Marvelous Monday: oh so photo

Happy Marvelous Monday! Today we have a super rad photographer to introduce you to! Tara of oh so photo is an incredible photographer based out of Portland, Oregon.

Tara is also willing to travel and she is looking forward to shooting a wedding and some sessions this summer in Michigan!

We have had the pleasure of working with Tara while photographing a few weddings in the past, and we can tell you this, she is crazy talented, super fun and way hilarious! We have seen her in action, so we know firsthand how amazing she is, but don't just take our word for it.

Read on to learn more about Tara and oh so photo.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business! What's your specialty?

Hey guys! I'm Tara. I live in beautiful Portland, Oregon with my family. I love coffee, traveling, traveling for photography, 80s music, IPAs, my Kindle, Michigan, my minivan and pedicures. In my business, I concentrate on families, newborns and a limited number of engagements/weddings per year. I like to shoot families with a mix of posed and more lifestyle images. I enjoy the challenges that come with shooting families in their homes, their most personal space!

Tell us about your journey! How did you get to where you are?

I started shooting about 5 years ago and started portfolio building in 2011. I quickly learned I had some more learning to do! and I will always be learning. The best way to learn is to shoot, shoot, shoot. Say yes to lots of things! Even if they scare you. That is the best kind of fear. It makes you grow and get better. Even if you suck. Thats okay, at least you tried. I also did a lot of learning through Clickin' Moms and CreativeLive and connecting with other photographers. After I worked on my portfolio, I legitimately opened my business and have just been going from there. I like to still do an occasional portfolio building session now just for me. I was lucky enough to meet some amazing photographers who shared their knowledge with me. Now I like to share my knowledge with others who can use it. Its a great way to build community and pay it forward!

What are your favorite things about working in your field?

I love meeting new clients and learning about their lives and then delivering them great images. I also love meeting other photographers and being able to go to conferences and learning more. There are so many different ways to run a photography business and shoot period that it is always cool to see what other people are doing. But you have to be careful that you don't get too wrapped up in comparing yourself to others. Its a balancing act.

What are some of your plans/goals for the future?

My goals for the future are to take more risks. Shoot more for myself. Delve into food photography. Rent a natural light studio for mini-sessions. Make quantifiable monthly and quarterly goals. Also, I want to shift from selling mainly digital files to doing in person ordering sessions as I think these really benefit the client. I think some of these will be able to happen in the next few months and some will happen after my youngest goes to kindergarten next year and I have a little more time for myself.

Learn more about oh so photo and feast your eyes on some gorgeous images, by visiting ohsophoto.com! Follow Tara on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, too!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls!

If you would like to be featured on a future Marvelous Monday post or if you know a local vendor of photographer we should feature, please send an email to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Fab Friday: Faves and Facts!

Happy Fab Friday, folks!

Today we have decided to help you guys get to know us, the ladies behind Golden Girls, a little bit better! While we absolutely LOVE photography, it isn't all we are about!

Here's a fun little list of some of our favorite things and some fabulous facts about yours truly!

 

 

Valerie: Team Canon. Wears a lot of black. Daydreams about tattoos too much.

1. Favorite Food: If we're talking type, Chinese food hands-down. I could eat it every day. If we're talking one specific thing to eat.. well, that's hard. It pretty much changes all the time. Right now, I've been eating a lot of cucumbers. They're so refreshing and crunchy and yummy! So... cucumbers. Final answer.

2. Favorite band/musician: RAMONES. For sure. Forever. Gabba Gabba.

3. Favorite 80s movie: What is this? Sophie's Choice?! This is a topic close to my heart. There are soooo many good ones. It's probably a four-way tie with Karate Kid/Say Anything/Ferris Bueller's Day Off/Dirty Dancing. No wait! Back to the Future totally takes the lead. Back to the Future is my favorite. (But the other four are right behind. So close, guys. So close.)

