Through Another Lens: Samantha Heather

(Today we have a guest post from my friend Samantha Heather. ((Okay, we haven't actually met in person, but I've got a big 'ole blog crush on her.)) I fell in love with the photographs she shares on her personal blog, and with her great writing! She is also very sweet, from what I've gathered from her blog comments. I love the advice that she has to share with fellow photographers.)

1. Introduce yourself:

Hi everyone, this is Sam here from Samantha Heather. I am a twenty-something blogger/photographer based in Sydney, Australia who has a passion for documenting the world around me. I love people and the stories they have to tell and through my blog and my photography I try and retell those tales to the world.

2. Did/do you study photography or have you had any special training prior to starting your business? How has this helped you? 

I haven’t studied photography exactly but I have participated in two workshops hosted by two highly skilled photographers. The Nursery was a day workshop I attended, hosted by Tim Coulson (www.timcoulson.com), and his focus was mainly on how to capture emotion and love in photography, whereas my 8-week workshop, run by the Sydney Photographic Workshops, focused primarily on technical photography.

Both workshops were great and were able to give me the foundation I needed to go out and practise for myself. I would recommend short workshops to anyone who wants to pursue photography. Once you understand the technicalities, it’s all smooth sailing from there.

3. Why and when did you start photography?

I started my photography around August last year. My blog was only a few months old and I was discovering this burning desire to take my camera wherever I went. I was always on photography blogs and reading photography magazines. It just made sense to try and start a hobby (and later a career) out of it.

Another reason I started photography was because I wanted to have something I could strictly call my own. I was at a low place around this time last year, and I had a lack of control over where my life was going. Starting a hobby and a business in photography was something I finally could control and, most importantly, it was something I enjoyed. Doing what you love and making a career out of it is seriously one of the best things people can do for themselves. They say if you love what you do then you will never work another day in your life.

4. What type of sessions are you most confident photographing? What sessions are you still uncomfortable photographing? 

I would be lying if I told you I was confident in a certain area of photography. Truth be told, my anxiety is always through the roof before a shoot. I am still learning and I plan to always be learning throughout my career. I am getting more confident in my family shoots and couple shoots but I still have a long way to go and I am excited to see how I grow as the years go on.

 5. Tools of your trade: (type of camera/lens/editing software/other equipment)

I currently shoot on a Canon 5D Mark III with a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens. This is my go-to camera set. I own a few other prime lenses too and a couple of other camera bodies but primarily I work with a full frame camera and a wide aperture lens. In a dream world I would love to upgrade a whole bunch of my equipment, but only being in my first year of business means that affordability becomes an issue. I maybe should have thought twice before choosing the most expensive hobby to pursue ;)

In terms of editing, I use Adobe Lightroom coupled with VSCO film presets. You can find more information about those here: http://vsco.co/film

6. What have proven to be the best methods to advertise your business? 

Word of mouth has been my best form of advertising. With hundreds/thousands of other people like me out there, social media can only get me so far. I started off doing a lot of free shoots with friends and family to begin with and then they shared my photos on Facebook and told their family and friends and before I knew it I had a lot more interest in my business.

Having an up-to-date portfolio and constant self-promotion also helps. If you are going to use social media to advertise your business do not let it go to waste. Be consistent and regular.

7. What important tips do you have for other photographers who are thinking of starting a business?

·       Make sure it is what you love: Starting a business is hard and takes a lot of work. If you don’t love what you do then you’re going to struggle to stay motivated and you may find that business will fizzle out. Being in love with your passion will keep you motivated and happy during the week.

·       Be patient: You will not be an expert in your first 6 months. You may not be an expert in your first couple of years! I am nowhere near being a top-level photographer. I am still learning and still growing and I have a huge journey ahead of me but, you know what, that’s okay! It’s okay to be slow. It’s okay to be a beginner. Everyone has to start somewhere and having the patience to take those tiny steps before taking those giant leaps is crucial.

