Wow the last time I blogged was November, what?! That’s crazy.  I had seriously thought I blogged last month but I guess not!

December was crazy.  I took on a new project and opened up shop with a dear friend to start a new inspiration magazine for photographers.  Smidgen Magazine is still in the works and nearly completion of the first issue.  I’m so excited, and so VERY nervous, lol.

Then I just took time off for the holidays.  I used to be horrible about working all day and all night.  As the holidays approached I knew this was something I no longered wanted to do.  And I’m pleased to say I don’t! YAY!  It’s so hard when you work from home.  Some nights when I sit down to watch some reality tv I try to talk myself into working rather than just sitting around.  BUT we all need relax time in our lives.  I need to learn to step away and enjoy life in other ways.  And truely I’ve been much happier since.

The new year came and what I wanted to do with the blog hung in the air.  Did I even want to keep blogging. Did I want to put the work into it.  I couldn’t say no.  But then it was how much to blog, how many days, how much to share, how much to not share.  And mostly who even is my blog audience anymore?  Who am I writing to? Who SHOULD I write to?  After lots of consideration with the blog I have finally decided that I WANT to continue blogging.  I WANT to continue sharing.  And, I’m GOING to do it more often.  So here’s to one of my many new adventures!

It wasn’t long ago that I was a new photographer myself.  I had a couple friends around the country that would answer questions for me occasionally but often felt all on my own.  I’ve been so excited to help out other photographers lately.  It kind of felt like out of no where people wanted my advice or opinion.  At first this threw me off guard a little, what did I know?  What I do or don’t do may or may not be the “right” way, but it’s right for me and I was happy to share it with those that asked.  Conversation after conversation I realized there were things that I ended up talking more and more about, and the other photographers wanted to know more and more about.  From that The Breakout Experience was born.

The Breakout Experience covers selling YOU, recognizing who YOUR client IS and what client you WANT, how to ACCESS them, provide them with a TOP-OF-THE-LINE EXPERIENCE and RELATIONSHIP, push BEYOND your fears, and think of the FUTURE of the industry and sell it!

I’ve been to a few workshops and the downside to them was always the class size.  20-30 people.  Some people took over the whole class leaving others hidden and to shy to ask a question, or answer one.  I would become great friends with just a handful of people (or less) and because of the size there would start to be distinct groups.  I hated this feeling.  And to this day I still kinda relate the word workshop to that feeling of division within a group striving for the same goal.  I didnt want this to happen with The Breakout Experience.  So instead The Experiences are limited to a max of just 8 people.  Making us a smaller group, where some aren’t shadowed.  But I also have high hopes that by making it a smaller group these 8 or less people build connections, and friendships.  That the experience leaves with them and carries on.  That this group will love each other, care for each other and help each other to succeed from here on out.

I’m jacked!  The Breakout Experience launches in Las Vegas over WPPI.  There are 2 separate ones happening there, one for the wedding photographer about couples, and the other for those trying to break into the Senior scene and succeed.  I can’t believe it, I only launched the website a few weeks ago and there is just 1 seat left in the Couple Experience and only a few left in the Senior Experience.  I’d love to meet you and have you join in on such a great time in Las Vegas.

If you’re not going to Las Vegas there are currently a few other Experiences starting up for other cities, like Vancouver, BC; Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; and Richmond, VA.  If you aren’t near any of those areas but need this to come to you, let’s talk!! I’d love to work something out to make it happen.

I couldn’t feel more blessed for such an amazing opportunity to help others succeed in their dreams!  Check out the Website for more info!!!

Last year Joe and I took our first trip ever to WPPI.  We signed up for some meet ups with photographers, a couple shoots, etc.  As soon as I found out about the Thirst Relief Mentor Auction I started reading on every photographer listed, watching the auction, and bidding.  I bid on alot of auctions, I think Joe was VERY nervous for a while there, haha!  I set a budget for myself and in the last seconds lost out on an auction I wanted badly.  It didn’t matter, I believed in Thirst Relief.  I believed in the work they were doing and I wanted to help.  Even though I didn’t win I still donated that money to Thirst Relief.  A couple days later the mentor I had been bidding on found out I had been bidding on him and asked if I was willing to give a little more to Thirst Relief he would give me a mentor session.  I said HECK YES!

