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01/28/2020 ·

Letting go of insecurity​

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If you had to guess, how many times do you think you held your own self back in 2019? You may have even assigned other people to blame that was not warranted for keeping you from building the business you wanted. I know I was telling myself all kinds of stories about why I could NOT have the type of success I wanted (I wasn’t as good as her, or have her background, or that I was not a HIM, or even that I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs) but what really held me back was my own insecurities. It took me years to speak into my camera on my Instagram stories or to be silly on there. I want to stomp on all the time I wasted during those years when growth was fairly easy on Instagram- I wasted a lot of those years being completely caged in by what others might think of me.
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Now, turning the camera towards my face is second nature. Sure- sometimes I am caught off guard by my 7 chins but such is life when you are born with pretty much no neck. My dreams for my business grow by the month and reaching them is going to take me trusting MYSELF and not letting the what-ifs drag me down as they have done in the past.
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In 2019, this thought held me back; “what if they think I am not ready to teach?” which is extremely silly in an industry where people are paid to teach in the infancy of their own photographer careers (gotta admire those balls) and here I sit with about 1,000 sessions and 10 years under my belt. But being respectful of the industry and not rushing is very important to me- I built my own portfolio for over a year for free after all. I am all about a patient process and that has paid off as my business has grown and grown year after year. So 2020 will see me ramping up education and mentoring-woot!
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What is an insecurity you are leaving behind in 2020?

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Fiona: Seattle Family Photographer • Marketing Educator
Feel yourself starting to drown this Fall already? Feel yourself starting to drown this Fall already? Here are a few habits to introduce to inspire a bit more calm.
Midway through Fall photo share! - Fall is trekkin Midway through Fall photo share!
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Fall is trekking along, this rain put a little snafu in things but nothing that’s not to be expected at this time of year in the PNW.
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I had QUITE the session event on Friday where my 50mm lens rolled out of my backpack and I have no idea where it fell out and sadly didn’t find despite looking into the night. 😭
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However, a bit of bright news came from that is that I ordered a brand new lens I’ve never owned before and I’m excited for something new!
2023 brought me a new little genre of photography 2023 brought me a new little genre of photography subjects: high school seniors!
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After 1,000 families- the majority with little kiddos it’s quite a different experience to not chase + play.
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Special thanks to all the 2023 senior clients who let me figure it out as I went ❤️
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Bainbridge Island Senior Photographer | Bainbridge Island Family Photographer
Fall is trucking along! - If you emailed me for da Fall is trucking along!
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If you emailed me for dates + didn’t get a reply, you can email again, I will not be mad! My email has been causing issues sending inquires to spam + also sending MY client prep emails to mars. I’m excited to see all these well dressed aliens drop down here soon.
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I do miss the days when my emails seemed simple 😓
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On a happier note, I really want to shoot here again- putting that into the universe 🌟
Moody mountain adventuring 🥰 Moody mountain adventuring 🥰
Getting lots of mountain inquiries! I have one can Getting lots of mountain inquiries! I have one cancelation for this spot this month and I might do one or two more in October once I see what the weather is up to- but those summertime feeling mountain spots are turning into crispy air fall mountains instead. 🍁 
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The vast majority of my 2024 adventure shoots will be scooped up in two months time during my Black Friday sale! If you missed out this year and want a mountain session in 2024- the dates are released here first on the morning of Black Friday. The mountain ones go pretty quick so set a reminder in your phone ❤️❤️
Omg. - When I’m on IG, I usually just post, enga Omg.
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When I’m on IG, I usually just post, engage and pop off. If I look around, it’s mostly at art, home decor, dresses that I’ll never wear, airbnb houses that are extremely cute and far away but not much other photography. It’s not that I don’t love other photographers, it’s just that I know it’s a dangerous path.
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So last night, being a total idiotface, I went deep down the rabbit hole. The IG algorithm saw what I was doing and was like “oh sh*t, let’s wreck this girl’s night” and showed me allll the family photographers in the world who are way better than me. If you got a comment from me last night, my comment sounded like this 🥺 behind the keyboard, I looked like this 😓.
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As artists, we are not meant to CONSTANTLY consume the art of everyone else all the freaking time.
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At no time, ever in the history of artistry, has an artist has to be sooooo surrounded by other art. Or a working artist throwing their work out into the visual onslaught that is the social media for immediate consumption, judgement and comparison by other local competitors.
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If you feel bad feelings on here, make a plan to be on here as a creator, not a consumer. Set timers. Ask for help from loved ones to keep you on track. It’s ok to mute people. It’s you, not them. It’s ok to outsource it. It’s ok to not be ok with it. ❤️
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Take care of yourself. Your work is worthy, and so are you.
Sweetest little babe in the golden sun ❤️ Sweetest little babe in the golden sun ❤️
After a little break, the Family Photographer Mark After a little break, the Family Photographer Marketing Podcast is back 💕
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This week is all about styling + marketing! Helping clients style their sessions is an easy way to step into the role of expert in your business.
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What clients wear matters to you as an artist + to your clients because they fell in love with the images in your portfolio which may include styling you helped clients create! It’s also a great pathway to more referrals.
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More info in this episode: •
•Pinterest for styling AND seo for future visibility
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•Why I use @style_and_select and a code if you want to give them a try!
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If you listened and want to chat more, join the Mini Marketing School Subscription- we will be chatting more in-depth about all upcoming episodes!
A lil black + white drop. Did you know that in eve A lil black + white drop. Did you know that in every gallery, I deliver both color + black and white of each image? I apologize in advance for my massive galleries lol.

