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Calling All Local Yogis! Last Minute Mini Photo Session Opportunity!

January 22, 2015

RI Yoga Photography; yoga photographer rhode island

HEAR-YE, HEAR YE! Calling all local yogis!

Boy, have I got a morsel of goodness to share with you!

Let me tell ya a wee story about one of my favorite peeps in all the lands.

[Spoiler alert: this story ends with a rare mini session opportunity for YOU!]

You may or may not be familiar with this shining star in our local yoga community: a one Ms Jessie Dwiggins.

Not familiar? Let's get to know her, shall we?

Here are some photos I took for her kick-arse holistic yoga teacher/nutrition counseling website, www.jessiedwiggins.com.

This was the day I fell in love with her. It was November in Rhode Island. It was very cold. I kept asking her to flick her hair in the wind from the edge of a windy cliff and not once did she even look like she WANTED to complain that it was REALLY FLIPPING COLD.

Impressive.

They say that how you do anything is how you do everything, and through that whole shoot, Jessie stayed steady in radiating an energy of enthusiasm, light, and great heart.

We had so much fun, we decided to work together again.

Here are some photos of Jessie and her rockstar husband Brian and their beloved pupp, Cassidy...who is right now reading this post from doggy heaven and showering sloppy puppy kisses upon us all.

I'm so grateful to have met Cassidy and was touched by how thoroughly she was loved. Let's pause a moment to enjoy those sloppy kisses she's sending our way.

The point I'm trying to make in humanizing Jessie by showing you these photos is: if you met Jessie, you would really really (really really really) love her.

And if you had a chance to get involved in anything she was doing, you'd really want to.

[No pressure, Jessie.]

Not for Nothin', But It Might Also Be Worth Noting:

You can probably tell from these photos that Jessie is fabulous not only because she REALLY IS FABULOUS but also because she happens to work with a photographer who specializes in CATCHING PEOPLES' LIGHT.

The photographer is a very important part of the equation for a radiant photo, too.

I'll let you read between the lines regarding which photographer I'm alluding to here.

[Hint: I'm talking about ME here. ME is the person I am complimenting. That is my only hint for you today.]

Why am I telling you about Jessie?

My friends. Jessie is working on a very exciting project. To my great pleasure, she has hired me as her photographer.

For this project, I intend to capture Jessie in a teaching context. In a beautiful space.

We have the radiant teacher all set.

We have the beautiful space all set.

We just need the peeps to pose as students. We need to get the "students" all set.

THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN.

*************

WANNA JOIN US??

Check out this link for all the info you'll need.

Or contact me with any questions.

BUT, FOR REAL, YOU WILL WANT TO HURRY THOUGH:

...because we only have FOUR slots available.

By the time you're reading this, some of those may have sold.

This event is ONE WEEK from today - on Thursday, 1/29/15!

Grab your spot while the grabbin's good, m'friends!

Now get on over to the detail page, lovahs!

Can't WAIT to see you there.

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CLASS ADDED! February Photography 101 Class (Last 101 class of the year!)

January 14, 2015

RI Photography class - photography workshop at Bellani Maternity

Great news for fellow photography-lovers!

By popular demand, we've added a second (and final) Photography 101 class to the 2015 line-up! If you missed the first opportunity, here's your chance!

WHAT: Photography 101 Class with Bethany

WHEN: Sunday, February 8th, 2015 1-3:30pm

WHERE: Best Parenting Shop Ever (Bellani Maternity, 1276 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick, RI)

WHY: Because you have a nice camera and you’re not using it to it’s potential. Or you love photography but feel intimidated by it. Or generally you are just awesome and enjoy hanging out with other awesome people in awesome places.

HOW MUCH: $99

HOW TO SIGN UP: Click the "Buy Now" paypal link below or call Bellani ((401) 822-9900) or email Bethany. You have many options.

I JAM PACK as much good info and light-heartedness as I can possibly pack into these two-and-a-half hours! Don't miss it!

See the grey box titled "KIND WORDS" at the bottom of this post for a few of the many awesome reviews from previous attendees!

************

FAQ’s

Can I give this as a gift to someone?

Absa-freakin-lutely. You can and you SHOULD give this as a gift to someone. Just say the word and we’ll even give ya a gift card to give ‘em. How ’bout that?

Aperture, shutter speed, and the rest of those shenanigans are SO CONFUSING. Do you like to make things confusing?

I’m so glad you asked, Friendly-Question-Asker! No, I do not like to make things confusing. I like to make things fun. I took a similar photography class at the ripe young age of 15, and the teacher made things so confusing that I didn’t attempt to learn photography again until almost another 15 years had passed. I won’t do that to you.

