Mr. Wingo, His Dog, & a Bouquet
Posted on August 3, 2024
Kindness has a tendency to be an indistinguishable virtue in this world…if you are not looking for it, and not open to seeing it. Witnessing random acts of kindness is a truly gift bestowed upon us for no other reason than the person felt compelled to be kind, to share their love through a gesture. A pure, intentional act of kindness costs nothing, but can mean a great deal to those that receive from this one small gesture. Let me tell you a little story about a man, his dog and a bouquet.
I was recently shooting a model call on a walking path, when a man and his dog approached. We were taking up the whole path, and as we were moving to make space, my client was very excited, very hopeful that she would be able to pet the dog. Upon stopping and permissing us all to pet his dog, we learned this man’s name is Chester Wingo, and his pupper’s name is Brin(I apologize for the potential misspelling). Mr. Wingo and Brin are very kind and friendly, so I asked if he would mind if I took their photo. I was delighted when he agreed and we snapped a few shots.
Mr. Wingo and Brin walked away and continued on the path, we all returned to our shoot. As time progressed, we could see Chester and Brin winding through the tall overgrowth, returning our way. The closer the pair got, the more we could see Mr. Wingo was carrying something in his hand. As he and Brin arrived at our destination, he handed my client a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers that he picked along his walk. I was blown away that Chester would take the time on his personal walk, to gather and make something so beautiful to gift to my client. I could tell that she was also greatly affected by his act of kindness, and that she cherished the simplistic beauty of the bouquet.
When I photographed Chester and Brin, I asked if he was on Facebook and if I could friend request him. He granted his consent for that as well, and today, I want to share this beautiful story of the meeting of strangers, a dog and bouquet of flowers. While the occurrence was truly a random encounter, the act of kindness from a stranger was one of the most moving and genuine things I have seen in a while. It was very restorative, and probably doesn’t surprise those of you that know Chester well. Thank you, Mr. Wingo, for sharing your love and kindness to a few random strangers that day on the path. You are very appreciated.
Photography Pricing: Part 3-MINDSET
Posted on July 7, 2024
Here we are, the last post in this 3 part photography pricing series. If you have been reading, then you know these posts are not just for clients, and not just for other photographers, the series is for both. I am a firm believer in sharing what I learn to help others, as well as providing insightful perspective that is educational when considering specific services, in this case, photography. Let’s get to it and talk about the mindset involved in our pursuits of professional photography!
MINDSET
You would not really think that mindset is an important factor when setting a pricing structure for the services you offer, but once you actually comprehend the relevant importance of pricing, you start to question other decisions you have made along the way, rightly so. I remember when I was charging $150 for my photography services…I remember $250, as well. I contemplated $300-350 for a long time, never pulling the trigger. I have known for several years that my pricing is off, but I will tell you the all reasons I justified not charging appropriately, and why I was wrong.
- 1. I live in rural southern Ohio. While many of you don’t know what that means, what I am saying is this, we are Appalachian, there are a lot of hardworking people that live here. Poverty is real, and really prevalent. We are taught to be frugal, to value things, especially a dollar, and to prioritize responsibility over frivolity. WHY this is wrong: I don’t get to make determinations for others. How you spend your money is none of my business. How you view your money is none of my business. How much money you have, is none of my business, none of my concern. My mindset has absolutely nothing to do with you and your money, it doesn’t even tell you how I feel about my own money, but it is an outdated, martyr methodology that I had to recognize and work through for myself in order to get through.
- 2. To build upon 1, photography is not a priority for many, and so a lower price will help people justify why they need to partake in photography services, thus aiding in you having clients. WHY this is wrong: People drive nice cars to work, around town, all over. They take luxurious vacations to escape everyday life, enjoying dining out, having new experiences and seeing all the things life could offer. People have a multitude of ways in which they spend their money on things they want, and yes, many of those things involve getting the best deal possible, which I get and fall in line with, but does this mean that I am supposed to give my services and pricing away for next to nothing, or at a loss, NO. This means that I am beholden to raise my own standard and charge to not only a break even point, but to a standard that allows me to live too.
