Balancing Motherhood and a Career as a Colorado Wedding Photographer

Balancing Motherhood and a Career as a Wedding Photographer

Being a mom of young kids is a rewarding and demanding role on its own. When you add a career as a wedding photographer in Colorado into the mix, finding a balance can be challenging. However, with careful planning, time management, and self-care, it is possible to thrive both as a mom and a wedding photographer. I’m often asked how I do it all (which, lets be honest - do dads ever get that question? But, that’s a topic for another time).

Set Boundaries and Prioritize

Setting boundaries and knowing your priorities is crucial to finding balance. Identify your non-negotiables as a mom and as a wedding photographer. Determine the times and days when you are fully present for your children and establish specific working hours for photography. Communicate these boundaries to your family, clients, and colleagues, so they understand and respect your schedule.

I currently have set “admin hours” Tuesdays before noon, and Fridays after noon. Obviously I work outside those hours but having a set time that I’ll do timelines, respond to emails, have client calls etc. really helps with my scheduling and stress levels.

Create a Schedule and Stick to It

Creating a schedule can help you manage your time effectively. Set aside dedicated blocks of time for your photography work, family time, and self-care. Ensure you have a good balance between work and personal life. During your work time, stay focused and be efficient to make the most of the time you have. When you're with your children, give them your full attention and create meaningful moments together.

I have a gym membership where I can take my littles to day care or play with them at the pool. We also utilize trampoline park memberships and museums to make sure the time I spend with my family is full of fun and even educational components.

Delegate and Ask for Help

Recognize that you can't do everything alone. Seek support from your partner, family members, or trusted friends. Delegate tasks that can be outsourced or ask for help with childcare when needed. Having a strong support system can alleviate some of the overwhelm and give you the space and time to focus on your photography career and spend quality time with your kids.

This is genuinely where I struggle the most - firstly, my husband and I both have our own businesses so it’s a difficult balance of “whose time is more valuable.” We struggled with scheduling, budget and child care balance until we sat down and made a list of tasks and delegated out the big ones. My biggest advice for couples dealing with a self employment or house management issue is to look into Fair Play Method - there are games, books and documentaries about it.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care is essential for maintaining your well-being and managing the demands of motherhood and a career. Set aside time for self-care activities that recharge and replenish your energy, such as exercising, meditating, reading, or pursuing hobbies outside of photography. Prioritizing self-care not only benefits you but also allows you to be a better mom and photographer. To prevent burn out I’ve picked up new hobbies (Important note: you do NOT need to monetize all your hobbies, they can be for fun - try that before you just try to make money)

Streamline and Automate Your Workflow

Finding ways to streamline and automate your photography workflow can save you precious time. Utilize tools that help you manage client communication, automate social media posting, or streamline editing and album design processes. By optimizing your workflow, you can create more efficiency and free up time for other aspects of your life.

I use Honeybook for my workflows and customer management, click here for 25% off.

Learn to Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability

Being a mom and a wedding photographer requires flexibility and adaptability. Understand that not everything will always go according to plan, and unexpected challenges may arise. Learn to embrace flexibility and be willing to adjust your schedule and expectations as needed. Having a positive and adaptive mindset will help you navigate the demands of both roles.

When things get tough and balancing both roles feels overwhelming, remind yourself why you chose to become a wedding photographer and a mom. Keep your purpose and passion in mind as motivation to push through challenges and find joy in both your photography career and motherhood journey.

Finding balance between being a mom to young kids and pursuing a career as a wedding photographer is a constant juggling act. By setting boundaries, creating a schedule, asking for help, practicing self-care, streamlining workflows, and embracing flexibility, you can find harmony in both roles. Remember, finding balance is personal, and it may take time to find what works best for you and your family. With patience, perseverance, and a supportive mindset, you can thrive as both a mom and a wedding photographer.

P.S Thank you to Courtney Jewell for taking these adorable photos :)

Etsy Guide | Unleash the Power of Pinterest: A Guide to Marketing Your Listings

In the vast and ever-expanding online marketplace, Etsy has emerged as a haven for creative entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their unique handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. As an Etsy shop owner, one of the greatest challenges is getting your products in front of potential buyers. Enter Pinterest, the visual discovery platform that offers a wealth of marketing opportunities. Join us as we explore how Etsy shop owners can harness the power of Pinterest to effectively market their new and existing listings, driving traffic and boosting sales.

