Heads Up: This post contains affiliate links!  If you buy something through one of these links, you won't pay a penny more (in fact in this circumstance, you'll get a 20% discount), but I'll get a small commission, which helps keep the lights on.  Please note that I have not been given any free products, services or anything else by this company in exchange for mentioning them on my site.  The only consideration is in the form of affiliate commissions.  Thanks! As my photography business has been growing, I've started to feel unorganized and out of control.  I have been using an app called Remember The Milk for my to do list for the last few years, but I felt that I needed to step up my game and try out something that includes some automation: HoneyBook .   I signed up for the HoneyBook 7-day free trial.  No credit card needed - that's a huge plus!  I was sold in the first day on HoneyBook and didn't waste time signing up! ...

Photography has been a hobby of mine since high school, and although I never planned to open a photography studio at any point in my life, sometimes life throws you a curve and you can catch it or duck out of the way.  I caught my curve ball and opened my studio.   While I've owned several businesses over the years, I still stumbled into problems when I started my photography business.  Most problems were just hiccups, but one was huge: shooting for free. By offering photo sessions with digital images included for free, I found that most people who booked my free session just didn't value my time as much as if they spent their money to hire me.  They would show up late to their session or reschedule several times before cancelling altogether.  This was tough on my ego.  I couldn't understand why people didn't appreciate the value of the photo session and the amount of time I had wrapped up into them! I quickly learned two better options:...

Every time I even think about scheduling a family photo session with my family, my husband has excuses before I even finish my thought.  I don't get it either.  He's sexy and photogenic!  He has no reason to avoid a camera.  But, let me share my secrets with you on how I prepare my husband for a photo shoot! Timing Find the best time that works with his schedule.  I know that as the CEO of your family, your schedule it hectic between the mom taxi duty, groceries, getting dinner on the table, and chores around the house.  But, sometimes it is worth giving a little in order to get a lot. If he normally gets off work at 4 pm each weekday, then schedule a weeknight session.  If he works late every night then try a weekend.  The biggest hurdle I have to jump over is finding a time that he already has some down time.  Once I get past this hurdle, it's so much easier to get his cooperation! What To Wear I'm sure there's one nice out...

I know that you know the obvious answer: I love taking photographs!  And I really do.  I lugged a camera case of 30 rolls of 35 mm film through Italy before digital cameras were available!  But to start a photography business is a labor of love; it's just not taking awesome photos.  So, how did I get where I am today? I've always been strong willed and independent.  For as long as I can remember, I've set my eyes on a goal and put my nose to the grindstone until I reached my goal.  There's been success; there's been heart ache.  So far, I've lived a great life! But, after 10 years of working for "the man", I decided that it was time to gamble and venture out into the world of self employment!  Back then, I was a CPA by day while my photography was a weekend hobby.  I took a calculated risk and opened my first company which was a CPA firm.  And, boy was I busy from the start.  Busy with bookkeeping, taxes and payroll, I qu...