Headshots for Hot Shots — Mini Sessions for Business Owners, Seniors, Musicians, & More!

If you're anything like me, you hate having your picture taken. I know that sounds pretty contradictory coming from a professional photographer, but it's true. I do. You can look back through yearbooks from my 6th grade year until I was a senior and you will only find me in two of them. I used to skip school, fake sick, etc. just to get out of picture day because I hated the way that I looked in photographs.

9 times out of 10 when I'm creating portraits of people whether it's an individual, couple, or family there's always a comment made at some point about how they hate having their picture taken. It never fails, and it's no surprise.

I get it, having your picture made feels awkward and unnatural. But the bottom line is that your online appearance is just as important as how you present yourself in real life, so having a flattering photo of yourself to display digitally is pretty crucial. Wouldn't you agree?

Are you standing out online for the right reasons?

WHEN & WHERE:

» May + June Dates Available.

» Each session will last for at least 30-mins.

» Registration is limited to 12 people. Click here to register. 

» I will be photographing these on the Greenway Trail here in Boone, NC.

» Sessions will take place from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM so we get the most awesomazing light. 

» Want to choose a location for your headshots? Purchase two back-to-back time slots and we will customize a 1-hour adventure just for you!

» In case of rain or other inclement weather cancellation will be at the discretion of the photographer. Rain dates will be offered.

// MAY DATES \\

20th @ 6:00 PM - OPEN
20th @ 6:30 PM - OPEN
20th @ 7:30 PM - OPEN
27th @ 6:00 PM - OPEN
27th @ 6:30 PM - OPEN
27th @ 7:30 PM - OPEN

// JUNE DATES \\
3rd @ 6:00 PM - OPEN
3rd @ 6:30 PM - OPEN
3rd @ 7:30 PM - OPEN
10th @ 6:00 PM - OPEN
10th @ 6:30 PM - OPEN
10th @ 7:30 PM - OPEN

WHAT'S INCLUDED w/ the HEADSHOT SESSION?

» 1 Outdoor location + 1 Outfit.

» 30-minute session for 1 person.

» Online gallery for viewing, ordering, and sharing.

» 5 high-resolution digital downloads + web-sized images.

» Lighting fast turnaround (w/in 48 hours) so you have images back in a flash!

» Need more than one look or location? Purchase two back-to-back time slots to customize your adventure!

» Extended License entitles you to use images on physical and digital products for sale: books, magazines, emails, advertising posters, packaging, banners, screen savers; wallpapers, presentations, newspapers, covers, cases, business cards, T-shirts, clothing, video, software, games etc.

Reserve your space through my online shop before they're gone or send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com and I will get you set up!

online

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

» The first 10 spots are $50 off (only 149 instead of 199). Use code: IMAHOTSHOT (click here or the image above to book now)

» Space is limited! Only 12 spots open! Register now and book online today! I'm not sure when I will be doing these sessions again.

Not in the budget? Flexible payment plans available. Email me at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com and I'll be happy to get you set-up! Know any friends, family, or colleagues that are in need of new headshot? Please share this affordable offer with them because you'll be their new hero, and mine! :-)

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone | Boone, NC Wedding Photographer

If you scour my yearbooks from 6th grade until my senior year in high school, you will only find my photo in two yearbooks. I used to go to great lengths to avoid having my picture taken when I was younger. I remember going to extremes in order to miss picture day, from faking sick to skipping school, I would do anything to get out of it! I hated the way that I looked in photographs.

NOT LIKING IMAGES OF OURSELVES IS UNIVERSAL
I can't tell you how many times I've heard from clients and friends that they “take horrible photos” or that they “never look good in pictures.” It pains me to hear that because I know how that feels all too well. And it's still something I battled with today. Still, no matter how much we despise it, people insist on doing it anyway! You end up submitting only because there's that thought in the back of your mind (maybe subconsciously) that you'll regret not having physical proof of who you are today to look back on.

BLAME IT ON SCIENCE

Come to find out, there may be a perfectly logical explanation for why we don't like seeing ourselves in 2D. Based on something called the Mere-Exposure Effect we like things that are familiar to us. You see, we're used to viewing a mirror reflection of ourselves, and when we are photographed that mental image is then flipped which plays mind-games on our brains. Maybe it's not that we don't like what we see in the image of ourselves, maybe it's just weird because we're not used to seeing ourselves in that way?!

PUSHING MYSELF OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE

Now that you know my secret about going to ridiculous measures in order to avoid having my picture taken, you get that I can sympathize with you because I've been where you are. However, I recently stepped on the other side of the camera to experience firsthand what it's like for my clients. I'll be honest, I felt awkward at first because I had no clue what I was doing even though I direct my clients all the time. Once I was on the receiving end I sort of froze up, and just made a lot of funny faces to make up for my lack of modeling skills! Exposing myself in that way had me feeling extremely vulnerable but it was also a very freeing experience, too.

