Lazy Girl's Guide to Incredible House Plants

Ok so I probably wouldn’t describe myself as lazy, and I am willing to bet you aren’t either! But with every thing else in life that I choose to share my time and energy with (Oh hey there family, friends, pets, work and adventure) I much prefer to work smart, not hard when it comes to my house plants. And let me tell you, my plants are doing absolutely wonderful without weekly showers, special soil changes, weekly fertilizers, artificial lighting or water set-ups. Over here, simplicity is key.

And judging by the amount of DMs I get about plants, I’m guessing you are kinda in love with keeping a little nature indoors too. And maybe, just maybe, your indoor jungle has been booming now that you have all this time at home, thanks Covid. Be honest, did you buy a bunch of plants to keep you company?! Well you are in good company and all I gotta say is y’all are my kinda people and I am super excited to share what has been working for me and my lil’ indoor jungle here in Central Alberta. So let’s get growing (sorry couldn’t resist, lol):

• OK so first off, throw out the watering calendar. It’s safe to say many plants perish at the hands of their doting owners due to over-watering. I know you mean well, but please resist the urge to water just because it’s Wednesday, and that is the day you decided to set aside time every week to water your sweet plant babies. A plant’s water needs fluctuate massively depending on their size, the time of year, the type of soil they are in, etc. The most reliable and simplest way to learn whether your plants need water is to stick your finger into the soil and feel if it is dry. It’s that easy. Most plants do best if you wait until the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is dry before you water! If the soil is still moist check again in a couple days. Eventually you will start to learn your plants cues, but when in doubt always do the finger test.

• Ok now, get yourself a tiny watering can. This is something I accidentally discovered after finding the cutest little antique watering can at the thrift store. I bought the thing purely for aesthetics, but let me tell you my plants have never been happier! The tiny spout and small volume makes it way harder to accidentally overwater. In fact, I’m a little embarrassed to admit this but my little watering can sprung a leak this winter and I had to use a regular sized water pitcher and managed to overwater several houseplants. I should know better! I do know better. Thankfully they all recovered but it’s just THAT easy to overwater your plants. Needless to say, my tiny watering can has been repaired and is back in action!

• Drainage is key! Keep your plants in their nursery pots and place that pot inside a decorative pot if you wish. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your plant friend receives the excellent drainage it needs! Best part? It’s literally the easiest thing you could do!

• If you do ever need to re-pot your plants, do yourself a solid and make sure your new pot has a drainage hole! I do have several plants without drainage holes from way back before I knew any better.… and they are alive and well (thanks to the finger check and tiny watering can lol). But, if you are new to the plant game or prone to overwatering ALWAYS make sure that your pot has drainage.

• Start with plants that are flexible! I always recommend snake plants, jade plants, cast iron plant, yucca, hoya and dracaena as they seem to tolerate a whole variety of lighting and watering situations. And in the case of my jade and yucca, some genuine abuse thanks to my dogs and kids. I am very happy to report they have both fully recovered from the aforementioned atrocities and are looking better then ever!

• Start with smaller to medium sized plants. I find they adjust better to their new accommodations. It’s also waaaay less stressful for you. If they die (and some will friends) you aren’t out the big bucks. Besides, it is SO satisfying to watch them grow nice and big under your own care. One of my first plants was a medium, sized snake plant and now 6 years later it’s almost 5 feet tall!

• Choose plants that suit the lighting conditions in your home. Trust me, you are fighting a losing battle with most plants if you don’t listen to that little tag telling you the lighting requirements. If your plant didn’t come with that info then hit up google my friend. But a couple general guidelines you can follow are: Tropicals need bright indirect light. Citrus, cactus and succulents want ALLL the bright, direct light. West or south facing window for these babies. Ferns and other low light plants, still need some light but would be happiest in a room with north or east facing windows and no direct light (plants get sunburn too!).

