Today is the first of a few gift guides — it’s not too late! I am not done shopping for my family and friends and if you are, MAJOR props. If you have a photographer friend, family member, or are a photographer and need some Christmas list ideas, this post is for you. The entire image above is clickable (simply click on the red boxes with a + on them) and shopable except for these 4 extra special gift ideas:
Illustration An illustration is a perfect gift that elevates an already present photo. I personally use @denofdreamers Tara Nix for my illustrations. She is affordable and her images are so quality! I gifted my boyfriend the image above for our 1 year anniversary and it was such a special gift.
Brevite Jumper Backpack: CAN’T RECOMMEND ENOUGH. Holds everything. So many compartments and places for everything a photographer could need at a shoot or for a workday at a coffee shop. Seriously, get this for the photographer in your life.
Gift THEM a photoshoot (branding/headshot or a simple family/couple shoot!) As a photographer, I would LOVE to be gifted a branding session or a couples session to have photos taken OF me! It is really important to get in front of the camera to learn how your clients feel but also just to get some updated photos of yourself! Clients want to see their photographer’s face sometimes too (: You can learn how to gift a photo session in this post I wrote.
Workshop from their photographers Some photographers like Dawn Charles offer workshops, resources, guides, etc. that can be SO helpful for new and intermediate photographers. The photographer in your life definitely has a favorite photographer of their own… ask them who they are and then do the research to see if they offer a course or workshop!
Hi everyone! Welcome to Vogue & A Latte if it’s your first time and welcome back if it’s not. I am really excited about starting a new tradition called Blogmas. I am a big YouTube watcher (not maker, I am horrible at video editing. I wish it came naturally to me.) and my favorite YouTubers (Danielle Carolan, Brooke Miccio, Kenzie Elizabeth, Sierra Furtado, Morgan Yates, etc.) do this thing called Vlogmas each year where they post a video every single day up until Christmas. This must take a LOT of work for them, yet I am so intrigued by it and wanted to put my own twist on it by doing it in my own way on my own platforms. I feel like it is a challenge for myself to see if I am capable of writing a post each day (or writing in batches to post on days that I am unavailable). I am curious about how the consistency of posting each day on V&L as well as my Madison Crowley Photo blog will affect engagement. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t. Maybe I will be so tired of doing blog posts each day that I won’t finish (I hope not though, that would be weak of me!!!). Maybe my engagement will stay the same. Some posts will get more views than others because naturally people are drawn to different topics, but really I am just focused on writing about topics that interest me but benefit you. Two years into photography, I have made mistakes and learned lessons that I want to share but also have a good amount of beginner photography wisdom that I want to share. I also have some wisdom on what it takes to be an influencer (I used to focus mainly on that so I know what it takes to pitch yourself, work out contracts, post before deadlines, etc.), how to social media content plan & schedule, as well as a thing or two about non-toxic beauty, gluten & dairy-free cooking, blogging, and so much more. I’ve got a lot of topics to write about and I am excited to take you along with me!!!
Here is a littttttle bit about me in case you are new: + I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my 6-year-old Yorkie-Poodle named Boston. If COVID didn’t exist, I would be in Orange County every other month visiting friends, family, and clients. + As of today, I work full-time for myself as a photographer & mentor at Madison Crowley Photo (that’s crazy y’all) + I have a passion for coffee tbh. I am becoming a coffee connoisseur (not a coffee snob, though) and am newly into matcha. I love fancy drinks. In another life, I would open a boutique coffee shop. + I started a fashion blog in 2016 called Forge a Frenzy that has evolved into Vogue & a Latte which is definitely not primarily (or secondary or even tertiary) a fashion blog. At first, I was paralyzed by that as I didn’t know who I was or what to write about. Losing that desire and passion scared me for a while until I realized that the beauty of having your own blog is that you get to write about whatever YOU want. People are attracted to who you are. Write authentically. + I eat gluten & dairy-free (not by choice). + I care a lot about wellness (non-toxic living) because we come into contact with enough chemicals just by leaving our homes, why not manage the chemicals we actually can control?! + I have a wonderfully fantastic boyfriend who is supportive and Godly and funny and handsome and an answer to prayer. + I love fresh flowers. And green juice. And dainty gold necklaces. And good-smelling oils/lotions. And online shopping, unfortunately. + I am a major list girl. If it isn’t written down, it’s not happening. And that’s a fact.
