• Wow it’s been a sec since I’ve posted on here 😅 ⁣ ⁣ I’ve been keeping busy with backend photo biz things as well as launching my brand new wellness/CBD brand @swellnessnaturals !⁣ Not gonna lie, it’s been a wild ride. Apparently banks and payment processors sincerely h8 anything having to do w/CBD so we’ve had a few hiccups. ⁣ ⁣ BUT⁣ ⁣ That’s life. I’m just getting back up and doing the next thing in order to move forward. It’s truly been an absolute blast launching a brand that I’m extremely passionate about. All the difficulty is 100% worth it.⁣ ⁣ I’m currently on my way to San Diego for my first engagement session since the shutdown and what a gift it is to shoot at my #1 favorite place: Sunset Cliffs⁣ ⁣ Just a lil’ update from my corner of the world ✨
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    Wow it’s been a sec since I’ve posted on here 😅 ⁣ ⁣ I’ve been keeping busy with backend photo biz things as well as launching my brand new wellness/CBD brand @swellnessnaturals !⁣ Not gonna lie, it’s been a wild ride. Apparently banks and payment processors sincerely h8 anything having to do w/CBD so we’ve had a few hiccups. ⁣ ⁣ BUT⁣ ⁣ That’s life. I’m just getting back up and doing the next thing in order to move forward. It’s truly been an absolute blast launching a brand that I’m extremely passionate about. All the difficulty is 100% worth it.⁣ ⁣ I’m currently on my way to San Diego for my first engagement session since the shutdown and what a gift it is to shoot at my #1 favorite place: Sunset Cliffs⁣ ⁣ Just a lil’ update from my corner of the world ✨
  • A TON has been going on behind the scenes over here at the Matthews household. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ While I was going hard at working on a brand new website from scratch, we were simultaneously working on our brand new holistic wellness online store! Remember all those posts about me working on “secret projects?” ;) ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this season, it’s that, as entrepreneurs, we have to be prepared for anything and willing to adapt to the current climate–both literally and figuratively lol. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The truth is that the wedding industry has been hit real hard lately. At least in California, we don’t know when “large” gatherings will be legal again. I’ve taken this time to really hone in on what this brand is about and who I serve. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ My #1 goal in this season is to serve my clients well while pivoting to match the current wedding industry climate in California. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been learning that I have two choices: ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Give up and throw in the towel because it’s hard⁣⁣ Channel my energy and creativity toward adapting and pivoting. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And it’s so worth it. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What are ways you’ve been able to adapt? Has it been tough for you, or pretty smooth sailing? I want to know!⁣⁣ 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
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    A TON has been going on behind the scenes over here at the Matthews household. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ While I was going hard at working on a brand new website from scratch, we were simultaneously working on our brand new holistic wellness online store! Remember all those posts about me working on “secret projects?” ;) ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this season, it’s that, as entrepreneurs, we have to be prepared for anything and willing to adapt to the current climate–both literally and figuratively lol. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The truth is that the wedding industry has been hit real hard lately. At least in California, we don’t know when “large” gatherings will be legal again. I’ve taken this time to really hone in on what this brand is about and who I serve. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ My #1 goal in this season is to serve my clients well while pivoting to match the current wedding industry climate in California. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve been learning that I have two choices: ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Give up and throw in the towel because it’s hard⁣⁣ Channel my energy and creativity toward adapting and pivoting. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And it’s so worth it. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ What are ways you’ve been able to adapt? Has it been tough for you, or pretty smooth sailing? I want to know!⁣⁣ 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
  • ✨ Jill + Brady’s January wedding is up on the blog!⁣ ⁣ They met in college & both played French horn.⁣ They’re such sweet souls–like Jill REGULARLY checked in with me and conveyed her gratitude every single time. That is such a gift to a photographer. ⁣ ⁣ Their wedding was perfectly joyful, extremely well planned in order to avoid stress, & full of peace.⁣ ⁣ Why?⁣ ⁣ They had a bomb wedding planner. Check out the blog to learn WHY it’s so dang important to hire a highly recommended professional planner (and not just stick with the coordinator that comes with your venue). ⁣ ⁣ S/O to the amazing @taylorbibleweddings for truly making Jill & Brady’s wedding a dream come true. You the real MVP.
