Enthusiastically Yours, Red Alchemy

In my humble experience of the last 16 months, life as a mama is demanding. It's not rocket science, any person with a good head on their shoulders could do a good job. However, it is a constant relegation of your needs and agenda to the 2nd tier (or 3rd, or 4th...). Time to yourself or to chores and other things you need to get done is usually scarce and a lot of the time, unpredictable. When you finally get those golden opportunities, sometimes you need it to recoup and rest instead of tackle the items that have been lingering on your to-do lists. When I try to do something while Maddi is not napping, what used to take 15 minutes now takes 45 minutes or longer. There is no "dashing out for a bit;" a lot of the time, getting out of the house means changing a diaper, packing food, bundling her up and securing her in the carrier or the stroller. That would take at least 10 minutes before I can even step out of the door. And if I have to drive, add another 10 minutes. Having been the kind of person that had multiple things on the go, validated by every time I crossed an item on my to-do lists (which I used to make and update on a daily basis)... this was something I had to get used to. It has definitely been frustrating at times, but it has also taught me to slow down.

Although I didn't go back to work after maternity leave, I have been preparing to launch my photography business. There is a lot of work to be done when starting a business; at least, if you want to build properly. Without the luxury of long periods of uninterrupted time, everything takes a lot longer and requires better organization. I know I am leaving a lot of loose ends, I need to get my butt in gear and get organized! I'm not complaining, I LOVE my time with my babe and it's a compromise I'm willing to make. Although I'm not able to devote full days to this endeavor, I sometimes get 2-3 hour stretches during the day while Maddi naps, and usually another 2-3 hours after her bedtime.

Last night was the 3rd night in a row that I stayed up till 3~3.30am. Apparently, it was a full moon on the first night and a full moon affects sleep (who knew?)... I guess the last two nights were after effects?

The good thing is, I spent that awake time productively. I watched all the videos from a Sue Bryce workshop that I purchased last year, and my brain just couldn't stop working, thinking about products and services that I want to offer, conjuring up the value that I want to provide my clients, and just overall big picture stuff.

All that brainstorming and planning has gotten me soooo pumped and excited! Can't wait to see what they all result to!

Embarking on an entrepreneurship journey isn't just about learning to sell and market... a host of personal growth also comes with it. The way I think about a lot of things need to change. I knew that from before, but now I am starting to really know! I'm equally nervous and excited!

There are a lot of things to learn, but Sue Bryce said that if you are enthusiastic about your business and what it is that you do, you will attract people. They will just naturally be drawn to your energy, they would want what you have. She also challenged her students to do one thing everyday to market and promote their business. Since the day I decided to go into business and not put Maddi in daycare, I wanted to make sure Maddi's socialization is not compromised.... which means I have to be sociable myself. I have been talking up strangers on the street, at the cafe, in the elevator, at the play time we go to and yes, even in the parents' room at the mall! But since the day that I got my business cards, I have been putting myself out there and giving them out, telling people about what I do. It definitely takes me out of my comfort zone a bit, but it does get easier the more I do it. And surprisingly, I haven't had a rejection yet! Everyone has been receptive; encouraging and excited for me at best, and at the very least, they take my card. I hope they don't bin it after they've walked a few steps away from me! I don't think so, my cards are gorgeous! =)

So far, the key to maintaining this enthusiasm has been the time I spent dreaming up big picture stuff about my business, breaking it down into small steps and planning the details, and TAKING ACTION! The first one is essential in order to know where to navigate, the second one keeps your goals attainable and lastly, taking action and achieving goals will feed your self-confidence and keep you going and growing!

Something eerie in a good, "The Secret" kind of way happened to me the past couple of days. It's too soon to share, I don't want to jinx it... but I promise to share when things play out, it'll be a better story to tell =)

With all that said, I hope tonight's sleep comes a lot earlier than 3.30 in the morning!

Love Yourself Now!

There are many great photographers out there; but to date, the one that has inspired and affected me most is Sue Bryce. Her agenda and her passion has resonated with me so much; her talent and the beauty of her work are inspiring, the effectiveness of her tips and tricks so encouraging.

In our media-saturated world today, women are bombarded with all kinds of messages telling them why they aren't good enough. Too fat, too thin, too plain, too dolled-up, too tall, too short, too girly, too sporty, the list goes on. As a photographer, I often tell my clients to relax in front of the camera. Yet pick me up from behind my camera and put me in front of it... I'm just as uneasy and uncomfortable. I'm not beautiful enough, I need to lose 20 pounds, I have an awkward smile... yada yada yada.

One thing I do love about myself... I gobble up ideas and material on how to live better, how to be better and happier. And many of them say although there is always room for improvement, love yourself today! Be grateful because there is good to celebrate! Focus on that and more of it will come.

I've been working on being more confident - in general and as an artist entrepreneur especially with valuing my time and talent, saying/doing what I want and taking less shit from people, being more present and grasping what really matters, weeding through the fluff and being more real, being kind and finding ways to contribute, going after my dreams with passion and decluttering my life of energy-sapping negatives that drag me down, inviting more of what serves me and getting rid of what doesn't in my life. There is much work to be done, I am going to be a constant work in progress. However, I think the first thing I need to tackle is learning to take care of myself first, or I wouldn't be in any position to take care of anybody else.

Self love. Love yourself now. Love your weaknesses as well as your strengths. Love parts of you that need improvement as well as parts of you that you are proud of. Celebrate your beauty today, everyday!

Following in Sue's footsteps, I want to be a champion for women who at any moment have felt not good enough. I am determined to help empower women by finding their beauty and showing it to them through my photographic work. Do something good for yourself, treat yourself to a glamour portrait session and let me show you how beautiful you are. I look forward to working with you!