Posts from the ‘Interview with an Expert’ Category

In the very beginning of this year I was blessed to take part in a Fire Starter Session with Danielle LaPorte who is not only one of the creative forces behind one of my favorite books, Style Statement, she is also a kick ass motivational writer and speaker following her passions through life and helping people do the same. The session was part pep rally, part slap upside the head as Danielle was 100% straight with us right from the start. It opened my eyes a lot to how blinded I can be by living solely in the industry and forced me to stop looking around and start looking forward. It was a big moment in the timeline of my creative life.

This year Danielle decided to take what she does in the Fire Starter Sessions and make it into an online workbook that people can do at their own pace called the Fire Starter Sessions Digital Program. It’s been buzzing around the interwebs for months now and receiving raving reviews (none of which surprise me because Danielle is so genuinely inspiring). Part of me wants to be Danielle when I grow up. And another part knows that she would look me in the face and tell me that’s not what it’s about. ;)

I’ve learned so much from her writing, blog (White Hot Truth), and the time I got to spend with her during our session.  I am so honored today to be able to share this little interview about genius, balance, and blogging…

1. You’re Fire Starter Sessions Ebook is a workbook based on the one-on-one Fire Starter sessions you’ve been doing (that we were blessed to get to take part in) that entrepreneurs can go through at their own pace discovering their strengths and refining their focus. In the world today, I feel like this tool is especially timely. What words of encouragement can you give to struggling entrepreneurs who are thinking about taking this journey with your book?

Do it! Here, I’ll let Kris Carr from CrazySexyLife.com call you to action:

“Please fasten your seat belts because The Fire Starter Sessions is the revolution you’ve been waiting for. It will shake-up and wake-up every aspect of your life. Danielle LaPorte combines soulful wisdom with razor sharp business advice to create a blue print for moguls, spiritual rockstars, and lovers of life. Skinny dip head first into this hot and fabulous book. I dare you.”

2. What is your state of mind right now as we start this interview?

Calm. Very grateful.

3. You say in your tagline: “Spark your genius.” What to you is genius, and does it have an age or experience requirement?

Genius is a gift. It’s your personal creative edge, a natural strength. And everyone has got it — no exceptions. Sometimes it gets buried underneath compromise and low self-esteem and fear. But you can always shake it up with some daring and desire. Experience just hones it. Age polishes it. But courage evokes it.

4. How do we keep from sacrificing our genius for stability in this crazy world of business?

Genius and stability aren’t exclusive. Compromise and suffering on the other hand are optional.

5. I’ve always felt like genius is like balancing on a tight rope between world changing and insane. I think that’s why genius attracts so many nay-sayers. How do you deal with people, whether their hearts are in the right place or not, that try to stifle your vision and genius?

I don’t deal with people who try to stifle me. Ever. I did that. It’s excruciating. It cost me my last business. If I’m not feeling expanded, inspired, and respected, I’m out.

6. As an entrepreneur who’s business is as much about art as it is about business, what is your best advice about keeping the creative fire burning while dealing with the weighty responsibilities of running a business?

If it feels weighty, re-think it. Delegate, prioritize, nix it. And I find that the more creative “work” I produce, the more joy I have in my being and the necessary administrivia isn’t such a drag.

7. One of my favorite things you’ve talked about is giving up on trying to find balance. One of my favorite quotes on your blog is: “I no sooner want to be balanced than I want to be a “good girl”. Balance is not something I want to live down to.” One of  my favorite quotes is, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Can you elaborate a bit more about living well in the imbalance?

I burn a lot of omlettes. It’s a regular occurrence – I’m drawing robots with my kid, I’m jotting down an idea I don’t want to lose, I’m taking the call. And then the smoke alarms goes off. I “work” on holidays. Last Monday I stayed in bed and read all day. I send birthday gifts three months early or three months late – but it’s just the right gift. I can eat cereal every day for a week, wearing the same clothes, never leaving the house because I want to finish a book. I like last minute trips out of town and not answering email for days. The last time I was at a monastery, I tweeted about it.

This is not a balanced life. But it works. And the more I pursue my passions, the more uncomplicated my life gets, actually. There’s not much in my life that I resent. And if resentment builds, I’m swift to get it off my plate. It’s not the imbalance-ness that stresses me, it’s doing meaningless things that aren’t taking me where I want to go.

8. I really admire the way you are able to be genuine on your blog. As a blogging, female wedding photographer sometimes I feel the pressure to talk about life, projects, and the world as romantic rainbows and butterflies and all I really want to say is “My day was shitty.” Can you talk to me about finding the intersection of genuine and positive?

MY WORK (+ SOCIAL MEDIA) CREDO – in order of priority – is:

1. Be USEFUL. If your stuff is not 100% about utility, practicality, or wisdom, then…
2. Be INSPIRING. If you’re not flush with inspiration, passion, motivation, then at least…
3. Be ENTERTAINING.

And if you can’t at least be amusing then keep to yourself. Otherwise, you’re wasting people’s time. And when you waste people’s time – you’re not only a delusional wanker, you’re disrespectful. Once you disrespect your audience, they’ll walk. Complaining is a no-no.

10. You said I could ask you anything so here goes… What was the biggest business mistake you’ve made?

I kept my mouth shut.

Any closing words to share with the people out there who may be sitting on their dreams, scared of taking the leap to that next, beautiful level?

