Senior Session Giveaway

Do you know an outstanding high school student from Travis County who will be graduating in May?

I’m looking for a special graduating senior who shines when it comes to academics, volunteerism, public service, extracurricular activities or social action.

I want to feature them here as our 2019 Senior of the Year. The winning student will get a FREE OUTDOOR SESSION with Love’s Apprentice!

If you know of a student that you think deserves to be recognized, let me know. Please explain why the student stands out and should be recognized. Self-nominations are welcome.

The deadline to submit is noon on Monday, May 6, 2019.

The Fine Print (Aka "The Rules")

Please make sure you follow the simple rules, in order to win.
 

1. All application MUST be living in Travis County.

2. The mini session date will occur at an agreeable date and time between May 8th, 2019 and May 26th, 2019. If these dates are not possible for the selected winner, then it is understood that they may not be able to redeem the free mini session. Rescheduling will occur pending weather conditions.

3. 1 winner with the most compelling nomination (scored according to academics, volunteerism, public service, extracurricular activities or social action) will be chosen. More entries will increase chances at winning.

MINI-SESSION GIVEAWAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Giveaway ends 11:59 PM on May 6th CST. Open to Travis County residents of the US only.  Nominations will be scored according the following criteria: compelling nature of story, student achievements, student hardship, and quantity of nominations. Winner will be selected May 7th, 2019. Winner will be notified via email or by phone during the week of May 7th 2019. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. The prize of one 1-hour mini session must be scheduled between May 8th and May 26th 2019, and within 35 miles of zip code 78753. Facebook is in no way associated with this giveaway.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of delivering communications from Love’s Apprentice.

Why Your Brand Photography Matters

Branding + Design

SIMPLE QUESTION: When you’re scrolling down your endless Facebook and Instagram timelines, which makes you stop scrolling first - the text or the images?

If you answered with “the images,” then congratulations! You’re part off the majority!! So much for individuality. LOL! But on a serious note, the reason why you’re more compelled to stop on the photos is actually backed up by science. According to researched complied by 3M, the corporation behind Post-it Notes, images are processed 60,000 times faster than written words, which means you can show off your brand to your followers much quicker with pictures.

So I guess it’s safe to say that your brand photography is probably going to be your most advantageous tool when it comes to your branding.

Photography provides PROOF! It helps your audience to visually perceive you as an expert in your field, which hopefully is good for your bottom line.

Let’s take a shallow dive two similar BLACK-OWNED businesses and the choices they have made to build their brands using photography.

(image credit: XOXO Sugar)

XOXO Sugar and The Crayon Case have both gained notoriety (#1) because of the strong desire of black people to support black business, but mainly because of (#2) the superior quality of their products. However, it is worth noting how they each approach swaggering their brands. Both pages tell a story about what their products are like, what their brands are about and the kinds of customers they want to attract.

(image credit: The Crayon Case)

(image credit: The Crayon Case)

XOXO Sugar is giving off a sweet/affordability sensibility that’s probably catered to 18 - 35 year old female demographic, whereas The Crayon Case is going for a back-to-school vibe which could appeal to both school aged audiences and trendy, fashion-forward adults craving a sense of nostalgia. One can assume that not too many men or women over 50 will be buying, but they’ve totally got the attention of their intended audiences. So as you can see, although these brands are quite similar, they’re harnessing the power of great brand photography to tell 2 totally different stories to potentially the same audience and to differentiate their brands from one another in such a competitive marketplace.

We’re going to be taking a closer look into how photography can be used to help develop an increased awareness of your brand and the steps that you can take to make a better showing to your followers. Remember - Your visual presentation will make or break your brand, so don’t risk turning potential customers off by using unflattering photos cause it’ll instantly devalue your brand.

Using Photography in Your Branding

In the above examples, both brands themed their images in eye-catching ways to convey different messages to their audiences. This is how you should be thinking when developing your brand. Know your audience and tell them your story.

1. The 3 P’s: Perspective, Portrayal & Purpose

You’ll need all of these in order to start visualizing and actualizing your branding.

• Perspective - What’s your perspective? What is the message that you are trying to send to your audience?