- 3. Skills/Years of Experience/Seniority(Hierarchy)-Many photographers think they CANNOT charge accordingly because of other seasoned pros. Those we deem better, longer in business, that have better skills. THOSE people can charge, but not us. We are not good enough, yet. Couple this with 1 and 2, and our justifications smother us. WHY this is wrong: You are running a business and have costs associated with that. Operating costs will not change based on the afore mentioned reasons, all we will be doing with this thinking is running a charity or hobby that does not help us grow or evolve, thus killing any chance of us having an actual business, let alone a livelihood. You need to be paid accordingly to run a business and to have a livelihood. Imagine telling a teacher or nurse you are willing to pay them $5-10/per hour, because this is how you view them as a priority. Never mind they have a lot of education, skill or value, this is how you are willing to pay them. Lead balloon, that is how it would go over, obviously, and that is how we need to view professional photography.
- 4. Something deeper may be keeping us down. We all have things that have happened or that are happening in our lives to make us think we don’t deserve to run a legitmate business. We can run a charity because we are NICE. We can have a great hobby because this is NOT OUR PRIORITY. Having a business may look selfish to some, self aggrandizing to others, and just plain wrong to a lot of folks. WHY this is wrong: We are all deserving of more than being a charity. Nice is not a good word, it says doormat. We can be KIND, that says we choose to do nice things for others, one of which is not running a photography charity, unless that is our goal of course. Running a business does not mean the priority shifts away from family, but doing it for family. If my husband dies and I have no income, who is taking me and my college aged kid in? The person that wanted to pay me $150, or someone that values me? If I charge accordingly, no one has to take us in, we can be self-sufficient because I am running a business accordingly. If a two income household is okay for most people, why not for photographers?
For years, I undervalued myself, my skill set and my business, by charging a non-business-running price, taking a yearly loss for several years in a row. There is a limit to how many years a “business” can show a loss, and I am nearing my limit. So, I either have to legitimize myself, or quit altogether. Wow. Can you imaging telling a teacher or nurse they have to quit because that $5-10 hour job they have been working is not viable nor sustaining. The investments in equipment, gear, education and products cannot sustain themselves with charity/hobby work. Running a business is not about your regional beliefs, your culture, nor where you land in the pack order. Running a business is about sustainability, cost of doing business, profit margins, and profitability. In order for me to keep running this business, I have to treat it as such, and in that, I must educate people about my business.
If you feel my services are not in alignment with you, or your ideal cost, talk to me about it and we will figure out what it is you need and how we can possibly work that out, while I run my business. The solution could be you need a different photographer, or you need a payment plan. We never know the solution until we openly discuss things. I am an objective communicator, and want to serve needs to the best of my ability, while I run my business.
I hope as a client, you have gained insight in to my business while reading this blog series. As a fellow photographer, I hope this has helped you to decide to run a business, and not a charity or hobby, if it is your wish. If you would like to learn more about the photography industry, or to book a session, please feel free to reach out to me, I would the opportunity to serve your unique needs!
Photography Pricing: Part 2-Value
Posted on July 5, 2024
Thanks for coming back and reading Part 2 of our 3 part series, in relation to our 3 part equation of photography pricing!
Value to Clients
When you book a photography session, you are investing in yourself, your family, your business, etc…the important things/people in your life. There is a good chance you may be celebrating one of the major milestones in your life, with a photography session. When seeking professional photography services, you are essentially looking to pause time, capture life in that moment, mark time or events that hold the dearest memories for us, or our loved ones. Perhaps you want people to see you in your infinite self in your business ventures. Whatever the cause or reason for you to engage in professional photography services, odds are you are looking for the value in your investment, and high quality artwork is the best way to observe and preserve that.
When you know and understand quality, you seek out the best of items not only for yourself, but those you serve. Whether we are considering prints, print products, or the framing and boxes that our images will be displayed on or in, we always want the best, photographer and client alike. We have samples of those products for you to see, feel, hold and look upon so that you can better envision how your works of art, your images, will best be displayed for you or loved ones for years to come. Archival material is so important for preserving the milestones and memories, no one wants their beautiful wall art to fade in time, and while that sometimes happens, if you source the best vendors and materials, you are making every effort to circumvent that possibility, increasing the value of the product you lovingly create for, and with, your clients.
