I'm With Miller!

This month introduces our great new series of mini-session events in which we've teamed up with local non-profit organizations to put a little extra love and awesomeness in the world.  Our first event for 2013 will be "Minis for Miller!"  This mini session is in support of the local Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation and we're kicking it off just in time for Easter!

In exchange for a $15 donation (made directly through the I'm With Miller website upon your arrival to the photo shoot), you will participate in an exciting mini photo shoot lasting approximately fifteen minutes. The photos will be taken on a white background with a digitally inserted chevron border. Afterwards, you will choose your favorite photo to receive via email as a web-resolution file. The file will be Facebook-ready to post on your social media accounts so you can show off your adorable family and show your support of MMWF!

High-resolution downloads and a limited variety of print packages will also be available for purchase at deeply discounted rates, but are not required.  This event will be by appointment only, Friday March 22nd though Sunday March 24th.  Appointments can be made via Facebook message or email.
 www.facebook.com/eMPhotoNWA
emily@emilymcarthur.com

For more information about the Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation, log on to www.imwithmiller.com

Stay tuned for more Mini Sessions to benefit local non-profit organizations!

www.emilymcarthur.com

Ah, December, the most wonderful time of  the year! A stressful, yet magical month dedicated to family and memories. Of course we all know one of the best ways to preserve and share memories is through photos. But organizing outfits for the whole family can be stressful. Due to the fact that I love you guys, I've compiled some fun, inspirational tidbits to aid in the prevention of  head-explosions (which I hear are quite common this time of year).



The Crafts look extremely tasteful in gray (one of my favorite colors!).  I love how all the guys have that little bit of white under their shirts, and the entire family is unified with the jeans. This looks sophisticated and is easy to put together :)

Tiffany and her girls are lookin good in cozy-casual ensembles. Scarves are a really cute way to tie everything together, and keep warm! The lights in the background are a fun way to keep up the holiday spirit. I give it an A girls!

The Sutties are proof that you don't always have to go traditional to look cohesive! They are a great looking family, with AWESOME taste in shoes. 

A great way to keep photos fun is with pops of  color. From the scarf to the tights, the Mannings are doing it right! 

This is a wonderful, simple approach-neutrals!  The whole family looks great, especially baby Elizabeth :) The great thing about choosing a neutral palette is when/if you get around to making cards, you don't have to stress about matching the colors-anything and everything goes with them! 

Another fun thing to consider is the mixing of patterns. I know your grandma always said, don't put stripes with dots-but just check out the Vanderbrink family! Hounds-tooth, dots, and plaid have never looked better together! Again, the pops of color on momma and Grace really pull it together-not to mention all of those gorgeous smiles!

For more examples and inspiration, check Pinterest! There are plenty of pins that people put together that are just pictures of clothes-and most of them say where you can buy them! I made a board on Pinterest with a few ideas, but there are HUNDREDS more on there!  Just remember to stick to your style and have fun with it!   My Pinterest Board.

Welcome to Us :D

 I know Emily has been neglecting this blog for quite the time now, but I am here to give you the attention you so crave. The blog will now be updated with a bit of normalcy, and I'm sure we'll all enjoy ourselves. Did you know that there are three of us at eM?    Emily, the master, the photographer, the tallest, the lady in charge-Charles, the editor, the beautifier, the pack mule, the seemingly calm-and myself, Hailey...queen bee of all things social media. (I write the blog and the facebook) :D and I throw in the occasional opinion. Stay a while and get to know us better, we're quite entertaining. 

Now a few things you really didn't need to know about:
Emily McArthur

• I could drink coffee ALL day. I’m talkin all day.
• I have long hair, but no one is aware because it is constantly up.
• I’m the proud mother of a sweet four year old boy. Also, I’m quite the loving wifey!
• I have a spontaneous habit of creating words, their numbers are so vast that I require a personal dictionary.
• When I type, there are lots of ‘…’ to be found.
• I’m addicted to that feeling I get when I know I’ve got the perfect shot :)
• I am a technology guru; I love to try out new gear and solve challenges on set.
• I love to make people laugh, the sound is energizing.
• I cry everytime I watch a Lifetime movie.
• I can’t cook…unless it’s cake. I can do cake.
• Peanut butter and chocolate are a combination I do not care for...I know...I'm weird.
• Sunshine makes me happy :) 
• I like to experiment with lighting for my shoots. I mix natural and artificial light sources for interesting effects-it’s like playing on a 3D canvas.
• When I take notes in a class, I do it by drawing pictures.
• I <3 GUMMY SNACKS, so much so that I steal out of my son’s gummy vitamins jar…everyday.   (don't worry though--I'll save him some.)
• I love my clients and consider them my personal friends. Don’t be surprised if I hug you at the end of your session!
• My favorite movie: What Dreams May Come.
• I’m a total nerd and over achiever.
• I LOVE to travel, but HATE to pack.
• I like to fix things, I’m quite handy!