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    ✨ Jill + Brady’s January wedding is up on the blog!⁣ ⁣ They met in college & both played French horn.⁣ They’re such sweet souls–like Jill REGULARLY checked in with me and conveyed her gratitude every single time. That is such a gift to a photographer. ⁣ ⁣ Their wedding was perfectly joyful, extremely well planned in order to avoid stress, & full of peace.⁣ ⁣ Why?⁣ ⁣ They had a bomb wedding planner. Check out the blog to learn WHY it’s so dang important to hire a highly recommended professional planner (and not just stick with the coordinator that comes with your venue). ⁣ ⁣ S/O to the amazing @taylorbibleweddings for truly making Jill & Brady’s wedding a dream come true. You the real MVP.
  • ✨ AAAAND IT’S LIVE!⁣ 🌊 ⁣ ⁣ I’ve spent the past couple of weeks building a brand new site from scratch. This site has WAY more information on it than my last one–my goal is to give you as much information as possible in order to make an educated decision on which photographer to hire. The reason I don’t post every single detail on my pricing is because I truly believe every couple is unique and needs their own custom collection that fits THEIR needs–not someone else’s. ⁣ ⁣ Trust me, I know how annoying it can be to reach out to a million different photographers because you don’t get all the information you need from their websites. But I realized how important it is to really build that client-photographer relationship from the get-go. Inquiring about pricing is just the beginning step. I want to get to know YOU and your needs before I share a collection so I don’t waste your time and brain energy. I’m here to make your life easier, not harder. ⁣ ⁣ I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to hire someone to build my site for me, but I eventually decided to take this on as a challenge. And ya know what? It was SO worth it. ⁣ ⁣ Sometimes investing in your business by outsourcing is exactly what’s needed. But sometimes it’s healthy to take on a challenge and save a little $$–especially when we have a little extra time.⁣ ⁣ I am SO happy with how it turned out and I really feel like it encompasses my brand wayyyyy better than my last site. ⁣ ⁣ WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
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    ✨ AAAAND IT’S LIVE!⁣ 🌊 ⁣ ⁣ I’ve spent the past couple of weeks building a brand new site from scratch. This site has WAY more information on it than my last one–my goal is to give you as much information as possible in order to make an educated decision on which photographer to hire. The reason I don’t post every single detail on my pricing is because I truly believe every couple is unique and needs their own custom collection that fits THEIR needs–not someone else’s. ⁣ ⁣ Trust me, I know how annoying it can be to reach out to a million different photographers because you don’t get all the information you need from their websites. But I realized how important it is to really build that client-photographer relationship from the get-go. Inquiring about pricing is just the beginning step. I want to get to know YOU and your needs before I share a collection so I don’t waste your time and brain energy. I’m here to make your life easier, not harder. ⁣ ⁣ I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to hire someone to build my site for me, but I eventually decided to take this on as a challenge. And ya know what? It was SO worth it. ⁣ ⁣ Sometimes investing in your business by outsourcing is exactly what’s needed. But sometimes it’s healthy to take on a challenge and save a little $$–especially when we have a little extra time.⁣ ⁣ I am SO happy with how it turned out and I really feel like it encompasses my brand wayyyyy better than my last site. ⁣ ⁣ WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
