a Motivation Check *hoorah*

What motivates you?

I have an alternating list of what motivates me. I think it depends on what I need to get done that will determine how I push through.

The excitement on my clients face to help me get through the 7+ hours of RAW photos and footage.

The feeling that comes with an open clean space helps me get through the overgrown pile of cloths.

And you wouldn’t believe how much coffee itself motivates me throughout any given day. I’ve taken on mountainous tasks for the sake of a perfectly brewed cup of espresso coffee.

But then there are days when coffee is not enough. Those days can stretch into weeks, months, seasons, and years, struggling to bring my creative thoughts out into the tangible world. Doing the writing part is often the easiest for me, but when the story is expansive and dream-like, they tend to stay locked inside.

Storytelling is my passion. I enjoy each step from pre to post production, but sometimes, I feel myself getting in my own way by doing nothing at all.

I am constantly thinking about my favorite parable from the Bible; the three servants and the talents (resources/money) they were given [Matthew 25:14-30]. The first servant was given five talents from their Master, the second was given two, and the third was given one. The first and second took their talents and multiplied them before returning them back to their Master. While the last man kept his and buried it “safely” so he could return it just as it was given to him.

Even as a child, when I first read this I never wanted to be like the last man. Given less than the others and not even understanding the value of what he had.

In the beginning of byLadyBug I didn’t have top of the line equipment, but I did my best to take what I had and create something I was proud of.

I want byLadyBug to continue growing, using my talents to the fullest. I invested in upgrading my camera equipment, computer, and editing software. I have my LLC locked in and an exciting goal to work towards.

I’m creating because it was a talent given to me. Even if the coffee stops flowing and the tools become obsolete, I will use what I have to tell a story.

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a New Thing

Happy New Year!

Wait…no, just happy new stage in life. I’ve gained a new last name and a new base of operation. byLadyBug is a married business owner now, residing in the New England area.

If you go to my Instagram page you’ll find the brief-est of mentions that my camera travels for gigs from DMV(the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia area) to the New England(Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island area). Since my love for multimedia was discovered in the DMV and cultivated in New England I figured it makes sense to dedicate my services to these areas that have permanent spots in my heart and lens-eye.

I hope you can pardon my absence, I used it to embrace my new-s. I was married in March and moved in April. May will see byLadyBug’s return to the media world. I have a new campaign that will roll out; advertising the byLadyBug trail(DMV 2 NE). New projects will be completed. Join me in the mid-year New Year. This could be a great new story. Read along with me.

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a Conundrum of Time

What is time? A man-made construct? A figment of our collective imagination? A torture device?

I literally can’t figure it out. In theory I know how it works, but in actuality, it always eludes me.

Last week I was booked for a 2-hour shoot, paid in full for this 2-hour photoshoot, and…ended up working 3-hours at the shoot. The moment I noticed the time the old adage rang in my mind, “Time is Money.”

The client’s money wasn’t wasted, but my time (and her’s) was not respected. When I was done, she had to rush off to another appointment as soon and the last shutter went off. In the end, I walked away from production with over 500 photos. The client specified that she only wanted 15 final photos and didn’t want to be overwhelmed with too many options. This caused more work for me in post-production, which meant more time. The deadline was met, but the production time was not.

At weddings and full events, my second photographer or the planner keeps me in check with time, but photoshoots have a much wider free range with the clock. Going forward I want to get a timer. Something cute, like a tiny LadyBug kitchen timer. That way I can have a clear set reminder that my time is not for free and neither is the the client’s.

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a Rebooked Season

byLadyBug’s first invoice of the new year has been typed up and sent out…and just as quick, it’s been postponed. Well, the invoice went out on the infamous January 6th, so there’s no real surprise that the event itself had to be rescheduled.

Unfortunately, a reschedule shoot is nothing new for byLadyBug. 2020 created no fewer than 3 postponed shoots. Whether it was for COVID safety, wardrobe uncertainty, and or a complete change in photoshoot subject, they came one after another.

