RTP EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENT!

Published on March 1, 2018January 9, 2019 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

WELCOME, PARTY PEOPLE!!!!

Happy March, happy announcement day, happy almost Spring, HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY! The day has finally come! I’ve been waiting to launch this special project since last summer and now I can finally share with you what I’ve been dreaming of!

The secret I’ve been keeping and waiting to announce is…

FOR BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS

JUNE 18TH

AHHHHHH!!!! OH HAPPY DAY, I am so excited to finally share this project with you all! So, tell me, did you guess it? I’m sure a few of you had a pretty good idea of what all this commotion was about. I can’t believe this is happening! The awesome part is that I already announced this to my education mailing list a couple weeks ago and I already have attendees signed up and ready to go!!!! I can’t wait to meet them!

Registration for my very first photography workshop is open to everyone RIGHT NOW! The details are listed below, but I encourage you to visit my website for additional important details including the cost and requirements. Contact me if you have any questions and click the link at the bottom if you’re ready to sign up for the Shades of Pink Workshop! PS- this doesn’t mean you have to like the color pink 😉 I explain the meaning of the title as you keep reading on this page! I can’t wait to hear your feedback and start seeing those names sign-up!

It’s time to take control of your dreams and goals, it’s time to invest in something that can help you move forward and encourage you to keep going. It’s time YOU invest in YOURSELF.

DETAILS

DATE: Monday, June 18th at 8am-9pm

LOCATION: A cozy, 3-acre, waterfront home in Midlothian, VA

WHO? 12 portrait photographers who must own and have knowledge about a DSLR camera, must be willing to sign an RTP contract and must live outside 50 miles radius from Chesterfield, VA.

INCLUDED IN COST: One full day of educational lessons about in-camera tips and tricks, posing, Lightroom editing, branding, marketing, growing a business, workflow, collaborating, encouragement/real-talk, and so much more! There will be fun indoor and outdoor portfolio-building styled shoots created by incredible local vendors, as well as headshots by Remy, an amazing inspirational guest speaker, snacks, drinks, a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

BONUSES: Goodie bags, exciting giveaways, and joining the Q&A RTP Educational Facebook Group to connect with friends, support each other through our journeys, and some quality/one-on-one time with Remy to answer questions!

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
This workshop is customized to your needs of improving your photography skills, learning more about branding and marketing, growing your business, reaching your goals, and building relationships. It’s time to get out of your comfort zone, create new friendships, take the next step in your business, get productive, be confident, embrace your uniqueness, and start living your dreams. Let’s do some real talk with real people. Let’s create, motivate, encourage, and share our passion with each other!

WHY “SHADES OF PINK”?
If you’ve read my other emails or blogs, you might have noticed my passion for encouraging other photographers to keep going, to embrace the “YOU” behind the business, and to identify what makes their business different from others…
You may have also noticed my love for the color pink! 🙂 I decided to combine my love for both things and create something meaningful out of it. That’s when I thought of different shades of pink… stay with me…

YOU ARE A VERY SPECIFIC SHADE OF PINK.
…Or maybe you don’t like pink so you can replace that with a color that brings you joy! 😉

So here’s what I mean… every time I talk about a shade of pink in the following explanation, replace that with “a photographer” in your mind.

There are a million different shades of pink. There’s hot pink, dark pink, pale pink, and everything in between. Weirdly enough, because I am a pinkaholic, I am only drawn to a very specific shade of pink. I don’t like it too coral looking, I don’t like it too redish, I don’t like it too purpley, I don’t like it neon…I think you get my point! 🙂 Out of all those different shades, that I’m not totally in love with, I still think they’re beautiful in their own way, but they just aren’t a good fit for me. Do you know what I’m trying to say?

The photography industry might feel a bit saturated, but there is one very important thing to remember before we just lose our cool… WE are all different, we are all unique and imperfectly beautiful in our own way. Because of that, we attract different people, we offer different things, we serve our clients differently, we have different styles, we say different things, we run our operations in our way, and we all have something really special to add to the table. We are all a different shade of pink, and we are nothing without the other shades next to us.