• Portrayal - How do you want to portray that message? Do you have a particular concept that could help send the message?

• Purpose - What’s the purpose? What do you want your customers to do? How do you want your clients to feel? What’s your desired end result?

2. Create a mood board

Having a clear overview of these 3 things will definitely help you when it’s time to start pinning. Back in the day, we used to have to make moodboards from old magazine cut-outs, but now-a-days, all you need is Pinterest. Create a board and collect all of the inspiration that you need until you see your brand materialize.

Save photos from everywhere you can find that looks like the photography that you want to featured your brand. Take a look at your closest competitors and take note of the techniques they employ to engage their following. Let your Pinterest Board reflect the feeling of what you want your audience to receive from you. It should have personality. It should convey a mood. It should look like it comes from you as opposed to someone else. Every pin should work together to tell the story of your brand.

3. Edit, Edit, Edit!!!

Now that you’ve got a pretty good inspo’ board, you’re going to have to pare it down. Look through your collection and get organized. Recognizing patterns in your preferences is going to help you assemble your style guide and to remove duplicate pins or ones that tell the same story, either visually or emotionally. Be selective about what you keep, making sure only to save the items that most closely reflect your brand’s point of view.

A great way to make this easier on yourself is to have a client-first attitude. Consider their needs because after all, you’re choosing these images for them. Having a clear set of guidelines makes the blueprint easy to replicate so consider the following:

• What is the subject of the photos? Are you selling a product? Are you the subject because you provide the service? Are you a landscape photographer who needs to feature landscape photography?

• Telling a story means CONTENT so plan shoots that tell a story so you can get a series of images to use that suit your brand instead of just the one or two desired images at a time.

• How will you customer feel after seeing the images? More confident in your service? Like they have to buy your product now? Like they need their next portrait session shot by YOU?

• Editing photos with a consistent style brings a level of polish to your brand that you don’t know is missing unless it’s missing. This is all to say - bookmark your filters. This helpful tip also helps to give a vibe. Your photo editing can tell the audience if your brand is sweet, edgy, artistic, natural, raw, etc… you get the picture.

• Remember what you hate! When researching, you’re going to see plenty of images and branding that you don’t like or that doesn’t speak to you. Remember that and make sure not to repeat it in your branding. You know how you would feel as a potential customer looking for a photographer but only seeing stock photography on their website - or when you’re looking for the perfect foundation, but the lighting is bad in the photos. Would that CONVERT you?

The below example is my simple style guide which is a a great way to collect and organize ideas that you have for your brand. Since I’m a photographer, finding photos wasn’t too hard, but I still had to edit to make sure that my brand has a unique perspective that yo’ll only get from me.

4. Story Telling is KEY!

Be selective in your choice of visuals. I suggest you start with your PURPOSE and ask your self if the image fits that.

I created these 2 examples to illustrate my point. This is the difference between good photography and better photography for your branding. The flyer on the left is OK. It matches the theme of the ad. It shows a pool and we’re talking about a pool party, but there’s something missing that picture 2 clearly is not. What the difference between the two? The answer - The people and the vibe! Now ask yourself.. which party would you most likely want to attend?

5. Get Great Photos

There are many different ways that you can get really good photos for your brand. The first, and most obvious way would be to hire a professional. Once you have a style guide ready, its as easy as sharing that with a professional photographer who could easily capture similarly styled images for your brand.

Another great resource for great photography is stock photos. If budget and time are your challenges, I’m linking a few of my favorites for getting stunning stock photography.

• UNSPLASH – Free images or PEXELS

• PIXABAY - Over 1.6 million royalty free stock photos and videos

• BURST - Free stock photos for websites and commercial use

And if you’re the type who is not afraid to get their hands dirty, Pinterest is full of DIY Photography Ideas that you could try out for your brand.

Wrapping up

Photography at its core is a method way to tell stories and we all, if we can, respond to visual images. Understanding why might just be the difference between attracting more clients or turning them away. So again, take special care in selecting your brand images. They’re just as, if not more important as your logo, brand voice, content, etc. If I’m attracted to intriguing and consistent images from your brand on Insta or FB , that pulls me in so I want to learn more, and as a result I hit the follow button.

