Looking Ahead...

The new year is upon us.  So hard to believe we have closed the doors on another year here at LSP.  I won't bore you with numbers but I will tell you that so much good happened this past year.  While I am a sucker for reminiscing and I think it's a good thing to look back to where I started, this year is about moving forward.  I am so happy with where I am on this journey and I'm confident in the progress I have made both as a photographer and a business woman.   I still have a ton to learn and I will never stop growing but I have made the choice that 2016 will be about building up on the foundation I have laid down these past 2 years.  I have at least gotten my feet wet in all the areas of photography I am interested in and now in 2016 I can grow the areas that I love and that I am passionate about.  It is time to move forward and leave behind the things that do not make me happy, the things that are not in line with what LSP is all about.  

In 2016 I will no longer be doing (or attempting to do) newborns.  Newborns are not my thing.  I don't get excited about newborn sessions, I don't have the desire to invest in props, in lighting, in mentoring.  I just don't want to be a newborn photographer.   There are so many amazing local newborn photographers that knock it out of the park. They are trained, they have invested and they are just flat out amazing at what they do.   That's just not me.  Why be mediocre at something I have no heart for.   I am choosing to excel and invest in what I am passionate about, in what I love to do. 

So what is it that makes my heart pitter patter?  Families, lifestyle, children... documenting these moments that would otherwise be forever gone.  Instead of the posed newborn photography, I will be offering hospital or in home lifestyle newborn photography.  These will take place 1-2 days after delivery in the hospital OR in home 5-7 days after delivery.   These will be documentary style and will focus on capturing the connection between mother/baby, the little details that are so soon forgotten.  The dry flaky skin, the wrinkly fingers and toes, the umbilical cord, the first bath, the first time a sibling meets the baby.  All things that will be captured and edited timelessly and beautifully.  

I am still in the process of building my lifestyle newborn portfolio.  If you or anyone you know is pregnant and due between Feb- May 2016 and would be interested in a discounted session, please email me at lindsaysagephotography@gmail.com

So, what else gets me excited?  Families.  Documenting families with children.  I love taking a family out into the woods or out onto large open land and capturing all their beauty.  We are always certain to get some posed shots for grandma but the shots that will be cherished 10, 15, 20 years from now are the shots of daddy spinning his little girl and the laughter you will hear as you see that huge smile on her face.  

Or when you pull out that photo of your shy little 2 year old with his head nestled on his mommy's shoulder.  The feeling that you want to remember the rest of your life but you know with each passing year the memory will fade.  

This.  This is what I love.  This is what I'm passionate about.  This is what makes me giddy about photography.  

You want to know what is more perfect than a photo with everyone smiling at the camera?  A photo where you see the genuine look on someone's face... the actual face that mom and dad make when they are looking at their sweet baby girl.  The look on their faces that lets you see just exactly how smitten they are for that child.   That is 100x more perfect and in 10 years you will be able to feel that emotion and remember that day a lot easier than if you were all force smiling at the camera.   This is what makes me feel all the feels. 

Couples!  I love love <3  Yep, I love mushy things, I love gushy things.  I love seeing a couple in love.  Therefore I love capturing love.  This love is different than capturing the love between parent and child.  And with that being said, I must talk weddings before I go any further in my love talk.   I have done a handful of weddings now, being a wedding photographer is a lot like being a newborn photographer.  There is a great amount of time involved, a great amount of investment and definitely a specific skill that is needed to be a great wedding photographer.  With as much as I love love, I don't love photographing weddings.  It is stressful and time consuming and I have found that I do not have the desire to grow in the wedding photography business.  I would, once again, rather focus that time, money and energy on being the best at what makes me feel best.    For 2016 I will only be offering wedding packages May - September and they will be for small, outdoor weddings only.  I feel that in order to perfectly capture an indoor wedding, off camera flash must be used and at this time I just don't feel it is beneficial for my business to invest at this time.  

