Saturday, September 17, 2011

Beautiful Family of 4 {Family Portrait Session}









I had so much fun with this fabulous family! The girls had so much fun and so did mom and dad! I love the expressions on their faces and just seeing them love each other! Enjoy a sneak peek at their fun!

xox
Sharon





Monday, September 12, 2011

The Miller Girls {Miss E's 3 Month Portraits}







I love getting together with the Miller family and photographing their adorable girls!! Miss M has so much fun and personality! Miss E is getting SO big already!!! Such a sweet girl, loving being in front of the camera! We had a lot of fun! Enjoy a sneak peek from their session!

xox
Sharon












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Kerry Wallman and Kristin Merrill (Kiwi and Kiki) {Women In Business Series}

Kiwi and Kiki

Facebook
Website (Kiwi - ties)
Etsy (Kiki - hair pieces)



Tell me a bit about yourself

We are Kerry and Kristin, also known as Kiwi and Kiki. We are sisters - and before you ask, no we aren't twins! (Kristin just looks old - haha!) We are 4 years apart, and while we spent most of our childhood fighting and trying to annoy the other as much as possible, we became best friends as we reached adulthood. We got our nick names from our children - When Kristin's daughter Lily was learning to speak, she couldn't say "Kerry" instead she said "Kiwi." We knew we had to have a cute name for Kristin also, so we decided on "Kiki."



When did you start your business?

We have been crafters for a long time, but our business venture together began about 3 years ago. Kerry started selling various items at the Puyallup Farmer's Market in the summer of 2006, and the Kristin joined her with her items in the summer of 2008. Our business has evolved over the years, especially as we have had children.



Is there anything in particular that sticks out in your mind about starting your business?

This business started as a hobby, and grew into what it is today. Many mistakes were made, but we learned from them and moved on. Being sisters, we disagreed as much as we agreed - we knew it was important to listen to each other and let each other have the space we needed. We started small - focusing mostly on our business at the farmer's market, and slowly added items online. When we look back now at the items we made then we are surprised we ever lasted!

Time management? How do you do it? Is it a struggle? Recommendations?

This is always a struggle, especially being full time moms as well as business owners. Kerry's tie business took off right while she was 9 months pregnant with her son Max - after she had Max, she was in the hospital sending invoices and responding to emails - it was a little crazy, but she managed to get the orders organized so that she could get through those first months with a new baby and still manage the business. When business is going well, it's hard to say no to customers or tell them they have a really long wait period- you don't want to risk losing their business, but it is soooo important to establish boundaries and stick with them. Being a mom has to come first for us, and sometimes that makes the business difficult, but we are lucky to have very supportive husbands that stand by us and help when we need it. Kerry's husband has been known to help with the ironing of all those ties, and Kristin's husband packs most of her boxes and ships them for her, definitely a team effort!




Chocolate or Vanilla! Haha Have to have something random

Something random...Kristin is DEATHLY afraid of bugs. Even when the bug isn't on her - we were shopping together once when a very large bug had landed on Kerry - Kristin nearly hyperventilated trying to tell her the bug was on her. Kerry is afraid of peas. Yes, the little green peas that you are supposed to eat because it's a healthy vegetable. It may be irrational (okay, it definitely is irrational) but she's still afraid of them. It's a long story involving preschool and hair. We'll leave it at that. Back to your question about chocolate or vanilla Kerry would say chocolate and Kristin would say Vanilla.

If you had advice for other women in business what would it be?

Know your priorities and values and stand by them. It will take some time, but find your focus - Kerry's shop is a good example of this - she has made so many different things over the years before settling into her current line of items. Once she found a focus, the business became more successful and satisfying. In Kristin's shop, you will only find a handful of the same items she started with. She has realized how important it is to truly LOVE and stand behind each and every item you make/sell.





Thank you SO much Kerry and Kristin for taking the time out of your busy schedules to participate in my fun blog adventure!! You both are truly fabulous!!

xox
Sharon

Sharon Neves Photography

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Winner - Organic Bloom Frame!!!

How would you like to win an Organic Bloom frame? 5'' Johnny to be exact!! Post a comment below with your name and email address and you will have a chance to win! We just hit 3,000 fans so entries can start now and will end on Sunday at 6pm Pacific Time!! I will pick a winner that evening and post here on my blog!!