Do I need to have a fancy camera to take this class?

No, the concepts we’ll be covering will apply to all photography captured by all cameras, including iPhones. If you do not have a camera, though, the class is going to leave you WANTING a camera, because of the extended control the DSLRs [i.e. “fancy cameras”] give you over your camera settings. Consider yourself forewarned.

Do I need to bring my camera with me for class?

It’s encouraged that you bring your camera so that you can familiarize yourself with the controls and settings we’ll discuss, but this is not a workshop, so a camera is not necessary.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Honestly, has no one gotten to the bottom of this yet? Woodchucks DO chuck wood, don’t they? Is this a test?

Which lens do you recommend for a beginner learning photography?

If you’re a Nikon shooter, get this one. That lens is not only an incredible value, it also lays the smack down on all other lenses as far as learning lenses go; I’ll tell you why in class. For Canon shooters, I recommend this lens, which is almost as good. You do not need to have either of these lenses for the class.

I don’t receive any kick-back if you purchase those lenses, if you're suspicious like that.

This class is being held at Rhode Island’s best pregnancy and parenting shop. What if I’m not a parent, or I am not interested in photographing kids?

Do not fret yourself, sweet grasshopper! All are welcome, and this particular class is not specifically about photographing kids. The concepts we will discuss apply to all types of photography, which may or may not include children, depending upon your preferences.

Will you cover XYZ topic in class?

This class is going to be a discussion of basic photography concepts: shutter speed, aperture, ISO, how they interact, tricks for how to deal with difficult shooting situations, concepts that can improve any photo, etc. If you are wondering about specific subjects that will or will not be covered, feel free to email Bethany.

What about refunds?

Since seating is limited, we are unable to offer refunds or exchanges for tickets purchased for this event. HOWEVAH. You are welcome to sell or give away your admission in the unlikely and frankly insane event that you change your mind about attending. Kinda like a concert ticket, you know? Only better.

RI lifestyle photographer_1283

Should I sign up sooner…or later?

SOONER, for shizzle!! Spots are limited and last year, seats sold out lickety-split. So get on it!

Here's that payment link again:

RI Photography class review - Bellani maternity photography 101 workshop

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How to Plan the New Year So You Get What You Want. (OR: The Method I Used to Significantly Improve a Class I Taught Recently)

January 14, 2015

Because I'm the type of person who boils the ocean to get to the fish, I've consulted the work of at least a dozen professionals regarding the best way to plan a new year.

Want to know my favorite fish in that pond?

Can I interest ya in the catch o' the day, my friends?

Danielle LaPorte. Desire Mapping. Get in my belly.

Here's the low-down:

Danielle LaPorte makes the darn good point that with traditional goal-setting, we tend to forget WHY we set our goals in the first place, and then in pursuing those goals we fly in the face of the very feelings we originally set out to pursue.

For example.

Say a bloke sets a goal to "bring home 20% more income than last year." He sets it because he wants himself and his family to live healthier, happier lives. And then in pursuing that goal he spends most of his hours and his meals away from home, which leads to emergency marriage counseling and cholesterol meds.

No judgement here, friends. We're just looking at whether this guy is hitting his mark is all.

(He may very well be meeting his mark if feeling "professionally fulfilled" is more important to him than feeling "happy" and "connected." Let's not assume one feeling is better than another. But in this example, the guy's GOAL was happiness and health. That's all.)

Sometimes (always) goal achievement does require grit. Sometimes we need to go through the hard feelings to get to the good feelings. But being conscious of our core desired feelings is so very empowering!

I'll flesh that out in a minute.

In the example above, even if this guy brought in 500% more income, he would never feel satisfied because he is still missing his TRUE goal: health and happiness.

What this means:

This means that the key to feeling the way we want to feel is by always keeping in mind how we want to feel - so we can use these feelings as our MAPS!

Danielle calls these our "Core Desired Feelings" (CDF's.)

We keep our CDF's at the top of our minds when we decide *which* goals to take on and *how* we are gonna go about pursuing those goals.

Capiche?

The Big Picture

So first we start with the big picture. One year. Check out Danielle's book for worksheets that are helpful in the boiling-down process, but if you're in a hurry, just think: what are the 3-5 main feelings I want to feel this year?

For me: Peaceful. Embodied. Surrendered. Playful. Secure. Connection.

And a whole lot of other things, like maternal, generous, traction, etc. But I think those feelings will flow naturally from the top six.

Getting down to only 3 CDF's just feels unrealistic for this feely person, for crying out loud.

