was a shedding of skin, a baptism, a detox. What 2020 did for so many of us, good or bad, was to reveal where we were in our...
Every piece of your brand should have consistency. This is true even in how you speak to your audience. As you continue to get clear on who you are and who you serve you’ll develop your...
When we moved into our dream home a year ago, I wanted my office to be an artistic space without limits. One that I would be excited to come and work in and feel inspired by. What I didn’t...
Some of the greatest minds in history talk about their daily/morning routines as if they were a religious act. Because in most cases they are. Which is why we all need to know how to create a...
January is the month of habits. Or is it the month of habit failures? I suppose you could look at it either way. We get so excited about the prospect of January and all that it brings and in less...
Every great story starts with a plan. That plan might be as small as getting from here to here, but along the way a more developed plan arises from trial and error. Think of any great movie...
We all launch things throughout the year. Whether that’s a new product, a special event, or a campaign for a sale or just to share content. Launches are happening all the time and...
“Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing” – Judy, The Santa Clause Whether you follow Rachel Hollis and invest in her Start Today journal or talk to a yoga teacher, you’ll find...
We over-estimate what we think can accomplish in 1-year and under-estimate what we can accomplish in 5 years. Which is why we all need to learn how to create goals for our life and businesses....
I love working on my website. It’s an obsession I have. Or it’s that feeling of being a coder in an action movie where I’m saving the world on the back of a website. Not that I...
When it comes to your marketing plan this year, where do referrals lie? Are they even in your plan? Do you even know how to get referrals? Here’s the thing, we trust our network. When they say...
“Let’s get down to business…” (Insert dancing to Mulan song the rest of the day). But in all seriousness, this year is about getting down to business. It’s about...
As a sustainable brand, you might feel like you’re already giving back to the world with your business. I mean, what’s better than a product that supports the environment and the...
This year, we have been afraid for our health, taking measures to ensure that our immune systems are strong and our mental health is in balance. We’ve learned that community is integral to our...
Intentional living means to make deliberate decisions and live with thought. It’s no longer going with the status quo or simply doing something because you’ve always done it. Instead, you’re...
In Christmas movies and holiday memories we think of December as being this time of rest. The world slows down after a crazy Summer of playing in the sun. Things slow down as we return back to...
Since starting my journey to living more sustainably I’ve started to see the world in a whole new light. From our choice of laundry detergent to the clothes we buy and even how we want to...
You’ll notice that the end of the year is when everything goes on sale. Every single store has some sort of promotion starting around Black Friday and the prices stay low until Christmas or the...
You can’t have it all. Even Beyonce doesn’t have it all.There is this idea flying around the internet that if you just did it right you could have it all. Be the perfect mother, run a...
In July, I started a new journey to living more consciously and making more sustainable purchases. Part of this was to remove as much plastic from my life as possible, especially one-use plastic....
Your business has nothing to do with you. This my friends is the hardest idea to grasp when it comes to your business. You spend all your time thinking about and working on your business so...
Advent is The Season of Waiting During the advent season the church I attended (before COVID) would gather outside the building before the service started. We called this the waiting room because...
Where the mind goes, energy flows. This is the first step to practicing Thanksgiving every day. This has been a constant theme in my life as of late. It could be because I’m in the middle...
In most cases, your website is the home to your customers. It’s there to answer all their burning questions like when are you open, what do you provide but most importantly how will you...
It’s been just over 10-years since social media came into our lives, and yet, it feels like we’ve never done business without it. As small business owners, running social media on top...
There’s a lot that has changed this year. Traveling, seeing friends and family, and visiting the small businesses on the corner, all look differently. 2020 has changed the way the world...
The holidays always feel like a hectic time in business. The combination of holiday sales, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday, creates a lot of competition and almost no way to...
There comes a time in your life when you need a vacation. I mean, desperately need to get out of town, gain some perspective and break your routines. This year, living through a pandemic, has...
In the last few years, I’ve transitioned out of my super saver ways and leaned into making purchases of quality. I’ve grown tired of having things break after only owning them for a...
It costs 5X more to get new customers than it does to build lifelong customers. Can we just sit on that for a moment? 5X more money, 5X more work and a lower conversion rate for someone who...
New is always better. At least that’s what we’ve been told. But the more I think about the past, the way our grandparents would have approached life. I start to think that maybe...
Think about your favorite brands. The influencers you follow, the retail stores you can’t get enough of, the package free products you sit by the door and wait to arrive in the mail. Every brand...
Marketing is actually pretty simple. You’re just getting the word out about the product/service you have so that the world can see what a better place it is with you in their lives. The...
I anticipate Fall, the season of change, all year long. The shorter days, the rest that comes after a hectic Summer, the sweaters that have been hidden in your closet since May. For me, the...
I read a lot of business books. Most of them come from the same point of view and all of them hone in on the keys to a successful business–Providing value. But The Company of One was different...