Other weird things I do:
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Batch edit by light + THEN cull.
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Overshoot like mf’er. 🙈
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Start every single image with the exact same base preset.
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Rarely, RARELY switch up even one tiny part of my editing process.
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Never use faux skies, faux birds or light overlays.
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Bring a step stool to every.single.session (yes- and hike with it) - necessary being 4’11”.
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Send my final invoices AFTER the session.
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Fall, trip or stumble nearly every freaking time.
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Have a hot tea waiting for me in the car after the vast majority of my shoots except if it’s super hot. ☕️ 👵
A little mountain session drop! - Good news- I got A little mountain session drop!
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Good news- I got our fall soccer schedule so I will finalize dates for:
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•any other outdoor availability (local + adventure)
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•studio (simple portraits + a cute holiday set up)
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•marketing mentoring (small group + one-on-one)
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🌲 🏔️ 🍁 🦌 🍁🏔️🌲
Fall booking update: as I figure out more of our f Fall booking update: as I figure out more of our fall schedule, I’ll update here and post any availability ❤️
Last week my baby turned 12. I’m officially out Last week my baby turned 12. I’m officially out of the season of raising young kids. Watching them flourish into little women has been a great joy, but there’s sadness from the loss of… completely steering the ship I guess I’d say.
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By 12, the vast majority of parenting is done. Then it turns to guiding. Helping. Comforting. You become guard-rails, no longer laying the pavement.
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All the time in spent in their younger years emphasized kindness, empathy, confidence, resilience, calling out those who hurt them and calling in those who really see them.
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Even though I’m in busy season now and I feel on the edge of too little time with them, this job has been what has allowed me many, many present moments. Many tiny moments of witnessing and championing traits that will lead them to good citizenry and a hand on the shoulder when they started down a path that was selfish or hurtful to others.
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Many years they looked back and saw me there. Now as they grow, I’ll be more and more in the distance. They’ll mess up, fail, fall in love, lie, glow in the light of their triumphs and bask in the warmth of adoration and very little of it will have anything to do with me.
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It’s the most heartbreaking part of motherhood: it is, at it’s most successful, letting go. A gentle shove into a wild world. A tiny hand slipping out of yours. You hope your girl walks with her head up. With her heart full. With the knowledge that she can stand up when she falls. It’s a beautiful and slow loss.
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But witness I’ll continue to do. And a shoulder to lean on I’ll continue to be. Advice if you want it. Help if you need it. On and on it goes. Your precious creations become.. apart. It’s good. And haunting, too. ❤️
What is the number one way to make your family pho What is the number one way to make your family photography session successful, you may wonder.
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The answer is simple: go into the session with few expectations and just play and snuggle the entire time.
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As a photographer, the top things that throw the session off course are:
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⚡️parents demanding kids look at me + smile- this never results in the desired outcome- it just causes tension. Instead, participate in their joy. Love on them, tickle them, play with them for smiles.
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⚡️parents overly disciplining at sessions. If there ever was a time to snuggle your kid through a tantrum, the family photography session is it. Kids may be nervous at the session and express it through acting a little wild. It’s ok. If you let it go, they will too.
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⚡️parents on their phones. Pls stay off phones. Dad- I’m looking at you 👀 
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⚡️not dressing warmly enough. The best photographer in the world cannot engage a cold kid.
I try to capture this shot of my girls every year. I try to capture this shot of my girls every year. I’m particularly fond of this after sunset, post beach shot of their forest + sea eyes.
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It’s an honor and a privilege raising these ladies.
This little job of mine ❤️ I still remember so This little job of mine ❤️ I still remember so clearly those people in the beginning of belittled my choice to do this work- “every mom who gets a camera thinks they’re a photographer” I still remember that you said that, sir. 🥰😂 

