Finding Inspiration

You guys, running a business is hard.

While I wish I could spend all of my time shooting, the vast majority of my time is spent trying to decide the best way to market, researching the best products to offer to my clients, creating a social media strategy, paying bills, learning and growing my technical skills, writing emails, convincing myself (unsuccessfully) to blog, maintaining a website, editing for hours on end (which can be pretty exciting!), filing sales tax, and a bunch of other random tasks. Some sweet day I will hire an assistant to help run this, but until then, it is all me. Owning a business can be incredibly challenging and, at times, isolating, but it can also bring so much joy and fulfillment.

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of what brought me to this point to begin with.

I'm a creative.

I create. It's what I do.

Except when I have all of that other stuff to do, too.

As a result, my creative juices have been feeling a little off lately, so I've decided to start a couple of personal projects that have no other purpose than for me to shoot just for myself. Don't get me wrong-I love, love, LOVE working with my incredible clients, and I am convinced that photographing women is my calling! But working on something, just for yourself, brings a different kind of joy. A pause from the norm, a shoot with no schedule, no deadline, no expectations. A chance to step back, breathe, and remember the wonder and curiosity that came when I got my first camera. A chance to experiment and try something completely different from what's expected.

This afternoon, I took a little time to work on one of my personal projects. And while I haven't pulled the pictures off of my memory card yet, I feel inspired. I feel that creativity start whirring back to life. And I'm realizing that in order to best create for my clients, I have to take the time to create for myself, too.

So while I sometimes feel overwhelmed with running this business, there isn't anything else I'd rather dedicate a career to. My camera lets me create magic, not only for myself, but for others, too.

And it's really hard to top that.

The moral of the story is this:

No matter how much you love what you do, make sure to take the time to do something just for yourself every now and then. 

Mother's Day Giveaway

I am so excited to be giving away a portrait session to one amazing mother for Mother's Day this year!  Here are all of the important details:

• The winner will receive:
  • Photo shoot style consultation
  • Professional hair and makeup
  • Access to the studio wardrobe
  • Custom photo shoot
  • In person reveal
  • $300 gift card to be used toward the purchase of prints or a package
• All nominations must be submitted  by 11:59 on Friday, May 12
• Nominations must be posted in the comments section of the Facebook post announcing the giveaway
• Winner will be announced via Facebook on Saturday, May 13
• Images from the photoshoot will be available to purchase but are not included in the photo shoot
• Session must be scheduled by June 30, 2017
• Contract and model release must be signed at the time of the consultation
• Gift card is not redeemable for cash

Ipsy: January Glam Bag

So here's the deal. I like girly things. I like sparkles, the occasional pair of heels (much to my husband's dismay), and I like playing with makeup (despite my lack of skills in that department). As a result, I tend to wander aimlessly down cosmetic aisles, randomly plucking a lipstick color that I think just might work for my coloring, and then find myself disappointed the second it touches my lips. Tell me that I'm not the only person with a bunch of makeup that isn't a good color. (And that's why I love photographing women's portraiture-it's a day full of makeup, gorgeous hair, and amazing outfits.)

When Birchbox came out a few years ago, I started seeing the haul that my Facebook friends were getting, and quickly signed up. The first box was awesome. There were flavored bags of tea, cute little makeup samples, and chocolate. It was a success. Slowly, my boxes seemed to become less and less "me," and the samples became tinier and more like leftovers that needed a home. Or they really thought I had terrible skin because they kept sending face serums, anti-wrinkle cream, cleaners, exfoliants, and other (semi-important but incredibly boring) samples.

Then Ipsy came out and there was a ton of buzz--you had to be on a waiting list to even get a subscription! Obviously, it must be legit.

Since Birchbox had been letting me down, I decided to make the switch. After all, they were both $10 a month and offered the same general idea, so why not? Once I filled out my style profile (which asks for your eye color, skin tone, hair color, makeup style, etc.) and got off the waiting list, we were in business. Right off the bat, Ipsy was so much more impressive than Birchbox. The samples were larger, some even full size, and you could tell that they considered my profile in choosing the samples that were sent.

I've been a subscriber since July of 2014, so I'd say that they're doing something right. In that time, I've found my two favorite mascaras, have gotten gorgeous eyeshadows, several eyeliners (liquid, crayon, and pencil), and a bunch of other fun goodies. Bonus-the sample sizes are so much bigger (some are full-sized products) and more in tune with my style, that I find myself buying fewer cosmetics (other than my foundation and mascara, which I'm committed to) because I've got so many options to choose from! And the bags that they come in each month are perfect for traveling-I use one for makeup, one for hair accessories, one for jewelry, etc.

I've considered cancelling my subscription several times, but there's something about getting that shiny pink package in the mail each month that I just can't seem to hit that cancel button. I'll admit, there are many unused samples in my bathroom closet. Some are there because they just aren't my style and others are sitting in the wings waiting for me to use up another product that I'm using now (like the bronzer that's about to finally see its day in the sun).

