Mama Mondays: For the Love... {Austin Family Photographer}

Like any job or profession, every now and then, everyone needs a little nudge in the right direction... a little "atta girl or atta boy..." a little reinforcement that we're on the right path in life.  And I must say, this session with the O Family was that for me.

I am not doubting at all that this is where I am supposed to be in life, in profession, in motherhood... But sometimes all the running of a business and being "Jack of all (ALL!) trades" can wear me down a little bit and take away a little of my energy in the parts I love the most... shooting sessions, meeting new clients, working with repeat clients, and providing them with images they will cherish forever.  All of the logistics, income/expenses, pricing, trying to make a little bit of a living, receipts, taxes, accounting, etc... yep... that is hard stuff to keep up with.  But I wouldn't trade it for the world if it means I get to capture moments like this for people who are so excited to be living them.  That is "it" for me... For the love of photography and capturing those moments for my clients. 

When I shot the image below, I knew it would be great.  And when it came up on my computer screen afterwards, it was an "ah hah" moment.  This is why I do what I do.  This is who I long to capture sweet images for.  For mamas that love their babies.  That is what started Miles of Smiles Photography in the first place.  And that was my "atta girl" experience.  (Click here to read how it started.  I got "malled.")  

Katie received a gift certificate for a photo session at her baby shower before her sweet daughter was born.  And I have to say... what an incredibly thoughtful gift.  Katie was so excited for our session (for many months, she says!), and had things organized just perfectly... from the outfits (coordinating... but not too matchy - good job, Katie!) to the jewelry to the ideas she had for a few of the shots.  This session had it goin' on... from the sweet little family, to Caroline's sweet smile (and tiny little teeth!), to getting to use my Grandad's high chair (over 90 years old from when he was a baby!), to the pretty wildflowers in the background.  It was perfect.

There are some people you meet that you immediately click with in life, and Katie is one of those.  At one point, we were talking about being organized mamas, and I said, "Do you color coordinate your daily planner?"  She looked at me with a big grin and said, "Uh Huh!  And do you make to do lists... and sometimes do things not on the list - and then put them ON the list just so you can scratch them out?"  I smiled at her and said, "UH HUH!"  A connection was born.  :)  They were such a sweet little family to photograph.  Their love for each other and for their baby girl is so apparent and so kind.  And their sweet little Caroline... how precious is she?! 

For anyone who has started, maintained, and expanded their own business - while keeping up with your kiddos, spouse, and house - I salute you.  It is hard work.  But it is great work.  And I know my journey has really only just begun (Miles of Smiles Photography started in October 2010).  This is now my main job, as I no longer coordinate the group fitness program at the University of Texas.  So it's not only the job that fulfills my creative passions in life... but it also helps support my sweet little family.  For those of you reading... for my amazing clients... for those I may get to serve in the future - thank you for being on this amazing ride with me.  I am so incredibly grateful for where God has led it since 2010, and cannot wait to see where it goes in the future.

3 of My Passions: Family, Fitness, & Photography

(This post was written in 2012.)

Three big passions in life for me are family, fitness, and photography.  It has always been my dream to weave the three of those things together into my job one day.  Sometimes I have to pinch myself, because after many years of working very hard toward that goal, and different paths God has led me down, I really feel like I am starting to live that dream.  And I am so grateful. 

Let's start at the beginning...

Family: 
I adore my family.  Growing up, I was raised in a loving home where my parents really taught my brothers and I the value of hard work, loving Jesus, and loving each other.  I hope that I am half the parent that they were to me.  And now as an adult, I am so fortunate to be married to the love of my life, and we have two "little loves of my life" running around.  (Well, one is running, and one is just working on neck control as a tiny infant.) 

Fitness: 
I have been active for as long as I can remember.  I grew up on a little farm in the Midwest with two older brothers, no fences (except for the animals), and lots of room to run.  I raised pigs, sheep, horses, cats, dogs, and lots of other animals.  And I even ran my own rabbit business... raising and selling bunnies to kids (as pets... not as dinner) in my tiny little corner of the Midwest.  So I guess my entrepreneurial spirit started at a very young age!

My brothers and I were always moving.  Even in the snow!  And we always had some kind of sport going on.  I had to be fit - just to try and keep up with them!  I played and excelled in 4 sports in high school, and sports were pretty much my life back then.  When I got to college, I started teaching fitness classes and personal training (way back in the late 90s!) and got nationally certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) in both areas.  I have been doing both ever since.  

I did a graduate assistantship at the University of Kentucky, and started the group fitness program there.  Then I moved to Austin and the University of Texas to coordinate the Fitness/Wellness Program at the Division of Recreational Sports.  I enjoyed coordinating that program (one of the largest fitness programs in the country) from 2004-2011 and then realized I needed to find something that allowed me more time with my son, Miles (and now my baby girl, Avah).

Out of my love for fitness, I started a little business named "Live Fit Austin."  I did limited personal training sessions, and then started leading some women's outdoor fitness classes.  Out of my need to incorporate my son into workouts in order to make them happen (mamas - you feelin' me?!), and my enjoyment of meeting other moms, I started WalkFit classes in my neighborhood in South Austin.  It's a super fun way for women (and babes in strollers!) to get out of the house, show our babies that moving is marvelous, and just enjoy time together with other moms while getting a great workout.  (Babies are not required... but they are certainly welcome.)  I also taught at Lifetime Fitness.

Because my photography business and my kiddos have kept me so busy since 2012 (which I'm so excited about!), I am not currently leading any of these but I hope to get back to teaching at Lifetime Fitness in the near future.