Is a picture worth a thousand words? Some would argue they’re worth a whole lot more. That’s why killer brand photography is so crucial to the success of your business.

Don't Box Her In.. Gender Fluid Model Franki Phoenix On Defining Life (Or Not)

Gender Fluid Model Franki Phoenix On Defining Life (Or Not)

“I’m leaving the door cracked so that somebody else can go through.”

by Love’s Apprentice

Photographs by Love’s Apprentice

Jewelry provided by Blue Velvet Vintage

Makeup by Marley Bell

Fashion by Luke 1532

Although androgyny in fashion is nothing new, 2018 marked genderless fashion as a trend that is definitely here to stay. That shift which pulsed through the veins of the entire spring/summer 2019 season in Paris has resulted in a major increase in the demand for androgynous, trans, & gender non-conforming models. One of the greatest things about this revolution in fashion is that designers are increasingly exercising the creative freedom that having two models in one offer. It wasn’t until recently that, the need for androgynous models was greater in Europe than in the U.S. But now we’re experiencing a worldwide paradigm shift where more brands like Luke 1532, designers, and agencies are demanding a more diverse pool of talent.

There are so many of these androgynous beauties out there who are ready to grace the covers of your magazines, runways, and streaming devices. One of such beauties is Franki Phoenix.

Kimono: Courtesy Luke 1532

“My life purpose is to create, heal, protect, and nurture a vision that is bigger than me. Take what you need, but do NOT box me in.” Franki Phoenix told me, speaking on being a gender fluid model. “You’re entitled to think whatever you want, intellectually, about the art that I create, but I’m not going to allow people’s personal decisions to define my life or where I’m going .”

Franki Phoenix has all the makings of a classic blossoming fashion model: with wide almond shaped eyes similar to Beyoncé, the instinctive cool factor, a slender agile frame, the short coily tapered coif that complements the cheekbones so perfectly, and the kind of “here to slay” energy that makes every moment worth snapping. But there is something less obvious that I learned from this rising star, a reality that is now finally being questioned and challenged.

As a gender fluid model, Franki comes to set with a real appreciation for the opportunity to shoot and that passion that she exudes translates into really mesmerizing photos, but unbeknownst to most who have seen Franki’s work in campaigns and online, she’s not transgender, but considers herself gender fluid and prefers feminine gender pronouns.

When discussing with Franki the challenges that she faces being a gender fluid model in Central Texas, she referenced experiences of “all-inclusive / open casting calls.”

Many up and coming gender fluid models have expressed their frustration with being invited to “open calls - all inclusive” only to not get booked because they weren’t what the casting agent was looking for. “I’m either not soft enough or not muscular or masculine enough. Do you see how that can constantly be an issue for someone?” Franki posed regarding her own experiences. Since she can present herself to be either sex, she’s often forced to choose a gender when working with designers whose products appeal to more specific audiences.

“This year is really all about pushing through and working with people who were not even open to working with trans, gender fluid, androgynous {people}.. Whatever.. I’m literally breaking that stereotype and am leaving the door cracked so somebody else {like me} can go through.” Franki says.

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As a society, we’ve already begun to have these conversations. We just saw where Victoria’s Secret (allegedly) said somewhere to not want to work with transgender models. The tides are changing and larger companies are seeing their patrons demand greater representation and responsibility from these brands. But while the tides do change, a key takeaway for the fashion industry as a whole: Do NOT advertise a casting as “open or all-inclusive” when not everyone is going to have the same odds.

“For me, its not just about me being a gender fluid model and wanting to get more female jobs. There are so many people, other than myself who are super qualified who never get the chance.” Franki says regarding the need for casting agents disclosing more specificity when warranted.

Maybe FASHION will lead us FORWARD in terms of reconciling the absence of representation of gender non-binary people, but present day, gender fluid people are still carving a path to share the spotlight. Franki Phoenix represents a new generation that rejects the idea of conforming to societal standards about gender and gender expression.

What message would you have to your younger ‘aspiring model’ self?

“Everything is temporary! Even though you may feel like ‘this is not you,’ you have time, so keep drifting. Fall into your beat and God is going to take care of the rest.” Franki answered.

