Live Life Lux Events are an opportunity to create space for joy and fun, to stop and reflect.

Through Live Life Lux events we can connect deeply with this one precious life with great intention.

Our first event was a BYOB event at Rosebridge Farm & Sanctuary in Montgomery County, PA. Rosebridge is a self-ascribed “hidden piece of paradise, as it is home to many rescued animals.” They are 100% correct about that. They offer in-person bottle feeding and snuggle animal husbandry sessions and so much more. This truly is a magical place nestled in suburban Montgomery County, right outside of Philadelphia.

One of our Live Life Lux events included a farm tour and piglets!

Lux Summit Studio, in line with our Live Life Lux philosophy, hosted an event which included baby goat snuggles, calf feeding, piglet pets, and a farm tour. The evening concluded sipping wine with the goats while the piglets were put to bed and the rescue camels (you heard me right) settled in for the night.

We were so grateful to be surrounded by familiar faces of past clients and friends as well as fresh faces.

The very first Live Life Lux event was a huge hit. We were so grateful to be surrounded by familiar faces of past clients and friends (like Maria, founder of Life Foundation, and Liz Italia, Cat behaviorist and owner of Liz’s Kitty Boot Camp) as well as fresh faces. Mark your calendars for September 15th when we’ll host another Live Life Lux event returning to Rosebridge Farm for more rescue animal therapy.

Check out the official behind-the-scenes video from our very first Live Life Lux event at Rosebridge Farm.

Caution: Contents of this video may melt your heart.

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Live Life Lux:

Perspectives From Philadelphia Entrepreneur, Photographer, Author and Speaker Kristen Kidd

The importance of joy and fun in life can easily be lost in our hectic daily living. Prioritizing joy and fun in our adulthood can feel frivolous. In the midst of a never-ending to do list, it’s the first thing to drop off. We wonder, “How could I possibly go for a hike right now? How could I join that club or take that class or go on that vacation?” Sometimes we take it a step further. We label the desires of our hearts as selfish. Surmising that so many around us need so much from us, we couldn’t possibly divert precious resources for our own joy. We can’t “afford” to prioritize our own joy, let alone fun. What science is teaching us (and our inner voice of our highest self, if we listen) is that we can’t afford not to make joy and fun a priority. It is essential to being our best self, living our best life, and doing the best for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world around us.

As Simon Sinek says, “Putting yourself first is not selfish. Quite the opposite. You must put your happiness and health first before you can be of use to anyone else.” 

“With joy your don’t have to put on a happy face.

You can be joyful in the midst of the toughest situations.” – Neal Samudre 

It’s important to differentiate between joy and happiness. Joy is an embodiment and state of being that transcends a feeling. Whereas happiness is a feeling. In a fantastic article in Medium by Neal Samudre, cofounder of Enjoyco and therapist specializing in joy, he differentiates happiness and joy this way, “Happiness is a fleeting emotion based on external circumstances…But joy is an internal positivity that’s connected to hope. It’s the feeling that everything will turn out okay. With joy, you don’t have to put on a happy face. You can be joyful in the midst of the toughest situations.”  

Joy can help ward off the daily grinds to our well-being.

In that same article, Neal shares three reasons joy is essential to our lives. He qualifies each reason with scientific evidence. These reasons include the fact that joy makes us resilient and resistant. He explains, “If resilience is about bouncing back from disturbances then resistance is about being immune to disturbances.”

Of course, we will experience devastation in our lives, but joy can help ward off the daily grinds to our well-being and help us heal when challenges do come our way. Neal shares the third reason joy is essential is because it makes us healthy. Citing research indicating that one of two reasons life expectancy dropped in 2018 was despair and research linking laughter and high-quality relationships to longevity. 

Cultivating a practice of fun can feel like a whole other level of self-absorption. In the face of continual global and personal devastation, who would be so entitled as to make fun a priority? Writer Jack Gilbert answered this best in his poem, A Brief For The Defence,

“If we deny our happiness, resist our satisfaction,

we lessen the importance of their deprivation.

We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,

but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have

the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless

furnace of this world. To make injustice the only 

measure of our attention is to praise the Devil.”

Jack Gilbert

In the article How Having Fun Makes You Healthier And Smarter, Outside magazine makes an argument for prioritizing fun citing research that shows playful adults live happier, more satisfying, and healthier lives. As if that weren’t enough, studies have shown that the more you laugh, the longer you’ll live. 

Joy and fun, like every way of being, is a practice.

It takes time, intention, and other resources to cultivate and maintain.