• Check 9 times for bugs. Bugs are the ultimate fear for any plant owner (ewwww). And while they don’t harm anything except your plants, it can be really annoying to get rid of them once you bring them home and just downright creepy knowing that they are there. Which is why I always thoroughly check every plant before bringing it home. They are teensy little things that like to hide, so look close. Especially at the undersides of the leaves and bases of the leaves. And then keep that cutie in quarantine for a couple weeks to make double sure!! One sick plant is a lot easier to deal with than more, amiright?

• Don’t crowd your plants. Listen, I know you don’t want to hear this. But if you keep plants for long enough and you are adding to your jungle, not matter how careful you are….. You will someday end up with a pest. The first pest I got was about 4 years into owning plants My favourite palm tree became infested with spider mites. CUE THE PANIC!! As soon as I realized what was happening I threw a garbage bag over that baby and begged Brad to take it far away! Since then I have successfully treated my Bird of Paradise for spider mites, returned a new plant with thrips, and tossed wee cactus with mealy bugs. Getting the occasional pest isn’t the end of the world, but it will quickly become unmanageable if it spreads to your other plants. As a general rule you want your plants to be like a high school dance. A couple inches between each other at all times!

• Enjoy your time together. Growing houseplants is supposed to be fun and relaxing. Give them names, take time to check them over when you water them, get way too excited over brand new leaves, and allow yourself a moment to feel grounded when feeling the soil for moisture. It can be tempting to rush through your plant care, but I encourage you to take the opportunity to slow down and revel at nature. And if you kill a few plants in the process, don’t be too hard on yourself. Choose a new plant and try again. You’ll find your stride, promise.

I hope this helps up your plant game! If you have any plant Q’s drop a comment below or come find me on Instagram, @karmenmeyerphotography!

Warmly,

Karmen

FREE Photography Lessons

Good Morning Friend,

It’s day I-don’t-even-know-anymore of self-isolation because of Covid-19. I am writing you from home while the snow (honestly, Alberta really needs to move on to spring now) gently falls outside my window and the kids take this unsupervised opportunity to wreak some havoc.  Seriously though, I can literally hear them quietly giggling as they fill something up in the sink.  But thats where we are at, letting some of the mischievous antics slide for a moment of quiet or an hour of work.  It's not a perfect system, but ya do what ya gotta do you know?!

How are you doing?   I have been thinking of you all so much.  Wondering if there is anyway I could help besides reminding you to dance on instagram lol.   And I decided that at the very least, I could offer you a fun and creative distraction.  FREE PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS!  If you follow me on Insta, chances are you maybe joined in on one or two of the live lessons.  But I heard from so many folks that missed out on the lessons or worksheets (sad face).  So I set to work to make everything available for you to go at your own pace.  All the live recordings have been, very non-professionally, posted on IGTV and all the worksheets will be sent to your inbox, just CLICK HERE to grab them! 

Here is a little break down of the lessons:

1. Learn how to shoot on Manual Mode

2. Understanding that Light

3. Creating with Composition

4. How-to Create Double Exposure and other Creative Techniques

5. The Beauty of Self-Portraits

Ahh, so exciting. I honestly love chatting photography with you all and I really hope these lessons bring a little light to your days! If you have any question or just want chat, you know where to find me!  Sending you virtual hugs!

Warmly,

Karmen

P.S.  A dance a day is quite an effective mood booster, just try it!

That Time I met Gwyneth Paltrow’s Wedding Photographer/4 Life Changing Lessons I Learned at Photo Native

“Is anyone sitting there?!” I said while balancing a plate of food and glass of wine.

He said “No, it’s all yours.”

And I cheered a silent ‘hoooray!’ because I was starving, and the wine was free. So far my day of solo travel had only occasionally been haunted by that painful kind of awkward. You know, the kind that almost always comes along with navigating new environments and experiences. And, dang, dare I say this was shaping up to be a good night.

I honestly can’t remember how the next bit went. But I quite quickly came to the realization that I had parked my clueless little self right beside the star of the show, John Dolan. I had mini-internal battle that went something like, ‘ding, ding, ding! Girl you picked the right chair!’ and ‘Dang, I really wish I had researched the speakers better. I’m gonna seem really ignorant when John realizes I don’t actually know anything about him or any of the other big names here’, and ‘Shit, I hope he doesn’t think I am a total weirdo for just making myself at home beside the keynote speaker.’ Cue internal panic, but like play it cool on the outside….

