Good afternoon and happy Monday, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well so far today and enjoyed your weekend!

It’s finally feeling like Fall outside, and I couldn’t be more excited! I absolutely LOVE the holiday season, and you guys have all been keeping me so busy and booked leading up to! As much as I hate to admit my dislike for the colder weather, I feel like the holiday season just does somethin’ to me. Something about watching all of the kids run around on Halloween, piling a plate full of Thanksgiving deliciousness, and switching between the spookier and more festive decorations.. It’s truly the best time of the year and no one can convince me otherwise.

For this weeks Blog, I really wanted to just catch up. I’ve been so busy between sessions and events that I wanted to chat about everything that’s been going on, what I’ve learned, the sessions I had and have planned, and everything in-between. So, as usual – grab your comfiest seat, your coziest blanket, and your fave morning bevvy and let’s have a chat!

A Wedding in Winston-Salem?!

You know – I’ve chatted with many Photographers across North Carolina, and something that us guys and gals in Winston-Salem always say is that we feel like we are so far away from all of the action! Most bookings in North Carolina tend to come from around either Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, or somewhere along the mountains or coast (like Boone or Wilmington). It’s not too often that I get requests to shoot anywhere around the Winston-Salem area, so when I was asked to help Associate-Shoot a Wedding here, I literally almost fell out of my chair! (“What do you MEAN I don’t have to make a 4-hour round-trip??!”)

For this event, I Associate-Shot for Makaylin from Mak Woodcock Photography. It was a quaint Wedding for McKenna and Seth (I think we collected all the Mc’s and K’s in the state for this event LOL), held on multiple of their own families’ property. Just a quick golf-cart ride down a rocky path took you to a wide-open field – complete with a small building for the couple to hide away after the Ceremony – right in their backyard! It was such a sweet day, and you could feel the love and chemistry between McKenna and Seth all throughout the night. Side note – her hair was SO long, and a beautiful Strawberry Blonde. I literally felt like I was shooting Rapunzel’s Wedding. Stunning.

Anyway, I was there from about 2:00pm-7:00pm – just in time to finish Bride and Groom portraits as Golden Hour was coming to an end. I’ve been trying to get more and more comfortable with shooting under direct sunlight or in a setting where the lighting behind my subject/client is super bright, and I can’t wait to show you guys the shots I got! I’m slowly getting to the point where I’m not constantly second-guessing or becoming overwhelmed with figuring out my settings as the lighting changes throughout the day or event! Though, keeping a cheat sheet of “base” settings (depending on the shoot/environment) in my notes on my phone just in case has really saved me in times where I do get stumped.

Boudoir Shoot in Durham, NC

Remember how I just now said how surprised I was to get a session in Winston? HA. Well, today I’ll be making the trek back out to Durham to do my very FIRST Boudoir Session in Durham and the Blue Door Studio! If you’re not familiar, it’s a cute little Greenhouse right near a lake that has such a cozy, almost-vintage feel to it. It’ll be my first time shooting there, but I’m coming prepared with a full Pinterest board of inspiration for poses and props to help me along!

The reason I really want to get into Boudoir is probably similar to anyone else in that particular pocket of the Photography Industry: I LOVE helping my fellow girlies feel more confident! It’s the biggest part of why I decided to take Cosmetology back in High School, and also why I eventually decided to move further into Photography as well.

Plus, literally WHO is complaining about hot women? Nobody. LOL

A Modeling Event in Charlotte, NC

The past few months have been so fulfilling, but one part of coming back from my break that has continued to excite me is getting to revisit and re-connect with the people I’ve worked with in the past. Whether it’s an event, “regular” session, or Styled Shoot – I stand by my previous sentiments that I’ve truly worked alongside some of the best and most talented people in the industry.

