A couple weeks ago the Fort Worth Moms Blog team had the great privilege to spend our morning with Gara Hill of Beyond the Blue Studios and Jamie Cain of Jamie Cain Photography. To coordinate 14 moms (12 from our team and Gara & Jamie) is no easy feat, but we did it and had the best time! Check out our new beautiful head shots (co-founders and contributors) and some more of our photos on the Facebook Album “Beyond the Blue Photoshoot“.
I am so blessed to not just call Gara our awesome photographer, but also a friend. She is a wife of 10 years to her sweet hubby and proud mommy of Travis (almost 4) and Maryn (2). She is the owner/photographer at Beyond the Blue Studios.
She hasn’t always been a mommy and definitely wasn’t always a photographer. So how does one get to have two awesome jobs like this? How does one decide to pursue a dream and make it happen?
FWMB : So, what were you in your past life (the term I like to use when talking about myself before kids)?
GH: I practiced real estate and finance law in both Dallas and Fort Worth before we had children (that seems like a lifetime ago).
FWMB : How did you start doing photography?
GH: I purchased my first big girl camera in the Fall of 2008 and took a couple of introductory photography courses through the continuing education program at the University of Texas at Arlington. It was not long before I started taking pictures for friends (although I look back and cringe at these images), and eventually I started charging a paltry amount for my services.
FWMB : When did you decide it was time to make it a new career?
GH: In January of 2010, I “retired” from law firm life and opened up my photography biz full-time. And by full-time I mean, here and there as the schedule of a stay at home mama to a then 4 month old would allow. No amount of higher education can prepare you for the crazy juggling act that is attempting to start a business and figuring out how to raise a kid and trying to maintain a house and marriage! Add a daughter to the mix, a re-branding in the Summer of 2012, and the family purchase of a 3.3 acre studio and outdoor portrait estate located at 3825 S. Bowen, and you have what I am currently up to over here at Beyond the Blue Studios. You can check out my latest sneak peeks on the Facebook page.
FWMB : Tell us a bit more about Beyond the Blue Studios.
GH: Beyond the Blue Studios is pretty much a full-service photography studio (only rarely do I get suckered into shooting a wedding!). I would say 70% of my clientele are families and children (although, I do love love love shooting high school seniors, maternity, and engagements), and my “bread and butter” session is something I’ve coined as the “micro” session. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this session on another post at FWMB. My sessions used to include only digital images, but I started getting the feeling that these awesome images were becoming more and more just hard drive filler. So sometime last year, I transitioned all of my packages to include a print component. At the end of the day, I know that each client at least has a few professionally-printed images framed in their home! And nothing makes me happier than a text from a client with a pic of a giant canvas hung over their fireplace or a wall display with six or eight of my images.
FWMB : What have you learned about juggling a family and a career?
GH: It is hard! Most of my children’s nap times and a couple of hours post-bedtime each night are spent working on editing photos, uploading galleries, processing orders, designing albums, etc. so it definitely cuts down on time for me to do “other” stuff. I am grateful that I have a super supportive husband (and an awesome cleaning lady!). That being said, my priority is still as a mom, and I’ve been known to send some “gallery will be delayed a couple of days, kids are sick” or “sorry, but it will be tomorrow for your album proof because we hit the aquarium instead” type emails!
FWMB : What advice would you give to other moms out there that want to start a business?
GH: Make sure it is something that you truly believe in or it will never work! I am truly passionate about being a part of the lasting legacy that is photography. I love being able to create heirloom pieces for these families and help them document “life” along the way!
FWMB : Thanks again, Gara, for taking all these beautiful shots of us. We had such a fun time with you and Jamie!
GH: When I got the text from Emily asking if I was up for photographing the lovely ladies from FW Moms Blog, I jumped! As a professional turned “work at home mom”, I love nothing more than connecting with other mamas. I’m a firm believer in community and have benefited greatly from other mom-trepreneurs that have gone before me, and I am excited and honored to be a small piece in helping the Fort Worth Moms Blog come to life!
FWMB : Our final question, fill in the blank : I am an Arlington mom and I _____________.
GH: I am an Arlington mom and I believe that we mamas have to stick together – there is nothing harder OR better!
Fort Worth Moms Blog has definite plans for our partnership with Gara – stay tuned for future posts by Gara giving us tips about photography.
Is there anything you would like to ask Gara? What would you like to learn more about? Styling? Photographing your own family?