  • I realized something this week…⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ I’m not alone in the way I’ve been feeling. Yesterday I shared that I was discouraged by how people are treating one another–esp. when it comes to living normal life right now. If you walk outside without a mask on, someone might yell at you for it. I’m not here to start an argument regarding my beliefs. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ That’s not the point. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ The point is this: Treat people as YOU would want to be treated–even if you disagree with their actions or choices.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Just because we have a certain worldview does NOT mean we can judge or treat someone with a different worldview as trash. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ I saw a headline on a satire site that said “Man in critical condition after hearing slightly different viewpoint,” and I BUSTED up laughing 🤣 because it’s SO ACCURATE these days. Since when can we not have civil conversations & agree to disagree w/o losing friendships or getting into emotion-driven arguments?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 🖐🏼 I’m over it. And what I realized is that a lot of you are over it, too. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ So here’s what I propose: ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 👉🏼 For those of you that are going to call the tattle hotline on your neighbors for doing a “nonessential” activity and hate is stirred in your heart, sincerely think about what you’re doing and why. Then reach out to that person and seek to have a normal conversation about your concerns. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 👉🏼 For those of you living in fear for doing normal daily things, take this as an opportunity to really work through your fear of man (this is advice for myself). Take this time to really learn how to love your neighbors. If they’re TERRIFIED about everything right now but still want human interaction, respect their boundaries by taking precautions and delivering their groceries or something.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Guys, hear me out: I’m not here to stir the pot. I’m here to unite. A lot of us are over the anger and hatred toward one another. Let’s strive to be lights in the darkness and unity among the discord. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 1 Tim 1:7⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Ya feel?
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    I realized something this week…⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ I’m not alone in the way I’ve been feeling. Yesterday I shared that I was discouraged by how people are treating one another–esp. when it comes to living normal life right now. If you walk outside without a mask on, someone might yell at you for it. I’m not here to start an argument regarding my beliefs. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ That’s not the point. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ The point is this: Treat people as YOU would want to be treated–even if you disagree with their actions or choices.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Just because we have a certain worldview does NOT mean we can judge or treat someone with a different worldview as trash. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ I saw a headline on a satire site that said “Man in critical condition after hearing slightly different viewpoint,” and I BUSTED up laughing 🤣 because it’s SO ACCURATE these days. Since when can we not have civil conversations & agree to disagree w/o losing friendships or getting into emotion-driven arguments?⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 🖐🏼 I’m over it. And what I realized is that a lot of you are over it, too. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ So here’s what I propose: ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 👉🏼 For those of you that are going to call the tattle hotline on your neighbors for doing a “nonessential” activity and hate is stirred in your heart, sincerely think about what you’re doing and why. Then reach out to that person and seek to have a normal conversation about your concerns. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ 👉🏼 For those of you living in fear for doing normal daily things, take this as an opportunity to really work through your fear of man (this is advice for myself). Take this time to really learn how to love your neighbors. If they’re TERRIFIED about everything right now but still want human interaction, respect their boundaries by taking precautions and delivering their groceries or something.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Guys, hear me out: I’m not here to stir the pot. I’m here to unite. A lot of us are over the anger and hatred toward one another. Let’s strive to be lights in the darkness and unity among the discord. ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 1 Tim 1:7⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⠀ Ya feel?
