Crazybananas Photography Archives - Page 11 of 14

Blogging for Creatives Recap : Kansas City Blogger Workshop

June 23, 2015/0 Comments/in bloglife, Crazybananas Photography, Work /by Megan

Last week I was thrilled (terrified, elated, etc.) to teach a workshop on blogging for creatives and small business owners for Hive Workshops. Hive Workshops, based in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City, hosts small business workshops to help creative entrepreneurs thrive. My class was all about how to use blogging as a medium to help connect with clients, enhance your messaging and grow your business.

It felt pretty incredible to share all of the knowledge and tips I’ve gathered over the last 11 years of blogging, and the creatives who attended the workshop were eager and open to learn. I am not much of a public speaker (and we all know I’m an introvert), but I actually, really, truly enjoyed this experience. I kept the class fairly interactive and covered topics that the creatives could then go and immediately use in their own businesses. We talked about storytelling, creating connection with clients, promotion, and social media. I also shared some of my favorite tricks and tips for making your business blog into a fun, simple tool for growth. One of the most important tips I shared was to be as authentic as possible. People know when they are being marketed to, so instead, actually try to cultivate a real connection. Be upfront about who you are, especially your mistakes and flaws. In my experience, when we share our weaknesses, it makes others feel more comfortable sharing their own stories. When the sharing becomes a conversation, that’s when the fun begins!

I felt the class went really well, and I’ve been thrilled with the response from the creatives who attended. One creative even gave me a sketch she made featuring one of my lessons. The reaction as a whole was so positive, I’m hoping to lead another workshop soon! When I decided to strike out on my own as a writer and photographer earlier this year, one of my goals was to add teaching to my resume. I love sharing my passion and knowledge with others, and I’m super grateful the team at Hive Workshops gave me the opportunity to do just that. After the workshop, I went out with a few friends to The Ship, a local dive where I learned the greatest benefit of working with photographers for a living…when you have a fantastic night and want to document it, they will professionally light and pose you in front of rad neon signs and make sure the moment is captured perfectly, using only their cell phones!

If you’re interested in having me teach a workshop for your group or organization, please contact me at megan@crazybananas.com for more information!

Schoolhouse Dance : Kansas Photography

June 18, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography /by Megan

Last week, when we were in Western Kansas, I was asked to photograph the open house for Schoolhouse Dance’s annual summer camp. Now, let me tell you, the only thing cuter than a ton of little girls twirling around a stage is when the audience is full of family and friends who are thrilled to watch! The open house was held in the Grainfield, Kansas Opera House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building opened to the public in 1888, and is a still a gorgeous meeting place for the community.

It’s always challenging to shoot images on a theater stage, but this time was doubly difficult because the historic building is quite dark inside. I decided to shoot with what I had, and I think the images really convey the fun time had by everyone. The grainy quality goes perfectly with the aesthetic of the old Opera House, and my subjects couldn’t have been more adorable.

Many thanks to the entire community who embraced me (and my children) during our week in town! We loved spending time with new and old friends, and getting to experience the joy of dance. If you’re anywhere around Grainfield, Gove or Quinter, Kansas and are looking for a dance program, Schoolhouse Dance is so fantastic. You can find more information on Schoolhouse Dance via their Facebook page.

Hive Workshops Kansas City Blogging Workshop

Blogging Workshop : Hive Workshops Blogging for Creatives

June 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Work /by Megan

I’m so excited to be teaching a class for {hive-workshops} this week all about blogging! This is a workshop for all creatives, not just photographers and will take the creatives through the benefits and how-to’s of blogging for creative businesses. The end goal is for the creatives to leave the workshop with the tools to either create their own business blog or to enhance their current blog and social media content. I will show real-time demonstrations and techniques for making your blog amazing! Worksheets will be provided for the creatives to keep for their own use. As with all {hive-workshops} open discussion is strongly encouraged!

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

At the end of this workshop, attendees should be able to:

– Understand how blogging helps build their business

– Identify the top blogging platforms for creatives

– Understand simple HTML and CSS tricks and tips to help them create and design their blog

– Know easy methods for building story and interest through blogging

– Describe how to make content shareable on social media

– Identify the best social media platforms to focus on in order to build their brand

– Understand how to promote their blog, including SEO and hashtags

– Describe and explain the “3-and-3 Blogging Rule”

– Be familiar with programs/plugins specific to creatives that make blogging workflow fast and efficient

The Blog Salon is gifting one lucky Creative a free consultation and all the Creatives $50 off any design package. BlogStomp is also giving every attendee 20% off Coupon code!