·       Avoid comparison: Not only will you not be an expert, but you will also be surrounded by people more equipped and skilled than you (all the time!). This is a lesson I have to keep teaching myself. I can be an envious person and looking at all those amazing photographers around me makes me sad and disheartened. Thoughts of doubt flood my mind and giving up because I’m not good enough becomes a viable option. If you ever feel like that I urge you to say NO to your thoughts. Yes, there are people better than you but they had to work hard to get there, perhaps years and years, and they’re at a place where you may be one day too. Never give up because others are better and I would even go as far to say avoid looking at what others are doing. The only person that matters in your business is YOU!

·       Maintain balance: This one is an important tip if you want to hold onto the love you have for your business. You may love your job now but working everyday, for hours on end, can be very strenuous on a person. Maintaining work/life balance is so important in order to keep motivated, refreshed and content. Make sure you build up the ability to say no to certain projects if time doesn’t permit for them and make sure you leave enough time in your days to spend time with your family, friends and yourself. If you don’t, you risk resenting the very thing you worked so hard to achieve.

8. Talk about a time that you had to deal with a difficult photo client. How did you resolve the conflict?

I’ve been very lucky to be blessed with such kind and gentle clients. They have all been a pleasure to work with. I have had a few however where things got a little complicated. I was booked to shoot a family session in one location at a particular time of day. The deposit was paid and I was ready to go. The day before however my client informed me that she needed to change the location to a place that was an hour further than the original location and in fact she was bringing her whole family to the shoot and would require a few extra hours of my time. Obviously these things weren’t included in the cost of the package and she wasn’t willing to pay me any more money. This is when I did the hard thing and said ‘No’. Being able to say ‘no’ is probably one of the hardest things to do for me but it also is one of the most important. If you cant say no, it is very east to be taken advantage of or even pushed beyond your own boundaries.

9. Show us one of your photos that you're really proud of:

I’m proud of this photo, not because of the angle, the light or the setting, but because it was my first wedding shoot. Shooting a wedding was on my bucket list for a while and it felt so good to be able to cross that off my list. It’s a good feeling when you’re proud of yourself. It doesn’t happen very much to me but when it does, I don’t let it go.

10. Who are your favorite photographers right now? 

This is probably the easiest and hardest question. How can I narrow it down to a select few? I love so many! A few of my favourites right now would probably have to be:

1.     Tim Coulson – http://www.timcoulson.com/blog/

2.     Kinsey Mhire - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinsey-Mhire-Photography/

3.     The Shalom Imaginative - http://theshalomimaginative.com/blog/

4.     Nirrimi Firebrace - http://www.theroadishome.com/

5.     Andria Lindquist - http://andrialindquist.com/blog/ 

(Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Samantha! That's a great list of photographers. I'll be sure to find tons of new inspiration. 

Find Samantha online: blog // portfolio site // facebook // instagram ) 

All photographs belong to Samantha Heather Photography.

Through another lens: Violet Short Photography

(Hey there! I'm jump-starting a new feature on the blog where I interview other admirable photographers. It's darn right helpful to get advice from other photographers and I'll need all the help I can get if I plan to reboot my business once we move next month. Today we have Violet of  Blythe Ponytail Parades.  Recently, she has been a very influential photographer for me. I love her work!) 

1. Introduce yourself: 

Hello, my name is Violet Short and I am a full time photographer and blogger in the Indianapolis area.

2. Did/do you study photography or have you had any special training prior to starting your business? How has this helped you? 

I actually went to college for Graphic Design and studied fine arts all through my life, but I didn't study photography per se. I did take classes about 4 years ago to really learn how to take full advantage of my camera. But other than that, I was self taught and helped by my friends. I think photography is one of those things that doesn't necessarily require a degree, but requires countless hours of dedication and trial and error to get it right. Of course having a degree is very helpful, but that can only get you so far. The real hard part isn't learning how to shoot, but mastering your on hand shooting.

