April Showers Giveaway and Sale

 

Well, folks, I’m just here to let you know about the sale and giveaway I’m having over at Beauty {free blog designs}.

Everything in the shoppe is 50% off, and you have the chance to win one of two packages – one priced at $60, and the other at $20.

So head on over and enter! (And, following the popular trend that’s been going around lately, I put up a quick questionnaire for you guys to answer as the mandatory entry. ;))

The giveaway and sale end on the 30th, and I will announce the winners on May 1st.

Birthday Time ;)

My birthday was so fun today – we had a great time hanging out at Starbucks (the best place to hang ;) ), and just being together.

The past year has been the hardest year of my life, yet one of the best at the same time. I have learned so much about life and people, and have met some new best friends too. It’s been a time of hurt and pain, yet sweet joy and rest. I have never come out and said this plainly in a blog post because the blog is geared toward photography, but let me say it now. I am a believer in Jesus Christ, and have realized that going through the pain and fear of life and trials is always such a blessing – because in the midst of it all Jesus’ love for me is even sweeter. Even when no one seems to care about me, I know that I have Christ and He will never leave me or forsake me, and He loves me no matter what. It doesn’t matter if I’m short, shy, prideful, frustrated, or anything – He loves me. And that is the most comforting thing of all – that He loved me enough to die on the cross for me, taking all my sin on Himself so that I might wear his righteousness before God the Father and be forgiven of my sin. When I think of that, all of a sudden what people have done to me kinda vanishes. I was never whipped, beaten, nailed to a cross…and I never died for the sins of the world. So what do I have to complain about?

So that’s what I’ve been thinking about – every time I have another birthday I always think about the past year and what has happened in it. And I am so excited about the coming year and the ones that will Lord willing follow – I want to be married to the most handsome and godly man, maybe have a flourishing photography business, publish my book, and be with my wonderful friends. (Lord willing to all that, of course!! =D) So anyway. I guess I am keeping up with my resolution to be personal, huh? ;)

*The reason we’re outside is because we had a kind of treasure hunt this morning…and that’s my brother and I very happy over matching water guns. We’re gonna have us a fight soon. ;)*

Impromptu Shoot

At the park this week I took some photos – for the past six months or so I just haven’t had much time for photography, so I really enjoyed hanging out with my siblings and doing an impromptu shoot. ;)

But first…we watched Megamind and we all love it. ;) So my sister, me, and some of our close friends started drawing pictures of him. We had fun with it…everyone had really amazing drawings!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My brother is a bit crazy…

 

 

Wow.

Okay guys – you’re gonna have to get used to hearing me gush about Jasmine Star. Because, wow, is she amazing. ;)

Saturday was the second and final day of the workshop – and it was seven hours long. It was so helpful from start to finish. Jasmine pretty much covered everything from meeting with clients to designing websites to shooting long weddings. I learned more than I thought was actually possible – I can’t even begin to tell you the amazing things she said, the great advice she gave! The one thing, though, that stood out to me about websites was this -

Your website needs to ooze you.

Yes, everyone laughed really hard when she said that, but it’s true! As a photographer, I need to show my clients who I am – because if they don’t like Hannah Beasley, I shouldn’t be their photographer. It’s as simple as that.

So, I’m going to do something I thought I wouldn’t do. I will be re-launching this blog and website…and this time both of them will “ooze” me. ;) I’m an author and a wanna-be movie director – so guess what my website will look like? Yep, it’ll have writing and movie making combined with everything else! I’m planning on releasing everything in a few months – it’ll take me a while to design a website and blog that is Hannah through and through. I’m so excited about this…and I hope you guys don’t think I’m crazy. Though I don’t blame you if you do. ;) But I think this is necessary for my business, and for my personal satisfaction. =D

So. That’s my little “heads up” to you guys. Okay – do you think I’m crazy?

Jasmine Star, CreativeLIVE, and What Is Going to Change Here

I signed up with CreativeLIVE a few weeks ago, because they offer these amazing, free workshops online that range from graphic/web design to photography. Well, I was elated to hear that Jasmine Star was going to be doing a two-day, twelve-hour workshop on starting your own wedding photography business.

Today was the first day. And it was amazing.

I learned so much from the three hours I watched – I couldn’t watch all six hours – and I totally appreciated everything she had to say! One of the biggest things I came away with was this -

It is better to fail at something you love, than to succeed at something you hate.

 

Everything in context, of course. =) But the point is that you need to love what you’re doing. And that is so true. Sometimes necessity dictates that you hate your job – you just need to have it no matter what. But what is the best is to love what you do. Because you will put who you are into it, and you’ll do well.

The other big point I loved was this -

Your clients and fellow photographers must trust you, and you should care for them as real people, not just as opportunities.

Big deal here. It isn’t about being smooth, professional, and perfect all the time. It’s about being real, being open about who you are. Jasmine said that what made her pick her wedding photographer (and this was before she decided to be one herself) was because of his personality as it was displayed on his blog and website. She liked him as a person, as well as his photography. It wasn’t just that he could get good photos. It was that he shared who he was with everyone.

So, how does this relate to me and you? Well, I’m taking Jasmine’s advice. I’ve always kept up a very professional, smooth front (at least, that’s what I’ve tried to do! =D), but I’m done with that. How can any of you, or any prospective clients, get to know me if I keep up that front? So, my faithful followers, I am dispensing with the formality. I’m going to be me. And if you love it, wonderful! If you don’t, that’s okay too. Because I want you all to know the real me – who the girl behind the camera really is.

P.S. I took these photos of my brother a few weeks ago – he loves making movies and music, and he asked me to do these for him. ;) (You know – album cover types) We had a lot of fun with the shoot.