Did you know humor can ­reduce stress-related hormones that suppress the immune system? Outside magazine’s article also shares that when we have fun “the body releases the feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which leads to elevated mood and a healthier cell-proliferation process. Hormonal balance is crucial for our immune system’s strength and our ability to recover after strenuous athletic activity, as is cell growth, which helps the kidneys, lungs, and other organs regulate body functions. Meanwhile, some studies suggest that serotonin released by enjoyable activities could help promote neurogenesis, or cell growth in the brain.”

So, what brings you joy? Joy and fun, like every way of being, is a practice. It takes time, intention, and other resources to cultivate and maintain. It’s not something that we can phone in or squeeze into our schedules. It starts with a choice and choosing over and over again. We look for joyful moments big and small every day. Talk about it and share it with loved ones.  We’re honest with ourselves about what we want and choose to embrace the desires of our hearts. Then, we create time and space to plan the bigger joyful experiences. Chunking down the bigger pursuits into manageable steps. Even the act of clearing space for big acts of joy and making a baby step towards them is life-changing.

One small step at a time, one choice at a time we begin to see joy show up in our lives and become an indelible part of who we are. 

Family, pet, branding, and boudoir photo experiences are one way our clients choose joy. They celebrate the love of family (furry or human), their own personal strength and resilience through their boudoir experience, or the joy of their career achievements and goals through branding and headshot photography.  

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A Philadelphia Photographer’s Expert Advice

What do you look for in a headshot and branding photographer? It’s important to work with someone who takes the time to understand you, your brand, and your goals. Otherwise, you may find a photographer that can take a good photo, but that image says nothing about you and your brand other than you have the capacity to look professional. Your Photographer should ask questions and come to the table with solutions and ideas for your branding that resonate with you. Let’s talk about how to find the best personal branding photographer for you and your brand.

You may be wondering how to know if you need personal branding or just a headshot. Many people come to us and confess, “I don’t know what I need.”, to which we enthusiastically exclaim, “Neither do we, but let’s find out together.” By the end of our conversations, we both have an idea of what a clear path forward looks like. A Discovery Consult is a great place to start your journey.

Whatever you do, don’t simply check a box and price shop or you will get what you pay for.

When it comes to branding photographers, whatever you do, don’t simply check a box and price shop or you will get what you pay for. Ask your circle of influence (especially those with similar tastes and preferences)  who they’ve loved working with and why. Search online to see who fits the style and approach you’re looking for. 

Photo session experiences are the perfect opportunity to practice self-compassion and kindness.

Above all, enjoy the experience. Choose a branding photographer who helps you feel comfortable and at ease. Nearly every client that crosses the threshold of our studio shares that they hate having their picture taken. Moreover, they’re shocked to hear they’re not in the minority of people having this feeling. Most people likely look at portraits of their loved ones and scroll their feeds thinking how marvelous those friends all look and surmise that they, surely, are the only trolls that could feel this way. What they don’t know is all those beautiful people are being just as judgemental to themselves too. We’re all our worst critics and terribly hostile to ourselves, until now. Every moment is a new opportunity to choose differently.

Photo session experiences are the perfect opportunity to practice self-compassion and kindness. They’re also a beautiful space to step outside of one’s insecurities and lean into affirming your values, passion, hard work, or whatever it is about you that you uniquely bring to this world. It should be fun. So let go of that which doesn’t serve you and cling to your best self. The more you do, the more you’ll succeed.

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Answers from a Philly Branding Photographer

The first question we get at the studio is “What is branding photography?” We all know what a headshot is, but branding photography is a nebulous concept to many. So, let’s demystify it. Personal Branding Photography (or simply, branding photography) is a portfolio of photographs that tell the story of your brand. The portfolio often includes a stellar collection of headshots (of you and often any team members that are essential to your work and client experience) tailored uniquely to capture your brand’s voice and style. These images distinguish you and your team as professionals, and experts in your field and are captured in a way that represents the essence of your brand’s energy.

The body of work is designed to set you apart and captivate your audience beyond cookie-cutter stock imagery.

The portfolio also often includes a series of images that creatively use storytelling to share your brand’s values, passion, mission, and more. These images can give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your work. They can be photojournalistic in style and/or stylized and staged using sets, scenes, props, etc. depending on your brand’s aesthetic and the goal of your messaging. The purpose of these portraits is to create compelling, eye-catching, personalized content for your social media, website, newsletter, blog, print media, press releases, and more. The body of work is designed to set you apart and captivate your audience beyond cookie-cutter stock imagery. Your clients and potential clients won’t be able to simply keep scrolling when they see one of these images in their feed. They’ll want to know more.

