Elena S Blair Photography Education | Tips and Resources for Photographers

It's no secret that I'm passionate about lifting up others in the photography industry. After all, it's community that's important, not competition. I love showing others that they can pursue their dream to become a photographer while building a meaningful and profitable business. 

Over at Elena S Blair Education, we do monthly cover contests in our Facebook group and these were some of this month's submissions. Check them out and be sure to join the community! We'd love to have you.

Cover photo by Natalie Marotta.

Sara Lee "I have one of elena's creative live classes, and am currently working through all of the schooled materials ... I'm totally drinking the kool-aid on all of her education resources!"

Www.20thavenuephotography.com | Www.Facebook.com/20thavenuephotography | Www.instagram.com/20thavenuephotography

Jesikah Lee "I have actually just watched the creative life family lifestyle class and LOVED it. I cannot wait to put it all in place. This is a recent photo I have taken and I love it! Whilst it's scary to post photos like this on social media due to peoples opinions but I honestly love it!"

https://www.instagram.com/jaylee___photography/

Emily Bettis Hines "Elena’s class Lifestyle Family Photography: Posing and Direction gave me such a good foundation for running my family sessions. It gives me some great poses to start with that work for all families and listening to Elena talk about connection over perfection has given me the freedom to let go of that need for perfect shots and has allowed me to see that the beauty is in the connection- once you’ve got everyone in a good spot and get them to connect, it looks like magic even if you don’t have the perfect location, wardrobe or smiles."

www.capturedaustin.com

Sara Thom "Elena's Creative Live Family Posing Course was the best purchase I've made for my business! I used to feel like I had no direction during my sessions and now that I implement Elena's workflow, my sessions are so much better! I love that I'm capturing more connection between families and less "look at the camera and smile" poses!"

www.sarathomphotography.com | www.facebook.com/sarathomphotography | www.instagram.com/sarathomphoto

Mary Ann Cozza "I recently purchased the FPME guide and loved it! This was exactly what I was looking for, but didn't know how to ask for. The clear instructions and visual examples helped me put my vision into action. Plus, it gave me the confidence to break some photography rules I thought I needed to follow. Thanks!"

www.maryanncozzaphotography.com | www.facebook.com/maryanncozzaphotography

Cara Butt "I’ve taken Elena’s classes on creative live. She helped my find my passion again! I’m so grateful for her! 💜"

www.carajane.ca | www.facebook.com/carajanephotographics | www.instagram.com/carajanephotographics

Sarah Hailey "I love Elena's posing course. The way she broke everything down really resonated with me. It a wonderful guide that left me with a ton of posing ideas that I can modify to fit any family. "

www.sarahhaileyphotography.com | https://www.facebook.com/sarahhaileyphotography/ | https://www.instagram.com/sarahhaileyphoto/

Deng Weizhong "I purchased Get Started with Lifestyle Family Photography and it was a WEALTH of information that I had to go back again and again as my business developed. 
Although I mainly shoot documentary, I could still implement a number of concepts talked about in the course. Many nuggets of information such as having a connection and the whole customer experiences came in very helpful. 
I'm also preparing for another wing of my business when I see myself taking on some family lifestyle shoots, so it's never too early to learn new stuff!"

www.truphotos.com | www.instagram.com/sgtruphotos

Jaclyn Miller "I have taken her CreativeLive classes and posing classes! I love the way she emphasizes that all photos are posed, more so with the candid images! I love how she teaches confidence to instruct clients on how to poses and get the priceless candid images. She is a fantastic teacher, who is more then gracious to share her knowledge!"

www.jaclynmillerphoto.com | https://m.facebook.com/jaclynmillerphoto/ | https://www.instagram.com/jaclynmillerphoto/

Emily Ellis "Getting Started with Lifestyle Family Photography. This is my gem. Not only is Elena perfectly straight-forward about her process, she is so incredibly sure of herself. Aside from every note I took and the ways I’ve started implementing what I learned, I truly walked away with a sensation that had begun to fade. Passion. That driving force you feel but can’t explain so perfectly. Now I see it again in my photos and I’m so incredibly grateful."