My lovely assistant/intern/mentee, Raejan, captured these images of me. She is an aspiring photographer so this was new for her, too, but we had a blast, and It wasn't so scary after all!

HOW YOU CAN LOOK YOUR BEST IN PHOTOS

Relax! And act “normal.” In other words, be yourself! You don't have to be a supermodel in order for your photographer to get great shots. Besides, having your photos made is about more than just the way you look. No one is less photogenic because they don't fit the mold of what some folks in society thinks is beautiful. We are all worthy of having our stories told! It's a matter of trusting the person behind the lens to tell yours in a way that is authentic to you. When you're comfortable and having fun your personality naturally shines!

So, tell me, how do you feel about having your picture taken?! Love it? Hate it? Let me know here in the comments or on WW FB page!

If facing your fears and being liberated by an uplifting experience that will leave you feeling like a gazillion bucks sounds like a good time, then you'll love the Limited Edition Celebrate You Sessions I am offering to welcome the awakening of SPRING! The unforgettable experience I'm offering is about CELEBRATING YOU and who you are right now, today. You'll have fun, walk away feeling more confident and beautiful, and you'll also have some gorgeous images of yourself captured that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy! 

It's time to redefine self-love. Click here to find out why: 

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Redefining Self-Love w/ Celebrate You Sessions | Boone, NC Photographer

I sought out the definition of self-love recently just because I was curious, and I was astonished to see how it was defined. To give you a quick idea of what I discovered, here are a few synonyms for Self-Love: conceit, narcissism, and vanity.

Not what I expected AT ALL! I was somewhat irked by my findings because self-love is something that I struggle with in my life (or so I thought), and it was unsettling to think that the actual meaning of self-love is contradictory to what I truly desire.

I've since decided to redefine self-love because embodying that state-of-being is not tied to what the dictionary tells me to believe. How do you define self-love?!

Celebrate You Session Coming April 1st, 2014

Here's what I know: everyone suffers from self-image issues. Me. You. Your next door neighbor. Your colleagues. EVERYONE!

I've come to the conclusion that the difference between self-image issues and an abundance of self-love is confidence. There comes a time when we need to ignore our inner critic, that menacing voice inside our head that whispers, “You're not good enough.”

Confidence can be a fragile thing. 

It can come flooding in one moment and stripped from you with a well-intentioned but hate-laced comment the next. I'm continually amazed at how quickly that can be destroyed if I'm not mindful enough to combat such thoughts. 

While it can be damaging in some cases, it's all part of life's many struggles. Our challenges are what help us grow and evolve into better versions of ourselves. Otherwise, we stay the same and stagnate.

Something to remember while you're on this journey is that you are worth far more than the opinion of others. Don't let others define you. And don't get caught up in their definitions of what's beautiful and what's not. A healthy self-image starts within.

Ask yourself: “Are these thoughts, self-doubts, criticisms, etc. really true?” Look that devil straight in the eye and face those demons because you have to make the decision to not let those trolls take over whether they're internal or external. Little by little, you release the power that it has over you and your flaws become your strengths.

Choose to be happy with who you are, really own it so that you can experience what it feels like to be vulnerable in all its glory. Have the courage to let yourself be seen. Leave your insecurities at the door. Have fun!

Raejan on the Greenway Trail in Boone, NC

If facing your fears and being liberated by an uplifting experience that will leave you feeling like a gazillion bucks sounds like a good time, then you'll love the Limited Edition Celebrate You Sessions I am offering to welcome the awakening of SPRING! 

Who's ready to start fresh?!

The unforgettable experience I'm offering is about CELEBRATING YOU and who you are right now, today. You'll have fun, walk away feeling more confident and beautiful, and you'll also have some gorgeous images of yourself captured that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy!

Celebrate You Sessions include: 

• 1-hour session for 1 person on-location in Boone, NC 
• up to 10 hi-resolution digital downloads w/ printing rights
• a website and smartphone app to quickly and easily share images with friends and family 
• ALL for $299 + tax.

If you're interested in booking your exclusive Celebrate You Session or for more details, simply send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com and I'll get you on the schedule! | www.wayfaringwanderer.com

If you know a Mother, Wife, BFF, Sister, Mentor, etc. who could benefit from a life-changing experience such as this, please help spread the word by sharing with them! Thank you! 

Can you share your thoughts on this new offering? Does it sound like something you want to do? I'd love to get your feedback here in the comments or on the WW Facebook page!

