you can build the business of your dreams without sacrificing your life.

Hey dream chaser, lemme grab your attention:

You? You’re my absolute favorite kind of person. The kind of person that wakes up every day - despite the obstacles in your way - and chooses to fight for your dream business and your dream life.

-- Maybe your dream includes quitting your (often soul sucking) 9-5 job and going full time with your business.

-- Maybe it includes having more time freedom and white space so you can be more present with your family, without cutting back on your income.

-- Maybe it includes pivoting or launching a new revenue stream so you can have passive income.

-- Maybe it includes changing the world with the gifts you’ve been given, and creating a ripple effect far beyond what you can imagine.

You can do all of that and more. Around here I believe that we all need to define success on our own terms. To find our own definition of freedom. To build lives and businesses WE love and WE are proud of and WE are fulfilled by.  Not just businesses that look good on Instagram - but businesses and lives that FEEL good in real life.

That’s what I’m all about - and that’s what I’m determined to help you do - whether through brand photography, coaching, or our educational communities, I get FIRED UP helping people live out their passions with more ease, joy, confidence and freedom.

I'm an interior designer turned photographer, business coach, and serial entrepreneur who loves few things more than firepits, a charcuterie board, sweet wine, and deep conversations about the dreams you wanna chase. Bonus points if this is all happening somewhere in a cozy hygge cabin in the mountains.  My mission in life is helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs like you live up to your potential, bring your passions to life, and find freedom and success in a way that feels aligned to you.

I help small business owners and creatives bring their passions to life, and build businesses and lives they love- filled with freedom- on their terms. 

are you ready to find freedom?

Brand Photographer, Business Coach, and Workflow Fairy-Godmother

HEY THERE, I'M LAURA!

The full title? I'm a NJ and Naples, FL based brand photographer and business coach, freedom chaser, workflow and systems expert, organizational business ninja, travel junkie, speaker, mountain lover, wife, cat-mom, business strategist, overachiever, multi-passionate visionary, and charcuterie board enthusiast.

My point is - I'm not one thing and I never will be. {Picking my college major was haaard.}

And you're not just a business owner either.  Maybe you're a parent, a dog-mom, a spouse, a community volunteer. My point is- you have people and other passions in your life that also deserve your attention.  And my goal is to help you run your dream business, live up to your potential, follow your passions, AND have time for the people and things that matter most to you.

keep reading

Today, I run three businesses I'm wildly passionate about...but there was a time where I was burnt out and unfulfilled - barely surviving running one.

Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

I remember graduating from college as an interior designer - already with a job offer in hand for what I thought was my absolute dream job, thinking "WOW - I've made it!"

I thought that job was going to be everything I ever wanted - being creative, working on DREAM design projects around the world.  It was my definition of success at age 22.  Until it wasn't.

That "dream job" turned into my absolute nightmare.  I came home every day from work and cried.  I took up kickboxing to get my frustrations out.  I developed anxiety for the first time in my life. 

And that's when I shot my first wedding.  It was everything I ever dreamed of and more.  And after that - going back to my day job became worse and worse.  To the point a team member called me out and told me I needed to quit in order to essentially "save my soul".

In March 2015, I built up the courage to do so, and took a job as a Photo Editor at a Commercial Studio as a stepping stone on my way to full time entrepreneurship.

2013-2015,
The Soul Sucking Years:

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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)

2014, A glimpse into
my purpose:

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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! 





October 2015, The month I went full time as a wedding photographer:

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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. 



Nov. 2015 - May 2016,
The Season of Burnout:

The next thing I knew, I was shooting 28 weddings, and sessions 4-5 times a week, without any sort of systems to manage the work load.  I had quit a 9-to-5 job for a 24/7 one and I was no closer to all the freedoms I wanted for my life.

I desperately wished I could have a clone of myself to get everything done, but, I, instead, worked myself into the ground, with 2AM nights in front of my computer being the norm.  I burnt out, YET again, despite thinking that quitting my job would solve all my problems.  And I knew things needed to change.

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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. 





May 2016-2017,
The Year of Systems:

And then everything changed.

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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!

2017-2018 Part 1,
The Year of Freedom:

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Let's take a stroll down memory lane:

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.



2017-2018 Part 2,
The Year of More:

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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.

Intermission Time:

The Part Where I
Find My Purpose

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And so it continued...

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. 


2018-2021, Running
Multiple Businesses

And for me, I got to focus my time on the things in my zone of genius that move the needle forward in my business, that light a fire in my soul, and help the most people possible build their dream business without sacrificing their lives.

I found entrepreneurial freedom and became the visionary of my business doing all the things that light me up.  I know you can have the same freedom and success I did!

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and this is where you come in...

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.

Now it's your turn
to find freedom, and build a life and business you love...

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how you can work with us:

brand photography
for creatives

For passionate dreamers  and world-shakers ready to show up with confidence in their business.

One on One business coaching

For established business owners looking to gain clarity and courage on your next steps forward to level up.

90 minute business clarity call

For purpose driven entrepreneurs ready to find clarity on their big ideas to make them come to life.

workflow and systems courses

For service based creatives looking for a custom workflow tailored to their business and clients needs.

digital resources in the freedom shop

For creatives looking for plug and play time saving templates for their business.

custom workflow creation and implementation

The DIY route for creatives who want to run their business like a well oiled machine in every facet.

I truly believe it is my life’s purpose to help people discover, pursue, and live out their passions.  Whether it’s through coaching, workflow strategy, or brand photography, I’m here, I’m ready, and I’m armed with a pile of half drank coffee cups ready to help you conquer your wildest dreams while you find freedom in every area of your life.

