Less Stuff, More Experiences...

My Life

Feb 28

In 2019 it is trendy to commit to this "less stuff, more experiences" motto. I like it... I like that we are freeing ourselves from this materialism that has held on to us for much to long. I think that value should be placed on experience. What you experience with your husband, your kids, your friends, and yourself matters. And being sure that you make enough time in your life to allow for those experiences to happen is important.
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If you go to my website one of the first things you will see is "Wholistic Photography-- Heart, Mind, Soul." This is because I'm wanting to back away from last minute photo sessions that require no thought or planning. They don't require you to get to know one another and they don't manifest into anything beyond a Christmas card image or an obligatory yearly photo. I don't want to spend my life contributing toward this guilt that you must get your kids picture taken every 2 seconds or else you are a bad mom.
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Thats not who I am. That's not what I believe. That's not something I want to dedicate my life to. I do, however, want to provide people with an experience that is worth their time & money. An experience that challenges them, makes them reflect, makes couples talk to each other, and makes people grow. An experience that forces people to pause and evaluate their past, present, and their future. An experience that reminds people who they are and how they want to live their life. An experience that keeps people invested in relationships worth having and living a life that they will be proud of when they look back at it in the future. An experience that gives joy, hope, encouragement and affirmation. An experience that WILL change them.
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THIS... THIS is who I am... This is something I WANT to dedicate my life to doing. Being an artistic mediator for couples, families, and even with ourselves. An artist that provides her clients with an experience that gives them the ability to stop living their life on auto-pilot and start living a life of intention.
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When did we become so busy that we found ourselves mindlessly going through the motions? So chronically busy that we find ourselves unable to be fully present in any given activity. So busy that we walk around completely deflated with barely enough energy to complete even the simplest of tasks. So busy that feeling a sense of anxiety or a general "overwhelmed" feeling is considered normal...
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You guys... this is not okay! Busy-ness does not equal success. A full calendar does not mean you are in control of your life. Our urgency-addicted culture is part of the problem. We're convinced that with just a bit more speed, we can stay in control-- and so we grow unwilling to tolerate slowing down. In fact... pausing actually becomes uncomfortable.
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Not sure this is a problem in your life? Do an experiment... do nothing at all for 10 minutes... don't look at your phone, don't read, don't write, don't mentally make lists of things you need to do, literally do nothing.... The harder that feels, the more you may need this.
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I don't want to be part of the problem. I want to be part of the solution. That is what the photos by Ariel process has been reformed. It has been altered and refined so that this can happen for you as a couple, as a family, and as a parent. Not just during before or during the session but after the session too. So that each and every time you look at these pictures you are forced to pause and remember. You are reminded of what you need to do to live a life that you will be proud of when your 80 and 90 years old.

I cannot wait to get started with you! I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this experience than you!