Tiffany McNutt: My very first intern!

Well...ever since I started getting heavily into photography and learning the technical side of it, I knew it would be something I would want to eventually teach others. Already almost 2 years into college to become a teacher, I kept thinking about how cool it would be to teach PHOTOGRAPHY rather than a boring subject I had no passion for. With budget cuts and teaching positions getting harder and harder to grab in most school districts around me, I didn't know how likely it would be to score a position like that...so I kept my education path pretty broad not really knowing what it was I would end up teaching...
After my internship with Sarah Barlow I knew without a doubt that taking on interns and hosting workshops is something I really wanted to do in the future....as in LATER...years from now..when I'm super skilled. NOT NOW. That's why I found myself shocked a few months later as I sat waiting for the arrival of a girl I had never met who was driving 2 hours to come learn from...yours truly.
I started talking to Tiffany earlier this year through Myspace. Being young, photographers both based out of Southern California was more than enough common ground to get us talking. When we first started speaking of her possibly coming to learn with me, I was super excited but also terribly nervous. I mean I know enough to run my business successfully, but that's just what works for ME, is it the only way, or even the right way? Probably not... I figured I would just give it my best shot and teach her the way I do things, completely understanding that she might tell me she learned NOTHING and that it was the WORST weekend of her life!!!!!!
Luckily, that's not how it happened. Me and Tiff hit it off right from the start and things went smooth from there. Tiffany is originally from Kansas, but now lives with her husband and son in 29 Palms where she runs Olive Juice Photography(the story behind the name is SO cute, you should totally ask her about it!). We spent the whole weekend, covering all aspects of her business and tackling her insecurities and I am proud to say that it all went well! While she was here, she tagged along on a family session, model session, and engagement session and the images she captured were phenomenal! I was beaming like a proud mother when she gushed about how much confidence she had gained and that she couldn't believe that she shot the pictures she was staring at on her screen.
From client interaction to post production, we covered it all. BUT, she wasn't expecting the curve ball I threw to her as our weekend was ending, which involved her stepping out in front of the camera! She looked at me like I told her to go jump off a bridge as I explained that to truly understand your client, you need to be in their shoes at least once, and SHE would be the next subject in front of my lens :) Despite her hesitation, she totally ROCKED the session...complete with my hair styling and last minute outfits pulled out of my closet. Besides the experience, she also got some new bio photos for her website!
It was quite a crazy weekend, especially when we stayed up till 2 am...on nights when we had a session at 7 am....jeeze. But it was nothing short of amazing! The best part is, she will be back in just a few weeks to second shoot a wedding with me!! Doing this, totally woke up my passion to teach others and gave me a much needed kick in the butt to improve some things in my own business that I was teaching everyone else but not necessarily practicing.
Here are some of the photos from Tiffany's bio photo session. Be sure to check out her BLOG to see how amazing she is doing!







And she said she couldn't model....pshhhh....


LOVE her tattoo of her son's name on her wrist...








Tiffany, It was fun! I'm glad I was able to help you out! See you in a few weeks :)

Leaving the Nest...

As I am writing this, I am filled with happy thoughts of the amazing time I have had over the last 8 days. This past week, Sarah Barlow opened up her home to me and 3 other photography interns to show us the ropes and help us improve our businesses. These 6 days were spent working on our websites, shooting techniques, pricing, branding and SO much more! The whole experience was nothing short of life changing.
Sarah took us under her wing to teach us every skill we would need to run a profitable and successful photography business. Not only did I learn what I came for, but she managed to pack in a ton of knowledge I didn't even know existed. All of this knowledge would have taken me years to discover without her guidance!
I feel so excited/nervous/anxious as I step out into this new stage of my life. I am ready to take my business to the next level and am confident that I will use the knowledge Sarah has given me to meet all the new challenges that will come this year. I fully believe that in this next year I will be able to accomplish the things that, a year ago, were only a faint dream in the very distant future.
I am so sad that the internship has already passed and that my days in Nashville have come to a close...but I will be back soon! All of the interns felt the inevitable deadline as the week was reaching the end. We had a mutual agreement that none of us had ANY desire to leave. But unfortunately Mama Barlow kicked us out of the nest, and now the true test comes! It's time for us to fly.
What I didn't expect from the internship was to form such strong bonds with the wonderful fellow interns and Sarah. I would like to introduce the 4 amazing girls I spent 24/7 with. I miss you all so much already and I hope our paths cross in the near future!!


