Earlier, I wrote about how Cliff and I have been together for 11 years, but we've never had professional photos taken of ourselves as a couple. That changed two weeks ago when one of my favorite photographers, Katie Nesbitt, came to Silver Spring for our first ever couples session!

I'm so excited to report that our photos are ready, and both Cliff and I absolutely love them! Katie did a fantastic job! I know these are images that we are going to cherish for years to come! I've included one of our favorites at the top of this blog post, but you can see more by reading Katie's blog.

The next step might just be the hardest part. We'll be ordering prints and canvasses for ourselves and our family. I can't wait to see these photos up on our walls!

Thanks for everything, Katie! We had a blast, and hope you did, too!

I recently sat down with my good friend and web guru, Jill, for a consultation. I've come along way since I started this business in 2013, but I realize there's more I can be doing to reach a greater number of people. Thanks to her background and experience in running digital campaigns, Jill is the perfect person to take advice from.

We talked blogging, search engine optimization, and analytics. The technical stuff was great, but my biggest takeaway from our conversation had nothing to do with numbers, and everything to do with being human. 

As a small business owner, I am acutely aware that I am constantly being judged -- by members of my community, prospective clients, current clients, even former clients. I feel pressure to be everything to everyone. The idea that I might say the wrong thing, post the wrong thing, or not answer questions correctly makes me come off as really stiff and formal.... but I'm neither of those things! 

Finding the balance between being professional and still having personality is actually really difficult for me. I've been so focused on trying to put forward a posh, polished, clean persona that I've forgotten who I am. 

So, at Jill's urging, I'm working on worrying less about what others think of me and focusing more on finding authenticity. It's like pretty, pretty princess versus Calamity Jane -- I definitely lean a little closer to Jane's end of the spectrum. 

For starters, I'm messy. While some people can't stand clutter, I actually thrive in it. My desk is almost always in a state of chaos, and usually only gets cleaned up when company is coming or I need to photograph my work space. It's not necessarily something I'm proud of, but I'm learning to accept it. It's just part of being right brained! 

I have a very dry sense of humor. One liners? check. Sarcasm? check.  Jokes about locking kids in a closet with pizza and beer? yup, check. You can thank my dad for this.

I'm very political. I have been since high school. I wont get into Republican versus Democrat, liberal versus conservative, but you can bet that when 2016 presidential campaign ads start, I'll be yelling at my TV. (To my neighbors, I apologize in advance).

At a recent product shoot for The Shine Collection, I had the opportunity to work with models. It was so much fun, and the session was a huge success. Things went off without a hitch not because of any one thing I did, or any one thing the models did, but because an entire team of people came together to create an open, inviting environment where all parties felt welcome. 

As a photographer, I'm responsible for the end product, but during the shoot, it isn't about me. It was all about the models. The goal was to get them looking and feeling their best so they feel confident, relaxed and ready for their closeup!

If you're a small-business owner thinking about using models for a product shoot, here are a few great tips on how to make that happen:

Visiting D.C.'s cherry blossoms is an annual tradition in the Huseman-Starkey household. Cliff and I love talking around the tidal basin, taking in the sights and sounds of of springtime in the nation's capital. Usually, we make a full day of it. This year, though, we were short on time. So, our full day at the tidal basin turned into about two hours. Still, I'm so glad we made it. 

Here are a few snapshots from this year's visit.

I'm so excited to show off these photos of fellow Silver Springer and entrepreneur, Melanie Powers! Like most folks I know in Silver Spring, Melanie and I met through Twitter! She's a writer and copy editor extraordinaire who launched her own freelance business about two years ago.

What I love about working with Melanie is her creative spirit. When she came to me asking for headshots, she already knew what she wanted: something artsy that reflected who she is as a person, as well as her Silver Spring pride. 

Instead of selecting a location, taking some photos, and calling it a day, I met Melanie in Downtown Silver Spring and we walked around the neighborhood, picking out the best spots for photos as we went. I absolutely love this strategy for headshots. By keeping our options and lines of communication open, we were able to work together to produce photos that have a laid-back, yet sophisticated feel. If that doesn't describe Melanie's style, I don't know what does!

