Stacey – Page 9

Nov 02 2016

How To Create A Photo Library For Instagram

One of the key elements of having a thriving Instagram Feed is to have great images. Unless you’re super popular and already well known, having high quality images will help you grow your following and make you stand out.

Having a photo library at hand is key but I’m not saying you need to spend all of your time taking photographs. My suggestion is to maximize your time by leveraging the images you already have. Most often you can find photos within a photo. You can crop the original image to get multiple images from it. I’ll show you some examples:

From My DSLR

When I use my “real” camera, the image quality is really high and the file size is very large allowing me to zoom or crop without compromising the quality.

Here’s the original image I took of sunflowers at a farm.

I was able to get 6 square images from it that I can now use for my Instagram account. I prefer to have square images on Instagram even though you are now allowed to have rectangular images. It’s just a personal preference.

This one I can overlay with text since there’s a lot of open space by the sky.

For the next 3 I zoomed in on the flowers – having them fill up most of the frame.

These next 2 are more of a wider view just slightly different from one another.

This next example was also from the same farm using my DSLR. I was able to get 3 square images from this original one.

From My iPhone

So you may be asking if this can also be done from your camera phone. Yes!! The file size is smaller so you may not have as many options but for this example of the tree I was still able to get 3 square images from the original. This was shot with my iPhone 5S.

Three different images from the same original.

Some Extra Tips:

I find that the horizontal images work better than vertical.
When shooting your original subject, shoot it wide – don’t zoom in.
On your phone, select Photo, not Square.
I use Photoshop to edit these photos but I’m sure you can do this with whatever photo editing software and apps you currently use.
Scatter your images – for example don’t post all of your sunflower photos consecutively

Let me know if you have any questions about your images and Instagram. I LOVE Instagram! It’s my favorite social media platform right now. Put your Instagram account in the comments so I can check out your feed.

Mine is @life.happens.now

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Oct 31 2016

Embracing The Spirit of Halloween

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! It’s so much fun and magical!

I find it interesting that on this one day we allow ourselves to let our guard down. To dress up, be bold and put ourselves out there. I know for me I love the part about dressing up – something other than my normal everyday jeans. I love to put the outfit together, change my makeup and do something different with my hair. I find it really fun to put on a crazy wig! One year I wore a long bright blue one with matching glittery blue glasses. Last year I wore a short blonde one and looked like my mom. 🙂 My favorite was when I dressed up as The Mad Hatter from Alice In Wonderland (Johnny Depp version) I get so into it!

I was thinking about this. Why can’t we allow ourselves to be this bold any day? We don’t need permission or an official holiday. Whatever it is that you’re wanting to do – go out and do it! Don’t worry about what other people think. Embrace that Halloween spirit throughout the entire year.

Be bold and EXPECT lots of amazing treats along the way as well. Treats can be in the form of opportunities, business, relationships or anything else you desire.

Live each day with that feeling of expecting great things to happen…to YOU – because they can if you let them.

Life Happens Now!

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Oct 28 2016

The Importance of Personal Projects

Whether you’re starting or growing your own creative business, it’s important to make time for personal projects.

Why?

Because what tends to happen in your business is you start to create based on what your clients want and like. You need to earn money, you need to pay bills so you need paying clients. Of course the best case scenario is to have clients that love exactly what you want to create but that doesn’t always happen.

I’ll give you an example from my photography biz – I usually photograph kids and their families whether it’s portraits or their special events like Bat Mitzvahs. During these sessions, I know what the client is looking for so that’s what I photograph but I do also mix in about 20% of what I want to photograph.

When I want to create 100% for ME, push the boundaries, try out new techniques and grow as an artist , I turn to personal projects. This is where I come up with different scenarios and concepts, try out new editing techniques and just have fun with making mistakes. If something doesn’t work out, there’s no pressure. I just try something different next time. Personal projects give you freedom and room to grow artistically.

Aside from filling a creative need, as you grow, you then in turn have more to offer your clients. Put your work out there, and you may also get attention and unexpected new opportunities!

It doesn’t have to be perfect, the goal is to just have fun doing what you love to do without any expectations tied to it.

Yesterday I applied to what will be my 3rd round of the B&H Photo Portfolio Development Series. It’s purely for my own personal creativity – to experiment with photography the way I want to. If I get selected, at the end of this 6 month program, I have the potential to be included in a gallery show and have a book created of my work. Being in a program with other photographers and learning from one another helps us each to grow.

What is it that you’ve been wanting to try? It doesn’t have to be related to your business. You don’t need to make a huge time commitment, just get started and see where it leads.

I’d love to hear about a personal project you want to get started on. Tell me in the comments.

Life Happens Now!

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Oct 19 2016

Podcast Interview: Life By Design

This week a podcast interview I did with Allison Hardy of the Life By Design podcast went live!

It was so much fun talking with her about creativity and being a mompreneur. If you want to listen, go to her site and it’s Episode #6

I was also flattered that she invited me into her private facebook group to do a facebook live broadcast for her community. I gave them tips on how to incorporate mindset work into their morning routine. Having the right mindset is so crucial for your life and business. I spend so much of my day doing this – not just in the morning. I find pockets of time to journal, listen to inspiring audios, or sneak in a few pages from a book I’m reading. I do it throughout the day to keep my mindset at a higher level.

Let me know if you check out the podcast!

Sep 29 2016

Adventures in Denver

Last Monday at 1pm I was booking my flight for Denver. Four hours later I was on my way to the airport. Fortunately I had clean clothes to pack – enough for my 2 night stay.

Why was I on a mad rush to Denver?

Definitely NOT for the legalized pot! Whew that city reeks!

My business coach was having an intimate live event and I knew I just had to be there!

I’m part of a group coaching program with other female entrepreneurs from around the country and the world. We’ve been a support system for one another through group calls and the private facebook group but there’s no comparison to being in person.

With the support of both family and friends, I went for it and I’m so glad I did.

For 2 full days it was all about business. No talk about our kids, laundry, school or anything else. It was hyper focused on our businesses! There were about 25 in attendance and we were all at varying levels in our business so it was great to pick up tips listening to more seasoned veterans. I had plenty of aha moments and the personal connections I made were invaluable.

The event was held at The Oxford Hotel – the oldest hotel in Denver. Much of the time was spent in the nearby downtown area near Union Station. I had THE BEST tomato soup there – ate it 3 times!!

It’s interesting coming from NYC – you just expect certain things and you forget that the rest of the world is at a different pace. As another NYer at the event said “”This IS the rest of the world, NY is it’s own world.” Good or bad, it’s true.

If there’s something you’ve been wanting to do, do it.

Invest in yourself. Make it happen. You can do it and you’re so worth it!

Life Happens Now.

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