I enjoy sharing the ins and outs (and ups and downs) with you this month in this blog series on my RV life. During the first few posts, I talked about why we chose this life and the logistics of making it work for us. Today, let’s look at some of the realities of living full-time in an RV (the good and the not-so-good).

Most of us probably have more about ourselves that we’d like to change than things we truly love. For example, lots of people don’t like their smiles. It’s not something they dwell on, but it becomes an issue when it’s time to get a headshot or have their picture taken with their loved ones. For someone who hates their smile, being told to smile or having someone shout, “Say cheese!” instantly creates tension and elicits something more akin to a grimace than an actual, genuine smile.

I was recently working in Richmond, VA, doing what I love to do best (capturing the perfect branding photos for corporations and entrepreneurs)! I noticed that lots of the clients with whom I was working didn’t like their smile. This could have adversely affected their shoot if we hadn’t identified and handled it before they stepped in front of the camera.

So, I thought I would share my favorite tips for feeling comfortable during your next photoshoot.

The Organizing shows are all the buzz and Richmond is getting a Container Store. I thought I was ready to downsize…then reality hit!

My husband and I decided in mid-July to sell our home, my car, and most of our belongings in exchange for living in a 300 square foot RV. We quickly sold our home and major items but downsizing presented quite the challenge.

See if any of these ring a bell for you!

Let me guess — You HATE having your picture taken?! Some of my clients agree that they would rather have a root canal then to have their picture taken!

These comments used to baffle me and it felt familiar! How could having your picture taken create so much angst?

After photographing HUNDREDS of amazing people, I identified the top three reasons people hate getting their picture taken. This insight led me to develop my own “Secret Sauce” for getting my clients to feel comfortable and confident during our photo sessions.

They say to leave on a high note and this is what I’ve decided to do.

2020 has been such a year of tremendous change. The forced “pause” in my business gave my husband, Jeff, and I time to reflect on what we want from our one precious and beautiful life together.

After much reflection, we decided to take a big leap to follow our bigger dreams ahead.

Jeff and I sold our home, my car, and our 4 bikes. We turned around and bought 2 more bikes, simplifying our lives all along the way.

I have the best job in the world. I get to create branded portraits of amazing people to help share their message to future clients and open doors to new opportunities. Recently I was awarded Best Richmond Portrait Photographers, which is thrilling! This award, along with my distinction for being a Top Branding Agency and a Top 3 Commercial Photographers in Richmond, is due to my amazing clients.

What I did to pivot my personal branding photography business during the pandemic.

Your personal brand photos should reveal your authentic self.

We’re all creating new ways to get through these challenging days.

Age is a PLUS for your personal brand. These four women are living proof.

How do you grow your business?

Well, you can start by reaching new people who could benefit from your products and services. That’s marketing. You can also improve your ability to inspire others to hire you or choose your company by having conversations with prospects. That’s sales. But there’s another form of marketing and sales that’s often overlooked to grow your business: and that’s developing NEW products and services!

I learned a painful business lesson last year and I am hoping you can avoid my mistake by sharing this blog post.

I love photographing my amazing clients who are game-changers in their categories. One of the reasons my clients are superstars is that they’re always looking to create more value for their audiences. That’s why I wanted to write this article on creating irresistible services to attract new clients.