And here are some topics you can get excited about coming up this Blogmas: + Your Email Is a Trap + How to Start a Blog + How to Plan for Your First Photography Session + The Only Business That Requires 0 Investment Upfront + Everything You Might Be Wondering About Where to Market Yourself + Christmas Eve & The Importance of Planning Ahead + Launch & Adjust
This post was short, sweet, and to the point. How I approach a lot of things in my life. If you don’t have efficiency, what do you have when it comes to your business! Most of these posts are going to be beefed up with tips, tricks, and education so we are starting off with a welcoming invitation to join me on this Blogmas journey. Fingers crossed we make it to the end!
You can follow along in real-time on my Instagram at @MadisonCrowleybut until tomorrow, ttyl <3
If you feel so inclined, I would LOVE to hear how you got to this post. Instagram? Facebook? A friend?
As a photographer forging her way into the world of lifestyle, portrait, and family sessions galore, there are a lot of mistakes to be made. Lots of bumps in the road!! Thankfully, we recover and learn from them. And thankfully (most) clients are gracious. Whether you are just beginning to toy with the idea of grabbing your dusty camera hidden at the top of your closet or are heading into your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th holiday season as a photographer, here are some mistakes I made so you (hopefully) don’t have to!
1. Always Turn On Your Camera BEFORE a Shoot… And Always Bring a Backup
Check your battery, your SD card, and that it actually takes a visible photo! Storytime: A little over a year ago, I was parking my car and walking up to meet a client at Lido Marina Village. I greeted them with a big smile, chatted for a bit, and then got to shooting. I found the right location and lighting, then set her up with her first set of posing directions and began to click away. As always, I checked my screen to take a look at the photos and lighting and adjust accordingly. I noticed that my screen was black. Yes, you read that right, black. My heart stopped for a second and I panicked. I had to think on my feet and didn’t want them to notice anything was wrong yet. So I lifted my camera back up to my eye and began to shoot some more. Still black… I told them I needed to fix the lighting and quickly scoured every setting I could possibly look at. I removed my lens and put it back on. Nothing. At this point I couldn’t hide the fact that something was off so I had 2 options: Continue to shoot and pretend everything was good and then say that something happened to the SD card (keep reading for the storytime on THAT subject) or tell them that something was wrong with my camera and that the photos weren’t capturing. I went with option #2 as that was the most honest, even though it was harder, and started explaining to them that I had no idea what was up with my camera, that I checked every setting and had no solution for the problem at that exact moment and needed to take my camera to the camera shop. I offered to take some iPhone photos for her so that she at least had a little bit of content from that day and assured them I would send back their deposit as this was completely out of their (and my) control. She and her husband were very gracious even though I could tell they were obviously very disappointed. I assured them that once my camera was fixed, I would reach out to them and offer a discounted session price to make up for this inconvenience. Clients prepare for shoots whether that be a hair appointment, taking off of work, buying a new outfit, or making a drive to the location you are meeting at. It is very important to give value to their time. It turned out that they did not end up wanting to reschedule, which is completely understandable. That was definitely a negative result of a beginner photography mistake! I didn’t beat myself up for it, mistakes help us grow and become better, but it was definitely a major lesson for me.
Moral of the story: Had I checked my camera prior, this situation could have been completely avoided. I would have seen that something was off with my camera and simply rescheduled or just started the shoot with my backup camera. Had I had my backup camera, none of this would have happened. I would have simply switched to my other camera, changed over the lens and SD card, and kept the session moving. ALSO, never put your camera in overhead storage on an airplane. 🙃
I now ALWAYS check my camera before leaving the house. Does the shutter close all of the way? Does the image appear on the screen? Do I have enough room on the current SD card living in my camera? How is my battery level? I also never go to a shoot without a fully charged backup camera with a blank SD card inside. I never want to freeze on the spot like that again or lose a client’s faith in me!
I am SO pumped to be able to get back to doing what I love. Creating, writing, taking pictures, and wearing super cute outfits that I get to share with y’all.
Sweater dresses with OTK boots are my jam right now.
It’s Wednesday people!! Half way through the week! I am currently sitting on my couch with my pup and a nice big mug full of coffee. A good morning if you ask me.
If there is one thing I learned from this shoot it’s that I need some sunshine in my life. Pale doesn’t work well in California.
Welcome back and Happy Valentines Day (or Galentines Day in my case)!! I am here to chat about gal-pals and their importance as well as open up about how long distance relationships with your bffs are incredibly hard, but incredibly worth it.
** very important PS at the bottom of this post **
