Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

Middle of the Month Update!

May 13

Moving into a fantastic, shoebox sized apartment. Traveling all over the glorious, spring-blooming South. Photographing seven of the world’s most awesome couples.

This pretty much sums up my last month and a half. Whew! :) Thanks for bearing with me as the blog was quieter than normal. When one decides to schedule half of her yearly work into a matter of weeks and move, things tend to go a lil’ bananas, but it sure makes for a memory-filled Spring! :)

I predict the rest of May will be spent reading by the pool with my husband (ah, the perks of living in an apartment again), photographing things that inspire my heart, sharing conversations with dear friends and family, and taking a trip to NYC with friends–I am SO excited! I’ve never been before, and so I bought a pair of neon yellow heels for the occasion. I mean, it’s New York. I think I read somewhere that neon heels are required. :)

I’ve been obsessing over this quote recently. What else can I say? My mind could bend around this thought all day, and I would still want to think on it more.

 

 

 

 

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An Instagram Tour Of Our New Place!

April 8

Happy April friends! Last week was a blur of packing, moving, pulling off a huge garage sale, and then finishing it all off by running the Capitol 10k with our friends. :) What a fulfilling, yet exhausting, week!

I thought you might like to see a few photos from our new place. Do you want to know my favorite thing about it? It’s TINY! Aaron and I decided to downsize and slash our square footage in half. We’re now sitting pretty in a one bedroom / one bathroom apartment. NO. MORE. CLUTTER. Can I get an amen?! :)

Top row: Our coffee table and rug from West Elm outlet. Probably my two favorite things in the apartment // Our simple entryway complete with ikea hooks so I can always find my purse in an instant // The exterior of our swanky lil’ place. All modern and cool. I know, right?!

Middle row: Steve-Z is totally at home here and BONUS! he matches the decor // Meet our Impala. Aaron picked him out. What can I say? My husband has brilliant taste. // This is our dresser in our bedroom, topped off with wedding photos, peonies, and my veil.

Bottom row: The bathroom feels more luxurious with a little spot to set books and lotion // Our coffee nook. How amazing is that tiny little window!? // Our apartment is mostly creams and neutral tones, but we brought in lots of patterns to shake things up a bit.

 

 

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Words for the Weekend

March 8

 

 

Happy Friday friends! I hope you’re getting ready for a wonderful Spring weekend. As for us (Aaron + myself + our dog Steve-Z), we’ll be headed to my home town for a weekend of relaxing with the family. I can’t wait to see all my nephews and catch up with my parents!

I wanted to leave you with this verse for the weekend. I have it set as the background on my phone, and it is such a game changer. No matter what we’re facing–frustrating things, scary things, overwhelming things, unknown things, intimidating things–this verse invites us to a place of peace. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. It’s a sweet truth that brings stillness in the storm.

See you Monday! XOXO

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March Goals

March 1

 

 

*Photo credit: Half Orange Photography (Aaron and I had so much fun modeling for their workshop!)

Happy Friday & Happy March! :)

Since it’s March 1st, it’s time for–what else?–goals! We’ll be taking a quick break from our typical Friday post, Words for the Weekend, to chat personal/goal stuff.

It’s March–my birthday month! I’ll be turning 27 on March 18, and I’ve been getting all reflective about where I’ve been in life and all that has changed. Turning 27 means I’ve only got three years left in my 20s–and I’m SO ready to live them to the fullest! I’m doing that totally cheesy (yet awesome) thing where you write down a list of things you want to accomplish/see/do in the next 3 years. It gets me pretty excited, and the variety on that list reminds me that life isn’t ALL business, or ALL fitness, or ALL one thing. Life is all things in harmony.

As I was creating said list, however, I had a moment. I’m planning, planning, planning what I want to accomplish/see/do in the future, but I’ve also already done so much and reached so many goals. Have I taken the time to be grateful? 

This is my prayer for myself, and for you, my like-minded, goal-loving, life-loving friends: May goal setting never become about empty achievements, bragging rights, and impressing others. May we always remember the root of why we set goals: to FULLY ENGAGE in this miraculous, beautiful, God-breathed life–with our gazes firmly fixed on eternity. May we always take time to reflect, savor, and be grateful. May we let past, present, and future exist in harmony, never focusing so much on one that it costs us the other two.

