{NEW PORTRAIT POST ON SBP...THE JOHNSONS}

There's another awesome portrait session up over on Syreena B Photography Blog. I just adore newlyweds. This session makes my heart sparkle! Check out more HERE.

XoXo,

Syreena

{NEW PORTRAIT POST ON SBP...THE WALTONS}

My college suitemate came to visit and get behind my camera with her goWageous family. Check out more from their family session HERE over on Syreena B Photography Blog. 

XoXo,

Syreena

{NEW PORTRAIT POST ON SBP...THE IN-LOVES}

Still catching up sessions from the end of 2011. This time it was the husband's parents annual fall photo shoot. You can check it out HERE! 

Thirty years of marriage looks pretty darn good, huh?!?

XoXo,

Syreena

{NEW PORTRAIT POST ON SBP...THE MOORES}

I decided that I played it to safe and "scared" with my business in 2011. Probably, mostly due to the fact that I just became a mommy of two under two and was completely OVERWHELMED by the idea of being a wife, a mommy of two, AND a running a business among other things. With the new year I have purposed to do things a bit better and a bit different than my norm with my business. One of those things being, "putting myself out there" a bit more. Business is not going to just "fall in my lap" because, simply put, no matter how great I may be... if no one knows I ( my business ) is out there, I have already failed. In 2011, I developed a much needed confidence in my ability to photograph people in a beautiful way. In 2012, that confidence has giving me the strength to be a little bolder about who I am and what I do. 

Therefore, my new marketing plan is starting with the basics. The small things that are effortless like cross posting on my personal blog the new work posted on my photography blog. 

So....BOOM!

Check out more of thier goWageous family session on the Syreena B Photography Blog (SBP) HERE!!!

XoXo,

Syreena

{BEING A WAHM: LESSONS LEARNED V.2}

So, I'm offical and all kinds of legit right now. My business cards just came in the mail today. Whooooo hoooooooo! So, I thought that this would be as good of a time as ever to share with you part two of the lessons I learned being a work at home mom. You can check out V.1 RIGHT HERE! I'm no pro, but I am certain of the biggest mistakes that I've made thus far in trying to start/build/grow a business, and I am determined to right those wrongs. The first one up on deck is, hands down, the hardest thing for me to do...

Toot your own horn- If you don't believe in yourself and your work, how can you expect anyone else to?!? There is absolutely no room for "shy" in building a business. For the longest time I have been way too quiet about my business, what I do and where I'm going. I could barely tell anyone that yes, "I am a photographer". I guess I felt that my lack of training/experience nullified my ability to rock the title well. BOY, IS THAT A MISTAKE and a HUGE BUSINESS F-A-I-L IN THE MAKING! Making the desicion to move into my business full force has pushed me to face my fears and SMASH THE HECK OUT THEM. And, now I just at any chance to say, "YeS, I'm a photographer..." and "why don't you visit my blog sometime"!!! Toot your own horn ladies and gents... toot your own horn... 

Go Mobile- {sync calendar, send quick emails, app it}- technology is my saving grace! I would like to give thanks to all of the wonder-nerds of the world who make apps, wigdets and a bunch of other nifty little things possible for non-techy peeps like me. Because of applications like Google Calendar, Google Docs, DropBox, My Mac, Square, Evernote and others... I am able to be anywhere, complete task and knock things off of my to do list like a ninja! 

Organize your business- A workflow is oh-so-necessary!!! I have templated emails and a workflow that starts from the moment I am contacted by a potential client to the point where thier products have been delivered and they have been logged for contact for future promotions. That way, when life gets busy with the business and the kids, I can breathe and see right in front of me exactly where I am and how much progress I am making. And, all of my info is stashed away in nice, neat little folders that are color-coded and clearly labeled for easy access and reference. 

Organize your household- It is allll too easy to get wrapped up in business and next thing you know, your dirty clothes are mile high, the hubs is feeling neglected, the kids haven't been outside in a week (and sometimes, neither have you). Now you really feel a hot mess. *enter meltdown HERE* And, that is why I have found it super important to schedule all of my household duties. There is a time for vaccuming, cleaning the fridge, grocery shopping, coupon clipping, baby food making etc. It totally keeps me sane! Not to mention, I have an awesome little household binder full of printouts that I have made to keep up with things like last oil change and even dvd inventory. Helping me keep the lil's look a lot more of this....

and less... I'm-some-kind-of-monster-child-ish... and lastly...

By all means, be you- I can't drive into the mud enough how important this one is. There is such a fine line between inspiration and imitation. And, it really does you no good to be anything BUT yourself. Yes, there are typical" ways of doing things, whatever your business endeavor may be, but there is so much strength in being the most authentic you that you can be. People WILL love you for it!

And, those are the biggest lessons that I learned so far being a work-at-home-mom!

XoXo,

Syreena