http://www.emellisphoto.com/

Sharon Kenney "I've taken several of Elena's courses, most recently the Lifestyle Family Photography: Posing and Direction course on CreativeLive. Her work has inspired me to let go of trying to capture perfect photos and instead focus on capturing family connection and love. :) "

http://www.sharonkenney.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/sharonkenneyphotography/ | https://www.instagram.com/sharonkenneyphoto/

Kristen Kubitza "I've taken Elena's Get Started with Lifestyle Family Photography class. It was a game changer for me. I love capturing connection and emotion. But often this meant there was something "technically" wrong with my photos. Elena has given me the confidence in my photo's and the belief that what matters is the story being told and not "following the rules.""

https://wildloudlifephotography.com/ | https://www.facebook.com/wildloudlifephotography/ | https://www.instagram.com/wildloudlifephotography/

Hali Resney Tomczak "Elena’s classes have taught me to go for deeper connection, and allowed me more freedom in my images by having go to poses in my pocket to pull from!"

www.sweetlivphotography.com

Karen Webb "I did Elena's the Art of Lifestyle Family Photography in 2016. It was a turning point for me in how to capture families with soul and connection."

http://capturebykaren.com.au/ | https://www.facebook.com/capturebykaren/ | https://www.instagram.com/capture_by_karen

Joy LeDuc "I took Elena’s family photography class on Creative Live and it gave me the foundation and systems for my family photography business. I’m eternally grateful!"

http://joyleducphotography.com/

Wendy Sulzer "I took Elena's clickin mom's course for Lifestyle sessions, so helpful."

www.wendysulzerphotography.com and facebook is https://www.facebook.com/wendysulzerphotography

Kelly Rochleau "Total game changer. That’s what Elena’s Family Posing Made Easy course was for me. Her straightforward, no nonsense teaching gave me the confidence necessary to take control of my sessions in a new way. She takes the mystery out of running a successful lifestyle session and capturing those “candid” moments."

http://www.rochleau.com/

Pelin Ozaydin "I am from UK and I just recently discovered Elena and her workshop. I was that person she mentioned on her lesson. Confused, no plan , stressed etc. Her workshop is such an eye opener! Thank you 😊"

www.pelinphotography.com | Www.instagram.com/pelinphotography_

Tania Veta "I've taken Elena's Family Posing class on Creative Live. It was a total game change for me. I finally decided which photo niche I'd like to pursue. This class gave me a good kick start to Thank you, Elena, for "everyday" encouragement. "

www.photovetania.com | https://www.instagram.com/vetania.photo

Amy Mehlos "Elena's workshops have given me the confidence to let go of perfection and focus on the love in family sessions."

www.facebook.com/amylouisephotographyseattle | www.instagram.com/amylouisephotography

Arielle Joffe "I’ve taken Elena’s Getting Started with Lifestyle Family Photography and am actually just watching it for the second time. I’ve been given so much confidence from watching her!"

ArielleJoffe.com | Www.Instagram.com/ariellejoffephotography | Facebook.com/ariellejoffephotography

Kat Rigdon "I have purchased both of Elena’s Creative Live Classes and I love them both. The thing I like the most is her teaching style, she’s very easy to listen to and the way she shows you how to build the poses is awesome. It’s made the entire process less nerve-wracking."

www.instagram.com/katrigdon

Jaime Radovic "I purchased Elena's Creative Live Family Posing Class. I loved it so much that I made my way to her website and youtube channels. She touched on topics that I could strongly relate to and I love her down-to-earth style and willingness to share her knowledge, tips and talent!"

http://www.shootsandgigglesny.com/ | http://www.facebook.com/shootsandgigglesny | https://www.instagram.com/shootsandgigglesny/

Theresa Burkhart "Elena's get started with Lifestyle Family Photography and her Family Posing made easy class changed my life! After I watched them and started using Elena's tips and tricks all of a sudden everyone wanted to book me. I went from 3 sessions on the books for the rest of the year to fully booked for the next 3 months and I am STILL getting inquiries 😍😍😍 I can't thank her enough!"

www.theresaburkhartphotography.com | www.facebook.com/theresaphotography | www.instagram.com/theresaburkhartphotography

Ginger Miner "I have taken Elena's classes and love her style. Elena you are so encouraging thank you. I am following a dream of building my business and truly appreciate her classes."

http://www.gingerminerphotography.com/ | http://www.instagram.com/gingerminerphotography