3. Why and when did you start photography? 

I started photography shortly after my own wedding and seeing how beautiful my photographs were. I couldn't get over how much I loved them and at that point, I already loved photography and really wanted to delve in more. But my wedding is what gave me that extra push. Funny thing is I said I wasn't going to shoot weddings back then...oh well ;)

4. What type of sessions are you most confident photographing? What sessions are you still uncomfortable photographing?

I'd say I'm most comfortable with seniors or portrait sessions just because it's a lot less to think about. Posing one person, examining the light on one person, etc. is just a lot less complicated than multiple people. BUT, I do LOVE photographing couples. I would say I am very uncomfortable photographing young children or babies just because it's not something I do frequently and I have a harder time maintaining control of the situation when I am working with children. It's much more stressful and my hats go off to so many newborn/children photographers I know. You guys are amazing!

5. Tools of your trade:

I shoot predominately with my Nikon D800. I LOVE it and the lens that stays on my camera body 99% of the time is my 35mm 1.4. LOVE that lens. One of my best purchases ever! I also love my 85mm 1.8. Photoshop is my go to software for editing.

6. What have proven to be the best methods to advertise your business? 

Honestly, not much. I haven't spent a TON of money on advertising, but newspapers, magazines, etc are just not working out for me these days. Social media is the reigning king amongst advertising right now. So I'd probably have to say advertising through Facebook, my blog, & Instagram are my best bet.

7. What important tips do you have for other photographers who are thinking of starting a business?

Don't start with one photographer in mind to mimic. Start fresh and get your own style. Trust me, a photographer that looks like all the rest will just blend in with the crowd. Stand out and try something new! I'd also say, don't get too caught up in buying the very best camera body. Invest in lenses first. And lastly, shoot often and shoot in different lighting. Honestly, the best way to get results you want is to practice, practice, practice. So grab any willing model and start shooting. Everyone has to start somewhere!

  

8. Talk about a time that you had to deal with a difficult photo client. How did you resolve the conflict? 

I'm honestly pretty blessed with some great clients, but one issue that I run into from time to time is someone who will constantly try to get more and more out of you and overstep their boundaries. Be firm with people. Tell them what to expect before you do a session/wedding. Make sure you are sending contracts out to any potential brides so that there is no misunderstanding later on what they will be getting. Stand your ground and stick to your word.

9. Show us one of your photos that you're really proud of: 

Gosh, people have asked me that before and I am not sure I am proud of any of them but I do have some favorites. I really want to keep learning and never allow myself to be completely satisfied or content with where I am because I want to keep growing. With that being said, this shot is a definite favorite. It was taken at a wedding I shot in Japan back in 2012. The funny thing about is that there were so many problems with this image to start with. There was a couple of people standing in the background, there was a cord someone dragged across her dress at the last second, someone was standing outside the window, etc. And about 2 hours of photoshopping later, it was all cleaned up. Anything for the shot right?

10. Who are your favorite photographers right now? 

My mom (Jean Loper Photography) is my partner in weddings and she is always amazing. You can find her on facebook here. If I was getting married tomorrow, you better believe Shannon Miller would be my wedding photographer. I never cease to be amazed by her work!

See more of Violet's photography: 

website // blog // instagram 

p.s. I just discovered this hilarious video she made recently. I'm surprised at how hard it made me laugh! Love the ending. 

Vegan Pudding

(Meet Lindsey! She's the blogger of Hello Mr. Rabbit, where she shares vegan recipes and cool photographs of her adventures. Here's her story about how she became vegan and her unique pudding recipe!) 

 I first become a vegetarian when I was seventh grade, on a dare from a friend to see how long I could last without eating meat. Annnd here I am almost ten years later! When I originally stopped eating meat, I still ate fish (which made me a pescetarian). When I started my first year of high school, I stopped eating fish and became an activate for PETA, and would pass out pamphlets at my school to everyone. Around the age of seventeen , I realized PETA was not everything I had thought them up to be and a became a vegan that year as well. I have been a vegan for four years now, and couldn't feel better. 

For me, eating meat is nothing that passes my through my mind anymore. I can honestly not say that I will stay a vegan forever, but I have no doubts that I will be a vegetarian for as long as I live. The cruelty I have seen and researched about the meat industry are things that will never leave me. I don't feel guilty about items that I eat and that is something that always helps my conscience. 

