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We Are Photographers with Kesha Lambert

today I am very happy to have with us Cash of Lambert. Kesha is joining us all the way from New York. And she is a award winning photographer and educator. She has been published in a lengthy list of magazines and I can't wait. Teoh dive into all of that. So, Kesha, welcome to Creative. I've Thank you. Thank you so much for having me for the warm welcome to keep that with you. You are so welcome. So, first of all, I hope that you and your family are doing well. Um, of course, we're recording this in the Kobe two times and we're recording this live on Creative Life TV, which is our new channel, where we are bringing folks to the kitchens, living rooms, home offices of creatives and entrepreneurs all over the world to both entertain and inspire and connect us also. If you are tuning in right now to the live version and you're on creative live TV, click on open into the chat. We're walking up watching on Facebook or YouTube. Let Kesha and I know where it is that you are tuning in from and...

ah Lee, I'm gonna give you a high because he says, Can I get a high from the UK? So you got one. So so Kesha, where you and how is your family doing? Where were? Well, we have No, I have no conference. Um, everyone is in good health. Um, we are saving off cabin fever with if you walk and they're keeping keeping busy, finding ways to entertain the boys outdoor and inside. And everyone's been We slowed down tremendously, and, um, it's been good. So I think that's a couple of important things there. Um, a You're you're a portrait photographer, but you're also a wedding photographer and an incredible wedding photographer. Your work is stunning. If you all haven't seen caches work, go check her workout at her website or her instagram at Catch a Lambert. Uh, and And you're a mom of three boys, right? And two of them are twins. So here you are. Ah, wedding industry is kind of slowed down, I would say for for right now. Um, and you've got the kids at home. How How is that? What are you doing in terms of your your business? And, uh, how are you perching that now? So with the business. There is always a ton of things that you could be doing for your business. And so I've been doing that, um, a lot of so part of continuing run The wedding business is that we are still talking to couples planning their wedding. So from contending with our existing couples who need to pull phone paint, the changes were also so have having virtual concert complications with people having 2021 2022 weddings. And so that's keeping us busy. I'm also there kind of things you can do to in terms of the back end, things like marketing. And, um if getting your branding updated and things like that. So I'm working on a lot of projects for the business, and and that's keeping keeping me good. I mean, I think that's the important thing is to make is that there are many different facets if you are a business owner that you could be working on during these times. But I wanna I wanna go back in time to one of the things that I read about you. I I love to travel, and I always think that this, like destination, wedding photographer photography job is like, man, That sounds dreamy. And then they saw that you photographed a wedding and mount at Mount Everest. No, no, I wasn't. No, no, no, That wasn't me. I will. So I was looking at It was a description. How about Norway? Was it Norway? Oh, no, maybe No, that pulls together. Like like with it. Like one of those lift particles? Yes. Just okay. We'll scratch that off. Um, we could really Oh, I'm really often destination for weddings I had. That's that's what? Because you photograph all over the world. So figure out who that was and will get their story later. But about Tell me about your first, then destination wedding. Because again, like this concept of travel plus photography Like what? Um, what was that experience like for you? Was it any different than your weddings here, or was it exciting for you or what? How did that go down? Well, so it is always exciting to get go to a destination that outside of, you know, wearing the New York City tri state areas. So we frequent a lot of the same then you so it's very inspiring to go somewhere that year. You're not frequently going to and seeing you pull in places, interestingly, places, so that Ellen is always exciting. One thing I learned coming into this, I think is a photographer. We very much would love to just take beautiful photos all the time and not think about back and things. But one of things I learned very early on after doing my very first definition wedding that was in the Bahamas at Atlantis. And I quoted it, too. Oh, um and, uh, you know, it wasn't like, you know, I didn't educate myself before providing this quote the late to this couple wonderful couple. But what I learned very early on, I learned a lesson very early on that on the business side of it, after turning down a wedding for the same weekend that wasn't on their wedding days but was actually the day before their wedding, I learned