Natalie Marotta "I am a part of all of Elena's communities and classes. She and her community of followers continue to inspire me daily with my work."

https://nataliemarotta.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/natalie_marotta/

Natalia Elżbieta "Elena has given me freedom to shoot what I see and not what I think other people might want to see."

https://www.instagram.com/nataliaimages/ | https://www.facebook.com/nimagespd/ | https://www.nataliaimages.com/

Malin Pettersen "Elena has given me some really powerful tools when it comes to creating the connection I want to capture, in a effortless and fun way."

http://www.malinspettersenfoto.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/malinspettersen_foto/ | https://www.facebook.com/malinspettersenfoto/

Elise Roseann "I've taken Schooled, Getting Started in Lifestyle Photography and Elena's posing class on creativelive. 
The schooled course has given me all the tools I need to feel confident in the product I'm offering.
The posing and lifestyle class have revolutionised my lifestyle business. I now go to every shoot knowing exactly what I'm doing, and that is really felt by my clients. It's even impacted my newborn and couples shoots, making me feel like I CAN direct and guide my clients, and I can trust my eye and artistic voice. Thank you!"

www.eliseroseannphotography.com | www.facebook.com/eliseroseannphotography | www.instagram.com/eliseroseannphotography

Gina Wiseman "Wow! I have purchased all of Elena’s class on Creative Live and immediately knew this was the Photography I wanted to do! I love the realness of her photos!" 

www.ginawisemanphotography.com | www.facebook.com/ginawisemanphotography | www.instagram.com/ginawisemanphotography

Elena S Blair Education

I recently created a group for all of my students to gather, from Schooled to FPME, and I can't thank everyone enough for the art and support I'm seeing. I'm so grateful.

Every month, we do a cover contest so of course I have to share their work ;) Check out how amazing my students are below!

Courtney Lynn "These classes have helped me become more creative and capture raw emotions in a family that I had always dreamed of capturing, just never knew how to accomplish it! Thank you for that!"

https://www.facebook.com/417courtneylynnphotography/

Jessica Brake "I took your CreativeLive class and it totally changed my perspective on family shoots! I can now go into a session with less stress knowing that I can just let the family be themselves with little to no directing from me!"

https://www.facebook.com/jessicabrakephotography/

Cara Olson "I took the "Getting Started with Lifestyle Family Photography" through Creative Live. This course gave me the confidence I needed to start shooting sessions way I had always envisioned them being. I am so thankful for your willingness to share your incredible talent!"

www.caraolsonphotography.com

Jen Pagnucco "I took your creative live class and it's literally changed everything. It was like you gave me permission to stop forcing families to "say cheese" and "look at the camera". I was craving a change and a way to use my work to display connection and the love between families and your course flipped that switch for me. I finally feel like I'm taking pictures authentic to who I am."

jennpagnuccophotography.com

Elena Streeter "I took Family Posing Made Easy and watched a creative live on family photography business. Between those two I got confidence going into my sessions. I have game plan and poses to provide variety to my clients and my sessions are full of life!"

https://www.facebook.com/ElenaStreeterPhotography/

Tania Veta "I took a CreativeLive class about lifestyle family posing. It gave me the confidence of what kind of photography I really want to do. It also gave me a boost to my new carrier path. I literally printed ~50 PDFs of family posing ideas, took with me on my next photo session. I finally created my own website. I’ve never been so much determined as I’m right now. Thank you, Elena, for inspiration!"

www.photovetania.com

Leah Vasquez "I have taken Elena’s Family Lifestyle as Art, I went to her in person workshop, Lady Boss workshops and her recent Family posing guide. I sound like a stalker, lol. But in all seriousness I have learned so much from this brilliant lady. 
I feel so confident working with my families, and deliver the galleries that make my heart sing as a mama."

www.leahvazquez.com

Dycie Jo "I took your creative live course and your webinar. I bought your family posing guide and it has completely changed my family sessions! Family sessions have my heart!"