Some people love a shoot and burn photo session, they can share their digital files immediately to social media, and print at their leisure. While this is a great thing, and holds a lot of value for our clients, it robs us of the ability to present greater value through physical art work. Often, digital images are enjoyed for a minute and then forgotten on a device, jump drive, or online gallery. While this not purpose of photography, digital images are one of the most valuable things we can offer and serve up to our clients. Digital images are one of the most sharable aspects of what we do, they readily convey that important glimpse into our clients’ lives and milestones. Digitals are also easily accessible. If you could hand your client an heirloom quality product to look at every day in conjunction with the combined value of digitals, why would you not want to do that? I want people to see their images, to share their images with loved ones, and as many people do, to have the capability to gift a digital to someone in their life when a print just doesn’t work. However, I want you to see your artwork on the daily, to look upon it with love, thoughts of happiness and memories associated. I want you to have both, to understand the inherent values that both mediums possess, and that makes the most sense for you and your family to cherish indefinitely.
This is just one aspect of the value associated with your session, products. What about the value of the session itself? Your session is more than the subject and photographer, it truly is an honoring of a soul, or souls, with awareness to what makes the session important….YOU. Photographers capture a slice of time, conceptualizing the session to articulate the thing, the reason, of why you are in front of the lens. We are not only capturing the WHY, but the importance and celebration of you. You are special. You are unique. You are so indescribably YOU. Your family is important, as it’s full of unique souls that were brought to this world to experience existence together. You are extraordinary, and your essence needs to be captured, you need to be honored for being you, for doing you, and for sharing a part of you with this world, with all of us. The session is not just about your milestone, or need for photography, but it is absolutely about YOU!
Your photography session, no matter what purpose, is a reminder that you are, 100% you! Not one person walks away from their session feeling the same as when they walked in. Photography does not just capture you how you showed up for your session, but invites you to open up so we can celebrate you, to empower you, and often, to show you the person you forgot or did not know existed. Your time in front of the lens is meant to be alchemical, providing you the opportunity to nurture an inner part of you the world doesn’t always see. A photo session is a chance for you to emerge a brighter light. Often, it’s cathartic, a metamorphosis you did not realize you wanted or needed. That’s bold, but words people use when describing the experience are empowering, rejuvenating, badly needed, confidence boosting, time well spent, perfect, fun, important and valuable, to name a few.
There are a multitude of reasons why someone finds photography valuable. Has something in your life changed and you want to share that? Do you have a passion that you want to share with others? Does your business need its story told from a more personal perspective? These are a few questions that people have answered before scheduling their sessions, and sharing their stories with the world. What question would you add here, and how would a photography session answer that for you?
This may sound a bit cheesy, but I love watching people experience the transformative power of seeing themselves as they really are, the beauty of their soul shining through their image. I believe in being objective about people, taking the subjective of what someone tells me, and then listening to their soul tell me and show me otherwise. I believe in pushing limits and asking someone to show me more of their true self. How does one place a value on that? You can’t, and that is why photographers operate from a place of charging for Cost of Doing Business(CODB). It’s all part of the pricing equation.
Tune in Sunday for the conclusion of this 3 part series. Mindset is everything.
Photography pricing: A 3 part Equation and series
Posted on July 3, 2024
Hello to all of you lovely readers, and welcome to all of you that have not joined me here before! Today, we’re going to get a little nitty gritty with the truth of photography pricing, how that relates to the industry, what that means to our customers, and how that could say more about us than we think. This post is not written exclusively for photographers, but for everyone that has had a photograph professionally taken, or may have a need(you always have need for photographs!).
Part 1: industry Expectations
Many photographers will tell you there is an industry standard for photography pricing. It is a standard of which your pricing is dependent on what others around you, and of greater skill/more experience/success, charge. This standard of expectation for everyone claiming professional status, of what you charge, should be based on top down practices, meaning the leaders in the industry set the tone for what we should all charge, based on criteria they set forth. This is industry standard, right? While industry standard seems astronomical to some, lofty to others, and for those that run profitable businesses, necessary, only one thing I have just written here is true. Industry standard is an illusion if you are basing your pricing on anything other than running a business. While I want to jump directly in to the meat of the subject, I am going to give you some examples of the wrong way to price your services.
