Holiday mini sessions | Queen Creek, AZ photographer

As I was preparing this little nugget, I had to stop and wow at the fact that it is already time to start thinking about the holidays.  Well, I suppose it’s only time if you don’t want to fall behind.  : )  The end of the year can get so full, so busy and so complicated.  I’m excited to be in the Queen Creek area for some mini sessions on November 11, 12, 13.  The mini session will include a digital image since many like to design their own holiday greetings.  If you prefer to NOT do your own, you can substitute the digital image for other products including customized cards.  I have a limited number of appointments remaining so if you are interested, call or email me! 

Watermarking

I have been in the watermark dilemma position before and funny thing, I am here again.  Maybe it is just something fun for me to play with and work on?  Anyhow, you can see what I have been up to…

I wonder what I will settle on?

Fail Forward

One of my favorite terms, Fail Forward, didn’t come from this book, but I sure was happy to see this!  I didn’t know about the book until my mom brought a stack of inspiring books for me to read.  I was so excited about its title that I chose this one first.  I love this term because it means taking your mistakes and using them as lessons to move forward.  It can apply to business and personal lives.  I learned of this concept many years ago when I worked for Wells Fargo Bank and went through training as a mortgage loan consultant.  Portions of the classes were videos recorded specifically for Wells Fargo by  Todd Duncan.  His passion and drive is incredible and his organization is awesome.  So, I heard him use the phrase Fail Forward and loved it.  Since then, I continue to use this phrase as a regular part of business and life.  The book, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success, is powerful and inspiring and the author is John C. Maxwell.  I haven’t read any of his other books but don’t worry, it is in the stack.  His insights are worth pondering and implementing!  Another book worth reading! 

New Surroundings | Kirkland, WA photographer

One of the first pictures I love here in WA.  (There is no boost in color, it is just VERY green here.)  Washington offers a great combination of color and light.  The sky always seems to be perfect for outdoor pictures.  I took these with my 50mm 1.4.  I had everything else packed away and the 50mm was light weight and easy to carry around.  I have fallen in love with this lens again.  I never stopped loving it (is this a song, or what?) just remembered it fondly.  : )

Guest speaker| Queen Creek Photographer

I have an announcement (is this sounding serious?)…  Lisa Heuer Photography has moved to  Kirkland, WA…. yes, Lisa Heuer Photography has a new location.  It isn’t like it scooted around the corner!  It is a big move with many adventures ahead!  I recently posted a little tidbit about my studio (that I love) and a perfect comment was made (thanks Jen!), “may it rest in peace.”  Oh, should I insert cry here or later?  It certainly is hard to make changes and leaving the studio behind was one of the hardest!

I have seen beauty before but the beauty here in WA is an everyday (blessing) thing.  The greenery, the rain, the water, the wetlands, the lake, the bridges, the trees, etc. are all so different than the brown and the cactus in AZ.  OK, don’t misread here (and certainly don’t put your own ending to my story) I love AZ and have only known AZ for many years but change is good, it feels good.  I’m not sure what my song and dance will be when it is December and I haven’t seen the sunshine for far too long and then February rolls around and still no sunshine…?  I will be keeping sessions in AZ (of course a good reason to visit) so if you are interested send me a note.  I will be updating here and through email the dates of AZ sessions so stay tuned.

Ok, the reason for my post-I was asked to be a guest speaker to a group of AZ women photographers.  What a privilege!  It was an honor to share with these ladies as well as learn from them!  I am so passionate about business and I love photography and I guess when you put those two together, I am one hot mess.  ; )  I can talk shop for hours and probably days so I am truly humbled that they would want to hear from me.  The ladies were fabulous! …and then I was featured  on Jess Leonard’s photo site. 

I really enjoyed sharing and learning!  Thanks ladies for inviting me to share and join you for the afternoon!

So off to getting settled I go!

Another great read | Queen Creek Photographer

Have I already mentioned this book?  I probably should go back and look but I like it so much that I am willing to talk about it again (if indeed, this is round 2)!  I read this (okay, honesty is getting to me… I bought the book on CD) at the beginning sometime of 2010 and I have listened to bits and pieces throughout the last few months.  I love to follow Melissa Jill, and she mentioned this book the other day.  It reminded me how awesome it really is.  If you are in the car for more time than you are able to read, buy it on CD and listen while you drive.  It’s better than trying to talk or text since that is dangerous anyway. : )

One of my 2010 goals was to read 3 books about the business.  So, another addition to the collection for 2010!

My Studio | Queen Creek Photographer

This is my humble abode-my home studio.  I converted what was the living room and dining room, added a bit of a wall, some double doors and called it MY SPACE.  I can think in here, I can sing in here, I can spread out in here, I can teach in here, I can create in here…  I love to have samples on the wall, I love to display COLOR, I love signs that have meaning to me, and those door handles are truly the best part.  There is a story behind those but I should save it for another day.  This is my studio.

