Earlier this month, Chocolate City Creatives and I announced that we'd be partnering to help creative small-business owners better market themselves. 

To celebrate the collaboration, we're giving away one free marketing package! And the winner is:

Congratulations, Enyo! As the winner of our package, you'll receive a complimentary artists session and about page setup on your website or Etsy shop!

Through this collaboration, we’ll be offering a wide array of a la carte marketing and consultation services, including:

• Product photos
• Brand photos
• Headshots
• Lookbooks
  
• Artist-in-action portraits (you, in your studio, doing what you do best!)
• Business development consultation
• Web development
• Social media management
• Etsy shop development

Email us both at jonna@jhphotograph.com and chocolatecitycreatives@gmail.com for pricing and to create a custom package based on your specific needs!

Had you asked me a week ago what I'd be writing this post about, I'd happily tell you that it would be strikingly similar to last year's Thanksgiving post. That's because up until a few days ago, our plans followed a fun tradition we've started: Thanksgiving with friends Galen and Tara.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our regularly scheduled plans due to an illness. We improvised by having Thanksgiving at home. It was just the two of us… and Louie, of course!

For the record, I love it when kiddos get involved with family photos. These are, after all, their photos, too, and taking suggestions from kids can sometimes have fabulously unexpected results!

That's exactly what happened when the Niki siblings helped me scout out a great place for family portraits one Saturday in November.

Late last year, a friend and fellow photographer, Brad, came to visit. We've been friends for years and decided to take the opportunity to explore some of our nation's history. We were lucky enough to visit Mt. Vernon, home to our first President, George Washington, a crisp winter day. 

I never thought I’d own and operate my own business. It just wasn’t something that ever crossed my mind. So when I launched this website and subsequent business a little over a year ago, I knew  were a lot of things I just didn’t know that I knew I didn't know. I was so lucky to be able to turn to friends Eric and Karen Schmidt, owners and operators of K&E Productions, for advice. One of the most important tips they told me was to invest in education.

Between running a business, holding down a full-time job and owning a home, there isn’t time for me to go back to school, though I would love to take a few business classes. In the mean time, I’ve opted for personalized, one-on-one mentoring. This blog post is dedicated to those wonderful people who are helping me navigate this incredible journey called jhPhotography. Meet my mentors!

Small business mentor: Shala Graham
Shala is the bee’s knees! As soon as I decided to launch a business, I knew I would need a small business mentor—and I knew that I wanted my mentor to be Shala. She is so accomplished and an incredibly inspirational person. I asked Pete Tan from Silver Spring Inc. to introduce us and the rest, as they say, is history. We meet regularly to talk about all things business: how it's going, what I can do to improve web traffic, formulas for the best ROIs, pricing, and marketing. Oh, and sometimes we talk about love, life, and chocolate, too :)

Finally! It's the news we've all been waiting for! Four months after having his leg amputated in an emergency procedure, my dad is up and walking!

He rolled into his prothsetist's office earlier today, and walked out on a brand new leg!

As a small business owner, I believe in supporting other small businesses in my community. That’s why I’m so excited to announce I’ll be partnering with Chocolate City Creatives to help other local, creative-based businesses better market and brand themselves.

During this season of giving and thanks, we’re launching our new collaboration AND giving away one free package!

Participation is easy as eating pumpkin pie! Just use the hashtag #CreativeBizTakeOver or retweet the tweet below! You’ll automatically be entered to win artist-in-action portraits and an “about” page setup on your website or Etsy shop!* 

Through this collaboration, we’ll be offering a wide array of a la carte marketing and consultation services, including:

• Product photos
• Brand photos
• Headshots
• Lookbooks
  
• Artist-in-action portraits (you, in your studio, doing what you do best!)
• Business development consultation
• Web development
• Social media management
• Etsy shop development

Email us both at jonna@jhphotograph.com and chocolatecitycreatives@gmail.com for pricing and to create a custom package based on your specific needs!

*The contest runs today through November 28. Winners will be announced on Small Business Saturday. No purchase necessary.

I cannot wait to share more photos with you from my session with the Niki Family! We spent an evening at Wheaton Regional Park where the Niki siblings stole the show--and my heart. Not only are these kids cute as buttons, but they weren't afraid to let their true colors shine through. They even helped me find a perfect location for photographing their family! Stay tuned for more coming soon!

Okay, so this post is a little out of order chronologically, but better late than never, right? I mean, isn't this why #tbt was invented?

In October, I was honored to photograph the Silver Spring wedding of Amina and Brad. What I didn't tell you is that, as a salute to Amina's Pakistani heritage, the couple hosted a pre-wedding party for close friends and family, called a mehndi. I've never before experienced anything like it, but I loved every minute!

The party boasted traditional Pakistani food, a henna artist, and a bridal seating area under a canopy, with a cot, blankets, pillows, drums, and candles. The best part, though, was watching the groom partake in a traditional Pakistani pre-wedding game. It goes like this: The bride's cousins steal the groom's shoes, and he must purchase them back using money he collects (ie: begs for) from party guests. The look on Brad's face in a few of the photos is absolutely priceless!

The simplest things can have the biggest impact. That's true with custom photography.

This kind of art allows a family to tailor their photo sessions to their needs, wants and personal style. A good photographer should be able to see your vision and take it to the next level, but there are a few things clients can do to help out. 

1. Stick to the schedule
This is the most important tip I can offer clients. Photographers create schedules based upon the availability of all people involved in the session, driving time and -- most importantly -- good lighting. While I usually incorporate wiggle room for bad traffic or a fussy baby, sticking to the schedule is a must. Ideally, all parties involved should be dressed with their hair done and (if applicable) makeup on, baby bags packed and second clothing options at the ready by or before the agreed upon start time.  

2. Relax--Get your play list on!
For some people, being in front of a camera can be really intimidating. You might feel like you’re being pressured to perform, or just feel uncomfortable being in the spotlight. I often tell my clients to pretend I’m not even there, but sometimes relaxing is easier said than done. That’s why I recommend that you spend some time before the day of your session to come up with a play list of your favorite songs. Good, groovy music allows you to let your guard down, lose that tenseness in your shoulders and be more spontaneous. Have kids? Great! Create a playlist for them, too!

3. Unplug
I know. I get it. We're all tied to our phones these days. But as much as we love them, they can be a photographer's worst nightmare. For starters, communication between a photographer and client is vital during a photoshoot. That means there should be as few distractions as possible. And second--well, just look at the image below! During photo sessions, phones should be put away. As in away, away. Seeing the rigid, square outline in someone’s pocket can make a beautiful photo is cringeworthy. While Photoshop can take care of this blunder some of the time, its best not to have to deal with it from the get go.

4. Have the lint roller handy
Even if you don't have pets, it's a good idea to use a lint roller before coming to the session, especially if your clothing tends to attract other fibers. I also usually have a lint roller handy just in case. 

5. Just be yourself
Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through. Whether you're silly, serious, spontaneous, funky or fun, I want to capture the best of you.

The same goes for clothing. Wear something that makes you feel fabulous. The best part? You get to decide what fabulous means.

Have kids? The same rules apply. If you prefer that your kiddos be dressed in their Sunday best, great! But don't be afraid to let your kids be themselves, either. Sometimes letting your son or daughter wear their favorite shirt, hat or pair of sunglasses allows them to relax, which means I'll have the opportunity to capture who they really are.