dyciejo.com
 

Tabitha Maegan "I am so happy to be part of this group. You and all of the members here are just so inspiring! I have taken your courses on Creative Live and I think two things that have made the most impact on me and my business as a lifestyle family photographer is 1) taking multiple shots within one pose (like.. duh, why wouldn't you?) but I am so glad I learned to do that from you because it adds so much variety within the family's gallery. and 2) making sure to capture connection, even if someone is blurred out or even if there is a sun flare! This is an image I would have thrown out because Mom is not in focus but I absolutely love this shot because of the connection! <3"

www.tabithamaeganphoto.com

Lori Seitz Rider "I've been a follower and fan since Going Beyond the Pose on Clickin Moms. I'm excited for my first workshop in Maine this fall!"

https://www.facebook.com/everydayartistryphotography/

Mary Ann Cozza "I love all the material that Elena Sanchez Blair provides her community via blog posts, emails,live chats, etc., but after purchasing the Family Posing Guide - I had an "aha" moment. It felt like things clicked into place and my confidence before sessions skyrocketed. I'm still in the early stages of building a business, but I feel more prepared than ever to knock clients' socks off!"

www.maryanncozzaphotography.com

Beth Minnier "Family photography used to be the one genre that I always tried to stay away from. I had a few basic poses that I would do and then I would basically get lost and not know what else to do to finish the session. One day an ad popped up in my newsfeed for Creative Live. I started browsing through the classes and found Elena's class. I bought it right away and watched it all in one day because I found it all so fascinating that I didn't want to turn it off. The class was a game changer for me. I found myself excited to photograph a family. The picture I'm posting is a family that I have known for a long time as I used to work with the dad. I messaged his wife and asked if they would be up for a free family session as I was looking to update my portfolio. This is one of my favorite images from that session. I delivered their images to them and everyone loved them and from that session I got more inquries! I'm so thankful that I found Elena and this group. I am no longer referring people to other photographers for family photos."

https://www.facebook.com/BethMinnierphotos/

Melissa Ann "I’ve taken your class on Clickin Moms and it was phenomenal! It allowed me to break free from my studio!"

sweet-melissa-photography.com

Blaire Elizabeth Ring "I took The Art of Lifestyle Family Photography. It had been on my list FOREVER and then when Elena announced it was the last run through Clickin Moms, I had to take it. It gave me so much confidence in directing my clients, big and small."

www.secondavephotography.com

Alicia Mayorca "I took Elena’s the Art of Lifestyle class back in December and it was amazing... changed my approach forever! Thanks Elena"

https://aliciamayorcaphotography.com/

Sara Thom "I took Elena’s Creative Live Family posing course and it has changed how my sessions flow IMMENSELY! I no longer go into a session feeling like I have no direction. I feel much more confident in directing my clients during sessions."

https://www.facebook.com/sarathomphotography/

JoAnn Hartley "I recently purchased the "Get Started with Lifestyle Photography" and watched the entire thing straight through! I was so excited about everything that I was learning and just couldn't stop until I finished the class. This class changed my approach to my sessions immediately!! I shot this family session two days later and tackled it with confidence and control from start to finish. THANK YOU ELENA!"

www.joannhartleyphotography.com 

Laura De La Hunty "I was so excited to watch Elena's Webinar on family posing. Every thing this lady says is gold in my eyes."

https://www.lauradelahunty.com/

Melany Lane "The first time I saw live broadcast “Get started with lifestyle family photography” I decided “THIS IS IT!” I didn’t plan to become a family photographer because all family photos I saw were boring, but this course made me buy a camera and begin shooting.

Kelsey Cunningham "I bought my camera 8 months ago when I decided I wanted to follow my dreams and actually love my job! I took Elena's Lifestyle Family Photography class a few months ago and it really changed things for me. Currently trying to build my portfolio! I texted my husband today "Isn't it funny how much I love doing all of this "work" for free?" I love it! Life. Changed."

Shannon Vizeau "I have watched Elena’s Creative Live classes... it was like a light bulb turned on! I saw the creativity and the beauty in her sessions and I couldn’t wait to start applying the things she taught into my own sessions. I am so excited to be a part of this community and continue learning!"

Www.Shannonvizeauphotography.ca 

Svetlana Vostrova "I've seen two Elena's classes on CreativeLive ("Get Started with Family Lifestyle Photography" and Lifestyle Family Photography: Posing and Direction). I'm still in the process of defining my photography style but Elena's classes and her work are really inspiring."

www.svitlanaphotography.com
 

Kristen Pay "I've been a creative creature since the day I could hold my own pencil. I was born to "do art". When I was little I would peruse my mama's photo albums getting lost in this world I had created - pouring over every single image. Photos of people I had never known. For hours on end I would do this, taking in every single detail.