Charles Hart 

• I love all things vintage/antique.
• I make sure I go to Eureka Springs at least twice a year and stay in the Crescent Hotel.
• I could watch Donnie Darko, The Notebook, Across the Universe, and Walk the Line over and over.
• I have a Carpe Diem tattoo, and I try to live by that.
• I’m good at doing hair, I do Hailey's almost every day.
• I have an antique camera collection, and also a collection of keys.
• I’m a very visual person.
• In high school, the only assigned reading I did was The Great Gatsby, and now it’s one of my favorite books.
• I love riding my bike to clear my mind.
• I find nature to be breathtakingly beautiful, especially trees.I spend a lot of time drawing trees
• My entire life I have dreamed of going to New York City.
• I stood in a line for two hours to meet Will Ferrell. All he said to me was 'stay out of trouble'.
• I firmly believe the Beatles are (and always will be) the greatest band EVER!
• I have an obsession with photographing abandoned houses and buildings. I have a display cabinet full of souvenirs from these places.
• I can lick my elbow.

Hailey Hart 

• Charles and I have a two month old daughter, Zayelynn Abbey. Her middle name is tradition of Beatles-esque middle names.
• I’ve read the Harry Potter books over ten times.
• I really enjoy when the History Channel shows HISTORY DOCUMENTARIES. Especially anything pertaining to WWII & The Holocaust, Native Americans, Ancient Civilizations, this whole 2012 ordeal, or past presidents.
• My mind isn’t wired to visually interpret things. I see in words, kind of like having a marquee behind my eyes.
• I’m a nerd for Harry Potter, World of Warcraft, Avatar the Last Airbender & The Legend of Korra, and memes. Oh how I love memes.
• I HAVE A CAT OBSESSION.
• I’ve yet to master driving in reverse. I’ve hit a few things…
• I’ve had five cars, but not due to the former fact of incompetent reverse skills. I wrecked my first car, rear-ended someone with my second, flooded my third, and ruined the brakes on my fourth. I’ve had my current car almost a year :D
• When I was pregnant I watched the Price is Right every day, and in the process developed an odd crush on Drew Carey.
• I have a voice for everyone when I tell stories in which they spoke.
• Charles and I can communicate without saying words that actually pertain to what we’re saying.
• I hate socks. Like, I wear them with shoes (most of the time) but I hate having my feet trapped, I can’t sleep in them. And I hate when my husband puts his sock feet on me :(
• The sight of a hopping bird can break any bad mood. 

IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD! The Power of Positive Thinking

Sick and tired of all the shallow gossip and worthless drama the news has had to offer, I've found myself nose-deep in a lot of good books and online articles lately.   One of my reads, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, has taught me that I need to be proactive as opposed to reactive.  To be proactive is to take the situation you are given, and act in a postitive manner to achieve a goal.  It's a sense of being instead of having.  For example, instead of wishing you had a better job, you should be a better employee.  Reactive people blame the outside world or current circumstances for their hardships, proactive people take what they are given and make the most of it.  They bring the proverbial sugar to lemons of life...they are the lemonade-makers.   I've been trying to wrap my head around this concept.  It seems if I could actually make my self think proactively all the time, it would be impossible to feel defeated.  Bliss.  

So when I stumbled across another article, Top 10 highest Paying Degrees, I gave my proactive thinking a go.  According to this article 7 of the top 10 highest paying degrees are in Engineering.  The other three are Physics, Computer Science, and Applied Mathmatics.  (read article here: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/08/22/10-highest-paying-degrees/)   Seeing that I majored in the Fine Arts, these statistics do not bode well for me. 

Now, a reactive person would think, "If only I had majored in Engineering, I would be better off," or "When I get that degree..."  They would let this get them down, and accept the "fact" that they could never be successful.   However, since I am now a proactive thinker, I will simply take what I've learned and sprinkle a little sugar on it.  Since the top paid jobs are in engineering, I need to be an engineer.  Boom. Done.  I have changed my title from "Photographer" to "Image Engineer."  Now, as an engineer, I have determined that I will be more successful. Time to watch the dollars roll in.  Behold the power of postive thinking.   ^_^

Seriously, though, instead of always wishing, needing, and expecting...what if we started being, encouraging, and living.  What would happen?   Maybe we could live our lives instead of being lived by our lives.   Your circumstances do not define you.  BE the SUGAR and your life will sweeten.  :)
CHOOSE happiness.
Just a little positive mojo for you.  LOVE you all!
Em

...back to the editing board...lots of beautiful images to engineer today! 

Follow along to find out more about being an average gal in Arkansas who's taken a dream and made it a reality. I'm a wife, a mom, a daughter, a successful photographer, designer, and business-owner. It's not been easy, in fact sometimes it's straight-up tough, but everyday is a new opportunity to make a change. I'll keep you posted on all things eM as they unfold. Please join me! www.emilymcarthur.com

I know my four letters....do you know YOURS?

