Spring Break 2015–Road Trip!

Well, it was an adventure, but not the first kind of trip that comes to mind over Spring Break... With Shelby off for the week, I figured why not take the kids to Ohio and visit the grandparents? Driving six hours with a 6 year old and newly minted 3 year old without backup (mom) can't be that bad...

We were less than an hour in and barely out of Chicago, and Shelby requested the first pit stop. I wouldn't call it a NASCAR stop but it was pretty quick. Ok, everybody hit the potty and regroup at one of the cleaner looking corners of the rest stop-ready GO! Still mastering the art of the potty, and new to the loud flush rest stop potty, Pete was not getting anywhere near those monster porcelain vacuums (you'd think for all that noise during a flush, the floors would be dry–yuck). With 350 miles to go and a pull-up for insurance, I chose not to pick that fight. Back in the car we went...

Entertainment options for the trip included: 2 iPads (with barely enough space for 2 movies-come on Apple!), Beats music, satellite radio, a doodle pad, a variety of snacks, and whatever random notepads Shelby managed to stuff into her backpack.

During past trips, Pete has made it a good 4 hours before starting to break down. This time, barely 2 hours in and he started repeating "I wanna go home!" 

After another quick pit stop (Pete still didn't go), I basically threw a little of everything from the snack cooler to the back seat. We cranked up "All About That Bass" and somehow managed to leave the irritability in our wake...

Somehow, we made it! Even more impressive was that Pete's pull up was dry, a feat I couldn't have managed (of course he didn't have a thermos of coffee & diet coke). And this 2 pound Costco cake was waiting for us upon arrival-thanks grandma!

Best of Houzz–Design Photography in Chicago

While most of my work centers around headshots and portraits, you might’ve seen a few real estate images on my site too. If you haven't seen them, head over to my Houzz.com page. Houzz is like a professionally curated Pinterest with a focus towards all things house & home. It’s the place to be for home designers, decorators, contractors, and do it yourselfers looking for ideas.

I was flattered to open an email from Houzz announcing that I had won a Best of Houzz Award for Design Photography.

These images were some of the most popular among the site’s 25 million monthly visitors!

Before you start that next project at home, do check out Houzz.com. Find yourself a local professional to point you in the right direction. A little professional advice goes a long way.

Photography and The Small Business Community

To kick off 2015, I’m very excited to formally announce a series of new photography services for small business. You can read the specifics here, but this post is more about how the offering came to be.

Running a small business is tough, even when things are going well. The demands are never-ending, and “delegation” is a term I seem to have left in the corporate world.

As my own journey into working full-time as a headshot and portrait photographer has unfolded, I’ve had to learn about all aspects of running a small business — everything from accounting to marketing. In fact, saying I’m a full-time photographer is a bit of stretch: yes, I’m engaged full-time in running my photography business, but only some of that time is spent behind the camera.

If you’ve ever pursued an entrepreneurial venture, you know what I mean: it seems like you’ve got to spend a lot of time doing the thing that is not “your thing” in order for people to see that you can do “your thing” well.

Keeping up a social media presence and website can be some of the most time-consuming things we’ve got to do to help our small businesses succeed. And I’ve actually got an advantage there: as a photographer, I’ve got a steady supply of good images to use for blog posts and Facebook updates. I know from talking with other small business owners that the social media slog is even tougher when you don’t have the tools on hand to make quality images whenever you need them.

Working on various projects with all kinds of professionals in Gurnee, Libertyville, and the broader Lake County and Chicagoland area, I’ve realized when I do my thing, I’m actually in a perfect position to help my fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners get back to doing their thing.

I’ve got experience with headshots, lifestyle portraits, and photographing interiors and real estate. These are very different kinds of work requiring very different equipment and expertise — trust me. There’s a lot to be said for focusing on just one discipline, but now I’ve realized that, together, these services form a natural package that meet the needs of small business owners. I can help the folks who, like me, want to present themselves and their business to the world with polish and professionalism. They need sharp headshots of their people, great images of their products, and inviting pictures of their space.  

My goal in 2015 is to get our small businesses looking their best, one shoot at a time. We often hear of the importance of small businesses in our economy. It is so true, entrepreneurs are vital to every community. It’s time we look the part.

So if you’re a small business owner, give me a call and let’s get started. If you notice your favorite local business (salon, restaurant, bakery, insurance agent, dentist, accountant) could use some help, let the owner know of my offering. Ask them to contact me, or any local photographer.

New Year, New Headshot!

If you’re a small business owner, a headshot is a crucial branding component. In fact, I would argue that it’s the most important piece. Because without you, your business is just another business. You define your business and you make it special. Your headshot is the very first impression most future clients will see.

So to kick of the new year, I started with a headshot of Krissy in my Libertyville studio. A local photographer herself, she’s in the process of rebranding her business with a new website, logo and more. And now she has the headshot to match.

If your headshot could use a boost in 2015, drop me a note and we'll get to work.

The Adventure of 2014

2014 is nearly behind us — what a year and what an adventure!

One year ago this time, my flip-flops were always on standby. The odds of finding some random beach sand around the house was pretty good.

Since then, we’ve made the jump from Florida to Chicago. It’s been terrific. Our first three seasons here have been refreshingly temperate. Now we’re bracing for our first winter in many years. I’m excited, but the kids remain skeptical, #FloridaNatives!

As I grow my photo business in this new market, I’ve seen my headshot business pick up. It’s an honor to help each client step up their online presence with a stellar new image, and I enjoy connecting with those clients as fellow entrepreneurs, small business owners, and innovative professionals.

I lucked out and just happened to be living minutes from perhaps the best photo studio in Lake County. Partnering with the studio has brought new business, and new friends and colleagues into my life. Looking ahead, the opportunities are so exciting… Stay tuned!

My lifestyle portrait work with families and children has seen new growth as well. Part of the thrill of the school photo projects and the development of my day-in-the-life family sessions is that I’m not just making images, I’m also getting to develop whole new ways of operating. I get to stay true to my own natural creative instincts while responding to the unique needs of the people I work with.

Thanks to all who have supported my work through this huge transition. To celebrate, I put together this little video with some favorite images of 2014. I hope you’ll stay in touch by subscribing to my newsletter and ‘Liking’ my Facebook page.

Make 2015 a good one!