A few days before we put together this styled shoot, Wimberleigh and I got coffee and I told her I was over-joyed she wanted to model for us. Not only was she ecstatic to model, but she also told me it hadn't been that long ago that her mom suggested she do some modeling. Go mom, go. She told me it was refreshing and sweet to hear her mom say "You're really pretty, you can do this". 

And boy let me tell you-- the girl can work and flirt with the camera! Yowza. 

And me? I'm just sit'n there sip'n my coffee, uber-driver-over-the-moon PUMPED because this is my first collaborated styled shoot.... EVER. 

And, if we can get SO real here,

I'm passionate about Wimberleigh and her body type. I see a lot of photographers using models for styled shoots--- but I feel like Wimberleigh's body type is highly under-represented.

I rarely see my own body in styled shoots. 

Which is a total bummer, because I think there are a lot of women out there who are my future clients who want to see their bodies represented so they can see that girls like them are work'n their confidence and regular ole selves. 

I really wanted to collaborate on a styled shoot where my model was someone with confidence and someone with a body my beautiful future clients could relate to.

And  ya know what? 

I think my future clients, no matter their build, can appreciate this shoot and can appreciate the body-types they see in my portfolio. I don't ever want a client to think he or she can't book with me because they only see one type of person represented on my blog or website.

That just ain't how it works in these here parts of the Design Jamboree. 

Who do I want to book? Brilliant women in their errryday bodies. Toned abs. Food babies poking out. Curvy jigs jig'n with every step. Double D's or Triple A's--- I want 'em all. 

And just in case you're wondering, Wimberleigh girl bossed the entire shoot. She took us to town. 

And the best part?

I really just got to know her heart and character better throughout this entire shoot--- and oh man, she's a total goofball with a laugh ready for every joke I cracked (thank goodness). She's a gem. And that's really what these pictures and styled shoots are about. Getting to know the gem inside the bad ass girl boss woman lady person. 

And because I know you're dying to know the details: 

Makeup, Hair, and Styling Assistant- Nicole Hartman 

Dress- Old Navy

Locations- Texas Tech's Horticulture Garden and Downtown Lubbock

Mint Chair- Downtown Mini-Mall Denton, Texas

Photography- Me, Stacie, Of course!

Where I come frommmm, there's corn bread and chicken--- where I come froommmm. 

Sweet Alan Jackson making cornbread and chicken sound even more amazing than it already is. 

Do you southern gals remember the greatness of that song?! I remember line dancing to it in middle school--- at the skating rink! Go watch his youtube video just for inspiration, flashbacks, and giggles. 

Every time I post a picture on Instagram or finish a Photography session with a client I always find myself humming that song. Especially the part about "Work'n hard to make a live'n". Love it. 

Do you ever find it hard to love your client's well? To serve them or care for them even when they have a million seemingly ridiculous Photography expectations or unrealistic design fixes they need you to make?

I know I have felt my fair share of frustrations in the past. But I really believe those frustrations have lessened over time because 1) I've improved setting expectations with clients and overly communicating with them every little detail of how our interactions will go down, and 2) I've placed more value on their experience than my own. 

I love my clients. And I love working hard for them. Going the extra mile to make their design all that they dreamed up is what I'm about. I tell my Jamboree Clients to give me all the critical and minute feedback they can muster so we can make their dream logo or photography session exactly how they imagined it. 

Over the past few years, I've been about cultivating a cliental that comes back for all their design or photography needs--- because that's the kind of successful customer service I've learned the past 7 years in other fantastic organizations and institutions. 

The first job I ever had, found sweet little 18 year old me, operating roller coasters and cleaning up puke as a janitor at a Theme Park. 

I know, DREAMMYYY. 

I wasn't perfect at customer service then. I was frustrated by vacationers' negative attitudes and didn't know how to handle their complaints without responding somewhat apathetically and passively. I didn't fully understand what it was to positively and joyfully represent the company I worked for. But that company (Herschend Family Entertainment) had a phrase that has stuck with my customer service values ever since I worked there: I should be "Making Memories Worth Repeating" for my customer. 

I didn't love being a janitor then. It was a humbling job that taught me a lot about hard work and inner-motivation (and how to clean a bathroom SPARKLING CLEAN). I really loved being an RA and a Hall Director/Supervisor, but I didn't always love every situation I found myself in. But at the end of the day, I learned it really wasn't about me--- it was about my customer having as positive and fair of an experience as I could give them. And by the way, that DOES mean saying no to them at times. Trying everything in your power to say yes, but being willing to say no isn't always a bad thing. 

What makes my customer service stand out now, as an Entrepreneur, isn't my skill set or creativity, it's my ability to relate to and cheer on my customers. 

I'm relatable because I'm learning this business cray-cray-ness too and it can be a really challenging journey at times. But I get to be a cheerleader for all these awesome Ladypreneurs/Girl Bosses I design for or take pictures of. I always tells them that I wish I could sit down with them and grab a latte and hear all about their business, what they're learning, and how that work/life balance is going. I do my best to tell them what they're doing matters. 

So, because I love my clients, I HAVE been working hard for them and I thought I'd share with you some of the custom designs I've been working on for clients behind the scenes. It's been logos and invites for the win this past month! The heart wreath was originally an invite I made for a friend (she's one of those customers that keeps coming back for all her design needs), but she told me I could sell it as a print because LOOK AT IT. It's such a perfect V-day Print! 

Are you still trying to figure out where you stand with your clients? Do you ever find yourself frustrated with them? I'd love to know ways you handle your cliental and how you relate and connect with them! 

Stacie

P.S. If you're interested in my custom logos, invitations, or pre-designed logos&invites, hit up my Etsy Shop for all the goodies.