BLOGGERS BLOCK.

So...I have had writers block...or should I say bloggers block, lol. I have struggled for a week trying to figure out what the heck to write about. It's always great to post a blog of a photo session...you all can stay updated with my work and I can share with you a little more in detail about the wonderful clients. But this time I wanted to write about something different.

Since I started pursuing photography I have learned SOOOOO much. I learned all the basics and built a good foundation in college, as I pursued my photography degree. Then I learned a TON from hands on experience...going out and doing shoots and really developing my "style". Thirdly I have learned so very much from extremely talented photographers that were and still are kind enough to pour their knowledge on me and give me the best help and advice. I truly could not do this without my wonderful photographer friends and mentors...you know who you are!

With that, I come to what I am blogging about today. I know there are many people out there who love photography and desire to learn more about it. Even in my short time running my own business, I get emails from people asking for tips and help about photography and how to get started & have your own business in it. I have this theory... after you get bit by the photography bug and hit the ground running with your own business, this desire & passion to share your knowledge and skill with others wells up in you until you have to pour out that knowledge...or you will burst! So that is what I am doing here. So since I've already written so much, I'm going to (TRY) to keep the rest short...for now...maybe part two will come later for all you wanting to know more! Here are the tips/advice/knowledge/etc...that I have learned and want to share with you.

1, One. Follow your passion! I know that is so cliche' but it's so true. Follow what you love, whether photography or something else and go for it. You don't have to have all your ducks in a row first. In this case...I feel to have a photography business and succeed you must first be driven by your passion for it. Without this you will loose motivation and drive and eventually give up. Your passion for it keeps you going when you first get started and carries you through the up's and down's of running your own buiz.

Number 2. Be confident and take risks! I cannot tell you how nervous I was to do my first ever real shoot. It was an engagement shoot and I felt I had no idea what I was doing...but I went out on a limb and did it anyways. I mean how else are you suppose to get experience and grow your skills? And guess what!?...it worked out! The photos turned out pretty good and I started to build a solid portfolio.

#THREE. Book lots and lots of shoots to really build your portfolio. Whether they are paid or freebies, getting experience and building a solid portfolio is sooooo important. PLUS it spreads the good word about your business. People find out about you faster and your name gets out there!

Numero 4. Develop & cultivate your own "style". This is SO important. Your own style is what sets you apart from all the other million photographers out there. It makes YOU stand out and shows who you are. The more shoots you do, the more experience you get, the more your style comes out and you can really learn to perfect it. I feel after having my own photography business for a couple years now...I really know what MY style is. How I compose my photos, the angles I shoot them at, the moments I love to capture, the editing effects I use to enhance the feel of my photos.

NUMBER 4.5. Be consistent in your style! Carry it throughout your photos and all the different shoots you do. It doesn't mean you don't try new things or get new inspiration, it just means that your style flows through all of your work and people can recognize it. You eventually want to get to the point where someone can spot your work and know, "hey, that's katelyn owens photography!", just by seeing a photo.

And finally # FIVE. Love your clients!!! When having your own photography business you work in very personal, one on one environments...you want your clients to feel comfortable around you and ENJOY their time with you! Of course they want amazing photos...but they also must love you! If they don't connect with you and enjoy their shoot with you...then even with great photos...they probably won't hire you again or pass your name along:)

So there it is...just a few tips for all you photography lovers out there, who may want to pursue your own buiz. Those are just things I have learned along the way and hopefully it will make your journey a little smoother. Please feel free to contact me if you have ANY questions. I seriously would LOVE to answer any of them:) And thank you SO much for reading.

Below are a few unedited, random moments of me along my business journey...enjoy!

Me with my OFFICIAL business license!!!

Me (on far left) shooting at a wedding on 10-10-10!

My first custom made DVD label. I was proud.

Me taking out my Canon 5D Mark II into the world for the first time! JOY!

Me with my new big papa lens! I was more excited then
I look in this pic...but it was morning...and I was tired!

My baby skittles LOVES my camera gear, lol.

Blurry me...excited that my website was finally DONE!

Pure excitement...I finished my website!!! :)

I just really liked how this DVD label turned out. Love the colors!