  Chocolate Avocado Kiwi Pudding

• 2 ripe and peeled avocados 
• 3 peeled and cut kiwis (1 for garnish) 
• 1/3 cup of agave nectar (or honey)
• 1/2 cup of coco powder
• 1/2 cup of non-dairy milk (I used almond)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla abstract  

   Peel and slice the avocados and kiwis, and place them into a blender. Add the agave nectar, coco powder, vanilla abstract, and milk into the blender with the fruits. Blend ingredients until mixture is smooth and no lumps, then serve in a small bowl or refrigerate until desired coldness. (this is a recipe I did on my blog! here is the link!) This is my favorite simple, vegan dessert to make. I am constantly making this for breakfast! 

Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

(Continuing with the vegetarian guest posts! Check out Erin's story and portobello mushroom recipe:) 

I like to say I was a vegetarian since before birth. When my mom was pregnant with me, she would get sick when she ate meat. Of course she still would do it, because she's the biggest carnivore ever. And yet somehow I came out of her.) Both my parents had parents that were raised on farms, so eating meat was never a question, it was just what you did. But I questioned. I remember as a kid wondering why we ate some animals but not others. It didn't make sense. One day when I was six I saw an episode of The Simpsons where Lisa becomes a vegetarian. After that I finally knew there was a word for me. I excitedly told my mom about my discovery and she told me that wasn't allowed. It wasn't until we got the internet years later, when I was 13, that I discovered peta.org and saw the real truth to how animals are brutally treated before they are mercilessly slaughtered. I resolved to never eat meat again after that and I haven't since! It's been over ten years now, and I fluctuate between vegetarian and vegan. I'm the only one in my family, and I have only a few vegetarian friends, but it's one of the parts of my life that I am the most dedicated to, if not the most dedicated to.

If you want to learn more, I highly, highly recommend the documentary Peaceable Kingdom. I saw it when I was taking an Animal Sociology class, and I still think about it. It's one of the most powerful and heart wrenching accounts for vegetarianism and animal rights i've seen. And it's not too graphic. It's available for rent on iTunes!

Confession time: I don't like ordering portobello burgers at restaurants. 

Is that vegetarian blasphemy? I feel like it might be because so many places offer the same old roasted portobello with zucchini and red pepper on a a bun with pesto, and they're all so...boooooring.

So I can never bring myself to order such a thing, when I can make amazing portobellos at home! I make a mean marinade for a portobello burger, but today I thought i'd share a new variation i've been making lately. I can't get enough of it!

To make the best portobello sandwich ever, you will need:

2 portobello mushroom caps

1/2 large red pepper

1/2 zucchini

1/4 onion

1 clove of garlic

olive oil

dash of liquid smoke

splash of balsamic vinegar

1 tsp mrs. dash seasoning blend (it's the best)

1/4  cup panko bread crumbs

1/8 cup finely grated parmesean cheese

and, some sliced cheese for topping, like provolone. i've been using smoked havarti on these and it's amazing. use whatever you have that'll get all melty and delicious. 

Preheat your oven to 400.

Clean and de-stem mushrooms. (You can wash them, or, peel the skin off them like I do if you are a weirdo that doesn't trust wiping them down.)

Finely dice the red pepper, zucchini, onion. Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the diced veggies. Cook until slightly softened. 

When softened, put the veggies in a bowl. Add the liquid smoke, balsamic, and seasoning. Stir to combine. Add the panko and parmesan and stir once more. you want it to be sturdy, but not too dry, if that makes sense. If it's too crumbly, throw some more balsamic in there. If it's too wet, add a bit more panko.

Take this mixture and scoop it onto your mushrooms. Top with sliced cheese, and place in the oven until the mushroom is softened, and the cheese has become bubbly perfection.

Serve on a toasted hearty bun with some veganaise, and whatever else your heart desires. (I like drizzling a bit of sriracha or barbecue sauce on one side of the bun) but don't forget the veganaise! It's the best ever. 

Also, for a vegan substitution, use nutritional yeast instead of the parmesan and use Daiya mozzarella shreds instead of the sliced cheese.

