“It’s our differences that make us better as a whole.”

— Alyson, Head Photographer at Jasper & Fern

After the heartache of finding myself surrounded by negative company too often in the past, I absolutely love and am grateful for now being surrounded by women who honestly want to see each other succeed. There are no ulterior motives, no people talking behind each others' backs - just women stepping in to share their knowledge and skill for the betterment of others.

Branding Portrait for marketing coach, Mallory Schlabach. | Winston-Salem On location Brand Photography | Jasper & Fern

One of my favorite parts about my job is the opportunity to build community and support another small businesses' success. It's about more than creating pretty pictures. It's learning your needs, getting to see where you're going and be involved in your vision. It's stepping into the world you're passionate about and connecting with your heart.

I've always said that each person has been created with unique gifts with which they can use to impact their community. It's our differences that make us better as a whole. It's our choice to use those gifts for the betterment of those around us.

If you asked my husband to describe my organizational skills, he’d chuckle lovingly and tell you I don’t organize like most people. I’d have to agree. Most of the time, in fact, if you see me behind the scenes I’ll be covered with dog hair, stray hairs spraying out of my braid, my bangs every which way, muttering to myself while standing in front of an overloaded table or sitting at a cluttered desk. (Tidiness is truly not one of my virtues.) It may surprise you to know, however, that in my cluttered mind I’m intensely detail oriented.

I’ll get a concept in my mind and hunt down the pillar elements that give foundation to the idea. Then, I’ll allow the space for the other elements to happen organically - as art should be. In my own mind, this process works well. On the outside, however, this process more than likely looks like disheveled clutter. I’m partial, sure, but I think it’s a beautiful mess.

Just like in my own mess, I love to get a raw look behind the brands I work with. I like to see their turning wheels and the structures (or lack there of) that work best for them. I like to see how the business owner’s brain works.

It’s in this observation behind the scenes that I get to jump into the inner workings of a small business. I get to examine the cogs, study the blue prints of why there were places where they were and how they connect to everything else. Every detail has its reason, after all, and every element has its story. A story I love to tell through beautiful brand photographs - organized chaos and all.

A peek behind the scenes of me as I prepare for a branding session. | Winston Salem Brand Photographer | Jasper & Fern

This morning I woke up groggy. My shoulders pushed against themselves down into the mattress and my legs were revolting against my brain’s encouragement to get up and move. It's trudging days like today when I'm reinforced, when the support I know I have around me shows up and hugs me. Some of these days I am more the receiver of support and on others I am more the giver of support. This life is an ecosystem filled with symbiotic relationships - parasitic, communal and mutually beneficial. It helps to recognize our role and the roles of others around us, nourishing the ecosystem we are in.

Through my years as a photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many wonderful people. Through pain, celebrations and growth I’ve started to settle into a lush garden of vibrant, complementary people from the bold and vibrant, to the essential and hidden. The occasional weed pops up and, of course, non-complimentary plants are encouraged to uproot (or be uprooted) and exist in a place more fit for them - but that’s just life, yeah? I’m so thankful for the integral relationships in my own ecosystem. It’s a beautiful connection we share with others - where we can allow someone to step in where their strengths fit our vulnerabilities and we can step into their vulnerabilities with our strengths, it's amazing.

I love connecting with strong women who take negative experiences and turn them into positive opportunities in which they can help other people who are where they have been. Life is full of inspiring redemption stories, all pointing up.

My heart is full.

Wishing you all peace and health in this upended state of life we’re living in.

"Confessions here…. the kind if you’re an entrepreneur or a business owner - the uncomfortable kind that you often second guess sharing. Well, I’m sharing anyway because I wanted to share the encouragement I found from the lesson I learned." | Winston-Salem Photographer | Quotes for the Female Entrepreneur | She is Not Me | Inspirational Quotes | Life Lessons for the working woman | Dealing with Comparison in the Workplace |

Entrepreneurial confessions here…. You know the kind if you’re an entrepreneur or a business owner - the uncomfortable kind that you often second guess sharing. Well, I’m sharing anyway because I wanted to share the encouragement I found from the lesson I learned.

You see, recently I found myself discouraged because another local photographer- who I just so happen to admire and support - started working with a brand I'd been aiming to work with. This realization was followed with some harsh criticisms for myself and then a significant mood drop - and zero celebration for the other photographer. I'm not proud to say it but, I was having a pity party for myself - and it's embarrassing to admit that I was struggling with being supportive.

After some course-correcting from a friend (who you surround yourself with is important!!) I started to think further outside of my initial microscopic perspective. Then, again, when another friend shared about a lost friendship and how we all make our own decisions and dream our own dreams, the puzzle pieces fell a little further into place.

SHE IS NOT ME.

This realization shifted my internal perspective and I found healing. Fundamentally, I know we are all different, I know we all are created uniquely, however, I often hear harsh whispers in my brain showing me I fell short. So when "she is not me" hit my heart and not just my head, there was peace.

And that's what I want to encourage you all with today. I hope each of you who struggle with the competitiveness of being an entrepreneur or aiming to keep your position or going for a promotion - THEY ARE NOT YOU. Yes, what you have to offer is phenomenal. What they have to offer is phenomenal also. Sometimes someone else will be a better fit and that narrows down your path just a little bit more to the people, the person, the brand, the better timing, the position that is the better fit for you. I want to remind you today, like I've been having to remind myself, SHE IS NOT ME.