Happy 2018!

Blue Sky’s is now open for the New Year and ready to start photographing again! I love new beginnings. Yes, I am one of those annoying people that actually spends the first few weeks of the year, reflecting back on the previous year and looking at a few key things! That is one of the reasons I always commit to taking 2 weeks off during the holidays.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself:

That is why it is so important for me, after the very busy holiday season, to take a few weeks off and unwind and spend time with my family. This frees up my mind to start thinking creatively again and start dreaming of the next big thing for myself and my business. I feel grateful that this holiday season I got to spend 10 days with my son Cameron (he only got a short break for the holidays and then back to LSU to train), spent time with my in-laws and enjoyed some much needed one on one time with both my husband, Bob and my daughter, Kasey.

I am so grateful for all the things that went well in 2017 with Blue Sky’s Studio. We had an amazing year and launched our brand new reveal sessions (if you haven’t had a chance to experience the reveal of our favorite images from your session, you are in for a real treat the next time you do a session with Blue Sky’s). We photographed so many new families, high school seniors and corporate headshots. Thanks to Bob, we got an amazing studio makeover complete with a beautiful hair and makeup station. We were involved in numerous charity events and were able to contribute in so many meaningful ways.

Personally, I enjoyed helping Cameron move into his new apartment in Baton Rouge and helping him start his college career at LSU.  I proudly saw my daughter Kasey achieve her goal of getting excepted to Columbia University.  I had several amazing trips with my husband, including a fantastic trip to Florida for a much need week of rest and relaxation and a first time trip to New Orleans which lived up to all of my expectations.

I was inspired by so many amazing teachers in 2017 including the incredible Sue Bryce (Canon explorer of light and all around amazing photographer and educator).  I felt so lucky to get an opportunity to go to Palm Desert and participate in the Portrait Master’s workshop.  I was also able to listen to some really amazing business books.

Here is a list of just a few of my favorite books from 2017: 

Hacking Growth, by Sean Ellis (proudly, he is my brother) and Morgan Brown

Disrupt You! by Jay Samit

The 10X Rule by Grand Cardone

Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy

Unshakable by Tony Robbins

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

10% Happier by Dan Harris

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

I Can’t Make This Up by Kevin Hart **** my favorite this year

The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins

Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch

The 12 Week Year: by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington

Grit The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff (a reread cause I love this book)

#Girlboss by Sofia Amoruso

Purple cow: Transform your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin

Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy

Living Forward by Daniel Harkavy and Michael Hyatt

 

To name just a few….. LOL  My key to all of these business books is to listen while I am on my walk or walking the dog.  I feel like I am a more active listener when I am moving.

For 2018 I have decided I will have a word for the year.  My word is Intuition.   I feel like I have great intuition, but I don’t always listen to it.  Usually my inner conversation goes something like this, “I know I should really do this but, I don’t want to hurt someones feelings, or someone might misunderstand, or I can do it later”… etc, etc.  You know, those crazy conversations you have in your head.  This year I am committed to listening to those intuitions and acting on them with love and kindness.

Over the last few years, as many of you know, I have been committed to The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod.  Basically for me, it is getting up early, starting the day with a morning medication, followed by a list of everything I am grateful for in my life, a prayer to start the day and ask for God’s blessing and a visualization of my future goals.  For me, this has been life changing.  I am happier, more relaxed, less worried, and generally just a better person.

My hopes and prayers for all of you for 2018 is that you reach for your dreams, enjoy your friends and family and that you are loved and cherished.  Have a wonderful year and I hope to see you soon.  Here are a few images from my family photography session.  Thank you abundantly to Kathryn LeBoye for taking the images that include me and my family.  The gift of photography is priceless to me and I will cherish these images forever!

Hugs,

Kristin

Owner, Blue Sky’s Studio