If you are in 1 photography group, let alone many, you will see people constantly asking what they should be charging for their photography services. It usually starts something like this, “I have been charging $150 for my sessions. I provide a 2 hour session, unlimited outfits, unlimited locations, and I give my clients all the files. I am not making as much money as I would like, I am burnt out, and people are constantly taking advantage of me. I am thinking of charging $275, do you think this is too much, or should I do $325? I don’t want the better photographers in my area to think I am better than them, or that I think I am as good as them. I have only been doing this 2 years, and it is not my main job. Help, Please!” I recently read such a post, and the replies varied wildly. While I saw some photographers attacking the person asking the question, stating they had no business charging above $250 due to their level of skill, or years of experience, and due to concern for clients’ pockets, other photographers were saying, Yes! They confirmed this $325 is great pricing, it’s what they charge, and people might not want to pay this, but it is feasible pricing. Then you had a select few, that pointed out factors like CODB(cost of doing business), profitability, business health and longevity.
Another group I am, someone could tell you that $5k is their minimum session price, and that if they aren’t charging that minimum of $5ooo, with multiple sessions a week, then there is no way they could have a business. That is a crazy difference with one group thinking that charging $325 is sustainable, to another group stating that anything less than roughly $10 k per week is not sustaining. Most photographers fall somewhere between those numbers, but what is really the right place to land? Is it this imaginary industry standard price, the price you can live with charging your clients for your services, or the price that provides you a client wardrobe closet with an upscale luxury service? Two of these are actually correct, and maybe the third is too.
The industry standard, is NOT a concrete number, but a concrete equation. When you are actually running a photography business, you are not pulling some arbitrary numbers from the sky, nor are you looking at competitor’s webpages to see what they charge so you can too, NOR should you be asking total strangers what to be charging, based on their opinions and their reasonings as to why you should charge what they think. Legitimate businesses do not run on the opinions of others, at all. No, legitimate businesses run on numbers with cost of goods, variable/fixed expenses, etc. factored in. If you do not look at these numbers, you won’t know what you will need to charge to break even, let alone make a profit. Remember those $325 photographers? I guarantee you that none of them know what it actually costs to run their business. They may be thinking in terms of hourly time, and specifically only 2 of those tasked hourly timeframes. Well, I spent 1 hour of shooting, 9 hours of editing, that has me making $32.50/hour. That’s pretty good, right? Who doesn’t want to make a nice hourly wage? Um, but this is not accurate, so how do you determine what you are making as an hourly wage? Let’s look at things from a better business perspective, in a quicker, easier aspect.
If I charge you $1500 for your photography session, you receive product, and I spend 20 hours with you from start to finish, let me tell you what I make, based on quick math. It is a good assumption in the photography industry, to break your income in to 3 portions. 1/3-goes to pay income taxes and sales tax, immediately, always. In Ohio, if we deliver a physical product, we MUST collect sales tax on product and session, and remit accordingly. 1/3-goes back to the business. Again, the business does not run itself, it takes a flow of money to keep it running. You can’t squeeze juice from an empty orange, just like you cannot pay for business expenditures without a business fund. Gear doesn’t magically appear, editing software is not free. Gallery and web hosting both have costs….all aspects of the business cost someone something. If you are not putting funds back for your business, you have another source that pays for the business, at that point you have a hobby. 1/3-the business pays you for your work. All that time you put in on consults, shooting, editing, delivering product, working admin for the business, you receive 1/3 of that…so, if I am paid $500, and I have put in 20 hours, I am then making $15/hour. Clearly not the same as $32.50/ hour, that is a lie someone tells themself to justify their hobby parading as a business. When you hand me a check for $1500, my business receives that, I get paid by my business. I am not my business, and it is not me. I am Erin Robinson, agent for E.robinsonphotos, LLC.
Listen, we have all pretty much been there to some degree, in this type of thinking or place in the process of becoming a legitimate business. If you are doing photography for charity, you are well aware of why you are doing it and who you are looking to benefit, and that is perfectly okay, great even to give to others. If you are doing photography as a hobby, which I also did for years, then you know you are not in it to make money, you are doing it for the joy it provides you and others. You may recoup some costs, but you truly are not recouping what you think you are. You are actually funding your hobby with another career, and you are okay with that. When you actually decide to look at your photography as a career, that is when you realize that $325 is not $32.50/hour solely for the hours you put in. It has taken me years to actually understand the importance and value of photography, how to run a business, and how my mindset all factored in.
On Friday, I will tell you how pricing relates to clients/client experience, how we can facilitate our clients with purchasing, and why pricing should not be the biggest factor in choosing your photographer.