Back to couples though, I love engagement sessions, crap you don't even have to be newly engaged... couples should get their photos taken.  I've done a few empty nesters recently and I can tell you, sometimes they might feel a little awkward but the photos are priceless not only to them but to their children.   Having a photo of your parents engaging with one another, the look your father gives your mother, the way she still giggles when he whispers something to her.... it needs to be capture.  You  need to take the Olan Mills Church Directory picture of your parents off the shelf and buy them a couples session for their anniversary this year.  It will be priceless, I promise!! 

Ok, I'm almost done.  I hope I haven't lost you yet.  Here's what we know so far, in 2016 LSP will be focusing on families, couples and lifestyle newborns.  All that means, is that I will be focusing my efforts on these types of sessions.  February-May I will be focusing on building my lifestyle portfolio. In July of 2016 I will be attending a workshop with the amazing Sarah-Beth Photography based out of Indianapolis.  She is the best of the best in family photography and I can't wait to learn from her.  All of this will be in preparation to have one of the most amazing Fall seasons, where I can give my clients the best of me.  

Lastly I just want to clarify a few things that I will NOT be taking on in 2016:

Styled Newborn Sessions

ONE year cake smash sessions

Indoor Weddings

Styled Studio Sessions

I am going to stick with what I know and love... aside from the newborn lifestyle sessions, all of my sessions will continue to be done at an outdoor location.  My sessions will take place 60-90 minutes prior to sunset (Spring is 6-6:30pm start time, Summer 7-7:30pm start time, early Fall 6:30pm start, late Fall 4:30pm start time).  

So I've covered most of it but not all (high school seniors, children), a detailed list of what I will be offering and the investment involved will be posted on my website under "investment" so check that out or email me at lindsaysagephotography@gmail.com if you have more questions.

If you've stuck with me through this post, thanks! It means a lot to have your support. I hope to work with you in this upcoming year, I think it's going to be realllllly good!!!

Lindsay

Thankful

In the spirit of Thanksgiving next week and because things are seemingly returning to a more normal pace around here, I thought I'd share with you something I'm super thankful for....

MY FAMILY!

A few weeks ago we managed to coordinate all of our schedules and meet up for some family photos.  The purpose of these was for my grandparents for Christmas and I'm so glad we were able to do them.  They turned out amazing and I know without a doubt that they will absolutely love them.

This one is the one they will absolutely love and proudly display but the next one is a little more realistic...

Any time we are all together its nothing but laughs and ridiculous witty humor and inappropriate talk and basically everything I could want from a family!!

But this is how it all began, with a brother and sister....

                   

                                                         

 

So that's my family. 

The Ball Family

Sometimes life hands you an incredibly good looking family and you must photograph them ;)
The Ball's are that family.  This session was basically the perfect Fall session.  The colors were perfect, the sun was perfect, the temperature, the family... you get the point.

This was literally one of the very first shots I took... when i got this result, I knew it would be a great session!

Finding Purpose

Wow! Has God ever been working on this ole heart of mine (shout out to Rod Stewart)!  
I decided to do a random flip open in my Bible this morning and what did I turn to?  A little study on purpose.  Man, God is so so good at timing, I'd even venture to say His timing is perfect ;)  I wish I didn't doubt it so much, dang.  But this isn't about timing, not today anyway.  I just have so much on my heart about purpose.  I think I'm so passionate about it because for so long I've had this internal struggle over whether or not I had a purpose, if I was actively seeking a purpose, or if I needed to stop searching so hard to find a purpose that was literally right under my nose.  

One thing I do know, is that I allow myself to be torn down way too quickly.  I will allow one small obstacle to completely take me off the track, as opposed to just saying "buck up buttercup, God's got this" and forwarding on.  I take that small incident and say "welp, clearly God does not want me to do that!  I must move on"  That may be the case sometimes, but sometimes God wants to see you handle that situation like the boss that you are (with his guidance, obvs).  The problem here for me though, is that I will feel a tug on my heart to do something but get completely beaten down.  Picking yourself back up the first time isn't so bad, but time after time (hey Cyndi), that's when it gets hard, like really hard, to the point where you question whether or not that tug was really from God.

