OK so it is confession time. I have been out and about promoting and shooting marketing & branding lifestyle sessions to some damn awesome women in business over the last few months and the whole entire time there has been this little niggling voice inside my head saying “practice what you preach”. I have been passionate about telling these women the importance of professional photography in promoting their businesses and that by showing a photo of themselves on their website and in marketing materials this allows an opportunity for a potential customer to connect with who they are as a person. But I wasn’t doing it myself.
After being asked on a few occasions of late for a photo of myself, I started searching only to realise that I don’t have any photos of myself on my own. I have my professional family pics that I have taken each year and I have a zillion iPhone selfies of my kids and I (because let’s face it nobody else is gonna do it) but no photos of just me to use. I procrastinated over getting some for a few months because I thought I would dip into the art of self portraits. I gave it a go but it is actually quite tricky and I just haven’t nailed it as I would have liked so far so I figured I had better nip it in the bud and go out and get some done.
That’s where my gorgeous friend Vicky from Vicky Palmieri Photography and the face in the following pictures came in. I met Vicky at a photography workshop a few years ago now and we just clicked. We have since been heading in a similar direction and she has become my workshop buddy. We have done quite a few together now and I it is a pleasure to call her a friend and part of my support network. I contacted Vicky to see if she would be interested in catching up to take photos of one another and she jumped at the chance.
So we both headed off to the beach at our favorite time of the day. We both felt the awkwardness that most people would feel when solo in front of a lens. The awkwardness soon turned into comfort when we realised we were both in the same boat and all of a sudden we just let GO. Wow – what a feeling of letting go! We let go of all the insecurities (well most of them). We couldn’t have cared less that there were blokes out fishing on the rocks looking at us strange and wondering what we were doing. We couldn’t have cared less that the wind was blowing our hair in every direction. We totally embraced the feeling of being vulnerable and not only am I stoked at the images that Vicky took of me, I am also really proud of some of the best work I have done in the pictures of Vicky. Letting go of ones self sure does translate into your art doesn’t it? I think I am finally getting that hint!
I went home exhilerated and wondering why I had put it off for so long. If you are contemplating a marketing & branding session, let go. Let go of all the excuses and get it done and you might surprise yourself that it is not actually that bad after all and you know what – it doesn’t all have to be about marketing your business either – if you are interested in a lifestyle session just for you JUST CAUSE then do it – you won’t regret it. And if you want someone who can sympathise with your feeling of awkwardness then I’m your gal – I’ve been there and conquered that.
I hope you enjoy this stunning lady’s pictures as much as I do and if you would like to check out mine, you can find them over here on Vicky’s blog. Thanks Vicky for being a part of something pretty darn cool and I can’t wait to do it all over again.
These are sooo wonderful Kellie!!! And I never thought I’d say that about a gallery that was just me. You’re a true talent. THANK YOU!!
I am soooo glad you love them as much as I do. What a pleasure photographing you! xx
Love love love them!! The colours and the joy are amazing.
Thank you so much Bec – makes me so happy to hear the words colour and joy xx
Simply gorgeous Vicky and Kellie. What a powerhouse collaboration.
Thanks so much Jade. Loved every minute of collaborating with this talent x
WOW! WOW! WOW! The are outrageously stunning! You have nailed this Kellie – I adore these images <3
Awwwww thank you so much Jess. It is hard not to take a good photo of this gorgeous lady but thank you so much for your kind words – it means a bunch! xx