Creating a Pinterest Business Account:

Your journey begins by setting up a Pinterest business account. This allows you to access valuable analytics, advertising tools, and Pinterest's shopping features. By linking your Etsy shop to your Pinterest profile, you'll be able to showcase your products and share them with a wider audience.

Captivating Visuals:

Pinterest is all about captivating visuals, so ensure your listings' images are high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and accurately represent your products. Take the time to create eye-catching lifestyle shots, product flat lays, and detail shots that showcase the unique features of your items. Infuse your branding and style into your Pinterest boards to create a cohesive and recognizable presence.

Curating Attractive Boards:

Utilize Pinterest boards to organize and showcase your listings. Create boards that align with different categories or themes of your products. For example, if you sell handmade jewelry, you could have boards dedicated to statement necklaces, minimalist designs, and bridal accessories. Curate your boards with a mix of your own listings and relevant content from other pinners, keeping your boards engaging and inspiring.

Optimizing Pinterest SEO:

Just like with search engines, optimizing your Etsy listing titles, descriptions, and tags is crucial for being found on Pinterest. Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions that accurately describe your products and include relevant hashtags. Leverage Pinterest's guided search feature by typing in keywords related to your listings and incorporating similar terms into your descriptions and tags.

I use erank to help manage my listings SEO - it breaks down what is needed for each listing and also have search options to find the best performing search words.

Utilizing Rich Pins:

Make use of Pinterest's Rich Pins feature to provide additional details about your listings directly on the platform. By enabling rich pins for your Etsy shop, product information such as pricing, availability, and product descriptions are automatically updated from your Etsy listings. This makes it easier for potential buyers to make purchasing decisions and increases your shop's visibility.

Engaging with the Pinterest Community:

Engagement is key on Pinterest. Take the time to interact with other pinners by liking, repinning, and commenting on their content. Follow relevant influencers, join group boards in your niche, and participate in community discussions. Building relationships and fostering genuine engagement will help your products gain exposure and attract potential customers.

Pinterest's visual-driven platform offers Etsy shop owners a wealth of marketing opportunities to promote their new and existing listings. By creating a captivating presence, curating appealing boards, optimizing SEO, and engaging with the Pinterest community, you can effectively drive traffic to your Etsy shop and boost sales. Embrace the power of Pinterest and unlock the potential for your Etsy business to flourish in the vast online marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Some most commonly asked questions I get about my personal Etsy shop to Pinterest connection (I have sold almost $10,000 of digital goods on Etsy and have approximately 150,000 monthly viewers on my pins).

How many of your listings do you pin and how often?

I pin all my listings as I put them up, if you have existing listings I'd do 3-5 per day for a while. Download a plug in for your browser so you aren't limited to just sharing one image of the listing, for example when you share your listing on Pinterest through your listing tools you can only share the pin as the main image, with a plug in your can share each image in the listing which creates more pins for the same link. (I use tailwind as well)

do you change the wording on the pins or use the default text from your Etsy listings?

I'd try a mix of both to see which ones are performing better, after a month check again and change it to one or the other depending on their stats, but for the ones you are adding wording to make sure it's full of keywords that relate to the image and what you'd think people would be searching for. 

do you use hashtags like on instagram?

You do not need to put a hashtag in front of a keyword in Pinterest but you're not penalized if you do.

Want Etsy or Pinterest mentoring? Reach out to me at hello@mollymargaretphotography.com

How to Start a Wedding Photography Business | A Beginners Guide by Colorado Wedding Photographer and Videographer Molly Margaret

Capturing Love and Memories: Starting a Wedding Photography Business in Colorado

Have you always had a passion for photography and a love for capturing special moments? Starting a wedding photography business in Colorado can be a rewarding and exciting venture.

Lots of creatives might want to say it’s so saturated - and yeah they’re right, there are a ton of photographers who call Colorado home. However did you know over FOURTY THOUSAND couples were married in Colorado last year? And that’s on 17th on the list of 50 states for number of weddings, there is plenty of business to go around.