This is the part where you have to be certain you are surrounding yourself with people who will support you and your purpose, people that will encourage you and lift you up when you begin to doubt but they will also tell you with loving honesty when things don't look right.  These people though, won't just tell you this on a whim, they will have prayed about it because that's just what they do for you.  These are your people, hold them near and hold them dear, you need them on this journey.  

Now it's time to talk about praying.  Pray about your purpose.  If you've had that tug, pray and ask God to make it clear.  If you don't really know what on earth your purpose might be, pray.  Pray that God makes that clear as well. Pray that you may be open to whatever it is, because it might not be anything at all like you envisioned.  Maybe you imagined something much bigger, with much more of a title or recognition.  Maybe you are freaking at the thought that it is something much bigger than anything you could ever handle and it will require a much larger leap of faith.  Just pray.  It doesn't matter.  God's purposes come in all shapes and sizes.  They also aren't necessarily lifelong purposes, your purpose now may not be your purpose in 10 years, shoot it may not be your purpose in 1 week, 1 month or 1 year.  Just because you found your calling for now, doesn't mean you can just sit back and move on through life with blinders on thinking that your purpose has been revealed and God won't change that.  Sometimes God says "move" and guess what?  You need to get up and move.

If you were to sit down and summarize your life, what would it say about you? What would it say about God?  What needs to change?  Has it been completely inward focused?  I have heard a thousand times women say "right now my purpose is just to be a stay at home mom"  Now, don't get me wrong, but I call B-to the-S on that one.  I've been there, I've done my long days as a stay at home mom.  I was raising little humans, keeping them safe (mostly) and alive, but that was not necessarily God's great purpose.  You do realize God can use you even while trapped (i somedays felt trapped, you may not) in the walls of your home for however many years.  Don't use this as an excuse.  Entrust yourself to God and He will do His work in you and through you.  Even in this time of messy buns, yoga pants and dirty diapers.  Maybe you have the gift of encouragement.  You don't need freshly washed hair, bangin skinny jeans and your fiber lashes freshly applied to send uplifting or encouraging messages to other women.  How simple is that?  Maybe its a little big bigger than that for you.  Maybe it is starting a bible study... whatever it is, no matter how big or how little, God qualifies the called and as long as your step forward in faith, He will be with you every step of the way.

The last point I want to make is that your hope in Jesus Christ is not found in doing great works for Him.  Your life and salvation is found IN HIM.  So, say you pray and still aren't finding that He is revealing a "purpose" for your life, just keep praying.  Know that your life is still purposeful by living an example.  By being a friend, a spouse, a mother, a coworker, heck, even a shopper at Walmart.  Sometimes people just need to see something different in you.  Show love, show grace, and forgiveness.  Be the change.  That is all part of a God given purpose!  

Go get 'em girl.  God's got you!

Lindsay

Prov. 19:21 Many are the plan in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  

What you may not know about me is....

I've been trying to come up with a good blog topic for a week now.  I've had a few good ideas but they usually come to me at about 12:13 am and by the morning i'm not feelin it anymore.  I'm looking forward to being able to blog my sessions coming up. I want to tell a story with my photos and then be able to share that story with you through the blog.  Busy season is right around the corner so there will be plenty of that coming up but in the meantime, why not get to know yours truly a little better.

What you may not know about me is (in no particular order)....