that it really is. While it is exciting and fun and inspiring for the creative side of the for the business end of things, I really get my ducks in a row and really kind of put them bought and actually calculate numbers in order to price these weddings out correcting. Oh, that's a very important lesson. Learned especially. You know, you you It takes that extra time and effort and getting there and all of that. Ah, and I mean, I think that's I want to go back then. Teoh you. You starting your photography business. Um, as, um, people may not know that you were a lawyer as well. So you're a mom. Your lawyer, your photographer, educator. Uh, So And I read that you because of course, first you think like, oh, you know, did you take take the big leap and, um, say, you know, I don't want to do this anymore. I want to do this. But I read that you Your story was a little bit different in that circumstances happened. And you realize, like a change of mindset where it was like you didn't have to follow the mold that maybe you thought you did when you were growing up. So can you tell us a little bit about um, being a lawyer and and then being a photographer for for So it's interesting? Both have I think, the party a little earlier on, then becoming a lawyer. But both have been kind of like This is what I wanted to be when I grow up as a style and I come from a very strict with onion up background to make intense education for and so you have to do something with your life. You have to have a profession. And so it was without question. That's what I was going to do, and I did it. And, um, I just while I love practicing photography was always there. I never total one thought that I would be earning a living with iconography was creative out for me was my peace of mind on. And then it started growing more while I was, you know, while I had my legal career starts growing more, I started to become freelancing and side hustle and all that wonderful stuff. But I still never made that, like, old decision to say this is what I'm going to do. I got a ah, boot in the butt, um, out of what I thought was a very secure job during the financial downturn, and I was expecting twins, and it just kind of made me my first. My initial reaction was scrambling like what are we going to do? And I realized it made me kind of got a point of life. Com where I just started to rethink everything and our family was going. We have our we have one son and two on the way, and it just changed my mind about what I wanted to do. Well, I always find this really interesting because I think a lot of us out there I feel that if we're working for somebody else often that that is the secure thing and and of course, maybe not at the current moment right now in this current environment, but that engage with you, you know, especially if it's your in a profession where your, you know, like you said a lawyer or working for a big company or what have you? I worked in corporate marketing, and it was like, Oh, yeah, you know, it's Ah, it's it's secure. And yet it's nothing is. And so come coming to that revelation. I think you wrote something about, um, the sentiment being like I didn't need permission to go ahead with my dream job. So was there a moment when you, like, had that revelation And what did that feel like for you? It felt it was very freeing. Um, because when you get the rug pulled out from under you, it just it was ah ha moment that I This was the serious, uh, way of making a living That was the reliable way and photography. You know, you look at the back for what, um, career success is for the average photographer, and it doesn't look so promising, but that ah ha moment was a sort of freedom for me, Teoh A green light for me to start doing what I wanted to do. Um, and I never looked back. I wasn't the most organized in the world in beginning. The thing is, you dumped and build a plane on the way down. That was me. Um, but that I needed the rug will be pulled out from under me for me to get had that realization. And And I still believe that whether you work, uh, full time or you're an entrepreneur, business owner, self employed, that you should be diversified. Because if anything, this pandemic has taught us is that everything is equally insecure or equally secure. If you want to frame it in a positive light. They're all left. The plane feel is level. And I think that could, you know, you have one life to live. Um, and you don't wanna come to the close of that life having questions about what it or or regret And, um and I think there's a sense of freedom and pursuing the thing that makes you feel fulfilled. And it is not easy all the time. I've had many successes, but I've had many, many lows. And but that motivation of doing something that I really, really gives me a sense of fulfilment is what helped me to put through the load. And it's why I'm still here. Years later, um, working for myself. Can you give us a story about one of those lows and and how, like, was there a moment where you thought, like, I I'm going to throw in the towel? Um, but you like what motivated you