With its stunning natural landscapes, vibrant wedding industry, and diverse clientele, Colorado provides the perfect canvas for photographers to express their creativity and build a thriving business. Here are some steps to help you get started:

1. Hone Your Skills and Style

Before stepping into the wedding photography industry, it's essential to develop your skills and define your unique style. Take the time to practice and experiment with different techniques, lighting, and compositions. Attend photography workshops, study online tutorials, and learn from established photographers to refine your craft and create a distinct visual aesthetic. Be true to your own style but don’t be afraid to stand out and select a niche market if it brings you joy. Also, try to find a style you like so you’re not constantly changing it. (Though honestly, my style has changed drastically since I began in 2016 so don’t be afraid of that)

2. Build Your Portfolio

A strong portfolio is key to attracting potential clients. Start by photographing friends' and family members' weddings to build a diverse collection of images. Showcase your best work on a professional website and create a curated portfolio that highlights your style, attention to detail, and ability to capture candid moments and emotions.

Some might say never discount/shoot for free and yes, there is a point where people or businesses might try to convince you to shoot for free for “exposure” but when you’re first starting out those free or discount gigs really help you A - you learn and can edit and practice with less pressure B - you will know how to value your time and set a livable wage after seeing what work goes into different types of projects.

3. Establish Your Business

Before launching your wedding photography business, take care of the essential legal and logistical aspects. Register your business and obtain the necessary permits and licenses. Set up a dedicated business bank account and establish a system for invoicing and managing finances.

You can register as a S-Corp, LLC, Sole Proprietor etc through the Colorado Secretary of State. Colorado does now require a sales tax be collected on any deliverable item, this includes digital files. So register for that as well!

Personally, I use Honeybook as a customer service manager, it has automations, workflows, great templates to start out with and more - click this link for a discount.

Colorado is famous for having several different permit process. Before you shoot anywhere, check for permits and 9 times out of 10 - you’ll need them.

4. Networking and Marketing

Networking is crucial for building your reputation and attracting clients in the wedding industry. Attend bridal shows, industry events, and join professional photography associations to connect with potential clients, vendors, and fellow photographers. Invest in a strong online presence by creating a website, maintaining active social media accounts, and showcasing your work in online wedding directories.

I belong to a group call Denver Photo Betties and volunteer for several photography related associations throughout the year as well. Both provide excellent opportunities to connect, market and get feedback from fellow creatives. Remember community over competition .

5. Pricing and Packages

Determining your pricing structure is an important part of running a successful wedding photography business. Research the local market and industry standards to set competitive rates. Create various packages that cater to different client budgets and preferences, offering options such as engagement shoots, additional coverage, and album design. Most importantly: be transparent about what each package includes to avoid confusion and build trust with your clients.

Note: A good contract should be a part of your invoicing as well, Honeybook offers some templates and I have personally used attorneys to write mine too (typically a couple hundred dollars if you’re curious on the budget)

6. Continued Growth and Learning

As a wedding photographer, it's essential to continuously grow and learn. Stay updated on the latest trends, techniques, and equipment in the industry. Seek out mentorship opportunities and participate in workshops or online courses to enhance your skills and expand your knowledge. Embrace feedback from clients and fellow photographers to continually improve your craft and take your business to new heights.

Starting a wedding photography business in Colorado can be an incredible journey of creativity and fulfillment. With dedication, passion, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service, you can create a thriving business capturing beautiful moments and preserving memories for couples on their special day. Embrace the natural beauty and vibrant wedding industry of Colorado, and let your photography business soar.

I have successfully grown my business from a part time and weekend hobby to a 6 figure business. If you ever want to book a mentor session email me at hello@mollymargaretphotography.com

Etsy Resources | How to Print Your Etsy Art Printables

Printing Options For Your Digital Print Purchase

A common question I receive is, how do I print my purchase? You can always order prints through me here, my fine art prints are professional giclee prints with a variety of paper options. However if you prefer to print yourself (sometimes it’s a most cost effective or quicker option!) here are some good options especially if you’re doing the 16x20 size.

Please note: I have not tried out all of these print options and paper changes, quality and art replication can be different piece to piece. I plan on doing a comparison post of these options so stay tuned!

Artifact Uprising - My Favorite

With a huge selection of print options, artifact uprising creates truly beautiful prints and art. They are a higher price and a bit of a turnaround time but it’s totally worth it.

PS - Use the this link and get $20 off your first order!

Walgreens

Select poster size to create a poster print at a reasonable price, most locations also have same day pickup!

Vistaprint

Poster options with paper changes available.

