Good morning, friends! I hope you’re all doing well and were able to get some rest over the weekend. It’s finally getting warmer over here in NC, and I’m so ready for the Summertime!
This week, I really just wanted to have a quick catch-up sesh with you all and discuss all of the fun things that transpired over the last week for myself and Ruhe Liebe! It’s been such a fun and busy week – and I can’t wait to sort through all of the fun content and photos I’ve gathered over the last several days!
As always – grab a seat, a blanket, and your fave morning beverage – and let’s recap this eventful week together!
The Calm Before the Storm (Sun. & Mon.)
Sunday and Monday of this past week meant tidying up all of the final details for my first Styled Shoot – Love Letters in the Spring! IYKYK – there were a few “surprises” that popped up in the few days before that needed to be taken care of. If you’ve ever planned a Styled Shoot before (or really any event for that matter), you know that a ton of things can change and get moved around from the start of planning until the very start of the event. Sometimes even *during* the event itself.
I won’t lie, there were some times during the planning of this event where things changed so drastically – I second guessed just cancelling it altogether and refunding everyone that had purchased a ticket. Yet, with the encouragement, help, and advice from my Husband, fellow photographers, and even some of the attendees/vendors for the event – we were able to compensate for just about every one of those surprises that came our way. I know I couldn’t have made the event what it was without these people around me, and I am so incredibly proud and grateful for how everything turned out and the content we were all able to get throughout the day.
The Day of LLITS
In the end, it ended up being a “smaller” – yet productive and intimate event and I couldn’t be more happy with how everything turned out for my very first Styled Shoot. Thank you – from the bottom of my heart – to everyone who came to, took part in, helped with, and spread the word for LLITS. If it wasn’t for all of the adrenaline and (delicious) coffee/caffeine running through my system, I swear I could’ve just sat in a corner and cried tears of joy and gratitude from the moment I got there, into the night, and after I had finally gotten home.
As for the content – we (my Husband and I) were able to get so many good videos and photos between all of the Vendors and Attendees that were there. We’ve been sorting through everything since we got back and are currently in the process of putting together and finishing the editing process on all of that content to be sent out hopefully within the next week or so! Everything looks so amazing, and I truly cannot wait to see the finished photos from the attending Photographers!!
Second-Shooting in Critz, VA
This weekend brought a super fun Second-Shooting opportunity with a fellow photographer, Bright & Bloom Photo, in Critz, VA at the Reynolds Homestead! This is my 5th time second-shooting in total and was such a great experience. Christian and Madison (and their families) were so incredibly friendly and welcoming. I love when I meet a couple &/or their families and it literally feels like reuniting with old friends and family members of my own! It truly makes the whole experience flow so much more comfortably and seamlessly – especially when you have similar tastes/vibes/preferences!
Anyway, I had the best time while we were there! They both looked stunning, the location was beautiful, the food was delicious, and you could feel a genuine sense of overwhelming love all throughout the course of the day! I was on the verge of tears especially during Madison’s first look and dance with her dad, Christian’s vows, as well as Christian’s sister’s speech and his first dance with his mom. I’m such a big baby when it comes to Weddings in general – but even more so when the love and support flowing throughout the room is so strong as it was at their wedding!
As far as how I feel I did – I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy and confident in myself and my work after Second Shooting a wedding. Usually, I can count on at least *one* thing going wrong on my end – whether it’s that my batteries seem to want to die on me faster than usual, can’t get my SmallRig equipment to work with me, second guessing my settings, etc. Since I’m still baby-fresh when it comes to shooting Weddings in general, I know I still have so much yet to learn and so many more circumstances to test myself and grow along the way. However, I can truly say I’ve probably never felt this excited about photos I’ve taken at an event – Second Shooter or not.
A Quick Heads-Up!
As many of you already know, I have started a separate page to showcase my future events and Styled Shoots. If you’re interested in staying in-the-loop about all of those things, please feel free to visit/follow my Ruhe Liebe.Concepts page on IG (here). Also, you can visit my booking site (here) to schedule a session or buy early-access tickets to any of my upcoming July or August Styled Shoots as well.
More updates will be shared within the next coming days/weeks as certain details are finalized, but anyone who is curious about specific details is also always more than welcome to send me a message or inquiry to my IG pages or to my email at ruheliebephotography@gmail.com!
Closing Thoughts
It’s truly been so nice gaining practice, confidence, knowledge, and finding my style and own preferences when it comes to my art and experience levels. It’s taken me a little over a year to start feeling this way, so if I have any advice to give newer Photographers out there – it’s to GO FOR IT. Don’t let anything steer you away from your passion, and be willing to work through all of the “ugly” and learning phases! I promise – I’m saying this as someone who is not too “far ahead” of anyone in the industry, including the newest of newbies – but powering through the harder days is so incredibly worth it!
I try to say it often, and hopefully it has not lost it’s value from me, but I am forever grateful for all of the support, advice, encouragement, and so on that I’ve gotten – especially recently since I’ve begun to find my footing, my style, and my own place within this industry – but also in general, since the very start of K.COLLECTIVE & Ruhe Liebe. I couldn’t be more humbled, grateful, or excited to see what the future holds. Thank you all for being a part of my story – of my journey <3
Talk soon!
Katelynn | Ruhe Liebe Photography | Ruhe Liebe.Concepts