to work through that so very early on. And even when I first started out, it wasn't my very first wedding. So my very first wedding that I shot lead was back in 2011. I still wasn't a full time wedding photographer wasn't my focus, But it was the first time that I went out and on my own and lead shot a wedding. And that went well. And it gave me all this confidence, like, Wow, I could do wedding, you know, really started marketing myself a wedding More made that My focus? Yeah, I got results and started looking more couples and one of things that I I I encountered, um is an unhappy client, someone who, um, look, you know, received their photos, and they were just terribly disappointed with the outcome. And as an artist, that's a tough pill to swallow. We are much, you know, we'd like, say that we aren't it. We want our couples to be happy that the angle freedom to be blown away for them to be happy. But on top of that, it's also like a bruise to your mojo When someone is like, What is this? And, um, one of things. I realize I'm one reason why I'm able to still be here. Is that and one of the results skipping all over the people? One of the results of that getting that feedback from that couple was that I started to adjust myself as an artist started trying to people. Please. I started to try to do the things that I thought they wanted instead of defining myself and coming into my own and developing as a photographer. And that was a very is a mistake early on because what would set me apart? You know, being a wedding photographer in business is a balance between providing your art and also making people happy. But being true to your art is what will draw the people to you. And I I had to learn that through trial and error and the reason that I'm still here doing what I do, the reason why I would say I'm pretty brave in my work. I'm I'm hope even if I don't think it will work out. And I spent a lot of time doing that. A lot of now is because, uh, I have to the signature of the product that that So there are a number of things there. I mean, first, all right. Learning that you shouldn't try to be everything to everyone you know is definitely a trait of a lot of the photographers that I speak with on the that her look. I was thinking about words that describe it to me and the words like like cinematic and, um, epic and emotional are are things that came to me and it's it's, um because it is this coherent look. So your clients potential clients know what they're coming to you for, And there a lot of things like you said that are unexpected. Um, so I'm curious about some of those traits. So that that cinematic cinematic part the sort of fashion forward part, um, were you are you super into fashion, um, movies Or like what? What defined how that aspect into you came about in your work? Interesting. The things that excite me in my work and the things that you influences you'll find in my work don't necessarily mirror who I am personally interested. So, like I love back in like I've walked into the Bride three or these in the boom sweet and seems to use that almost brought me to tears. I love, love, love and, um, I love you'll find there's a sultry element in my work. And so I'm not necessarily Soul Teoh. And if you know me while I am. I would like to say I'm fashionable, but I am not very daring. What color? You will almost always find me in all black. So I am wearing ah, color, which is like rare sighting. And so, while I love back and I love old color, you problem find me wearing and being out Sandy. Um but that it's not maybe unlived ing vicariously through my work, huh? Right now, I think that's super that super interesting because it's what you're or you are and or you're bringing that out in what? The clients that you have. Um what? What? They're what you're highlighting what their interests are if they have mean some of the bridal gowns that Aaron, some of your signature pieces are just out of this world. And so so then flipping to the the emotional part of your work, Um, and capturing those intimate moments I did read, and we were talking about this earlier before we went live that you're an introvert and that you also are able to sort of an impact where you can feel what people are feeling, which I think is interesting in that it's it's challenging at times. But yet was there a moment where you realize that you were had that M path capability and that then you can flip that to an advantage. It definitely served me well. And I really have known this about myself for a while now. Um, yes, just observing how I feel. I literally we cry or feel joy, feel tension. I absorb the mood of the room and I feel it. But it served me well because I am attuned to what is happening. I'm attuned to those little nuance things that happened on the wedding day, those little tiny in the queen thing that, um are leading. But they are very much Rick with emotion and rich with viewing. And I think it's served me also in interacting with our couples. I get a lot of feedback for some, I'm naturally very centred and even tempered, and so that also because