We need to learn from each other to grow, we need to inspire each other to keep moving forward, and we need to encourage one another to be ourselves while living the same dream. We need to celebrate our differences and keep embracing our own little sparkle!

So think about it… what shade are you? Maybe this workshop is exactly what you need to find out. I want us all to come together, support one another, and discover what makes YOU unique from all the others.

Visit the website for investment and additional details!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!!

YAY! Celebrate and invest in your education with me!

I believe in you, I will always cheer you on, and I can’t wait to meet you!

If you have questions, feel free to send me an email at remybthompson@gmail.com!!

Mentoring Meets Real Engagement Session

Published on January 16, 2018January 16, 2018 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

The first week of 2018 started with an amazing one-on-one mentoring session with Hannah Shinholser Photography. As soon as I met Hannah and got to know more about herself and her business, I knew she was totally invested. I could sense her determination and passion for photography and the people that come with it. I love getting to know my clients before jumping into the lesson plan. This allows us to get comfortable and really dig deep into the heart of the business. Hannah is so good at what she does and her work is stunning! I can already see business growth and another level of confidence shining through her since we met for the mentoring day.

My larger mentoring packages include a mini styled portrait session of choice. Hannah wanted to practice with a couple and asked for a location that represented her business. Luckily, the barn that I chose was one I have used for a previous mentoring shoot and it fit her personality and brand so well. I always want to make sure I am providing details for my clients that are customized to their business needs, not mine!

I love that my mentees have differences from me and my style, but still appreciate learning from me. I also found that adding a little bit of my own style encouraged Hannah to try something new. She soon stepped out of her comfort zone, and enjoyed it! As photographers, we should constantly push ourselves to step outside of our branding box and spice things up every once in a while! Hannah had the opportunity to try a couple of new techniques and she totally ran with it… that’s what these practice photoshoots are for after all! With a mix of our brands coming together, we had so much fun shooting side by side! Hannah is SO beautiful and I’m obsessed with her headshots, which shares her love for horses, her adorable style, and stunning features! See my favorites below!

Following the headshots, we had the most perfect and adorable couple modeling for us this day. The best part is that they had just gotten engaged over Christmas time and we were able to capture their first professional photos ever, along with their actual engagement shoot!! How special and awesome is that!? Plus we ended the evening with a slight sunset glow along the horizon through the trees, and we were so pumped about it! I loved working with this sweet couple, my amazing mentee, and the vendors who helped out! Just you wait until you see this fun-loving, romantic session- cue the heart eyes!!!

THANK YOU, VENDORS–

Models: Kathleen & Austin | Venue: Double B Equestrian | Hair/Makeup: His Or Hers Salon & Spa | Lace Dress: For Love and Lemons

If you’re ready to make the next step in your photography business and you’re interested in one-on-one mentoring with Remy, visit the website for more information!

If you want to be the first to find out more about RTP Educational Events, exciting announcements, and early access for sign-ups, get all the notifications here!

Conquer Your Comparison Crazies

Published on December 5, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Let’s be real here. We all have a natural tendency to compare our successes or our lifestyle to someone else’s. “The comparing monster” has been trending, now more than ever, with social media being shoved in our faces all-day-every-day. What we don’t need in our lives is to feel discouraged, competitive, and sad for no actual reason. We also don’t need other people telling us to “just stop comparing” and move on… I think we need more people to educate us on how to stop comparing, how to let go and let God, and how to move forward rather than letting it slow you down.

In the past year that I have been really building and concentrating on my business, I have also experienced a few similar conversations. I’ve talked with small business owners and found that a lot of their emotions get caught up in comparing to other similar businesses. I’ve heard from some of the most successful and inspiring women and even they get caught up in the ‘comparing world’ from time to time. I’ve also had conversations with friends who are in totally different places in their lives who admitted to comparing their life or career to my own. When I hear something like that, it doesn’t make me feel good, and it just doesn’t make sense. The last thing I want to hear from a friend is that they feel the need to compare their own lives to mine. Why?