There is no doubt that we have a social dilemma. Our obsession with our screens is affecting our community, driving depression rates and even distorting our bodies. Even now as I type this...
I used to hate editing photos. It actually pained me to get onto Lightroom to go through the hundreds of images I would take (A little trigger happy) and find my top choices to then slide some...
How is it that some days I feel like there are exactly 35.25 hours in the day while other days I’m pretty sure there were 5? They say time is linear, but I’m starting to wonder if...
Stories, they are the thing that teach us new lessons, share our history and connect us with a stranger. After thousands of years it’s the tool that has been passed down generation after...
Business is personal. Let’s start with that. You’ve probably heard of the saying “This is business, it isn’t personal,” but in truth, everything about business is personal. And if it’s not, it’s...
Feeling like you’ll never get more customers to your website? Or maybe you just want to build the long game strategy to go along with your marketing budget. Whatever the reason, building...
As a photographer I have the luxury of having thousands of photos at my disposal to use on my website, in my social feeds or in my advertisements. Because the product I sell also happens to be...
Growing your business is like growing a garden- stick with me here. You need consistency in taking care of your garden from when you water, to the quality of water to the environment you’re are...
Creating a cohesive brand is the key to transitioning from just any old brand to a successful brand. It sounds simple enough and yet when we show up online it’s easy to forget the...
While we all know how to use Instagram to show off our latest vacation or the dinner you had at our favorite restaurant, utilizing Instagram for your business isn’t always the easiest thing...
Every year I choose a theme for the year to use to guide me in my decision making. I’ve noticed that without even thinking about it I often go back and forth between two main...
If you missed Episode 5 of my podcast, you’ll want to catch up on that here and see why you need a newsletter in your marketing strategy. To put it simply it’s a strong strategy to connect with...
I’m in a lot of Facebook Groups for business. I like to see the conversations around marketing that people are having and the questions the facing. I caught a thread that talked about how...
Not every great story starts with “Once upon a time” or even “In a galaxy far far away“. But every great marketing strategy revolves around a story. It’s a tool...
An hour away from the city of Denver sits a forest with a magical river that runs white. The mineral release from somewhere turns the rocks white and river’s water a beautiful turquoise that...
If there was one thing I would make sure every brand has it’s a client profile or ideal customer avatar as some call it. It’s easy to think that we know who our perfect customer is...
The very best marketing starts with your brand’s photography. It’s the opening line into your brand. The “come hither” that pulls a customer in and asks them to stay...
The hot Summer sun hitting your skin. The sound of kids building in anticipation as they know that their Friday treat is coming. Friends you can’t help but laugh with while music plays in the...
She said to me “an email newsletter is too expensive. I’m just going to focus on growing my social following instead. I wouldn’t even know what to put an email newsletter...
Sometimes I forget that my passions have been a part of me since childhood. I thought my newfound obsession for living sustainably was something I developed after college and ebbed and flowed...
Harry Potter was the hero, Merry + Pippin were the jesters, Yoda was the sage, Edward Cullen was the rebel. We’ve seen the archetypes of stories over and over again but have you ever thought how...
They call it the monkey-mind for a reason. Racing through a million thoughts, usually not one of them serving you. I for one, know this monkey-mind all too well. It’s the reason I started...
If I were to hop on your website or your social media for 10 seconds would I know exactly who you are? Would I know what you sold and who you sold it to? Getting that clear in your brand is hard....
As a child, we went camping once. One time in all the Summers we spent together and it was less than glamourous. Ironically, it happened to be in the same city as our camping trip this year but...
I open up my MacBook Pro, click on my internet browser, type the URL of where I’m going and wait. A hot cup of tea in hand, curious about what I’m about to discover. Hopeful that this site is the...
I believe that who you know is 75% of success. It takes a village to do anything big. Hard work and skill play a part too, but getting in the door, finding the prospects, or having the word...
I walked through the aisles of target and almost had a panic attack. The overwhelm of what lies ahead was too much. Everywhere I looked I saw plastic. When I considered trying to reduce the...
I run the finances in our household. Not because my husband can’t, ironically he’s in finance, but because it gives me confidence in our spending and our life decisions. There is...
Lesha Estrada showed up to my house looking ready for a home visit. Beautiful, professional, and eager to teach something new, not unlike how I met her 5 years earlier at a CrossFit gym. Seeing...
Summer begins on July 4th. At least, that’s how it feels for me. The feeling of warm air on our skin, the smell of BBQ at the family get together and the promise of fireworks at the end of...
Holidays that involve gift-giving often leave me with anxiety. That doesn’t say much since I often have anxiety, but the need to give the perfect gift often leaves me feeling paralyzed. The art...
We have been dreaming of having a dog since we first started dating. Stories of our pups from childhood have filled the conversations over the years and we knew that after we got married and...