Fast forward many years, and I had children young, married young, and divorced young. I found myself needing a career to support myself and three children. I went to university and became a Legal Assistant. It took me all of three months working full time to realize it was a horrible mistake. I could feel my soul dying. I needed to be in a creative field. My partner encouraged me to pursue photography. I joined an 8 week photography workshop. I went out and bought a full frame camera after my first class. I knew it was for me. 

I have this incredible passion to capture people. Their real emotions. The "rawness" of it all. I love it. I love it so much I'm tearing up just typing this. <3

Elena's Creative Live course "Get Started With Lifestyle Family Photography" was my starting gate. I watched the course, then bought the course, then later purchased her posing guide. It has been SO helpful. I tweak her poses to make them my own, and have my phone with me during sessions for when I get stuck. She is definitely my "Family Lifestyle Photography" role model. I love that she gets personal with her clients, and doesn't hesitate to share her own story about how she discovered her passion for her business. I can relate to her. I can emphasize with her. It makes it so much more personable. 

Elena is #photographergoals ;)"

kristenpayphotography.com

Kayla Kohn "I’ve taken Elenas ladyboss workshops class with Sandra Coan. I took it 6 months ago and have posted a few blogs that really speak to my viewers about what they inquire about and want to know. Under certain search’s I rank FIRST on google for my location! This is so because of how lady boss workshops taught me to market myself. Here’s one of my best blog post! Incredibly grateful for everything these two ladies have taught me! Oh and I’ve totally invested in Elena’s creative live lifestyle photography course! So worth the money!"

Kaylakohn.com

Cara Butt "I’ve been a photographer for over 13 years. This includes 2 years of formal photography education. Through these years, I almost completely lost my passion for it and had basically given up. Last year I found Elena. I’ve seen two of her classes on Creative live and to say it’s change my life is an understatement. I’ve now gone full throttle with my business, get more clients then I ever have before, and LOVE what I do more then I ever thought possible. Every single session gets me excited. Even my turnaround is typically under a week because i get so excited about my images I can’t wait to work on them. 
Thank you, Elena! I can’t wait to be at one of your retreats next year!"

www.facebook.com/carajanephotographics

How Do You Do It All?

Hi friends! I know this blog is viewed by my beloved families who I photograph every year, but I think it gets equal attention from my fellow Photographer Sisters and also my fellow Mama Sisters. Actually, what I am finding is that a lot of my Mama Sisters are getting curious. Maybe they are wondering how I built a business while raising a family. Read on... ;) 

I literally get asked every day "how do you do it all?" or When a well intentioned fellow Mama Sister knows I have a thriving business she says "how in the world do you run a business while still being so involved with your children?"  Usually with a look of sympathy on her face. Or from my fellow Photographer Sisters "how do you manage your business and family life?" With a look of exhaustion. I get asked this all the time. So I have really started to think about it. And like most of us, I sat with this question and told myself a little story in my head (thank you Brene Brown for that mental exercise) "Am I being a bad mom and that's why everyone always asks me this? Why am I able to manage my time well? Maybe I should be giving all of myself to my kids" 

Well...After much thought I came to this... I would say there are two things that I feel the most passionate about in life and those two things are my family and my business. Now you may be wondering why I didn't say photography...and why I said my business. Maybe you aren't. But I think that distinction is important. 