Shutterfly

Select ‘upload your own design’ to create your own art print.

Etsy Education | Easy Pinterest Tips to Grow Your Etsy Business

Beginner Pinterest Tips | One of the most common questions I get regarding Etsy SEO and marketing is how do I start using Pinterest in my marketing strategy?

Okay, lets start with some quick steps you can take with Pinterest to be sure you're utilizing it to the highest potential or at least more than you are now.

1. Be sure you have a business account and link your Etsy shop to it (Create or change to business account then go to edit profile > claim > add Etsy)

2. Install a plug in to your browser or use a service like tailwind to be able to pin each image of your listing not just the main one (Google chrome has a free plug in which then makes any image a pinable image). You can pin from each image and each listing, see image below for an example of the share buttons under listing tools. To save each image directly once you have the plug in installed, hover over the image with your curser and a pin save button will appear.

3. Add descriptions to your pins so users can search and find the pin easily, when you save via Etsy it will default to your listing description which is also fine to leave as is as long as you’re using SEO for appropriate listing titles and providing good, clear descriptions. Example below has the default pulled description:

4. Have visual and well made mockups or photos of your products so Pinterest recognizes the quality images. This should seem obvious but a cohesive and clear description along with high quality images of your products will provide the pinterest pinner and the purchaser a better idea of what they’ll receive.

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Want to know how well your Pinterest pins are doing?

Once you've claimed your Etsy and are pinning images regularly from your shop you can check you business Pinterest analytics on them which show how many people are clicking the pin to your Etsy listing and how many are saving, you can also see what types of boards people are saving to for more information on who is looking at your work. 

Also check your Etsy stats and check under social media which will show what percentage of traffic is coming from Pinterest. 

Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me questions

How to Make Home Decor | Easy DIY Art Project | Etsy Education

How to Make Basic Home Decor for Yourself or Your Etsy Shop | Etsy Education Molly Margaret Studio

Ready to start designing your own home decor or need some help making Etsy prints to sell? Make your own home decor like you find on Etsy using free resources. See below for step by step instructions on how to begin making unique art for your home, friends or even as a business!

Here’s what we’ll be making today, this is a great tutorial to base more design work on or to make your own home decor using custom quotes or meaningful words for you.

Resources used:

Free Font Options: Dafont.com | Paid Font Options with Commercial Licensing: Creativemarket.com

Adobe Photoshop | Apple Pages

Any questions? Comment below!

Before you get started | Research and select a font to use (if you don’t have one you love already)

You can select from many free fonts for personal use on dafont.com or go to Creative Market for great paid options that will come with a commercial license if you plan on selling the prints.

I like to use handwritten style fonts, script fonts or modern fonts.

To download fonts in Mac:

Open the folder (unzip first if needed) that downloaded from either site and contains the new font, double click the .ttf file - this will open your font book, select install font

To download fonts to a PC:

If you have Windows 10, open the folder that contains the new font, right click the font file and select install

Another great thing about Creative Market are their weekly free design products, it’s absolutely worth signing up for their notifications.

Photoshop Instructions:

If you plan on making digital art in photoshop, which I recommend if you’re trying to sell the art or want to print large scale projects, check out these instructions. If you don’t have access to photoshop or have no idea how to even open a new project there - scroll down to the Apple Pages instructions, which are easy to reflect into Microsoft Word.

Step One | Open a new white background document sized 16x20 (or whatever size you’d like your image to be) 300 dpi (default setting anyway but good to check just in case).

Step Two | Using the horizontal type tool, make three separate text boxes or layers with the words let’s stay home - or whatever words/phrasing you’d like.

I explain it a bit more in the video, but keeping each line or word of text on different layers help you maintain more control over the final look of the project through individual word size changes, position etc.

Step Three | Select all three layers using the move tool and adjust the size by selecting a corner square of the transform controls (the box that shows up around the words) and while holding the shift key - make the box smaller or larger. At this time I also center the words together.

Step Four | Ta-Da! It’s done! It’s that easy.

If you want to sell the print be sure to save it at a high quality size, I even keep photoshop file copies in case another size is requested so I can easily adjust the sizing without sacrificing the quality of the print.

apple pages Instructions:

If you don’t have access to photoshop or don’t want to pay for the subscription through Adobe, you can easily use Apple Pages or Microsoft Word to create your prints for personal use.

