What I've Learned From My First Photoshoot | Side Hustle Saturday
Remember when I had my first professional photoshoot for CVTD Beauty back in May? Well, I'm back with some gorgeous photos and all the tea about my experience.In case you didn't see the vlog, one of my blogger friends Chanel was the model (she has a great fashion blog - chanelfiles - btw). She was such a pleasure to work with, and working with her taught me something so important.
Lesson 1: Don't be afraid to ask for help.
As a solopreneur I do pretty much everything on my own. Yes, my family, friends and boyfriend are super supportive and helpful, and I have outside help for certain things (like bookkeeping!), but I run the day-to-day of CVTD Beauty. That means it's so easy to get stuck in the mentality that I'm all alone. But when I reached out to Chanel to see if she wanted to be on this shoot, she said yes right away.In the weeks leading up to the photoshoot, we brainstormed about hair and accessories, and her enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the process were incredible. Sure, I could have hired a model through the photographer, but working with a friend made my first photoshoot that much more memorable. It also showed me that people who support you will always help when given the opportunity. As a person who's independent, particular and just a tiny bit of a control freak, it can be hard to let someone else help, but I've learned that it's a skill worth mastering.
"If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together."
Lesson 2: Everything takes longer than you expect. everything. Plan accordingly.
So far, running a business has gone a little something like this: get an idea, make a plan about executing it, watch that plan go out the window.Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit, but once an idea is out of your head and into the world, you no longer have total control of it. And that's a beautiful thing. It means your dream is becoming reality; you're going for it! It's also scary and stressful. I'm learning what it means to be flexible and adaptable. The key word is "learning" because I still get upset when things don't go as planned.After this shoot, there was a pretty lengthy delay in getting the final images. I had a certain timeline for using the images on Instagram and also to announce a special promotion I was planning to launch on some of the items we used in the photoshoot. Needless to say, I was hella annoyed about the delay, but ultimately I knew that it was a situation beyond my control, and that I had to balance being patient, understanding and assertive. Building a business is all about relationships (isn't everything?) so I'm learning to handle the inevitable frustrations with a little bit more...tact. My instinct may be to fire off a feisty email, but that only gives temporary relief and now I'm thinking about longevity.In the future, I'll build in more of a cushion when my plans involve other people so that a delay won't be that big of a deal. I also learned to always pay freelancers with PayPal. It has a built in dispute resolution process and it really protects buyers in case something goes wrong. You know, just in case.
Lesson 3: Take time to celebrate the little victories.
I have a vision for what I want CVTD Beauty to be, so I feel like I can't take a break until I get there. Truthfully, who knows when I'll get "there" so I need to celebrate along the way, right? Sometimes no one will notice the effort you put in on that project or assignment. Does that mean that the work you did doesn't count? Hell no.I think social media has a way of conditioning us to constantly seek external validation, but chasing the next "like" is exhausting. Don't get me wrong, it feels great to have someone acknowledge and appreciate you! But I'm learning that sometimes I need to be my own cheerleader and clap for myself every now and then.
I'll be sharing more images over on Instagram @CVTDBeauty and cvtdbeauty.com, but in the meantime, here are the details on the makeup looks above:On me:Pinch of Colour Honey Silk Waterless Skin Tint in Brandy // Glow: Pinch of Colour Honey Balm // Lips: Noyah Cosmetics Lipgloss in Summertime PeachOn Chanel:Skin prepped with From Molly With Love Beauty Oil // Base: Pinch of Colour Honey Silk Waterless Skin Tint in Caffe // Glow: Pinch of Colour Honey Balm // Cheeks: Matte Velvet Waterless Lip Colour in Poppy // Lips: Noyah Cosmetics Lipstick in Dolled Up + Lipgloss in Pink Frosting ⠀