Fortunately for me, John Dolan seems to be somewhat of an expert when it comes to making people feel welcome. And, just like that, before the conference had even started I had learned LESSON #1: DON’T JUDGE. BE KIND. STAY OPEN. I spent the next several hours completely engrossed in a conversation with the man who had recently photographed Gwyneth Paltrow’s wedding and had spent the past 30 (THIRTY!) years working with most incredible people, brands and editorials. I experienced A-ha moments, soaked up much wisdom and watched as John effortlessly made everyone feel valued. By the end of the night, that little couch was filled and many others had pulled up chairs to hang out and chat. As the conference unfolded over the next few days I came to realize that literally all those people I sat around talking shop with were also instructors..….. So just call me a keener I guess LOL.

But this leads us perfectly to LESSON #2: THE POWER OF REAL LIFE CONNECTION. Don’t get me wrong, I love connecting online as much as the next person. I am a part of facebook groups that are genuinely empowering. And I have made the most wonderful friends through instagram. BUT, nothing, NOTHING, beats true conversation and connection. Some of my favourite moments from the conference did not happen in the classroom. But on the airplane, over coffee and during all those awkward in-between moments where it’s so easy to just stick a phone in front of our faces. Listen, friend. PUT THE PHONE DOWN. Smile at a stranger. Invite someone sitting alone to your table. There is so much to gain and much to lose when we choose to disconnect instead of engage with the people around us. This is something I am 100% going to be incorporating into my business this year. This includes getting my introvert butt out the door and (gulp) taking and making phone calls and maybe even hosting some shoots and events?! Who the heck knows! I just wanna see your beautiful faces IRL, ASAP!

And LESSON #3: THE ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING INTUITIVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE. I get it, this isn’t my favourite part of the job either. But do you know what reoccurring pattern appeared with all my fav, successful photographers? Diligent, intuitive systems to ensure a stellar client experience. This is something I have worked on within my own portrait biz for a while now, but I have come home with SO MANY IDEAS on how to make it even better for my clients. And hopefully easier on me too! If you haven’t started creating workflows and automation sequences. Please, do yourself a favour and look into it! I use 17Hats, but there are lot’s of other options out there! (If you want to give 17Hats a try, you can use THIS LINK for 10% off!)

And lastly, LESSON #4: IT IS TIME TO START DOING. At the risk of sounding like a humble-brag, a common theme for me during the duration of Photo Native was deep validation. Validation that I am extremely capable, that I am on the right track and that each phase of life and business has equipped me with a unique set of skills. It is time to stop the second-guessing, to be brave and start putting into action what I already know. Fun fact: I am not the only person who struggles with these type of mindset barriers. And I don’t know who needs to hear this right now but see you, I really do feel you. I know how easy it is to dis-credit yourself. I know that stepping into your own potential is scary and uncomfortable. But I’m telling you, it is time to show up! Just show-up. Let’s do this together? Seriously!

Dang, there is so much more goodness that happened at Photo Native, I haven’t even told you about Yan Palmer, Caroline Tran or the dance party yet! And boy do I have some photos to share. But for now I’m just going to leave you with some iPhone shots and a virtual hug. Thanks for hanging out, I truly hope you learned something awesome and that you put it into action instead of just adding it to list of many things you already know. If you wanna chat more DM me on Insta, @karmenmeyerphotography or shoot me an Email, I genuinely adore connecting with you!

Warmly,

Karmen

P.S. Just a friendly reminder to myself (and you, if you need it) during a season of intense inspiration. You can do all this at your own pace. You can still live a life of slow intention and connection while passionately pursuing your dream job. Let’s call it the slow burn.

Why is photography so expensive?

OK, so here's the thing, this is really uncomfortable to talk about but I am going to anyways because I think these days transparency is everything.  So here we go, let’s get right into it. Why is professional photography 'expensive'? 