This mentor session forever changed me, forever changed my business.  I’m forever grateful.  And this year, it’s my turn to give back! YUP!

So first if you don’t know what Thirst Relief is GO CHECK IT OUT!!! Jim Davis-Hicks and his wife are great people who have started an amazing organization that saves lives! Or here, let me help you

Thirst Relief Short from Anton Lorimer on Vimeo.

I am so excited to be a part of the mentor auction this year with MANY other AMAZING photographers!  I have always had the desire to give back and help out other photographers and I can’t wait to find out who I get to spend time with!! Each mentor is offering a 90 minute session along with anything else they’d like to give.  I’ll be offering 1 year of free Showit, PASS software, 1 year subscription to the upcoming photography and design magazine Smidgen, and a photo session with me! YAY!!!
Go check out the auction!

I’ve spent alot of time lately talking with others about fear.  About my own accounts of fear, as well as theirs and how we can overcome it. To me a fear is simply the lies I tell myself.  I let fear stand in my way and hold me back on my dreams because “it may not happen,” “it can’t happen,” “I will fail,” the list goes on.  But in reality I haven’t done anything yet to pursue this dream, or made this approach so I have NO IDEA if it may or may not happen, if it can or cannot happen, if I’m going to fail or succeed.  I simply don’t know, but I let fear tell me so.

How often have I let fear stand in my way through out my life? WAY too often, that’s the real answer.  I recently held back on a dream because fear told me I could never do that.  Well I pulled myself together and realized fear only has a hold on me as long as I LET it.  Keyword, LET.  I also realized at that same moment that I wasn’t just letting fear hold me back.  I was just letting dreams be dreams.  And now was the time to take steps in the directions of my dreams, make them goals and make them realities! I will talk more on that in a few weeks as I’m currently pursuing one of my dreams.

So a few months ago I saw a trailer to The Art of Flight.  This trailer to be exact

I’m a snowboarder and seeing this trailer it immediately became a MUST see.  So yesterday I downloaded it on iTunes and finally watched it.  I LOVE this movie and EVERYTHING that it is about.  Not only is this movie about the ridiculous talent of these riders, but it’s about pushing the limits.  Learning who you really can be. The movie opens with this quote from Travis Rice:

“Ya know it’s funny, what’s happening to us. Our lives have become digital. Our friends, now virtual. And, anything you could ever wanna know is just a click away. Experiencing the world through second hand information isn’t enough. If we want authenticity we have to initiate it. We will never know our full potential unless we push ourselves to find it. It’s this self-discovery that inevitably takes us to the wildest places on earth.”

I use social media, email, the internet, etc to promote my busines and connect with others.  But I realize sometimes I get caught up in the things everyone else is doing to pursue their dreams and wish it was me, rather than experiencing my own dreams first hand.  Do you do this too?

“We will never know our full potential unless we push ourselves to find it.”

Just think about it.  That line right there is SO powerful!

Later on Nicolas Muller says ” When a human being can be creative it’s, it’s when really anything is possible.”

Today, I encourage you to make your dreams a goal, pursue them, push yourselves further than you ever have before. Because, we really ARE capable of anything.  Anything IS possible! Don’t hold yourself back from something great.

Contact Jacilyn  |  Join the Facebook Fanpage  |  Check out the Website  |  Follow Jacilyn on Twitter

And, if you want to check out The Art of Flight you can download it here

A few weeks ago I received an email from the “guys” at Showit.  If you’re a photographer and not familiar with Showit go check them out!!! Showit provides me with an awesome website, community and MUCH MUCH more!  So I received this email that says, can you please meet us in Santa Barbara on this day at this time?  “You don’t want to miss this, seriously!”  I thought…well…. I don’t want to miss this!!! So I said yes!  For the next couple weeks all I knew was that I needed to be there by 5pm on Monday, we were going out to a ranch, and who else was coming along.