At the age of 8, I started painting my parent’s mailbox. It made me feel like a professional artist and it gave my parents a personalized mailbox that stood out from the rest in the neighborhood....
I can still remember the entirety of our wedding week. The Breakfast at Tiffany’s inspired bachelorette party, the Film on the Rocks screening of 10 Things I Hate About You, my wedding...
Southern Women raised me. This may feel like an irrelevant statement but when it comes to make-up it made all the difference. You see at an early age we started wearing make-up. Not because it...
I remember my first figure drawing class like it was yesterday. A college course where nude models came and sat for 2 hours at a time and we drew. Learning the body, understanding the structure...
Warm snuggles on a cool night, endless kisses any time of day, someone to play with when no one is around, and someone who is so excited to see you when you get home or wake up you feel like a...
The dream: A beautiful wooden basket with a red plaid blanket. A meal that looks like a personal chef came over to cook for you. Dishes that are pristine and beautiful with a place in your basket...
What does happiness mean? Our founding fathers made a point of saying that a basic human right what to be able to pursue happiness, but what does that look like? Is happiness getting everything...
It’s the piece of you the world sees more than anything. You bring it with you wherever you go. It’s your first line of defense. And the first sign that something isn’t working...
I was taught at a young age that I couldn’t wear white until after Memorial Day. Then after Labor Day, white was forbidden until next year. Being a child I just went with this, these were...
We talked on the phone forever, as old best friends do. Sharing the stories of life, being stuck at home, and our dreams of the future. In a small, soft voice she shared with me her secret. She...
If It all started in 6th grade with a binder entitled “Revolution”, her first step on a long road to finding restorative justice. 13-year-olds often have big dreams, but Emily...
It’s been 2 months since I’ve had fresh flowers in my home and I feel like I’m dying. That might be dramatic, but I’m sticking with what I said. There is something magical...
Jeans Have you ever sat down and really thought about your style? What outfits, colors, or specific articles of clothing do you come back to when you want to feel your best? Ironically,...
We would sit on the couch after watching a show or a movie and talk about the future. A future with a dog and a house that fit all our dreams inside of it. While the 900-square foot condo we...
I should have been from the South. I don’t know what it is about Southern charm that captivates me so, but I’m obsessed. So much so, that I’m driving my husband mad in quarantine as I make him...
The smell of BBQ pits has started to fill the air. The leaves on the trees have finally bloomed and you can feel the temperature change minute by minute as you lift your face to the sun and let...
I still cry over our canceled trip to the beach. I needed it. I need the healing powers of salt water, the ability to breathe alongside the waves, and the ever-present stickiness of humidity to...
I don’t know about you, but I can feel the uncertainty floating in the air. It’s so thick I could almost grab it. It’s been this way since Quarantine started. Never quite sure what’s going to...
We had been waiting two years for her to die. Tiptoeing around whether or not she would be here, my husband and I had gotten engaged in a hurry because we didn’t think she was going to make...
Unlike getting dressed in the morning where you have more options than you know what to do with, choose a style of content for your brand is pretty simple. While there are few style choices, they...
There seems to be a common thought around the world today, that if you aren’t going to leave your house, there isn’t a reason to get dressed. Sitting in loungewear all day has become...
I’ve been a frugal person for as long as I can remember. For me, money has always made me anxious. It’s probably an emotion passed down from my grandmother to my mother and then down to me. I was...
Laughter that fills the air like the smell of cookies coming out of the oven, an energy that keeps you awake long after your usual bedtime and a connection that reminds you why you fell in love...
What do you give to the woman that gave you everything for Mother’s Day? Or what about to the new mom that’s figuring things out and falling in love all over again, ready to celebrate her...
A month locked away with anyone could be a challenge. If it were me and my sister, a trial for murder would probably be taking place right now. If it were me and my Dad, there would be lines...
Never in my life did I think I would walk into a store with a mask on. The first time we did it, we went into Home Depot where we would return home to plant grass. I felt like the movie Fun with...
On March 13, 2020, before the chaos of quarantine was put into place, before the world completely flipped upside down, a miracle occurred. Ayden Elizabeth Hammond came into the world at 6 lbs 12...
You don’t have to be the girl that always has her hands on her hips or the Will Ferrell of the group having no idea what to do with your hands in every photo. While posing may take practice...
As women, so much of our identities are told to us. From an early age, we learn to be pretty. To talk, walk, act like a lady which includes not being bossy, overbearing or throwing tantrums. From...
It seems that we aren’t out of the wood when it comes to quarantine or social distancing. While we had hoped to be out of our houses by May, it’s looking like that may not happen here...
For years I’ve asked my husband to learn how to dance with me. While I took hip-hop classes a hundred years ago in my adolescence and found what it means to be comfortable with your own body,...
“I didn’t recognize you without a hat!” I get it all the time. My hats have become my signature and I’m not mad about it, probably because they are the accessory that gives me the feeling I can...