Now you know what branding photography is. You can see why some might opt for a personal branding photography experience, but are there any other reasons why this marketing tool and/or even simply headshots might matter to your success? Let’s explore. 

First impressions matter. A large percentage of your future clients are meeting you for the first time digitally. Your current clients, peers and circles of influence are digitally experiencing you continually. If you want to be taken seriously, it’s a good idea to present yourself in a capacity that speaks to your professionalism. That does not mean your headshots need to be stuffy. Far from it. They need only be intentional and authentically you. 

If your headshot is a selfie or cropped-out photo from an event, that’s not professional. Rather, akin to arriving at the team meeting in pajamas. It doesn’t instill confidence (unless you run a pajama company, then totally have at it.). Similarly, your headshot should be updated every year or two (or more if there are dramatic changes in your appearance or if you make a career shift.). As studio client and friend Ian Wright recently said, “Having a 10-year-old professional photo is just as bad as having a 10-year-old pic on eHarmony. Do. Not. Do. It.” 

Attracting the ideal client

Speaking of eHarmony, a branding photo experience can go beyond your marketing portfolio and serve many purposes. Many of our clients come in for both a headshot update and dating profile portraits. Others combine branding and family or pet portrait sessions. Often, for small businesses and professionals utilizing some of these family and pet portraits in branding and marketing content can demonstrate approachability and relatability to your avatar. Showing this personal side of your life can often increase your “know, like, trust” factor – the holy trinity of attracting your ideal client. This benefit is in tandem with creating deeply meaningful personal art for you and your family to appreciate for years to come. As a bonus, personal photographs that become marketing content can be written off on your taxes*. Regardless of whether you opt for a simple headshot session or an entire personal branding photo experience, family and all; just be sure to make the most of your photo session opportunity.

Show what sets you apart.

Another reason many invest in Personal Branding Photography is to set themselves apart in a saturated field. Real Estate professionals, Life Coaches, Nutritionists, Therapists are just a few examples, but the services, approaches, styles and vibes of each provider are as unique as the individuals themselves. So, showing what sets you apart, can send all the signals to the avatars that want to work with someone just like you. This cuts through the noise, can be sanity saving and lead to a higher quality clients. 

You deserve it.

Lastly, you deserve it. A branding session can be an act of affirmation of how hard you’ve worked and how far you’ve come. You are worthy of photographs of yourself that make you feel proud and confident. Branding or headshots can be a great way to get intentional about connecting to your sense of purpose and path forward. It’s also important to claim days for yourself where you can step outside of the daily grind, see your world a different way and experience something new. Oftentimes these are the spaces where we receive our greatest inspiration. In the book The 12 Week Year this practice is referred to as Breakout  Blocks. Branding photo experiences can provide this much needed respite and reflection. Investing in yourself if investing in your business. You’ve worked hard to get here. So get out there and share yourself and your talents with the world with style and intention. You’ll be amazed what happens next.

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Intention As A Driving Force In Our Lives

In our first blog, we shared the first tenant of Live Life Lux (LLL) – cultivating gratitude for what is while working toward our goals. The second tenant of LLL is allowing intention and purpose to be a driving force in life, fueled by our values and passions.

One of my favorite quotes is Mary Oliver’s timeless question “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” It can be easy to lose sight of intention as overwhelm devolves our purpose to mere survival. Our mantra becomes “Just get by. Just get through.” How do we shift from survival mode to living in our intentions and purpose?

In times of overwhelm, it can be important to simplify. Cut out all the fillers; the things we’re doing to feel better about our current state of affairs, but aren’t actually serving us. It’s time to get down to the brass tax of what feeds and nourishes your being. Fillers include crowding the margins of our calendar to overflow with appointments and activities that aren’t ultimately leading to your greater desired purpose. We all have our own versions of fillers. Getting clear on what they are is the first step to choosing healing over a band-aid. 

Here are two places to start in reclaiming your purpose and letting go of what isn’t ultimately serving you. First, as always, start with a meditation to clarify and reconnect with intention. Insight Timer has a number of recordings on intention. Don’t get lost in how good or bad you are at meditating. Put the headphones on. Close your eyes and listen.

Next, let yourself have what you need. Whether a day off, a special experience like a boudoir photo session to celebrate your strength or a branding photo session to affirm your goals, or simply a walk outside or a shower. No matter how simple, let yourself know you’re listening to the calling within. Allow your heart’s desire no matter how frivolous it feels. This will help you reset, which will make you a better human.