1. First of all, because running a photography business is expensive!! By now you have probably noticed ALOT of different people who start a photography business only to close it within a year or two because they are losing so much valuable time and resources. You see, what many people don't realize is that Photographers are paying bills just like your local salon or accountant. Unfortunately being a professional photographer isn't just buying a nice camera and booking clients. There are website fees, taxes, insurance, overhead costs, thousands of dollars worth of equipment to maintain and upgrade, there is editing software, emailing software, studio management software (ugh, so much software) and accountants and contractors and lab fees, etc. Let me tell ya, some days the expenses feel endless!!

2. Photography is filled with hidden hours. When you pay your photographer $300 for an hour long session, you are not paying them $300 an hour. Many hours are spent communicating, planning, driving, culling, editing, downloading and uploading. That one hour session can easily take up 8 hours of the photographers time. In fact, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most photographers earn between $31,710 and $40,280 annually, or $15.24 to $19.37 an hour (pixsy.com).

3. Cost of education. True not all photographers go to post-secondary for photography. But I did! And on top of earning a degree, techniques and technology are always changing so it is important to keep learning and improving! Last year I invested over $3000 into education, and this year I have already spent $2000 so that I can serve my clients better and keep my business thriving!!

4. When you hire a professional photographer you are hiring an experienced artist. You are hiring someone with a unique eye and set of skills. You are hiring someone who knows how to make you feel incredible and confident and at ease. If you are brand, you are hiring someone who is able to translate your company’s story into a beautiful visual. Photography is unique in that it is equal parts technical skill, creativity and connection, and many photographers, myself included, have spent years honing their craft!

5. Photographs are invaluable and irreplaceable. Photography is one of those things that actually gets better with age. When cared for properly it will last for generations. And in my opinion, it is one of the few things we buy that doesn't have a shelf life. It doesn't become less important when trends shift. It possesses a truly unique emotional value.

So there you have it friends. I hope this adds a little context and insight into why photography costs what it does. I realize for some it’s just not worth it, and that is OK!! Phones have wonderful cameras now and we are all free to document our lives and businesses in that way if we so choose. But if you do value photography, know that by paying proper rates that you are supporting a working artist. An artist who is creating one-of-kind art just for you! Take so much pride in knowing that you are supporting a sustainable, local business!

And if you are feeling especially bold, when you see a photographer selling sessions and all the files for an incredibly low price like $150, take a minute to send her some love and encouragement. Let her know that she is incredibly talented and worth so much more. Because chances are, she is giving up valuable time with her family, she is exhausted, she isn’t making a living and her business may even be on the verge of burning out. (of course this applies to men as well, but in my experience women have a much harder time charging their worth!)

I would love to hear from you! Does this add some clarity and transparency to the price of photography? Have you also noticed the incredibly high turnover amongst local photographers?

And lastly, to my fellow photographers. How many of you struggle immensely with knowing your worth and pricing sustainably? I so get it, and want you to know that you are not alone. If you ever need help please don’t hesitate to reach out!

XO,

Karmen

photocredit: Marielle Elizabeth

Honest Review | Poppy Barley Eyelet Oxford a.k.a The Perfect Travel Shoe

The Poppy Barley Eyelet Oxfords!  The shoes that feel like slippers. No seriously they do.  I first tried these shoes on about a year ago and was immediately shocked by how comfortable they were;  Sadly, I wasn’t in need of them at the time so I left them on the shelf but you better believe that I did not stop thinking about them.

So when I started packing for our trip to Italy and realized I was going to need to bring a single pair of shoes that basically looks good with everything and are very walkable I did not hesitate to order a pair! 

And let me tell you, I put some serious miles on those babies.  We walked around 14km a day exploring the streets of Florence, the beaches of Cinque Terre, and the Canals of Venice. If I’m honest, it still feels a little unreal!  The only shoes I wore were these oxfords and my Birkenstocks.  And you guys, I have zero regrets.  They were exactly what I needed.  My love for Poppy Barley shoes hath grown ever deeper.

Now that being said let’s dig into the pros and cons of this cutie little shoe!