Because her success is not meant to be your own. We are all doing life on our own time and in our own way! Whatever God has in store for me, was not meant for you. Whatever God has in store for you, for her, for them, was not meant for me. No one situation is the right way or the wrong way to live life. How can you compare yourself, your success, and your life to someone or something that was not meant to be yours to begin with, and was not on your own time?

Whoever and whatever it is that you feel the need to compare to, it’s time to let that go. It’s time you know how to get past those feelings. It’s time to understand why you should be looking at this as an opportunity to grow and challenge yourself to get exactly where you want to be on your own time.

I want to let you in on a few tips that help me through the struggle of comparing and what allows me to move on in a positive direction.

Get to the point. Let’s say you come across someone’s instagram and you keep scrolling and scrolling until you just feel bad about yourself. Now get to the root of that feeling and figure out why you’re reacting that way. This forces you point what it is that’s making you compare. Now, what needs to change? Do you need to make a change in yourself and the way you think? Do you need to make a change in your business? Get straight the point, don’t dwell on whatever it is you’re comparing to.
Take it as a challenge. After you’ve figured out exactly what’s making you feel the need to compare, take it as a challenge to keep moving forward, to make your next big move, and to work harder to get what you want. Make this an opportunity to get yourself into gear, change your mindset, and work towards those goals!
Let go and let God. Remember, have a little faith. Maybe you just have faith in yourself, or maybe you have faith in yourself and God. Whichever works for you, don’t forget to trust the power of having faith. You have to remember that you have your own path to follow, not anyone else’s. Try to understand that whatever someone else is accomplishing, was not meant for you. Maybe your time will come, or maybe your path will take an unexpected turn. Whatever happens, is exactly what’s meant to happen for your benefit. So cheer that person on, don’t compare or compete, just let go and move on!
Put it down and get creative. This tip is my favorite way to distract myself and then totally forget I was even feeling the comparison crazies. Stop the scrolling, put down your phone, and get creative! So maybe to you, this means you’re going to put your phone away and go hiking to clear your mind in a peaceful environment! Or maybe this means you need to get creative in your business and start a new project to work towards! I love coming up with new projects to keep me motivated and get my creative juices flowing! This will take your mind off of the comparisons and make you realize there’s no need to feel that way when you are doing things your own way!
Time to reflect. Whether you enjoy meditating, praying, quiet time, taking a walk, or whatever you enjoy, do this to put your mind at ease and reflect on how far you’ve come. Think about everything you have accomplished by now compared to last year or maybe a few year ago. Reflect, be thankful, and be at peace with your own success and your own lifestyle. We are all blessed. If you make the time to do this, you will remember that comparing does nothing but make us feel discouraged, and there is no need to make ourselves feel that way. This is your life, and it’s time you own it!

Be proud of who you are, have faith in where you’re going, and remember you are loved. I’m rooting for you every step of the way, friends!

Fall Mentoring Session with Mallory

Published on November 30, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

My mentoring packages have become one of my favorite services that I offer. My heart is constantly pulled in the direction to help others and their businesses. I meet such incredible women through this process. I start every mentoring session by asking about themselves, their businesses, and their goals. I love that this allows me to get to know the client better from a personal aspect and then hear more about the business side of it.

Mallory booked with me a while ago, and we were so excited to finally meet for her 5-hour mentoring package! This includes 3 hours of customized lessons, lunch, headshots, and a styled shoot to learn hands-on, trying new posing techniques, and then use the photos for the portfolio! Mallory showed me that she was hard-working, driven, and has the kindest, sweetest heart!! I loved getting to know her and I can’t wait to take her senior pictures at VCU in the Spring! I am always blown away by the dedication that goes into finishing college while running a photography business. She is seriously kicking some butt, and I can’t wait to see her business grow even more by applying what she learned when we met.

The day of our session, it was literally blowing 40mph gusts of wind. It wasn’t super cold earlier in the day, but then it dropped to the upper 30’s by the time we started shooting outdoors. I guess it’s better to learn in the worst of conditions, right? 🙂 But then the sunshine started peaking through and we ended up with beautiful golden backlighting! Mallory did amazing and dealt with the weather like a champ. The models were basically frozen, but they looked flawless and I was so thankful for their patience!