Rilynn: 6 months

I so enjoyed this photo shoot with Rilynn. She was just absolutely adorable and her parents were so sweet. I wanted to share a few photos with you that really stood out to me. As I was going through my normal editing routine I stopped and looked at these ones a little bit longer then normal. There is just something about them that is nostalgic to me. Maybe it's that they seem timeless and because of that it allows you to really focus on how precious this little life is. I loved so many of these photos...but these 3 really spoke to me...so I figured they were worth sharing! Hope you enjoy:)

Gretel+ baby Louisa

I had soooo much fun shooting Gretel's maternity photos! She is just so sweet and just about one of the most adorable prego ladies ever. I love those photo shoots that end up feeling like you're just hanging out with a friend...and you forget about the fact that you are "working". A few weeks before, I drove around town scouting out new locations. I was super excited to try out some fun new locations around downtown for this shoot:) I also have to mention how wonderful and patient Gretel was. It was one of my first few shoots with my new camera and now that I shoot all manually it takes a bit more time then usual. As I stumbled around all the new functions and buttons, she was so patient and kind:) I look forward to taking photos of baby Louisa in a couple months...I know she is going to be just so cute!

My WEBSITE Journey

Today is a very exciting day. My website is officially completed and launched! I have to say it was a quite a journey getting to this point. Let me share a bit with you...

Ever since my business started one of my main goals was to get a website. Facebook has been so great for getting my work and business out there, but a website says so much more. To me it shows I'm a professional with an established business. It showcases a collection of all my best work and reflects my vision and style for Katelyn Owens Photography. It reflects me.

For awhile I was a bit disappointed in myself for not getting a website sooner, but now I am SO happy and see how the timing was perfect. If I would have created one back in 2009 when I started, I wouldn't have had near as much work to show and I don't think it would have accurately reflected me and my business.

Last summer of 2010 I attempted to create my first website. There was no way I wanted to pay big bucks for one...so I figured why not make one myself!? I worked on it here and there for a few months, but I started losing motivation to finish it. Why you may ask? I felt it really wasn't me and what I wanted my business to feel like. Not to mention when you first attempt to create a website it's super complicated and very frustrating at times. Once you work at it a while and learn how it all works and how to do things it gets easier...much easier.

There my website sat...for months. Then one random night in January sitting at my computer, sifting through internet land I decided to take a stab at it again. Not knowing where I would go with it or if I would ever finish it. As I continue to more forward in my business I have learned something very important about me. The times I succeed the most is not when I "plan" to do something or line up my ducks, but when I am passionate and inspired and just go for it! That is exactly what happened that January night. Passion struck, I picked the first website template that caught my attention and went from there! Who knew I would actually end up loving the finished product!?

I think that the main reason I was so successful with my website this time around is because at this point in my business I clearly and confidently know my style and the "look" and feel I desire for my business. I have a clear vision of what is Katelyn Owens Photography. With that I was really able to design it and go for it.

I steadily worked on it for the past 3 months. There is SO much that goes into a website...much more then I or most people probably realize. Each little thing you see on it had thought and time put into it, down to the exact shade of blue. The most time consuming part, that I was very unaware of is carefully sorting through and choosing the photos for the website. You want the very best ones and a good variety of clients and looks and it took FOREVER to sort through thousands of photos. But I eventually finished it!

Two weeks ago I got the kick in my butt I needed to get it done! I again was sifting through the internet one night and passion and inspiration struck! I decided to attempt once again to make a BLOG. Creating this blog gave me to boost I needed to finish up my site and just launch it already! I mean really, if I had the time to create a blog, I had the time to finish up the long awaited website! So MANY, I mean many late nights staying up till 4 and 5am these past 2 weeks I FINISHED it!!! I don't think I've ever put soooo many hours into something at one time.

So here I sit sleep deprived, excited and so proud of myself. I did it. I made my own website. The thing I love about it the most is that it is me. It so very well reflects me and my vision for Katelyn Owens Photography. It's not like most photography websites out there. It's not fancy. It's not formal. It's not black and white. It's full of color, fun and an artistic flare! It's comfortable and casual and it's me. I hope you all love it as much as I do. And thank you so much for taking the time to read this very long bloggy blog post. Love to you all! Oh and below is a link to my website and a picture of me and how I feel right now. Photo by the so very talented Rewind Photography.

www.katelynowensphotography.com

Lauren + Bobby: Engagement

I was so excited to have the opportunity to photograph Lauren & Bobby! I have know Lauren forever! We go way back to early high school youth group days:) Such fun memories! Now she is engaged to the wonderful Bobby and I couldn't be happier for her! They are just so adorable and compliment each other so well. I was extremely excited for this particular engagement shoot for a couple reasons. One, Lauren and Bobby are so cute and I knew they would photograph well. Two, I planned the shoot for an awesome, new location! And three it was my first engagement shoot with my new Canon 5D Mark II camera! All and all an amazing shoot, with such a fun couple! I know they are going to have an amazing life together! Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot...