‘And she continued’ - a successful woman

March 4, 2023

P O R T V I E W O P E N D A Y

In honour of International Women's Day this coming week, the lovely Rachel from Storybox will be officially opening her beautiful new studio on Saturday 11th march 10am - 2pm! To celebrate this exciting new Storybox chapter and women in business, Innocent Chaos, Lynette Murray Hair and myself will be opening up our studio doors too!

If you are in the Belfast area, or fancy a trip to the city then why not come along and see where that small business magic happens at the stunning Portview Trade Centre!

‘And she continued’ - a successful woman

Share Your Magic!

March 2, 2023

If you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen yesterday’s post about an exciting new stockist for Lavender Line Photography, a post that I should have shared back in October but it somehow slipped my mind!

*Where you can keep up-to-date with all things Lavender Line Photography!*

Back in October the lovely Vicki from @2020Art contacted me about stocking some of my North Coast print favourites as greetings cards in GIFTED, the sister store of the fab 2020 Art. I’m not one who finds it easy to put myself out there (something that I am slowly overcoming), so to have a third stockist of my work is a very surreal feeling! I find it hard to push myself out of that comfort zone at times, that fear of comparison and rejection sometimes taking over and making it difficult to reach out to other businesses. That’s why I am incredibly grateful to have businesses such as @Storybox, @2020Gifted and @VisitCausewayCoastAndGlens who have gotten in touch with me and now stock Lavender Line Photography.

*Those North Coast photography print favourites now available as Greetings Cards!*

*A touch of North Coast vitamin sea to send to that someone special to let them know that you are thinking of them!*

It’s somewhat comforting to know that I am not the only small business owner to feel this way, that we all suffer from imposter syndrome from time to time, but know that in order to succeed we have to push those boundaries and step out of those comfort zones.

So, here is to stepping into the unknown, to believing in yourself and your work, and knowing that you bring something exciting to the world with your craft!

Share Your Magic!

Puttin' On The Glitz

March 1, 2023

‘What did you do all day? Dream’ - Seeker

Goodbye February, Hello March! So, after two weeks of unexpected downtime thanks to catching that little known virus that has been doing the rounds since March 2020, I am finally getting myself back on track and in the planning stages of a new photography series. Although it has been around ten days since testing negative, I have found that I am still struggling at times with my energy levels, bouts of tiredness and concentration. I guess it’s true what they say about that brain fog!

As it had left me feeling quite low and uninspired I decided to enroll in the lovely Jenny’s @Nordic_Stories online community where she shares a behind the scenes look at how she creates her beautiful images. I have been following Jenny for awhile now and always find her work so refreshing. I don’t know what it is about that Nordic style, but I find myself being more and more drawn to it, a moment of calm in an ever-changing, fast paced world.

*Be sure to follow Jenny’s beautiful storytelling :* *@nordic_stories*

I think it’s important as a creative to look for new sources of inspiration, to being open to learning new skills and to approach projects with a new way of thinking. It’s then that you find the ideas and creativeness begin to flow again freely… which leads me to my new project!

*New Project Vision Board : Inspired by* *@HorizonFound’s teachings at The Photographers Path, Created on Canva, Images sourced from* *Pinterest*

I want to create a photography series that combines my love of vintage with my love of beaches (my take on calm versus fast-pace). I can picture it in my head, the shots that I want to capture but I’m not completely sure how it will turn out. That’s what makes photography so exciting, not knowing if and how certain elements will come together, but finding a way to make it work to get that all important shot!

*Some Lavender Line Photography Ocean favourites!*

So stick around and let’s see how it all comes together!

Dream. Believe. Achieve

January 19, 2023

‘Because you believed, it happened’

Kicking off 2023 with another business goal of mine ticked off the list : 500 Etsy sales! I think it’s important as a small business owner to celebrate all wins no matter how big or how small they may seem! Although it took a little longer than ticking it off my 2021-2022 list, it makes me so happy to know that even in these difficult financial times we find ourselves in with a cost of living crisis, people are still connecting with my photography. It really is true what they say, whenever you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance!

So, here is to chasing dreams and ticking off that next business goal!

‘Success is a series of small wins’

Dream. Believe. Achieve

Little Lavender Line Pick-Me-Ups

November 30, 2022

‘It Comes And Goes In Waves’

If you know me then you will know that I am someone who loves a quote and finding those little words of wisdom on days when you aren’t feeling so great. It was this that made me think about my work and how I could incorporate the two elements together to bring forward a photography typography range with some pick-me-up phrases and sunset scenes to create 5 little pick-me-up greeting cards.

From Find Me Where The Waves Are to Life Is Better At the Beach, This Must Be The Place to Go Lightly and It Comes And Goes In Waves, there is a little something for everyone to let them know that you are thinking of them!

*Go Lightly* : perfect for those Breakfast At Tiffany’s fans

*Find Me Where The Waves Are* : perfect for those with a love of vitamin sea

Little-Pick-Me-Ups are now available for purchase on Etsy individually or as a set. Which would you choose to send that someone special, and are there any phrases that you would like to see for future card designs?

Welcoming Winter Wonderings

November 18, 2022

“Winter is not a season, it's a celebration” - Anamika Mishra

I can’t believe that we are into mid-November already! It’s been a busy few weeks at Lavender Line HQ and getting ready for Christmas at the studio! If you follow @LavenderLinePhotography on Instagram you will have seen that the decorations are well underway and will be available for purchase very soon! I have also been working on a winter print series which means you will soon be able to add some of your favourite locations in a winter style to your home decor!

