Like many others I know, I am a people pleaser. I say yes to things before I think about if I really want to do them. I commit myself to too much because I feel guilty for not taking every opportunity that is thrown at me.
That mixed with being a bit of a workaholic has always gotten me in trouble. I tend to go and go and go until I get overwhelmed or burnt out. Only in the past year or so have I realized that committing to less and making those commitments things I really want to do, is better for me and everyone involved in the long run.
With that said, I’d like to reintroduce my business to you as Isabel Madeline – Creative Services. The difference being I will be focusing my efforts on helping entrepreneurs and small businesses specifically with the creative side of their business.
What does this include?
Commissioned Illustration Prints
Illustration Designs for Companies Branding
Graphic Design Services
Website Design and Management
Social Media Management
Video Editing
Video/Infographic Creation
Content/Caption and other small writings
SEO Research (upon request)
What are we cutting out?
Administrative duties
Organizing emails/inboxes
Scheduling
Research for Projects or Programs
File Management
Database Management
Reports
I am doing this because well first, I want to really enjoy what I’m offering to others so that I do an amazing job at it. And also, I’m really good at what I do creatively.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…
Here are a couple of snippets of current/upcoming projects I will be sharing soon!
I gave in to TikTok…
I have a TikTok! It’s mostly me doing suggested/requested drawings or something I think of. Check it out and feel free to follow me.
Art Therapy Thursdays
I want to create a community for people to use art as their therapy. I have used art to get me through so many things and I’d love to share some ways it has helped me.
My Anxiety Workbook
This one has been in the works since… well it’s been several years. But I have finally set a firm deadline of completion and will be sharing snippets of the content soon!
Hello and Happy Friday the 13th! Hope it’s been lucky for you so far.
Today’s blog is going to be a bit different! I decided to start up a project I’ve loved doing for years but haven’t taken the time to do, visual journaling. If you don’t know what visual journaling is… here are a few examples of past visual journals I’ve created.
Basically, it’s a journal without limits. You can draw, paint, collage, tape random stuff down, do whatever you want to document your life in a creative way.
I started doing visual journals my junior year of college. I was lucky enough to spend a over a month abroad in Europe for an art class and one of the assignments was to keep a visual journal. I was hooked right away. I took it everywhere, wrote down everything, even had every single person on the trip sign a little message at the end.
The best part, to me, about visual journals is the release. You feel like you’re putting actual stuff down on paper, not just words, and letting it go. Soon after my Europe trip I started my second journal… and then my third… and fourth. And at some point, because of some medical issues and other problems, I stopped.
But now I’m starting back up! I’ve got a journal, a couple good pens… a whole lot of receipts and random paper and I’m ready to get back to it!
So I thought it would be fun to sometimes do a little check-in on my Visual Journal progress, probably once a month, just to show how it’s going.
Here’s the new journal just waiting to be filled up!
I hope if you see this blog, you’ll think about starting a visual journal as well. It’s a great way to relieve stress for me and anybody can do it.
Like I said last Wednesday, it’s pretty easy for anyone to take a decent picture now-a-days. With Super Retina display and 4x optical zoom range, smart phones have become the new DSLR. There are definite perks to this if you have no background in photography as the camera does most of the work.
But, it doesn’t do all of the work. Even if it’s not your top priority, knowing how to take great photos for Instagram is a skill any business owner or entrepreneur will benefit from having!
I already mentioned my favorite skill, the rule-of-thirds (which you can check out on my Instagram page @isabelmadeline.va), so we’ll skip that one for now. One of the most important aspects of any photo, professional or not, is lighting.
Lighting
Sunrise photo at my work about a year ago
Having too much or too little light can drastically affect your photo. Using natural light can make a photo beautiful, but there are also a few factors you have to keep in mind.
Early morning and sunset sun usually tend to cast the softest glow. An afternoon sun’s harsh rays often blow out a photo’s white parts.
The absolute best way to get a killer Instagram photo is to shoot in natural light! If you’re able to use natural sunlight or actually be outside, do it. You’ll notice your photos will look so much more professional than shooting inside or with flash.
Tip: Take a photo of the same subject, angle and scene throughout the day so you become familiar with the lighting that’s available to you.
Another great effect you can create yourself is adding layers.
Layers
Outdoor bar – notice there are subjects in the foreground & background that catch your eye.
You’ll still have a subject in focus but layers add interest and guide the viewer to your subject.
Mixing in different textures and having a foreground and/or background is an easy way to add depth to your photo with layers. Some smartphones also have portrait mode available to you which is another great way to create some depth in your photos.
Tip: Instead of a straight-on shot, add a leaf or branch on the side of your lens.. Taking photos through a window so some reflections are in the foreground can also be fun. You’ll need to tap on your phone screen to change the different focal points, so try it out and experiment with how it affects your resulting pictures.
Angles, angles, angles!
The smore’s stick not only helps create a yummy treat (or two) but a great angle to guide your eye.
Turning on gridlines in your phone’s camera settings can help create beautiful angles.
Matching the gridlines up so that all of your photo elements are parallel can create angles that are pleasing to the eye and will guide your audience in the direction you want. The tables or walls should be parallel in your photo to the camera’s gridlines.
Sometimes you might not want something completely predictable though, don’t be afraid to mix it up! If you’re going to try a new angle, make sure you make it deliberately not parallel to the gridlines. Having it only slightly off will only be bothersome.
Tip: Some smartphone cameras have a middle crosshair that appears when you’re taking an overhead shot. Use this to guarantee a perfectly lined up shot from above.
Point-of-Focus
An ornament I designed for a minor league baseball team I worked at.
Going along with Layers & Angles, you need to have a clear point of focus. Whether that’s a person in the foreground or a landscape in the background, just like your caption, your blog post, your newsletter, there’s a reason you’re taking this photo.
Great photos have multiple points of interest without feeling cluttered. Try and shoot photos that tell a story about the person or place.
You can also use Depth of Field, this will blur out the background to focus on your subject. Tap your subject and wait for a yellow square to appear, where you see the yellow square shows who/what is in focus.
And finally, Atmosphere
Steps near the Baltimore Art Museum
Think about props & your backdrop. The best Instagram photos usually have an appealing and eye-catching backdrop or props included.
Whether it’s the city you live in or are traveling, you can browse locations and hashtags on Instagram for inspiration!
Tip: Posing in front of the camera is hard, instead, ask your photographer friend to take bursts of you and just keep moving in front of the camera — some of the best shots are taken while in motion. And have something with you! Whether you’re going to be the subject of your photos, or you’re capturing some product shots, a prop or two can go along way in building a better photo.
From holding a cute coffee cup, to green foliage and plant-life, having something “extra” to your frame can bring it to life.
There is plenty more you can find on tips & tricks of amazing photos, but I hope this run down will give you an idea of what you can do by yourself to improve your posts! If this isn’t something you feel you have the time for, don’t hesitate to reach out as this can be something included in your personalized Virtual Assistant services!
And remember (this may sound a little cliche but) when in doubt, keep your camera out! You never know when inspiration might strike or the perfect photo opportunity may pass you by.
