The Spontaneous Photoshoot That Changed my Career
I remember it like it was yesterday.
It was August of 2014 and I didn't have a portfolio of work that I was proud to show. I had planned a vacation with my husband and my then one-year-old daughter to Seaside, FL. I thought, what if I took one day out of our seven day vacation and made a bouquet and found someone to photograph it? Maybe that could be the beginning of turning around this business of mine. Maybe that could be the beginning of a portfolio of work I was proud to show. I literally googled "wedding planner Seaside FL" because I had less than three weeks and I didn't know any vendors in the area to help pull together everything that goes into a shoot. Shelby Peaden Events name popped up, and I reached out to her. I remember the conversation so well and how she expressed how full her plate was and how she really didn't have time to do something like this on such short notice. But I was insistent.
My persistence paid off, because she finally agreed. She reached out to a photographer named Lauren Kinsey who also agreed. Together, they found a model and someone to do hair and makeup. I was in charge of the flowers and the dress. At the time, I didn't have access to wedding gowns, so I called my friend who owns Scarlet Clothing and asked if there was anything I could take to use for the shoot. She allowed me to borrow the super simple white dress you see in this photo.
I ended up buying that white dress and I wear it every time we travel back to Seaside as my swimsuit coverup.
Sometimes we have to be bold. Sometimes we have to ask for what we really want. Sometimes those risks don't turn out like we hope, but sometimes they do!
I will forever be grateful to Shelby and Lauren who took a chance on the girl from Arkansas with zero credibility and no portfolio. I also can’t wait to execute a real wedding with them next month in the same gorgeous area.
This shoot was then featured in Magnolia Rouge, and will forever be close to my heart, because it marks a point in my career where everything started to change for the better.
Image: Lauren Kinsey Photography