For me, that’s what goal setting should be all about. On that note, here are some of my goals this March:

  • Officially register for the Nashville Rock’N'Roll Half Marathon on April 27th // SUPER YIKES!! P.S. Does anyone want to run it with me? :)
  • Continue training for the halfsie // I feel like somewhere in the world, serious half-marathoners are giving me dirty looks for calling it a halfsie. :)
  • Read The Compound Effect // Reread Evidence Not Seen // I was given Evidence Not Seen 10 years ago, on my 17th birthday, and it significantly shaped my life. If you’re looking for an inspiring story of faith, add it to your list! Also, on the note of books, I just have to say it: I tried to read The Happiness Project last month, and heavens, I did not enjoy it in the slightest. Am I crazy or did anyone else feel the same way? I thought I would just love it because I adore books about organization, living fully, etc. It’s rare that I come across a book I wouldn’t recommend, but The Happiness Project would be on that list.
  • Unveil my website mini facelift // Gold + Neutrals + Feminine touches. You’ll love it!
  • Photograph my 2013 brand-inspired styled shoot // This is a leftover goal from February, and it actually multiplied into four (!?) shoots scheduled throughout March and April. So. I’m going to have lots of pretty things to share once my film scans come back. :)
  • Photograph my first wedding of the 2013 season // At Camp Lucy. With the sweetest couple EVER. Happy dance. :)
  • Celebrate my 27th birthday with my handsome husband and dear friends in Austin // I truly can’t imagine anything better.

I hope you all enjoy your first day of March! What are your plans this month? Spring is right around the corner, and I can’t wait. :)

XOXO

Posted in Goals, Personal | 2 Comments »
Branches & Light Recap & Styled Shoot

February 18

Hooray, it’s recap time! :)

Nancy and I hosted our Branches & Light workshop just three weeks ago in Austin, Texas. What a beautiful day! We hosted B&L at The Winfield Inn (one of my favorite venues EVER!), and spent the day chatting about goal-setting, branding, studio organization, workflow, and overcoming fears.

The day just wouldn’t have been the same if it weren’t for our absolutely incredible ladies who attended. Our attendees came from lots of different places—South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, New York, and of course, all over Texas—and we could not have been more honored to spend the day with them. To the insanely wonderful ladies who came to B&L this year, I love you all so much and I cherish the memories we made together! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there, for opening up, for being authentic. Please, please let me know if you are ever in Austin because I will want to make a coffee date with you! :) 

We invited stylist & planner Stefanie Miles (from Lavender Joy Weddings) to be our guest speaker, and oh my goodness, she brought the love! Nancy and I just sat in the back of the room scribbling notes like crazy while Stefanie gave her insights on heartfelt networking. What a blessing it was to have you, Stefanie!

My proudest moment, as it has been for the past four years, was when I taught on overcoming fear. What a task it was to reach inside myself and be vulnerable about such a hard topic…but how rewarding it was. One of the quotes from the talk was, “As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.” (Marianne Williamson)

You can read more about my personal favorite moments of B&L here.

Prepare your eyes for some prettiness! Our styled shoot was TO DIE FOR! This shoot wouldn’t have been possible without hard work from THE BEST team ever. A big ol’ thank you to: Sweet Sunday Events (styling & florals), Juliet Jones (calligraphy & stationary), Amazing Kakes (cake design), Andrea Juarez (hair), Adrienne Pitkin (makeup), Claire Pettibone (wedding dress), Alice Moon (engagement dress), and of course our amazing models, Katie (plus husband Ross) and Stancy from Half Orange Photography. LOVE those girls! :)

 

 

A big ol’ thank you to Southern Weddings for featuring this shoot over the weekend! What an honor!

Posted in A Day In The Office, For Photographers, Personal, Weddings | 4 Comments »
February Goals

February 1

I love new beginnings. I’m going to treat February 1, 2013 as though it’s New Years day, okay? My January was all foggy, so I didn’t post goals. I know you were all devastated. :) I did, however, have January goals, and somehow despite the fog, they all got done. FIVE. BIG. THINGS.