Many of these byLadyBug clients paid in full; since they were one-hour sessions, so their invoices are serving as unofficial I.O.Us. They each know that whenever the outside becomes similar to safe, they are free to rebook. First come, first serve is set in play. Whether it is a whole new client or my previous clients biding for the first warm day in 2021, they only need to reach out and reserve the day.

As a matter of fact, while writing up this blog post, my first photoshoot of the year has secured a new date and is back on the books. No fuss…no stress. I was even surprised by a couple rescheduling their wedding photography (considering they hadn’t made contacted me since paying the deposit), regardless they are rebooked for a byLadyBug service this upcoming Spring. Things are slowly being pushed into motion for 2021.

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an Anti-Resolution

As a procrastinator with a questionable attention span, I make a point to not rely on “resolutions.” Instead, I set goals for each season in the year. I see it like this: the seasons not only bring changes to our environment, but they also bring changes to my emotional moods and motivational changes. For that reason, I set goals, they encourage me and keep me from being complacent.

The seasons also have an effect on my business’ income. Summer and Spring are a great time for booking, growth and creativity abound. Fall and Winter are perfect time to brainstorm and set practices in place; steps to building up byLadyBug.

I take the necessary steps with all of my goals and the recommended steps with a few of my goals.

Each goal is written down, then a deadline is set (typically for the end of the current season). For the goals that ring a bit more important, or have made one too many shifts from one season to the next, it is shared with another person. The hope is that this person(s) will hold me accountable.

I try not to overwhelm myself – no more than nine to ten goals and always a quick one that I can accomplish and check off either the same day or that same week. Being kind to myself, while also being realistic. I have my 2021 Winter goals written out and will share them by the end of the month. You can check them out on my YouTube page and be apart of keeping me accountable.

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a 2020 Review for byLadyBug

This is my second post of the year and also my last post for 2020. Let’s take this time to reflect.

I think I can say the world was collectively looking forward to 2020, but was not ready for the monumentus plans 2020 had for us. I was snuggled in the fraction of people who were able to work from home and still be kept on the payroll. I learned that these are indeed two different fractions, just because you can work from home it doesn’t necessarily mean your job can keep paying you. Since God secured me in the position I had only just started in 2019 I didn’t have to worry too much about having funds. These gave me a window to focus on byLadyBug.

2020 has devastated my personal life, but made some room for my byLadyBug endeavors. After tears dried and I grew accustom to staying inside, I decided to focus on the goals I feel like I never have time to accomplish.

I sat down for a few online seminars.

I embraced the uncomfortable notion of self-portrait photography.

I sat down and wrote, pen to paper.

I began my YouTube page for byLadyBug.

I received a ladybug mask for my bookings.

My 2020 started out dark grey, but once the silver light started to break through I was able to see some possibilities to grow.

So 2021, if you are better or worst, I’m bringing in my own light so byLadyBug and I can keep shining.

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a Storyteller’s Tale

I love stories. I love devouring them in book form. I enjoy interpreting them in photo form. I thrive on creating them in video form. I’ve encountered a problem though. In the right settings and proper company, I dabble in telling stories. The whole tale from dull, eventless beginnings, to the exciting juicy meaty body, to the anti-climatic conclusion. You can imagine this would be a lot to take in, when all you asked was, “what happened to you in the last 30 minutes?” But I believe one should know the whole story. That’s the only way you can best judge for yourself, especially if you weren’t there. You need details, you need the facts, but prefer they were delivered colorfully. I can help, but do you have the time?

Even more of an issue, I can capture the story of others and enjoy it throughly, but who’s capturing my story? And if someone dares, will they treat it with the love, respect, and flourish that I afford every story I attempt to tell? I can’t be too picky, I want byLadyBug to grow and customer deserve to know me and my process, as well as my product. While they’re searching for my story, someone else is a far more open book to peruse.

There are no rules against me being my own storyteller; only vanity, humility and the social faux pas of it all. Since those aren’t enough to stop me…this is me, the photographer behind byLadyBug and the overall Shorty Behind the Shutter.