Cheers! It's FRIIIIIIIIIDAY!!!! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's an odd feeling for someone, like myself, who usually works weekends to have a weekend off. I know know what it's like for normal people who don't work on the weekend. It's kind of fun!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Who has some fun plans this weekend? 
Don't skimp on table settings. It helps tie in the wedding vibe and makes everything on your wedding day look cohesive and lovely. Try a charger plate that is unique or has a cool texture.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love choosing colors that coordinate well with the florals, but that doesn't necessarily match perfectly. Take a look at this charger plate here. It doesn't match perfectly to these florals, but instead is a shade that goes well with the florals and accents parts of the flowers on the table. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you have questions about table decor? I'll be asking some wedding planners and designers for an upcoming blog post and would love to include any questions you might have! Ask below! 
I just finished reading "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by @markmanson and I have to say I absolutely loved it. I loved his humor, his transparency, the stories he told and mostly the messages in the book. I had read some good quotes from the book and decided to read it. It started off a little slow, but each chapter it just kept giving me the biggest ah-ha moments. I kind of feel that everyone needs to read this book, especially after the year we had last year. This book helped snap me back out of that scary mind set I was seeing myself get into again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ To be completely open and honest here, I find myself really holding myself back by my own thoughts and fears. I really wanted this book to help me get unstuck, which I feel like it did. At least I feel like it slapped me across the face and woke me up a bit. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do yourself a HUGE favor and go follow Mark's account. And maybe pick up one of his books while you're at it. I'd love to know what you got from his book! 
It's been a hot minute since I posted a black and white photo. Should I post more? Or do you prefer color photos? 
We all have been to a wedding where the cake started melting because it was so hot. I have a fun idea for you! Instead of spending a ton of money on a gorgeous designed cake that is just going to get eaten up, ask your cake designer for a fake designed cake just for photos and then order a sheet cake from them to be eaten. No one will know and you can actually save a lot on your wedding by doing this. Need ideas for cake designers? Send me a message because I have tons of recommendations for incredible cake designers. 
Currently working ON my business this fine evening and thinking about my 12 years being in business. New challenges and mindsets for myself and my company. Last year was extremely hard on my business and my mindset, to be completely honest. I don't know about you guys but I have a little PTSD from what happened last year (throughout the year, honestly). In November I truly wanted to give up and call it quits. I called off all my marketing and advertising I had scheduled and told people I was done with Courtney Bowlden Photography. In December I didn't book anything (by choice). I felt heartbroken and betrayed by the industry and people who "had my back." By January 1st I felt differently, though. I don't really know what changed either. I decided to give it another try. I decided I would start over and change the outcome. I DECIDED I would be smarter and better than I was last year and all the past years of being a professional photographer. So, I've enrolled in some courses this year and have my mind back in the game. Thank you #LCF5DayChallenge for helping get my mind back in the right place.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So what is something you are working on this year? Business or personal. Tell me! 
I was thinking this morning while I was driving around how much I have to get done for work. I may not be going out and photographing people or weddings right now, but there is always a massive list of things to do. When people ask me "are you working today," I always tell them "I'm self employed, so I work everyday." Don't get me wrong, I LOVE working and love what I do for work. These are just things I do almost on a daily basis:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - finding photos to post on social media & schedule posting ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - blogging and finding blog post ideas⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - email leads and clients⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - update website⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - seo tracking/google analytics⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - learning new things about business and photography⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - create new ideas for posts, shoots, etc⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - contact upcoming clients with events⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - research locations for weddings I haven't shot at⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - managing pinterest account and pins⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And thats just whats on my list for the week. Where are my photographers who are in the same boat?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Host/Creative design & Planning: @traveling_weddings_with_taylor⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Florist: @eventstemsfloral⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Floral wholesaler: @botanicawholesaleflorist⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Bridal gowns: @stanleykorshakbride⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Chairs: @brighteventrentals⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hmua: @photosbykassy⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Co-planning: @rachelrose_weddingsandevents⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Models: @mariashaaltyn 
I was hoping to go back to Miami again this Spring, but it looks like I have some other things planned that take precedence. Do you ever wish that you could be at multiple places at once? It sounds odd when you think about it, but there are just so many places I want to be and visit.