QUICK JANUARY RECAP

  1. Begin pre-training for my half marathon. Translation: Be able to run for 30 minutes without stopping. Don’t judge me. I’m a newb. But I did it! :)
  2. Change my name. It’s disgraceful how long it took me to change my name (a year and three months), but when I got my new SS card in the mail, I made Aaron stop and give me a pick-up-spin-around hug. BECAUSE I’M OFFICIALLY A RECTOR!!! Caroline Joy Rector. Take that, life!
  3. Set a budget, and make some website/brand changes happen! New year, new vision, new look. The designs are being refined, and I’m excited to reveal my slightly new look in February. Nothing too crazy, but I think you’ll love it.
  4. Read a book (12 books in 12 months). This shouldn’t even be a “goal” anymore, because last year turned me into the biggest book nerd you’ve ever seen. However, I shocked even myself this month and ended up reading four books: Rework, Seven, Daring Greatly, and The Art Of Possibility. All absolutely amazing. If I had to pick a favorite though…I think The Art Of Possibility tops my list. But maybe just because I love all the classical music references. :)
  5. Prepare heart and mind to teach Branches & Light 2013. What do I even say?! It was the most enriching experience of my life. Opening up and begin vulnerable with a room of girls is slightly terrifying…but WORTH IT. I feel so changed and so grateful to have met such an incredible group of ladies.

ON TO FEBRUARY GOALS:

  1. Select the half marathon I want to run + start a training regimen. Also on the note of running, register for the Capitol 10k. Any of you Austin-ites running it? Let’s be running partners!
  2. Continue the name-changing process and get a new Driver’s License and Passport.
  3. Read more books! My main focus is to read Film Is Not Dead, but I’m probably going to re-read Fine Art Wedding Photography too. Can you tell it’s a film month for me? Sidenote: I am SO FIRED UP about this switch back to film! All I want to do is shoot these days. :)
  4. Photograph my 2013 brand-inspiration styled shoot. On film of course. Two shoot must haves: a classic car and gold glitter confetti. :)
  5. Take a road trip to Nashville (just the hubby and me) to refresh, renew our vision for the year, sing in the car, and enjoy the beautiful landscape. You better believe I’ll be all vintage-charming with my feet on the dash, and my 35mm camera around my neck. Ah, I’m such a romantic now. ;)
  6. Host a Valentine’s Day dinner party.

So that’s what I’ll be up to this month. And for good measure, here’s a photo of me, taken the other day when Aaron and I got to model for the Half Orange Photography workshop. (We snuck in some bio photos after the shoot. No way I was letting that good hair go to waste!)

Posted in Goals, Personal | 6 Comments »
Six Favorite Moments of Branches & Light 2013

January 31

 

Nancy Ray and I hosted our fourth Branches & Light workshop this past Monday! (If you missed it, check out our instagram hashtag feed.) I have so many photos and stories to share with you, but for now, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes glimpse into my experience: the six moments that meant the most to me personally.

• Waking up at 5am the morning of the workshop. My sweet husband brought me coffee in bed and I sat under the warm blankets and started my morning with Psalm 16. “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken…You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” (v. 8 & 11)

• Driving to The Winfield Inn with Nancy, watching the sky lighten, and singing passionately to All Sons And Daughters (an amazing group from Nashville–do yourself a favor and check them out).

• Taking a deep breath and diving into my first talk of the day on the topic of fear, insecurity, and how it affects our lives and business. Whew, getting to that place of vulnerability with myself and with everyone in the room was quite a risk…but oh how rewarding it was!

• Looking around during our styled shoot, and seeing the attendees spread out around the grounds, totally engaged in the shoot. It can be overwhelming to photograph at a workshop, but these girls made me SO PROUD. Everyone was just jumping in, no hesitation, and giving it their all. They were extraordinary. At that moment, I was so grateful that we could provide this workshop for them.

• Furiously taking notes as our guest speaker, Stefanie Miles, changed our perspectives on business and networking. “Cultivate a grateful heart. Gratitude is the only short cut in life. Are you grateful for every time someone appreciates and values your art?”

• Standing up with Nancy at the end of the day, explaining, with great passion, the meaning behind the name Branches & Light. We were moved to tears, there in the bright sun porch where we held the workshop, literally surrounded by branches and light. It was an unforgettable ending to such a sweet time.

 

Posted in For Photographers, Personal | 3 Comments »
My 2013 Vision

January 21

 

 

(Above: A peek at where my brand is headed in 2013. So much excitement!)

I love the exhilaration of strong beginnings and the intoxicating feeling that anything is possible. New Years is my favorite day of the year, and I usually spend it with a cup of coffee, a grateful heart, a clear head, and a journal. Goal setting is something I am usually SO EXCITED to do, that I could do cartwheels in the backyard for 30 solid minutes and still have excitement left over to set goals.

January 1, 2013, however, was not my typical New Years Day. It was grey and cold outside. I was sick. My head was totally fuzzy. I was off my game. And that description would continue to sum up the first few weeks of January.