Okay, let me back up a bit. I think that life comes in what would seem a lot like seasons or at least that is how it has been for me. I can divide up chunks of my life and distinctly pull out the difficulties and the joys of each of those seasons. I can get into individual seasons in another post or at another time but this time I want to talk about the season I am in. In the past three months or so I noticed something. An agitation really. I felt like I was short tempered and agitated more often than not. By the way, I haven't really even shared this fully with my husband. Hi honey. :) Well, I decided to look inward. To really dig in and see what the hell was the matter. I realized that a few things were missing. One. Exercise. I have been spending so much time these past six years having babies and growing my business that I wasn't prioritizing exercise. Two. Spirituality. Now I feel I must be clear. I am not religious. I was raised catholic, however don't think that spirituality needs to be based in God (not looking for a debate here.) I think of spirituality as an inner connection with yourself and a connection with something outside yourself, whatever that may be. I also think it stems from a deep connection with your loved ones. Three. Writing. I have always journaled. Always. Up until I had my second child I blogged or journaled. But while growing my business, and again, having babies I let that practice go. I think it is because photography has become an outlet much like writing for me, but I am realizing that I miss writing. Four. Reading. I love reading. But I have a hard time making the time for it. So in the last few months I have made these things a priority again. And to multi task I have been really getting into Audio books. I listen to them while I run. I have been making time to meditate, a new practice for me but I can't believe the things I am noticing about myself. I have always done yoga but meditation is a whole new spiritual practice.  I have also been journaling again. 

So that long winded explanation of the past few months lead me to the answer. Why do I say my business is my passion and not photography. After much self reflection I am realizing that this business means so much to me. When I was knee deep in baby, I had this urge to create, and that lead to photography. But I also had an urge to create something else. Something bigger than myself. I wasn't sure exactly what that was.  And I already had a career so this made no sense to many around me and it really didn't even make sense to myself. Why would I go out and seek out a career as an artist when I had such a solid job as a nurse? Why not just continue to photograph my children as an outlet? Because I know many women who do that and they are some of the best artists I know. But being a women of intuition I kept leaning into that feeling. The feeling that I wanted something different. I felt a drive, a fire in my body, that kept me going. I just knew. Six years later I have left my career as a nurse behind me, created a business I am so proud of and have expanded my business to include photographer education. What I am learning is that I am an entrepreneur and what I am discovering is that I am a special type of entrepreneur, a creative entrepreneur and it is AMAZING! I feel like I just want to create, create, create, and grow, grow, grow. It is like an addiction to my own life, as crazy as that sounds. 

My business is everything to me. I think something that is very unique to creative entrepreneurs is that our business is a true infusion of who we are and what we do. My photography is an artistic outlet based on human connection and authentic moments. I have literally built a business based on me and connecting with me. It's funny, because while I know I am no longer helping people in the same way I did as a nurse, I still feel like I am connecting to humans in the same way. I have had many clients tell me that their photography session felt therapeutic. Strange I know, but true. I feel drained in a similar way after a shoot as I did after a nurse shift.  But I like it so much more. I own it so much more. I want to work all the time. I want to build my brand all the time. I want to create all the time. All. The. Time. And that is incredible. I didn't know this kind of work satisfaction existed. It took me a long time to realize that nursing probably was never my passion. It was a job that fit my desire to connect with and help people, it fit my passion for birth and life, but it never made me as excited as my photography business does. And that is okay. The time I spent in college and the time I spent as a nurse were part of my journey, part of the path of life that lead me here. 

So... I love my job. And just because I love my job doesn't mean I love my kids or family any less. 

So often as mothers we feel heavy guilt. So heavy, like we can feel it holding us back, gripping our shoulders and saying "no, you can't be you." Guilt about working out, guilt about working, guilt about being anything but a mother. Guilt about being a bad mother. Guilt about everything you can think of. And I notice this with all the mothers in my life. Those who stay at home and don't work outside of motherhood at all and those who work 40 plus hours outside of the house. We all feel it. But we don't have to. We can be excellent mothers and still have interests and passions. We can still be creative and sexy, fit and fashionable. We can enjoy alone time and time with our husbands and friends, and still enjoy our children. We don't have to be one thing. We can be whoever we want to be.  I read a book in a women's studies class in college, The Awakening by Kate Chopin and I remember feeling the heaviness of this quote then, before I had even had children. I remember it made me feel uncomfortable, but I remember it so well. It was powerful. It is like it was a little message from the future saying, "hey young lady, remember this one, you will need it later." I want to share it with you here.

" I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn't give myself. I can't make it more clear ; it's only something which I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me."

Kate Chopin, The Awakening 

I can love myself and still love my children. I can be a kick ass mother and a kick ass entrepreneur too.

