The New Adventure Begins Here...

It's been a long time coming. With many changes, and milestones let me re-introduce the new phase of The Shadyhipster Photo & Media.

THE SHADY HIPSTER ADVENTURES PHOTO & FILM

Dear reader and Wanderer,

I was just like you at some point didn't have a sense of direction, and purpose and my why was nowhere to be found. One day, connecting with an online creative acquaintance and found friendship in each other's company getting to also share our passion for our photography. That was two years and a half at the beginning of 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic. That had a SIGNIFICANT impact on how I started to view the state of the earth/natural conditions. How it impacts my dream hiking/elopement destinations for others? It shifted my motivation to HOW I want to make a positive impact with my business and also help myself grow.

For years I actually didn't know the best way to introduce myself for the last four years. I've been undergoing ways of healing, realization/reflection, and reconnecting with old habits and hobbies. Again, I would've never imagined I'd say that I'm an avid hiker and SOON to be a BACKPACKER.

Has anyone felt moved or inspired by reading through photography magazines, or scrolling on Instagram?

Well not to toot my own horn, I did that for years in middle school when Facebook and Instagram were still in their early stages compared to where it is. That's a conversation for another day on this adventure journal. Oooh! Don't we love the new sound of that?

Yeah, to say the least photography has always been a creative outlet to help me express my emotions at one phase of my journey. During my years being a hobbyist/amateur. From 2010-2015 was my experimental hobby stage where I learned a lot. Both primarily teaching myself the cameras I had on hand at that time there was no sort of Facebook or as many online resources as where we currently do. It's humbled me to see how much I've grown. Be able to give advice to beginners still learning their ways, editing, who they want to connect with, and the type of experience of services offered. The younger me was AMBITIOUS...Still, you'll see why later on in a separate journal entry.

(photo from my community college days)

Then from 2016-2018, those years were the years of a baby business women who had the basis of the "idea" of what I wanted my ideal business to run. But had no sense of confidence in running and enforcing what I was learning from online resources. These were growing pains, to say the least for me. I had a long phase of experimenting with editing styles and seeing what stuck with me. Found a sweet spot where I felt I grew a lot and where it still gave me creative fulfillment and freedom. Might I mention this was before the fact I found my worth in my attention to detail and my love for customer connection? That doesn't come easy, you have to be a people person without letting external factors affect your own happiness.

Then 2019-2021 hit that's when I started to see myself as a creative professional who started to see more of my worth. But still not make clients or friends actually pay for the services and skills that I nurtured, and practiced almost so consistently. Throughout the years I've always been active: I ran a half marathon with my mom, did 5ks, and even was in worship and marching in the band during the years I was based in Annapolis, Maryland. But hiking never once occurred to me that I should try it out. I've always camped so I was very comfortable and ALWAYS excited to just disconnect and play around in nature.

These last prime years I would say...I'll call the reflection and action phase. It was when changing my inner circle of closest friends, re-focusing change in my business, seeing my worth guess what. Getting my Sh*t together. It SO Fudging and empowering to say that because I've never been in my eyes confident. Even when I was at my fittest, still wasn't satisfied with where I was in any way. I felt with feeling stuck for almost a decade...the whole entirety of my photography journey. This has been a long time coming and Rebranding my entire business to reflect my current lifestyle and the standard of business I hold myself it cuts DEEP for me emotionally. That wouldn't have happened through many lessons in life, business, friendships, dealing with imposter syndrome, and accepting the state of my anxiety.

The journey to the present has been a long time coming.

I wanted to make this so intentional with how I put my brand and business out there. Three years ago, I started to adopt the saying "Seek Discomfort" That's been another pulling force in my mindset and actions. Turning this shy, not-so-social Gal into someone who was exactly who I wanted to envision myself five years ago. That's actually a recurring theme with developing the new phase of my business involving strategy and passion.

HOW DID I DECIDE, I WANTED TO BE ADVENTUROUS INSTEAD OF JUST PHOTOS & MEDIA.

In late October of 2021, a creative acquaintance reached out to me to see if I were instead in second shooting a luxury wedding on the east side of Phoenix, Arizona. Before this, I never shot any weddings but I was very comfortable with my tool. That experience was an eye-opening, exciting, and learning lesson. I'm grateful for that day. It showed me that I was prepared for the chaos that weddings bring to clients. Since then I've been taking on more opportunities to capture couple's special days. How important it is to not only be a great professional in how you carry and perform. what your duty is to the client during that day.

During this time was when my fiance and I were in full swing to get planning our wedding. This was the time that I didn't realize it strike a string in me of my drive to create a full felched EXPERIENCE for my clients.

Fast forward I shot other times of weddings in the span of 5 months: Intimate backyard weddings, and more engagements(because why not). During that time I was freaking out planning my own. Sheesh, It's brought to me. After almost 1 year of taking on second shooting opportunities with videography and photography. It carved the answers for me of where I want to take myself. I asked myself...

Do these types of weddings fit my style? Are they the ideal type of clients I want to connect with? Then connect the dots after I got married.

(YAY-finally it took a whole year pre-pandemic and then in 2022)

The photo was taken by

PortraitsbyAnthony (ps-thank you for everything)

It's been a beautiful journey for me. This is just the beginning chapter for you...

After hiking for a straight 3 years now WOWZA time flies when you're too distracted by mother nature. It's been such a blessing. Adventure is how I see my life, what I want my clients to want to feel like they are the main character in a movie enduring the best damn, heart-wrenching moments, that just makes you wanna yell at the top of your lungs to say... "Hell yeah, we did that we tied the knot. In our favorite place ever!"

Life has so many layers to it like people, and Shrek too lol. One thing for certain is TheShadyHipster Adventures will be delivering an exclusive approach to newly engaged couples, soon-to-be engaged, adventure seekers, hikers, and thrill seekers. The Adventures aren't just for my couples, NO this is for every client who wants to take the time with me. plan your next epic photo adventure get guidance along the way on best practices on trails, preparation, and having a new buddy and reliable professional to call when you want to document a momentous occasion or better yet. Wants to be a random adventure and explore a new area while getting it documented.

What Adventure intels for curious clients is this:

A deeper and more free type of session that really tries not to feel like what the session looks like.

It's comfortable and planned (to some extent-depending on the package type)

It's customized to your NEEDS and WANTS.

Lessons I've learned and implemented PRESENTLY

- A simplified pricing system

- Oncoming client Booking process

-Enhance and user-friendly Gallery experience

- Optimized true-tone handcrafted Photographs

- Customer service:

An in-depth breakdown of packages, communication, and more assistance during the session. Ease of booking and signing contracts

- More Client guides:

including Free or premium guides personalized to your needs

(Goes over the best way to dress, prepare for hikes, permits, travel, weather, mood-board, and MORE)

There's more to come other's are other bonus perks that come along with booking me for your special day

(Elopement, intimate wedding, Branding, Adventure, and BEYOND)

Elevated Adventure Photo Experiences

These experiences are for anyone wanting a deeper experience in the outdoors and within themselves.

Feeling heard, safe and comfortable while being able to be your most authentic self.

Book your in-person or virtual consultation now. In the booking form, let's write your next chapter on your terms.

until the next adventure entry,

Let's go on an adventure :3

-Mel