Kids Hold Our Future
WE CAN’T BREATHE…
Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.- Nelson Mandela
Our kids carry the burden of our actions and this year 2020 has been a proof of what the world will be like for our children if we don’t fix things now.
We have been discussing climate change, wildfires, racial discrimination and sometimes they just becomes words because people forget that it does really affect our truth today. Move beyond discussions, move beyond words because if we don’t, 2020 will repeat every year. Our kids will carry a burden they aren’t supposed to. What we hand down to them will be a legacy of destruction and tears.
Bringing all colors together … Black , Brown , White … because inside all of us is Red.
Inside all of us is LOVE.
The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people’s children.- Marian Wright Edelman
#ICantbreathe #Planetearth #Ourlegacy #Ourchildren #Loveisred #Onlyonelife
Planning your headshot session
Planning your headshot?
Here are some things to consider.
What is your target audience?
Your headshot is based on a multitude of factors. Some seem very simple but suble factors can make or break the impression you are trying to make.
Never take the power of a great headshot and it’s impact lightly.
Things to consider
- What industry do you serve?
- What should you wear for your headshot?
- What does your headshot convey when people look at it?
What industry do you serve?
Based on what your profile is, your target audience varies. Do you belong to a formal, always in a suit & a tie job?
Do you face customers everyday as part of your job?
Are you in a corporate job where its more business casual? Are you targeting to move up the corporate ladder shortly?
Are you a 9-5 , an entrepreneur, a doctor , an IT professional or a banker ? Your core industry , your job profile all defines how your headshot needs to be created.
A lot depends on your business/ job profile. Your photographer should ask you questions when they book you in to create the right look for your headshot needs.
What to wear for your headshot?
A good headshot photographer can create various impressions from just one outfit and can give you a variety of looks. But it is always wise to carry atleast two outfits choices with you. Discuss ahead of time and plan out the look you are going for. Sometimes something as simple as adding a blazer will add to the look.
The key is :
- Keep it simple and classy.
- Bring outfits that fit you and compliment you.
- Stay with solid colors. Avoid patterns & large prints.
- Add in a blazer or a coat to create additonal look.
- Rice/Oil Blotting paper fixes shines and that is something that can be fix during retouching as well.
- Bring a hairbrush/comb with you to fix the strays.
- For women having a lipstick handy is a great idea.
- Women-Think neck lines and bring choices.
- Keep jewelry light and elegant. Idea is to focus on YOU not the necklace unless you are a jewelry designer.
What does your headshot convey when people look at it?
Micro expressions make a HUGE difference in your first impression. A good headshot photographer will understand that and will guide to creating the right expression for the job.
Create impressions based on your goals.
We worked with the owner of a remodeling company to create various looks for his business. Not only did we create a variety but also planned out targeted headshots based on his goals.
Make your headshot stand apart to emphasize on you. Making an impression starts with a positivity and an AMAZING headshot. We specialize in creating the best headshot for you. Afterall it is the first impression that seals the deal. Now helpign clients all over bay area. We also support on-location headshots for larger companies.
Pet Photography Tips
Tips to create beautiful photos of your fur-babies.
Relax
It is very true that pets reflect your energy. I have been in sessions where if the fur parents are nervous, the dogs reflect their energy and never settle down. It then becomes very crucial for me to relax the pet owners in order to get the furbabies to ease down.
The key is to stay calm so you can get your furbaby to relax too for the photos.
Play with various angles
Sometimes best pet photographs are taken when you go down to their level and interact with them. It brings out amazing angles with them interacting with you more. But at the same time don’t be afraid to play with various angles. Not only does it brings out their crazy personality but also the perspective creates a variety of fun photos.
Capture them in their essence.
Think like a pet… no I mean really. They bask in the sun, get excited about a ball, drool when they hear treats and roll over to get belly rubs. Each photograph that captures a pets’ personality brings it closer to who they are when they are in their essence.
Focus on their eyes
Eyes are the windows to the soul. It applies to all photographs that capture anything close to being alive. With pet photography focus on their eyes and their expressions to get their soul into the photos.
Create various environments for them
Bring them into a space where they relax or bring them to a space which excites them to play. You can have fun creating beautiful pet photos by bringing them into various locations( indoors or outdoors) and giving them the space for being themselves.
Anything can be your prop
From a towel & a tub, to a silly hat, everything or anything can be a prop. Make some fun flower crowns, a silly t-shirt or even a cute bow can add so much to their personality and bring out the soul into your photos.
