Good morning and happy Monday! I hope you’re all doing well and had a great, relaxing weekend!
At the Yancey household – we spent our weekend cleaning, doing laundry, running errands, and resetting our home after weeks of being behind with all of the life happenings we recently experienced. It feels so nice to get back into the swing of things and feeling back to (somewhat) normal! Today really has been the first time in months that I don’t feel like I’m super behind or am rushing to get things done and I’m so happy and grateful that things are back on the up n’ up around here!
A few weeks ago, I got an inquiry for a completely different kind of project that I’ve ever done before in a Photography setting! I honestly never would’ve imagined that anyone would reach out to me about something like this – atleast not for awhile, since I’m still fairly new to the community. Yet, here I am – so incredibly grateful for the opportunity and equally as excited to share all of the details with you that I have so far.
As always – grab your coziest spot, your comfiest blanket, and your fave morning/afternoon bevvy – and let’s talk about what’s been going on behind the scenes at Ruhe Liebe lately!
Before I Spill the Beans
Before we get into all of the fun, I just wanted to share a quick reminder about some special upcoming events I have planned for the community!
Y2K Jean Styled Shoot in Raleigh
If you’ve missed the updates and posts – no worries! There’s still many more open spots for my Styled Shoot coming up in a week and a half! I’ve gotten so many requests for more non-wedding related Styled Shoots, so I’m super excited to see who all makes it to this one on the 23rd!
Tickets are only $100 (usually the cheapest you’ll see for my Styled Shoots) and I have about 9 spots still open! If you’re interested in reading more about the details or wanted to grab a spot – feel free to click THIS LINK to be taken to the booking page!
Other Upcoming Styled Shoots
Pre-Wedding Sip & Dip Styled Shoot
Designed to be a cute dual-purpose photoshoot that doesn’t exactly scream “WEDDING“, but rather a perfect mix of privacy, intimacy, fun, and partying. The first half of the shoot will be based on sweet, intimate moments between a couple all around their home. Whether its slow dancing in the kitchen, sharing a cup of coffee while watching the birds, or laying out in the sun together – this portion of the shoot is made to set the stage for the beautiful, loving couple.
The second half of the shoot is when the real fun begins – when all of their favorite people (mock “guests”) show up to party and celebrate the two of them before they tie the knot together. All throughout the shoot, you’ll have access to snacks, drinks, picnic lunch-style foods, and more!
Each ticket is $250 with an included non-refundable deposit. Snag your spot before someone else does HERE!
Mommy & Me Tea Party Styled Shoot
Featuring up to two (2) Mother-Daughter duos and their own private setup in the Gardens of Duncraig Manor, we’re pulling fully away from Wedding-related content for this Styled Shoot and moving into a unique event based around the loving, tender relationship between a Mother and her young daughter(s). Originally inspired by the iconic plastic Barbie/Princess tea sets we all know and love, I wanted to ensure that the magic of a kids imagination had a place in this shoot.
At this shoot, we’ll all experience the everlasting bond, sweet moments, loving gestures, and even the silliness and jokes shared between these beautiful families. Now that I think of it – tissues may be a good thing to add to the shopping list for this one…
Snag your spot at this Styled Shoot HERE for $200 a ticket!
Out of Focus Weekend Retreat (for the girlies only!)
If you’ve been finding yourself going from session to session and haven’t had much time for a break or some rest and reprieve – here’s your sign that it’s time for some self care!
I planned this Weekend Retreat for my fellow ladies in the Creative/Photography/Videography/Content Creation fields, so we can recharge for the next busy season and get to know eachother a little bit better. This isn’t your typical networking trip though, and you’re not obligated to bring any equipment or do any shoots during this trip that you’re not wanting to! This is genuinely just a chance for us all to take a short break and get to spend some time together; at basically the best ladies weekend sleepover you’ll ever see!
Tickets to the retreat include your portion of the rental stay, one (1) elevated dinner on one of the evenings there, stocked snacks and beverages, and some adult bevvies for those who partake. If this sounds like something you’ve been needing in your life, read more about the weekend ahead by clicking this link HERE.
Into My Newest Chapter…
GOSH I am so excited to share this new little venture I have coming up with you all!