PROS

1. I am cannot over state how comfortable these are from the first wear. Almost unbelievably soft leather.

2. No tie laces. I’m lazy about my wardrobe pieces. If it’s too much work I likely won’t wear it. Needless to say, these slip one flats have been worn relentlessly.

3. So versatile. These shoes have such a minimal, classic look that works with so many outfits.

4. Great quality, my oxfords are still in incredible shape despite constant wear, being shoved in bags, and traipsing through less than ideal terrain.

5. They are always available in a variety of colours! I decided on toffee because I really needed them to be able to match everything, but Poppy Barley has some seriously cool colours and prints that change throughout the year.

CONS

1. They are very flat. I am quite short at about 5’2” and I have to admit I sometimes missed the little bit of height I get from some of my other shoes.

2. The sole is super soft and fairly flat. To be fair I think this is partially why they feel like the most comfortable pair of slippers. But if you are someone like me who has really bad feet you may want to consider adding a pair of orthotics. I used a pair of inexpensive Dr. Scholl’s and it’s been perfect!

So there you have it, my new favourite traveling companion. Besides my family of course! If you have been in need of an everyday, versatile shoe this one is without a doubt an absolute winner. Me, I am 100% saving up for their brand new Victoriana Boot!! It’s the black boot of my dreams friends!

I hope this helped! If you have any questions about the shoes or Italy, get at me girl! <3

Warmly,

Karmen

P.S. For more Honest Reviews follow me on Instagram, @karmenmeyerphotography, and check out my posts on buliding a capsule wardrobe.

As always, in the interest of full transparency, I want to let you know that Poppy Barley traded me these shoes in exchange for photos.  My review however was NOT paid for.  It is just honest feedback on my experience. Additionally, I don’t make any money if you buy these shoes. I just know how intimidating it is to purchase ethical clothing as it often mean more $$$ and ordering online without seeing the garment first hand. It’s truly my hope to help make that easier for you with these reviews! Thanks for hanging out and letting me do a wee bit of reminiscing today!

25 Places to Use Brand Photos

by Brand Designer Tammy Swier and Photographer Karmen Meyer

So you just had an amazing brand photography session done (insert happy dance here!). Now it’s time to put your images to work! We often suggest that you plan to sprinkle them into your social media to really make them last. Perhaps put a few on your website, but then what? Well the good news is that this beautiful collection of photos that aligns so powerfully with your brand both visually and emotionally can be used in so many other ways! We put a lot of effort into making sure your photo sessions tell your unique brand story and are absolute workhorses for your biz. It’s super important to us that you get the most use out of you one-of-a-kind as you possibly can. Heck, even if you took the initiative to create a set of brand photos yourself (bravo!), we still want your efforts maximized. Our mantra is 100% work smarter, not harder. So let’s go…

HERE are some places YOU can USE (and reuse) your BRAND PHOTOS:

1. Instagram Ads

2. Instagram Stories

3. E-mail Profile Photo

4. Product Listings

5. Presentation Slide Deck

6. Business Card

7. Blog Posts

8. Guest Blog Posts

9. Media Kits

10. Publications or Press Submissions

11. Upcoming Sale or Promotion Graphics

12. Facebook Posts

13. Facebook Header

14. Facebook Ads

15. Price Guide or Brochure

16. Email Newsletter

17. Contracts or Service Agreements

18. Mood Board to Communicate Your Brand Aesthetic to Your Graphic or Web Designer

19. Branded Goods

20. Desktop Screensaver

21. Freebie Phone Backgrounds

22. E-Book Cover

23. Thank You Cards, Postcards, or Mailings

24. Office Art

25. Pinterest Graphics

So there ya have it, these are just some of the places brand photos can level up your game. And before you go, we have got one more little tip for ya: When planning a brand session, see what other local brands you can incorporate seamlessly. By doing so you can send them a few photos from the shoot to use for free (with your photographers permission of course!). By doing so you are helping out a fellow small business owner by giving them an amazing photo for content and you get a little extra exposure. Win/Win. We love to use blankets, florals, beverages, mugs, clothing and accessories from local shops in many of our shoots and always encourage cross promotion, ‘cause #communityovercompetition!