Think outside the box
My dog Bella loves to eat.. typical lab behaviour right??!! So I recently did a treat throw and catch session with her. Trust me it isn’t easy getting the perfect shots one after the other but we had a ton of fun and created something I will love forever. To give you a glimpse of what came from that pet photosesison…
Just have fun
At times throw the rules and tips out the door… and just have fun with them. Their time with us is much shorter and our love for our furbabies is immense. Have fun and enjoy their love… it is sometimes as simple as that.
Get a professional session done
We as a professional photographer always have a few extra talents up our sleeves. When you just want to relax and enjoy your fur baby’s photosession, ask a professional to help. We can help celebrate your pets as you celebrate them and treat them with the same love and respect as you do while we print their essense on paper for you cherish. We can also capture you capture their essence with end of life pet sessions as they get ready to cross the rainbow bridge. Treat catching is one of our speciality to capture.
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One of a kind newborn photos
One of a kind Newborn Photography
Vivek Rathi
Your baby is one of a kind, unique and the most beautiful baby you could ask for …so why shouldn’t his/her photos be too?
That is exactly what we do at Pooja Photography. I have always been inspired by Anne Geddes’s work. She is my inspiration. So at Pooja Photography we create one of a kind baby portraits for your baby just like Anne Geddes.. Something that is pure ART , something that you would with all your love display in your home. Something that will remind you always how these tiny little human was and what unconditional love they offer. Our newborn session capture your family story, the bond and create for you that magical photograph that will remind you of that love forever.
A life changing newborn photo experience for you and your family at Pooja Photography.
Rohit & Rashmi
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Business Branding – Sexton Group
We asked & Ernie Answered- Business branding done right with Sexton Group – Real Estate
When I met Ernie I had a feeling this project will be fun. And FUN it was. He is one of people that brings smile around with his aura and attitude of genuine care. There is always a story behind a person , a project, a company and as a branding photographer I am always looking for that story in my projects. That story helps me capture the essence of who people are and what they need others to see in them too. The branding needs to be a reflection of who they are.
I have to say, Ernie is one of the MOST professional and fun to work with realtor I have met. His team has an amazing leader in him and I think it got very evident when we did the team’s round of fun headshots.
So we asked Ernie a little bit about his business…
Ernie Why you do what you do?
How has COVID changed your business model?
What things did you end up changing to workaround this new way of life?
Ha ha Ernie we agree, there is a silver lining there!!
So Ernie what makes you different?
When you are not working what will we find you?
SO IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A HOME OR LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP MANAGE YOUR PROPERTY , ERNIE AND HIS TEAM CAN BE REACHED HERE:
Why Pooja Photography?
What is your why?
Life is short, and sometimes it doesn’t give any second chances. We believe in the power of first impressions and first moments. So it is very important to seize the moment and let your photographs share your essence and story.
From making the best impression for a job interview to making the right impact on your client & win that deal. It is super important to put your best face forward.
That is exactly what we specialize in. We help our clients push their businesses to the next level by creating the right kind of digital marketing content for them. We help them brand themselves and show them in the best light.
The key is in planning, listening and the management experience from my prior life helps me help my clients plan their branding sessions better.
Why is branding so crucial for businesses?
With the lockdown we have seen an immense shift in the way businesses are pushing to the next level. Online presence is crucial for business to stand out, create the right impact and gain the trust of their clients. The right kind of branding can ensure your clients remember you in a positive light.
How has this pandemic changed your business model?
“These are mad times we live in..MAD!” – Prof. Slughorn from The Half-Blood Prince.
Yes, these indeed are mad times. So much has changed in the last few months. COVID hit us badly…all of us. But we used the time well. We used it for building our business and bonding with our clients.
We worked on adding better products, that we can bring into the studio and offer our clients.
A good artist is constantly growing and learning.
We had been busy working towards getting our professional photographer’s certification. We also geared up to setup the studio and business successfully open post lockdown.
So when the lockdown lifted, we were ready. We were prepared to ensure everyone’s safety and create our best.
What makes you different?
We pick up the phone, we love to connect and talk to our clients. We understand them, their business, and their essence. There is no storytelling, without knowing anyone’s story. Listening is a skill set rare but crucial.
Pooja Photography can bring in flavors like none other. Having an IT management experience in my prior life, helps me identify the right image and expression need to create the perfect brand images. Whether you are fun, all business , go getter, warm , knowledgeable or all of it, the right expression will create an impression that your clients will remember.