READY TO GET STARTED? SCHEDULE A CONSULT

"The best decision I've made in my business"

The best decision I've made in my business has been to hire Laura as my mentor! I literally would not be where I am today in my business without her guidance and encouragement over our last 3 years!  Since working with her, I've implemented all my workflows in HoneyBook, raised my wedding pricing, paid off all my student loans, hired a VA, launched a course, sold out a group coaching program, and so much more. Don't walk, RUN to get on her waitlist.

-Renee

"Laura truly champions and cares for her clients"

"All I can say is WOW! It has been almost a year since my brand session and I am still feeling all the positive vibes and amazing benefits! Laura completely captured everything I hoped for and more - from the look and feel of my website, the emotions I wanted to convey, what my brand represents, and all the little details in between that only she can provide with her talent, expertise, and valuable insights. I constantly receive compliments on my photography - one of the most common being, "this is so YOU!  I had no idea I would also come out of this process with a boost of self-confidence and entrepreneurial empowerment." 

-Gina

"she also shows up personally for you 24/7."

No one has helped me more in the success of my business than Laura. Not only is she a friend who is there for you in business struggles and ALWAYS has the next best idea you were needing, but she also shows up personally for you 24/7 . Since working with Laura I went from booking weddings at $3400 to $6400, started a second business, am looking into starting an associate team and a design biz, grew a team, and am now running a well oiled machine of a business while freakin' THRIVING at life.

-Sara

all about

I'm ALL ABOUT

Deep conversations,
sweet wine,
firepits, 
cozy blankets,
charcuterie boards,
traveling the world,
helping you follow your passions.

I'M NOT ABOUT

not about

Small talk,
rude people,
Running out of queso and salsa,
"being too busy",
that hustle game.

the fun stuff

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

I am absolutely determined to help business owners live up to their potential.

I've always been the girl with a million inspirational quotes all over her wall... her high school bedroom...her journal...her vision board...her word documents... her Pinterest account. And I believe they're powerful, so let me give you one: "You are brave. You are capable. You are unique. You are powerful. You are beautiful. And you can do anything you set you mind to. You - my friend, are limitless."

To the next

I met my husband in Copenhagen in 2012 and we had a COVID micro-wedding in 2020.

Scott and I met in the Copenhagen Airport during the first day of our study abroad semester. 5 days after meeting, we went to Germany together, 11 days after we had our first kiss, 5 days after our first date, and 3 days after that we said I love you for the first time.  Fast forward 9 amazing years together and we had a micro wedding that was nothing like we thought it would be in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Car parade and all. And? It was perfect.

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

Scott and I are legitimately obsessed with our cat, Tucker.

Scott and I NEVER would have considered ourselves cat people.  We never even thought about getting a cat. Until one day, it just happened.  We were at a cidery near my hometown when I ran into someone from high school.  She mentioned she was taking care of 6 kittens that needed homes and asked if we knew anyone who may want one.  A few weeks later, we were coming home with a 6 week old Tucker, and our lives have never been the same.

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

Charcuterie boards are the way to my heart.

I often joke that if I could choose my fate, it would be from eating too much cheese. I'm all about a good charcuterie board for ANY occassion, and if you show up to our friend date with cheese and crackers, you'll have a friend for liiiiife.

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

I try to live as "hygge" as possible

Hygge is a Danish word that has taken the world by storm and essentially translates to a feeling of coziness, and enjoying lifes simple pleasures.  Aka I am ALWAYS wrapped in cozy blankets, sweaters, lighting candles, sitting by our firepit, and starting up deep conversations with strangers turned friends.  It's the thing I miss most about living in Denmark.

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

I've been to 35 countries and counting.

In my world: To Travel is to Live.  Ever since I was born, my parents instilled a love for travel in me. I had been to almost 20 countries by age 18, and once I met my husband (while we were studying abroad in Denmark) we globe trotted together adventuring around most of Europe, and all over the US too. I love getting to explore new places, meet interesting people, and learn about cultures. It's the BEST.

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

I believe there's no better drink than an Avocado Jalepeño Margarita

Complete with chips, salsa, and queso.  Every year on my birthday, I get to choose the restaurant and it almost ALWAYS includes tacos, chips and salsa, and a good margarita. One year, we found a place with an Avocado Jalepeño Marg on the menu and it was Heaven on earth.  It's a rare drink to find, but quite the amazing treat when you do. 

To the next

if we're gonna be great friends you should know:

Visionary and Team Leader, Head Photographer, Content Creator

Integrator, Organizational Ninja and Lead Workflow Strategist

Laura

Sydney

Terry aka Mom!

Rachel

Scott and Tucker

Bridget

Lead Associate Photographer, Session Coordinator, Creative Assistant

Just our biggest cheerleaders and team mascot

Bookkeeper, Finance Guru, Retreat Chef, World's Best Cheerleader

Admin and Community Support, Partnership Coordinator

Words to live by

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."

— dolly parton

WORdS TO LIVE BY

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LET'S DREAM UP YOUR NEXT STEPS

Click the button below to get started on your journey to freedom, and pursuing your passions with purpose. It'll take you to the page where you can inquire for coaching, brand photography, or workflow strategy!

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The Freedom Framework: 

7 lessons to create more joy, ease, freedom, and abundance in your business and life.

Just quitting your day job for your dream business doesn't necessarily mean you'll have freedom in your life.  Grab my free guide on the foundational lessons I learned after growing 3 businesses so you can have more freedom with your time, finances, lifestyle, purpose and creativity as you build a business you love.