Step One | Open a new document - it’s convenient that apple pages defaults to a regular printer paper sized document, you can easily cut the paper to fit your frame or adjust the print sizes in the program.

Step Two | Type out the phrase you’d like to print.

Step Three | Change the font to the one you downloaded and the size.

Step Four | To make your design look more professional, make adjustments to the line height which will bring the words closer together or further apart.

Step Five | Center your text and add spacing above and below it as needed. (You can also just make it all in a text box and move with your curser)

Step Six | It’s done! Print and put in an 8x10 frame, enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Let me know if you have any questions.

How to Make a Dual Image Mockup | Etsy Help

How to create a two frame mockup for your Etsy artwork | Molly Margaret Photography Education

As you may have seen, I regularly post my Etsy artwork and to share it I use what are called Mockups - you can purchase these but they’re also fairly easy to make on your own. Here is a tutorial video and some written instruction on how to make a two frame dual image mockup for your Etsy shop. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

The video tutorial:

The written steps:

Step One: Prepare the Image.

Edit out any distractions, set a background to the picture frames.

Step Two: Select the areas for art to sit in the frame using the Marquee Tool.

Select a rectangle or square within the existing frames, as close to the actual frame interior as possible but it does not need to be perfect.

Step Three: Right click to create a new layer via copy

Step Four: Right click the new layer and convert it to a Smart Object.

Step Five: Repeat for the other frame, the final of the two new layers correctly converted will look like this -

Step Six: Select the smart object thumbnail to open the smart object.

You’ll see whatever was copied when the new layer was created with the marquee tool, go ahead and create a new layer then delete that layer with the copied content.

Your updated smart object should look like this -

Step Seven: To place in your artwork go to File > Place Embedded > Select the file you’d like to place + Press Enter once it’s placed.

Here’s what it looks like with the design in place, press control S to save the smart object (or File > Save)

Step Eight: Confirm the smart object has pulled over the piece of art/design and that Transform Controls are ON.(Show Transform Controls in the upper left on the top control panel)

Step Nine: Adjust the file to fit into the frame Edit > Transform > Distort then drag the corner of the art to be flush with the frame. Press enter when it fits to your liking.

Step Ten: Repeat for the second image.

Step Eleven: Change the Mode of the layers to Multiply or Darken (sometimes Darken or Multiply will make parts of the design disappear so check which one works best for your artwork).

Step Twelve: Done! Save as a JPG for your Etsy listing and as a PSD file to keep the smart layers and use again for other projects.

Hope this all helps! Comment if you have questions! Thanks :-)

20 Blog Prompts | Blog Topics for Small Business Owners

Blog Topics for Small Business Owners by Colorado Wedding Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

If you’ve recently read my post about increasing your online presence or if you are a bit intimidated on where to start, here are some good topics to start with when it comes to blogging both for SEO purposes and personal.

Personal Sharing

- Five things people don’t know about you

- How you met your spouse/partner

- Significant event stories: buying your home, having children, family story

- Interview your child and get their perspective on things

- Write a letter to yourself, either 5 years ago, younger, now, 10 years from now etc

- Favorites: restaurants, travel locations, recipes

- Your WHY: Why you do what you do, the reasoning behind it all

- 10 things you’ve learned over the past 10 years

- Most embarrassing moment

- Share a hobby you have tried or do regularly

Business Related

- Your business goals for this year

- Your workflow from start to end

- Five things you’ve learned from your business

- Then & Now post (beginning of career versus now)

- Talk about something that failed in your business and how you fix it

- Frequently Asked Questions you receive

- The history of your business

- What tools it takes to do your job

- How much it costs to do your job

- Myth vs Fact in your industry or common misconceptions

I hope these ideas help get your creative juices flowing! Also, can we acknowledge that is one of the weirdest sayings? Glad we agree!

5 Easy Ways to Increase Your Online Presence | Brand Awareness and Social Media Tips

How to Share about Yourself on Social Media in an Authentic and True Way | By Colorado Wedding Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

I recently met with a fellow photographer who asked one of the most common questions I get from both new creatives and seasoned pros alike - HOW do I share about myself and WHAT do I share about myself?