Having an artistic eye to seize the moment brings puts together a life in the storytelling part of your branding. We represent your honesty and your soul.
You always put your best foot forward with your resume, but you also need to put your best face forward with your headshot.
When you are not working where will we find you?
Still working. But then when you have fun while working, it’s not work at all. You will find me still carrying a heavy camera bag on my back and hiking the National Parks with my family. Landscape photography is a call to quench my soul, so when I am not creating portraits, I am soaking in nature and creating my own memories with my family.
Any words, for those who are looking to hire Pooja Photography?
While you are with Pooja Photography, we take care of you like family. People meet us as strangers but leave us as friends. Our gift to our clients is an experience like no other. We believe photography is an experience, not a chore. So enjoy the ride and make fun memories that make you smile every single time you look at your headshots/branding or portraits.
adding fun & humor to branding
Client Safety during COVID times
Safety during Covid 19 Updates
UPDATE: 02/09/2022
Please know as we work with a lot of families, babies, soon to be moms and individuals we will continue taking extra precautions during this pandemic.Each county makes their own rules and we respect that but we will continue keeping our masks on during the sessions. We are vaccinated and boosterized. Our studio will continue being sanitized and we will keep all safety precautions in place. If you or us get sick before the session, we will need to re-schedule for later.
“These are mad times we live in..MAD” – Prof. Slughorn from The Half Blood Prince.
Yes these indeed are mad times. So much has changed in the last few months. COVID hit us bad..all of us. It robbed us of making memories for our clients. It stopped us from creating those beautiful portraits of the little babies that parents wait eagerly for. Those tiny toes, those sweet dreamy smiles.. moments that are now lost to time.
But we used the time well. We used it for building our business and bonding with our clients.
We worked on adding better products that we can bring into the studio and offer our clients.
A good artist is constantly growing and learning.
We had been busy working towards getting our professional photographer’s certification. We had also been getting the studio and business ready for post lockdown.
So when the lockdown lifted, we were ready. We were prepared to make sure we keep us and our clients safe. Prepared to add more love, care and safety to our sessions so we can ensure our clients are not denied of the joy that these moments will bring and cherished for life. So now that our studio is ready to capture those first impressions and the moments that matter, we are able to do what brings happiness into our lives.
Here is what we have been doing and these new studio policies help us help our clients with safety as our first priority.
General:
All Pre-Consultation & Discovery calls are via a zoom now.
Masks are worn during the entire session especially by the photographer. For the safety of the client and the artist, hands are constantly sanitized and all needed precautions are heeded to.
For Family & Branding sessions we maintain the social distance, mask on during the entire time. The planning ahead makes it efficient to run the session smoothly.
If you or your family members happen to be sick , come in contact with someone with COVID symtoms or if we get sick, the session is postponed for until when everyone is healthy. SAFETY is our priority #1.
All paperwork is now digital signatures. We will send the release and consent forms ahead of time for e-signatures.
We at this point are not offering any add-on hair and makeup services or access to studio wardobe to avoid any COVID spread. Sessions are now limited to photographer and clients that are being photographed.
Snacks are no longer offered in studio for obvious safety reasons. You are welcome to bring your own.
Per the CDC guidelines we maintain the recommended social distance and take all the needed precautions. Our masks are always on.
While you are with us , we take care of you like family and safety is of crucial importance to us.
Outdoor sessions
We have been doing a lot more outdoor sessions.
We are limiting the sessions in open space with low foot traffic only. We avoid playground areas.
Studio Sessions:
We have been keeping everything extra clean. Our studio gets an more scrubbings and sanitized right before and after the session.
Sanitizer, additional masks and gloves are placed in easy access inside the studio for everyone’s safety.
We are still able to maintain social guidelines and distance while doing the in-studio headshots or family photography.
During COVID times for our newborn session we are restricting our sessions to only the newborn, the parents & the baby’s siblings.
I have earned a Safe Sets International certificate for COVID-19 safety.
Conception & Pregnancy – An emotional journey
Conception & Pregnancy is an emotional journey. How can Chiropractic care make a difference?
Our special guest Dr Christina Alba is an amazing, caring and a family chiropractor based in Lafayette, CA.
She specializes in care for women and kids and has been very kind with sharing her knowledge and wisdom on how chiropractic care can help women conceive.
We understand conception can sometimes be an emotional journey that can take a toll on families. So we asked Dr Christina how the science behind the chiropractic treatment works and can benefit women trying to have a family.