there could be chaos on the wedding day. And I'm like, reeling everybody in and my energy does not escalate chaos. And that's a feed. That feedback that I get from couples is the problem solving and that my temperament brought a piece situations that may have been otherwise. Not so. So great Wedding day you can. Its motion are broad, broad range. And so that empathy component has served me well in terms of being able to capture those moments. But also just the report that I have with the client that we work with and the fact that they stay with us. The longevity of our carnet really helped me a lot way had him. I was gonna say a Mike drop. But wait, Got it. Thanks. I always say, this is the beauty of life and coming from living room. Deliver group. Uh so So tell me more about the longevity and the trust you're able to build with your client, so people only get married. I mean, people don't some two people get married more than once, but in terms of in terms of the couples that do you then become their family photographer? Or how are those relationships further belt after the wedding? So families have many, many for Commemorating life. The wedding is just the beginning of a person. People live together. And so a lot of my portrait work I don't market myself a portrait, work a lot. Uh, in the bulk of my portrait, work them from past couple and, um, and so it will be maternity sections. Don't do newborn. I refer that out, but maternity, family events, both our graduations, they I do all of these things. And I love to grow with watch, to be there, to see the family grow in the room. Meaningful, beautiful thing to see a couple. You know, I have some couples that have two Children, and I did their wedding maybe three or four years ago, and I've now photograph first birthdays and Family section. And so if there's so many things, people celebrate life for many, many reasons that first day there are, you know, with fireman, there are, you know, I've had a couple who worked with who pulled, then call me for their parents retirement door. Their parents. I've even had a divorce party. Genital. So many. You know there's so many reasons to celebrate life, and when there is a celebration of life, are a couple of will call. So that's really beautiful, that have that releasing that is really beautiful and and it's a testament to you and your personality and your business that ethics and all of that. I'm curious. You know, you mentioned the word celebration of life multiple times, and so I'm curious, because, I mean, that's what one of the things that photography can do is, you know, capturing those moments. And but I'm curious than about you and in your life. How do you celebrate life? What are the things that that when you wake up in the morning, Like, what's the first thing that you think? About What? What gets you the most excited? So my family fuels me. I'm very much family oriented. If you follow me on any of light are connected with me, Like on any personal social media. You'll see. I call about my Children a lot, Uh, in my husband very quickly. They like that. So I you know, they the boys, my family, our extended family a typical Okay, I'm really simple. I go out, I feel like I go out for a living. I'm at events all the time, both for weddings. But also, we do have some corporate event Cornyn. And so I go, I feel like I go out for a living. So I when I half time me time. I just wanted to quote till things like We'll go. We live in a beach town and so we're going to the beach or taking trips with our family scene will think he loved it. The boys love of vacation. Um, and simple things I really enjoy simple things were big movie watchers. I'm big binge watcher of cool SOS on Netflix in Amazon. Looks like a lot of other people. But I did enjoy doing still things with the people I love. And it's interesting because I feel like right now I mean, that is what we're all being faced with is you know, what is what matters to us the most. Ah, because so many other things are kind of stripped away on. And I mean, I think it's ah, it's a beautiful thing. Um Teoh to have to That's interesting that you say like, oh, I go out for a living. Oh, and then and then we were talking earlier about being the sort of introverted quality. Um, and so and I think I'm curious more about that. Um, because clearly, when you come home, you can, you know, kind of have that downtime. Although maybe not. You've got three boys, a husband and a dog. So, uh, what's it like to be an introverted wedding people photographer, You know, like, how does that balance? So I were just cover how much? Um, there's a common misconception that introverts don't like people. And I love people. I love being around people. Um, I enjoy what I do. And I think a big part of why I love being a wedding talkers, that I get to be in the people environment would be a fly on the wall, Not in it. In it. You know, like, I love that I love that. I, uh, for me, it's not that I don't love being around people. It's just that I need to fuel up, and I need to rest up after, and but I am very much so, uh, energized