It’s fairly common knowledge that in todays social media crazy world, online presence is fairly crucial to an successful business. However, it’s also not always the easiest thing to share yourself to your clients, potential clients and random followers online. Because of this, people just don’t share much about themselves and from personal experience as well as from other pros - this is such a missed opportunity! I can tell you first hand that 99% of my couples mention something they saw about me on my instagram stories or facebook page - ok it’s not about me it’s about my kiddo, he’s a fan favorite. I love that I can connect with my couples are a more personal level through social media before their big day and sometimes even before they inquire with me! Also fun fact if you’re one of my couples we follow each other online, I respond to an interact with your posts a ton because I too want to get to know you! #clingy #sorrynotsorry

Ok, so we agree, sharing yourself online is daunting but necessary. Now - what are some easy ways to start sharing and continue sharing on social media?

1 | Make a list of 10-20 facts about yourself.

When you have a moment, write down a list of fun facts or information pieces of your life. If you are having a hard time coming up with things, some easy topics to start things off include: where you went to school, where you grew up, how you met your spouse, why you started the business you did, what your first year in business looked like, your favorite things (flowers - foods - colors etc). Another good way to get information is to just ask your closest friends and family for 2-3 things they know about you or want to know about you. Then using this list, you can write those ever popular personal posts on social media by sprinkling a few into them!

Here’s an example:

2 | Show up on your social media - as in show your face!

Experts agree, showing just your product/artwork/work on instagram or social media is not the best way to approach social media engagement. While yes, your clients are there to see your work and compare your portfolio to others but they’re also looking to find out the who behind the what - what being the product and the who being the creator and professional. Sharing your face, your loved ones and other personal posts bring people closer to you as a professional and to your brand.

On average, I post photos of myself or my family to my instagram or facebook every 9-12 posts. As well as daily instagram and facebook stories. An easy way to get quality photos as a photographer is to trade with another photographer and participate in a headshot swap. If you’re not a photographer or don’t have equipment another great plan is to bring a friend out to a park/downtown area and take a couple photos there as well! I have about 7 photos I regularly rotate through in these posts and try to take new photos once a year.

The statistics behind personal posting and engaging people to generate more followers:

78% of people following a brand say they’ll recommend that brand to a friend or family member, 77% will purchase from a brand they follow on social media.

3 | Stumped on ideas to write about for your blog or social media posts? Look through blog idea lists.

There are many existing lists of blog post ideas, all of which can be used for short social media posts, video inspiration or for actual blogs. Here are some to get you started:

- Why did you start your business? What drives you to continue it to this day?

- What are your business goals for the year?

- What is a favorite vacation you’ve gone on?

- Introduce them to someone in your life, and explain how you met.

Need more prompts? You can easily google blog prompts or check out my list here.

4 | Combine your personal and business accounts, and select which platforms are the best for you.

As I stated above, consumers love to follow brands not just as something to purchase but for information, connection and inspiration. While you can keep a private personal social media account, putting personal things into your work social media can help create a cohesive brand.

In regards to where you should be posting can vary brand to brand. There are multiple social media platforms out there now from TikTok to Facebook. If you feel drawn more to one versus the other, great, or you can test the waters on many and narrow it down to 2 or 3. For example, I have little to no twitter presence but my facebook, instagram and Pinterest bring in around 50-60% of my web traffic and business. You’re not limited to just apps or visual social media too, there are video platforms, podcasts and written publications.

5 | Update or add an About Me section to your website.

With all of these prompts and ideas, you can fairly easily put together an about me which is a good opportunity to boost SEO on your site using keywords related to your business as well as give visiting potential clients a better idea of who they may be working with.

Your about me should include the following:

- A brief description of you and your interests

- A history of your involvement in the industry

- Personal and Professional accomplishments

Consumers can usually tell if someone is being entirely scripted and/or trying too hard so be sure to sit down and really brainstorm to be sure you’re portraying your best authentic self. All of the above steps are easy ways to boost engagement and share more about yourself to draw in a more involved following but remember to not stress too much about it! Enjoy opening up and you may even learn a thing or two about yourself!

What's in My Camera Bag? A Guide to Photography Equipment | By Colorado Wedding Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

Probably the most common questions I get are -

What equipment do you have? - Or - What should I buy as a beginner photographer looking to transition into more professional equipment?