Once you’ve cleared the proverbial cobwebs to uncover your sense of purpose, you’ve cleared the space for intuition to guide. Keep asking yourself what you need rather than trying to convince yourself that you don’t need. Ask your higher self for guidance on your intention and purpose. If you keep creating space for quiet and solitude, even if only for a moment, you will get the inspiration you’re looking for. Write it down once it comes. No matter if it’s a note in your phone or a journal entry, simply give it life by speaking it into existence. Soon, your intention and purpose will grow legs and be on the run. Manifesting takes consistency. It’s not a one and done sort of thing. It’s always a practice. So, continue to create and honor opportunities to show up for yourself in these ways.

Mary Oliver’s quote is a popular one. Honestly, it can feel a bit daunting, right? “This one precious life…” Whoa. Okay. Cool your jets, Mary. What people often miss are the stanzas that precede this question. 

“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?”

–Excerpt from “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver

I think we can all relate to this. Ultimately, it’s in her questioning and uncertainty, her opening to simplifying – creating space and time to breathe. This is where she experiences her greatest connection to life. It starts with one small step – a walk outside, kneeling in the grass. It’s in the stillness where the well spring of intention starts to flow. 

For a practical guide to setting and executing intentions, check out this piece by Minimalism Made Simple. If intentions are a daily part of your life, tell us about them. Leave a comment in the reply box below this blog. We also welcome questions and comments.

Live Life Lux,

Kristen

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A mentor’s wisdom on finding the joy

In the coming weeks and months we’re going to be talking about living life lux – what it means and why it matters. A mentor once shared a story with me that became a governing principle of my life. This story is the foundation of Live Life Lux. So I’ll share it here. 

Don’t lose sight of the big picture

There was a man that went for a walk. On his walk, he passed by a building under construction. As he passed by he saw three men performing the same tasks working on the building. He asked the first, “What are you doing?” The man replied, “Laying brick.” He asked the second “What are you doing?”. “Making a wall.”, said the construction worker. He asked the third man, “What are you doing?” and the builder shared, “I’m building a cathedral.” 

It’s easy to get lost in the monotony of the day-to-day and lose sight of the big picture, what we’re working toward, what we’re building, why we’re doing all this. It’s easy to get lost in laying the brick and lose touch with the pride and joy (and even fun) of building the cathedral. The foundation of our cathedral is the principle of Live Life Lux.

By acknowledging the good we find abundance

The philosopher Eckhart Tolle says, “Acknowledging the good you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Cultivating gratitude is the first tenant of Live Life Lux. Today we want to focus on our gratitude for you. You are our why. Every celebration in your life deserves to be honored and immortalized. It is our greatest joy to share in your journey through your photo session experience. 
In 2022 we celebrated over 150 cathedrals being built through transformational photo experiences. Thank you for trusting us to help you honor the story of your life. Here we’ve compiled some of our favorite moments from a year filled with creating timeless heirlooms, helping you, our clients, stop to reconnect with your why and affirm your life and paths that brought you to where you are now. You’ve come so far.

The importance of showing up for yourself

Every moment you show up for yourself and those you love is you building your cathedral brick by brick. We’re happy to be here to help you stay connected to that truth and remember the big picture by immortalizing every brick you place. From courage, strength, and resilience expressed through a boudoir photo experience to the joy, fun and beautiful chaos of family and pet photo sessions. From honoring the legacy and the indelible mark made on our hearts through a senior pet session to celebrating personal achievement, goals met and dreams yet to come true through personal branding and headshot portfolios. These are the moments that make up your life well lived. This is how you Live Life Lux. 

In 2023 the words of Abraham Hicks guide our gratitude forward. “You have to be satisfied by what is while you’re reaching for more.” Here’s to a year of moving forward and reaching for new heights.

Author:

Kristen Kidd is founder and co-owner of Lux Summit Studio in North Wales, Pa. She specializes in pet and family photography. She and her husband David, along with their two rescue dogs Hudson and Nito, call Lansdale home in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Together their full-service photography studio serves Bucks County, Chester County, Philadelphia County as well as the tri-state area, including New York, Maryland, and Delaware.

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I’m so excited to announce the next big thing at Kristen Kidd Photography: The adventurous couples model call.
Enter to win a $1000 gift certificate towards your unique photo experience and wall art – all tailor designed to capture what you love most. There will also be five $500 gift certificate winners.
Bring me your quiet nature enthusiasts, your adrenalin junkies and every couple in-between! What could be a more fitting way to celebrate your love for one another than capturing that love in the places that bring you the most joy, doing what brings you closest together? Let’s go!

Check out the details and enter to win here: https://kristenkiddphotogr.wixsite.com/couplesadventure

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Here I’ve assembled a couple favorite family portrait moments from 2016. May you feel the awe, wander and elation that these moments represent.

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