Don’t burn energy trying to assume how people will perceive you. It’s your job to show up as you, passion and all, and let the right customers make up their mind about you.

xoxox
Danielle

Purchase the Fire Starter Session book here | Follow Danielle on Twitter here | Check out her blog, White Hot Truth here

A few weeks ago I got an email (or call, I can’t really remember) from our friend Brandee asking if we’d be interested in shooting her and her team for their new upcoming website. Of course we said YES with no hesitation. Brandee and her team are some of our absolute favorite people in the wedding industry to work with, not to mention they are all ridiculously gorgeous and super fun to be around. Brandee runs Blush by Brandee Gaar, a Central Florida wedding and event design and coordination team that puts on some of the loveliest weddings we’ve ever shot. You can some weddings we’ve shot that were coordinated by Brandee and her team here and here, in the current Central Florida Bride magazine, and in the upcoming fall/winter The Knot Florida magazine. We’re also shooting a wedding with them this weekend. So really, the party never ends. ;)

Meet Anna…

Laurie…

Sandi…

Alison…

Kristen…

and last but not least, Brandee Gaar

Let this one load ;)

Brandee was kind enough to let me ask her a few questions about planning, rookie mistakes, and trends. Whether you are a newly engaged bride to be or just a few weeks from your wedding, Brandee has got some great advice for you…

How did Blush by Brandee Gaar come to be?
It was always a dream of mine to plan weddings (most little girls dream of their own wedding…I dreamed of planning EVERYONE’s wedding!). After my first daughter was born I decided it was time for me leave corporate event planning and pursue my passion! Blush is and will always be focused on the details. Every wedding we do is different because every client we work with is unique. It’s our job to make their wedding reflect the very essence of who they are. PS… our name was chosen from the best movie of all time, Steel Magnolias. “My colors are Blush and Bashful.” “Your colors are Pink and Pink!” I love it!!

About how many weddings each year does your team execute?
We have 4 coordinators and a team of assistants and we execute approximately 100 weddings per year. Each of our coordinators only takes 1 wedding per weekend to ensure every client is getting full attention to her needs and I personally only take 25-30 weddings per year and focus on our Full Plan weddings to include full design of the events and wedding weekend.

What is your mission in the wedding industry?
That’s a good one! Really, I’m not looking to do anything crazy amongst the industry. We just want to plan stunning weddings for happy couples and ensure each of them is able to think about nothing else on their wedding night but each other! Sappy…I know!

What is one nugget of wisdom you can give to our readers about choosing their wedding photographer?
Make sure you click! Next to your wedding planner, your photographer will be the vendor that is with you most throughout the day. It is SO important that you get along, feel you can be calm and casual around them, and just genuinely like them. Definitely do an engagement session! This will help you to get to know your photographer ahead of time on a less stressful day and get to know their style. So by wedding day you’ll be old pals!

What is something you would like every bride who just recently began planning her wedding to know?
Find one thing that you LOVE and work your wedding design from there. It might be a bridesmaid dress, the lace on your gown, an inspirational photo from a magazine or simply a season of the year. Whatever it is, get a picture of it and keep it in the front of your planning binder. There are millions of ideas to choose from when designing your wedding and the choices can be overwhelming. When looking at ideas, ask yourself, “How does this fit into my overall design/theme?”. If it doesn’t, then it might be a cute idea on its own but together with your other elements the big event could end up being just a hodge podge of quirky items.

As a wedding coordinating expert, what would you say is the biggest mistake a lot of brides make?
Not hiring a DOC (Day Of Coordinator). I know, I’m biased but ask any wedding vendor and they will tell you that if you don’t have a planner, then at least get a DOC. A great DOC will ensure you covered every detail and even help you along the way. With the technology we have today, brides that have the time to do the research can plan a great wedding on their own but when it comes to the big day, anyone you trust enough to ensure all of that hard work is flawlessly executed should be part of your immediate family or wedding party and you want them enjoying the day with you…not running around after vendors and setting up escort cards! Put all of your perfectly planned details into the hands of a well-respected professional then sit back, relax and enjoy the most amazing day of your life!

What is your favorite aspect of the wedding day?
There are two times I look forward to at each wedding. As soon as I send the bride down the aisle I quickly glance up to see the groom’s face. It’s always priceless when he sees his bride for the first time. The other would be when my couple gets to see their reception space for the first time. The look on their faces when they see all of our hard work come together in one space is why I love my job!

Any interesting trends that you’d love to see more of this summer/fall?
We’d like to see more brides adopt the idea of a color palette instead of a single or duo color combination that everything has to be dripping in. Instead of choosing eggplant and silver as your color scheme, think about choosing the family of jewel tones such as emerald, amethyst, gold, topaz and so on. This will allow you many more options and your event will be a treat for the eyes!

What song do you think has the potential to dethrone “Single Ladies” as the bouquet toss song of choice?
Haha! NEVER! That song will go down in history as the most played song at weddings this decade! I say just get rid of the bouquet toss all together! How many of your single friends really want to be called out as “SINGLE” to the middle of your dance floor anyway? Just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean it’s right for you so if you don’t LOVE this one…toss it out!

What’s your pre-wedding Starbucks order?
Oh no! No Starbucks for this girl. I can drink coffee literally all day but for some reason Starbucks just doesn’t do it for me. I’m a Planet Smoothie Girl…Strawberries, Bananas and Energy!