There is a sense of wonder that occurs when you walk into a small shop for the first time and breathe in the smell of freshly poured candles and see little trinkets that bring a smile to your...
I called them dragonflies as a kid. Butterflies are sweet, pretty things that you frolic through fields and catch. Dragon flights are thick, bulky and scary looking. They move quickly with power...
We walked through the house empty and smelling of fresh paint dreaming about what it could be like to live here. The couch would go there, the dining room table over there and someday when we had...
You know that hat you wear that makes you feel better than Beyonce? Or the shirt you wear whenever you have a big meeting you need to land? Or perhaps is those shoes that make you feel sexy as...
We make date night a regular thing in our house which can make coming up with new ideas a bit tricky. Add the bonus of not being allowed to leave your home and date night just got a whole hell of...
We've all been there before. Sitting at our desk in the middle of meeting and noticing ourselves on screening thinking "is that really what I look like?" Surely, I'm not that pale. With these...
Basic Fear: Separation or loss Basic Desire: Wholeness Healthy: Enneagram 3 (Drive for reconciliation) Unhealthy: Enneagram 6 (Secure peace at all cost which causes anxiety) In every community...
When I was 5 years old I would wear every piece of jewelry I owned. I wore my shoes on the wrong feet because I found that comfortable (for whatever reason) and I liked to mix patterns, at lot....
Basic Fear: Being controlled Basic Desire: Protect self Healthy: Enneagram 2 (fighting for justice) Unhealthy: Enneagram 5 (analyze others to manipulate) The Challenge, the boss, the Enneagram...
Growing up in my house, you wore lipstick. Maybe not as a kid but by college, it was a requirement. I was raised by southern women. We drink Dr. Pepper and we wear lipstick, that’s just how...
Basic Fear: Pain Basic Desire: To be satisfied Healthy: Enneagram 5 (mental clarity) Unhealthy: Enneagram 1 (hypercritical) When you think of the life of the party, you are often thinking of...
When is the last time you took your relationship to the mat? The yoga mat that is. I don’t know about you but I’m feeling the claustrophobia of being stuck inside. Even though we live...
Basic Fear: Without support Basic Desire: To be supported Healthy: Enneagram 9 (Find peace) Unhealthy: Enneagram 3 (overwork themselves to calm distress) I love sixes. Maybe because I’m married...
What does date night look like in the age of coronavirus? Different. It looks like not going out to restaurants or spending time up in the mountains. It looks like finding new ways to work on...
Basic Fear: Being Helpless Basic Desire: Competent Healthy: Enneagram 8 (assert what they know to be true) Unhealthy: Enneagram 7 (let go and over-consume) The Enneagram five, also known as the...
Basic Fear: Not Signifiant Basic Desire: To be themselves Healthy: Enneagram 1 (they find healthy structure) Unhealthy: Enneagram 2 (have toxic emotions to draw attention) The Romantic is a type...
For Christmas, I asked for a new devotional. As a recovering evangelical I crave the spirituality of my childhood without the need for certainty that came with it. I missed the community and the...
Basic Fear: Being worthless Basic Desire: Feel valuable Healthy: Enneagram 6 (want to see the success of others) Unhealthy: Enneagram 9 (become lazy) Oh man, this is where I get real vulnerable...
Basic Fear: Unloved Basic Desire: Feel love Healthy: Enneagram 4 (take back their power and embrace creativity) Unhealthy: Enneagram 8 (overly involved and need to be in control) Ah, the...
Basic Fear: Being bad/corrupt Basic Desire: To be good Healthy: Enneagram 7 (let themselves off the hook) Unhealthy: Enneagram 4 (Believe they are alone) For those lucky enough to be a type one...
I should preface this with the fact that we all have all the Enneagram numbers within us but we’ll often find ourselves most dominant in one of them. The dominance is based on how we are lost and...
It’s no secret that I love TOMS. Obsessed might be the more accurate word, but I digress. I not only Love TOMS shoes, their one-for-one model, and their travel stories but I love the brand...
On Christmas eve we arrived at my parent’s house with the expectation of watching Christmas movies by the fireplace and eating the amazing Chili Clayton had cooked the night before. My Dad,...
I’ve taken every personality quiz there is out there. Including what Hunger Games character are you (obviously, I’m Katniss). But truth be told, I almost never feel like I’m...
The ring we often put the most thought into is our engagement ring. For good reason! Its the statement piece. Its got all the character and is the accessory we’ve been dreaming of since we...
Let’s talk about life. I mean real life. Not the pretty picture I can paint you about being in a relationship, falling in love and having a wedding. This is the true picture of being...
Telling a story is a craft. One that has been passed on through our ancestors for thousands of years. It’s the power of stories that connect us and help us understand where we fit in this world....
When you think about a wedding ring it seems simple. A pretty piece of jewelry you wear on your finger to let the world know you’re taken. But in reality, the wedding ring is so much more...