First, I will be sharing some of Mallory’s windy and beautiful headshots! Then I will begin sharing my own images and favorites from the Fall and Holiday looks… We ended the shoot with a little Christmas fun! 🙂

THANK YOU to my awesome vendor crew who helped tremendously! I loved everything about the makeup, the hair (even though the wind really wanted to screw with it), and the flower crowns! See vendors listed below:

Flower crowns: Rose Avenue Floral
Hair/Makeup: His Or Hers Salon & Spa — @taylor_dail_wilburn & @___sammaantthaa___
Models: Jill & Sofie
Venue: Double B Equestrian

Introducing Mallory of Mal Jack Photography! 🙂

Slowing It Down

Published on October 25, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

PHOTOG FRIENDS! I feel like I haven’t done an educational blog in a long long long time… because I haven’t… Not cool, not okay, I’m sorry I’ve let you down. Now let’s get down to business.

In the first year of starting my photography business, I was missing something. Don’t get me wrong, I was having so much fun on my sessions, I was getting great feedback from my clients, I was loving the way I was improving in my style, and things were going amazing. I was learning more and more from each session and I was so excited about it all… But I was still missing something…

I was overly excited about MY bookings, MY growth, MY style, MY photography and everything that comes along with it. See a pattern there? It was all about ME. Photography is a service, though. It’s a way of serving others and creating something beautiful for your clients to keep and look back on. It’s not just about us, it’s about them. Once I realized this, I discovered a few other things. I was missing the heart of what I do and why I do it…I was in my own world! When I stopped thinking just about myself, I noticed less about ME and more about THEM. I looked back at some photos and thought, was I even looking at the way she posed, or how her makeup needed to be touched-up, or how he wasn’t looking at me at all?

I had been so caught up in the fun and excitement of growing my business, that I started moving too fast. I needed to SLOW DOWN. Not only slow down in my thoughts and emotions but to slow down in my sessions!!! Slowing down puts things into another perspective. It allows you to open your mind and think more about the little details (which are more important than you think!). When I started practicing the art of slowing down, it helped me tremendously and allowed me to grow SO much as a photographer. Nobody had told me or taught me to slow down along the way… it just hit me! I realized that slowing down improved my skills, my creativity, and my workflow. It naturally became an important part of my photoshoots!

What do I mean by slowing down in my sessions? Let me break it down for you… Beginning a session usually starts pretty easy, then by the end you’ve been snappin’ photos left and right and everyone is feelin’ good, feelin’ great! I used to just snap, snap, snap and get carried away with everything! Now I begin my sessions by giving a little warm-up chat, some advice, about this and that, allowing the client to express what they are most insecure about. We take our time to find their favorite side, their comfortable poses, their favorite features and go-to faces, etc. We start simple, communicate, figure each other out, laugh, get comfortable, and then dive in! All of this happens while I am basically investigating this person without them ever knowing. They’re just chatting away, smiling, feeling relaxed, and it’s no big deal! Starting this way will set the tone for your session and allow you to notice more about the client.

Remember, this is about them! It’s our job to make them look awesome!! After you’ve warmed up and got a feel for how the session will continue, it’s time to work efficiently, but while still slowing everything down. If you notice a piece of hair sticking up, go fix it. If you find that their hair looked best to one side, suggest them to put it that way! encourage them to bring their chins down, or smile a little bigger, or to give you a sexy face or whatever!

Try noticing the small details… the things that you will see later while editing. Save yourself time in the editing process by taking your time to fix the little things during the sessions. Give feedback, talk to them, make suggestions, educate them on why you suggest something, pose them in the most flattering way possible and then shower them with words of affirmation. Keep posing and talking throughout the shoot. If you slow down, you will notice more details to adjust in-person and you will be so happy with the results. This will give you more quality images to deliver and your clients will love you for it!