Yesterday, the whole fam came with to my session. We’ve had a tiresome year, but we are have always remained a insulated unit as a family. We are so close. When things get hard, we lean IN. The rest of us catch each other. Even little B, she knows just when I might need a snuggle. 

Of all the things I’ve done, putting time with my girls and my love first is my greatest achievement. This job has allowed that freedom. Jeff and I lead this family equally, hand in hand. But if one has it harder, we know the other will make the time + space to scoop the other up and carry. It’s the dream I had as a 16 year old when I met him- a truly equal partnership. A duo (and resulting magical girls) that can survive the apocalypse, support through moments self-doubt, fear, failure, put up boundaries, ask for apologies, give apologies, do better, learn, grow, cry, laugh- dear lord do we all laugh a lot. 

Lucky is an understatement. But I’ve taught my girls that truly equal romantic partnerships aren’t stumbled upon, they are decided upon by both parties and committed to fiercely. “If we can make it through this, we will make it through anything” is now just “we got this, no matter what”. 

For each other we want peace, success + security. It’s an ebb and flow of listening, supporting, stepping up or back, cheerleading or consoling. Thank you to 26 year old Fiona who said “thanks but no thanks” to people who doubted a dream that allowed me time to be present with my loves.
Summer is truckin along! August is gearing up to b Summer is truckin along! August is gearing up to be quite busy! There aren’t any openings besides one spot for golden hour school 🥰
My client asked me if I end up photographing the s My client asked me if I end up photographing the same families every year and while I do love, love my repeat clients the Black Friday sale resets the year and everyone has the same chances to snag a session.
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This feels more fair and more sustainable. If family photographers ONLY sell to existing clients, those kids can grow up and suddenly you gave fewer inquiries coming in. Just something to think about if you only book the same families year after year 🥰
The first summer in 5 years no one has booked a se The first summer in 5 years no one has booked a session on the coast. Kinda bummed
Hiiiiiii! It’s time for an intro post 😤⭐️ Hiiiiiii! It’s time for an intro post 😤⭐️
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I’m Fiona! People at Starbucks loveeee to say “oh like Shrek!” 😩when will it end. It’s high time for another character named Fiona.
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1. I’m a mom + wife who lives on a magical little island near Seattle.
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2. I like traveling but hate airplanes- why all the weird grinding noises? Why do we voluntarily enter a mental tube that shoots through sky??..???? ✈️ 
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3. I don’t really drink and haven’t for at least 10 years. It’s not a hard line or anything I struggle with but it’s fun for me to see sobriety enter the main stream. The culture around alcohol + motherhood is *weird* (imo)
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4. I struggle with small talk. I wanna know more about you. Some people dislike that about me. That’s ok. In fact, being ok with people not liking me is a-ok- that’s been a freeing realization.
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5. This year I became a podcast host! I’m almost 30 episodes in! It’s very ranty and I use made up words. Come listen.
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6. I love women. Not romantically- happily married to a man. But women are so damn magical and powerful. Obsessed with us.
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7. I love attempting to fully murder myself every time I go to the gym. As someone with a botched ACL surgery, strength is incredibly important to me. I take pride in the fact that I can still beat my children in races. 🥹
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8. Funny people are my favorite.
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📷 @jessesalterphotography
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