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2021: Investing in Myself

When I decided to go full time into my photography business it took a lot of work, a lot of self control, a lot of alone time to work through my goals, and A LOT OF INVESTMENT. If you're a photographer, designer, planner, or artist of any kind then I am sure you know what I mean. Being in business for yourself is amazingly freeing and amongst many other things it becomes the core of your being, your thoughts, your mindset and habits. Over the last few months I have invested more financially, physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually then I ever imagined I could have. I can’t quit, I won’t fail, and I am betting on myself by investing in every way I know how.

I alluded to this above but this investment goes beyond how much money I spend on gear, or how much time I invest into my business. It’s about creating joy over and over in my business, continuing to grow and challenge myself, finding ways to connect with people like you, and doing what I love. 2020 WAS A LOT… and 2021 is filled with a lot of anticipation but I know what my priorities are and I am going to continue doing the work.

How Networking Changed my Business

I've technically been in business since 2016, but to be frank I don't think I've been truly successful until 2020. So what changed? The short answer is: I did. The creative world is filled with so many talented artists/content creators/videographers and bloggers that it's EXTREMELY overwhelming at times. As a new/young artist and creator I think we all know that it's intimidating, and sometimes it even feels threatening to be venturing out on this path for the first time. I think it's only human nature that we compare ourselves to others, but what if instead of comparing our work to each other we could rally around each other and celebrate our differences? In 2020, that's what changed for me. I decided that yes, I may have my bad days, I may feel overly critical of my work, and play the comparisons game, but I WAS NO LONGER LETTING THAT CONTROL HOW I RAN MY BUSINESS.  I actively decided that engaging with other photographers, sharing the insights given to me from my own experience and senior photographers was something that was important to me, and I was ready but even more importantly… I was willing to share it.

Adventure is Out There

It's been one HECKA CRAZY YEAR, there has been a lot of good, and a whole lotta bad but I am thankful for the things this year has put into perspective for me. I'm not sure I would be where I am today if it weren't for the unpredictable circumstances of this year, so I'm thankful. To be honest, it took a complete shut down for me to realize I wasn't happy, I wasn't pursuing my dreams, I was just sitting stagnant. That was a harsh reality to be brought to light, but suddenly I had all this time on my hands to invest in myself, and in my dreams. So I hit the ground running, it's been a journey but definitely one of lives most amazing adventures yet... and that brings me to a little day trip adventure I recently had with some friends.

Confession, sometimes I get stuck in my own head, stuck in this mundane routine of having no energy left for myself, and just following the pattern of eat, sleep, shoot, edit, repeat. It can be a huge challenge to manage my time, let alone dedicate time for myself and things I want to do beyond photography. Photography has shown me many an adventure, yet when I have the free time to go on my own adventure I'm usually very hesitant. 

10 Reasons To Do a Boudoir Session

Over the last few years I have done A LOT of different kinds of photography, but it wasn't until recently that I ventured into the Boudoir Photography realm. I've had quite a few inquiries about doing boudoir sessions but never had the space or honestly the interest in doing them... until I got mine done. Let me just say, I WANTED TO SHARE MY PHOTOS WITH THE WORLD. I didn't know I could look like that, or that my husband might see me in that way. I saw those photos and I felt inexplicably good, I felt confident, I felt sexy, I felt bold, I felt like I needed to start showing other women they could feel this way too.

I want to clear the air a little before I dive into "THE WHY". I believe Boudoir photos have A LOT of misconceptions about them so I wanted to take a moment and tell you my approach. You only have to show as much as YOU WANT. These photos are tastefully done and catered towards your wants/needs. These photos aren't just about having some sexy photos to show off later on, they are about feeling good and happy in your own skin. I will encourage you, I will pose you, and I will let you know that YOU, my friend, ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. 

​5 Tips for Authentic Maternity Posing

In the last few years I have gotten to photograph many maternity sessions, overall I've found the most important thing to remember while shooting a maternity session is to capture the couples excitement and anticipation about their little one on the way. Maternity sessions are unique because they're about the parent(s), they document the journey the mother has experienced physically, and they're all about setting the tone for someone who is yet to be introduced to the world. If you ask me, they're a perfect storm of emotion, of working towards a common goal to set up a good life for this little one, of being intentional, of sacrifice, and of course of love.
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It's easy to get overwhelmed with posing in a maternity session if you're used to working with couples who aren't expecting, if it's your first session, or if it's been a while since you've shot one. My best advice is to keep it simple, focus on how the parent(s) are feeling, showcase those little moments where the gravity of the moment hits them. They are about to bring NEW LIFE into the world. WOW. But if you feel lost or stuck, I've been there, here are few ideas to get the creative juices flowing. ​
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Chasing Sunrises - Wellsville, NY

I love a good sunset as much as anyone, yet I think sunrises can be even more captivating since it marks new beginnings. It signifies new opportunities for growth, the continuous pursuit of happiness, and even hope for times ahead. I think a good part of the reason sunrises seem to captivate more than sunsets is because I've seen less of them. It's not often I get up before the sun with the intention to dedicate that time to starting my day by being still, simply caught up in the color, and the way the light gradually shifts. 

I scouted the location for Emily and Luke's engagement photos the morning before, at the same time I intended to have us setup at our first location. IT WAS GLORIOUS. The sky was simply afire with color, the way it hit the water ignited the river with a flood of light and color, and I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE EPIC. I readily let them know the game plan for the next day, sent over some test shots so they could see where we'd be shooting, and went about my day.
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Sunflower Fields Forever - Muncy, PA

This past weekend I got the pleasure of reconnecting with a familiar face from college to grab engagement photos of her and her fiance. It always amazes me how doing photography connects me back to people from different time periods of my life, and that I get the chance to help them write their story to remember for years to come. 

Bethany had told me she'd fallen in love with the idea of getting their photos taken in a sunflower field, which I loved, this of course set me off on my pre-shoot research because PA is still a somewhat uncharted area to me. I was able to find several articles describing the initial excitement a local farmer on Route 87 had experienced when his newly blossomed sunflower field became a photographic paradise, but these articles came with disappointing news as well. Due to the influx of traffic, the farmer had experienced a massive, and unexpected, crop loss all because of the online saturation of selfies in a sunflower field.

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 Copyright  2021 Kirsten Hartzell Photography ​​