Vegetarian Awareness Month

(Happy Vegetarian Awareness Day! In fact, October is Vegetarian Awareness month!
For those of you that didn't know, I am a pescatarian (the only meat I eat is fish), but most of the time I consider myself a vegetarian. Somehow, I have found that a handful of my blogging friends are vegetarian as well. Neat!! So I've asked them to guest post with their favorite vegetarian recipes this month.
This week Emily shares one of her easy-peasy recipes us!) 

These are so delicious! And they take like one second to make. I can't remember where I found the recipe, but I remember thinking it was the grossest sounding thing in the universe. So basically all you do is get two normal sized tortillas. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese (I like using whipped cream cheese because it spreads a lot better) on one of the tortillas. 

Cut a red pepper into thin strips. (I like to cut the whole pepper and put the excess in a bag.)

Put the thin strips on top of the tortilla with cream cheese.

Then put it in your quesadilla machine or just on the stove top. Whatever you usually do.

That's it! Super easy and super delicious! It's a nice change from the every day vegetarian meals ya know? 

(I've never thought to put cream cheese in my quesadillas, I'll definitely have to try this! Thanks Emily!) 

Back to School with Emily of Some Girl

(Meet my friend Emily! I had the opportunity to meet Emily last June during my brief visit to Utah, and now we've become good pals! She blogs over at Some Girl. Make sure to pay her a visit!)

Hello readers of Beverly's blog! First of all congratulations on knowing a human as cool as her.

There actually is no second of all, so sorry.

My name is Emily and I go to BYU, majoring in Psych, and should hopefully graduate next winter (eek!). Pretty much my attitude towards school dress has changed drastically since high school. See, in high school I would spend time getting ready every morning and put lots of thought into my outfit.

Then I got to college and realized I would only be spending four hours in class, would have to walk 20 minutes to get there, and would be in constant heat. So, now I basically just wear the most minimal amount of clothing that darn honor code will allow.

Fall is coming, so there is hope.

Most the time I opt for a dress, but every once in a while do jeans. I love dressing for fall and winter, because I love pairing patterned tights with dresses and jackets. There's just so much more possibility!

That's basically me in a nutshell though! Thanks to the ever so lovely Beverly for being a gem and having me. Come and say hi sometime if you'd like. 

XOXO

- - - - -

E

Back to School with Erin of Plus Sized Pretty

(Meet my friend Erin! She's the blogger of Plus Sized Pretty. She's a feminist, mormon, vegetarian, and one funny and cool gal. Make sure to check out her blog!) 

Hey there What a Day readers! My name is Erin and i'm thrilled to be guest posting for my lovely friend Beverly today. I'm currently working on my Bachelors in English and Women's Studies at the University of British Columbia. I get to go to school surrounded by mountains and the ocean, it's pretty great. Oh, and i'm studying things i'm incredibly passionate about. 

 Beverly's asked me to share a typical back to school outfit with you, which I feel just might be one of the my favourite reasons to go to school, to get to put on cute outfits. Oh, and learning stuff to help better my future is always a nice bonus! My school outfits often consist of leggings or tights, with either a dress or a skirt and shirt combo on top- and it's often belted. But since it's still nice and warm where I live I just can't do the tights or leggings yet. I'm enjoying this (very limited) sunshine while I can! 

So I took one of my favourite summer dresses from Target and switched it up for back to school. I added a cardigan, for the chilly mornings of waiting at the bus stop, and some sturdy boots for all the wandering from class to class that being on a large campus involves. 

Best of luck to you Beverly in your new school year! And to all your readers who are going back to school as well! 

Outfit details: dress: Target, sweater: Zellers (Canada's version of Target before Target took over), shoes: vintage 

Meet my Friend Mikelle

(Mikelle and I have swapped blogs today! You can see my post and learn a thing or two about thrift store shopping here. ) 

Hi, I'm Mikelle from  The Honeypie Archives and I'm so excited to be guest posting here today.  I am so lucky to have "met" Beverly in this big, big, world of blogs, and she really is one of the sweetest, nicest, best dressed girls out there, and so it's my pleasure to be answering a few questions here today.

1. Why did you start a blog and what is you favorite thing about it?
I started my blog for one of my photography classes- we were required to upload our work weekly.  I couldn't stop after that!  My favorite thing is all the friends I have made through blogging.