Individual Aspect: Jamie Burnside-Teacher, Baker, Stress Reliever
Posted on June 23, 2024
Most people love a tasty sweet treat, as sugary confections are a huge part of celebrations in our lives from an early age. We look forward to our yearly, or milestone celebrations, when we can commemorate with a cake, cookies, or cupcakes. We all know the baker who makes our favorites, does the designs we all like, and is as sweet as the treats they bake. I was pleasantly surprised when that person for me, turned out to be Jamie Burnside, of Jackson, Ohio.
Jamie has been a part of our lives since 2010, and a great part she has been. Jamie was a kindergarten teacher at the time I met her, but has been teaching 1st grade almost as long as I have known her. It can be a scary or nerve wracking thing, sending your child off to school, but everything I had heard about Jamie as a teacher, was absolutely true, and better! Not only that, but clearly she made a lasting impacting on my then student’s life, so much so, she is still very much a part of it.
With the ever evolving landscape of teaching, and this world, it can prove challenging, stressful, and present as an arduous task at hand. Many teachers are shifting careers, jumping fields of study, or leaving the profession altogether. Fortunately for many of us, Jamie chooses a super constructive way of diffusing her stresses. Instead of choosing the aforementioned options, she is stirring up some goodness to help her through the tougher days, and she is providing delightful, yummy creations to boot!
Jamie started baking, truly, when she made a cake for her niece’s birthday. It was such a great way to contribute to her family’s celebration of a loved one, and it provided Jamie with a deep sense of fulfillment. She hasn’t looked back since, she took her confectionary skills more seriously and learned to perfect the treats she offers. This isn’t to say she thinks her treats are perfect, but to say she developed her flavors, her baking and icing skills, as well as she found her current, preferred style-SIMPLICITY.
Jamie loves to make the people that eat her treats, HAPPY. She wants you to be happy in life, like she does her 1st graders, and her delivery on both does not disappoint. Jamie loves to ice her confections with pastel colors, swirling happiness with sprinkles of sugar. I may have asked her to sprinkle additionally so I could get an amazing shot of her work, but Jamie laughed as she happily sprinkled away! Not only are Jamie’s goodies beautiful, but they really are scrumptious!
Since the pandemic, Jamie has worried that she isn’t doing enough for her students, that her efforts are not making an impact like they used to. She worries about the long term effects her students may face, and whether her impact in her time with them, was enough. Jamie is not alone in her thinking, as many teachers have expressed the same sentiments, and for some, it is proving harder still to get support in the myriad of ways that students and teachers need it. This concern for her students will keep Jamie producing culinary delights, as well as provide happiness in a different avenue for many people in her life. She will keep endeavoring to do her best as an educator, but is glad to have an outlet that keeps her in better balance with stress relieving capabilities.
Jamie is a fantastic teacher, and great baker. Trust me, I have experienced her skills at both. If you are looking for a tasty treat for that special occasion, Jamie may be the person you seek. For those of you that are blessed with having her for your teacher, or as your child’s teacher, never hesitate to tell her the great impact she has had on your life or your loved ones, teachers need our support now, more than ever.
Individual Aspect: Marianna Fosson, Kindness
Posted on May 27, 2024
I swear, she was 5’9.
When I was a kid, I was fortunate to attend 4-H camp at Tar Hollow State Park. I attended with many people I know, that I still know as adults. I did not keep in contact with any of our camp counselors, but I had read news articles about them over the years, and this gave me glimpses of their lives from a very distant view point. This by no way gave me any indication of what their lives consisted of, just things that were noteworthy of them, or to someone else. One day, I was at the salon when I saw one of my favorite camp counselors, and I thought, holy sh*t, that’s Marianna Fosson!
If you have ever seen Marianna, then y0u know she is beautiful. When she was a teenager, she was beautiful then, too. What you may not know, is that she was, and still is, extremely kind. I refer to myself and my friends, at that time of 4-H camp, as little kids, even though we are talking 9-13, because the older kids were the counselors, and they were all 15-18. I digress, Marianna was a favorite counselor of all of us younger kids at camp. She was beautiful, and we girls envied that, the boys drooled over her, but she was fun, made camp fun for us, and she was so sweet and kind to us campers. Basically, my impression of her was very favorable, and I had a bit of an idolization as a youngster, but it was not misplaced.
