How to look GREAT in Summer photos

5 Simple steps:

1. Golden Hours: Shoot during the "golden hours" of early morning or late afternoon for soft, warm lighting that enhances your photos.

2. Where’s the light? If you’re inside - look towards a window - the light will nicely light your face. If you’re outside look for some soft light. Always avoid harsh sun because this causes squinting & harshness.

3. Background Check: Be mindful of your background. A clutter-free, background makes all the difference

4. Candid Moments: Capture candid moments for genuine emotions. Sometimes the best shots are the unplanned ones.

5. Keep breathing! - it sounds obvious, but you’d be amazed how many people hold their breath in photos. For natural, relaxed photos a big breath in & out will make you feel more relaxed.

Remember, the goal is to have fun and capture the essence of your holiday. Don't stress too much about perfection—some of the best photos are the ones that capture the real, imperfect moments. Happy snapping! 📸✨

4 Tips for Keeping Up Momentum

Of course you've heard the saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" but this is so easy to forget when all you want is results “fast and now”. The real means to achievement is in keeping up momentum, because “small daily improvements are the key to staggering long term results.”

(1) Give Yourself a High Five and Celebrate the Small Wins -
We develop a sense of pride and achievement when we tick off large goals. But hey, what about all those small wins that go into making up that big win.
If you want to build your momentum and stay motivated, start by acknowledging your progress along the way. Listing your small wins as they occur, so you can feel the continued momentum of achievement. The more you celebrate your victories the better you feel and the more you’re bound to accomplish.


(2) Be 100% Committed to Yourself -
No matter what your goals are, the only way to achieve them is in real commitment … and that’s about being committed to the process and not just the result. You deserve to feel great about your reality, so choose yourself an exciting goal, one that actually lights you up. Having a goal you’re truly excited about is always easier to commit to, will keep you inspired, motivated and will get your momentum rolling. You have to look forward to achieving the goals you set for yourself!


(3) Accept the good with the bad -
Now just because you have an awesome focus, feelings of excitement and a real desire to achieve doesn’t mean that every day is going to be a “piece of cake”. Some days are just hard, suddenly you’re consumed with distraction, self-doubt and wondering if your goal is even a good idea to begin with. So, it’s important to create some mindfulness that will help remind you “why” your goals are important, it’s okay to have bad days, just make sure you have self-care rituals, accept that it is fleeting and let it go.


(4) Use Reverse Gap Thinking –
Future-Gap Thinking is thinking about the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. eg. I’ll feel fulfilled/successful when I have XYZ” or “I’ll be happy when I reach my goal,” this method of thinking actually postpones your happiness and you’ll quickly lose momentum and motivation because it feels so hard and it makes goals feel so far away.
The solution is focusing on Reverse Gap Thinking - this is the process of looking at just how far you have come and appreciating how much you have accomplished. Reverse-Gap Thinking is so powerful because your brain focuses on the awesome things you’ve done, your wins and in turn this create feel-good energy, gratefulness, drive and momentum.

Identity

To celebrate International Woman’s Day 2020, it was an honor to be apart of a well received exhibition supported by Saatchi & Saatchi,
that was featuring the work of commercial women photographers of NZ. 

Identity by ©Photographer Sharlene Ferguson

IDENTITY
Examining what it is to be the “self” and questioning who are we really under all the messaging, the external opinions, and the expectations we’re all feed from a young age? And encouraging, a journey of self-discovery.

FULL ARTIST STATEMENT:
“A stable society and culture leads to a stronger sense of identity”.
“Accordingly, a deficiency in either may increase the chance of identity crisis or confusion” (Cote & Levine 2002)

Identity questioning arises: “who am I”?
Governments, media and even brands have taken on the role of communicating and crafting a sense of what it is to be the “self” and from a young age humans are subjected to messages describing identity within culture, gender, ethnicity, ancestry, occupations, social movements, biological characteristics etc. & these stories attach accordingly.

Watching, listening, and mimicking: all to form an identity. Self-discovery through experience and feeling what is innately right for oneself and then projecting this image out to the world.
“I am this” or “I am that”. “If I look a certain way, if I am a certain way, if I be a certain way – that is who I am”.

“I’ve been conditioned to think I’m …”
“But is that who I really am? Or just what I’ve been told to become?”

Who are we really under all the messaging, the external opinions, and the expectations?

Perhaps, more stability within one’s society and more connection with one’s culture can lead to a real exploration of self.
©Photographer-Sharlene Ferguson

GROWING takes ACTION - that’s THE KEY

The way to grow

Quote of the month = “The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake. - by Meister Eckhart

I love this! - It’s a slap in the face reminder … to be okay with not being perfect, to be okay with not getting it right, to be okay with others judgement, to just flick the finger at self doubt and procrastination - and to get on with whatever you want to try!

How often does inaction show up in your life and in your business? Wondering when is the right time to take action? second guessing choices? making excuses?

We ALL do this, sometimes so full of inspiration, feeling unstoppable and then next thing full of “perfectionism”, “vulnerability”, “self doubt” &“confusion”. It’s a totally normal reaction to keep us “comfortable & safe BUT what if you want to GROW!

GROWING takes ACTION - that’s THE KEY.
So here is some super simple action steps, tips & tricks to get you going:
1). Commit to making yourself a priority
2). Set a goal, with a deadline and tell someone you know will keep you accountable
3). Try Mel Robbins 5 Second Rule (this is awesome)
4). Set yourself a reward
5). Get excited!! If you’re not “lighting up” about your goal - get another goal

Remember the more times you fail the more you will succeed. Now GO!! :)