2. Least favorite thing about blogging:
Probably seeing photos of beautiful, clean, immaculate houses with gorgeous furniture, and delicious looking homemade food on pretty plates in spotless kitchens, and crazy creative "easy" do-it-yourself crafts and feeling really really undomestic, and lazy.

3. Who is you favorite band/musician? What have you been listening to a lot lately? Favorite song? (yes, that's all one question!)
My favorite band of all time is The Beatles, but lately I have been listening to Damien Rice a lot.  My favorite song... hmmm, it's a toss up between "You've got to hide your love away" by The Beatles and "Royals" by Walk Off The Earth.

4. What does your ideal Fall outfit consist of? (feel free to add a photo!)
A really good scarf.  One that doesn't kink my hair in the back.

5. What is your favorite television show and who is your favorite character?
Downton Abbey.  Hands down.   And my favorite character is Violet Grantham, some of you may know her as Professor McGonagall.

6. Do you/have you played any instruments? If not, what would you like to play?
I play guitar.  More like, I used to play guitar.  I am really rusty and barely remember any songs, but now that I have a son that likes to listen to it, I try to practice a little bit more and am slowly recalling old songs.

7. What were you like in high school? What were your interests?
I was really quiet.  I guess I still am.  But I kind of hung out in the background.  I took lots of art classes and spent most of my time in the studio, or behind a computer using Photoshop.

8. What was your first impression of your husband?
The first time I ever saw my husband was at a high school football game.  I thought he was cute, but didn't like the way he dressed.  The first time I ever actually spoke with my husband was a few years later at a friend's house.  I thought he was even cuter, and this time I really liked the way he dressed.  Call me shallow, but yeah, that's how it went down.

9. Favorite quote:
"Experience life; agonize, scream, cry. And then let it go" - Leo Buscaglia

10. Favorite book:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  The movie is pretty great too.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to visit the blog!

(Thanks a ton, Mikelle!)

Guest Posting Today!

Look for me at Kerri's blog today! Happy Tuesday~ 
I talk about my favorite songs to listen to on road trips. Don't miss out! :)

Guest Post: Sherri of SHERRIAMOUR

I like Valentines Day because it's about love and coming from a single lady I say, love yourself! Celebrate with your gurls...chick flicks and ice cream, yes please :) 

xo sherri

(Thanks Sherri! I really dig that dress! This is definitely a bold look that only a confident woman like yourself can pull off. Edgy, Valentine awesomeness! Make sure to check out Sherri's blog~ SHERRIAMOUR~ 

Also, she looks dang good in blue.) 

(photo cred: 1 & 2) 

Guest Post: Jessi of Haircut &General Attitude

 Hi there, friends of Beverly!

My name is Jessi and I share my style and little tidbits of life over at Haircut & General Attitude. I'm pretty excited to be part of this cute series, what a great idea! Like Beverly, I just love Valentines Day! It definitely helps that I'm happily married to my one and only, but I've always been a romantic. And such a holiday calls for getting all dolled up in varying shades of red and pink. What could be better? You get to play dress-up and celebrate love!

I'm more of a pink kind of girl but red lips are my favorite accessory and these burgundy heels are easily becoming a staple in my closet. And I HAD to wear my heart print legging shorts so I added another touch of black and white with this darling headband. As for the dress, what could be more feminine and romantic than pale pink sequins and chiffon?!

Well, I hope you all enjoy your Holiday and find some way to celebrate whether you have a special someone or not. I'll be spending the day making googly eyes at my sexy Hubby, my dearest friend, "the one in whom my soul delights" (if you want more gushy-mushiness I might have more for you on the blog this weekend;) )

Outfit Details:

Dress & Heels - Forever 21

Heart Print Leggings - Wet Seal

Cardigan & Headband - ModCloth

Belt - off a dress c/o Tailor&Stylist

Gold Chain Bracelet - YuniKelley

Mint Bracelet - Gift

(Thanks a ton, Jessi! I admire you for taking these photos in the cold snow! Make sure to check out Jessi's blog, especially if you love velvet. The girl can rock some velvet. That, and red lips <3 )