• I drink coffee like it's water.  Like, to the point where 2:30pm comes and i'm drinking yet another cup of coffee and it actually makes me feel sick.  But I. just. can't. stop! I'm addicted, y'all.   Oh and hold the creamer, please.  Give me all the black coffees.
• I sing all the wrong lyrics.  Once I have made up my mind what the lyrics are, that is what the lyrics will forever be.  Never mind how ridiculous they are.  Don't worry about it. 
• About 75% of what comes out of my mouth is sarcasm.  I can't control it. Seriously!
• I stick my cold feet in my husband's knee pits.  You know knee pits, right?  Yep, I have chronic cold feet and they just nestle themselves so nicely in there... mostly at night... in bed... while he's trying to sleep.   It's fine.  He loves me for it.
• I despise talking on the phone.  I'll talk to you in person, I'll text you, I'll email you, I'll Facebook you, I'll instagram you, I'll mail you all the letters.  BUT i probably won't answer the phone when you call.   Write that down.
• I love Jesus, but I cuss a little.  It's a t-shirt but it was made for me.  And if you really know me, this isn't a secret.  Sometimes there just isn't a better word to describe something.  
• I don't understand how someone can love running.  Unless a bear is chasing you.... I don't think this needs any further explanation.  
• There is a good chance you will be talking to me and I'll bust out in song.  It's kind of like tourette's.  Something you say will trigger a song lyric and it just comes out.  I know, i'm starting to sound like a train wreck....  "I came in like a wrecking ball..."   Told ya.
• I don't like small talk.  I will gladly sit down and have an in depth conversation with you.   I love getting to know people.. absolutely love it.  BUT I find small talk to be awkward and it causes me much anxiety.  
• Speaking of anxiety...  don't ask me to drive through a car wash.  EVER!!  I will have a mini panic attack trying to get on that conveyor belt.  It's just not worth it.   Hand me a hose, a bucket and a sponge.. much easier. 
• I love boy bands.   Not to brag...  ok, i'm going to brag.  I met 'NSYNC.  By the way, it's 'NSYNC -- NOT, N'SYNC.  Get the freakin apostrophe right, people.  
• I could live off of Peanut Butter.  "Peanuuut, Peanut Butter, and jelly..."  --The song thing again.  sorry.
• I have a list making/calendar problem.  Let me explain.  I make a list of what lists I need to make.  If you look in my purse, you'll find at least 3 or 4 lists.  The countertop... lists.  The kitchen table... lists.   Also calendars.  This family runs on mama's calendars.  I have to write everything down on THREE different calendars.  Otherwise, it's not a real thing and it may not happen.  Oh and if it's not on my calendar and it happened, I must write it on my calendar when I get home. 

So now that you all officially feel better about yourselves (your welcome), I just have to clarify that this was all for fun.  Yes, I'm super flawed but these things do not define me.  I have three beautiful children, an amazing, smart, understanding, supportive, hot, Jesus lovin' husband and I am way more blessed than I deserve.  Thankfully I have family, friends and a Jesus that love me despite my quirks.  

Meet the Crawford's.

Ladies and Gents, I'd like to take a moment and introduce to you a very good friend of mine.
I met Carrie about 5 years ago when I was selling Tastefully Simple.  Over the course of the past 5 years our friendship has grown so effortlessly, Carrie and her family have become such a huge part of my life.

Carrie Crawford is one of thee funniest, most caring, loyal, compassionate, creative and honest people I have ever met. This girl knows how to plan and throw a party like no other and she uses that gift so generously.  When we met, we both had 2 kids and I was pregnant with Cohen... a few short months later, she couldn't let me outdo her, so she got herself knocked up with sweet little Cashton.  ;)

Her friendship is so special to me, together we have laughed (A LOT), cried, dreamt, failed, succeeded.  Her friendship is truly priceless and for that I am ever so thankful.
It's nice having a friend that you can share so much with and know that there is never any judgement, only a listening ear and honesty when you need it.   It has been so much fun going through life with her and being so similar in so many ways...struggling with the same things,  having big dreams and aspirations and stay at home moms of THREE kids with basically the same age differences.  We truly understand each other.
But wait... I said we each had THREE kids, oops, what I meant was that I have three kids and Miss Carrie is about to have FOUR....

YAY!!!  That's right, the Crawford family is growing!!!!

True story... we told them #1, #2 & #3 stood for pee, poo and diarrhea.  So clearly that's what I referred to them as the rest of the session.   Hey, anything to get a boy to laugh in pictures ;)  "Come here, diarrhea!"

Coming this Fall 2015, there will be another baby.  I am so unbelievably happy, excited and scared (ha) for her.   We have had this conversation together so many times over the past couple of years.  The- "Should we?, shouldn't we?, when is the right time?, should i be content with what I have?"-  but in her heart, she knew there was room for one more little Crawford baby and God's timing is right now!