Photography:
After a lot of hard work and long (long!) hours educating myself and becoming "Jack of all trades" in building my business, Miles of Smiles Photography was born... Inspired by tiny little Miles, a deep desire for a more balanced work/life situation, and a lifetime of loving photography and having a creative brain for it.

Flashback to little farm-girl-Sarah... I used to take portraits of my animals, landscapes, etc. and enter them into the county fair every year.  And I was always the "girl with the camera."  (Some people carry a wallet... I usually carried a camera!  Too bad cameras weren't so compact back in those days!)

Photography has always been a constant in my life.  And now, more than ever - I love the way that photography allows me to exercise my creativity.  To have an idea or thought and put it in motion during a photo shoot - and then give my clients sweet portraits and fine art products capturing those special moments... That is my "it" moment.  Miles of Smiles Photography was officially "born" in October 2010, and I feel so blessed to get to do this for a living, and now as my main job in addition to being a mom.  I cannot wait to see where God leads it from here.

And something tells me that little Miles (click here) might just grow up with a camera in his hand, too!  Makes my heart so happy to watch him do his "photo shoots."

So jump on the family-fitness-photography train.  It's going to be a fun ride!

My Second Baby... Miles of Smiles Photography {VIDEO}

As many of you know, photography has been a part of my life since I was old enough to hold a camera.  Thanks to my Grandma P. and my sweet mama for passing on their creative gene to me... I am so grateful to have received it, as I love creating things!!

Whether it be art projects, scrapbooking, making cards, having an idea in my head and materializing it through photography, or just doodling on paper... creativity is part of who I am.  And I could not be more grateful to be able to incorporate it into my daily life as I have through Miles of Smiles Photography.

Since I was 18, fitness has been my specialty and career, but I always knew deep within that it wasn't a question of if I would become a photographer... it was when.  I know that for the rest of my life, I will be specializing in family, photography, and fitness.

Isn't it funny how having a baby changes your outlook, perspective, and sense of urgency?!   When I became a mother to baby Miles in 2009, I knew that I needed a job that would allow me to have some brainspace left for being a good parent, a good wife, and basically a job that allowed me to see my child(ren) more than 1.5 hours a day.  And from those things, Miles of Smiles Photography was born!

The year 2010 was a huge one for me, as I was busy with all things baby, I was working a very demanding job that covered two positions, trying to balance home life, and starting my photography business.   But it was worth every late night (still is!), never ending to-do list, and every minute spent getting this dream started.

I began shooting sessions in October 2010... exactly 9 months ago.  When I made this video recently, I really felt such a strong connection to it... and to all of the beautiful families, children, couples, and individuals that I have had the pleasure of working with.  And I thought it appropriate that I release it at the 9 month mark... as this business is my "second baby."  (At least this baby didn't make me waddle, have weird cravings, or gain 30 pounds!)  :)

I hope you enjoy watching it, and that you are able to see the passion I have for what I do and the people I get to serve with photography.

There are SO many exciting things happening that I have been hard at work on.  New prints, products, and beautiful boutique frames.  Fall sessions are already booking quickly, and I couldn't be more grateful for my amazing clients than I am right now.

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the next 9 months!

Every photograph tells a beautiful story.  What is yours?

(Make sure you have your volume turned up... this song will make you dance!  Video includes a slideshow followed by a video from me.)  

Interview on The Work at Home Woman

Here is my interview featured on "The Work at Home Woman" this month. I am so grateful for this site and all of the incredible tools, resources, and encouragement I have gained from it.

Can you believe my entrepreneurial journey started at a horse sale when I was a tiny girl in Iowa? I sweet talked my dad into buying me a rabbit (named Frosty!) for $1.50 and that is where it all began...

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.

I am a mother to a sweet 18-month old boy named Miles. I was born and raised in the Midwest and have lived in Austin since 2004. The entrepreneurial spirit has long been a part of me, as my journey began when I was a little girl and ran my own rabbit business in small town Iowa. (I sold them as pets, not as food!) I bought my first rabbit at a horse sale for $1.50 and had no idea that it would be the start of my business career!

I always knew that I wanted to be a mother and also that I wanted to work, but I had no idea how much of a struggle working a full time job would be once I became a mom. Being out of the house over 50 hours a week and trying to keep up with life, home, and family was simply not working. I knew I needed to make a change because I was slowly falling apart and my family (and myself) deserved more.

Click here for the whole article.

The Miles of Smiles Photography Difference - Part II

(Written on March 8, 2011)

Recently, someone asked me, "How do your services differ from the photography options that I have used in the mall?"

The words that instantly came to mind were time, creativity, and passion. (Read about my mall experience here.) Also, see part I of this series on "Time."

Creativity: One of the things I love most about photography is that it allows me to put my creativity to work in countless ways. I see a photograph in anything I look at... a baby, a tree, an old barn... a colorful ball of yarn... anything.  Photography allows me to put my ideas into action through my camera to provide people with a really cool and personalized experience and outcome that they get to enjoy for many years to come.  Photography is art... plain and simple.

I love shooting outdoors and using nature as our background, because Texas allows us to do that all year round! True... there are times where the black backdrop is best (like this!), but most of the time, we get outside and enjoy the beauty around us.

Passion: This is more than just my job... this is my dream, my passion, and my vision. Although Miles of Smiles Photography was officially inspired by my little boy, Miles, it started long ago when I was a little girl growing up on a farm in Iowa.

I truly love what I do, and even more so - I love what I am able to provide my clients. Their reaction to the photographs and experience that they receive is what continues to drive me. I feel incredibly blessed that this dream has become a reality, and cannot wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the journey.