In 2012 I have found myself knee-deep in mentor sessions. Its quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do with this photography career I have going. A mentor session is where I sit down with a brand new photographer or someone who has been in the business for a small time and is just “hitting brick walls around every curve” as one mentee put it. In the last 3 years I have learned sooo much [mostly through trial + error] and if I can share my mistakes and “ah-ha” moments with those just getting started.. I feel like it was all worth it. In these mentor session we talk about shooting, mechanics, equipment, vendors, post processing + workflow and branding [websites, logos, and the general perception of your business others have]. Branding is HUGE! Perception is EVERYTHING both when you’re starting out and as your growing.

While at WPPI last year in Vegas I was sitting in on a talk when the conversation moved to the importance of branding. One of my favorite photographers put it like this

[paraphrase]

“It’s like this..  Mac vs PC..  Folks have a certain perception of these brands.. and when you’re a creative these perceptions are very intense.. for example, I want you to raise your hand if you’re a Mac [in a room of 500-800 photographers/creatives, everyone I could see raised their hand].. okay now raise your hand, mac people, if you would ever buy a PC [1 personal.... I repeat ONE person.. an older gentleman with his logo on his polo raised his hand]… my point exactly… that is called brand power”

This is one of the BIGGEST things I talk about during mentor sessions. It’s ALL ABOUT your brand power. There are some incredible books out there about this.. most of which from Seth Godin. Purple Cow is a personal favorite [the idea here is to see what everyone in your industry/market are doing.. and do the opposite.. oh yeah it will ruffle their feathers... but that means it's working].

Anyway.. when I sat down to type this post I was merely going to showcase the amazing branding I had created for me from the amazing KATE MOORE CREATIVE —> CLICK HERE FOR SITE

I highly, HIGHLY recommend her.

Don’t have a brand or a clue where to start? I created a folder on my desktop called “inspiration” and just dragged images I found I gravitated towards.. fonts, logos, patterns and I began to see a pattern. There is a nifty new social network that makes this way easier and causes me to have logo ADD.. perhaps you’ve heard of Pinterest? If not, you can find me here CLICK HERE FOR MY PINTREST to see what all the fuss is about.

I took a few shots of the branding Kate created for me + the packaging I purchased from Craft + Jute.. love!

Thank You cards, Biz Cards + a glossy book of info/portfolio I give out at my meetings.. love that thing!

These are the envelopes I use when folks order prints from me… I ordered them from Kraft + Jute with a few of my logos.. one [the better one] that Kate created and the other [lamer one] I put together

These are the cases that house the digital negatives from weddings… I LOOOOVE these!

my sweet Thank You’s… favorite part!

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Alright-chall… I MUST take a moment to tell you about one of the coolest things we’ve gotten ourselves into lately.. it’s call the Food For All or Food Share.

So here’s the deal.. 6 Families.. 12 adults, 3 kids. Each family gets one night a week [or sometimes every two weeks] to cook a meal for all 15 people [not as hard and scarey as it sounds]. We all live here in Fountain City and live about 1-2 miles from one another. Each night those who didn’t cook come to the house that did with their Tupperware, scoop out what they need and either stay to eat or slip out the door and take it home.

BENEFITS [this is huge!] //

1. There is a $30 limit on each meal.. so one night your not having beanie-weenies and the next filet minion = $30 grocery/dinner budget for 1-2 weeks! Whhhat? Amazing, I know.

2. We get to see all of these amazing folks that have come into our lives every night! We’ve seen most of them almost every night for going on 3 weeks and it’s already building this neat community. Gosh.. it’s the coolest thing

Last night it was the Hensley’s night to cook. I knew I wanted to make a killer chili since it was getting colder… so I searched and searched the web for and great new recipe and ran across one that just made me laugh:

“did you buy a pack of McCormick chili seasoning.. cool.. now through that **** away”
haha

I knew it would be a good recipe or at least I would enjoy making it. Here is a link to the chili recipe of dreams

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

Fast forward a few hours later and there are 15 people laughing around our kitchen table… our hearts were so full. So thankful for this little adventure and hoping your encouraged to do the same with your group of friends!!

Here’s a few pics I snapped during the cooking + a few of some of my friends.

Here are my onion cutting glasses.. hehe.. truth be told they probably don’t do much good, obviously.. but I feel they may help delay the tears..

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Let the office construction begin. I don’t know what to call the little house/apartment/garage behind our house that we are transforming into an office space/studio so I’m just going to call it the cabin from this point on. It’s a little cabin-esk I guess [photos to come].. it’s brown, it’s made of wood and smells like cedar. It works.