I would LOVE to see you at this workshop on Wednesday, July 17th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at {hive-workshops} fantastic new space in the West Bottoms in Kansas City! To sign up, click here!

Dreams, Gratitude and Opening Night

June 1, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Finding My Path, Giving Back, Happiness /by Megan

On Friday, I had my first official art show opening. It was terrifying. And amazing. And scary. And overwhelming. I won’t rehash how the project came to be (you can read all about it here), but it was sensitive and emotional subject matter and I was so honored to just be asked to tell these stories…let alone be featured in an art showing!

If you’ve been around for a while, you might remember my life list from years back. It’s no longer active on this site, mostly because my life kept changing so I felt like having this master “LIST” was a little silly, but I still love the concept. I wrote down all of my wishes, big and small, even if they seemed completely insane. Some of them have come true, and many of them have not, but having my photographs displayed in some sort of gallery show was definitely at the top of the “probably never going to happen” portion of the list.

But it did. Miracles are all around us.

Walking into Aimee’s Coffeehouse on Friday was more overwhelming than I had anticipated. I had sort of blown off the whole thing as no big deal, until saw my images adorning the wall. And then under the sign that said “Artist of the Month” was my face and bio. The smiling faces of the women who spent so much time putting the Phoenix Project together and creating this amazing concept were all there, along with a few of the women I photographed. My kids and husband came too, beaming at me and snapping photos as I dumbly stared at the displays in awe. A few people came up to me and said, “You’re the photographer, right?” I then tried to sound smarter than I felt and answer their questions, even though my head was spinning. Oh yeah, and my dad was there. Totally surreal.

I am so grateful and filled with appreciation that this project, three years in the making, is finally living! The Phoenix Project will be on display at Aimee’s Coffeehouse in Lawrence, Kansas until the end of June. All the art displayed, including my photographs, are for sale, with the proceeds benefiting the women, men and children that are served by the Willow Domestic Violence Center. If you’re in town, stop by and check it out! And if you do, send me a photo! I’ve loved getting texts and images from people who have gone to see the show. It makes my day to know people are seeing the work and being touched by it.

As always, thank you. If you’re reading this, you’re a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Opening Tonight! The Phoenix Project in Lawrence, Kansas

May 29, 2015/0 Comments/in Crazybananas Photography, Giving Back /by Megan

I’m so excited (thrilled, terrified, proud) to share that the Phoenix Project: Healing Through Art is opening TONIGHT! The Willow Domestic Violence Center’s Phoenix Project is both a collection of narratives and interpretive art intended to connect the community on a personal level to decrease violence and promote healing through transformation. The show is on display now through the end of June at Aimee’s Coffeehouse, 1025 Massachusetts. The kickoff reception is during Final Friday’s on May 29th from 6 – 10 p.m., and will feature my images of domestic violence survivors.

I could not be more honored and humbled to be a part of this project. The Willow Center is near and dear to my heart, as I worked there in college as an advocate for women and children who were dealing with domestic violence in their lives. Three years ago, I created a photo series called “The Motherhood Project,” where I depicted mothers from all backgrounds along with their stories for the website Go Mighty. This project was then sponsored by Olay, who made a donation in my name to the Willow Center. In the years since, I have stayed in touch with the team at the Willow, and when they told me about their idea for the Phoenix Project, I jumped at the chance to be involved.

This is my very first gallery show…something that has been a dream of mine for most of my photography career. For this first show to be in the name of such a good cause is the icing on the cake. I’m so grateful and overwhelmed with everyone who has supported me and helped me arrive at this place. Thank you to to the mothers who allowed me to photograph them for the original “Motherhood Project.” Thank you to Maggie Mason, the Go Mighty Team and Olay for helping me get started. Thank you to the team at the Willow for all you do for victims and survivors. Thank you to the South Mass Street Art Guild for co-sponsoring this event. Thank you to the incredible women who allowed me to photograph them and tell their stories for the Phoenix Project. Thank you to my husband for listening to me talk about this for two years and always believing it would happen, even when I wasn’t so sure. Thank you to my kids for making me laugh every day.

And thank you to you…for reading, supporting, lifting me up, and being all-around awesome.

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