Tag: maryland event photorgaphy

What My Photography Was Like 5 Years Ago

Starting A Business While In College

When you don’t drink coffee.

 

I don’t know what I was thinking but I re-started my side business while in college probably from fumes of pure excitement. Formally I started Bethany J. photography in high school when a family friend hired me for Christmas photos. If you want to see the work I did back then and a cringe bathroom selfie of me in high school click here. I wanted to grow my business but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.  Have you ever been scared to ask people for money before because that is exactly how it felt at first? I decided to offer free sessions wherever I could in order to build my portfolio which was full of fine artwork. I think I had some imposter syndrome and didn’t feel official enough to actually charge anyone for my work. What I didn’t anticipate was how hard it would be to create family photography while also trying to create more in-depth work in school. I think any creative has been there if they have ever done both meaningful art and fun client work.  I don’t have a formula on how to do it but I can share my experience so you can get to know me a bit more. I have a big rebrand announcement coming and wanted to do this blog post so you can “grow up” with me and understand where I have been and where I am going. Stay tuned for next week’s launch of the new brand!

 

Getting real-world experience

Check out some of the work I created with my first clients. While I had worked on more artistic fine art photography learning to communicate with people for family and professional portraits was a new skill that involved learning to direct people on how to pose, and working with various lighting situations. 

 

 

Developing My Voice

While starting to shoot clients I was also in school learning to develop my voice visually. College is where I learned how to be purposeful with the techniques I had been taught as well as how to tell a story. Here are a few projects I think show my thinking over time by exploring self-portraits, costumes, and dramatic lighting.

Fairy Knots

This project was about my natural hair. I cut my hair in high school and remember being so nervous to have short hair. I learned a lot about myself having to accept my hair as it was. 

Growth

One thing I can reflect on is that during this period of my life, the growth really showed in my technique. I was able to bring that back to my clients. Here are a few samples of the work that I did with some great people!

 

What I look forward to is bringing back some of my passion when it comes from the fine art side of my practice while continuing to use the vibrancy and warmth that I brought to my client portraits. I also look forward to taking the time to make portraits with even more detail and thought. I hope if you are working on your own skills or craft that you choose not to give up. Everything takes practice and time. It took years for me to get to where I am and I still have room left to grow. I like to always say enjoy the journey the destination will come. I would love to hear about what your work looked like 5 years ago! Find me on Instagram @bethanyjphotography or email me by clicking the contact button. Also, stay tuned for my podcast The Creative Cure, and more information about my rebrand launch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Bethany J. Photography is Changing

What’s gonna be new?

 

In one week I will be FINALLY sharing my new rebrand and what that means for my clients and followers! I am so excited because I know what’s coming and I hate keeping secrets! I wanna give you some idea of what is going to happen so you can get ready for the launch.

Fine Art Portraits Only

The biggest change will be in the kind of work I will complete for people. I will be shifting from the family photography service category to a fine art portrait photography practice. Here are the differences between the two, for future clients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As mentioned above I am shifting to not only incorporating being better focused on each individual client’s needs but also providing a service that creates portraits that you can treasure as key pieces for your home.

 

Changing Style

My style has always been vibrant, warm, fun, and colorful. However, I don’t want to stop growing as a creator so for that purpose, I want to shift into creating work for you from a truer place of authenticity. I will continue to keep the key elements of my style but I will be pushing to create portraits that are a bit more in-depth, carefully lit, and filled with an element of wonder. Each session will be about creating a unique work. I want to invite clients to further explore their own creativity with me.

 

Inviting the Creative Community

In addition to inviting clients to collaborate I want to extend the community further by helping creative people, supporters, and more connect. I have so many individual conversations with clients, businesses, and more, and want to build a meeting ground. I will be doing this with the launch of a weekly newsletter that will be for people interested in sharing their triumphs, work, connections, products, and more. I want to hear your stories, see what moves you, and build up the creative community. I believe that coming together in an exclusive community will open the doors for great things to happen! Those who subscribe will get updates first and get the opportunity to share their opinions or ideas for topics to cover or events to share. I will also open the newsletter for small, local, or artisan brands to share their business.

 

 

New Podcast: The Creativity Cure

I will be launching my Podcast The Creativity Cure on February 17th. In working with clients in photography and design I realize that there is a large perception that being creative is purely a gift or talent. I believe that in a big way, creativity is a skill that can be fostered and cultivated in powerful ways. On my podcast, I will talk to women about how they can grow this skill and use it to change how they handle problems with business, relationships, and themselves. The podcast will be available on all platforms and will be streamed every other Friday.