My January bag showed up last week, and since I've been thinking about blogging about Ipsy for months, I decided that there was no day like the present.

Take a peek!

1. Trust Fund Beauty Lip Gloss in Method to the Madness

I have been on the hunt for years for a lip color that doesn't make me look like a clown, and while I wish this was a lipstick instead of a gloss, I really love the color. It's a beautiful soft pink that just adds a hint of color without looking too over the top. It's also full-sized which is an added bonus. I approve.

Verdict: I approve.

2. Smashbox Cosmetics Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35

I'll admit that I didn't fully read the label on this one and assumed it was a primer, so I was a bit thrown off when I opened the tube and saw that it was tinted. Smashbox makes great stuff, and this isn't an exception. It provides a light moisturized with a subtle tint, perfect for those days when you don't want to mess with foundation and powder. Teeny tiny sample. 

Verdict: I'll use it, but probably won't buy it.

3. Pacifica BLUSHIOUS in Wildrose

So this one hasn't really been used yet (other than a quick spot on my hand), so I can't give much of an opinion. My initial impression is that the color is darker than I would normally wear, but it has a peach/gold undertone to it that may make it more suited to bronzer than blush.

Verdict: I'll give it a shot when I finish up my current blush, but not holding my breath.

4. Global Beauty Care Dead Sea Wash Off Mask

This one hasn't gotten a full blown test yet (mainly because I'm too antsy to sit for 15 minutes and then have to wash something off). I did a quick patch on my hand, and it did feel softer after I washed it off, but washing it off was kind of gross. Face masks aren't usually a joy to take off, but since this one is mud, it turns into more mud, and it's super slimy. I do like that the pouch is reclosable so you don't have to use it all at once.

Verdict: This will definitely be used, but I don't typically buy masks for myself.

5. Pretty Woman Nail Polish in I'm Not a Ballerina

I wanted to like this one. I really did. I've tried to buy a pale pink in the past and ended up with a color that reminded me of Barbie shoes. I painted my thumb first just to see how it looked on...and to me, it looks more lavender than pink. I typically wear darker nail polishes, so I knew that I might not like this since it was so pastel. It's a nice spring color, and it only took two coats to get full coverage, but I'm not a fan. 

Verdict: Maybe in a different color, but not a fan of this one.

The thing that I enjoy about getting my monthly Ipsy bag is that I get to try things that I normally wouldn't and if I don't like them, I'm only out $10. The only thing is this bag that I definitely won't use (unless it's to paint my nieces' nails) is the nail polish. 

Interested in trying Ipsy for yourself? I'd love it you used my referral link to sign up! (Don't worry, it doesn't tell me who used the code. I don't like people knowing if I use their referral link...but maybe that's weird.

If you have an Ipsy subscription, tell me what you think! Do you love it? What has been the best sample that you've gotten?

Also, if you made it this far, I have 5 invites to send out that will get you off of the waiting list and you'll get a free glam bag! Just send an email to laura@laurawebb.me with "Glam Bag!" as the subject! (There are only 5 available, so once they're gone, they're gone!)

What's new?

You may have heard that I've been making some changes around here, and it just so happens that those rumors are true! In addition to adding glamour to my repertoire I've also changed up my product offerings a bit, and I think you're going to love it!

To find out what changes have been made, watch the video below and tell me what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3yDBvFk_6Q

You are enough.

Every day we are bombarded with people telling us how we should look, how we should dress, what we should be buying--the list is endless. Some days it seems like the sole purpose of the media is to tell us what we're doing wrong and how we should change ourselves to fit whatever mold they're selling.

There is a constant message being sent to us that we are simply not enough as we are.

I'm here to tell you...

You are enough.

You are perfect as you are right now.

Stop telling yourself otherwise. Stop comparing yourself to your best friend, your neighbors, that blogger that you follow who seems to really have it all together...

I stumbled across a video today of a woman who was giving a motivation speech of sorts, and her topic was "You are enough." Normally I would watch something like this for all of 30 seconds before moving on to something else, but her words really caught my attention.

It is so easy for all of us to fall into the trap of feeling completely inadequate; I know for me as a business owner, it's something that is a constant struggle. Am I good enough? Am I a good enough friend? Am I good enough for my family? Are my words good enough to share?

But that's the thing.

I am enough.

Take a second and say it to yourself.

I am enough.

It's kind of powerful, right?

We should be telling ourselves this every day--we are enough!

So the next time you start to feel those feelings of inadequacy creeping in, here's what I want you to do.

Stop.

And repeat after me,

"I am enough."

If you're anything like me, this isn't going to stick right away. It's going to take time, and I know I'll need a constant reminder.

I know that this is something I'm going to need in front of my face as much as possible. I created a quick iPhone wallpaper to use as a reminder, and I'd love to share it with you if you feel like this is something you need, too.

Click here to download the wallpaper

Is this something that you struggle with, too? Let me know your thoughts and please share this with anyone who might need to hear that they are enough!