My dear friend Lauren (who modeled for me at my LLITS Styled Shoot earlier this year) reached out to me about a modeling event at Eighty Eights Coffee & Cocktails in Charlotte and asked if I’d be interested in providing photo coverage for the event. I obviously said yes (because who can say no to that kind of experience?!) and have been anxiously looking forward to it ever since. If you know Lauren, you know she is 100% one of the most hardworking and genuinely kind people you could meet. Even simply following her on socials, you can see she is constantly giving her time and energy into things bigger than just herself. Between working at hospitals, modeling, doing charity work, and more – saying yes to doing this for/with her couldn’t have been a quicker or easier decision to make. I am SO looking forward to tomorrow and all of the amazing new people I’ll get to meet!

More Opportunities for Growth

Something that has equally surprised and warmed my heart since returning from my break, has been the astronomical amount of support I’ve received from my fellow Photographers around North Carolina. I’ve said it before – but I really was so scared about going on my break and coming back to a business that had been counted out and forgotten about. I had so much fear when it came to taking that break because I’m so painfully aware of how new I am to the industry and didn’t feel like I’d yet had enough time to “make my mark” or leave any impressions that would call people back to me when I returned.

Today, I’m so happy and grateful to admit how wrong I was about that. My community and inner circle of friends in the industry have been so helpful in offering me potential clients and photoshoot opportunities. On top of that – the people who have allowed me the space and time to gain more experience with Flash Photography at a few sessions and events. These past few months have been the busiest I think I’ve ever been, and I’m quite literally overflowing with gratitude for those who genuinely believe and stand by the idea of “community over competition“.

Since my return in September, I’ve completed 4 weddings and photographed 5 other Branding or Couples Portrait Sessions. I’ve also gotten my first flash attachment and started practicing with/using it at several of these more recent bookings. That’s literally insane for someone who started their break with only one of these already booked. Honestly, even typing that out now feels surreal. Nothing puts me more in my feels lately than thinking about the progress, friends, and memories I’ve made since going solo in Photography.

Closing Thoughts & Reminders

Before I sign off this week’s Blog, I wanted to give some friendly reminders about some fun things I have coming up in the near future. Take a moment to keep reading!

New Years Networking Event

As a reminder, Vendor Applications are currently OPEN for those who are interested in setting up a booth/table at my upcoming New Years Networking Event. Here’s a quick breakdown of a few details, including: application requirements/details, location options, Vendor perks, and more!

• You’re encouraged to submit an application IF: You’re an event Vendor of ANY KIND with availability in January or February 2027.
• Vendor Application Requirements: The applying Vendor must be local or willing to travel to the chosen event location. Additionally, all Vendor Dues must be paid 48 hours prior to the scheduled event date (if applicable).
• Vendor Applications will close when enough Vendors from Winston-Salem, Charlotte, or Raleigh/Durham have applied, or at the beginning of December – whichever comes first.
• Vendor Perks Include: Complimentary meal and snacks, Vendor Goodie Bags, Vendor Discounts (at participating booths), first-come/first-serve booth location selection, AND Photo and Video coverage!
• Once applications close – the official date, timeframe, and location will be planned and decided in collaboration with all attending Vendors and a Public Invitation will be released/posted.
• This event is FREE and OPEN to the public!

Ruhe Liebe.Concepts – Phase Two

Something else to look forward to in 2027 – Phase TWO of Ruhe Liebe.Concepts!

IYKYK, Ruhe Liebe dealt with a lot of scheduling issues when it came to previous Styled Shoots. However, I’m testing out a new way of putting these events together – starting with my New Years Networking Event – to cut down on last-minute conflicts and any confusion regarding specific details for each shoot. Let me explain:

In the past, several of my Styled Shoots have struggled when it comes to the actual planning and execution of these events. This is due to a multitude of reasons, but I believe a huge factor is the simple fact of how hard it is for Vendors to accommodate events that are scheduled AFTER they’ve already booked a ton of sessions for an upcoming season.

So, I’m testing out how much better this new way of planning works: by surveying general interest/availability first, and then working in collaboration with those interested to schedule a date and time that works best for everyone involved. So far it seems to be helping a lot! There’s already several people who have applied or shown interest in working my Networking Event, so I’m definitely hoping that success translates as we get these Styled Shoots planned and on the books as well!

Keep checking back in for updates, and I’ll see you back here next Monday for more!

Talk soon!

Katelynn | Ruhe Liebe