(Embedded Video Found HERE).

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Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah.  She has learned that shooting “creatively” as mentioned above, often yields some interesting or maybe unapproving looks from boring people with no imagination.  In seeking out creative perspectives she has often found herself lying down in the middle of the road, climbing trees, toting ladders, hiding in the bushes, and doing some pretty amazing acrobatics. Its worth it. Don’t worry yourself with what others think. Your photos will be better than theirs

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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I’ve been waiting to write this post for five months!

Last fall, I was approached by photographer, Jesh De Rox, about consulting him in the content design of an entire online course that teaches the Beloved genre of photography.

And now its done! And available! RIGHT NOW! This week!

Its been quite the adventure to see things unfold the last several months and I’m thrilled with the final product.  The course(s) are designed similar to my own–with pre-recorded video lessons and live footage of real photo sessions to demonstrate the content. This makes the course easily assessable for any time zone or schedule.

As if I wasn’t already converted to the Beloved genre, being a part of the creation of the course and watching the evolution of what it has become, I’m even more passionately convinced that this approach has the ability to change lives and make a difference in the world and now everyone can learn how to make it happen with the accompaniment of this incredible online course!

Beloved was originally conceived as a wonderful approach to photographing couples, but it has quickly spread into an incredible tool to use with families and children.  The Beloved Family Field Guide is also being released this week, making this entire approach now easily integrated for family photography sessions.

If Beloved is a new word for you, here is a brief explanation of what Beloved is, in Jesh’s words:

“Beloved is an emerging photographic genre centered on the creation of meaning-rich portraits that express the individual, beautiful personality each person is born with, creating an opportunity to celebrate the relationships that fill our lives with joy and purpose.

The Photogenic Technique of Beloved gives photographers a clear and simple way to move past the “camera smile”‘ to easily capture the authentic, photogenic expressions and the naturally beautiful sides of our personality we share with our loved ones.”

Imagine what life would be like if every person you photographed was photogenic. If each session wasn’t just about getting your picture taken, but it was an enriching and joyful experience where relationships are strengthened. Where fun, laughter, and play is a natural and free flowing experience. Where the images you capture are beautifully authentic and clients are drawn to you not just because of your images but because of how you helped them feel during the experience?  

Beloved is the final missing piece to the puzzle.

Right now, the online course comes with the purchase of any of the Beloved Field Guides!  

Visit the new Beloved site to check it out!

1.  BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS:  Okay, so this article will at first make you think it has nothing to do with business since it gloriously highlights another passion of mine (sustainable and organic food), but Tara brilliantly brings in some great questions in the conclusion that are profound.  How do you define your business? Do you let the market define your business, or do you confidently build a brand around your own beliefs and standards despite what everyone else is doing?

Business courses are great and I highly recommend them, but one common missing piece I see is that they usually lead people down a formulaic path that has worked for many…but who’s to say that is the best way for you? What about defining your business around the things that you are passionate about?  What about defining your business around your exact demographic market and community?  What about building a business that takes out all the parts of business that you don’t like?  Business shouldn’t just serve you financially, it should serve you emotionally. If there are parts that don’t feel comfortable, and don’t bring you joy, there needs to be some redefining.

2.  BUSINESS TECHNICAL:  How to set up an email account that uses your own domain name.  If you’re in business and still using the email of ilovestrawberries92@hotmail.com, this is a must read!  I still use gmail as my email provider but it is masked to display as my domain name instead. Super cool. And way more professional.

3.  GETTING SHARP PHOTOS:  I’ve long admired Audrey Woulards mastery of sharp photos with extremely shallow depth of field.  This is a great post where she shares her tips on how she manages to get those sharp photos. And please note, that not once does she mention using a sharpening action in photoshop  It really truly must take place in camera first.

4.  3 WAYS TO BEAT IDEA OVERLOAD.  So I just discovered Mayi Carles and think she’s just delightful. Loved her ideas in her video on how to move out of decision or idea paralysis and into action.

5.  BEING COMFORTABLE WITH SELF-PROMOTION: I know I’m not the only one who has felt uncomfortable with self promotion before.  This article was a great paradigm shift for me. Confident self-promotion is simply radiating your passion with the facts.  Think about that word “radiate” .  There isn’t anything slimy or slick talking about that at all.

Buzzy has a new hideout. Its just his size.

And “loads” of fun

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah.  Oddly enough, she actually loves housework! One of the best time saving tips for laundry she has ever discovered?  Don’t fold!  At least for any item that the local 2 year old has access to, folding is fruitless.  Laundry became so much more stress free (and fast!) when she accepted that she really could stuff clothes in a drawer and survive.

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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Its the Family Life Project 52!

Valentines is our theme this week.

 And now I’m going to divulge one of my great personal weaknesses.

I’m not festive.