Not long ago, I mentioned that Cliff and I would be getting our picture taken by one of my favorite photographers, Katie Nesbitt. Well, our session is just one week away! I can't believe it's almost here!

I'm usually the one taking the photos, so working with another photographer has been a really interesting experience. I'm learning that it's both fun and nerve wracking to be a client! Katie is amazing to work with, but figuring out just where we want to have our photo taken and what we'll be wearing is more stressful than I thought it'd be.

If you know me well, then you already know that given the opportunity, we'd fly Katie to Nebraska and do photos on Cliff's family farm. (Guys, seriously... the barn, the hay bails, the river... I just can't!) Since that isn't possible, we've going to do photos in our new home--Sligo Creek Parkway, aka The Enchanted Forrest. I'm so excited to introduce Katie to the creek and the woods and the woodpeckers I've fallen in love with over the past six months.

Choosing outfits for our photo session has been slightly more challenging, but this weekend, Cliff and I ironed out the details. (Get it? ironed??) Below is a snapshot of what we plan to wear. 

I'm going with a printed dress that features spring colors. Because of the all-over pattern, I'm keeping jewelry to a minimum: white, dangly earrings with silver accents. Cliff has a muted-blue shirt and khaki pants.

For our second choice, we're playing up our faves. That's my favorite dress accented by a statement necklace. Cliff's going with his favorite suit jacket, a teal button-down and jeans.

Every year, Cliff and I make it a point to venture down to the tidal basin to check out D.C.’s beloved cherry blossoms. I am always pleasantly surprised by how happy they make me. There’s just something magical about walking through a powder-puff pink forest, smack dab in the middle of a city! 

This year, to celebrate this uniquely D.C. tradition, I thought I’d share some photography tips for capturing these fleeting works of nature. These tips are ideal for any photographer at any level, using any kind of camera.

1. Follow basic photography principals.
Following the basic rules of photography can make your cherry blossom photos--or any photos--really stand out. When photographing cherry blossoms, make sure to:

• Follow the rule of thirds;
• Include diagonal lines in the frame;
• Look for contrasting colors and interesting textures.

For the last two years or so, this business has been a major focus of mine--as it should be. It's my baby. I think about it constantly. If I'm not taking or processing photos, then you can bet I'm writing blog posts, researching photo locations, checking and answering emails, and keeping up with social media. Given that I also have a full-time day job, the amount of work I have been doing any given day, week, or month has been practically endless.

All of that came to a head about two weeks ago when I got sick. Really sick. As unpleasant as it was, I took the illness as a sign that something needed to give. 

So, for the past two weeks, I gave myself permission to take a break from Jonna Michelle Photography. I actually postponed some client meetings, relaxed my responses to emails, and didn't think about this blog or photography work for nearly 10 full days. In addition, I limited my screen time, staying away from both the TV and the computer.

Doing all of this was much easier said than done. I'm a very goal-oriented person and an exceptionally hard worker. I always have been. So withdrawing from my labor of love felt strange, but I also learned a few valuable lessons along the way:

1. The world didn't end and my business didn't crumble because I took some time off. This may have been the most important lesson I learned. It's proof that a little me time never hurt anyone. 
2. My physical and mental health are most important. I always knew this to be true, but it wasn't until these last two weeks that I fully grasped what it means to be well. Physical, mental, and spiritual health are all equally important. Taking time out for myself is just as important as getting a physical or eating a balanced diet.
3. I like running? Never in a million years did I think I'd say or type that sentence, but here I am. During my down time, I did some research into wellness practices and learned about the benefits of running. On a whim, I gave it a shot. Spoiler alert: I am not a runner. I cringe at the thought of how I must look jogging along Sligo Creek Parkway, but, I kinda don't care. Running, or the little of it that I am able to do, actually makes me feel really good! As far as I can tell, the research is proving true. I'm sleeping better, laughing more, and my overall mood has greatly improved. 

Now that my hiatus is over, I'm ready to jump back into my groove. This time, though, I'm bringing a different outlook to the table: From here on out, I will focus on keeping a steady work-life balance. As the saying goes, balance is not something you find. It is something you create.