The Books Are Back Open

Happy July, Friends.

We’ve made it halfway through the year, and what a year it’s been. In March, Dan and I got married in a wedding that can only be described as uniquely our own. It rained so hard that the restaurant we had dinner in flooded, but no one cared as we danced the night away at an underground Prohibition-themed bar under a dance floor filled with Disco Balls.

I’ll share more of those moments once we have the gallery.

In May, my passion project, Salt with Soul, turned two! I am so proud of that space and am beyond grateful to every subscriber. It has long been my dream to create a community, and I believe this is the year where I’m seeing it all come together.

I wanted to photograph in June, so I took my camera out in the wild again. I photographed the food I cooked or the basil that I was growing. It felt so good to have that creativity back.

These last six months have been enriching, and I’m so grateful I took the time to center myself. It’s a privilege to dedicate time to shadow work, unlearning behaviors that held you back, and more. It’s also a sacrifice, and I’m so thankful to have been able to do that.

The hardest part of operating a business as a creative is staying true to who you are against the odds of stereotypical business practices. I’m sure so many reading this can relate to the idea that when you pursue a creative career, it’s easy to get stuck in your head. You’re susceptible to burnout because you subconsciously think that if you ever say “no” to a gig, it’s the end of all you worked for. We inherit a scarcity mindset from society as creatives- “Starving Artists” should be changed to “Thriving Artists” because the truth is- as long as we’re pursuing what makes us happy, we’re thriving- it’s the secret to a life well lived.

a new print coming to the print shop

If there’s one thing I’ve come to accept as an artist, it’s that I have sold myself short. Over the past six months, I’ve done a lot of market research- looking at other photographers' pricing, what they offer, what their galleries look like, and seeing what clients gravitate toward. Yes, comparison is the thief of joy, but in this case, I was learning- not comparing. Looking through past galleries, I love the work I deliver- especially in galleries where the subject trusts me and lets go.

I deliver so much to clients- I never want to be the gatekeeper of your memories, and I work hard to edit and format each moment intentionally. I don’t like limits on gallery sizes or how you download your images- sure, it’s a way to make more money- but I’m too transparent for that type of drip cycle. I’d rather have an upfront cost than try to hook you on the back end. This approach is more authentic to my spirit.

All that to say, my prices have increased.

Pricing is always a sticky subject for business owners, and I could write a whole thesis on how pricing directly correlates to our burnout. Even now, I feel I’m overexplaining, but some of you have been with me for years, so it’s only right not to shock you with the sticker price.

The studio's primary focus will be on Soul Sessions. This perfectly aligns with my mission statement of empowering people to connect with themselves through words (Salt, with Soul) and photography. I still love photographing families, especially maternity sessions, and would love to book your family.

I am so excited to return to this space with renewed energy and passion. I might do it all differently, but who ever said that was a bad thing, right?

To learn more about my packages, please click here.

I cannot wait to work with all of you. This new chapter is going to be beautiful.