Wanda's Bridals

I often think to myself  "I need some more downtime!" or "Things are just so busy!"  Well today I have downtime, but it isn't exactly what I'd imagined!  I'm home sick with some kind of stomach bug (for those with delicate sensibilities, I'll leave it at that.) and to be quite honest, this kind of downtime is not all it's cracked up to be.  However, since all I'm good for is taking up space on the couch today, I thought it might brighten up the day if I posted a few photos from a shoot we did a couple months ago of Wanda's bridal photos.

It was just a couple months before Wanda and Aaron were set to have their beach wedding in Florida that Wanda came out to have an outdoor bridal session with us.  She came prepared with her gorgeous handmade bouquet and Mom and I had a fantastic time with her shooting by the lake in Hendersonville.  It was "hot as the blue blazes" but Wanda had the poise of a true Southern Belle - even in the heat she looked like she stepped out of a (fully air-conditioned) wedding magazine.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

 That's all I have for you today, but I'll be back with a vengeance on Wednesday (hopefully)!

Until then!

Nashville Wedding Photography

The next step

"What can we do next?" or "What's the next step"

There are a lot of questions that I ask regularly, but these two probably more than any others. I ask out of frustration. I ask out of a maniacal need to continue moving forward. I ask because I believe in where we are going and can't get there fast enough. I ask because I usually get a concrete answer, followed by an update to my "to-do" list. And because for some reason, deciding where to go next also sheds to light on how far we've come. I would imagine this is common to all small businesses.

Building a business is probably never as simple as one might expect, but there are times when it is distinctly more difficult than others. One of the more difficult is when you realize that your ability as an artist has only a small impact on how well your business will do ('cause marketing is tough, man!). Then there are times when it's 9:30p on a weeknight and you've already worked a full day in your "real job" * and then come home to work on the job on which your heart is set.

Then there are the moments when you get to bask in the light of your hard work - the actual photography. More than that, the time we get to spend helping people hold on to the good things in their lives - the secret glances between two lovers about to marry, the first dance as a married couple, the details they worked so hard to bring into their wedding day. All the things that would be a fleeting memory without someone there to stop it from getting away...yes! That keeps me moving forward.



So that said, I'm back to where I started...What is my next step?

As a person? I'm going to look at my wedding album. Yes, it's sappy, but talking about all this wedding stuff makes me want to go look back on my own.

As a business? Tonight for me it will be working on the new and improved website we will be rolling out in a couple of weeks (I'll let you know as it gets closer). One step at a time.

But what does that all mean? Mainly that I'm learning a lot about the "business side" of things and even though sometimes growing can be tough, it is almost always worth doing.


*[Background: I work a 9-5 type job in I.T. during the week. Maggie (Mom) is a full time photographer and art teacher. When Surreal Image Studios grow to the point where it will be beneficial for me to do the same, I will. :) ]

Without Further Ado...

Meet the fam...!

This is my programmer-handyman-landscaper-athlete-videogamer-grillmaster-best-friend-and-sometimes-lighting-assistant husband, Chase.  If it wasn't clear from his official title, I'm crazy about him. He's been incredibly supportive of me through the whole process of going into business and he is always willing to let me bounce new shot ideas off him, which can be more dangerous a job than it sounds. 

Lastly, there is Niko:  Our ornery (yet sweet), hairband-theiving, marshmallow eating, pleasantly loud-mouthed cat. He does a lot to contribute to our entertainment and we love him for that.

These two keep me entertained (or at least busy) when I'm not working, shooting or otherwise engaged.  Chase is the most important thing in my life and as such you will probably be hearing more and more about him...so this should let you put a face to a name right from the start. Niko is a prominent figure as well and there deserves honorable mention...even though he is still just a cat. 

Since this is probably already more than you wanted to know about my home life... I'll let that be that.  :) 

We'll talk again soon!

Kristin

Blog Hijacking

Hello Everybody -

This is Kristin (as expected).  Although you have heard from me in past (business related) posts, I'm giving you first warning now...I'm hijacking this blog for my own purposes! Arrr! 

Seriously though, it's been way too difficult to keep everything on this blog business related - partly because not all business is interesting to write about...which is also why you don't hear from me very often! So as a result, I'm taking this blog as my own.  Prepare.

Of course you'll still be able to find photos from our shoots, other info about the business, etc...But as an added bonus (bonus?! Ha. Sorry.)  you will get a little insight into the goings-on in the life of a Nashville Wedding Photographer (I mean me, don't get smart).  You'll also hear from Maggie (Mom) as a "guest blogger" periodically but most of the time, you'll be stuck with me.  ;)

Cheers!
Kristin

Because a post without a photo is like PB without the J... Here's a picture of me! (Yay.)

 

Nashville Wedding Photography