HUSTLERS
I am ecstatic for you. I follow you. I love you. I'm inspired by you.
I want to HELP you.
Meet Crystal.
She's one of the most talented artists out there I know. She's one of the most talented artists out there period. She's passionate and kind and motivated and an AMAZING wife and mother of five boys and to say that I admire her greatly is an understatement.
Last fall she approached me and asked if I'd be interested in shooting some images for her that she could use for social media. Of course I said yes and I have to say that to date this is one of my favorite shoots ever. Crystal is an amazingly easy-going person, but she also posed so perfectly for me in every shot. She wanted to incorporate her work into the shoot, but mostly just her doing what she loves.
Crystal is an artist and she's dang good at it, but she's also a fellow hustler. She works hard at what she does while juggling family life and all the crazy that brings into her schedule. This shoot was meant to capture all those pieces of her into how they help inspire her and keep her motivated. Here is what she had to say about her journey as a photographer:
I was always pretty good at art growing up and had a lot of support from family members. In high school I remember especially my Mom and Grandma thought that I should be an artist. Naturally I thought a law degree was a better idea. Hind sight its funny- I would have been just awful. I think I just really liked to argue as a teenager. At some point in my senior year I had decided to focus on studio art and went on to get my BA in Painting.
When I graduated with my degree I was due with my second son. Two years later I had twins, so with 4 boys 4 years old and under you can imagine that painting was very much on the back burner for many years. We also renovated homes and moved probably a dozen times in our first ten years of marriage. I would pick up painting in waves and find that I was never as rusty as I thought I would be. I think I was blessed to be able to grow despite the tenuous juggling act of my family and artistic life. When I wasn't painting it was always this pent up dog in the background that always threatened to make me go mad if I didn't let it out to run.
When I did paint I struggled a lot with self confidence. I was never convinced that I was "good enough"; whatever that means. My husband helped keep me going and at this point I'm less concerned about it. Some people love my work, some don't. That's just how it will be no matter how good I get.
My main drive is improving my skill in an academic, classical sense. I crave creating something that is spellbinding- that's the vision. For me that spiritual moment viewing art generally comes while looking at a piece that is so masterfully completed that you know the painter was able to move beyond struggling with his basics (drawing, value, color, and edges) and express his intention boldly and delicately without distraction.
I now have 5 sons, a studio space and a dedicated time each day to paint. Although the balancing act is always real, and my house generally suffers for it, I feel like It's finally a good time to paint.
This got me thinking a lot after the shoot was over. Crystal uses these photos for her instagram, her website, and her social media sharing- these are quality images of her doing what she loves. Who else can I do this for? Who else needs their story shared like this? Who else is fed up trying to get their kids or hubby to take phone pictures of themselves on the job that just don't turn out in a sharable way, and NEED this bad? Heck, I need someone to do this for ME! And if I need it, there's got to be others out there who need it too.
SO I'm thrilled to announce that I will now be offering Personal Branding Sessions. This is something I'm very excited to work on because it means I get to do what I love while helping other people do what they love. It's a win-win and there is a MAJOR need for this for all the dreamers out there making it happen for themselves and their families. If you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, a stay at home hussler like me, an instagram guru, or even (maybe especially!) an artist like Crystal, let me help you put not just your work out there, but your STORY. People buy what they are emotionally invested in, and I want people to be emotionally invested in YOU.
I will be posting more information about this soon, but I will be offering discounts to the first people who sign up, so make sure you're following along.
Cheers to the husslers who are making it happen out there. I really really want to work with you.