Like, if there was a scale-o-meter for how much effort I put into holidays I probably wouldn’t make the chart.  I didn’t even put up a Christmas tree this past year.  I don’t typically decorate for any holiday.  This in no way means that I don’t love to celebrate when someone else does all the work!  All those fun and cute ideas spread around internet land for Valentines are so wonderful and part of me really wishes that I would put more effort into doing something of the sort, but I didn’t.

Yesterday I started trying to “stage” some Valentine themed photography at our house for today’s post. But then the reality check reminded me that I don’t do this for my blog. I do this for my family. And that just plain wasn’t how our family Valentines week had truly been.

We’re striving for authenticity.

Do you really want to know how we celebrated Valentines?

I went on a family adventure with Buzzy to the Deseret Industries thrift store with the intent of getting Ben a gift. Yes. I went thrifting. I spent $2 on a used copy of the  Johnny Lingo DVD for Ben and then hopped in the car to go home. I felt major guilty at that point, so I did actually go and buy a specialty pastry at a sweet shop close by to share as a surprise after our very boring dinner of cauliflower and spaghetti.

But guess what? Celebration doesn’t have to be big or pinterest worthy.

I really appreciated Davina’s post this week on last minute Valentine ideas that were of the kind that even I could pull off.  In fact, they’re so simple I could do them everyday and make everyday special.

Simple gestures of love, don’t require packages, bows, or money.  Sometimes its just a matter of spending time together, unplugging for five minutes, and giving someone your entire attention.

And since I’m the type that actually has to work on those simple “easy” things too (another weakness divulsion), that’s what my personal life lesson is for the week. Tomorrow I’ll share one of the moments we had “Indulging in Enjoyment”.  For now, I hope you’ll find your own moment of joyful indulgence to engage in that may not have happened without making it a priority.

Now go visit Rhonda (my accountability partner in this project), because if anyone knows how to be uber creative and festive, its her!

See the entire family life project HERE.

Next weeks theme: Family Time

Read the rest of the article HERE

1.  FEELING GOOD ABOUT SAYING NO:  Loved the video on Sarah’s blog on saying no…particularly not just to things that you don’t want to do, but some things that you do want to do!

2.  FEELING GOOD ABOUT SAYING YES: Oh the irony!  The above link made me think of THIS POST by Derik Sivers.  Small excerpt:

Those of you who often over-commit or feel too scattered may appreciate a new philosophy I’m trying:

If I’m not saying “HELL YEAH!” about something, then say no.

Meaning: When deciding whether to commit to something, if I feel anything less than, “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” – then my answer is no.

When you say no to most things, you leave room in your life to really throw yourself completely into that rare thing that makes you say “HELL YEAH!”

We’re all busy. We’ve all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out.

3.  NEED TO LAUGH?  This comic is great.

4.  LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY.  Real life is beautiful.  Absolutely!  And Amber gives some great insight into how Lifestyle photography helps to capture those real life beautiful moments (my favorite style of photography;).  A common challenge though, is convincing clients that Lifestyle photography is something they will love as well. Common hesitations of not having the most decorated home, not being “interesting” enough, or photogenic enough for a lifestyle shoot are all addressed!

5.  HOW TO REQUEST SOMETHING FROM A BUSY PERSON AND GET A REPLY.  Yes indeed. Likely some of the best advice you can ever read!  Amen!

I got really mad one day and threw out the T.V.

Ironically, my steaming motivation had nothing to do with “watching t.v.” since we haven’t had a subscription for the past 5 years (best thing ever for my productivity btw.)

No, I threw it away because some little person kept climbing it! And pulling on the cords. And driving me to the point of insanity that I made a massive family decision on my own.

Ben came home and found the T.V. in the garage and only had one question.

“Hard Day?”

Yes. It was a hard day. And things wouldn’t be resolved until that T.V. was officially off our property for good. I wanted it as far away as possible.

Fortunately, there was no more climbing and messing with cords to drive me crazy. Unfortunately, I now have a child to entertain all by myself all day long.  Oops.

But alas, that brings us to this weeks Family Life Project!  The Second week of each month focuses on relationships, and this week is

Just the Parents.

Most of our days seem to pass in a blur, but one of the moments I look forward to each day is when the work is finally done, the wild little child is peacefully sleeping, and we can finally relax.

The usual ritual involves a bowl of Blue Bunny All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream with the latest discovery of a delicious natural topping. (Last night it was Fennel Seeds. Holy Moly Amazingness.)

Then we like to watch a rerun of The Office or Parks And Recreation on the laptop in bed.  I really need something to laugh about at the end of the day

See the entire project HERE.

Rhonda is my accountability and partner in the project! You can see her interpretation HERE.

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. Her recent top picks for all natural toppings for ice cream include freshly shaved nutmeg, cinnamon, fresh fruit, honey wine vinegar, hazelnut oil, and fennel seeds. Truly, this makes life worth living.

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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