Welcome
Listen up peeps!
The big news this week is that the next issue of SeniorInspire the magazine is in the can and should be available to order sometime in the next week. I'll be announcing the details in the SeniorInspire Facebook group soon, so if you're not already a member, we'd love to have you join today!
I'll also be revealing the front and back cover images for this upcoming issue in the group, hopefully by the weekend. So, be on the lookout!
Anyway, on to newsletter Issue number 19!
Instagram and Social Media
Instagram changes got your head spinning?
Has Instagram driven you crazy with all the design changes they've made over the last couple months?
Don't worry... I got you!
Check out this quick 5-minute video from Sue Zimmerman where she goes over all the changes and gives you some great tips on how to navigate like a pro.
Bonus! Be sure to also check out Sue's short video on Instagram Reels. It'll have you reeling in no time!
Productivity
If you waste a lot of time on Facebook - do this now!
How many times has this happened to you?
You sit down at your desktop to do some work and you tell yourself you need to check the SeniorInspire Facebook group real quick for the latest image call.
You promise yourself you won't be more than three minutes, but then there's this one cat video on your newsfeed that looks ADORABLE.
Two hours later you're watching a clip of Kanye dissing Taylor at the VMA's!
If this happens to you on the regular, you need to KILL your newsfeed pronto!
Luckily, if you're using the Chrome Browser there an extension called News Feed Eradicator for Facebook that will not only get rid of your Facebook newsfeed, but it also lets you get rid of your YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter feeds as well.
Once enabled, Facebook works as normal, but your newsfeed is blank. So if you want to check in on a group or business page you can do it without the temptations you'll find in your newsfeed.
Do this today and start racking up new-found hours of productivity!
Your mental health
Fake it until someone figures out you're a fraud
I just read a statistic that blew me away!
70% of people say they've dealt with imposter syndrome at some point in their life.
I mean, I thought it was just me!
But seriously, I would venture to guess that number may be even higher among photographers, especially if you spend your day looking at photos by REAL photographers like Thomas Nguyen and Ben Shirk.
Personally I've dealt with these feelings all my life. Starting with becoming a CPA in my early twenties, and even more so after chucking all that in to become a photographer in my late forties.
I mean seriously, what was I thinking? Adding up numbers for other people is easy. But working a camera? I have no business pretending I have any idea what's going to happen when I press that shutter button!
Today I found myself searching about a bit for remedies to this phenomenon, but best I can tell there really aren't any. They say the best thing you can do is talk about it, but seriously, that's the best you got?
All that said, I did find some comfort and a few laughs in this Ted talk from author Valerie Young. It's only 8 minutes long, so if you're looking to think your way out of your own imposter syndrome, give it a listen.
And please, take some comfort in the fact that if so many of us think we're imposters, it just can't be. We can't ALL be imposters. You got this!
Meet the Photographer
Mama Bear, Wendy Ewing unleashed
Missing the warm weather of SYNC this weekend, so we gassed up the SeniorInspire Hippy Van and pointed it towards New Mexico, the home of Studio E's Wendy Ewing!
SeniorInspire I know you're part of the notorious Boss Babes gang and that your nickname is Mama Bear. How did you get hooked up with them and how did you get your nickname?
Wendy Ewing Lol “notorious”, that’s hilarious! I met the majority of those babes at a small photography event and again at a workshop. From the beginning we just identified with each other with the same work ethic and passion for what we do for our clients and as small business women.
Mama Bear, oh man. 😅
Yeah, even though many of the Boss Babes will go Mama Bear for someone or something we care about, I guess I might be the first to stand up and call bullshit when I see it or “hold my beer” if you mess with my friends, family or my business. I am truly known for being loyal and honest to a fault.
SI Tell us a bit about the best trip you've taken with you fellow Boss Babes.
WE Oh man, this is going to make me miss them even more thanks to Covid!
Most memorable was probably Palm Springs for me because I feel like we got to know each other and our strengths so much better. But Austin, TX was what sealed our tight group together forever, even though we were missing a few of our Babes.
SI Do any of the other Boss Babes have nicknames?
WE Hmm... no one really has nicknames per se, but more strengths and maybe a weakness or two we are known for, haha! Here’s a glimpse-
Ivy — Ivy is always the #wordsmith. She is also our resident WebMD.
Lisa — Lisa is always very diplomatic and positive and optimistic.
Kara — Totally known for the longest, MOST detailed stories (some dreams, some real) leading to the most random and hilarious endings. Never Dull!
Susan — While a master of lighting and all things dance, she is also known for giving life to our term #SusanSpeak. Lol... If Susan’s phone can misspell something and make it 100% unintelligible, it will. But now we can all decipher without need to correct, so we all speak fluent #SusanSpeak.
Angela — Damn that girl can knock out websites and tech stuff like a champ. She leaves us all in aww of her ability to complete her to-do lists. #techwizard
Everyone is really good at getting shit done and helping pick someone up who’s down.
SI We first met at SYNC a few years back...
WE Yes, we did! I actually missed meeting you the year before with the rest of my BBs because I had just had kidney stone surgery right before sync and I couldn’t drink & hang with you all after the 80s party and went back to the Airbnb. sad day lol
SI Are you wishing you were back there this weekend?
WE YES! I am super sad to not be there and not be hanging out and learning from all the amazing photographers involved. Plus the white beaches and all that Vitamin D.
SI Okay, you wander into a karaoke bar and you HAVE to sing in front of a big crowd. What three songs do you choose?
WE So if I HAVE to, I’m gonna be your back up singer and dancer because I cannot sing to save my life. Trust me.
SI I do, but you HAVE to sing... I can't sing either.
WE Okay, Old school first... Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder and Two Princes by the Spin Doctors. Then for something more recent, I Do What I Love by Ellie Goulding.
SI If you could take a workshop with any photographer, living or dead, who would it be?
WE I love a lot of different styles of photography and find inspiration in all types of art and fashion not just portrait work for my photography so this is really hard. Here are a few...
Mario Sorrenti for his use of studio lighting and human form among so many things.
Thomas Havlik. His cinematic look makes me crave shooting more for me and less for my clients' walls.
Ruvén Afanador All things! Portraits of stars and fashion work.
SI What's something everyone should try at least once?
WE Snorkeling off the coast of a tropical island.
I’m not a good swimmer by any means ( hence almost drowning when I was young off the coast of Florida and breaking my shoulder thanks to a monster wave in Cali) but there is something calming and mesmerizing about a tropical ocean.
A couple places I love to snorkel are the Grand Cayman and Maui. In the Grand Cayman, with the white sands you can just snorkel for hours and hours and stand up whenever you are tired.
And in Maui you can swim way out into the deep but crystal clear water, where you really don’t know what could come swimming at you from the dark distance. You must totally rely on only yourself and will power to swim or sink until you are back to shore. That’s an amazing feeling!
SI I've snorkeled off of Kaanapali in Maui and I completely agree, that is an amazing experience.
Alright, my question list is empty! I'll be heading back to Illinois now. Thanks for sitting down today and thanks for not going all Mama Bear on me!!
And Finally
Looking to get rid of some negative thoughts?
Check out Exhale, a website with the only purpose of helping you expel any negative energy you may be carrying around.
Just type out anything that's bothering you in Exhale, hit enter, and watch it disappear forever.
It can be very satisfying! But of course, your mileage may vary...