I love walking into a home and seeing the walls filled with memories that are special to them. Photos that span their entire lives and show the years of love they’ve shared together. To me,...
Not everyone gets engagement photos, and really until that last 20 years, they weren’t even a requirement when it came to wedding planning. Most likely, it was wedding photographers looking...
EEEEEK! It happened! You fell in love, you started dreaming of a life together and then he asked. In some elaborate way, in the presence of your friends and family or if you’re like me, in...
Out in the countryside of Kentucky, roughly an hour away from Louisville, you’ll find wide-open spaces lined for miles with fences and filled with horses. Better known as horse country, the...
As a child, I dreaded the family Christmas card. That is until we actually started getting it ready for the mail. While the idea of sitting around the table stuffing envelopes sounds terrible,...
Aprons, flour flying and sprinkles everywhere. It doesn’t change much over the years, cookie baking still makes a mess and still brings so much joy to my heart. To be honest, most years, I use...
The first time I met Sarah, I didn’t think I could meet anyone else with so much energy and joy. And then I met Cory. These two goofballs together would get anyone laughing, which made this...
When I was 10 years old I dressed up as Claude Monet for Halloween and was the only one my age who got it. The parents found me adorable, but my classmates just saw me dressed up as an artist...
I’ve associated clothes with big moments in my life. The outfit I wore on our first date, the clothes I had on when he proposed and of course the dress I wore when I said: “I do”. For me, the...
It’s the way they laugh that tells you everything about their relationship. How they don’t hold back and let it all out, as if the sole purpose of their relationship was to smile until their...
Her clothes were scattered all over the floor, the closet half empty and the sound of despair in her voice when she said, “I have no idea what to wear.” We’ve all been there before. Unsure what...
When I started my new full-time job it became clear that Clayton (my husband) and I weren’t getting enough quality time together. Between our two busy schedules, we were losing out on our...
Lesha told Mark she wanted a photo shoot that would capture their love story. Mark’s response? “What is our love story, going to work and playing with the dog together?” Lesha just laughed. She...
I can still feel the brisk air of the top of the 14er where I told him I loved him for the first time. With mountaintops surrounding us, the warm sun hitting the skin not covered by layers of...
(In reference to your 20’s) Now’s the time to be massively risk-oriented and try everything you want to try. There’s no “wrong” move you can make. If you genuinely want to spend every minute...
I can list out all the photos in my life that mean the most to me. The first being my grandparent’s wedding photos. Photos that they didn’t spend much on but that captured the beauty of an era...
Every year in Denver a sunflower field pops up somewhere near the Denver International airport. Where it will be is a matter of exploration since it’s never in the same spot twice. However, when...
I’d been waiting to see that smile for two years. In reality, I’ve been waiting to see both those smiles. My sister, MaryAnne, and her husband had been on the adoption path for a few years and...
The day begins before the sun even rises, with a heat that overwhelms the streets, causing your whole body to glisten with sweat. The sounds of car horns fill the air as the day gets its start...
We all know that one person who looks good in every photo and we start to believe that there is just something wrong with us. We are obviously just not attractive. WRONG! Being photogenic is a...
Remember when you used to print out a map before you drove somewhere? Mapquest was my jam in High School. Or even before that when you would use a fold-out map or one of those crazy huge books...
In a recent post, I broke down the two best places to build your website. The next step is actually creating the website. Having a background in graphic design and website design this has made...
My first ever website was for the business I started in High School. A clothing line that donated all the proceeds to charities in Africa. It wasn’t a sustainable business model but I was 16. I...
I’m only as good as the last book I read. My mother says this all the time in her therapy practice, but it’s true. All my best advice comes from whatever book is on my bedside table (you don’t...
I have a morning routine that doesn’t fail. Waking up at 5:30-6:00 am every day (weekends mostly included) to send out emails, write in my journal, enjoy a cup of tea by the fire and catch up on...
I’ve been saving since I was a kid. I knew that when I put money in the bank I would never see it again. At least not until college, which was a hundred years away so I might as well have never...
A few weeks ago I did a Facebook live on creating white backdrop product photos. Why, you might ask, would I give you the tools to create your own images when my whole business is built on taking...
I’ve had a plan since I was born. Okay, maybe not that early. But I started planning early on. I was the girl who planned my birthday parties and planned out my life course in detail (even when I...
They were all laughing, and I felt like I could have been the butt of their joke. It’s high school, and I was the kid that could hang out with any group. The Floater. I liked it this way. I got...
Many of us have used a photographer for some occasion in our life. Whether that was for graduation photos, a wedding, a newborn or the dreaded Christmas card photo, we’ve worked with someone and...
At the end of the year things slow down, the days grow shorter and the darkness spreads. Thoughts of the holidays and of the year behind us flood our mind as we prepare for the new year and the...
