This week I got the chance to relax over dinner and a photo walk with 2 amazing women and photographers. We met online via MeRa Koh’s SOAR scholarship only 6 short months ago and my life has been changed ever since. These ladies make me laugh, inspire me, motivate me, and are my photography sounding board. We are all 3 building our lifestyle photography business separately but also side-by-side growing and sharing as we go along.

First, meet Marcia Stuhler of Keller, TX based Classy Kids Photography.  What a great time I had finally getting to know this vivacious, sassy, compassionate friend in person! Up until this week our interactions had been limited to flickr, facebook, and email.  She certainly brought some Texas charm and flair during her short visit to Virginia. Check out her awesome cowgirl boots!

And, meet Kelly of the incredible Kelly Nelson Photography. Luckily she’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from me in nearby Ashburn, VA.  I’m so grateful to have one of my “Soar Sisters” so close by. On our first coffee date back in January we just clicked (no pun intended) and it’s been a awesome friendship gained.

This weekend I had the pleasure of heading out once again with the fabulous Kelly Nelson of Kelly Nelson Photography, but this time for a session with her gorgeous family.  Our morning together brought us to a lovely tucked away farmhouse and store in Purcellville, VA. The Hen House at Morning Way Farm is owned and operated by a close family friend of mine and I was thrilled when she offered it as a location to shoot.  It may have been a hot and buggy start to the day but the Nelson kiddos were content to explore the barn, open fields and buildings with mom and dad. There was much laughter, singing, and smiles during our time together and we had a lot celebrate as it was not only Father’s Day weekend but K. and D.’s 11 year anniversary as well.

Kelly, thank you for entrusting me with capturing your family images, the pressure is certainly on when you’re capturing a session for a fellow photographer! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek, I had a hard time choosing what to include here.  There were so many favorites and  I can’t wait to get your family the rest of your images soon!

This past weekend I got to spend a lovely time in Tampa, Florida with two of my favorite people.  Erin and I used to teach together here in Virginia but  unfortunately for me marriage took her away last summer and transplanted her in sunny Florida with her husband Minh.  Lucky for me I was able to arrange a visit to see them both recently and they asked me for  some photos to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary.

We ventured out to both the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Greek Community and the downtown Curtis Hixon Memorial Park to capture some fun images.  Erin and Minh are two of the most genuine, friendly, and happy people I know and they are just the cutest couple.  Congratulations you two on your first year of marriage. I know there many more happy years ahead for you both!

Many of you who watched me begin my photography journey in March know that my love for this art sparked from something called Project 365. The 365 project is one where you take a photo a day for an entire year and share them via a photo blog, flickr, facebook or other online source.  My interest in the 365 peaked as I saw my friend curiousillusion go from taking good pictures to taking GREAT ones in the span of about 2 months. The term ‘practice makes perfect’ really held true with this project. As you start taking a picture a day you start to see the world through the eye of a camera lens. You learn rather quickly what works with your camera and what doesn’t. And you can go from good to great in a matter of months.

With curiousillusion’s encouragement I started my 365 March 1st 2009. I was incredibly inspired by all the artists I met on flickr, I made some amazing new friends during my journey, and I even inspired 3 friends to take the plunge and start a 365 of their own. I reaped many rewards from this project, but in June during the midst of morning sickness and early pregnancy I just couldn’t keep up and I stopped my 365.

I really regret not sticking it out.  The perfectionist in my wanted a perfect shot every day.  And eventually, as my well of photo inspiration ran dry and the pregnancy took over my body, I gave up.

Now as a new year is about to begin and a fresh start is on the horizon I am on the fence about whether or not I want to pick back up the project I was unable to finish last year. The perfectionist in me is scared that I will once again get wrapped up in taking a superb picture every day and stress myself out to the point of quitting.

But, on the other hand, stepping away from the project last year allowed me to see my final product from quite a different point of view.  I love that I now have a visual diary of my life from March – June of 2009. My memories of this past year are so much more vivid because of those images. I remember the exact day things happened because of those pictures. It doesn’t matter anymore if it was a good or bad shot. For that moment in time it was me. My life. My emotion.