So right now, at this moment [well, about an hour ago] we started the demolition of some things and so the adventure has begun. To kick of this little slice of excitement we bought the first piece of decor this weekend in Nashville. There was a cute little interior store going out of business + were selling these sAweeeet twig chandeliers that just screamed Lori.

In typical HENSLEY fashion this adventure, as is all of them, was not as simple as drive, pick up item and drive back. Nothing ever works out that simply.. even when we plan for it to. Especially when we plan for it to. Luckily, we’re pretty easy-going [a trait I have taught D. Hensley over the years] and try to make a good story out of everything. So when we try to fit the HUGE chandelier into our Jeep Commander [who would have guessed it wouldn't be big enough?? Anyone with a brain] it started to brake and snap in all the wrong places. The lady that owned the store was trying to coach the whole event + got on my bad side really quickly [who knows how that happened.. but it did, hardcore].. so, of course, I throw my hands in the air and wonder [out load] where the nearest UHaul was. Yes, we were getting this monster home.. Jeep or no Jeep. Fast forward a few hours, add a pseudo shady deal with the UHaul guy, the best spaghetti + meatball I’ve ever had in my life [Amerigo's near Vandy], a quick-disappointing trip to Antique Archeology which ended up being a T-Shirt shop/Tourist Attraction instead of a great antique shop, a pair of boots from Macy’s [on sale, YAY!] and 6 hours + we are the proud owners of a white bundle of twigs that will soon hang from the ceiling of my new office! Yay!

a few frames I shot with my Nikon 1 point + shoot

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Hello Ladies!! It’s time to start planning that one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gift for that man of yours… or if you’re getting married this year what better way to surprise him with a gift that will KNOCK HIS SOCKS OFF!! Email me for details!! lori@lorihensley.com

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Happy New Year!! I’m beyond excited to see the start of a new year. I always am. I love fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings…. especially this year because for the first time ever I’ve sat down and written up a goals list. According to the list.. this year is going to be big, huge, monstrous [and scarey!] ! David is a super duper goal oriented person and once he sets a goal.. he pushes through whatever is before him + not only checks the goal off the list.. but conquers it, blows it out of the water. This right brain, laid-back-to-the-max, whatever-happens-happens girl sees this as the biggest challenge life has to present. Even sitting down and writing one out is huge for me. Yikes!

This past year, I took a little bit of a break with my biz. For the first two years I worked + worked + worked + pushed myself further as a photographer and business woman to grow grow grow this business. Then over the last 12 months I feel like I just sat back, did what I loved [shot weddings] and reaped the benefits of all the hard work I did for the past 2 years.. and it was nice.. but I turned away more work than I actually took + my business just stayed the same as where I had left it. Now, I’m ready to take it further. I’m really excited about working hard and pushing myself further than I’ve ever pushed. I’ve already booked more weddings for this year than I shot all of last year. And that scares the CRAP out of me.. but I’m also very very excited to see where that takes me and my work.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2012:

1. We are turning our garage/small house on our property into a studio! Yay! We are completely transforming the building into a creative space to meet clients + shoot VERY LIMITED studio sessions [different than what you're used to.. so if you like families/children standing in a clump smiling at the camera, in matching outfits.. this is not for you]

2. I’m bringing on an intern from the UT photography program. THIS IS A GODSEND!! Yay!

3. I will be taking on Family/Senior Portraits/Boudoir sessions more frequently.. but only in seasons.. there will be several Family weekends or weeks dedicated to a certain type of session.. this will be the only times in the year I take sessions other than wedding so keep your eyes open for date announcements on this blog + the FB page [fb.com/knoxvillephotos]

4. I’m going to be blogging much much more than just my work… posts about photography, starting a photography business + photography/editing tips.. and things as I learn them [a creative is always learning + growing and I want to start sharing more of that process] .. if you have any questions regarding these things email me and I’ll work them into blog posts.

5. This year will be starting year 1 of a 5 year plan I have to reach my next dream. It’s a biggy and requires me to learn everything about this venture because I currently know NOTHING. I will be able to use what I do now in this new venture.. but it will takes lots of time, research and moola… for now.. this is a big fat secret and I will give more info as the year progresses. I am SO VERY excited about it!! I realize how frustrating this is [like vague Facebook updates about big life changes that folks must ask questions to inquire what is ACTUALLY going on <-- David and I laugh about this every time it happens].. I am totally that girl right now

Bring it on 2012!! If I can encourage you to do 1 THING this week.. it’s to sit and write out a list of goals for this year. It’s not too late. If you want to get really good at planning.. write out 4 steps to achieve each goal. I have a list of about 5-6 biz goals and 3-4 personal goals.. like being open to new friendships and making time for old ones + documenting my own life more with my camera. We have lots of adventures planned this year to make sure it’s a memorable one and I don’t want to forget a minute of it.