As a commercial photographer, I get to work with some pretty extraordinary brands, but it’s the growing brands that I connect with the most. Brands like Pearl Street Lights. A soy candle...
There is a part of us that craves the old fashion way of doing things. Getting back to our roots, making things with our hands and living a much simpler life that speaks to all of us on some...
Minimalism. It’s a popular word nowadays, one that I’m sure is getting overused like so many hot words are. But it’s one that still speaks to me and my motivations. Minimalism to me is all about...
Let’s talk about The Divine. If you use God, Allah, The Universe, Mother Nature or any other name, I want to talk about them. Rob Bell came out with a podcast not too long ago called Leviticus,...
Editors note: I am not a medical practitioner nor am I certified in nutrition or health. Through research, personal experience and testimonies from others I’ve written this post. If you...
I had gotten this book for Christmas at least five years ago and read half of it then put it down and forgot about it. That happens way more often than I’d like to admit. It wasn’t that the book...
You can feel it in your bones, the change of the seasons. The weather doesn’t have to completely change for you to know that a new season has sprung and your body is craving new things. For me, a...
I don’t believe in diets. Not even the Keto diet. I believe in choosing to eat foods that nourish your body, give you energy, make you look and feel your best, and being able to sustain this...
Hiking boots laced. Trekking poles in hand. Camelback full. Snacks packed. It’s a routine we’ve become very familiar with this summer as we head back to the mountains to see if the Fall colors...
What would the world look like if we were encouraged to be left alone? To no longer work in open floor plans. To work from home everyday or for at least a few hours a week and to have time to...
The sound of oldies music coming from the living room while the smell of Glass-plus (Windex) filled the air. There was a coziness to weekend morning in our home, especially in the winter as our...
Reduce, reuse, recycle, refurbish. There are plenty more “re” words to add to that list, but those four cover the works. While practicing minimalism I’ve been trying hard to reduce and reuse in...
This post was originally posted on the Revo blog. One day when I was in middle school, my mother and I went shopping and found a pair of sunglasses we loved at a shop in the mall. There was...
Who knew that food made such a difference in all areas of your life? From emotions to exhaustion the right foods can be the difference between a good day or a bad one. This becomes even truer...
I’ve entered the season of complete chaos. I work for an International Film Festival by day and we’re days away from the 12-day affair. Life is already moving faster than ever and it’s hard to...
Autumn. It’s the cold air and sunny days that get to me. The temperature dropping enough to wear jeans and light sweaters but a jacket isn’t needed yet. It’s the way the sunlight hits the...
Scratch. Itch. Repeat. This has been my life ever since I was a child. I remember the years where I bit my nails and had to use the cap of a pen to scratch my eczema because it itched that bad....
When the world is moving to fast it might be time for you to slow down. Whether you were taught that more is more or are just stuck in a cycle of doing and wanting and moving way too fast, it’s...
“All disease begins in the gut” – Hippocrates It started at the beginning of the second grade. I remember always being sick. The kind of sick where you slept through most of the day and...
When I was a little girl, I dreamt of what my life would look like when I got older. Having my own place to live, marrying the man of my dreams, pursuing art and social justice, becoming...
Editors note: I am not a medical practitioner nor am I certified in nutrition or health. Through research, personal experience and testimonies from others I’ve written this post. If you...
Depression, anxiety and an extreme comparison problem are running amuck in our society. Maybe it’s the growing cities and close spaces to live in, or maybe it’s the fact that your...
Editors note: I am not a medical practitioner nor am I certified in nutrition or health. Through research, personal experience and testimonies from others I’ve written this post. If you...
Let me preface this by saying I’ve never been good at staying in one direction. To me there are always so many new things to see, experiences to try and knowledge to gain that even when I choose...
We’ve all been told that antioxidants are good for us and to eat our vegetables. But what does this mean? What is an antioxidant, where do we find them and what are they doing for us?...
The trending #MantraMonday is growing by the day; even if it isn’t Monday. It’s an idea that a beautiful phrase said over and over again will somehow change us. And in some ways it does. There is...
Editors note: I am not a medical practitioner nor am I certified in nutrition or health. Through research, personal experience and testimonies from others I’ve written this post. If you...
When I was growing up the Popcorn shirt was the shirt of the decade. A shirt that looked like it could fit a doll on the hanger but stretched to fit any person. It came in a shiny assortment of...
Yesterday I sat and stared at my Facebook business page wondering why it wasn’t connecting with me. I recognize that the disconnect isn’t the top reason for my lower engagement,...
When I was ten years old, I fell in love with activism. At a time in my life when my anxiety disorder was at it’s worst, I became shy and introverted even though I’m a natural born...
I remember teaching myself Photoshop before I ever knew I wanted to be a photographer. I focused more on the graphics I could create to add to the clothing line I had started in high school....
If there’s one thing we don’t have enough of we’d say it’s time. Our to-do lists are long, our dreams are big and time is limited. There always has to be a creative...