I am still on the fence about whether or not I want to commit myself to a project this big again but I am 99% sure I am going to take the plunge. I surely know if I do it this year I need to do it not for the glory of the perfect shot. I need to do it to record the moments of my life. The little ones and the big ones I can’t get back but can remember through my images.

Anyone else starting a project on Jan. 1 (photography related or not)? Anyone want to take the plunge and start a 365 with me?  I think you’ll find it to be one of the most worthwhile self-exploration projects you’ll ever do finished or not. I know that was the case for me in 2009 and I want to say I reached the finish line this time in 2010.

10 days ago you might remember I was diligently working on a video that means a lot to me.  I applied for photographer Me Ra Koh’s SOAR Scholarship, an amazing opportunity that will give 3 lucky, talented and deserving women the tools needed to launch a photography business in 2010.

If you haven’t heard yet my video is now posted and ready for view on Me Ra Koh’s website. If you want to see my submission just click the link below to check it out. If you feel so moved you are welcome to leave your comments of support as well. When my video loads, if you do not see comments on the right side of your screen just click the ‘show details’ button at the top of the page and the comments should appear.

Beryl’s SOAR Video Application

But don’t just watch my video.  Please please please watch the others.  Start watching the them all and you’ll quickly see so many other inspirational stories.  The judges start reviewing videos soon and mine is one in a sea of 255 amazing applications. Stories of hope, fear, tragedy, motivation, determination, and excitement about what 2010 may bring.  These women will be my anchor next year. Keeping me grounded and focused on this journey.

Thanks to Me Ra’s encouragement we’ve already started talking, commenting, and conversing. On the SOAR site, Facebook, Twitter, via email, our blogs.  And it’s only been 10 days since I shot my video and 4 days since my video went live on the site!  It’s incredible to see the photography revolution Me Ra has begun from one small spark of inspiration.  And the conversations I am having with these fellow photographers, who all share my passion, and my fire to learn, and to grow, and to dream, and to become. It’s amazing.

And it’s only just begun.

“A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month’s study of books” ~Chinese Proverb

When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible.

~Nancy Coey~

As 2009 comes to an end I find it hard to believe that what started only 3 months ago as a way for me to write, to express, and to heal, has turned into an amazing opportunity. An opportunity to start a business capturing memories, your precious memories, for years to come.  It fills me with so much joy, I can hardly put what I feel into words. Thank You.  During the past 2 months I have completed 8 family photo sessions. Each unique, each special, and each allowing me the opportunity to learn, to experiment, and to gain a confidence with the camera that I never knew I had.  Here are just a few of my favorite memories captured during those special first sessions.

Looking ahead there are some big changes underway for me and this business.  As I write, I have a brand new webpage being developed!! With a new look and feel. And a new name. The launch of the new webpage means “Bella Rose Photography” as a business page will become a thing of the past.  I may keep this blog running as my landing space for personal reflection but the business will undergo big changes. “BeYoung Photography” will soon be born and I couldn’t be happier! Hopefully within the next month the new page will be up and running, so stay tuned for updates.

In the meantime, some other changes are already taking shape. I am excited to have new packages and new product offerings to start off 2010. Head on over to the Investment page for all the details. In addition to family portrait sessions I am excited to offer a new “Belly and Baby” package, and event sessions too.  Stay tuned in the coming months for “Mini Session” offerings as well.  Product purchase options now include photo prints of all sizes, an archival CD of edited images, gallery canvas prints, or custom designed albums.

Turning this hobby from vision to a full fledged business venture would not have become a reality without your readership, support, trust, and encouragement. I am so excited to begin booking sessions for 2010 and can’t wait to hear from you and begin capturing your memories. It’s going to be an amazing year.

I love this time of year. Reflection. Renewal. Resolve. To make peace with the 365 days that have passed and anticipation for the clean slate just around the corner.  Since the age of 12 I have made a list of new years resolutions.  Me and Rachel, my childhood friend of 16 years lived for New Year’s Eve. Sitting around, a bowl of our special new year’s chili in one hand, a pen in the other, with not a care in world and imaging the possibilities that a new year would bring.

As an adult I still live for this day. The themes, process, and outcome of my yearly reflection have all grown up a little bit. But the feeling is still the same. Closing one chapter, and opening the door to a new one.