 

Focusing In

I will be focusing on what I do so that I work with those who are on the same page and share the joy of being creative. This means that I will no longer be photographing events, weddings, parties, sports, or boudoir. Not to worry I will be on the lookout for photographers who excel at those segments to make sure you can still be covered. In fact, one of the great things about this change is that I will have a chance to branch out and collaborate with other photographers.

 

The next time I blog I will be reintroducing myself and going into more detail about how you can join The Creative Community and stay connected. You don’t want to miss this!  See you next week.

 

Get the exclusives first by subscribing here.

 

 

Thank You!

2022…
I wasn’t sure how to summarize this year as a photographer. I can only recount setting the goal to get 10 families photographed before 2023. Last year (2021) I was not sure if I was going to do photography again. I had lost confidence in creating. I had a constricted schedule and a new baby on the way. I felt so overwhelmed by what I had to do I couldn’t imagine a way out. Anxiety can do that to you. Your world becomes smaller and your vision is clouded by every “what if.” I decided to give it one more shot and reached out for help.

I dived into learning how to communicate who I am and why I do what I do. Thanks to courses, lots of thinking, and friends, I did a lot of learning and unlearning. I found my old love for art and photography. I started blogging! I posted my face more and made videos and reels! (Something I thought I would never do.) I let people know I was open for business and it has been a gift! I almost missed this journey. I almost missed the new clients I met this year. Reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. I found new locations and vendors. I developed a solid grasp of my style and I began to dream again about what I could do. I began to see the creativity God planted in me bubble up again. I saw the most Christmas sessions I have ever had, I did major events and everything from sports to infant photography. I got to taste it all thanks to you, my clients!

I am THANKFUL. I have come so far and there is more that is yet to come. After a year of trial and error and exploring, I have come to the point where it’s time to renew.

What’s Coming

There are important elements of my artistic photography style that I have limited due to their complexity. I am very proud of the vibrant, candid style I have developed but there is something missing from me. I still crave the opportunity to really craft an image and create work that further shows depth and beauty. I have always had the skills to create this work but I have been hesitant to create it because doing new things can be scary. Next year however I will be reintroducing my brand with a new style and structure that will allow me to bring you better more dynamic work.

I will always have the core of my brand, warmth, vibrancy, and genuine expression. However, I want you to be the first to know that I am also bringing in more of my Fine Art background to develop portraits. More details will be coming so be on the lookout for more on the following changes coming in 2023.

1. I will no longer be offering services as an event or wedding photographer to allow for more portrait sessions.
2. I will be specializing in fine art portrait photography commissions.
3. This means I will be catering each shoot as a unique set around you!
4. Sessions will take more planning time but I believe that the longer time will be worth it for you!

5. This means pricing will be reflecting a new structure. I will communicate everything to you in due time!

 

 

There will be more information coming! I wanted to communicate this to ensure that we are on the same page. I will be offline for Christmas and the New Year so I thank every person who has contributed to the success of Bethany J. Photography! Thank you to everyone who worked with me this year! You are the reason I do what I do! See you in 2023!

 

 

 

Finding Joy

Welcome to my blog. Here I am myself. I am an artist who shares her photography, her family, and more! I called this blog choosing joy because 1. That’s my middle name and 2. Finding joy when life is tough has been a journey for me. More often I am choosing to look for the bright side even when I don’t see it. If you are an artist, a parent, a small business or all three then you will like being around here!

Share your Joy Journey with me by emailing bethany@bethanyjphotography.com. You might be featured in my newsletter!

Your Joy Journey can be something funny or moving your story of overcoming or what brings you joy.

 

 

 

Finding Joy

The Official Bethany J. Photography Blog with Bethany Joy Steele

Check out this page

 

 

If you haven’t been to a couple of Luau you need to go! Celebrating the future Mr. & Mrs. Hollingshead with this unique twist on a bridal shower! Here are some reasons why I love the idea and pics to prove it!

 

 

First I love that at a couple Luau both families are invited, kids and all! Everyone gets to have fun together like a pre-party to the wedding. I know on my wedding day I didn’t get to really hang out with family. A Luau allows you to spend quality time before the wedding. There’s less pressure, everyone can relax and talk with the couple without worrying about their first dance or bouquet toss!

 

 

The other reason I think a couple Luau is great is that you get more excited about the wedding day! Sometimes planning can be stressful, having a get-together just to laugh eat snow cones and dance to music is just fun! Did I mention everyone came dressed on theme! So cute! 

 


 

Finally, I loved the Luau because Patrick and Hope got to celebrate together! 

It was so great to see everyone come together, rain, and all for a good time celebrating Hope and Patrick! Check out more pics below and let me know if you have a couple Luau!

 

Share your story with me by commenting below or emailing:

bethany@bethanyjphotography.com  also DM me on FB and IG:

@BethanyJPhotography!