With genderless fashion in full swing and a high demand for models who transcend the boundaries of traditional gender roles, Franki Pheonix is hopeful that more people learn to respect others and the way they choose to live their lives. And when it comes to leading by example, she adds wistfully, “Follow your wave so you can wake up and rise chile! That’s it. That’s the end goal. I want the children who grow up in the world to know who they are and not have questions.“

That said, the freedom to explore her own identity without limitations came with its own set of challenges. Finding the way to express and, more important, to understand her own identity wasn’t always easy. “I had so many reservations in my mind about what people were going to think and the opportunities that were going to be blocked from me because I’m not completely feminine.” Franki shared that she had not learned of androgyny until she was in the army. “I want these kids to know this while they are young.. that it’s ok for them to be who they want to be, even if their parents and friends don’t understand (because they will). I want them to continue to walk in their truth, be loud and colorful, and live.”

And that’s the love being a teacher and me being an apprentice part.. where I learn to love a little bit more with each passing day.. through this art. I agree with Franki. By living in your truth, you’re inspiring people that you may never even meet or touch or see. People need someone to look up to, and usually look to those who are following their dreams. Who’s looking up to you?

At-home sessions: 5 reasons these make for amazing family portraits

"Love’s Apprentice at your service and my super power is photographing loving and memorable moments in an imaginative way. “ A way that paints the full picture, from the subtle kiss on the forehead to pinky fingers interlocking to your family positioned perfectly in front of the Christmas Tree. It’s as close to putting love in a bottle as one can get, but its also pure , truthful, and authentic at the same time.

This Holiday Season, I had the pleasure of photographing The Overton Family. They were a ton of fun and totally open to just letting the morning unfold, naturally. I arrived to their home at about 10 AM, the highlight - being greeted by one of the most charismatic kiddos in the whole state of Texas, and his big sister- well, as teenagers go - wouldn’t have minded a few extra minutes to text. Anyway, we didn’t worry about wrangling the family together too much to get the “perfect” shot, and as a result, we have a huge gallery that details the day in a candid, “merry” way. The best thing about these photos is how they will tell the story of how this family was at their beautiful home, on this lovely, December day.

“Mama” Overton contacted me after searching for photographers on Instagram. See.. hashtags do work! More on that later. She wanted a family shoot at her Central Texas home and was hesitant about hiring an in home photographer because their family had only ever had department store photo session experiences. This brings me to the meat and potatoes of this post.

When considering photoshoot locations, look no further than:
Your Home

I’ve done family sessions in a variety of locations and review those locations with my clients once we are in contact. Today, I want to share a few reasons to pick your own house as a family photo session location. Newborn photo shoots aren’t the only reason to decide to shoot at home. Here are five more:
 

Five Reasons to Have Your Family Session At Home

1.

Making the kiddos comfortable :

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell that c-stands, lights on poles, cameras on tripods, cords on floors, and CHILDREN don’t mix very well. Some children have a much easier time being engaged with their family and photographer while in the comfort of their own homes. I mean.. c’mon.. you know how good it feels to come home after a long day of work, or when you’ve been away on vacation? Walking back into your home, especially after you’ve been away for a while, has a way of putting you at ease and it will do the same for your children. Kids also tend to warm up quicker when they’re already in a familiar environment. For me, it helps with capturing real moments. I don’t mean “Stepford Wives” happy moments, but moments where the family is really connecting. I love snapping parents getting the children ready just before they think the photo will be snapped, when the dad is so focused on the hairs on his sons head that you can’t help but want to capture that moment. Plus, your family is less likely to tense up from being overwhelmed by the shear amount of equipment that most studios have. You’ll most likely feel way more relaxed on your own playing ground. This, in turn, will equate to amazingly sincere portraits.

2.

Archiving the Family Legacy for Posterity:

Your home is the center of your story. Family photos at home can show where you fellowship as a family or maybe even something you love to do together like playing board games or tinkering around on that “out of tune” piano. What better place to document the love of a growing family than somewhere that truly defines you?! It’s most likely already decorated just the way you like. It has paintings hanging that your husband might have spent months to create and pictures framed from 5th grade graduations to vacations in various nations. Even if you’re renting, you might someday move out and want to have photos that depict your life as you once knew it. The added bonus - since your dog “SPOT" will already be there, she could easily join in on the fun. A home shoot is a great way to archive your “real” life!