Inspired by the Shutter Sisters once again I am reflecting and exploring this past year and the year to come with just one word.  One word to embody 2009, and another word to carry me through 2010. I’ve been playing with words since Monday. Letting them roll off my tongue, rattle around in my brain, and see how they stick. Do they feel comfortable? Do they feel right?  2009 was a bear of a year for me and my Calmer.  Finding only one word has been an arduous exploratory process. And it took me all week. But I found it. I found my word.

2009: HOPE

I started this year with hope for starting a family. Continued the year with hope for the new life that would enter our world. And I’m ending the year with hope for a successful photography business venture next year. There was most definitely love, despair, inspiration, sadness, and thousands of other words that could be weaved throughout my year. But hope seemed to weave it’s way throughout and it definitely felt right.

Photography has also been a big part of this past year. 10 out of the 12 months.  I’ve been looking back and it’s amazing to see how far I’ve come and the road I’ve traveled this year.  I have many favorite images from my photography journey but I tried to chose one favorite to represent each month of this year.

And now I am ready to close this chapter. I am ready for 2010. My goals, dreams, and aspirations for this year are lofty. And I have my word. Inspired by Me Ra Koh and her scholarship.

2010: SOAR

A powerful yet encouraging mantra to take me higher and achieve the success I’ve been hoping for.

Do you have your words? How would you sum up your 2009 with just one word? Do you have an inspiring one word mantra for 2010? Take time today to reflect here with me.

December was my NaBloPoMo month for blog posting and I first want to proudly state that I did it!!!I posted daily for all of December 2009. Some days it was hard. I was tired. Didn’t have anything to write about. No pictures to take. But I pushed through the burn out and finished!

Soooooo, that means you won’t be hearing from me daily on the blog from here on out. BUT, if you want to see my work daily for the next year catch me over at flickr. I’ve decided to take the plunge and restart my project 365 this year, thanks to all of your encouragement. I am also thrilled to see many many friends old and new starting the journey with me. I hope we can all be a source of encouragement and inspiration as the year progresses.

The most shocking of my 365 compadres? My very own Calmer! He decided to take the plunge as well. He doesn’t really use the dSLR too much. Doesn’t claim to own a point and shoot. So he’ll be using a variety of cameras this year for his project: webcam, camera phone, point and shoot, and maybe even the dSLR too. I am sure getting a peek into our world from each of our perspectives will be an interesting contrast. Today was the perfect example.

Beryl: Ready to SOAR! Excited about the new office corner set up and ready to rock and roll with the new iMac and the new business venture.

Calmer: Supporting me to the fullest, but not really enjoying the new computer so much.

(click on our names to head on over to our flickr pages and get the full scoop)

Who else started their 365’s today?? Post your links in the comments. I want to see!

“People are never more insecure than when they become obsessed with their fears at the expense of their dreams.”

~Norman Cousins~

Fear is a sneaky beast. Lurking in the shadows until its ready to come charging, full speed ahead, to knock you down.  Crippling. Blinding. Gnawing. Numbing. FEAR. Fear knocked me down this weekend.

fear of failure

pregnancy

heartbreak

ideas

burn out

acceptance

criticism

fear of the unknown

But I refuse to let this fear keep me down.  It’s 2010. And I am going to SOAR.  That’s my mantra. I am spreading my wings.  I don’t know where my flight path leads.  I have some idea of where I’m going but with a whole wide world out there my options are vast.

Today its a photography business (because as you know I love to take pictures!). Tomorrow its “maybe I’ll write a book” (but really I have no clue what I’d write about – grief? loss? coping? photography? technology? teaching? giving? i have no clue…). The next minute its a desire to help others tackle grief (through photography therapy maybe?? Is there such a thing??!!).

My creativity is just waiting to be unleashed.   I keep pondering a fire starter session with Danielle LaPorte and then think little old me with my unfocused and underdeveloped ideas is in no place to be even going there.  What I do know is that I want to be inspired.  So, keep on inspiring me friends. Help me pick my path and really take off.  I want something big. I want to own it. Create it. I want to kiss fear goodbye. And say hello to my dreams.