But I’m actually really thankful that this year didn’t start perfectly. It’s easy to do the right things when life is going well–you know, like work out, eat healthy, get plenty of sleep, read the Bible, stay committed to goals, etc. But an opportunity for greatness is found in the not-so-perfect days. Will we accept it? It may not be shiny or eye-catching or tweet-worthy, but we grow when we choose to engage on a not-so-perfect day (or week, or month).

This is what I’ll be engaging this year–on good days and bad. Here’s my 2013 vision–these are the big, overarching themes that I want to focus on throughout my year.

  • Shift to film photography :)
  • Become a morning person
  • Run a half-marathon
  • Focus on friendships and family
  • Read at least one book a month
  • Travel to Paris with my husband

What’s your vision for 2013? If you’ve written a post about your goals/vision, please share it in the comments section. Are we working on any of the same goals? Sound off in the comments section!

Posted in Goals, Personal, Pinterest | 4 Comments »
December Goals

December 1

 

Happy December friends! As temperatures drop and nighttime rolls in early, I find myself wanting to wrap up in the quiet of the winter months. Do you ever just have the desire to unplug completely and submerse yourself in lost arts? Like writing handwritten letters, journaling, spending late nights in wonderful conversations, watching the stars on cold clear nights, and (sigh) fully enjoying one.thing.at.a.time.  Oh, that is where my heart is this December!

I don’t have many goals this month, because my main goal is to slow down and take in the beauty, and gifts around me. My greatest desire this December is to center myself on the love of my Savior. I want my daily life to be marked with contentment and generosity.

Aaron and I are doing lots of fun Christmas-y things this month though, including my FAVORITE Christmas tradition of getting dressed up (we’re talking black tie attire) and going to the Nutcracker ballet. Oh, if only I’d persevered through ballet classes when I was younger! My fantasy career is to be a ballet dancer. ;)

My December Goals:

  • Let generosity reign!
  • 12 in 12: Read 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp
  • Mail Christmas cards to my sweet clients
  • Go to the Nutcracker Ballet, dressed to the nines!
  • Make festive holiday drinks and watch a favorite Christmas movie, while wrapping presents with Aaron

 

Happy December! :)

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Happy Thanksgiving + Giveaway Winner!

November 22

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I hope you’re all cozy at home with your families today, and I hope your hearts are full. To me, today isn’t just about parades and turkey and football. It’s a day dedicated to what matters most. Today is a call to action–whether you are young or old, single or married, surrounded by your kids or just your dog–today is a call to celebrate more and love deeply and hug tighter. No matter how this year has been so far, this is your chance to start. Today is about celebrating the things that matter most in life.

So, here are a few things that I’m most thankful for today: • Spending time with my parents who introduced me to the love of God at a young age • Holding my twin baby nephews • A ring on my finger telling the world that I’m loved by one incredible man • A hot cup of coffee • Cuddles from our puppy, Steve • The smell of Thanksgiving pies baking & Christmas-y candles • The truth of who Jesus says I am in Him • The feeling of possibility that this season brings • Christmas music • Gold glitter nail polish • The crisp weather outside • Boot season! • My hometown, and all the sweet memories I have here • My husband’s hugs and sense of humor • The peace that comes from making the harder but wiser decision • Photography and the blessing it’s been on my life •

I hosted a giveaway last week, in honor of my five year anniversary in business, and I’m so excited to announce the winner TODAY! With the holidays upon us, I can’t imagine anything better to give away than an Instax Mini, to document all the sweet and special moments during the winter months. To me, there’s just nothing like printed photos, and instant gratification is EVEN BETTER! :) Who won? See below! :) :)

 

Congratulations Liana! Email me {caroline@carolinejoy.com} with your mailing address and I’ll slip your Instax Mini in the mail first thing next week. (And friends, you should seriously check her out on Instagram–adorable!)

I’m sending a big ol’ hug to everyone else who participated. Your support and encouragement mean more than you know. So many of you left incredibly kind messages for me, and I love that I’ve even made some new friends through this fun little experience. Thank you so very much, and…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

P.S. If you’re at all interested in attending our photography workshop, now’s your time! On black friday we’re offering registration at $75 off! Check it out! We can’t wait to devote a day to business strategy, honest discussions, and stylistic inspiration for ladies who desire to live a balanced life and run a profitable, sustainable business. Get the tools you need, overcome your fears, and take your business to the next level. Take charge of your business and your life—commit to growth in 2013. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with you!

We always pose one question at the beginning of Branches & Light: Do you want to stay the same…Or do you want to grow and change?

 

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