These past few months and deep introspection have introduced a new passion to me. Like many times in my life, a little inner turmoil or agitation usually means something new is brewing inside me. I want to help other women realize their full potential. To realize that if they want to quit their day job and pursue a dream, they can. And if they want to be a full time stay at home mother, I want them to know that they can find joy and fulfillment there as well. I want to help women realize that each of us has something to give, to share, and that we can do that. I want to help other mothers leave guilt behind them and embrace the fire inside them. To listen to that voice inside. Weather that voice says "start a business" or "leave this shitty day job" or even "be a better mom." You should listen. 

So when I get asked about work life balance the answer is simple, even though it has taken me a long time to realize it. There isn't balance. It's all mixed up in one hot pot. When I worked as a nurse there was much more balance. I left for work and worked, came home and was mom. But now, it's all mashed up. But I am SO MUCH more fulfilled. I get asked EVERY day "how do you do it all?" I don't. I do what I chose to do. I don't have more than 24 hours in my day. I choose to spend time on my business. I LOVE it. I chose to show up and try to  be a good mom EVERY DAY. And I am not always a good mom. But I try. Now that the babies are growing up I am making a conscious effort to be a better wife, because lets be real, when they are babies being a good partner is freakin hard. But as recently as the past few weeks we have started making a conscious effort to work on US again. And when I wasn't making exercise, reading, or journaling a priority, I didn't do it. But as with everything I realized, all it takes is making time to do it. Simple as that. 

So I don't do it all. Just because I have a business and am a hands on mom doesn't mean I do it all, it just means that I have made a choice to do those things. And my short journey on meditation is showing me that we are 100% in control of our attitude. 

So why the long winded post? I don't know. But I am feeling called, as silly as that sounds, to help other mothers who want to find purpose and intention in their lives and business. Because for whatever reason, society wants to put us in a box. It want's to categorize us. Mother or working mother? Career woman or stay at home mom? Creative woman or practical woman? These past few years as a photographer, creative entrepreneur, and mother have taught me a lot. My values are still the same. I am passionate about positive parenting and mothering and I am passionate about helping others and connecting, I am passionate about photography and art, and I am going to find a way to blend that all together. I want to help every woman "do it all." Because doing it all doesn't mean you are doing it all, it means you are doing all that is important to you. 

So again,  I don't do it all, folks. But you better believe what I do comes from a place of deep rooted passion! So stay tuned...my brain is working on something for my Sisters out there. I am not exactly sure what it looks like yet, but the wheels are turning. And fast. 

XoXo,

Elena <3

***Photo in header by Rebecca Hunnicutt Photography

Wilson | Photography Retreat

When Bre Thurston and I decided to host exclusive photography retreats we had no idea the fulfillment that it would bring to us. It all started with a text message that would change our lives. I said, "we should come up with  a learning experience that is not only a way to become a better photographer but is also a way to relax and rejuvenate." Bre immediately agreed with me and together we brainstormed and came up with what is now Blair and Thurston. Within 24 hours time we had a website and a plan and our dreams begin to take shape. You could say that we are highly motivated but I like to think that we are highly passionate. When we want something we work hard and we make it a reality and we really wanted this to be a beautiful reality.

Nearly a year later we have hosted two wildly successful retreats where we laughed, cried,  and saw so much growth in our attendees, but what's more is the growth that we have seen in each other. We have always been good friends but now our relationship is even more. I can't really put my finger on it,  at the risk of sounding cheesy I will say that Bre is one of my soulmates. It's like this was our calling and we can't wait to see where our Retreats take us. Our Retreats are like no other photography retreats in the industry. They are intimate, luxurious, and from the words of some of our attendees,  they are like changing. Unlike so many other photography education programs out there, Bre and I aren't trying to make our attendees be like us we're trying to make them the best them!

Our next photography retreat is an Austin Texas we are so excited!

These photos are from the family session that took place during our Last Retreat on Bainbridge Island. The Wilsons are good friends of mine and they were the absolute best family we could have asked for.

Who Is On Periscope | Seattle Photographers

Hi friends! I know many of my blog readers are beloved clients, however I know many are also photographers. Is anyone on Periscope? Well, I have been providing free broadcasts there since the fall offering photographer education. Today, I scoped on the importance of being efficient photographer. In case you want to catch the replay, I will share it here. 

Highlights of this Periscope broadcast include:

Batch editing, making your own actions, email template making, and answering of some live questions. If you have a subject you would like me to scope on, let me know in the comments. Happy Monday!