4. Guilty Pleasure: Diet Dr. Pepper. I know, I know. It's so bad for me. I'm really addicted. Forgive me.

5. Most Famous Person You Have Met: OK, if we're talking most famous, probably Robert Downey Jr. (although, technically, I met him before his comeback, so I'm not sure if this counts.) I ran into him in the back of some empty art gallery in Hollywood. He was super nice, kinda smelly and very friendly. He seemed like he wanted to chat for a bit but I really had to pee so I cut it short. (Regrets. I've had a few.) But my favorite celebrity encounter was with Dennis Haskins, better known as Mr. Belding! The year was 1995. I was in fifth grade. I just won a medal for my awesome D.A.R.E. essay and he was our celebrity host dude. When they called me onstage, I high-fived the heck out of him. (Semi-related: Did you know there's going to be a Saved by the Bell expose on Lifetime?! Mark your calendars!)

Summer: Nikonian. Bottled Red. Believer. Cupcake connoisseur.

1. Favorite Food: I would have to go with GRILLED asparagus hands-down favorite. Preferably anything grilled is dreamy to me, grilled veggies, grilled pizza, grilled strawberries! (Yummo!) I want Bobby Flay in my backyard grilling breakfast, lunch and dinner, all day erry day!

2. Favorite band/musician: JENNY LEWIS people! Go right now and listen to "The Last Messiah" <3

3. Favorite 80s movie: Dude, Pretty in Pink for sure! When Molly Ringwald cuts her dress that her dad bought her, and Blaine! OMG! But, really, the star of the movie and my inspiration for my punk, ska days: Duckie! Oh, Jon Cryer, before that one show with that one guy.

4. Guilty Pleasure: Netflix! Binge watching Orange is the New Black, Breaking Bad, Cake Boss, and any  movie that includes the words "ABC Family original movie".

5. Most Famous Person You Have Met: I've seen tons of celebrities, I was in a room with Justin Timberlake, like, less then 15 feet away!! I've walked passed Shaq at the airport, Gwen Stefani touched my hand! But to have a conversation with any and say, "Hi! I'm Summer and I'm your biggest fan"... nope, too chicken!

So, what about you? What are your faves and facts? What celebrities have you rubbed elbows with? We want to know!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

Work it Wednesday announcement: Next week's theme is FAVORITE! Send your photos to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com by Tuesday!

Talk Shop Thursday! Protect yourself.

Happy Talk Shop Thursday! Let's get down to business.

Today's topic might seem a little boring, but I promise you, it is so important, especially if you are in business! (Honestly, even if you are a hobbyist who takes pictures of people other than yourself, than this is a topic you can't ignore!)

Well, what is it? Insurance.

A lot of times when people decide to start a photography business, they just jump right in without covering all of their bases. It can seem super easy to get started. (Gear? Check. Talent? Check. Clients? Check. Time to start making money!) Insurance is something that can totally fall through the cracks. It's boring, it costs money and it's not something you can pick up at Best Buy or on Adorama. It wasn't until I started talking to fellow photographers about starting up a business, that I learned just how important it is to be properly insured.

So, what do you need?

Well, the first thing you might want to think about is Equipment insurance. You've invested a lot of money into your gear and you want to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong and your warranty is long gone. A lot of insurance agencies offer equipment insurance to cover you in case of fire, theft or breakage. This is a good idea for anyone, not just those in business!

But, if you are in business, you definitely need General or Business Liability insurance. If you are at a shoot and one of your clients gets injured or accidentally destroys some property, you, my friend, can be held responsible for damages. This insurance can protect you against claims for bodily injury or medical bills. Also, if you plan to do weddings or event photography, chances are the venue will require and request proof that you are insured.

You'll have to check with your specific agency and your plan, but Professional Liability insurance can also protect you in cases of negligence or errors and omissions. (For example, you just shot a wedding and suddenly your memory card is broken. Or your bride plans to sue when she realizes you didn't get a picture of the kiss. It happens.) While most photographers include clauses about these sorts of things in their contracts, it's a good idea to cover all your bases.