We asked, she gladly answered.
How can a chiropractic adjustment help improve the likelihood of conception?
As you know the brain is the master controller of all our movements and functions. The brain with its spinal cord and its vast network of spinal nerves, communicates to every cell, tissue, muscle, organ and system, including the reproductive system. So when the pelvic bones (aka hip bones) become contorted, twisted and out of alignment it’s harder for the spinal nerves to send the proper signals to a woman’s reproductive areas to conceive. It’s like a traffic jam. The chiropractic adjustment can help realign this area, allowing for direct nerve flow to this area. At Rivulet Chiropractic Dr. Christina has many female patients who desire to become pregnant, have tried so many things and nothing…no conception. After a series of chiropractic adjustments a woman’s nervous system functions better and she is able to conceive more naturally.
What’s the value of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
We go back to improving pelvic balance. When the pelvis is misaligned, the ligaments connecting the pelvis to the uterus become tight, taut and distort the baby’s environment, similar to twisted bedsheets that restrict the baby’s movement. The chiropractic adjustment to the pelvis releases tension to the ligaments and uterus, creating space for the baby to move more freely and properly position itself for birth. Dr. Christina of Rivulet Chiropractic specializes in a chiropractic technique to allow for smoother, easier and safer birth called the Webster Technique. At each stage of pregnancy the Webster Technique reduces interference to the mom’s nervous system and improves her physiology. When a mom’s physiology functions well, then the baby’s birth outcome is improved. Balanced pelvis means balanced muscles, ligaments and tendons, and hence a safer and more natural birth.
How can chiropractic care help after pregnancy?
Like an athlete wanting to return to their game, chiropractic care after pregnancy is a gentle and effective way for a mom to ease her body back to where it was pre pregnancy. Whether a new mom’s breastfeeding in nursing posture or still recovering from pregnancy stitches the chiropractic adjustment can help restore her to back to normal.
Tell me more about Dr Alba from The Rivulet Chiropractic.
Chiropractic care is very crucial for the well being not only for women and babies but everybody. However conception is an emotional journey and we don’t take it lightly. We believe women deserve and need all the emotional and medical support at this curcial stage and we are so glad to be part of this journey with them.
When you are with us , you are family. Visit her at The Rivulet Chiropractor.
San Ramon Newborn Photographer
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Business branding with San francisco’s Premium The Job Shop
How do you brand someone who LOVES her job and joins the right people to the right job?
How do you brand someone who LOVES dogs and passionately fights to keep them safe , rescues them and create a safe haven for these speechless animals?
How do you brand a woman who gracefully handles the pressures of work and balances everything that life throws at her?
How do you brand a strong entreprenuer who loves her staff like family and pours her heart into her business?
YOU LISTEN TO HER. You find her essence in things that matter to her and then you build her story via photographs.
Our featured business today is THE JOB SHOP. A San Francisco based company that places Top talent into Top jobs. .
We asked Liz, JobShop’s owner and soul and here is what she said…
What are your beliefs and core values?
Get up each day, be positive, make sure you laugh, live life, give back and make sure you are having fun.
What drives you to passionately follow your job?
I love helping and my job does not feel like a job even though I get paid to do it. I help people change their lives by finding them a new career. It is wonderful to make that perfect match and to see their smile on their face. I have always loved sales and enjoy talking with people! I truly believe our staffing services are like no other out there.
How did Covid change your business and what did you do to make things back to normal again?
It will be years before we fully understand the economic impact of the coronavirus, but one thing is painfully clear right now: Small businesses across the country are facing an existential threat. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for 48% of American jobs and 43.5% of GDP. Yet while these smaller firms are an essential part of the U.S. economy, they’re often financially fragile, with little cash on hand or resources to buffer even a minor financial shock. In the sweeping disruptions caused by the coronavirus, businesses around the country have closed temporarily and they say 55% of the businesses that state they are closed on Yelp will not reopen. Many still have ongoing expenses and little or no revenue and face the prospect that their business model due to Covid19 will not be able to sustain in this economy.
How is The Job Shop trying to stay above the fog?