When I moved back to Chillicothe, I started following many pages on FB to reacquaint myself with the area, the happenings, and the people. One of the pages I followed was Build Chillicothe, which Marianna’s late father, John, had started. I love people that are invested in their community, that want to help others grow or increase in awareness, and that aim to give back to those around them. Yet again, I found myself interacting with Marianna, to see what Business Focus posts I could share and not share.
I found myself at the salon with her again one day, and I thought I should just friend request her, even if I did have some hero worship of her as a kid. Marianna beat me to it, and sent me a request. The child in me felt very accepted, which sounds silly, but I enjoyed the humor of it, and I figured there was deeper reasoning behind our need to be reconnected. Little did I know.
I found that reason not too long ago, or so I thought. Marianna posted something one day, and I was able to tell her the same story I have told you here. I truly thought that was the purpose of bringing us together, and even when we made a coffee date after, I was still under the same impression. When Marianna met me in the parking lot, I chuckled internally, as I stood taller than her. Me, the kid in me, always thought this stunning creature was 5’9. I later told Marianna about this musing, and she laughed so hard, said no, I am only 5’2!!! We still laugh about this.
Back to the coffee date. As I listened, I learned so much about Marianna. I learned about her life, the struggles, the challenges and the heartbreaks, the victories too. I realized I was not meant to have idolization of her, but to relate to her as a woman, to share our stories and see ourselves in each other. We learned we had so very much in common, that we share similar stories in some ways, and that we truly understand those stories for, and with, each other. I am still amazed that life put us together to create a friendship as adults, that is based on two differing experiences as kids. I did not know I needed Marianna Fosson in my life, but I see that I do. We are both on healing journeys, alike, but so different, and yet the timing could not be more perfect. Friendships are an amazing thing, when you meet each other where you stand, and Marianna and I definitely do that.
I told Marianna at one point, that she was very kind to me as a child, which her mother Cris was not surprised by in the least, and that she now, as an adult, has provided something for me too. I am a firm believer in returning kindness, and so I asked Marianna to come in for a photo session with her lovely mother Cris. The session was full of emotion, joyous laughter and fun. We had a spectacular time, and I could not be more pleased with the results of our efforts. So, what is Marianna’s individual aspect that makes her so special? It is her kindness. Through everything, through the years, she is and has remained kind, and that is something we could all use a little more of.
Business Focus: Joe Snyder, Realtor
Posted on May 26, 2024
Life holds many transitions for us, one of which is buying real estate. We buy property for investment, for resale, and mainly for residency. We take a dwelling, and we make it our home, we find what’s best for us, what ticks our boxes of wants/needs, and where we can see ourselves growing, finding comfort, and love being daily. If we are lucky, we find a great realtor that guides us on this journey, that works for our best interest, and that helps us find the place we will call HOME.
Joe Snyder, realtor with The Amanda Wilson Team at ERA Martin Associates, Gallipolis, and I recently sat down and had a great conversation about his journey on becoming a realtor, what he loves about real estate, and how he came to naturally transition from his former career of serving people, to how he is doing that in a new capacity. Let’s learn more about Joe and his journey!
Joe recently became a licensed realtor after spending many years of a career in cosmetology. He has always been in pursuit of bettering himself, beautifying his clients, and delivering the best service possible for those that sought out his talents. Joe not only had a styling shop for his business, but provided a space for others to be able to conduct their related businesses too. He is an entrepreneur, has been involved in other pursuits in addition to his hair company, but real estate has been calling to him for several years now, and he recently decided to take that passion full time, with The Amanda Wilson Team at ERA.
When I asked Joe what he loves about real estate, he spoke with bright eyes and animation. He loves the idea and execution of helping people find their first place for their family to call home, to be able to grow their lives and family in. He loves the pursuit and acquisition of finding the perfect property for his clients, seeing the joy this brings his clients, and knowing how this will better their lives. This isn’t to say that Joe only loves the transaction of purchasing new property or upgrading property, he also knows the importance of helping sellers be able to downsize, to assist in financial shifts, and to relieve the possible burdens that property owners face. Joe comprehends the dual realities of real estate, and very much looks to serve and assist those that require good guidance in these varying situations.
It’s fun and rewarding to help people get excited about such a large life investment.