Ultimately, you want your clients to feel beautiful and feel loved. You need to be the one to make that happen! Whether you’re practicing in your first year of business and still trying to nail down your own style, or if you’ve been a photographer for years, try slowing down. Remember why you’re at these photo shoots and who you’re here to serve. Our mission is to create beauty in our own unique way while creating an experience our clients will always remember.

Let me know if you decide to start practicing this little tip and how you improve from it! I can’t wait to hear from you!

If You Got It, Brand It

Published on August 30, 2017August 30, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

If you got it, flaunt it… but also, BRAND it.

If you’ve been following me, you have probably noticed my website and branding launch a couple weeks ago. You might have also noticed my favorite color and the color of my brand… PINK. But my all-time favorite color combination is pink and purple. Naturally, this became the theme of my new website and brand! 🙂

Designed by Bright and Social Co.

I have always been a girly girl. I love pretty, sparkly, colorful, happy things! There were times where I felt like I was being judged because I was so girly and had all things pink. That made me feel like I needed to tone things down a level and maybe not wear so much glitter… but then I realized something. Not everyone is as girly as me, and not everyone likes these things, and that’s a GREAT thing. I learned to embrace my likes and what makes me, ME. These things set me apart from other photographers. People literally go out of their way to wish me a “pink day” or message me their appreciation for all the pink. That totally doesn’t happen to everyone. How awesome is that?

So, what I mean by saying “if you got it, brand it”, is this: when you’ve figured out what makes you unique, what makes you happy and what makes you, you… BRAND IT. Take what you love and make it known. It can be a color, an object, a song, a sport, I could go on and on, but you get the point! 🙂 I used my girly, favorite color and my love for pretty flowers (especially peonies) and turned that into my website and brand. By doing this I attracted the clients that I want to connect with! Think about what you love, what you want to photograph, and how you can show your target audience who you are! This will allow you to put out what you want to bring in- make sense?

If you think that hiding your quirks and uniqueness is beneficial, think again!!! Embrace these qualities and use them for good. Embrace your weirdness. Embrace your uniqueness. Embrace YOURSELF. Show people the real you, and you will be amazed at how many others connect with you!

If you aren’t sure what your brand should look like or how you can connect with your clients, be patient, you WILL figure it out. Trust me, it takes thought and a lot of quality time with yourself… a lot… but it will hit you when the time is right. One tip to branding your business… don’t be anyone but yourself. Use your differences to your advantage. Don’t get discouraged by comparing yourself to other businesses. Just trust that your brand will develop in good timing. I’m rooting for you!!

If you enjoyed this post, you might be interested in some of my other blogs!

ONE-ON-ONE PHOTOGRAPHY MENTORING

STOP DREAMING, START LIVING

Headshots with Holly

Published on August 23, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Like I said last week, headshots have been the go-to lately! I LOVE supporting other small business owners and getting together to learn more about each other! Holly is growing her own photography business and has been doing amazing. I have loved watching her blossom and improve with every step she takes. We had so much fun meeting up at Sunday Park to take some head shots of each other while we were both visiting our hometowns. It’s funny how you can “know of” someone for so long, then finally get to know them, lose touch again, and then reconnect and share the same passions. That’s basically been our friendship since high school… I am so glad we could get together and spend some quality time afterward with our hubbies during a gorgeous sunset! Holly is SO sweet, super fun, and has the warmest heart! Here are some pretty headshots of Holly on a beautiful evening in Midlothian, VA! She is STUNNING!!!

Introducing One-On-One Mentoring

Published on August 11, 2017August 11, 2017 by Remy PhotosLeave a comment

Well, I think the title may have given away the big announcement! 🙂

YAS, it’s true!! I am now offering one-on-one mentoring to budding photographers who are looking to improve their skills, invest in their education, and grow their businesses! Mentoring is the best way to take your business to the next step and start making your dreams a reality! Having a mentor, someone to push you in the right direction, and someone to encourage you to keep going, is the most valuable resource you can invest in! Over the past year or so I have been getting a lot of emails and messages asking photography-related questions. I LOVE that so many people choose to come to me for questions and it makes me feel so honored! That’s when I knew I had to start trying this whole mentor thing, to take helping other photographers to an entirely new level.