January is a month of reprieve for me after the adrenaline-rush of the holiday season. I book less sessions, and allow myself to rest, regroup, research, and plan for the coming year. It's a great time for reflection and setting new goals. This year, I've been true to form: I've researched, watched webinars, attended workshops and read, read, read. Everyday I've been glued to the computer, or had my nose in a book, constantly looking for new ideas to increase my productivity, profits, and overall happiness and well-being. While most of my searching has been along the lines of business, marketing and photography, I've also taken the time to do a little soul searching and work on "Me." Thus...the test.    

Have you ever taken a personality test? Maybe I'm a bit of a dork, but I LOVE them! It's fun to answer a series of generalized questions in some survey and then find out into what "category" I've been placed.  Usually I think they're entertaining at best, and rarely provide true insight. However, sometimes I find one that proves legitimately useful. A while back, my friend Bri and I were having a discussion about our personal anxieties, hopes and fears, and the Myers-Briggs test came up...

When I was in college, all the Fine Art students had to take the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator test. It's recognized as the "standardized" test for distinguishing personality types. (Not like the ones you find in Cosmopolitan or Glamour to tell you what kind of "shoe" best represents "you.") I'm not sure if they were just trying to see why we were all so weird, or if they were honestly trying to help us get some sort of insight as to how we may (or may not) function in the real world, but per the requirement, I took it. Once officially, and then (Just to make sure I got it right) three times online. No matter how I changed my answers, the results were always came out the same: INFP. Freaky. Today, I was curious to see if I was still the same, so I took a "knockoff" MyersBriggs test online. (It was free, and I was being cheap)

Today: INFJ. I went ahead and took it twice, taking the opportunity to switch some of the answers I struggled with...same final results. The first three letters didn't budge from my college results...which makes me think there's definitely some credibility to this little exam, even if its not the "official" Myers Briggs. I know my paradigm has shifted somewhat, but I don't think I've had a total personality overhaul in the past 10 years.

So, I wonder, what HAS changed in my personality since college? Has getting out into the real world, having a job, paying bills and raising a child transformed my abstract/perceptual "P" view of the world to a more feeling/concrete judging "J?" Maybe so. I definitely tend follow rules a little more diligently than before. Deadlines are no longer "relative" to me...they are deadlines. You know, "Bills due = pay up."    Ahh--responsibility & obligations...guess they'll change a gal.  :) 

*disclaimer*  I am in no way implying that people with the INFP personality profile are irresponsible or tend to be rule breakers.  The above are simply just examples of changes I have noticed in myself and my decision making process since I last took the test.   So please...no hate mail! :)

For those of you who are curious, here's a link which explains more about the wondrous INFJ profile: http://www.personalitypage.com/INFJ.html

Want to see where you fit? Take the test here: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Leave me a comment on your results.   What did you think:  Legit or Bogus? 

Have FUN! 
eM


Follow along to find out more about being an average gal in Arkansas who's taken a dream and made it a reality. I'm a wife, a mom, a daughter, a successful photographer, designer, and business-owner. It's not been easy, in fact sometimes it's straight-up tough, but everyday is a new opportunity to make a change. I'll keep you posted on all things eM as they unfold. Please join me!

My first official blog...ever.

That's right.  I feel like I've hit the big-time as far as social media is concerned.  I have a blog.  I've dragged myself into the blogosphere kicking and screaming, but I've made it!  Next on the list: twitter. By the end of the week, I will be a status-updating, blogging, tweeting, linkd-in, media kingpin.  Yes. A true force to reckoned with.   (giggle)

Now for my first online confession:  I am terrified of this. 
I don't know why posting on the web gives me the weeblies, but it does.  No exaggeration, my facebook status updates take me 10 minutes.  I will probably draft and re-read this blog post at least six times before I have the guts to post it live.  How lame it that?!  Anyone who knows me knows that I have no problems talking to people on a large or small scale.  So what gives?  I guess there's just something about those words being OUT THERE and not being able to take it back that really gets my nerves.  Not to mention, people can comment, and call me out on all my shortcomings.  Ack!   My mind races with each post: "What if my grammar is poor?  What if I misspell something?  What if someone takes it the wrong way? Will people realize I'm human, and that I make mistakes?"     Maybe it's because I grew up in a time when you had to wait by the home phone if you were expecting a phone call.  There was no texting, no cell phones, no instant uploads.  Three-way calling became popular when I was in jr. high, and it was a scandal!   So there was a sense of privacy and an understanding that communication required time.   Today, everything is instant...and people live their lives so much more transparently.
Wow.  I sound old.  I'm not that old.  Am I?  (please don't answer that)

Regardless, I've stepped into the new millenium, albeit a few years behind.  I suppose if everybody's doin' it, it can't be so bad.  Right? 

I seriously feel as if I've stuck my head in the lion's mouth and survived.  First blog: check.  done.   
*exhales*

Follow along to find out more about being an average gal in Arkansas who's taken a dream and made it a reality. I'm a wife, a mom, a daughter, a successful photographer, designer, and business-owner. It's not been easy, in fact sometimes it's straight-up tough, but everyday is a new opportunity to make a change. I'll keep you posted on all things eM as they unfold. Please join me!