Being a Bridesmaid, Sister, Mom, and Photographer...All at Once | Business

Being a Bridesmaid, Sister, Mom, and Photographer...All at Once | Business

A few months ago I photographed my sister's wedding. Only I didn't just photograph it - I was a bridesmaid, her sister, a mom to the cutest little flower girl ever, and the day-of coordinator for all intents and purposes. I have done this before, only without a child, when I photographed my older sister's wedding and was her maid of honor. It was a beautiful memory I'll look back on forever, and I'm honored that BOTH my sisters chose me to capture their day.

I'll be honest, though - it's also an incredibly hard set of roles to play. I felt like, at any given time, I could only do two roles well. Sometimes I could be the coordinator and photographer, but I had a hard time being the understanding sister and I couldn't put my tasks aside for a moment to be a mom to Willow. Or I could be in the moment, watching my dad and sister share their first look, and tears would fill my eyes so heavily that I could barely see through the viewfinder…

How I Make the Most of My Time | Business

How I Make the Most of My Time | Business

As I evaluate my business activities and my personal life, I have come to the conclusion that time management is both my greatest strength and weakness. It is a strength when it comes in the form of leading a disciplined schedule. I can wake up early, go all day, stay on-task, and get a LOT done during my focused work time. I have never lacked motivation when working from home, and I am a master at checking off a long to-do list.

On the flipside, though, this can be a burden to me - especially when it comes to my personal life. Reflecting on the first year of Willow's life, I know the biggest stressors were not so much her lack of sleep or all the changes she went through - they were my preconceived notions of keeping the same strict schedule and my desire to have some semblance of control…

5 Things I'm Loving this Summer | Personal

5 Things I'm Loving this Summer | Personal

Well, it's the next edition of things I'm loving lately. Depending on the season, I'm finding more and more new things to love! It's fun to look back on what had me hooked just a few months ago, and I can't wait to discover what's next. If you have anything YOU'RE loving lately, please tell me so I can give it a try - it might just become my new favorite thing!

It should come as no surprise that my list involves lots of food things and a podcast. This seems to be a pattern over time, and I'm totally embracing it. Trying new, eclectic, and totally delicious foods is sort of a hobby, and I listen to podcasts every single day! Plus, Target for the win as I'm decorating my new home. So, if you're looking for a few new things to love, here is a list just for you.

1) Our summer CSA from Dayspring Farm…