This Week.

One | I am popping in this week to wish you and your families a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Two | I finished my last family session for November this past weekend. I have a few hours of editing ahead of me to have these photographs ready for Christmas cards. Once those are finished, I will have free time after Thursday to decorate the house and get ready for Christmas. I am excited for that.

Three | I played around the last few weeks with writing a post on prayer. About how it feels to be asked to pray for someone and what that means to me. I feel like that is happening in my life lately. Regardless of the situation, it seems the only thing I am asked to do is say a small prayer. Whether it is regarding health issues or relationship issues or job issues, prayer is popping up. 

I want to be someone who follows through when I say I will pray for you. I don’t want to say those words just to say them. I truly want to mean them.

That has been in the back of mind every time these requests come my way. I want to be the person that actually follows through. And I have thought quite a bit lately on what “follow through” means to me. What it actually means to pray for someone? If that means a one-time prayer or prayers for the week or the month. That seems to be what I am wrestling with. Frequency. And I am not sure if I have the answer to that. How do you know you have done your job with prayer?

Still wondering if the topic of prayer will turn into anything, or if it will be at the back of my mind for a while.

Four | I am celebrating the marriage of one of my sweetest friends later this week – I am excited for her and her fiancé and can’t wait to celebrate with them!

Five | Blogging about photography especially as a business. So, what does this mean?

I have been researching quite a bit lately on what photographers blog about. It feels silly to type that, but it is something I researched lately.

Here is what I found: Blogging photography sessions are always included. If he or she is a seasoned photographer, posts that teach on photography skills or tools that have helped him or her in the past are included. Some write personal posts – sharing about their business goals or personal goals or stories of their families. Some do posts on how to help clients – like explaining what to wear for a session or natural posing.

And for me. I am trying to find what my voice will be when it comes to photography and blogging. In a field that is saturated with so many out there, what do I want to talk about? What type of information/topics do I want to discuss that will represent myself and my brand? What are topics that should be included to generate business in my market versus keeping up with industry standards?

Just questions that are lingering in my mind today.

Six | Next week I will be sharing more on the topic of lifestyle photography and why I chose to define my focus this way and what lifestyle photography actually is.

Seven | Enjoy the short work week, the beginning of the holidays, seeing family + friends, black Friday deals, the return of four episodes of Gilmore Girls, the beginning of Christmas decorations, and a long weekend of delicious food. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

XOXO – Ashley “AKA the Future Mrs. Hooker”