  • 💪🏼 Elbow-five > first kiss during a pandemic⁣ ⁣ I anticipate this specific image to be very important in remembering the times we’re in & I kinda love it. 📸⁣ ⁣ DISCLAIMER:⁣ ⁣ *This was my last wedding before states started actually started shutting down. *They had an actual first kiss, don’t worry
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    💪🏼 Elbow-five > first kiss during a pandemic⁣ ⁣ I anticipate this specific image to be very important in remembering the times we’re in & I kinda love it. 📸⁣ ⁣ DISCLAIMER:⁣ ⁣ *This was my last wedding before states started actually started shutting down. *They had an actual first kiss, don’t worry
  • ❌ PRODUCTIVITY ❌⁣ ⁣ I posted a few weeks back at the beginning of all of this what productivity looked like for me. Things have definitely changed. Instead of getting ready everyday, I’ve given my face a breather from makeup and have pretty much been cycling through the same 3 comfortable outfits. My morning routine hasn’t been consistent. I have NOT been anywhere near planning out my days in 30-min increments lol.⁣ ⁣ And ya know what?⁣ ⁣ 👉🏼 I have been JUST as productive. ⁣ ⁣ Why?⁣ ⁣ ✨ Because I am passionate about what I’ve been working on AND God gives me new mercies every morning. ✨⁣ ⁣ I’ve also been taking care of myself by going on 5 mile walks in the neighborhood, taking my pile of vitamins, eating *fairly* healthy (ok fine I had pizza last night), shutting work off by dinner time, and reading scripture. ⁣ ⁣ Your productivity or daily routine doesn’t have to look a certain way. If you’re feeling sorry for yourself because your day doesn’t look as productive as that girl/guy you follow on instagram, take a break and figure out what YOUR perfect day looks like. If giving yourself hard boundaries and planning your days ahead of time doesn’t make for a happy day ahead, don’t do it! ⁣ ⁣ 👉🏼 The outcome of your day is a direct reflection of where your mindset is. 👈🏼⁣ ⁣ Go for a walk to clear your head. Take a break from social media. Make yourself some fresh juice to feel at least a little healthy. Take a bath. Read the Bible for an hour. Watch a sunset.⁣ ⁣ 💫If your mind is healthy, your day will feel successful and productive. ⁣ 💔If your mind is unhealthy, you’ll feel sorry for yourself and compare your day to another person’s. ⁣ 💫If you’re living in the freedom of God, you’ll give yourself grace and get back up from the valley.⁣ 💔If you’re living in fear, you’ll be paralyzed. ⁣ ⁣ It’s ok to take a break and reset. ⁣ God will give you rest, wisdom, and freedom if you ask for it.⁣ ⁣ Have you been giving yourself unrealistic expectations during quarantine (like me)? Let me know so I can encourage you 👇🏼
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    ❌ PRODUCTIVITY ❌⁣ ⁣ I posted a few weeks back at the beginning of all of this what productivity looked like for me. Things have definitely changed. Instead of getting ready everyday, I’ve given my face a breather from makeup and have pretty much been cycling through the same 3 comfortable outfits. My morning routine hasn’t been consistent. I have NOT been anywhere near planning out my days in 30-min increments lol.⁣ ⁣ And ya know what?⁣ ⁣ 👉🏼 I have been JUST as productive. ⁣ ⁣ Why?⁣ ⁣ ✨ Because I am passionate about what I’ve been working on AND God gives me new mercies every morning. ✨⁣ ⁣ I’ve also been taking care of myself by going on 5 mile walks in the neighborhood, taking my pile of vitamins, eating *fairly* healthy (ok fine I had pizza last night), shutting work off by dinner time, and reading scripture. ⁣ ⁣ Your productivity or daily routine doesn’t have to look a certain way. If you’re feeling sorry for yourself because your day doesn’t look as productive as that girl/guy you follow on instagram, take a break and figure out what YOUR perfect day looks like. If giving yourself hard boundaries and planning your days ahead of time doesn’t make for a happy day ahead, don’t do it! ⁣ ⁣ 👉🏼 The outcome of your day is a direct reflection of where your mindset is. 👈🏼⁣ ⁣ Go for a walk to clear your head. Take a break from social media. Make yourself some fresh juice to feel at least a little healthy. Take a bath. Read the Bible for an hour. Watch a sunset.⁣ ⁣ 💫If your mind is healthy, your day will feel successful and productive. ⁣ 💔If your mind is unhealthy, you’ll feel sorry for yourself and compare your day to another person’s. ⁣ 💫If you’re living in the freedom of God, you’ll give yourself grace and get back up from the valley.⁣ 💔If you’re living in fear, you’ll be paralyzed. ⁣ ⁣ It’s ok to take a break and reset. ⁣ God will give you rest, wisdom, and freedom if you ask for it.⁣ ⁣ Have you been giving yourself unrealistic expectations during quarantine (like me)? Let me know so I can encourage you 👇🏼