There are other types of insurance you might want to consider depending on your business needs (Automobile, Fire, Property Coverage) but the above mentioned types are definitely must-haves for the average professional photographer.

Still not convinced you need insurance? I've got a scenario for you. Grab your popcorn.

You just started your photography business. Up until now, you've shot mostly close friends and family... for free. But as word spreads, strangers are starting to reach out to you! They want to give you money! It's an exciting time! Hooray for you! You book a session with your old elementary school best friend's neighbor's distant cousin's ex-girlfriend. You couldn't be more thrilled. You've decided to meet up a gorgeous local park in a few days. When the day arrives, you're nervous but you know you got this. The shoot is off to a great start. You're clicking away, giving direction, the light is perfect... when suddenly, your client trips over a rock and lands face first in the dirt. You help her up, only to realize that her front teeth have been knocked out. Panicked, she shrieks, "This is all your fault! What am I going to do?! I don't have dental insurance!"

(Yikes. I broke into a sweat just typing that out.)

So, what do you do?

If you're insured, well, this sucks, but don't worry. You're covered. This is the reason you have insurance.

If you're not insured, well, let's hope you have some extra cash hanging around. If not, maybe you could sell your gear?

Now that you're thoroughly terrified, we suggest shopping around. You can start by calling whoever your home or auto insurance is with and getting a quote. PPA offers comprehensive plans and so does Hill & Usher. (The Golden Girls insurer of choice!)

Of course, insurance is one of those things you hope you never have to use, but in case something ever does go wrong, you'll definitely be thankful you have it. Better safe than sorry, right?

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a business question or topic you would like to see discussed, please send a message to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Work It Wednesday!

This week's Work It Wednesday theme was Joy! We had a lot of awesome submissions!

Photo by Jenna Ali, It's Alive Records

Photo by Giselle Christinson, Sunshine Avenue Photography

Photo by Jacqueline Reece, Just Jac Photography

We loved all of these joyful images and we are so thankful to all of our participants!

Big announcement! In order to give you more time to join in the fun, we're going to start announcing every new theme on Wednesdays!

Next week's Work it Wednesday theme is Favorite! It can be your favorite thing, food, time of day, child... whatever you'd like! Send your submissions to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com by Tuesday to be featured on our blog!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

Let's Talk Tuesday!

Let's Talk Tuesday is our designated day to answer reader submitted questions! Let's get to it!

 Dear Golden Girls,

   I feel like no matter how hard I try, I'm just not getting it. My images look blah, and they are not sharp enough, not creative enough, and just plain old BAD. I see all these amazing photographers and my work just sucks. I'm getting frustrated and contemplating selling my gear and taking up knitting. What's wrong with me?!

Sincerely, 

    Frustrated Franny

Dear Frustrated Franny,

We have all felt this way at one point and, sometimes, we still do. If you feel like you are in a rut and your work isn't reflecting you, maybe it's time to take a break and find inspiration in other ways. I challenged myself to not take any photos of people for 30 days. It was hard but it really helped me not only work on my skills, but it also forced me to find a new perspective!

Another great idea is to join a blog circle with a weekly theme. (Ahem...Work it Wednesdays!) Sometimes, all you need is a little creative push to get your wheels turning and your confidence up!

Here's a major tip: Never stop learning! Go out there and meet a fellow photographer, buy them coffee and pick their brain. Attend some workshops and sharpen your skills! Sometimes, even when we think we have all the knowledge down pat, it takes a different teacher or a different lesson to help it all sink in and really make sense. Maybe what you are missing is something obvious!

Or, maybe you are just lacking confidence. My dear Franny, I can tell you from experience it gets better, it really does. The reason we are photographers is because we are artists! This is the one thing that fills our love tank up.

Remember: Comparison is a thief of joy! Don't let your insecurities stop you! You can do this girl!!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a Let's Talk Tuesday question for us, please email us hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!