What Coffee and Photography Have In Common
I can brew coffee.
But I can't put that cute little leaf design at the top of a cappuccino.
I can't make a cappuccino at all.
Mmmm cappuccino...
Does it change the taste? Not a bit.
But it does make me smile.
It feels personalized, a touch of welcome at the start of a day or a midweek treat.
The cute packaging and customized blends end up on hundreds of Instagram, Pinterest, and twitter pics every day.
Seriously, Google "coffee" and I guarantee you'll be stretched to find some generic financial firm coffee cup sitting on someone's counter filled with flat, immobile Folgers.
It's not as pretty as a Starbucks vanilla latte.
People value different things in life, but usually they value those things because of the way they make them feel.
Some women couldn't care less about the upkeep of their fingernails, while others make a specific point to schedule mani/pedis every month.
Some men (cough, my husband) would buy an enormous high definition TV and full surround sound over a bed to sleep on, (those were the bachelor days.
)While we all value different things, we all value something because of how it enhances a certain aspect our lives or the lives of others around us.
There's always give and take when it comes to how we spend our money, but some luxuries are worth a little extra time/money/research/ etc.
depending on their purpose and how they fit into one's particular lifestyle.
Someone's "luxury" may be anything from that Friday night order-in pizza and a movie tradition to that perfect specialty makeup for which you're willing to splurge because of how great it makes your skin feel.
It may be a custom photographer because you want an eye popping canvas of your family together to be the focal point of a warm and inviting home.
See what I'm getting at here? Custom photography isn't common, hence the name.
There are definitely occasions when that candid snapshot is the perfect way to capture a moment.
Everyone has a camera these days so having "professional photos" is about more than the photos themselves.
If a beautiful display, something special of the most valuable thing in any of our lives (the people who shape and complete us, our family, our friends), tailored to your home and your family's personalities, a custom session may just be a luxury that's worth a little extra.
That experience, feeling of pride, and smile-inducing display isn't going to come from you're iPhone.
Today's point is to bring to attention the fact that luxuries, big and small, are not something to feel guilty about.
If you have any expendable income at all, everything for which that portion is used could be considered luxury and used for the enhancement of life and happiness, for you, your family, and others.
Custom portrait photography continues to exist because some people find a piece of that happiness from looking at beautiful artwork around their home of their loved ones.
And yes, quality is part of luxury.
Is it worth more than 2 months of mani/pedis? One date night at a nice restaurant? The newest phone upgrade? ½ your wedding budget? And extra day of vacation? It's up to you to decide what quality of work for your portrait experience is worth in the scheme of things, and everyone will have a different opinion.
Luxuries can be pleasing, inviting, career boosting, vanity-driven, extravagant, frivolous, or any combination of the above.
Luxuries are whatever you decide to make room for because they are important outside the need to survive.
I like to get coffee at a local coffee shop every now and then because I like the extra little treat of something tasty I can't make myself.
Even if I just get a house blend, it's a perfect brew and a flavor I can't emulate with my countertop Mr.
Coffee.
But also, I love the ambiance of that inviting environment a coffee shop tends to have that breeds diversity, art, and conversation.
To me, that feeling is worth a couple extra bucks because I not only get a boost of caffeine but a boost of inspiration.
I challenge you to take inventory of what is really important to you, what makes you and others close to you feel good, and question whether or not you are spending your "luxury money" on things/experiences that actually demonstrate what you value.
But I can't put that cute little leaf design at the top of a cappuccino.
I can't make a cappuccino at all.
Mmmm cappuccino...
Does it change the taste? Not a bit.
But it does make me smile.
It feels personalized, a touch of welcome at the start of a day or a midweek treat.
The cute packaging and customized blends end up on hundreds of Instagram, Pinterest, and twitter pics every day.
Seriously, Google "coffee" and I guarantee you'll be stretched to find some generic financial firm coffee cup sitting on someone's counter filled with flat, immobile Folgers.
It's not as pretty as a Starbucks vanilla latte.
People value different things in life, but usually they value those things because of the way they make them feel.
Some women couldn't care less about the upkeep of their fingernails, while others make a specific point to schedule mani/pedis every month.
Some men (cough, my husband) would buy an enormous high definition TV and full surround sound over a bed to sleep on, (those were the bachelor days.
)While we all value different things, we all value something because of how it enhances a certain aspect our lives or the lives of others around us.
There's always give and take when it comes to how we spend our money, but some luxuries are worth a little extra time/money/research/ etc.
depending on their purpose and how they fit into one's particular lifestyle.
Someone's "luxury" may be anything from that Friday night order-in pizza and a movie tradition to that perfect specialty makeup for which you're willing to splurge because of how great it makes your skin feel.
It may be a custom photographer because you want an eye popping canvas of your family together to be the focal point of a warm and inviting home.
See what I'm getting at here? Custom photography isn't common, hence the name.
There are definitely occasions when that candid snapshot is the perfect way to capture a moment.
Everyone has a camera these days so having "professional photos" is about more than the photos themselves.
If a beautiful display, something special of the most valuable thing in any of our lives (the people who shape and complete us, our family, our friends), tailored to your home and your family's personalities, a custom session may just be a luxury that's worth a little extra.
That experience, feeling of pride, and smile-inducing display isn't going to come from you're iPhone.
Today's point is to bring to attention the fact that luxuries, big and small, are not something to feel guilty about.
If you have any expendable income at all, everything for which that portion is used could be considered luxury and used for the enhancement of life and happiness, for you, your family, and others.
Custom portrait photography continues to exist because some people find a piece of that happiness from looking at beautiful artwork around their home of their loved ones.
And yes, quality is part of luxury.
Is it worth more than 2 months of mani/pedis? One date night at a nice restaurant? The newest phone upgrade? ½ your wedding budget? And extra day of vacation? It's up to you to decide what quality of work for your portrait experience is worth in the scheme of things, and everyone will have a different opinion.
Luxuries can be pleasing, inviting, career boosting, vanity-driven, extravagant, frivolous, or any combination of the above.
Luxuries are whatever you decide to make room for because they are important outside the need to survive.
I like to get coffee at a local coffee shop every now and then because I like the extra little treat of something tasty I can't make myself.
Even if I just get a house blend, it's a perfect brew and a flavor I can't emulate with my countertop Mr.
Coffee.
But also, I love the ambiance of that inviting environment a coffee shop tends to have that breeds diversity, art, and conversation.
To me, that feeling is worth a couple extra bucks because I not only get a boost of caffeine but a boost of inspiration.
I challenge you to take inventory of what is really important to you, what makes you and others close to you feel good, and question whether or not you are spending your "luxury money" on things/experiences that actually demonstrate what you value.
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