May/June Photo Roundup
May and June had a lot of portraits in my forecast and I LOVED it. For me, there’s no better gift I can give someone than a photo they love.
Reach out to me at soulcookiesblog [@] gmail [dot] com to schedule a photo session in Chicago!
My Instagram Aesthetic, or Lack Thereof
As a social media professional, I’m all too familiar with the term ‘’Instagram aesthetic.’ It’s one of many buzzwords influencers or brands may use to describe content or engagement, along with terms like, ‘UGC,’ ‘follower ratio,’ or even ‘shareability.’
Having a cohesive Instagram aesthetic essentially means that all of the photos in one user’s Instagram account match a certain color scheme, pattern or theme. It can make a feed look like a curated gallery, as opposed to a user profile.
Photography Showcase – March & April
I made a resolution to make photography a higher priority and I’m doing just that! Below are highlights from my food styling photoshoot with bBox, my trip to California and my interview with Health Coach, Liz Traines.
Though food and foliage make my heart sing, people will ALWAYS be my favorite subject to photograph. If you need a portrait, event or food styling photographer in the Chicago area, contact soulcookiesblog [@] gmail [dot] com!
My Soul Chat with Liz Traines
Meet Liz.
She’s a Health Coach, entrepreneur and one of my favorite humans in our WeWork coworking space. Liz is a gem, and learning more about her in this interview left me so inspired. I hope you get as much out of this Soul Chat as much as I did. Enjoy!
Name: Elizabeth Lynn Traines • Age: 31 • Hometown: Glencoe, IL • Profession: Health Coach • Website: liztraines.com
How did you decide you were going to start your own business?
“I knew from a young age that I eventually wanted my own business.
Love is in the Air
I recently photographed my first proposal and I’m pretty sure I was more nervous than the groom. I’ve shot weddings before, but for some reason, this just seemed even more fast-paced and time-sensitive.
Luckily, the bride-to-be said yes and I was able to capture some of the beautiful moments that followed. The groom even surprised her with her family and friends!
It was such a special assignment and you could really feel the love in the air.
Tonight, I will be photographing a wedding for the first time in a few years. Again, my heart is racing but I’ve gained confidence since doing this last shoot, and I know that nothing makes me feel more fulfilled than capturing these moments of love and pure bliss.
Please enjoy the photos below and stay tuned for more from the wedding I will be shooting tonight!
My Pinky Promise
Photography makes me happy. It’s the kind of work that puts butterflies in my stomach and a smile on my face. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t feel like work.
With that said, however, the last year has been relatively photo-less for me. I lost my drive to take out my big clunky camera, and I started telling myself that I was’t worthy of professional shoots. I quickly learned that the longer I put it off, the harder it would become to start again…but I felt like a part of me was missing.
As I begin what I’m calling my “Soul Cookies journey,” I’ve decided to make a renewed and public vow to my photography and put myself out there again as a freelancer. I recently booked a proposal and a small wedding, and I couldn’t be more excited (and nervous) to get back on the horse camera.
Some of my favorite professional shots I’ve taken since moving to Chicago.
If you have a passion you’ve moved to the back burner, I urge you to bring it on forward and turn up the heat! Whether it’s writing or drawing or dancing or singing–find a way to add it back into your daily, or even monthly, routine. Maybe you’ll find it makes the work week go by faster or gives you a reason to skip snooze and pop out of bed.
I pinky promise I’m going to try and I hope you will too!