WINNER!!!

Congrats Joann!! Please email me within 48hrs at sharonnevesphoto@gmail.com to claim your prize!


Joann said...
Love this frame!!
Joann Bickley
joannboswell@yahoo.com

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 4:46 PM

Thursday, September 1, 2011

3,000 Fans!! Win an Organic Bloom Frame!!

How would you like to win an Organic Bloom frame? 5'' Johnny to be exact!! Post a comment below with your name and email address and you will have a chance to win! We just hit 3,000 fans so entries can start now and will end on Sunday at 6pm Pacific Time!! I will pick a winner that evening and post here on my blog!!


Kayla Oeth {Women In Business Series}

Kayla Oeth Photography

Facebook
Website

Photo Credit: HM+ Photography


A little about me:

My name is Kayla Oeth. I'm a military wife of 7 years to my junior high/high school sweetheart, and a Mommy to three incredible kiddos (and one dog too!). Out oldest, Jacob is 5, middle is Joshua who is 2, and my youngest is my princess Sarahlynne and she is 4 months young! Our dog Layla is one of the family and is 7! We currently live in southwest Germany on military assignment, and will begin a new adventure May 2012-location still unknown. I've been doing photography {self-taught} since I was about 12. My parents bought me my first Canon Rebel EOS when I was 14 and started on the newspaper in high school. I was the photography editor and then the editor-in-chief and started going to college at University of Missouri for photojournalism. After getting married and changing my major to special education and stepping out of the photography arena for about 4 years, my husband encouraged me to start back up when we got back to Germany, so I pulled out my old Nikon D70 and started shooting again and this little business and the last 2 years have been more amazing than I could have ever imagined!

Photo Credit : HM+ Photography

Photo Credit: HM+ Photography



What do I love to do in free time?

Free time? What free time!? Haha, all kidding aside I love to read, scrapbook, travel and take adventures with my kids. I also love creating at home date nights for my husband and I, since date nights out without the kids are few and far between!




Favorite Movies?

Oh so many! Just to name a few: Elizabethtown, Little Miss Sunshine, Hope Floats, Fried Green Tomatoes and the list goes on! I'm a sucker for romantic comedy, a good drama and occasionally a senseless comedy!!


When did you start your business?
August 2009



What sticks out in your mind about starting your business?

It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be, and not in the ways I thought it would! I thought that tax forms, organizing etc. etc. would be hard, but instead I struggled with booking too many sessions and trying too hard to please everyone and got myself entirely too busy. I've definitely been working on a learning curve on how to balance the business and say no when I'm too busy. Also, the other thing that sticks out in my mind the most is that it was made so much easier by such a supportive husband who works long hours during the week (and sometimes weekend) and still willingly gave up rest time on the weekends to play with the kiddos and spend quality time with them so Mommy could shoot. He is my biggest fan, and any challenge I've encountered has been made infinitely easier by him!



Time Management? Is it a struggle? Recommendations?

I wish I had this one figured out! I try to only edit during nap time or bed time, but it doesn't always happen that way. I know I've been working too much when my two year old shuts my computer and say "Mommy, stop working on the puter and come play with JoJo!". I also have started shooting a limited amount of weekends, and am learning to say "No I'm fully booked", instead of opening extra sessions for everyone. I've tried to make an effort to plan at least one fun thing for the whole family every weekend to avoid working to much. It is truly a balancing act, and I am far from perfecting it!!



Chocolate or Vanilla?

Call me crazy, but I'm a Vanilla girl! Unless it has pecan and caramels and then I'll take chocolate any day!



Advice for other women in business?

I think the biggest thing for me has been find others you look up to, ask questions and take advice, but don't lose who you are in the process. I try to always remind myself that just as everyone client has their own style in what they are looking for, each of us has our own style, personality and vision. Don't compare yourself to much, and stay true to who you are and your vision for your business. And make sure you always thank your clients, get to know them and make it about the people. I believe photography is about beautiful photos and a beautiful experience.


Thank you SO much Kayla for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. Also, many many thanks to you and your husband for his service to our country! Stop by Kayla's page and say hi!!

xox
Sharon