Orange Crush {the crystal image photoblog}

celebrate yourself!

Yesterday I shared how you can nominate the amazing women in your life for a chance to win an awesome bundle from Sensora Spa and The Crystal Image—featuring a facial; hand and paraffin wax; and custom women’s portraiture session with five matted images.(Keep on nominating, we’re accepting nominations for the next few weeks!)

Today is about you.

Now wait, before you slink away, I want you to hear what I have to say. 

Here’s every single woman who walks through my door: I hate having my pictures taken. Can you make me look thinner? Can you fix my wrinkles? I don’t take good pictures. I hate my teeth. I hate my thighs. I don’t like my smile. Did I mention I hate having my picture taken?

Me: sigh

Sound familiar?

So much mental garbage.

And I’m as guilty as you. It’s like some deep seated programming, planted early and often. Always comparing yourself to others—wondering if you are pretty enough, skinny enough, worthy enough. Worrying that you’re just simply not enough. 

I say to hell with that.

That’s why my goal is to show you what others really see—what I see—when I look at you. Cause no one sees your self-doubts, your hesitations, your self-imposed flaws. They just see you.

And I want you to see yourself.

These sessions are not about the makeup or the clothes—it’s not about making you into something you are not—it’s about unleashing the inner you. Capturing the authentic you. And then reflecting that back to you through your images.

It’s about making you say—oh, I’m lovely.

Yes, yes you are.

Isn’t it time you celebrate yourself?

That’s why I’ve partnered with Sensora Spa to offer the Celebrate Yourself bundle. 

You’ll work with me one-on-one to design, plan and implement your custom portrait session (with your choice of an Epiphany empowerment or Confidential boudoir session, to take place in my warm and cozy studio), and also receive our deluxe black diamond image box featuring five matted prints. And at Sensora Spa you’ll experience a 50-minute facial with Samantha, as well as a luxurious hand and foot paraffin treatment. It’s a chance for you to reconnect with yourself. A chance to celebrate yourself. A chance to do something that’s all for you. 

Available through February 28 for just $930 (a $260 savings!).

Let’s connect. 785.393.1958

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Upgrades available. Tax not included. Portrait session must be booked by February 28 and completed by March 20. Sensora Spa treatments must be booked with Samantha and be completed by February 28. 

celebrating women

I know so many beautiful, talented, kind, generous women. So, so many.

I bet you do too.

But let me let you in on a little secret—they don’t know.

Nope. I don’t think a single one of them would describe themselves the way I just did. Is it because they are also humble? Perhaps to a degree. But it’s more because they don’t believe it.

They. Do. Not. Believe. It.

For almost 17 years I have worked with women of all ages and I have learned that women do not see themselves the way they truly are. Because we are hard—the absolute hardest—on ourselves. Cruel even. 

We question our skills, our looks, our weight, our purpose, our sanity, our ability to mom. Our ability to love. Our ability to be. Our very worthiness.

We each think we are the only one. Quietly shaming ourselves for yelling at the kid, worrying about not being a good enough partner, serving pizza (again), just wanting five minutes alone to take a peacefully quiet shower. Questioning our decisions, doing all the doing without ever stopping to question why. 

Without ever asking—does this bring me joy? 

Is this what I want to be doing? 

Somewhere along the way, we were trained to forge ahead in life, no matter what—often to our own detriment. 

But recognizing this is half the battle.

Be kind to you. You are wonderful. You deserve to feel joy, to feel loved, to feel whole. 

You are worthy of your own affection.

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Who do you know that needs to celebrate herself? 

The Crystal Image has partnered with Sensora Spa to provide a complimentary facial, hand and foot paraffin wax treatment, a custom women’s portraiture session and five mounted images to one lucky lady. 

Nominate your favorite ladies by naming and tagging them on Facebook here, plus, in the spirit of lifting each other up, tell us one or two things that make them amazing. Find more details on our blog at www.tcistudio.com.  

And, don’t worry, we have a special offer coming up for you too. Be sure to check back!

self care during a pandemic

It's a fact that most women are not the best at self-care—especially those with children (boy, can I relate). But now, during a pandemic, taking care of yourself definitely shouldn't be something you put off or avoid altogether. If anything, it's something that needs to be a priority, because the old cliche about not being able to fill from an empty bucket is totally true. And, I don't know about you, but I alternate between feeling burned out, depressed, hopeful and overwhelmed—sometimes all of the above in a single day! 

As women, we are great at lifting up others, encouraging our families, championing them, supporting them—so why is it so hard for us to do the same for ourselves? I don't know the answer (though I have some ideas), but I did find a few interesting articles that made me feel like I'm not crazy for feeling the way I do.

Click here for some simple ways to practice self-care. 

Check out this article for the science behind feeling out-of-whack.

Perhaps the most important thing of all—be kind to yourself. Because you deserve your own kindness.

Want to join my email list? Click here. 

family // lawrence photographer

If nothing else, 2020 was definitely a year that will be remembered. And, while it's easy to focus on all the negative that came with 2020, there were also some silver linings. More time with immediate family. Less "busy". More home cooked meals. Less commuting. More time to connect with those you love and care about—even if from afar.

Yep, 2020 will not be a year soon forgotten, but my hope for you is that the good that came with the bad was enough to sustain you and give you hope.

Happy belated New Year, everyone. Now look at this gorgeous family. This right here is what it's all about. <3