What I recognized of the people coming were that this was a group of leaders.  Leaders that were always giving of themselves.  Always helping others.  They were the first Sherpas for Showit’s local SHARE groups around the country.  These were the people that stepped up and volunteered immediately as Showit announced the idea of SHARE, to lead these groups of Showit users within their local area.  I was excited to be apart of a group of amazing photographers and designers that were always always willing to help, those that wanted to make a difference in our industry. This was going to be an adventure.  And, because I knew nothing that was going to happen I had no expectations.  But I will say that it surpassed anything I could have even hoped for!

Some of us arrived early ate, had coffee, and SHOPPED Oh and rode the “trolley” down State St. in Santa Barbara.  Santa Barbara is definitely somewhere I plan to go again, and again, and again.

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

After everyone came into town we all met up at The Freedom House (David Jay’s home).  The view….. incredible!!!!  We had some dinner, and just enjoyed each others company.  We still had no idea what was going to happen or if anything was SUPPOSED to happen.  We just enjoyed time together.

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography & Jenna Davis Photography

After dark they drove us about an hour north to the ranch.  It was dark and we had no idea where we were going.  None of the cabins had electricity so we ran around with our little flashlights picking our beds and building a fire.  We were given a little schedule.  All it said was the next morning we were going to a winery so be ready by this time, lets meet after dinner and lets meet after breakfast the last day.  I later came to find out that we didn’t know what was happening, because the Showit crew didn’t know what would happen.  They just had high hopes of bringing together this group, that something great would come of it.  I’d like to think that we may have surprised them and that this ended better than they ever could have dreamed.

So, the next morning we had some americanos, some breakfast and all showered in the best outdoor shower EVER!! I think we all wanted to take it home!  Then we were off to Sunstone Winery for a tasting and lunch.  We still just continued to enjoy each others company and hang out.  It was simple, it was beautiful.

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

After lunch we had a little thing where we went around and it was supposed to be my name is, I’m from, this is how I got here, and the first showiteer I met was….. But it became more.  More about us, who in that room inspired us, what Showit has done for us, and SOOO much more.

photo credit: Trevor Dayley Photography

We then returned to the ranch and simply just spent time together.  Nothing was forced, nothing was set-in-stone-must-do.  We simply just bonded and built lasting relationships.  Then made smores with the most jumbo marshmallows known to man.  Oh you know chubby bunny happened, and David won with 3…. yup that’s how big they were.  Then we had a “meeting” talked about our dreams, as children what we wanted to be when we grew up, why we’re photographers and doing what we’re doing, etc.

Days were going by so fast and the next thing we knew it was the next morning.  All of us dragging ourselves in for Americanos (except those that surprisingly ended up being morning folk and skipped right in, I was not one!), more showers outside and breakfast by Jenny.  Jenny is da bomb!!!  This girl does everything.  Without her this trip would have been CRAZY and we probably would have starved to death. haha.  Because we LOVE her so much we surprised her with some flowers later that day, that we picked up at the farmers market in a little Danish town

photo credit: Trevor Dayley Photography

Anyways, back to that morning   We got together after breakfast for another “meeting.”  Although this meeting wasn’t about where we went to college, how we got to where we were and why in the end we’re photographers and designers instead of teachers and astronauts.  This meeting I think surprised us all. It started with Kevin talking about some things they are planning on for WPPI and they wanted our advice on how to make it better for everyone.  What could they do to make it AMAZING?  We did eventually talk about WPPI but what happened next was an overflowing of ideas as a group that could possibly change our industry.  It was this meeting that made me realize why it was THIS group that was there, why THIS was happening.  We held similar ideals, had similar goals, had similar desires, similar needs, similar wants, this group was in complete unison on what we could do for others.  It wasn’t even about us it was about what we could do for OTHERS.  I truely think that we not only amazed ourselves, but that DJ, Andrew and Kevin were amazed.  Just a meeting with no expectations that ended up blowing our minds.  When it ended, we had formed a brotherhood.  Our hearts were full.  I can’t wait to see us, as a group, start to implement these ideas and help others, and make a difference in our work and this industry.