Photography will change your business. Those are some big words, and it’s easy for me to say, I’m a photographer. But they’re true. I could give you a list of articles that will...
There are so many different ways to approach Instagram it’s a little overwhelming. As I’m struggling to find what works for my Instagram I’ve learned a lot about how others are...
In soccer, growing up, we always got team photos. Every year a professional photographer would come out, take pictures of us on our own and take pictures of the whole team together. I never...
We all feel it. It doesn’t matter what age you are or what gender or race you are if you are human then you’ve felt like a poser at some point in your life. It comes with the...
When I first started taking photos with a DSLR camera, it was the background blur that I fell in love with. I wasn’t sure how I was even creating that effect, but I saw how it made my...
We are surrounded by light all the time, whether it’s light from your home, light from the sun or light from the moon. If we can see anything, there is light. It’s probably no wonder...
I’m sitting on a park bench taking a break from a long day of work. I can feel the cold air blow against one cheek, and the hot Colorado sun kisses the other, and all over a sudden, I...
No, I’m not asking you to marry me, though that’s sweet you thought that. I’m talking about that good old social engagement you’ve been avoiding on your Instagram,...
I have been living on Instagram lately. If you could build a stylized Teepee, as you see in every cute Instagram children’s room, and set up shop on Instagram I would be there; sipping my...
Surprisingly enough I had shy tendencies as a child. While still an extrovert I suffered from a lot of anxiety and therefore didn’t always like having company over or going to crowded...
I used to think that just posting on social media was enough. I created some content, and I shared it. That should build my following and grow my business, right? I’m sorry to say,...
As a child, I wanted to grow up to be an elephant. That was a realistic dream at the time and still something I’m trying to figure out how to do. Until I figure out that dream, I wanted to become...
Numbers have never been my strong suit. Not that I don’t appreciate them but we just never really connected the way I would hope. That’s why when it comes to the things I shoot I like to keep my...
The internet is a beautiful place. Where else could you go to get all your questions answered and resources provided? As business owners, it’s easy to feel like you have the world at your...
The most successful people in the world have a set morning routine. Waking up every day with the same motions helps you get more done and prepare for a day. By having a set list of little wins...
My sister and her husband have been in the process of adopting a child for about a year. It’s a process that is long and hard and heartbreaking but yet worth every bump along the ride. You...
White Balance, while not one of the three pillars of photography, is still high on the list of priorities when taking a photo. Measured in Kelvin, white balance determines the overall color of an...
You get home from a long day of work, pour yourself a glass of wine or grab and beer and you head straight to the couch. Let’s be honest; it’s the only thing you can bear to do right...
As you begin to break into photography and figure out what it is you’re doing with your smartphone or your DSLR camera you come across the setting of ISO. ISO stands for International...
As a photographer, I can see the abilities that photographs have on the brands I work with and the people I’ve photographed. But as a marketer, I can’t begin to explain the power and...
The number one struggle I have as a photographer is light. The light will never be the right color, the right intensity, or coming from the right angle. As an artist, this will be something I...
Photography doesn’t have to be hard. Yes, it is an artform, No, you are not born being good at it. Like all things, photography takes a lot of practice and education to get it down. People...
This year I seem to be doing a lot of traveling; leaving every couple of weeks for a new adventure and a new state. (Hopefully, some new countries will be in my future too!) Before I leave for a...
The following is an article I wrote for The Good Trade magazine to bring together two of my passions, the outdoors and social justice. To read the full article click here. Ethically-Made Winter...
Let’s be real, marketing is hard. There’s really nothing about it that’s easy. It takes a lot of thought, a lot of effort and works best when you plan ahead. When you think of...
I’ve had the same car since I was a Freshman in college. Good Ol’ Cynthia has been good to me and gotten me everywhere I’ve needed to go. We’ve been through a lot together...
In the past few years, my travels have taken me to some new and more local places; mostly, to my fiance’s hometown in Indiana. A couple times of year we fly into Cincinnati to spend time...
2 years ago I was the healthiest I had ever been while I was doing Crossfit. Yes, it’s true I was a part of the cult. Although I will say the gym I attended was a bit different from the...
The winter is coming. Finally! With the dropping of temperature and the promise of snow, there’s a sense of adventure in the air. The Colorado winters bring so many different things to do...
I’ve lived in Colorado my entire life and it wasn’t till a year ago when I was 24 that I finally figured out how to dress for the winters here. As someone who likes to look nice...
It’s no secret, Fall is my favorite season. There’s a lot of reasons for that. The colors that overwhelm the landscapes, the drop in temperature and the clothes that better fit my...
I may never get to photograph anyone as attractive as Whitney or Jenny again. At least, that’s what they would tell you. And It’s just that kind of sarcastic humor that makes me love...