 

 

Finding the Joy

Welcome to my blog. I talk about choosing joy, to me, that means believing God is good and there is hope in the face of difficulty. I also talk about my goals and challenges. I believe in perseverance, grit, dreaming big, and choosing to challenge yourself to be better than yesterday. 

What does it mean to be a part of the #JoyJourney?

 

It means to choose JOY in the good and bad!
It means we focus on our goals!
It means we challenge ourselves to do better!

 

Wanna share your story? Join the #joyjourney in my FB group here! We encourage each other to accomplish more and meet up once a month for a nature walk! 

 

Sign up for our latest nature walk here!

 

 

 

Finding Joy

The Official Bethany J. Photography Blog with Bethany Joy Steele

Check out this page

 

 

If you haven’t been to a couple of Luau you need to go! Celebrating the future Mr. & Mrs. Hollingshead with this unique twist on a bridal shower! Here are some reasons why I love the idea and pics to prove it!

 

 

First I love that at a couple Luau both families are invited, kids and all! Everyone gets to have fun together like a pre-party to the wedding. I know on my wedding day I didn’t get to really hang out with family. A Luau allows you to spend quality time before the wedding. There’s less pressure, everyone can relax and talk with the couple without worrying about their first dance or bouquet toss!

 

 

The other reason I think a couple Luau is great is that you get more excited about the wedding day! Sometimes planning can be stressful, having a get-together just to laugh eat snow cones and dance to music is just fun! Did I mention everyone came dressed on theme! So cute! 

 


 

Finally, I loved the Luau because Patrick and Hope got to celebrate together! 

It was so great to see everyone come together, rain, and all for a good time celebrating Hope and Patrick! Check out more pics below and let me know if you have a couple Luau!

 

Share your story with me by commenting below or emailing:

bethany@bethanyjphotography.com  also DM me on FB and IG:

@BethanyJPhotography!

 

 

Finding the Joy

Welcome to my blog. I talk about choosing joy, to me, that means believing God is good and there is hope in the face of difficulty. I also talk about my goals and challenges. I believe in perseverance, grit, dreaming big, and choosing to challenge yourself to be better than yesterday. 

What does it mean to be a part of the #JoyJourney?

 

It means to choose JOY in the good and bad!
It means we focus on our goals!
It means we challenge ourselves to do better!

 

Wanna share your story? Join the #joyjourney in my FB group here! We encourage each other to accomplish more and meet up once a month for a nature walk! 

 

Sign up for our latest nature walk here!

 

 

Jasmines 16th

Client Spotlight

Welcome to my first client spotlight! I want to share all of the celebrations I photograph. Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking pictures of Jasmine’s 16th birthday. Special thanks to Selena and Ryder. Selena and I go back to middle school and last year I photographed her wedding which you can see here. Seriously this was the epitome of sweet sixteen gone spooky, check out some of my favorite details here.

The Look

First Jasmine had the perfect look. I loved the nails in addition to the black ball gown and crown.  Scroll to the end to see the amazing gown and full look.

 
 
The Decor

From the door to the tables and the photo booth, the horror-themed decor was on point. The photo booth was a favorite. The cake looks terrifying but tastes awesome! I think it was snickerdoodle? I kept forgetting the giant Jason was fake and kept startling myself lol. 

 

 
 
Dancing

Everyone got out on the dance floor. I loved seeing the kids and grandparents dance! 

Family and Friend Love!

Witnessing this supportive friend and family tribe celebrate Jasmine really touched me. I could see the love this family has in the care they took in making everything just right, in the laughter and toasts!  I enjoyed watching Selena be the big sister fixing her crown and Mom and Dad making sure everything was set up and organized. Jasmine took time to show her love back to her friends, grandparents, and family. I saw so many little kids run up and hug her or grab her hand. The room looked scary but the love was not (lol too cheesy?)  There are so many more pictures I didn’t add but I hope you got a taste of what this night was like, Happy Birthday Jasmine I hope you enjoyed your celebration and I wish you the best year to come!

See you next week! Also, join the #joyjourney with our first nature walk on April 24th!

sign up here

 

 

Finding the Joy

Welcome to my blog. I talk about choosing joy, to me, that means believing God is good and there is hope in the face of difficulty. I also talk about my goals and challenges. I believe in perseverance, grit, dreaming big, and choosing to challenge yourself to be better than yesterday. 

 

What does it mean to be a part of the #JoyJourney?

 

It means to choose JOY in the good and bad!
It means we focus on our goals!
It means we challenge ourselves to do better!

 

Wanna share your story? Join the #joyjourney in my FB group here! We encourage each other to accomplish more and meet up once a month for a nature walk! 

 

Sign up for our latest nature walk here!