Empowering teen girls and real women to
LIVE INSANELY GREAT.

Featured Photographer: “Get Up Every Morning and Do the Work”

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A photographer gets real about growing up and doing the work, dealing with fear and living an awesome life. Daniel Dunn is our featured 365 challenge photographer this week. His story will challenge and inspire you. It’s never too late to join the challenge with over 500 photographers. It’ll change your life forever! Daniel Dunn: A Photographer on a Mission My name is Daniel Dunn, I’m … [Read more...]

The Awkward Series: Modest is Hottest

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Okay, even the title is kind of awkward, but I don't care. It's true! Here's my story. Growing up I didn't think much about modesty. I went to church and loved God (more than anything), and I dressed modestly. But it wasn't a conscious decision. I wore the clothes I was given: hand-me-downs from my older brother, outfits from the church share closet, and garage sale bargains. That's what I … [Read more...]

The Awkward Series: Remembering the Essentials

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Remembering the essentials in life is critical. Whether it's putting on deodorant, brushing your teeth, putting on shoes instead of slippers. Sometimes we all need a little reminder to do those things that can easily evade us in the rush of life. Here are a couple tips from Jenna Lucado (daughter of Max Lucado) and author of Redefining Beautiful: Two things I've learned: one, how to laugh at … [Read more...]

The Awkward Series: Insecurities that Refuse to Die

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Why is it that I am long out of junior high, but still feel some of the same insecurities that I felt at age 13? I thought someday they would disappear, go the way of the dinosaur and forever leave the landscape of my mind and heart. Such is not the case. So if they refuse to fade into the darkness, I thought maybe I'd just bring them into the light of day. Perhaps just bringing them into the … [Read more...]

The Time of Knowing Who You Are

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This is the age of the linchpin, the creative, the indispensable. No more cogs, automatons, and mindlessness. Creativity, growth, and change are the norm, the requirement, the new standard. This is the time of knowing who you are. Are you prepared? I'm writing a series of posts called The Awkward Series, because there's liberty in being real, authentic and honest with who you really … [Read more...]

For the Overachiever

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If you're reading this, there's a pretty good chance you either are an overachiever or know one. Actually there's a 100% chance that's true because if you aren't one, you know me and I am one. Without question. I'm going to let you in on a little secret for how to build in permission to slow down in your life. For me, it started with my first 365 challenge issued by Scott Bourne. The rules … [Read more...]

Picture Your Photographic Future

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Have you thought about where you will be as a photographer in the next 1, 3 or 5 years? Whether you're aspiring, amateur, professional or some combination of the three, it's important to consider. We've already covered the reality that the photography industry is a mess. Everything has changed and continues to change. Where it will end up nobody really knows, but we do know that change is … [Read more...]

A Real Person a Lot Like You

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It's real simple. We exist in a world that moves so fast we lose (or momentarily forget) our humanity. Or maybe we don't forget our own humanity, but we forget the humanity of the person on the other side of the screen. Today, will you remember? Try it. Then tomorrow and every tomorrow after that, will you remember too? It could change everything... Powerful message from Derek … [Read more...]

MLK Jr Tribute: Hatred Darkens Life, Love Illuminates It

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"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr. A legacy of inspiration and social change will forever be intertwined with the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His words and courage send a powerful message to the hopeless and downtrodden, to the oppressed and weary. Wherever you are today, remember that your tomorrow could look vastly different than … [Read more...]

When Dreams Go Up In Smoke

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Ever had a dream? A dream that you watched go up in smoke because it took too long, was too hard or required too much in blood, sweat and tears? It was a few years ago that I first heard my friend Zack Arias say: If you can do anything else or have any other options, DO NOT BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER. It took some time before I understood the depth and truth of those words. In the … [Read more...]