by being around. I love the relationship dynamics and dance floors that are energetic and, um, being an introvert, I I can turn it up like I become a different. My one of my associates always jokes that, um, like I'm a complete different person. When I'm working. She's like, you know, you did your best to go toe to toe with a seven foot called video. Who are you? But no, that's not You know, it's just that I come out of my cell when I'm working. Um, I love it. Uh um, unafraid. But if you catch me on the personal side, I'm pretty soft spoken. Very, very awkward. I food cool, I think online. But I'm I'm I'm really not a big nerd. And, um and so yeah, that's that's what it's like being an introvert. Yeah, Yeah, I and I always think it's like this, uh, a differentiation between you can be outgoing at certain times and, you know, it doesn't mean, you know, and then it's just how you need to retreat. And especially if you're a nim path, you know, and you take on everybody's feelings to be at a full wedding with, like, the most emotions going off. I like, you know, I could only imagine I want to talk a little bit about I mean, I I mentioned earlier I'm going to read off some more again the places that you've been published. So People Magazine, New York Times Essence brides Muna lucha bride. Um, so so many other amazing publications. What was the first time you were published? And how did that feel? What did it? What did it change for you? Did it make anything more, riel or tell us about about what it is to get published? Uh, very First time I got published was pretty early on in my career as a wedding photographer. Um, I did a style to with a you Bender friends, uh, not intending for it to go anywhere. And, um and I submitted it and it felt really great. It's got a multi page spread, and, um and I was I was excited, you know, trying to drum up some traffic was a wedding part of my business. And that was a Gangel, um, with and and it felt great. And, uh, I realized, in the business side of things as I started to develop as a wedding photographers that, uh, real wedding features in particular are just a great way to be in front of the people that you want to track. And so I started focusing efforts on on submitting wedding. I eventually got to a point where, um I had, uh you know, I was on the radar of some editors, and every now and again people would message me and with requested something they saw that I posted. Um, and so over time, uh, it became it became less so what was daunting, like black God like this, unreachable on a noble thing and more, more like I realized that I could now pursue it as a tool to for growth for my business, right? It's so interesting when things I mean, even like running a photography business, having associates in your photography business. I mean it, even things like that once when they seem unattainable and then you like, start doing it. It's like, Oh, yeah, other people are. Somebody's doing this. No. Why? Why can't it be me? But that's it. It takes, ah mindset shift. I think to along with the experience, to to realize that. But okay, let's talk about your cover of of Muna Luci, Luci magazine, Air Brides magazine. It's a gorgeous image. Was that your first cover or take us to that experience? So it wasn't my first cover? Um, I would say before that I had a cover on Hardened Soul magazine in New York. Um, city local met a national Uptown magazine. Um and so I had and another business magazine. But Mona Lucy is like the creme dela cram in terms of it. They provided a safe for featuring brides of color and, um, and they really carved themselves out the top of their the industry, and so was very special honor to get to to the cover for this publication. Aside from the fact that they are fused, but also just what they stand for and what their mission is, it was very it felt like a really great accomplishment out of, you know, I mentioned that you do this for a while. You start to learn what magazines are looking for in terms of submitting real wedding for feature. But this this is very exciting for me. This was like something that, um you submitting your wedding for publications had become has become a part of, like, the business model. Um, it was very exciting and inspiring. And it was a collaborative effort off. Really Just amazing. Oh, talented people from hair to make up the styling. The energy was beautiful on set, and the cover model is loving day. Um, and she is the incredible writer off there. Um, blogger and I had been a fan girl of her sins forever. And so just really just wonderful to get through to suit the bomb cover. That's such an awesome experience. And I'm I'm Brooke. And congratulations. No, I'm I'm curious. If that then like, is the mindset, because it's interesting to me that you, our daring with the types of images you create and trying things with people on their wedding day, you know, not not just styled shoots, you know, this is this is I think I read something where you said, you know, you asked brides and bridesmaids toe their hair and makeup is all done to lay down on the