Blog Stats | Queen Creek Photographer

What do your blog statistics mean to you? Have you heard the song Popular from the incredible Broadway show Wicked?  First thing: I love that show!  I could listen to the music over and over and over again but since that isn’t about photography, I had to find a way to connect it.  So, back to statistics… do you think, “Awesome, I am so popular?”  or not so popular?   ; )  Well, for real, when I look at my site statistics I think about that song because I wonder why I look?  What am I wanting to discover, change, or know?   I am not unlike the others; curious to know my traffic, curious to know how many stop-bys and how much time is being spent on this little thing- but why?  Why do we care?  Is it a popularity contest?  A curiosity to kill?  I have heard “content is king” but how much truth is behind that?  I know there are ways to increase visibility and much more…  Would we blog whether or not we had daily visitors or people contributing to conversation via comments?  What if we looked at our statistics and found no visitors?  Would we continue?  I am here to document, share my passion, and see growth and I suppose that means for myself and the possibility of others.  Why do you have a blog?  What is your purpose? What to you hope to do or change with your blog?   

I love to share what I am doing, show others what I can (or can’t) do, leave a mark in history. I hope that ranks or statistics don’t change your (or my) purpose! 

Happy Trails? | Florida Photography

I am reaching out to those in business (for themselves).  Let’s chat about the business path!  I heard something fantastic today!  A business owner told me, “I always complain to my wife that I am behind.  She responds by telling me I am doing something right to always have business.”  I thought about that.  I thought more about that.  She is right.  If you are in business and doing well, you will never be caught up!  You will continue to drive business so when one project is done, you have the next one waiting in the foyer.  : )  (kind of sounds like laundry… never ahead, always filling up what you have finished!)

I see these pictures and it reminds me of the paths we take in life or in business as we build up what we want to have waiting in our foyers… 

Are you on the straight path?  You know exactly where you are going and how to get there?  You have a clear view and although obstacles may get in the way, you are proactive and prepared?  Maybe you even have gutter guards so you don’t fall off?  ; )  Even on a cloudy day, you path in business is straight and unobstructed…  Maybe your peripheral vision isn’t the greatest since you are focused on the straight ahead?

Or maybe you are struggling and it seems like an uphill climb. You can’t really see what is ahead and maybe you don’t want to?  Or, you sort of like taking it a few steps at a time…  It’s not a clear path but an adventure!  Maybe you can see the top of the hill but the steps to get there seem a little scary?

Or maybe you like the round about path…  the path that eventually gets you where you want to be but learning along the way and taking all sorts of turns (both wrong and right) help you still continue in the direction you want to go.  Sometimes this path takes extra time but maybe you see more and learn more along the way?  This is the scenic route even if there isn’t much to see.  ; ) 

I am a firm believer in continual growth regardless of your plan.  I try to not say never but I really want to use it here… we should never think we have it all down, know all there is to know and our path is complete.  Our paths change, our desires change and the seasons of life change.   Enjoy the journey!

Are you a purple cow?

I have never wanted to be referred to as a cow until I read Purple Cow; now I want to be a cow and better yet, I want to be a purple cow. : )  If you have read any books by Seth Godin, you will know what he is passionate about.  Every business owner should read it.  It is all about being noticeable, having something worth noticing or simply not wasting your time.  This book challenges your thinking, challenges the norm and the average.  It also questions what you consider good and more than good-REMARKABLE.  The Purple Cow has helped me recognize what I can do to differentiate myself in this market full of photographers and has taught me to be ok with not being everyone’s photographer.  What I mean is, it is ok to stick with what I know and what I want to know and what I do best.  It is my job to figure out how to reach those people that want what I have and what I do.  ; ) 

My husband and I were having a conversation about a poor experience with Avis.  He mentioned that after each rental, he receives a survey which he is usually too busy to complete.  He typically deletes the email and gets back to his important stuff.  BUT, this time will be different, he pointed out.  He is anxiously awaiting the survey.  He will be making time to clearly point out his negative experience and share what was done and what they can do to make it better.  I had an a-hah moment and was able to relate it to Purple Cow…  everybody expects GOOD but GOOD is no longer enough.  You need to be REMARKABLE and NOTICEABLE.  Sometimes that comes in form that is not so appealing to others but at least you are being noticed! 

So, with the rental situation…  he is going to take the time to write all about it because is was less than good.  He also would have taken the time to write something on each survey if it was remarkable or something well beyond the expected “good”.  Being/doing good isn’t enough. 

The follow up book is The Big Moo as a collaboration of business persons with excellent insight on this Purple Cow type business.  I highly recommend these reads!  There is always room for improvement, change and growth-no matter how long you have been in business or what kind of business you do!