In the middle of this conversation Jasmine & JD surprised us.  They came in, sat down, listened, and gave input.  I will talk your ear off, for real.  As a child my dad called me yak attack.  When I was 5 I realized yak was an animal… I wasn’t so fond of it after that.  That is besides the point.  The point is, when someone I admire, look up to, someone who inspires me day-in-and-day-out comes in the room, I shut it.  I immediately sit back and watch and listen.  Honestly I didn’t realize I did this until after this day.  I think even if I had had a list of questions I possibly could ask Jasmine I still would have just watched her and listened.  In the midst of a funny story and laughing she said something that hit me.  It’s been sitting with since then and it’s changing me and about to change my business in such a great way!! I’m excited for the new adventure ahead of me.  She helped me realize this, she doesn’t know it yet, but she will!  Also I’m still insisting that JD teach my husband how to dress…. cause f’real, he has pretty darn good style, and Jasmine insists she doesn’t dress him!

This photo kinda looks like we both could have used a nap… maybe we could have!  We chose to laugh all night instead!

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

I have to tell you moments after this Jasmine asked if Lauren would take a photo of her and JD.  Lauren was like OH OF COURSE!!! Inside nervous as heck.  Jasmine leans down and grabs her purse and under a wallet, notebook, and many other things a woman carries in her purse she pulls out her camera.  We all felt a little relieved that not only do we sometimes just put our cameras in our purse, Jasmine Star does too

This was our last night there and there is no better way to end an amazing day than with a dance party.  And smores. Of course.

I think most of us just enjoyed time together and realized the next morning that we needed more photos!!!! As in, we really NEEDED.  So the clicking began!

These girls have become like sisters! Adore them.

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

A little bit of this was going on in the end.

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

This girl, I love her, and I REALLY love her style!  And she’s from Chicago!!! I know I know I’m a serious Canucks fan and I made a friend from Chicago! It’s so exciting! I plan to find myself there soon, to visit!

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

We’re trying hard to capture anything and everything in the last hour!

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

Then I may have been burnt out a little.

photo credit: Shannon Gray

And then I’m BACK!

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

photo credit: Trevor Dayley Photography taken on Lauren Wakefield Photography’s camera

photo credit: Trevor Dayley Photography taken on Lauren Wakefield Photography‘s camera

Trevor throwin’ down some dance moves. We like it……?…….

photo credit: Shannon Gray

I met Karen in person, 7 months ago, and we’ve stayed in touch but over the few days in California our friendship has grown tremendously.  We even write each other songs now

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

And then we realized this week was ending….

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

photo credit: Lauren Wakefield Photography

Some people have asked what happened in California, what was going on?  This is simply what happened. What made it so amazing was not that we met in California, cabined together or had dance parties.  It was the bond that formed over that time.  Either DJ, Todd and the crew knew exactly what they were doing by bringing this group together, OR God had a much bigger plan for us than we even knew.  This was meant to happen, there was purpose in the relationships built and the ideas brought forth.  We are unique, united & free.  I can’t imagine continuing life without these people in it. I’m excited to continue pursuing the ideas we discussed.  I believe as Showiteers (the whole group) we can collectively, make a change within our industry.  And I’m inspired to build relationships with others outside of the internet.  Some of us there had skyped before or heytelled, but the relationships that formed when we were together in person are undeniably amazing! Thank you DJ, Todd, Kevin, Brett, Jenny, Andrew, Kimmy, Jasmine, JD, Josh, Trevor, Karen, Isaac, Lauren, Joy, Stacey, Emma, Jenna, Sarah, Krisd, Lindsay, Shannon, David, Keith, and Julie for accepting me, loving me, supporting me, and inspiring me beyond my wildest dreams.  I love you all!