ground. You know, todo tell us about whether it's that one or another sort of big idea that you had that and and just tell us a story of one of those times and and how you convinced your bride or bridegroom or the wedding party to kind of do something different on their day. So I think at this point, if it's a big part of my brand methods, it's a big part of my word of mouth. So a lot of couples comes with Some couples book me for that reason because they want to be pushed. Allan, they want something for us. And so I you know, that is, uh, staple in the word of mouth about the experience working with me. So we get, um, a lot of our lead from past clients from people who have worked with people who have observed just working. And so that helped a great deal. When people come to the table, they booked him for this reason, the other. I mean, it's also put the fake heart, but the pressure, The other thing that helps is that I, you know, let's say someone just looked at the foot boom. You don't immediately know that this is what they're signing up for. I'm very, very big on communicating that to people. Um, that that's what you know is my approach, and I think it's important whatever your clothes and your style as a you're providing creative services to give people full disclosure about what you're opposing. Fallon. What they can expect so and in the story that you mentioned is a prime example. So a lot of you know, a lot of what I do is done in so quickly. Um, I seize opportunities as they unfold. I you know, I tried a plan for things, but one thing weddings have taught me is that you should have a plan. But you should be prepared to improvise. And you should always try to sneak in the photo opportunities that you can when you can, because you never know what the days my, how the day might unfold wouldn't get delayed. Um, And then, you know, your one hour off time for portrait is now 10 minutes. So that story that you mentioned, the bride and bridesmaid were lined up on a stairwell and they were about to walk out to do the processional for the wedding ceremony, and he made it. He came back and said way have a slight delay. It's gonna be about 10 minutes. And as I'm standing, I was above them and I looked down and I saw an opportunity, Had my assistant running with a light and I yelled down to the bride. Will you lay down? Would you guys I see it. I see something. Feel free to tell me. No. Would you Would you mind laying down right where they're like. He was like, I trust you, girl. I'll do it. And because the bride was down, all of the bribe me. Well, you know, they people like to feel like they're part of something magical, and so that certainly helped. That's a great point. People like to feel like they're part of it, and And when you're the guide and all they have to do is sort of follow what you say, Um then you know, it sounds like and you're a very calm guide during those and home hints with a vision, then you make it happen. I mean, that's what you have to do is a wedding. Photographers always be guiding and guiding and guiding us, having people kind of following our lead from yourself and that, you know, you know, because if you do, then everyone will awful truck to feel being may not see what you see or understand why you're asking to do what you're asking them to do. But if you are very confident and clear in your vision and they will trust you exactly exactly, and sometimes you have to be very intentional about that and then it comes starts to come, you know, very naturally. I want to go back a little bit further. I would like to find out a little bit about people's childhoods. And I read that you grew Ah. Born in North Carolina. Grew up in the Bronx. So you're a lawyer and a photographer. You said earlier that those were two things that you always you know, that you always wanted to be was young Kesha like, were you more than, like, bookie person? Or were you more the creative, um, type or both to tell us about your you as a child? Well, I don't know if you, like, follow our our into astrology, but I'm I would say it was very demin I it so I am a damn it. And I was I was I was a little of everything, so I was Ah, bookworm Marty Pan. But I was also I've always had a very vivid imagination. Daydreamer, uh, played imaginative games. I was raised in only child, so I was very, um, adept at entertaining myself, finding making up games. Um, I drew, I painted. I dance. That was a big thing. Um, ballet. Half um, hip hop. I even had a short while where we did dance competitions. And so I was a little, a little. I dabbled in almost everything, and it was one of the things that kind of made me a got to a point. But I felt like I wasn't exceptional at anything because I did everything. And, um, like, I could dance. But I wasn't the best answer in the cruise. I could, you know, I was a great student, but I was not the valedictorian or I was not, you know, and and photography ended up being that thing that I felt was Oh, this is my thing. This is the thing that I'm really This is my thing that I sell. Nice. I think that's Ah, yeah. No, I