I finally got my headshots done with Cristal Vancarson today, and she is magic! On her Skool community @Karin Crawford said, “Great photography. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 @𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴!! Genius!” and that pretty much sums it up! To put this in context, in the 52 years I have been on this earth, there has never been one photo of me that I am happy to post online. That's why my current social profile image is an AI avatar of me. I thought I would pose a challenge with my dodgy squinty eye, which seems to know exactly when a camera is pointed at me, and my elusive smile that normally looks like I'm constipated, but she knows all the tricks in the book, and you just can’t NOT smile when in the presence of @Cristal Vancarson . So here is real, human me! I'm so pleased with my photos, and she turned an event I was dreading and had been putting off into the highlight of my day. 🥰 Thank you so much for making it sooo fun, AND I even got a bonus portrait of me with my daughter that’s definitely going on the wall. When I said that to Cristal, she said, “There is NO greater HONOR than for me to have a picture on the WALL in my client’s home.” You can tell she genuinely cares about the people she photographs. What I loved most is that this whole thing was done remotely from home, between my other calls, and was all wrapped up in around 40 minutes. No awkward standing around wondering what to do with your hands. Just a proper live session with someone who knows exactly how to bring the best out of people. She was also brilliant with my daughter. They say never work with kids or animals, but Cristal orchestrated them both effortlessly! That is what Cristal does so well. She does not just take a photo. She catches a moment. She makes you relax. She makes it fun. And somehow she makes the whole thing feel easy, even when you thought you were going to hate every second of it.

I got removed from a community this week by the owner because I accidentally broke the self-promotion rules multiple times. I made a mistake. Actually, I made the same mistake more than once. It hurt. A lot. I never intended to disrespect anyone's community or create extra work for the owner. I genuinely misunderstood the guidelines and kept getting it wrong. Something I don't talk about often is that I have a learning disability. Sometimes I struggle to process or remember instructions and social expectations. It's not an excuse, and I take responsibility for my mistakes, but it is part of my reality. I felt embarrassed, sad, and disappointed in myself. But I'm sharing this because I know I'm not the only one who has made mistakes, misunderstood something, or felt like I didn't fit in. This experience reminded me that being human means getting things wrong sometimes. It means apologizing, learning, and continuing forward with a little more wisdom and a lot more compassion for ourselves and others. I'm still here. I'm still building. I'm still learning. And if you've ever felt like you messed up, got rejected, or didn't understand something everyone else seemed to get—you're not alone. 💛

@Theresa Minton 📸 Today, I photographed a client in Corpus Christi, Texas... while I was sitting in Hollywood, California. That still amazes me. Using just a phone, natural light, and a little creative direction, we created beautiful, professional branding images from hundreds of miles away. This is why I love Remote Headshot Photography. Geography no longer limits what's possible. You don't need to travel to a studio or live in a major city to have incredible photos. You simply need to show up. Every session reminds me that photography is about connection, confidence, and helping people see themselves in a new light—no matter where they are in the world. Hollywood-level headshots from anywhere. Where your image meets your imagination and your identity becomes paramount. 💛📸✨

@Michele Lefler I love your description: "Steady guidance for souls who feel the pull of something more." It feels both grounding and inspiring. We're excited to have you here. What are you most hoping to create, learn, or connect around in this community?

I'm still a little shocked! 😄 When I joined Blooming TV, my goal was simple: learn how streaming TV works and stretch myself by trying something completely new. As someone who is brand new to this world, I never expected to win the Mini Challenge. What I've discovered is an incredible community filled with generous people who are willing to share their knowledge, encouragement, and expertise. Every lesson has helped me grow in confidence and better understand what's possible. This win isn't just about a challenge. It's a reminder that when we show up, participate, and stay open to learning, amazing things can happen. A huge thank you to the Blooming TV team and everyone in the community for creating such a supportive environment. I'm excited to keep learning, growing, and seeing where this journey leads next! 📺✨💜 Who won the mini-challenge?? Cristal! @Cristal Vancarson you are the winner of the mini-challenge! Your involvement has been consistent, you have been learning, growing and applying yourself. Here are a couple links to what Cristal shared post post Congratulations, Cristal! You won a 20-minute session with @Des Dreckett Please reach out to him. Thank you so much @Karin Crawford 💕