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South Jersey Small Business Branding Session: Medford, New Jersey
What do you think of when you hear “Small business?” Here’s what comes to my mind.
Blood, sweat, tears…
No set schedule, always on call
Being your own boss
Wearing ALL the hats (marketing, sales, social media manager, accountant)
It’s overwhelming at times, but having been my own boss for TEN years now, I can say, I love it so much. I always carry paper with me, because the ideas never stop. Some parts of the business( like taxes and bookkeeping) are SO painful but it’s part of wearing all the hats.
I love celebrating other small businesses! We are the PULSE of our small town. Together we have a wealth of knowledge and ideas to endlessly inspire others. But being a small business owner, also means showing your face, maybe more than you would like, with your clients. I love helping other small businesses SHINE. A branding session is a great solution to walk away with products that will help connect you to your clients immediately! Did you know the photos that I post on social media that get the most likes are…. photos of myself?! It’s bizarre! Here’s a branding session with a very talented, funny, and amazing food stylist that specializes in unconventional charcuterie!
Johnson's Locust Hall Micro Wedding: Meghan + Kyle
I’m looking back at this gorgeous day- the day Meghan and Kyle decided getting married was not going to wait. With just as much joy, attention to detail, purposefulness, and love- they were married in the winter of 2020 (aka Covid times). But the story gets better- the following year, they would get the celebration they deserved with extended family and friends at the same great venue- Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm. There were so many negatives to Covid times, but the one (and maybe only) amazing positive was the chance for a second wedding! I would jokingly say to clients (pre-Covid), “This was SO much fun! Let’s do it again next year!” Well, for some clients during theses times, it actually happened!
Their First Dance was so magical in the barn… just the two of them!
There’s no getting in the way of the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom. I love this photo so much!
If you’re ever wondering, “Should I wear a fur shawl to my wedding?” The answer is always yes. 100%.
4 Must Do Tips to Photograph Your Home to Get It Sold ASAP
A few years ago, we decided to put our house up for sale. We had moved into that home just before I gave birth to my daughter, and it’s where I brought both of my babies home from the hospital and where they had spent their time as babies, so it was not easy to talk me into moving. We bought our house as a fixer upper and it needed a lot of love. It seemed we had just fixed it to how we loved it. Then… we got the moving bug. In the winter, we would bundle the kids up after lunch and load them into the car and tell them we were going to grab a cup of coffee from Wawa (which was true), but we also knew the kids would fall asleep in the car and we could have some much needed quiet time while we explored nearby areas.
We drove through a dreamy neighborhood about 20 minutes away from our home, more rural and a little bit “in the sticks,” aka not five minutes away from Target and Wegmans. The houses were adorable (think Gilmore Girls), they looked like a retro neighborhood that you dream about when times were simpler- detached garages, candles in the windows, several playgrounds, and walkable to Main Street… but newer. We decided we definitely could see ourselves raising our kids there. Once we decided that we would love to live there, we stalked Zillow, but houses rarely went on the market in the small community, and we didn’t want to put our house on the market until we knew we could get a house there. Finally over July 4th weekend, a house went up for sale, which we immediately saw in person and put in an offer. On our anniversary, July 16th, we officially put our house up for sale, and just two weeks later, we had a full price offer, which we sold by owner.
Now, here’s four MUST DO tips to photograph and stage your home for sale, quickly!
1- Declutter and depersonalize.
This is an obvious one, right? It’s SO important. Take down pretty much any photo with humans that you know and replace it with generic art prints. I even replaced framed photos with prints from magazines. You don’t want potential buyers focused on your photos and not your home. Also, clean out your rooms so they have WAY less belongings (especially toys)- think barely lived in. Start the packing early, and put toys, and things you won’t need in the immediate future in boxes and put them in the garage. I found that buyers are forgiving of excessive boxes in the garage, instead of clutter throughout the house. Do this before you ever pick up a camera.
2- Once you’re ready to stage, add plants, and intentional pops of color.
After I decluttered my kitchen, I added pops of yellow- the bananas, sunflowers, and lemons. I also added potted plants on the windowsill. On the front porch, the hanging ferns and potted plant help give it some character and make it feel homey.
3- Shoot different angles, and be sure to show where the rooms lead.
We’ve all looked at a house on Zillow and tried to figure out the layout of the house. I tried to be intentional while photographing my own house, to show there was an en suite bathroom in the master, or to show the order of rooms in the main living space.
4- Focus on the features that you love, chances are buyers might love them too!
We completely overhauled our hallway bathroom, and I was so in love with everything we had chose for it- the vanity, the mirror, the black and white tile, and the little cubby in the shower for shampoo. I tried to showcase those details in photographs. I also loved that we had just put up a tire swing in the yard- and thought this added to the homey factor of our home.
These photos also are fun to look at when I’m feeling nostalgic. Good luck!
Best of 2022 - Weddings
22 Weddings in 2022! From Ocean City, NJ to Philadelphia, PA. Heat waves to freezing cold… one common theme was LOVE! Here’s one photo from each amazing wedding I was lucky enough to be a part of. Also featured is my first vow renewal!
Best of 2022 - Family Sessions
Family sessions are a favorite. This year included in-home sessions, beach sessions, maternity sessions, and the classic Fall sessions. I loved working with all of these families to take a snapshot in the moment.
Batsto Village Engagement, Hammonton, New Jersey: Taylor and Matt
Taylor contacted me specifically looking for a winter engagement session. I was THRILLED because usually clients want the warmth of summer or the leaves falling, so I love when someone comes along and shakes things up! Taylor and Matt landed on Batsto Village in Hammonton for their session location. Batsto is such a great spot- there are so many great locations/textures, there’s water, tall grass, rustic buildings, and to top it off- it’s DOG friendly! Which brings me to the star of the engagement session- Archie, their adorable pup. Well he wasn’t the star, but I sure thought he was the cutest teddy bear I ever saw. Taylor and Matt, we had an amazing session, congratulations on your engagement!!
Medford Lakes, New Jersey Micro Wedding: Jen and Danny
Three days before Christmas, Jen and Danny exchanged vows in historic Braddock’s Tavern with their parents gathered round. Just before their wedding ceremony, Jen and Danny met me at Cathedral in the Woods and then beach three in Medford Lakes for their session. The beach in Medford Lakes is one of my favorite places to shoot and it’s even better when it ends with a gorgeous sunset. They brought along a red blanket to keep them warm (which made for a great prop) and then ended with matching flannel shirts. They were such good sports while we shot in the cold! Congrats Jen and Danny!
New Jersey Backyard Micro Wedding: Connor + Katie
Connor and Katie planned on a big wedding on September 12, 2020, but when COVID hit, they had a decision to make. They decided to postpone their big wedding and gather with family and a few friends in Katie’s parents’ backyard for a micro wedding. With their ceremony starting an hour before sunset, we experienced the most perfect lighting paired with the vibrant trees, making a stunning backdrop. They livestreamed their ceremony on zoom so all their guests could witness their vows. After portraits with friends and family, speeches were made and the cake was cut. One thing that will forever stick with me from this wedding is the speech of Connor’s best man (his father). Because it was a small wedding, everyone gathered around in a circle to listen to his speech and I could easily see everyone’s reactions to this heartfelt speech. Tears. Smiles. It was truly amazing to witness. I’m so excited we will get to do this again in September 2021!
Congrats!