When I first started photography, I felt seriously confused about EVERYTHING. I decided to reach out to just about every photographer I could find and asked if they were offering any type of mentoring. Some people just didn’t respond and most didn’t offer anything. Then I found workshops, and decided to go that direction instead. I love workshops, but I wasn’t where I wanted to be in my business when I attended my first one! I wish I would have found someone to sit down with me and break it all down piece by piece. I was frustrated, discouraged, and totally annoyed that I couldn’t find anyone in my area to help me. You don’t need to feel that same way.

Now, it’s MY opportunity to help YOU. I want to offer mentoring to those photographers who are starting out just like I did. If you are willing to work hard, learn, grow, and chase your dreams, this is for you!! I am here to guide you, teach you, encourage you, and help you succeed in the business you are meant for! This is your time to take advantage of something that could completely change your business. I want you to feel confident in your brand, style, skills, and the goals you have for the future!

If you are interested in knowing more about my One-On-One Mentoring, please email me for details at remybthompson@gmail.com! I would LOVE to get to know you and everything about your business! It’s time to celebrate, because you are about to start investing in yourself and making your dreams reality!!

For the past few months I’ve been planning a 6-Hour Mentoring Session located in Midlothian, VA with Colleen Megan Photography. Colleen originally messaged with a question a while back. After we spoke, I learned she wanted to really grow as a photographer, so I offered her some mentoring packages to choose from. She was ALL about it! Finally, the mentor day came to life this past Tuesday! We both met at a coffee shop to review the power point lessons that I had prepared and we talked for hours. I LOVED hearing her goals and being able to push her closer to achieving them. We had an awesome day getting to know each other better through our passion for photography! Our time together was jam-packed with a ton of material and great conversation, but the fun didn’t stop there…

The package she chose included a portrait session at the end with a model. I ended up surprised her with a full photoshoot including three stunning models, a variety of session types/outfits/props to practice with, a makeup artist, a florist, and a beautiful venue! THIS WAS CRAZY FUN!!! We started our session in the golden sunshine and finished just after sunset to practice the new lighting techniques she had just learned. She left feeling SO confident and she killed it during the photoshoot!! I was so proud to see her practicing the new skills I taught her during the lessons and learning more and more as the night went on. We were both exhausted by the end of the night, but our hearts were so full! I will never forget my first One-On-One Mentoring Session thanks to Colleen, these awesome models, and amazing vendors. I am so excited to share the beautiful images from the photoshoot!

Before that, I want to share Colleen’s testimony from after our Mentor Day together! She is so so sweet and I love her enthusiasm for life! She is going to be so successful as a girl boss and I can’t wait to see her business take off!

“When starting my business I was struggling to keep a float in the photography world. As many say it is an intimidating, overwhelmingly lonely game, and I couldn’t agree more, that is until I met Remy. She went above and beyond to comfort me and remind me I am not alone in this. Driving away from my mentor session I was ready to take this adventure in my business head on! Her fun loving attitude broke me out of my shell, and allowed me to drastically step out of my comfort zone. I went from hiding behind my camera to taking control of it. The future is is bright for Colleen Megan Photography, and that is all thanks to my incredible mentor Remy, her words of wisdom and, guidance ignited a fire inside of me I didn’t know could exist. I am a better photographer because of her, and for that I am truly humbled for the opportunity of working alongside her! If anyone is looking to grow their education and business Remy Thompson is a game changer!” -Colleen 8/8/17

First… headshots, of course!! 🙂 Isn’t Colleen stunning?!

NOW.. the photoshoot!! Huge shoutout to the vendors and models, they killed it!

AnnMarie is SO talented, I was thrilled to have her as a vendor!! Check her out on Facebook and Instagram @makeupbyvnnmarie_

We started off with a mini graduation shoot of these two cute friends, Compton and Maddy. Next we moved into bridal portraits with Brenna! You’re about to be blown away…