mean that the jack of all trades Air Master of none. And and I'm I'm curious. If you're you know, you said your family was very much oriented towards education. Get a job and a career, and that's, you know, and live your life. Um did did alright. What do your parents city of you now like is that was when you kind of made that shift. Was that a challenge for them. It's interesting, though. My dad was tired on college E position and my mom was tired, Nerve and, um, but my mom, my dad plated from and heyday, and my mom was a singer and a painter and an artist. So even though he he expelled in the educational side and, um, he was professor for short since he went to Columbia University, he's very big on education. She went far. He encouraged me to do the same. Shoes off is also an artist, and so it's interesting. The reactions have been different. My my mom was surprisingly very supportive, and I say surprisingly, and I should have I should have expected that she would have been supportive because of the fact that she's an artist. But she was, uh, he was surprisingly very supportive of me. He wasn't sending me job listening when I told her that that I was gonna do, you know, start my own business where my dad, it took him a while, would come around. He would be like, Hey, when you gonna start job hunting again? And I'm like, or three years, four years and running a business? Um so very different. You know, very different reaction out of them. They're both in a place where they see that I've in doing that for some time. I'm actually doing better than I was when I worked as a lawyer. So, um, prayed that continue in these uncertain times. But, um, yes, they their their initial reactions were very different. My mom was, like, full fledged. Like, That's wonderful. Using she saw something in me and for something in my work. And she was excited for me and my dad. He was like, Yeah, that's nice. That's you. That's cute. No, but you definitely. I think I think they're both proud of me now. You know, Not that they weren't before, but I think they both are at a point where they see that. That I'm doing it. Yeah. What about your your voice? Your kids? Do you think that being an entrepreneur and and I haven't even mentioned you and your husband work together, right? Some of the time on on the weddings. And, um so maybe talk a little bit about that and what that's like. Oh, but then also have you Have you seen? I don't know. just what it means in your boy's eyes. Toe Have a mom that is a successful entrepreneur of her own. Right. Um, I see the how mesmerize they are when they realize certain things and surprise that certain things. And I mean certain things, like, you know, they have this big, you know, they're the date because all the twins no, is me as a photographer. All right, so it was like, maybe a couple of years ago they realized Mom your lawyer to and they're just like stock. But on top of that, when they realized like, Wait, you know, this is what this is how you is that are providing foot like they have. Um I feel like they have this off of what we do because a lot of hair appears. Their parents work Monday through Friday. And mom and Dad are around because their wedding photographers on weekdays and we hustle and bustle on the weekend. And so there, there. I think I'm pretty proud that that their reality, I hope it and fires them, who pursue entrepreneurship, even if they that is the only thing they do. I encourage that in them. Um and I hope that something that pays I also okay, be that, uh, the pursuit of some doing something you love. Well, something that is totally good and okay to do and encourage and will be supported. And yeah, it's very different then how you upbringing that I had. I didn't know the side of my mom when she was. I hear stories of people, you know, a day kid coming. Your mom was a singer. You tell me the stories, but my reality was that she was doing the sensible thing. He went to college. And, you know, that was my reality. Until their reality. Very different. Semi. And what a what a beautiful thing. That that you can see them knowing that are seeing that advice for other photographers who work with their spouse partner. Otherwise, if I am, I would say it's important to It's hard to disconnect your, um, relationship when you're married to someone like swim business mode. Now my husband and I think for a lot of every now and again, but we actually work really well together when we're not bickering like siblings. Um, and a big part of that is I think it's a big part of it is adrenaline, because the wedding day is, like, fact paid and, uh, a lot of things holding and nowhere in work mode. But a big part of it is that we bring I don't believe in leaving your love and respect for each other. Out of that, I don't believe in switching hats to business. And now suddenly, and I think you know, suddenly it's Mr Lambert. You know, like, I feel like the fact that we, uh, treat each other like husband and wife even when we're working. Um has helped. You know, I'm I'm here to make things happen for my husband, and he's here to make things happen. So why, and and that that has helped us work really well together. I think we both want the same and gold before happy clients and successful outcome. And so we worked. Was that with love? That's awesome. And and again, like this kind of conscious effort of I'm not gonna call you Mr Lambert like Teoh during this, like we're in this together. 