If you have any questions at all just let me know in the comments below or hop on over to my contact page to send an email! Can’t wait to chat!

6 Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal and How to Get Started Today

Did you know that when you write down your goals you are 90% more likely to achieve them?!*

For me journaling is such an essential part of my self-love journey. I check-in with myself daily to take the vortex of anxiety-inducing tasks swirling around in my head and out them down on the paper. And what do ya know, they seem so much more reasonable once they are stationary. A journal is a safe place to say what’s on my mind. A place to dream big, set goals and make promises to myself. And you can easily do the same!

Here is a quick run-down of how journalling can help:

1. reduces anxiety

2. increases productivity

3. helps you to set goals and actually achieve them

4. keeps creative (and sometimes chaotic) thoughts in one place instead of scattered on random napkins, envelopes, and phone notes.

5. the blank slate of each dotted page keeps you creative and in charge of what needs to be said that day

6. and last but not least, it helps to practice the art of letting go of perfection. There are now perfect squares or pre-written titles. I think a lot of people start bullet journals with this idea that they are going to Pinterest worthy, and sometimes they are. But for me, and I’m willing to bet most people, it’s function over form. Just showing up and checking in, is so much more important then having each page immaculately laid out!

Are you sold yet?! Well the good news is that you don’t need much to get started. Just get yourself a pen and a notebook with dotted lines. I don’t use anything fancy here, I most recently ordered this ‘Essential Notebook’ off Amazon for $12 but I have seen similar ones at Chapters as well. (I am on the hunt for a stationary brand who is transparent about where and what their notebooks are made from though! If you know of any please do share!!). And then the final, most important step. DON’T OVERTHINK IT! Just go with it, if you have a messy journal it doesn’t make it any less impactful.

For example, my sister and I both bullet journal. Hers looks like a freaking artist’s sketchpad and mine looks like an explosion of lists, thoughts and the occasional drawing from my beloved children (Ugh, but remember…. the art of letting go…. deep breaths y’all). There isn’t a right way or a wrong way here. You do you girl!

Here is what works for me:

1. Attempt to make the first page of the journal pretty. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The end result doesn’t matter here, you just showed up for yourself friend. And I am freaking proud of you. I just started a new journal, and since it happens to coincide with the new year, my cover page has the number 2020 written large in the centre and then I wrote down meaningful words that I want to focus on this year. Basically it looks like one of those bubble charts we had to do in school. Call me a nerd, but you will see quite a few of said charts in my journal. They just work so well for plotting together my never-ending train of thoughts!

2. The next page, I write the title TO READ in 2020. This page I will leave blank and whenever I come across a book or post I want to read, I will write it down here so I don’t forget. PLUS, I love checking things off a list. The more lists the better lol.

3. Next page, I write the title TO LISTEN TO in 2020. This page is dedicated to audiobooks, podcasts, music.

4. and the next page, I write the title OTHER RESOURCES. Listen friends, I am a research machine and having a consistent place set aside to keep track of the info I want to indulge on is such a time saver!! If this isn’t your jam. Don’t do it. Easy Peasy.

5. From here on out the world is your oyster. Depending on what I am needing, I may write a daily to-do list. Or maybe I need a good old brain dump…. What’s a brain dump you ask? Well… write Brain Dump (or Thoughts if your feeling fancy) and then you just start writing down what is taking up space in your mind. These two things are what I do the most! But I also use these blank pages to map out plans for social media, to collect quotes that inspire, to write gratitude lists. I also, check in every few months to re-write my brand/life values and make sure that I am living in alignment with those values.

Bullet journals can be as simple or as intricate as you want. Because each page is blank, it means that they are basically universal. It just takes a bit of a commitment at the beginning to get into the habit. But I’m telling you once you settle in, it will be something you look forward to! If you have any questions or would like to know more about bullet journaling just let me know!

I hope this helps so much on your journey toward self-awareness, reflection and goal setting!

Can’t wait to chat more next week! Warmly,

Karmen

* ok I don’t know if it is exactly 90%! I read this fact so long ago that I don’t even remember where to look for the exact information lol. But moral of the story, WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS.