One to One Photography Mentor Sessions

I think i've been asked to do a workshop more times than i can really count. and I do LOVE me a good workshop (though in all truth, i haven't actually ever attended one). It seems like it would be a natural fit, my second love (aside from photography) is teaching. I have 10+ years experience doing so. I teach masters classes at WPPI. 

but dear ones... this is where my heart is. One to One mentorships. 

because this girl came in this weekend, and we sat down for almost 5 hours and hashed out a unique business plan that fits her business uniquely- to help her stand out from the sea of photographers in the area in which she lives. This can't really be done in a workshop setting because of the inherent problem of other people being there. it is a plan i was so excited to discuss with her that i literally had to grip the table when she came in and i may or may not have had sweat stains in my arm pits.  

because no one has this business plan. no one. and it's going to grow her a massive business that has worth to not only her, but so many other people. 

anyway, i dont mean to be all secretive. but i do mean to tell you how much i love working with other photographers and helping them at whatever stage their business or their photography technique level is.  Juliana has only been in business for a year, and she is killing it.  like, expect her to be punching through glass ceilings and speaking at conferences. she knows the value of education, and is currently filling her schedule with mentorships and conferences and workshops- a woman on a mission. 

also, this is her adorable studio manager.  who, i mistook for actually being FROM portland. she also has a bird tattoo on her writst, because, you know, put a bird on it. 

check her work out: http://julianalauryphotography.com/  

And, if you are interested in setting up a mentor session you can contact me through my website above, or just shoot me an email at lexia@lexiafrank.com to get more details

Lets talk about Flexibility for a second...

i had a different blog post schedule for this morning, but we're going to save that for another day, because I think we all need a gentle reminder about flexibility. 

I solo parent 90 percent of the time while my husband travels for work, so it is no small feat to get two young children dressed, lunches packed, homework completed, off to school, dinner in the slow cooker, dogs exercised, house cleaned, and business ran.  It's an even bigger feat to make it to a yoga class for my own personal health. 

but sometimes you just need to make the effort., and this morning, i did.  I completed all those tasks above, all before 8am, so i could make it to my 8:30am yoga class. but the teacher didn't show. 

people were irate. normally no one talks in yoga, we don't even make eye contact. but this morning, it seemed like people were about to take up arms and start a revolution together. legit pissed. 

and i get it, because it's hard for me to get there too. And i was also a dance instructor for 10 years, and i was never late to a class, let alone MISSED a class.  but as i quietly sat there stretching as the minutes ticked by-  15 minutes turning into 20 minutes- and listening to everyone complain, and then the complaints started snowballing into complaints of other teachers, which snowballed into gossiping- the whole irony of the situation hit me. 

Everything is what you make it. 

(this relates to photography... hang with me...)

if you're there for yoga practice, no one is stopping you from practicing yoga. perhaps instead of being angry that no one is there to serve you like you thought, perhaps this is a chance for you to listen to your own body and stretch and strengthen what your OWN body is calling for instead of what the teacher guides you to do.  Perhaps this is your opportunity to teach your very first yoga class-  to yourself. Furthermore, lest we forget, there could have been a catastrophic event that prevented this instructor from being in class. what he deserves most is positive thoughts and kindness. i've found that most people generally are good, if we only give them the benefit of a doubt. 

it was no surprise that the 5 people who didn't say a single negative word were the same ones who stayed for the entire hour and created their own practice, and the nay-sayers were the ones who left. 

So lets just all take a minute and work on our flexibility. not the bendable-body kind, but the emotional and mental kind.  

if your wedding day doesn't go how you envisioned it, lets be flexible and look at the good. if your child cries during our photo session, they could probably benefit from having an emotionally flexible parent. 

have you ever done something you regretted? have you ever been late? have you ever let down other people as a result of your mistake? I'm sure we've all been there. heck, i've already regretted no less than 5 times i yelled at my children un-necessarily this morning when they could have actually benefitted from a kinder and more understanding parent. 

And what's more, lets work on being braver to SAY SOMETHING when we see this kind of stuff snowballing.  how i wish i would have said some of these words at the yoga class this morning. perhaps it could have brought everyone to a more peaceful place. 

side story: yesterday i witnessed an outrageous incident of road rage. and i had the opportunity to roll down my window and tell the person on the receiving end of the road-rage not to worry, that he wasn't a bad driver, and that it was uncalled for.  but i chickened out. i pulled up next to his car, looked at him.... but lost my nerve.  why is it so hard to reach out to strangers and be kind? why is it easier to spread rage and anger instead of peace and kindness? 

anyway, that's what i'm working on. being braver about being kind. and also being flexible- mind and body.  

new years resolution 2 weeks in.  

and, so we're not photo-less during this post, here are a bunch of behind the scenes reality photos of what it's like to fully gut and renovate a house with two small children and two dogs and a husband who clearly needs to tighten his pants when he leans over to load the dishwasher (heck... i'm just happy he loads the dishwasher).  because since we're already getting all honest in this post, i might as well post the not-so-pretty side to my life.  

All shot on film, medium format black and white. 

Portland Oregon Boudoir Photography- a boudoir session with no makeup

I've been wanting to do a shoot for as long as I can remember, with someone wearing absolutely no makeup.  I don't know what my hangup with this is. I'm not anti-makeup. I own it, I wear it. I advise my clients to wear makeup, contour, add extra blush, definitely add some lip color, etc. I refer them out to professional make-up artists. but, there is something about being in this industry where I need to remind myself every now and again that natural beauty is so, so, so beautiful.  

we don't need to pose, we don't need to sit up straight. come as you are, just as you are. we can slouch, we can just BE.  and it is OKAY.  

and now, we can go back to our regularly scheduled programing of posing for photos to avoid double chins, fat arms, and awkward faces. but lets just not forget.... double chins and fat arms and awkward faces are sometimes okay too, mmmk?    

also, I suffer from what is called 'cultural envy' when I see women with hair like this.  I realize the 'grass is always greener' but c'mon. what i wouldn't give.