Confessions from an (almost) Canceled Photoshoot

Flexibility wasn't something that I was known for about 5-6 years ago. In fact, I was probably one of the least flexible people you would likely come across in your lifetime. However, over the years, I have learned that you can't NOT be flexible while simultaneously holding onto your sanity. From time to time, I get a reminder that flexibility is still something I sometimes struggle with. You know that quote, “Life is what happens when you're busy making plans?” Yeah, well, I despise the person who points this out to me when I'm in the midst of getting worked up, but it's something I need to hear in that moment.

My perspective shifted when I became more laid-back and stopped sweating the small stuff, although it took me a while to see the difference this made in my life because I progressively got better as time passed. When things happen slowly, I don't always notice the changes taking place right under my nose. These days, I don't lose it when I get a flat tire or my car won't start. Instead, I simply deal with the situation in whatever way it needs to be taken care of without allowing my emotions to get in the way. It does no good getting angry about things that are beyond my control!

THE KEY IS FLEXIBILITY

On a recent trip to Jacksonville, FL, my Sister and I were planning to do another Haute Mess Threads photoshoot for the new “Geek Chic” line of aprons she just completed. Even though the shoot we did this past summer was thrown together at the last minute, we were determined not to make the same mistake this go-round. We made calls ahead of time, scheduled a day to do it, and confirmed with the models on availability. Everything was going “as planned.”

It wasn't until the day of the shoot, hours before we were supposed to meet-up that we had to cancel. One of our models, who also happened to be gracious enough to allow us to use the same retro kitchen we used last time, wasn't feeling well, so she was out and so was our location to shoot. We scrambled for other ideas, and attempted to find another suitable kitchen, but many leads fell through for different reasons, unfortunately. We attempted to stay optimistic. However, that optimism quickly waned when we just couldn't make it happen.

OBSTACLES EXIST SO YOU CAN OVERCOME THEM

It wasn't until the day after we planned to shoot that an off-the-wall idea was thrown out there. Now that we think about it it was actually something we thought about doing even before the shoot got canceled. Why we didn't remember it in a pinch; I don't know, but I'm glad that Nicole, our lovely model, helped it resurface. If it weren't for Nicole's gung-ho attitude to make this shoot happen, we might have just let it go. But instead, we decided to improvise and post-up at a neighborhood park to do our shoot outside!

With only a couple of hours to get ready, my sister and I picked up some supplies to use for the photoshoot. The idea was to string up a clothesline and use that as the backdrop, so we grabbed a laundry basket, clothes pins, and twine before high-tailing it to the park. Having only arrived a couple of hours before sunset, we didn't have a whole lot of time to look for the most ideal spot. We used about 5 minutes to find a suitable location that provided the type of light I thought would work. By the time we were finished setting up, our model arrived with her own props in tow that required unloading.

MY ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

We considered the Haute Mess Threads photoshoot a success, and the three of us actually had a lot of laughs during the 1.5 hours it took to complete. There wasn't a whole lot of time to goof off because our light was quickly fading, so we worked as fast as we could, which presented another set of challenges, but I managed. After finishing the HMTs shoot, there was just enough light left to take pictures of Nicole in the amazing vintage attire she came to the shoot in. Unfortunately, I only had about 10 minutes to capture images of her, but we were able to get some good ones.

If you'd like to find out more about Haute Mess Threads and see her famous aprons, the ESTY shop is now OPEN! Also, be sure to check out the HMTs Facebook page to stay up-to-date and get in on fan-only giveaways! (She's hosting one right now!)

One thing I will say is that I sometimes forget how much fun I have doing a photoshoot. It was far different from the dread I was feeling prior to getting our ducks in a row. In retrospect, I think that my problem was with myself and how I chose to approach the situation. Yes, I stayed flexible and went with the flow, but I wasn't as excited about it as I was the day before when I knew what to expect. It seems as though I momentarily forgot that my ability to adapt has proven itself time and time again, and that all I needed to really do was trust that I was fully capable of making it happen no matter what obstacles presented themselves. Something I need to remind myself of more often.

While I'm shooting, despite any fears that I may experience beforehand, I feel in my element. Like, I'm doing exactly what I should be. It's probably time I stop looking for confirmation that I'm on the right path because every fiber of my being knows this is what I'm meant to do—as cheesy as that sounds, it's true.

What do you think about the results of our impromptu photoshoot and the new aprons?

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Holiday Mini-Sessions | Boone Area Photographer

Have you thought about Holiday portraits for the family, but have yet to make any arrangements? Look no further! For a limited time, I'll be offering Holiday Mini-Sessions here in Boone, NC and Blowing Rock, NC, and I'd love to photograph your happy family. This is a quick and easy way to get your family portraits done for the holidays before things begin getting crazy! Contact me today for more information and reservations.

To visit my new photography website, follow this link: 

http://www.discoveryphotographyanddesign.com

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