KAY-
(A.K.A. Luscious Kay/Special Kay)
Kay is such a fun person! She was a bit quiet the first couple days and I honestly think it's because she thought I was INSANE!! haha. She was right.... But after the first few days Kay came out of her shell. The funniest thing about me and Kay is whenever I thought no one was looking and I decided to do a strange dance move or something of the sort...I would hear some laughing and I would look over my shoulder to see her laughing at me! She has a radar for catching me in my most awkward moments, which was...quite often. Haha. Kay, you are such a warm-hearted individual and an amazing photographer!I miss you and can't wait to see what you accomplish, Keep in touch :)
View Kay's blog HERE.


MEGAN-
(A.K.A. Lil' Smelly)
Okay first off, I don't want you to get the wrong idea, Megan smells just fine! We all got our gangster names from a very strategic game of Apple Sauce....I know, I know, you have NO idea what I am talking about...but just try to go along with it. Well Megan is the cutest thing ever! At only 16 she is already overflowing with talent and will surely blow you away. We had a blast together and I hope she comes out to visit me very very soon. Megan, you are doing amazing! You are starting out at such a young age and your career is very promising. Keep working at it and take it all in one day at a time. Give yourself some credit, you got talent Girl!
View Megan's blog HERE.


SHANNON-
(A.K.A. Sha'Cheezy)
My fellow Californian! And partner in the old folks home! Me and Shannon bonded from day one, when Kay and Megan announced that they claimed the beds with the amazing view of Nashville and we would be sleeping in the other room with NO windows. Thanks guys...haha. We blame it on the fact that we are from California AND that we were the oldest, therefore our room was named: The Old Folks Home. There were many restless nights that me and Shannon stayed awake in the old folks home laughing and messing with ridiculous apps on my Droid. I have to say it was a GREAT time!!! I cant believe I actually was fooled into thinking Shannon was normal at first...by day 4 I could see that she is as crazy as I am. I will never forget when she held a knife over me and asked if I thought it was funny!!!!(and it really was). Shannon, I can't wait to shoot weddings together! I wish the distance between us was less, but I can't complain because it could be alot further. I know I will be seeing you very soon and please give Pimp Daddy my best wishes!! I think it goes without saying that your talent for photography is unending and I expect to see you at the top very soon.
View Shannon's blog HERE.


SARAH BARLOW-
(A.K.A. Mama Beezy Soft)
Sarah, you are so amazing!! It takes a very special person to bring 4 strangers into your home for a week and teach them everything you have worked so hard to learn. All I can say is that I am SO grateful that you do! The internship is an amazing program and I hope you continue to do them for a very long time and NEVER underestimate the many ways you are impacting the lives of the girls you are teaching. You are a woman of very strong faith and I think I speak for everyone when I say that your love of the Lord inspires us all! You have been blessed in so many ways and you never take it for granted. I love how dedicated you are to giving back and the way you truly care for others. It is not often that I come by a person as genuine as you are! I really just want to tell you how much you have changed the future of my business with everything you taught me during the internship. I am forever grateful! I will never forget my time in Nashville with you and the other interns! Thanks for all the memories and the push I needed to make my dreams a reality. Oh...and for letting me borrow your dress for the bio shoot! I love you and I will definately be back before the end of the year!!!
View Sarah's blog HERE.

Here are some random photos re-capping some of our adventures...




View from Sarah's place at the Icon...Amazing?!




I will close this post out with a few inside jokes for Sarah and the fellow interns...these are some things I hope we never forget!!!
-Sarah-isms
-Hummus for days....
-Albino Bat
-Candy canes, Sunflower seeds and a VERY recent photo of Sarah Barlow.
-Apple Sauce
-Christy ;)
-The "Are You Serious?" song
-The Frightening Poodles
-Eleanor, Hector, Trent, Amelia, Evelyn, and Carl.