A Real Life Example

Next you ask yourself the same question regarding each thing you set out to do. For example. In planning my photography class for last weekend, I asked myself: how do I want to feel while and after I teach this course?

My answers:

Fun
Helpful
Connected.

So I went through all of my slides and handouts and asked myself: how could I make this more fun / helpful? How could I connect better with my students?

I threw out the handouts I spent a lot of time on last year. They bored me.

Instead I created worksheets with questions like this:

As helpful as last year's handouts? More so. More fun than that boring drivel I used last year? Absolutely.

Before the class I visualized myself being fun, helpful and connected. And wouldn't you know it but I was on fire that day. And people said things like this...and this:

So I'd say it was a success.

Incidentally

Incidentally, by popular demand, the good people at Bellani and I are offering another 101 class.

Here's that info.

Bethany teaching photography 101 class at Bellani Maternity

On a More Personal Note:

I wrote another "New Year's" post for you before this one, containing the biggest lesson I learned in 2014.

I'd say it's maybe my best post ever. It's definitely my rawest post ever. I'm note quite ready to put it out there yet. Gimme a week or 52.

In the meantime, I hope this less personal post has been helpful! :)

A Word of Caution:

Desire Mapping is a phenomenal tool, but...please. Don't get it twisted.

It's incredibly empowering to envision how we want to feel and to take small steps every day towards those feelings.

But there are limitations to how much power we have to choose how we feel in the current moment. Trust me on this one.

Oftentimes, the only way to get to happiness is to be at peace with whatever other emotions are coming up for you. To stop resisting them.

Please set your intentions on where you want to go without judging where you are now. There is a reason you are feeling whatever you are feeling now. All emotions are valid and important, and I'm not just BS'ing you.

Learn from how you're feeling. And keep moving.

Love to you,

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Family Fun Night!

May 28, 2014

Well this all came together swimmingly.

I have the good fortune of working in a building that happens to house a few other rockstar business women. Did you know that Bethany O Photography has a business location? I've gotta talk about these things more often.

It kinda brings me back to my college days, sharing a building with these ladies. Well, a healthier version of my college days. Hours melt away as I bury my head in my work, and when I emerge from my office, I get re-injected with energy from the good peeps in the lobby.

Beth of B Colorful makes me laugh and feeds my creative fires with her seems-to-come-easy-artistic-wizardry. Lori, Coral, Debbie, and the other yogis of Laughing Elephant are a soulful bunch with contagious good habits.

Por example. I recently was having a smidge of a frazzled day, and when I showed my face in the lobby, Lori, Coral, and Debbie were greeting people for Coral's yoga class. They're a perceptive bunch, these yogis. If I don't want them to notice when I'm frazztastic, I best be sneaking out the back door.

"You need to take Coral's class right now," said Lori, as soon as I appeared with my frazzle face.

"You're probably right. I'm sure that would be good for me. And I totally would, but I don't have any yoga clothes with me today," said I.

"You're wearing yoga clothes right now," said Debbie. [#OHSNAP.]

And that is how I found myself in downward-facing dog that morning.

[Friends: this is one of the hazards of wearing #yogapantseverydamnday. Be ye forewarned that ye will have a hard time making the excuses about the yoga when you're wearing the yoga pants all the day.]

It's the best kind of peer pressure, really.

Okay. I am skidding off-road and off-topic here but there are words popping into my cortex and apparently they want to be said. Just for a second, let's talk about not having time for yoga, or art class, or whatever it is that connects us with our higher selves. My philosopher-friend, Brian Johnson, once told me that the Dalai Lama starts every day with one hour of meditation. Except for on the days when he wakes up and knows he has a really busy day in front of him.

On those days, Mr. Honorary Dalai Lama starts his day with two hours of meditation.

This morning I worked out precisely because I didn't have time for it.

How about you? (We did just agree that sometimes peer pressure is healthy, no?)

NOW I AM ARRIVING AT THE POINT OF THIS POST. A couple weeks ago, I was a-chattin' with two of the mighty-fine business ladies in the buildin', Lori Mancini (Rockstar Goddess Owner of Laughing Elephant Yoga) and Beth Brugnoli of (Multi-Tasking Creative Genius Owner of B Colorful, an art studio which offers classes for kids and adults.)

We were feeling the gratitude, appreciating the goodnesses that have come to each of our growing businesses, and we were brainstorming on a fun way that we could collaborate in giving back to the community that supports us. A way we could each add value to the clients of each others' businesses.

Which was when the idea of Family Fun Night was born!

Here is the page with all the details.

Will you join us?

Will you help us spread the word?

Let us know!

See you Tuesday.

xoxoxo