Below is a sneak peek of some winter scenes coming to Lavender Line Photography next week!

*‘A Radio City Christmas’* - Coming Soon

There is also a very special Limited Edition Winter print ready and waiting for its new home! ‘In The Air’ was taken on a flight back from a magical trip to Stockholm and captures my first Scandinavian sunset.

There are just 5 available for purchase and a special coupon code below to make for the perfect gift this Christmas, don’t miss out!

‘In The Air (Somewhere Over Stockholm)’ - 16x12” Limited Edition Print

A Moment With Lavender Line

November 9, 2022

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” - Anita Desai

I’m taking a different approach to Wanderlust Wednesday today and sharing some best selling prints that have made their new home in countries such as America, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden to name a few. It’s what I look forward to most; seeing what print has caught the attention of the client, the story behind their print purchase and the country that is next to pin on my sales map. It makes it even more special when it is a print from home and seeing the love that people have for our beautiful coastline as well as the memories it holds. It’s a feeling that will never get old!

Below are just some of those LLP favourites!

*Whitepark Waves : A touch of those Whitepark Bay waves to give that hit of vitamin sea!*

*To The Pier : It’s a written rule that you must stand here to appreciate the view when visiting Ballycastle Beach!*

Golden Hour Mournes : A must-visit sunset location!

*Ballycastle Blues : It’s hard not to fall in love with North Coast views like this!*

Do you own a Lavender Line best seller? I’d love to see how it has settled into its new home! #LavenderLineAtHome

Calendar 2023

November 6, 2022

Goodbye October, Hello November!

It’s that exciting time of year when I reveal the next calendar to hit Lavender Line Photography! Calendar 2023 marks what I think is now my 5th photography calendar and made up of 12 Lavender Line Northern Ireland favourites. From Ballycastle to Ballintoy, Portstewart to Downhill… there is a little something for everyone with a love of the Emerald Isle! Not only a Calendar, but come the end of 2023 you will have 12 5x5” mini scenes to display proudly in your home decor. A perfect way to add a touch of Northern Ireland!

*Why not add a touch of Northern Ireland to your 2023!*

Calendar 2023 is now available for purchase here or if you are in the Belfast area then why not come have a browse at Lavender Line Photography HQ! Don’t miss out, limited stock!

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2022

It’s just a bunch of hocus pocus! 🎃

‘I’m so glad I live in a world where there are October’ - L.M. Montgomery

Happy Halloween! Trick or Treat?! 🎃

Don’t miss out on 10% off all Lavender Line Photography purchases made today on Etsy to celebrate this spooky holiday! A perfect excuse to add some of those favourite Autumn/Winter scenes to your home decor!

Be sure to save you free Lavender Line Photography phone wallpaper below, the perfect Autumn meets Winter image for those lock screens! 🍁

Lavender Line Photography Just Turned 7!

August 6, 2022

‘Be more than you ever thought you could be’ - E Russell

Goodbye July, Hello August and what marks Year 7 of Lavender Line Photography! I still at times find it hard to believe that I run my own small business, let alone hitting up that lucky number 7 milestone! I would like to say that it’s all been smooth-sailing and just as glamorous as what Instagram can make it seem like being your own boss, but each and every year has come with its own set of challenges and new learning curves in a world that is ever-changing… and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I can honestly say that there is nothing else that I would rather be doing! There is no better feeling than getting to do what you love every day and knowing that your work brings joy to others; whether it be an image posted and shared online, a photography print displayed in a home of a special time and location or capturing a special moment or occasion. That feeling of knowing just how powerful a certain capture of mine can be will never get old, it is something that I appreciate so much and will continue to appreciate every single day.

So, how did it all begin? Below are some little facts as to how my journey into small business owner started!

Ever since I can remember I have always had a love for the arts, whether it be painting, drawing or making. Though my main background was predominately Textile Crafts (creating unusual catwalk-like jewellery pieces), photography was always an important element within my work during my school, foundation and degree years.

After University I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to take my career and felt somewhat creatively burnt out after back to back years of study and projects. I found that photography was a good escape from the burn out and so I started to photograph little aspects from everyday life.

Interview after interview, rejection after rejection, I found it almost impossible to find a creative job and fell into that catch 22 that so many of us find ourselves in when stepping out into the real world…. not enough experience!

I started focusing more and more on photography and documenting my trips away, creating mini series after mini series of work. I enjoyed looking at places from a new perspective and challenging myself on how to capture the beautiful scenes in front of me. Could this be my new career path?!

I decided to sign up to some business classes and business workshops at North City Business Centre to see if the small business world could be for me. It was here that I was assigned a business advisor who helped me put together a business plan and gave me a piece of advice that has always stayed with me; ‘always think two years ahead!’

With a business plan, a business name decided on (my favourite colour and part of my second name) and just £200 in my bank account I decided to step into the unknown and Lavender Line Photography was born!

*Lavender Line Photography HQ - My dream studio and one of my proudest achievements in being a small business owner (Year 5)*

It has been an incredible 7 years of business so far and one that I don’t think I could ever really have imagined even in my wildest photography dreams! From capturing important moments to selling my work internationally, having my dream studio space at Portview Trade Centre to making new friendships with other small business owners both near and far who continue to inspire me daily. I count myself very lucky and very fortunate to call this my job!

Here is to 7 unforgettable years and to another exciting work year ahead with all things Lavender Line Photography! Thank you for your continuous support and following along on this journey!