In 2014, I photographed my first brand session.  I think this was one of those pivotal moments in time where I thought "I can actually do THIS as a job? I can document people's passions and help them connect with their ideal audience? I can tell their story, and watch their soul light up when they tell me about what they do and why they do it? I can empower people to show up and live out their passions?"

I was absolutely hooked from the first brand session I ever did.  I like to think I pioneered brand photography cause at the time there was NO ONE doing it and it really didn't even have a name.  "Brand promotion" was what I called it, and it made me feel like time was standing still when I got to work with someone for this service.

I think that was really one of the moments that ignited a spark in me to work with small business owners and creatives.  I was smitten with helping people pursue their passions by helping their stories come to life.  It was the first time I felt like I was being led towards a part of my purpose. (But I wouldn't discover that until much later)

7 months into my job at the commercial studio (which I did really love!) I was finding myself in the same predicament I was in back in March - burnt out, and exhausted from one too many 2AM nights spent editing.

I remember the day I quit all too well. I showed up to work looking like a disheveled mess because of my near all nighter editing a wedding. I kept thinking “how much longer do I need to burn the candle at both ends?” This was the second time in a year I was completely  burnt out. 

My boss called me into the office and he could hear the exhaustion in my voice.  Next thing I knew, he was speaking loud and clear telling me things I knew were true but didn’t want to hear: “Laura you’re a shell of the person who walked into this office months ago. You can't continue working like this. Believe in yourself enough to make your business happen. I do.” 

Then, my breath of fresh air came- he gave me the permission I was apparently seeking to quit my job. To pursue my business full time. So I quit! 

I remember being so excited to finally "have the freedom" I desired - with my time, finances, lifestyle, creativity, purpose. But the truth was - I was a long long ways away from actually having it.

For the next year of my life, I became what I call the “hustler”. You know the one: the person who works 24/7 around the clock to get clients, book them and make enough money to validate their decision to quit their job. That was me –I took every project or client I could get, whether they were someone I wanted to work with or not. 

Up until this point, 2 AM nights editing were regular.  14+ hour days were common.  12 hour days were a luxury.  8 hour days were unheard of.  And I could totally forget about days off. 

I was desperately craving time. Organization. Simplification. Freedom. 

I sat at my dining room table and took a good hard look at my business. I started creating workflows and systems and getting my business organized. I started creating templates for everything I did. I created processes I could hand off to - at the time - my mom, who offered to help take things off my plate. I created repeatable ways of doing things efficiently instead of reinventing the wheel every time I got a new client.  I invested in a CRM to manage all my projects and clients.  I got more serious about learning my finances. I rebranded. I completely overhauled my business. 

After I implemented workflows and systems, I got a glimpse into the freedom I could actually have running my own business. I learned that business was about working smarter, not harder. My business started running like a well oiled machine. 

Better yet- I was managing my to do list with ease, my clients were blown away by their experience, and I no longer had to burn the midnight oil because I finally had a grasp on my business. 

And this changed my life. 

- I started going on vacations without carrying my laptop everywhere. 
- I started taking weekends off to actually spent quality time with my family and friends when I didn’t have weddings. 
- I started going to the gym and taking care of myself again. 
- My referrals went up by 1200% because of my new client experience. 
- My business income tripled. 
- I took two months off - a true sabbatical - in the middle of busy season.
- I had my first 6-figure year.
- And I found balance!

I always say that I accidentally became an educator in the creative industry, because truly, it was never "planned" - it just kinda started to happen.

After starting the Northern NJ Tuesday's Together group in 2016, I realized my deep passion for helping others succeed. By the end of 2017, a few friends began asking me if I could help them with their workflows and productivity and systems.  I fell face first into coaching and I loved every second of it.

So naturally, as a true overachiever, with all my new found free time, I hired another coach to help me figure out how to start a new business– online education for creatives. In about a year, I started to become known as the "go-to-girl" for help with workflow, systems, time management, productivity and work life balance. 

I started my second business, (this one!) officially as it's own LLC in 2017, and I launched my first online product - The Wedding Photographer's Playbook - helping photographers deliver their weddings in a week. This was the catalyst for everything that was about to come.

I found an insane amount of joy and fulfillment helping other business owners get their lives back, and my mission quickly became helping creatives follow their passions without sacrifice.

I wanted to help people run their businesses well. Without sacrificing their personal life. Without burning out. I wanted to help people have businesses AND LIVES they loved.

And this started culminating in a lot of different ways, as I tried to discover what fit my personality best.

I launched retreats (I've now hosted 4!), I launched a digital shop, a signature course, a coaching program, mentoring intensives, a membership, E-Books, and more.

In each launch, I discovered more and more about who I wanted to help and why. Every conversation with a fellow creative started leading back to one thing: FREEDOM.

But to me - freedom didn't JUST encompass time freedom. It involved finances. Creativity. Purpose. Passion. Lifestyle. - AND time.

I knew that my love for helping creatives wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, and as my businesses and my dreams got bigger, my team had to as well.  I started to assemble an incredible team of women to walk the road of business alongside me and together, even bigger things started happening. 

We got to help more people. 
We broke through every financial goal we set for the business. 
We made big crazy dreams happen. 

Ah, here we are - present day. Most days I still can't believe that 2015 Laura had enough guts to quit her job and take a chance on a tiny dream of becoming a wedding photographer.  But what I really can't believe is how many lessons, twists and turns that dream has made along the way.

I believe every pivot I've made has brought me closer and closer to my purpose: of helping creatives follow their passions, live up to their potential, tell their stories, and find freedom in their lives.

I'm here to help you build a life and business you love. 

And I sure hope you'll stick along for the ride.  It's a good one.