Here’s just one more look back at 2011 with some of my favorite images of the year… onto the next!

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I looooooove Christmas and have been completely obsessed with Pinterest since I discovered it this summer. Due to this fact.. my Christmas decorating has been a little out of control. Thankfully I found a way I can use it for some good. Kelly Moore [the photography we created The Kelley Moore Bag that I adore] is giving away one of her bags to the most creative Christmas tree. I seriously doubt this tree can be considered the coolest.. but I’m really hoping it is! Since I took a minute to take pictures of the thing.. I thought I could share it with you folks too!! Cheers!

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So we’ve been on this kick of going to estate sales.. we get such a thrill from it! The older the find, the better.. and if it holds some kind of personal touch from the previous owner it might as well be gold. Imagine our excitement when we ran across this map:

I tried to do a little research to find out when it was made.. but the publishing company [print company?]‘s website didn’t give us any hints.. and we kinda gave up after looking there… our guess is the 60′s.. but not only is the map a really cool piece for our vintage style living room.. but it has now taken on a life of it’s own.. check it out

[keep in mind I am NOT a videographer and every time I use my camera as an HD vid.. it stinks.. goal for 2012..]

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“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” – English Proverb

preparing for this blog post i trolled pinterest.com [my newest love, inspiration + time waster] to find the best quote to sum up the last month. in the midst of this last month i have experienced the true meaning of the word OVERWHELMED and the word GRACE. this october i booked more session than i’ve ever tried to squeeze into a 3 week time, gave unrealistic deadlines [because i think i'm super woman and time doesn't apply to me] and bought a new house, rented out our old one and was left without a home for 2 weeks during the busiest time of my 3 year old career. after a breakdown, lots of chocolate and wise + loving friends, family + a husband peeling me from the ceiling i was able to take a step back and see what was really going on. we were being blessed. truly + deeply blessed. surrounded by those we love, in the home of our friggin dreams, with a business that is busting at the seems… the tough times often give birth to the greatest blessings and the painful times can often lead to the greatest joy.. you just have to stop and look around at the opportunity you’re being given… switch your point of view. i look back on this last month and i don’t see the tears + sweat + panic.. i see the family that took us in and gave us a place to stay.. the comfort + kindness of an ever wise husband.. friends that crowded tightly around to encourage.. and some images that i am more proud of than i’ve ever been.. images that actually move me [something i've longed to experience for a while] + clients that are now friends. pressure really does produce perseverance and when you ask God to teach you to trust him… he will [it may not be pretty, but it's always always worth it].

One last quote to kick this point into memory..

“It’s not the happy people who are thankful.. it’s the thankful people that are happy”… [another pinterest gem].

Look around.. there is sooo much to be thankful for.
Here are a few of my very favorite shots from this October…. to see many more from each of these sessions visit

facebook.com/knoxvillephotos

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i usually steer clear of shooting families these days because i’m just not that good at it.. i stick to my strengths.. but i’m super excited how this one turned out… great light, great kid and a family i just love. i donated a family shoot for a local United Way auction and the winner was the Bells!! this family is very dear to us and i couldn’t have been more thrilled that they won!! yay! alright.. but at editing.. 6 more session to go!! bring it on fall!! let’s do this!

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One of the most incredible people in this world is my grandmother [or Grandmom to us grandkids]. This woman is our own personal super woman in every way. She leads with her heart as she lives completely selflessly for those she loves. Completely selflessly. She has taught us all what love really means and is the best source of wisdom and strength for her entire family. She has certainly been the most influential person in my life and I’m certain countless others. With all the love and time she has given to us.. it’s now our turn to show her how very much her love has meant to us.

Grandmom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer just a few short weeks ago. Even though super woman has a rip in her cape.. she still keeps flying. She is the strongest person I know and is standing strong in the face of this villain. She will conquer it and we will be side by side with her until she does.

In honor of this amazing woman some of the woman in our family are walking the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in Knoxville in a few weeks. I have committed to raising $$ for the event and have put together a gallery site for you to be a part of it! Whether you have a friend, mother, daughter, sister who is fighting Breast Cancer or you want to encourage the research being done to kill this villian for good.. please donate!

********For October only any current/past clients who purchase prints from their gallery sites 100% of the proceeds will go to Susan G Komen Foundation For The Cure*********

********Also I’ve put together a gallery site with images from my Europe Trip for you to purchase prints or canvases. 100% of the proceeds from that site will go directly to Susan G Komen! *********

CLICK HERE to view THE GALLERY SITE where you can purchase prints!!!

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