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?
Like it? Share it!