The first week was quite tough as doing business in San Francisco we were shut down first and are still shut down very tightly. (Going through the pandemic as a business owner in San Francisco; feels like a rollercoaster ride you can’t step off. I know it is not easy to be on a roller coaster for months but remember the ride will take you below and above the fog; you just need to hang on until the ride is over. ) I made a promise after the first week to myself, to my husband, to my company, to my staff and to my dogs that I would not get sucked into the negative abyss. I felt it happening and I hated the feeling of being below the fog. Things were not clear, and it was hard to focus. I could not move away from the news; I was not eating well, and I was in a state of shock. I felt like each day was on the same loop and I knew I needed to make some change and make that change quickly. I do like challenges and I have been through some challenging times before both personal and with The Job Shop and from my past experiences I knew if I made action plans, I could stay above the mist. (I vowed to be gentle and kind with myself and the others on my path and I knew at times I would dip below the fog but if I stuck to my action plans, I would come out through this coronavirus pandemic flying above the clouds.)
What is The Job Shop doing to keep above the fog?
The Job Shop is utilizing this time to stay focused on the glass ½ full and treat this as a rebuilding phase. As the owner of The Job Shop, I did not want to come through this time period feeling I had wasted this time from the disruption of coronavirus, but I wanted to stop; take a breath and understand every aspect of my business. I felt I truly needed to do this, so I did not lose what my team had built over the last 22 years. I decided to get up each day; thanked the universe for all that I had and for the business The Job Shop was still able to conduct. I was the only person coming into the office for the first 2 ½ months and I sat down and made action plans and pulled out my project list that had been sitting for the last year. (My company was booming in the red-hot job market in San Francisco and many items on the to do list were put aside to focus on filling new job orders.) I was not sure how long we would be shut down, but I knew I would not be happy with myself if I did not utilize this gift of time.
I started by turning off the news each day and took once action item at a time. (I find myself completely stuck and in a state of shock if I watch the news and try to work; this is when I truly fall below the fog and I feel myself not being able to breathe.) I organized my action plan lists and started to tackle the items one at a time. I would and do get distracted along the way, I lose focus at times, I must stop one action item to start another and I get frustrated at times. I remind myself to stay on track, be kind to yourself, take this time to research and be open to all advice, opinions and make sure to reach out and ask for help. This last advice to myself to reach out has been a HUGE key to keeping on track and to keeping my business moving forward.
Starting Mid-May I was able to bring back part of my staff and these are some of the items we have tackled on the action plan and are still tackling today:
• Reorganizing the entire office
• Meeting with financial consultants and bankers to understand what my options are during this pandemic
• Working with contractors to fix anything needed in the office
• Working with our IT consultants to redo The Job Shop’s computer structure for the office
• Going through all the financials for the company and understanding the spending and where we can cut back
o Working with all the vendors and researching new plans if possible
• Redoing all the accounting for the company and reporting systems
• Redoing the office so we can social distance
o Ordering the supplies needed to ensure the safety of my staff when they came back to the office
• Revising each employee’s employment package and job description
• Writing a coronavirus policy
o Implement the coronavirus policy
• Revising the HR manual to make sure it was updated and to include a section on coronavirus
• Ordering PPE supplies for the office
• Working with a Branding Consultant to rebrand The Job Shop
o Never thought I would be doing this after 22 years but after doing some research realized this needed to be done
• Going through all our Social Media Accounts and promotion tools for The Job Shop and making sure I understood them and what we as a company needed to be doing to utilize these accounts and producing a Social Media plan
• Redoing the website
• Calling all the candidates registered with The Job Shop so we can understand our candidate pool
• Many new tasks heading our way
While tackling my action plans, I have run across many FREE resources and previous business owners who have volunteered to help small business owners with all aspects of their business. There have been many zoom webinars, zoom meetings, roundtables, articles, sales presentations, emails, a lot of research and when The Job Shop has been asked to participate, we are there! The pandemic has affected each of us differently but as a small business owner, we have always had to wear many hats and will always continue to wear many hats while our businesses are open. The main advice to remember is that there are previous business owners that can pass the hat to you if you ask for help! Looking forward to sharing more as a small business owner during these trying times.
I know all of us love the look of the fog when it rolls over the Golden Gate, but it is beautiful above the fog!
What drives you to do what you do?
I grew up with a drive to be the best. I played sports my entire life and went on to play sports in college. I think this experience drives me to be the best at what I can be. I can’t say enough about girls and sports growing up! My mom died before I opened The Job Shop and I know she is smiling down on me; saying she is proud of what I have accomplished personally and professionally.
When you are not working, what is your passion?
Golden Gate Lab Rescue, Hiking, Golf & Gardening
Anything you would like to share with your readers?
We are going through a lot right now as small business owners and we can get through this but take the time to reach out to small business and see if they need any help! It may be even they need someone to talk with.
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