Now, I need you to all join me in praying that God will bless Ron, Carrie and those three sweet boys with a beautiful baby girl.  And if it's not God's will for there to be a beautiful baby girl Crawford, then start praying for Carrie and her sanity ;) 

 Colton

Carter

Cashton

I really do love this family and I'm so honored I got to be a part of the pregnancy announcement.  

We had so much fun... we always do when we're together. 

Now you all have to stay tuned for a gender reveal this summer!!!

Apples and oranges...

Whew! Today had me big time itching to get out and do an outdoor session.  I can't wait to get out of this winter rut and start feeling good again.  I hate being cooped up in the house and having no energy.  The sunshine and warmth gets me excited about life again, which in today's case had me reflecting and setting goals for my business.
   I know i'm starting to sound like a broken record but last year far exceeded my expectations and for that I'm so thankful to everyone that believed in me and supported me.  But now I sit here setting goals for the future and dreaming of where I'd like to be by the end of 2015.   However, I keep finding myself feeling stuck because there is a part of me, a small part, that still doubts myself and feels like I've completely gotten in over my head.  Then the other part of me has these super high goals and is running to the next challenge.  The point is that all of this has me thinking about what exactly it is that's holding me back.  The answer, very clearly, is ME!!!
   So how is it exactly that I am holding myself back?  The number ONE and biggest reason is due to comparison.  Over the course of past couple of years, I have followed about ten different photographers and their work very closely.  Not because I wanted to copy their art but because I wanted to find inspiration.  I researched everything I could find online as far as technique and did some mentoring online but most importantly I went out and I practiced.  I used my poor kids as models and failed... A LOT but throughout it all I was discovering who I was and what Lindsay Sage Photography was.  I started coming home from these sessions after developing a relationship with these families and I would literally find myself editing these photos with butterflies in my stomach and sometimes even tears in my eyes.  This is when I knew that I was on the right path.  More than that though, I wasn't "copying" anyone else, I was doing my own thing.  Of course I had learned what worked for others and incorporated that into my workflow but this was still mine.
   So what is the problem then, you ask?  Well, the problem is that here I sit still comparing myself and quite frankly it's getting me no where.  I think its wonderful and very beneficial to still be looking around and challenging yourself to be better but there has to be a line drawn.  The line that you have to draw yourself that says "this is me, this is what I do" and on the other side it says "that is them, that is what they do" but it is a fine line and every once in a while i find myself feeling inferior and comparing my work to theirs.  I also find myself feeling defeated because I don't have a studio or the space to do indoor sessions, so therefore I can't offer what they are able to offer.  That is how I stand in the way of myself.  I allow myself to get discouraged by what others are doing instead of just being 100% grateful for all that I have accomplished and have yet to do.  I can't forget that I am only a year into this and that I'm going to continue to learn and grow every day for many more years.  I just need to get out of the way.
   I very much believe in God's perfect timing and I know that his plan not just for me but for my business is way bigger and better than i could ever dream it to be.  The people he has placed in my life at just the right time, the means he has provided to financially take on this business and the work that he has been doing in my heart have all played into this.  I have developed such a passion for photography and working with families, especially children.. that is totally God working in me.  I know for a fact that God has big plans for me and how he is going to use this photography business, ultimately for HIS GLORY!!  I can't see the big picture right now but I can see now that by simply getting out of my own way, He is going to guide me and continue to bless me on this journey.
   It's never ok to compare your apples to someone else's oranges, it really never gets us anywhere in life.  It's so important to remember that God will give you exactly the resources that YOU need.  I may not have a studio that gives me the capabilities to expand my business right now but that doesn't mean He won't provide that for me in the future, if that is even His plan for me.  For now I need to use what He has blessed me with and continue moving forward, the rest will come.

Moral of the story... stop comparing yourself to others, be completely aware of the blessings you have and use those blessings to their full potential... all for a greater purpose!!