Joe has been a life long resident of Southern Ohio, growing up in McArthur, and currently residing in Wellston with his husband of 9 years, Zach. Joe and Zach enjoy Jeeping and spending time with their pups, as well as travel and home improvement projects. They recently put their home equity to use, and did some major remodeling to their home and property. Joe cited that when you love your neighborhood, made a good investment with your own property purchase, you can take and make the equity work for you to not only revitalize your property, but to love your home even more. He is all about loving the place you call home, and for him it is cozy, but not cluttered, sleek but not bare, inviting but he’s not asking you to move in!
Joe mentioned several times that while as a stylist, he served as a bit of a therapist, but that he fulfills that role as a realtor too. He loves helping people, whether that is in accomplishing and creating something new for themselves and their family, or aiding in tumultuous times and providing relief. Real estate transactions can be joyous as well as traumatic, and Joe not only recognizes that, but is fully prepared to walk with his clients in those times, and the in between places too. Joe may be relatively new to real estate, but he is definitely a seasoned professional when it comes to serving his clients to the best of his ability, and that is something he loves to do!
If you are looking to have a real estate transaction, Joe would be a great asset in assisting you and your needs. He is able to assist locally, nationally and potentially internationally. The Amanda Wilson Team at ERA is highly capable, knowledgeable, and eager to help serve your needs, and Joe is right at home with the team!
New Feature…a Hint!
Posted on April 15, 2024
Well hello, gorgeous!
The sun is up, the weather is warm and the day is a total joy! Did I mention I have a secret? Well I do, and let me tell you, I am so geeked up about it!!! I am so stoked, in fact, that I created an event on FB about it! I sure did.
There is a burning desire I have, and I am not sitting idly by. Oh no. I am jumping like a gazelle, ready to leap and bound, running toward something, no longer away from what is meant to be. I am ready to turn up and turn out something else amazing! Want a clue?
INDIVIDUAL: of or for a particular person…
This word definition, according to Oxford Languages, says something but nothing all at once, yet here we are at your clue. There may be some missing context, you didn’t really think I would give it all away, did you? I thought not.
Stay tuned, New Feature is coming soon!!!
Individual Aspect welcomes Cassie McHenry
Posted on April 15, 2024
Welcome to the very first installment of Individual Aspect! I am thrilled to have you along for the inaugural post, we have a great first guest, and I am stoked to tell you more about her! Are. You. Ready???
Cassie McHenry is a light, bright, joyful, inspiring, and beautiful. She is fun, sunny, and warm. Did I mention she can sing and play a guitar? Cassie has been singing in church for years, recently, she started to sing in a more visible way, she is learning to go solo.
Cassie was singing with a band for a while, when family took precedence, so she opted for a short break from singing. When the time was right to come back, Cassie decided to step completely out of her comfort zone, and to go solo. She went from being a vocalist, to picking up a guitar to enhance her musical skills, taking a big leap of faith for herself. Cassie is self taught on the guitar, and had some guidance from her husband Aaron, who is also a self taught guitar player. I was very impressed to hear her play, she does not seem a novice but a seasoned musician, and when she added her vocals, I was at my own personal concert with Cassie McHenry.
This woman is amazing, she inspires me in so many ways. I saw Cassie stepping out solo, sitting front and center with her guitar, singing for friends and strangers, and I felt inspired. I thought about the courage being up front, singing and playing by yourself must take. I saw the joy and happiness on Cassie’s face, as well as her friends’ and family’s, at hearing her sing and play. When I asked Cassie what her favorite part of performing was, she said that she loves providing joy, and when she looks at people enjoying her music, seeing the happiness on the sea of faces, it gives her joy to provide that joy for others. How amazing is that?
Cassie informed me that she was really hesitant to start singing in a band, feeling like singing at church was one thing, but to perform for others was a totally different thing. With the support of family and friends, she took the chance and now sees an entirely different path forward with her music. She feels the impact that she can have on others’ lives through her tunes, and she is here for it!
Cassie has some big goals for her musical path, I love that she does! We talked about those goals, steps she is taking to get there, and how she is enjoying the process of it all. She has a big plan and isn’t afraid to say it, she is well on her way to being the musician she is capable of being! We talked about some keywords that describe her, such as bold, lively, fun, joyful, and I must say those are spot on! Cassie is a woman that is taking a chance on herself, she keeps her family close to her heart, and she knows what comes first in her life. I love that for her, and that she shares that with all of us.
