Pintrest-ing

I am in love with Pintrest! I've always been a fan of finding inspirational photos ("copying" them) and saving them on my desktop - especially when I was redecorating my room. I found out about pintrest maybe 8 or 9 months ago and I can't stop "pinning" now lol. It's really quite useful. I have pinning boards for fashion inspirations, my business brand, hair styles, travel destinations, interior decorating, and more! If you'd like an invite just let me know. I'd also love to connect with you and see what things interest you, so check me out here and I can follow you too!

The Year of All Things New...The Year of Brand New Beginnings

So I've decided to start the new year off with a "Big Bang" loL...I really feel it in my bones that I will accomplish all of the things that I want to accomplish in this new year, and you know what, I couldn't be happier! So happy in fact, that I really do want to share the excitement with ya'll and get you guys hyped up and excited with me! I will have officially had N~Grace Photography for 2 years next month and I see the long trail that has lead us up to where N~Grace Photography is now. It's pretty amazing what support, motivation and determination will do for you ;) 

So anyway, on to the more exciting parts lol...I've got a lot of new things happening for the "new year" - new travels, new thoughts, new brands, new ideas and goals, and new accomplishments! - so the theme of this celebration is "The Year of All Things New...The Year of Brand New Beginnings!" :D Don't you just love it! Come on get amp'd up (insert amp'd up music and dancing here)!! In celebration of this exciting new time, we (yepp, WE) are going to celebrate during the entire month of January! I've got prizes, giveaways, discounts, and FUN! I like to party and have a good time so I want ya'll to look at this celebration like one big virtual party and have a good time! Oh, and everything's on me! ;) 

HERE'S THE DEAL:

     Every Monday (to jump start your week on a good note) and Friday (to end the week even better) during the month of January check my blog and facebook page to find out what the deal of the day is. Remember I'll be giving away prizes, Discounts, and FREEBIES! Woot Woot!

What causes great business results?

I've been doing a lot of research over the past six months about positive customer experiences and how it affects business results. Many people want to know the secret of gaining lots of exposure and business (including me), but instead of flat out giving you the answer I've found, I thought it'd be cool to do a little activity ;)

Think of three brands that you've interacted with that you absolutely love and have purchased [something - service or product] from more than once. For me I think of...

• Jet Blue Airlines
• The Trunk Stylists
• Apple

 Why do I think these companies/businesses are so great? Well, I was introduced to Jet Blue when I was pretty young and I loved that they had TVs on the back of every seat so I could watch cartoons - not having to sit and watch a movie (one I prob. didn't want to see anyway) on a screen 4 rows ahead of me! Pretty convenient for each of their flyers, huh? They also provided me with a snack and drink (people always respond favorably to food loL), the airplane was clean and the seats were pretty comfy. As I got older and started paying for my own flights I quickly learned the value of "Free checked baggage" which is something Jet Blue has always offered over most of their competitors! I've experienced a few different airlines and always seem to be disappointed because none of them measure up to the standards of Jet Blue, in my opinion.
   The Trunk, my favorite local boutique store! What's so great about this boutique? Simple, Aneesa and Marianne. The two of them have shown excellent customer service and we've since passed the point of owner/customer relationship, I really feel like we are friends. They greet everyone who walks through their doors and if you are a more frequent shopper they will most def. greet you by name which I think is something everyone likes. On top of selling extremely stylish clothes they provide a service that gains them promoters who spread the word of their shop and keep people coming back.
     Apple. 'Nough said, right!? loL ;) - Apple produces products that are just unmatchable. They really do provide excellent products! The design of each product is always modern which appeals to people. The fact that they are a premium product, in my opinion, makes them all the more appealing to potential customers. They pay exquisite attention to detail in their product designs, customer service and marketing efforts; because of this rarity customers have jumped in line to purchase!

The point is, no matter which company or business you came up with you'll probably note that they all deliver excellent customer experiences! Whether that means they offer free checked luggage, go the extra mile in remembering your name, asking how you're doing and genuinely care and listen, or pay attention to the details that you as a customer care about and then go beyond those expectations. Remember, excellent customer experiences produce great business results because it causes people to promote you and your business! Having those "promoters" are the BEST way to keep and increase business.

And only because a post looks so much better with an image, here's a sneak peek to a photo shoot I had earlier this morning on the beach....

New Year = New Excitements!

Get ready for the celebration of the year! Woot Woot! Your not gonna want to miss this ;)
Stay tuned for more info coming very soon!

Murmuration

I came across this video a few weeks ago and it blew my mind! This act is called murmuration, there are 100,000+ starlings and apparently they move in such a way in order to survive (to keep from being eaten!). 

They "seek safety in numbers, gathering in flocks and with every bird trying to avoid the edge where adept predators can sometimes snatch a victim." Oh and by the way this footage was shot in Ireland, the land in which I am hoping to travel to soon remember?! loL

* The Telegraph

Lemonade Stand - "Lemondae For Sale"

Traveling is a passion of mine. Those who know me, know this statement is true. Just yesterday I was given the opportunity to apply and possibly get the chance to travel to Dublin, Ireland!!! I remember when I was younger a few friends of mine visited Ireland with their mom, I remember seeing photos of the extraordinary plush, green mountains just imagining I'd gone with them. And then (years later) it happened, I saw one of the best romance drama movies ever produced...P.S. I Love You!!! It was then when I fell (one of those falls when your toes are curled all the way to the back, your ankle is now facing the ground, and your face just plummets to the ground and there is no break to your fall!) in love with that beautiful country.

I have to figure out how I am going to get the money to be able to pay for the trip. I have about 5 months to raise $3500-$4500 for this trip. I will keep saying to myself "where there's a will, there's a way" but I have no idea what way I will get that money! loL I mean geez I'm still just a part-time intern and full time college student. So with that said, anybody interested in buying some lemonade for a buck fifty ($150)? loL! At that rate I'll only need to sell about thirty (30) cups ;)....Nahh, seriously though if you guys have any suggestions as to how I can raise more cash I'd love to hear them :) Mini photo sessions anyone?! I gotta make this work! I'll keep ya'll posted...

What Should I Wear?!

This is one question that will never get old when it comes to getting your pictures taken :) what should we wear? It's a great question to ask because it means you care about the quality of your photos! For a more detailed suggestion as to what to wear during your portrait session you can read my first article of What to Wear?!

So what should you wear? I'm always going to push for color! Bold brights may not be your thing, so we won't even go there loL, but just a pop of color against a soft, neutral background does just fine. A lot of couples and families think you have to be uniform, but I'm here to tell you that is not the case! Instead think more about complimenting each other rather than completely matching each other. Patterns – think stripes, polka dots, florals, etc – on top of color really help to make your photos stand out, in a good way. Textures are great and details too – a favorite hat, cool watch, pretty scarf, fun jewelry, whatever makes you, you! For my portrait sessions you should always plan for at least one outfit change. Keep in mind the location we’ve chosen for your photos. And remember, you want to feel comfortable and confident (and beautiful!) in whatever you choose.

Pictures are always helpful, so here is an inspiration board for you :)...

Article credit: Mikaela Ruth, tweaked by Nina Grace