A few weeks ago, I got a message about an inquiry I had never received before. The inquiry actually came from someone who had purchased tickets to one of my previous Styled Shoots, which felt even more surprising and exciting. To me, it showed that this person must truly be interested in what I have to offer and the knowledge I bring to the table in this space. I really never imagined an inquiry like this (one that doesn’t include scheduling a shoot, attending a Styled Shoot or event, or something along those lines) would give me such a confidence boost and make me feel so validated in the work I put into the content I get and post.
Anyway, this inquiry was a request to see if I’d be willing to help a fellow Photographer with their knowledge and confidence in visuals and cohesivity – specifically regarding client shoots and similar events like Styled Shoots and Networking Events. Also, to help them feel more comfortable and confident in producing digital content, ads, etc. which match their brand aesthetic! At first, I was incredibly hesitant. I really don’t have a plethora of “technical” knowledge to share about Photography – or atleast not enough to build a curriculum around. Yet, when we had our consultation call and we spoke more about what specifically he was wanting training on, my whole outlook changed – even regarding my own business.
Finding out that he was more interested in building shoot setups and content which speaks to him and his brand, I knew right away that this was something I could confidently help him with. I’ve spent the last (almost) 12 years working in retail settings and with companies who give extensive training in visuals, and then of course my own experiences while building and running Ruhe Liebe. I’ve always loved making things not only look pretty – but also feel cohesive, tell a story, and evoke emotions. From what fonts match the theme, which colors convey the right feelings, which details fit the tone, and so on – it really is so fun and helpful to learn how to use these digital tools we have to give us a better chance of finding our perfect clients.
The Process So Far
This past Friday, we had our Consultation Call to ensure we were on the same page as far as what his goals were and what exactly he was looking to get out of the experience. Obviously, this would be my first ever experience acting as a Mentor to someone else, so we also spoke extensively about what the process would look like as this is actually a first for both of us. This person has been so incredibly supportive and willing to collaborate on this process together, and to help me help him make sure he gets the information and experience he’s looking for and deserves. We spoke about how often he would feel comfortable attending “classes”, if he’d be open to creative assignments, and so on – and I think we came up with the perfect outline for this experience together.
After I got home, I got to work on looking into what a reasonable investment would look like for the two of us. I worked on 3 different quotes to give him options for a payment plan and by the time Sunday (this past weekend, yesterday) came around, I had a custom Contract drawn up and sent his way. Now we’re just waiting to schedule our first “introductory” session to get to know eachother, our businesses, goals, and so on a bit better and so I can build the perfect curriculum for us to walk through together.
Manifestations & Closing Thoughts
Entering into this journey with Ruhe Liebe has given me such a reality check – and I’m sure they’ll keep coming all throughout the rest of my career. If you know me, you know I have such high expectations for myself and how I run my business, even to a fault. I consistently catch myself trying to keep up the pace with everyone around me and regularly have to remind myself that I’m on my own path and timing.
For now and into the future, aside from my regular business and life happenings – I really want to make it a point to be more conscious of the way I let things effect me, how much pressure I’m putting on myself, not playing the comparison game, and learning to stop and smell the roses a bit more often. I truly love what I do and all of the clients I get to work with, and I know that I need to remember to slow down and focus on what I know I can do and implementing improvements where I can, as I can. Rather than rushing myself around, trying to check all the boxes, and keep up with trends and the success of those around me. I’m slowly accepting that it does more harm than good and is really so unnecessary.
For the future, I’m manifesting that all of the clients and fellow creatives that are meant to cross my path – will. That every venture I take is meant for me and has come to me for a specific reason, and that I’ll take opportunity I can to learn and grow from those ventures. That I measure my success in this field less by what everyone else has already accomplished (or are currently), and more about the way I feel working with the clients that come my way and the creative projects I take on.
I truly want Ruhe Liebe to grow into a space that anyone can come to – for a shoot, some advice, or even just a friend in the field. I want to build this into an empire built not only on money or the number of clients I have, but built through genuine connection and a story that resonates with and helps as many people as possible. It has been so much fun watching Ruhe Liebe grow from the ground up, and I couldn’t be more excited to see what these next chapters of our story will tell.
Talk soon!
Katelynn | Ruhe Liebe