Cassie, thank you for inspiring me, for sharing your talents, and for saying yes when I asked you to come in for a session. This takes courage to open up, to be photographed and to let the world see you. You are beautiful my friend, thank you for taking the chance on my sun ray promptings!
Business Focus: Lacey Nichole Hair
Posted on April 10, 2024
Welcome back, everyone!
Today, I want to introduce you to a beautiful soul, Lacey Powell of Lacey Nichole Hair, located inside Making Waves Hair & Color Studio, downtown Chillicothe. I have had the pleasure of knowing Lacey since we were kids, in fact we rode the bus for an hour, daily, together for years. You get a good understanding of a person by riding back roads in a bumpy, loud bus with lots of other kids, and I am happy to say that Lacey is, not surprisingly, the same kind person she was when we were kids. Lacey is one of those people that you meet and she puts your soul at ease. She is a positive sunny person, but she can sit in companionable silence with you too, and that is a phenomenal combo! My time with Lacey was a full circle moment, bringing me back to my childhood knowing her good heart, and even better, it provided the opportunity to celebrate the adult, mother and entrepreneur she has become. It was a pure joy moment, one to share with you, so let me acquaint you better with Lacey and how she arrived at this place on the journey of her life.
@lacey_nichole_hair
Lacey has always had a passion for updos and highlighting, so what better time to follow that desire than during the pandemic. Lacey was in another industry prior to the Covid madness, but she found an opportunity for herself to set out on a new path with cosmetology school, and she eagerly took it. I was reconnected with Lacey through social media when she was in school, so it has been a completely amazing experience watching her skills build through her training to where she is now. To witness someone take a chance and make a huge change in their lives, is a blessing, inspiration, and motivation for us all. It truly lets us all know it’s not just possible, but rewarding too. My daughter Brooke and I were always on “Lacey Watch”, loving the transformations she was presenting her followers, including us on her journey for herself, for her clients, and her family too. It is really a cool thing to be watching Lacey’s career from schooling to the present, and how she transforms her clients’ hair. Have you seen her work? FANTASTIC!!
Lacey surprised me when she said it has been 3 years since she started her business, Lacey Nichole Hair. She completed school and took to the hair industry so seamlessly, it doesn’t seem that it has been that long, but the magic she works behind the chair makes you think she has been at this way longer than those 3 years. Her blonding techniques blow me away, her clients walk away with such glossy, healthy tresses, and the way that must make her clients feel, is absolutely priceless. Lacey loves providing a great transformation through her blonding services, and will feature some new services with extensions in 2024, too! Be on the look out for what exciting things she has in store!
@lacey_nichole_hair
One thing for certain, Lacey has some good advice for anyone with a budding business…or a seasoned business, at that. “Comparison is the thief of joy, growing requires failing.”-Lacey
@lacey_nichole_hair
Lacey was very fortunate to serve as an assistant for her mentor, Kristen Carbert Richmond, when first starting out. Lacey credits Kristen for some of the most invaluable information and tidbits that serve her so well to this day. She picked up some excellent tips and tricks from her mentor, but Lacey cites that she aspires to be like Kristen in every way. That is well deserved praise, and proves the importance and relevance of having a great mentor when first starting a trade, or business. Lacey pointed out the importance and relevance of constant learning and mentorship in her industry, she feels this helps her stay ahead of the curve by educating herself on the next new thing, improving her established skills and expanding her knowledge base. This gives her confidence to provide the absolute best service for her clients, and it is evidenced in her work!
@lacey_nichole_hair
You can tell that Lacey is a native to Ross County, she loves meeting new people, and loves her community. She feels that she would not have had the success or support anywhere else, and says Ross County has grown her business from the ground up! Lacey loves being part of the booming growth and success downtown Chillicothe is experiencing, she finds it refreshing and fun, it endears her roots to her even more. If you would like to know more about Lacey and how she serves the Chillicothe and Ross County area, click on any image of her to be connected to her FB page! Make sure to schedule your appointment with her soon!
One thing for certain, Lacey has some good advice for anyone with a budding business…or a seasoned business at that. “Comparison is the thief of joy, growing requires failing.”-Lacey
Behind the Lens
The Photographist Life 