Here’s an easy breakdown, also I’ve included links and pricing - approximate as of the date this was published. The items on this list are Nikon compatible, if you’re canon or otherwise they might work for you but always check the links and specifications :-)

Alright, lets dive in here!

| camera body |

First things first, my camera, I shoot with two Nikon D750s. I always recommend two camera bodies for the following reasons:

1. In case one breaks, you should ALWAYS have backups of any equipment, especially the most important one - your camera.

2. To achieve different purposes with each camera. For example: I use one for video and one for still frames, or one for tight lens captures and one for a more wide lens.

Nikon D750 - $1497

The Nikon D750 was voted camera of the year, and is an FX format camera - meaning it is a full frame camera. If you plan on shooting both video and still photography, it’s a good transition between the two. It has the following features:

• 24.3 megapixels

• 6.5 frame per second continuous shooting

• ISO 100 - 12,800 (expandable up to 51,200 (aka it’s great in low light))

• Full HD video - 1080P 24-60/fps

• WiFi Built In (you can download an app to take images / upload without an added external shutter)

Not ready for all that? Here’s the first DSLR I purchased, and shot a wedding on! It’s the Nikon D3300 and it’s only about $500 with a lens included.

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| lenses |

Okay, next up we have lenses. There’s a large debate on if you should shoot prime lenses or zoom lenses. I don’t care what you shoot, and heck I have a backup lens that is a zoom. But if we’re talking preferences and what I actually shoot 99.9% of my weddings on - it’s a prime 85mm and prime 35mm lens. So do you boo, just be sure to invest in good quality glass - preferably full frame.

nikon af nikkor 85mm f/1.8g $477

The 85mm is a prime, full frame lens and perfect for moments during ceremonies or guest candids without getting too close. Plus it’s so great for portraits. Next is my favorite wide angle prime lens.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G $527

I use the 35mm for those wide environment shots and for engagement sessions, it’s incredibly versatile!

Remember when I mentioned backup equipment? My backup lenses are a Nikkor 50mm 1.8 and Nikkor 24-120mm Zoom lens

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| FLASHES + LIGHTING |

A standard issue to have to deal with while shooting a wedding is bad lighting. Churches, receptions and getting ready rooms are notoriously dark or lit poorly. To combat this, I use several lighting sources outside of the sun.

Nikon SB-700 Speedlight - $327

I own two of these flashes for OCF (off camera flash) purposes. OCF can be extremely beneficial during receptions and will help remove grain from dark images as well as light your subjects well in dark spaces.

Another good resource with flash photography is an add on like a diffuser. I use the magmod system because of its versatility.

MagMod Starter Set - $100

This set will work on any size flash and you can swap it from one to another - I use it at every wedding!

NEEWER 160 LED CN-160 - $22

(yep, that inexpensive)

Another option with external lighting, especially helpful is continuous lighting. Continuous lighting systems are particularly helpful with videography. My video lights are very early starter equipment but they have great customer service and I’ve used this specific light system at multiple events.

Westcott 9908 8-feet Lightweight Stand - $39

Now that you have all these lights and modifiers and you’re hip to that off camera flash thing, you need somewhere to put the lights, I use these Westcott light stands because they’re easy to transport and they are super lightweight. To attach the flashes I use this modifier which will work with the flash hotshoe.

Yongnuo YN-622N, Yongnuo YN-622N YN 622 Wireless I TTL ITTL HSS 1/8000S Flash - $78

To get the flashes and camera to communicate you need transceivers, I use Yongnuo and apply this to my two SB-700s.

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| video equipment |

In addition to the continuous lights I posted above, I use a gimbal and tripod to stabilize my video shots.

ZHIYUN Crane V2 - $379

AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag - $24

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| Straps and Holsters |

Still hanging in there?? Ok, final items I use are a Clydesdale Pro-Dual Handmade Harness to carry my cameras if I’m using both at the same time. If it’s just one at a time I use a Neoprene Quick Release Safety Tether, Camera Sling.