3.

Did I mention it’s easy?

Too easy! You won’t have to get gas or find directions. All you have to do is wait for me to get there. You won’t have to worry about the weather or even clean up if you don’t want to. You’ve already got access to a dressing room. And I’m excited to see the “prop shop” that has been building in your garage. Your home is perfect the way it is. We can push the furniture to the side if its in the way:) Doing a session at your home equates to less stress for you, and when you’re less stressed, your’re happier, and when you’re happy, better photos. You see where this is going.

4.

Beautiful light is right at your doorstep - LITERALLY!

Have you ever walked through your home at just the right time of day when the sun rays are leaking through the blinds and plays a light show across the room? That’s the light I’m talking about. I call it “WINDOW LIGHT!” Its God’s gift to photographers and its totally free. And if you’re worried your home doesn’t have enough light, no worries! That’s what the flash is for.

5.

Your photos will be ONE-OF-A-KIND.

No two houses are equal and even if they were created equally, it’s the inhabitants who bring the life to the domicile. The photos that you take in your home will be unique to YOU! In my shoot with The Overtons, their Chrismtas decorations represent them. But most importantly, the chemistry that we create will be unique to us.. to that specific day.. to those specific moments frozen in time. If you are wanting photos that show a real connection, the love, and the eccentricity in your family relationships, having a session in the place where you would naturally be open is an easy call.

BONUS LOCATION:

* Your home actually extends beyond your house. We can always go for a neighborhood walk or pop into the backyard for more variety or to round out the experience and photo session.

Enjoy these images of The Overtons, a morning in their lives, in the environment that shapes them.

XO,

Love’s Apprentice

Franco Washington

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Services

Branding & Marketing
Consultation

Get started on the right track and establish a branding plan-of-attack with a comprehensive and interactive consultation with me. I can help you get clear about your vision and help you understand how audiences perceive your brand.

This 60 minute interactive session will help you identify strategies for revealing your brand to your audience. It will also help you discover key people to assist your vision and impact the choices you make for your business in the future. Schedule your session online here.

Brand Identity
Development

I'm not your everyday designer who's going to just email you a few logo PNG files and send you off to chase glory. I'm here for you for the long haul to success. I'm with you to help create your brand strategy, brand visuals and protection of your assets. If your brand includes video assets, I'll help your produce every single clip from video ads to longforms. Brand identity development is an immersive experience that includes consultation, logo design, color palette, iconography, typography, photography, videography,  brand style guide, and brand assets delivery. I've been in the business a while so I've learned quite a lot.

Photography

Regardless if you're booking a session for your family, your young children, your high school senior or for whatever other reason, I strive for sessions to be a fun, laid back experience. Sessions are a mixture of posed and natural images. I want your images to show the personalities of those in them so that you can look back on them in the future and remember these moments just as they were. I love happy, fun images. I want children to be children. I want you to have the silly candid images just as much as the smiling, posed ones, therefore varying by the type of session, full sessions do include quite a few final images.

Website
Design

You need your website to work for you and automates your interactions with your audience. Your website is your personal brand assistant that converts, sells, and acts as your online advocate. This is where we'll allow that marketing collateral that we develop to speak on your behalf.  Together, we'll figure out what exactly you need your website to do. Then, we'll reconstruct your home-base run just as good as it looks. After it's all set up, we'll even stair-step you into maintaining your website on your own after it's published.

Video
Production

If you're not using online video, how hip can you really be? Online video is now one of the most powerful tools to promote your brand. From pre-production to post-production and everything in between, I will help produce, shoot, and edit compelling and useful videos tailored for your audience.  You've already got the content so let me deliver the creative direction. I can help you reach new clients, elevate the look of your product or service, and advertise your business.  Even if all you need is a video for your website or YouTube, I'm here to help.

Categories include (but are not limited to) product demos, business promotion, training videos, documentaries, seminars, events, and fundraisers. Let me help connect your audience with your brand.