11 more topic I wanted to cover as before we close out is is the giving back to other photographers and being a speaker and an educator. At what point did you realize that was it? You know, Was it people coming to you? Asking for mentorship with is a point where you're like, Oh, wait, I have I do have a lot of experience. I have a lot of knowledge. I want to share this with people. So I'll say this imposter syndrome help me that for a long time I did a combination of things. I It took me a while to call myself a photographer. Um, never mind. Feel like I had something offer people. Um And yet I had people in my inbox constantly, even in my inbox, sending me a long, thoughtful emails about requesting mentorship people private messaging me, um, people crying out. When are you going to do a workshop in releasing? I'm gonna do it and never doing it. It was a combination of that. And also, I have some really, really amazing women in my women photographers in my corner who pretty much pushed, encouraged, shoved, put my back, uh, straight in my crown. Everything who really been an integral part of this journey from not only have encouraged, but my cold in, for example, um, he started photo clicked out. And it wasn't my very first speaking engagement where she was the 1st 1 to offer me a speaking opportunity and, um and, you know, people like or the Woolard and and tartan, they've all these are all really incredible women photographers at the top of their game, and they're just so incredibly inspiring. And they encouraged me and supported. And so it's a combination of both things that helped me to get out of my own way. Um, and your am. I have been speaking. So, um, for a speaking engagement with 2018 mystic seminars in Cuba, it was an incredible experience. Um, you were on that trip the mystic. Uh oh, my gosh. I had I had talked. I had talked to them now about that because I was gonna be in Cuba right after that. And anyway, it was like, right when a lot of stuff happened. So I'm so glad that you got to do that. That's awesome. Yeah, that was awesome. And I'm actually thinking that wasn't the first. The total cookout came before it. Those mystic was 2019. I think, um, people just a year ago. Yeah, I've done a host of other conferences, um, workshop inspire photo, three rocks, that a number of conferences and then the larger ones year I poke it imaging and WPP, I and, uh, I have well, before cold it came in and knocked the ball out. I had I had some pretty exciting things lined up to 2020 that will probably be moved in 2021. Um, yeah, it's it takes a village, and that's what it get me here. Well, I think that imposter syndrome. I mean, I've talked Teoh some of the world's top photographers who have imposter syndrome like you are your own worst critic. Um, and it it does it. It takes a number of things, one, like having these ah ha moments where you do realize, but it's almost like you're and then other people supporting you and having your back and pushing you out there like you said. But it's almost like an interesting thing, like you are able to put yourself out on a limb for the images that you're creating. And that's a different thing. Even then, putting yourself on a limb sort of as that speaker educator And yet there, too. They're both you, right? Very different audiences. So right, so them with. So I think with both. So it takes time to kind of coming to your own. Um, just as with photography's took, I didn't come out the gate just doing all these daring things. It took me a while to get to the point where I had the confidence to do that. Um, and not just not just a while, but growth and learning. And, um, and getting out of my own way in the same applies for any news path that you take. And that's what it is with some education. Their case in a component of the photography industry, a different world. Um, you know, But there are some similarities in terms of where you need to be in order to do it. Well, I'm glad you got out of your own way for that one. And shut up too, to Maya. Because the photo cookout, the virtual photo cookout that she just did super awesome. I'm just always so impressed by things she puts together and her will. Ah, and determination. And and so I appreciate shout out to Tamayo for giving me your email. Uh, so cash. Oh, thank you so much for sharing your stories. Um I know our audience will be super inspired. Where can people follow? You? See all your beautiful imagery and stay in touch and see what you're doing. Everything is under my name. So textile lambert dot com Instagram is at the Lambert Facebook forward Blast Testing Lambert Twitter. I'm on there. That's the one that is doing its own thing. It's catch photo, But yet that's how you confined.