I call a spade a spade, I have to remind my husband of this sometimes, even after 13 years. I’m not one to mince my words, get you to read between the lines or guess what I’m feeling.

After 35 years, this has enabled me to be content and happy. It does help that 99% of the time I choose to see the best in people, so being ‘positive AND blunt’ can be rather rewarding!. It feels freeing, joyful and satisfying.

 

So why am I telling you this? Well, when I became mother it all clicked for me and I truly realised how much satisfaction there is in raising others up. I’ve now made a career out of what I do well, seeing the best in people, helping them relax and find their happy place. I capture the physical image of this, but my photos would not evoke the feelings they do without my clients being in the right head space to begin with.

It is within building others up that we find our own light and happiness with the world.  

At work, at home, with strangers, I’m exactly the same.

I ‘met’ a girl this year via Instagram, called Carly. We chatted, and as I got to know her she made me want to bang my head against the wall repeatedly! (in a nice way) She was in a head space  I was in some time ago, and I saw so many similarities between us. Kindred spirits, soul sisters call it what you may…

So why was I banging my head against the wall? Well, Carly couldn’t ‘see’ herself. She was almost working for free and didn’t recognise just how talented she was. We chatted back and forth about life and business and I found myself enjoying her banter and helping her out and naturally wanting to raise her up.

After a random chat one day about holiday photos, Carly spontaneously offered to drive nearly 3 hours to come and photograph us all and I’m so glad she did.

This is a girl from the same mould as me, a determined and full of grit!  She didn’t flinch when I wanted to go in the sea at 8pm when the outside  temperature was only 14 degrees, she understood that I wanted to create an emotion filled collection of memories and she got my ‘crazy family of 5’ vibe.

Whilst I have no present or planned aspirations to get into mentoring or similar (far to busy being a mum wife and a kick ass photographer with lots of lovely clients) I’ve made it my mission to ensure Carly can see and respect herself for the talented photographer she is and get the penny to drop with her confidence and business (pun intended)

Over the past 6 months she has already grown in confidence having attended the amazing Heart of home retreat, but it wasn’t until I read her social media post that I fully realised what an affect i’d had on her. Carly, you rock, keep going lady you deserve to be recognised and rewarded for your talent and work.

Carly’s words and our photos

I’m forever grateful to this beautiful human being @andthensheclicked for being a wonderful friend and incredible cheerleader to my business. As a long standing , well respected, incredibly talent photographer having her taken me under her wing to build me up is genuinely one of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me! It’s another reminder that this community of photographers is like nothing else you will ever find. No bitchiness, no back stabbing, only ever love and support and a ton of love poured into to supporting one another.

When I agreed to take these family pictures I knew that it would be one of the most incredible sessions I’ve ever photographed. Sunset on the beach, beautiful family and lots of laugher. I was pushed way out of my comfort zone but you don’t learn when you play safe all the time.

Thank you Carly, from the bottom of my heart.

 

And a little behind the scene ( because why not!)

 

When the sun had gone down and I had my husbands shirt on! Carly and I.