Last year I experienced burnout. I was doing work I didn’t enjoy and was taking whatever came my way. At Design Camp, I resolved to enjoy my work again. Over the holiday, my friend and colleague, Ben Easter, gave me some sound advice: play. I can’t do anything if I haven’t thought it to death, so of course, I spend an absurd amount of time thinking about what it would look like to play with my work. I decided I needed to withhold judgment and reconnect with that sense of curiosity that I had when I was a kid.
Read MoreThe Myth of the Solopreneur
A solopreneur is typically described as an entrepreneur who runs their show on their own. Google defines solopreneur as, “a person who sets up and runs a business on their own.” I understand we’re getting into semantics here, but I think this definition is lacking. I am a solopreneur and I do most of my work in solitude. It becomes very easy to forget that I am not alone in this, and that I didn’t get where I am solely on my own efforts. I am the sole worker at Emma Lee Creative, but don’t call me a self-made woman. I am mostly others-made, and I owe my success to my support network.
Read MoreOnward // 2019 in Review + Goals for 2020
Here we are: the end of a month, a year, a decade. I’ve been running my company for three and a half years. It was a hard year, but I have learned a lot. I guess that typically comes with hard experiences. There were days that shook my confidence and days that showed me just how capable I am of doing this. There were a lot of things that weren’t great about 2019, but I am in a great place because I have a fresh start ahead, and know what I need to do differently.
Read MoreCairn vol 20. // this is fricken hard.
Welcome to the last Cairn of the year, the last little entrepreneurial trail marker that comes before the new year. As this year wraps up, I find myself wrestling with a few things. I owe these wrestlings to my boyfriend, who is constantly challenging me and keeping me accountable. Just as my dad would, he is challenging me to do the work, and do good work. December has brought a few tough tasks business-wise.
Read More5 Common Pitfalls To Avoid When Hiring A Wedding Photographer
Planning a wedding can be a stressful whirlwind. In the chaos of finding and booking venues, choosing color schemes and tasting food, it can be easy to make quick decisions and miss some details. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It’s understandable that you want everything to go just perfectly. Unfortunately, things seldom go perfectly according to plan, but you can minimize major hiccups by avoiding these pitfalls when hiring your wedding photographer. I can’t save you from disaster with other vendors, but I can offer up my advice as a wedding professional.
Read MoreCairn vol. 19 // On Cats, Gratitude, and Other Beautiful Things
‘Tis the season, for Starbucks holiday drinks, airport security lines, busted Christmas lights, delicious food family gatherings, and for many people, stress. As someone who has spent many a holiday under stress, I have learned the value of gratitude. As Thanksgiving comes upon us, I thought I would take some time to reflect on the things I have found myself grateful for this year.
Read MoreThe Value of Personal Projects
You know those nights when you go to bed and you almost dread going to work, and then you get to work the next day and you don’t want to do anything? You sit in your workspace exhausted. You’re annoyed that you’re even there and you’re unhappy with everything you’re doing. On every front, you feel beat down and stuck. For weeks on end, going through the motions has been the name of the game.
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