Tiny houses, limited clothing in your closet, traveling the globe full-time, and giving away as much as you can. These are the things you hear the most often about Minimalism. And while these are...
The first thing I ever wanted to be when I grew up was an elephant. Not a zookeeper or a tour guide in Africa, I wanted to be a real live elephant. Big belly, big ears, and trunk included. I...
I’ve had a love affair with fashion since I was a kid. When I was in high school I was sure I’d end up in fashion school in college, with my own line by thirty. Things never actually...
I love to stay up on current trends, the latest and greatest gear and of course education that can help with any aspect of my life. Needless to say, I read a lot. While my sources for inspiration...
We met in the middle of Downtown Denver to rent a Cadillac CT6 for our drive to the mountains. Cara (Never Skip Brunch) and I had become fast friends after connecting on Instagram. So fast that...
Fall, it’s my favorite season. The golden colors that absorb the light just right, the drop in temperature, the freshness of the air that hits your lungs, the warm sweaters, fireplaces, and...
Clayton and I awoke to a rainy day, but we had vowed that we would go hiking rain or shine. In Colorado, the Fall only lasts 2-3 weeks and we didn’t want to miss the peak colors in the...
The rain comes down hard like it usually does in Colorado. Through the screen windows, you can smell the fresh air that rain creates and feel the mist of the drops being split by the screen. As I...
As I’ve worked on growing my commercial photography business this summer I’ve learned a few things about the people I most want to work with. The small brands creating high-quality and...
If you’re anything like me then life is just better when you’re by the water. It doesn’t matter if it’s the ocean, a lake or a river, being by the water brings a sense of peace and perspective....
Our world can start to look dull. After seeing the same things over and over again day after day we often lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us. I always enjoy having friends and family come...
Adventures are everywhere you look. You really can make an adventure out of pretty much any experience, but when you come to Colorado you’re usually looking for an adventure that’s better than...
Colorado has some of the most amazing views to see and mountains to climb. One of our most famous landscapes happens to be 4 hours south of Denver in the San Luis Valley, The Colorado Sand Dunes....
The majority of all my shoots take place in the Rocky Mountains or forests nearby but I’m not looking for amazing landscapes to capture or searching for wild animals to snap. As a visual...
I was immediately captivated by Alyssa’s look. She has a style all her own with an attitude to match and is possibly one of the coolest people I’ll ever meet. She stands firm in her...
He likes chocolate milk, she likes champagne, so a top of the mountain toast made for some interesting photos. But that’s what I love most about Amanda and Jon; they have so much fun just...
As of today (Memorial Day) Summer has officially begun. Bring on the BBQ’s, the skirts, and most importantly the mountain adventures. This is one of my favorite times of year because there...
What is the best way to perfect your craft, grow your business and learn new things? Practice, practice, practice! It’s the age-old truth that to get to where you want to be, you have to keep...
They’ve been growing as musicians for over a year now, perfecting their sound, adding members and fine-tuning their skills. I know this because Clayton is the drummer. Hundreds of hours have gone...
When I was a little kid I had this idea that there was, in fact, a way to be a true artist. It didn’t revolve around selling out by doing specific work people asked for, or taking money for your...
As I’m sure you’ve learned through social media, blog posts or possibly the internet in general, most photographers, myself included shoot in RAW file format. For those of you who don’t know...
It was an early morning for a Saturday, but by no means was it early. We left Denver in my green Subaru Legacy, Cynthia, at 8:00 AM to make our way to Boulder, CO where our snowshoes were waiting...
I will always suggest getting professional photography when it comes to your business. Having someone who knows all about lighting, composition, editing and high-quality photos will save you more...
I’m not a baby photographer. I’m a commercial and portrait photographer but I’m a storyteller first. That’s why when the moment calls to capture images that tell a compelling or beautiful story,...
“Welcome to New York” were the famous words of Taylor Swift, and probably a million other people, but on the airplane, it was her song that kept playing on repeat in my head. We had been...
They say that the gear doesn’t make the photographer, which I agree with, but it’s still a whole lot of fun. While I still have lists and lists of gear that I want that gear that I do have is...
The holidays are where some of my favorite memories lie. From dinners around the table to ping pong tournaments in the garage or best of all, those bottled cream sodas and root beers we only get...
Ever since MaryAnne was little she’s been a leader. I would know, she was the older sister bossing me around. But her leadership skills have led her to her dream career in teaching, and she...
Aunt Jane is the memory keeper on my Dad’s side of the family. She is always finding ways to hold on to the memories of the past and to pass them down to the next generation so that stories are...
The wind braces us as we climb to the top of the mountain. 360 views of mountain peaks with all their snow recently melted. The air is cold on my skin but the adrenaline from the hike, the views,...
For 6 months I trained and prepared for a trip of a lifetime; 10 days in India followed by 2 weeks in Nepal trekking to the base camp of Everest. My time in India was amazing, seeing pretty much...