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I hope this list is beneficial, theres so much more than goes into it like SD cards, a good camera bag and a BILLION BATTERIES. But this is a good start! Please note this blog contains affiliate links, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. :)

Have any questions for me regarding equipment or what I keep in my camera bag? Reach out to me here: hello@mollymargaretphotography.com

Tips for photographing families and children | By Colorado Family Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

I often get asked How can I improve my family photo taking skills? Especially around the holidays when people are taking photos of their loved ones at events and at home. I’ve compiled a quick list for reference here:

TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING FAMILIES + CHILDREN

• Capture the family in their genuine embrace, encourage them to hug each other and goof around

• Get on the same level, having parents crouch down when posing with young children can help create a more controlled final portrait

• Photograph from above to get small faces and features in focus

• Bring small toys or play cartoons above the camera for small children

• Remember to capture individuals of each child

• Talk with the family beforehand and review clothing choices for a more cohesive image

• Have parents interact in photos to show closeness

• Pair up families with matriarch/patriarch in center and build outward with family units alternating for standing posed larger groups, shoot in a higher f/stop to ensure members are in focus and be sure to "window" people so you can see them clearly

COMMON MISTAKES WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

• Expecting young children to pose, or cooperate for an extended amount of time

• Not checking for stains/messy hands/hair

• Forgetting to get photos of individuals or pairs beyond the entire family

• Not coordinating outfits in advance that match each other and the enviroment

• Not coordinating an appropriate location (aka getting permits as needed, picking outdoor spots in bad weather)

• Forgetting to remove sunglasses

• Shooting a too low F/stop so members are not in focus

Five Things to Consider Before Changing Careers | By Colorado Wedding Photographer Molly Margaret Photography

When I made the decision to leave my corporate job in insurance claims to pursue wedding photography, I’ll admit I was excited and terrified at the same time. I had spent 7 years with my previous employer and felt almost as though I was just abandoning my life plan. 

I started my corporate career with ambitions of management, power suits and high level meetings. After changing departments, going through promotions and then starting a family I began to realize my aspirations had changed. I stressed hearing my work phone ring, struggled to balance social time in my office and constant stories full of negatives took over my home and work life. 

I started taking photos in high school after observing my grandfather and mother constantly capturing our moments at home. For my 15th birthday my brother purchased me photoshop and my first digital camera. ‘It’s this or drivers-ed,’ he said to me. From then on, I depended on friends and public transportation for rides a lot more but the creative in me flourished. After giving birth to my son 10 years later I upgraded my equipment again and people began asking me for photos of their families as well. I came to love weddings through natural progression and never looked back. 

So here are the five things to consider before working from home:

1. It’s insanely lonely | I spend my days listening to podcasts or with Netflix streaming because the silence is almost deafening. I loved talking to coworkers (ok, maybe too much) and trips to get coffee or donuts in the break room just cannot be replaced.

2. You really become part of a unique community | How often do you and your coworkers get together now? Every week, month? Quarterly? The beauty of creatives is there are always events to attend, masterminds to delve into, groups to engage with and marketing lunches. I was intimidated to list “photographer” as my job description (hello - just updated my LinkedIn like a week ago) until I realized the massive community that thrives being just that, and so much more! 

3. Your family life and personal relationships change | I just planned a trip to Wisconsin with no worries as to putting in for time off or letting several people know I won’t be in the office. I make my own schedule and can accommodate any work needed on the road - or just put up an away message and disconnect for the weekend. After my son was struck with an illness I didn’t need to worry about being written up for having used too much sick time, I was simply able to make adjustments to my schedule and devote my time to making him better. 

On the opposite end of this spectrum however, you are responsible for your schedule and sometimes that means working from 11pm to 1am so you can spend extra time during the day with your little ones or turning down those ladies nights for events you’re either working or attending. 

4. Your creative path may change - and that’s ok | When I quit my corporate job I had a clear and concise plan of what I wanted to do and where I saw my business in a year. Then things changed. When you’re running your own business there are more influences than just the occasional schedule change or flight for a work training. Having structure is crucial to success but you’ll soon realize your initial path isn’t working, fulfilling you, or heck, even paying your bills. You’ll need to know how to be flexible and reevaluate. 

5. Taxes, insurance, cost of doing business, personal finances, life insurance and disability insurance | I was lucky enough to have a financial advisor husband who helped exponentially prior to me leaving my job but I hear about entrepreneurs and business owners struggling with this almost weekly. Setting up insurance, a savings plan and having a realistic idea of what taxes and your business will cost to run is crucial to - how do I put this lightly - not fall flat on your face in your first year of business independently. 

So, is the transition to creative the right path for you? If you read this list and were like - well that sounds like the worst thing, ever. Maybe it isn’t - for now. For those of you who literally end this with the thought ‘shut up and take my money,’ well then, I’ll see you at the next creative meet up.