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Photographer of Goddesses, Lovers & Bright Souls: An Interview With Mina Habibi

4/27/2017

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In this day & age, there are a plethora of excellent photographers making a name for themselves with family sessions, newborn session, senior sessions, etc. But never before have I met a photographer mainly focused on capturing a woman's inner power & beauty, showing them through her lens what they often can not see for themselves. I recently sat down with fellow Lake Ridge portrait artist, Mina Habibi, to learn more about her business and what makes her vision unique.
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Meg: Who is your typical client?

Mina: My typical client has evolved over the years. I started by photographing families, babies and kids but always had an interest in women's portraiture. In fact, I remember the first Goddesses that I photographed back in the Fall of 2009! While I still photograph families, couples, high school seniors and some weddings, my work has definitely shifted more towards women. 

My typical clients now are women of all ages and women entrepreneurs who want to reconnect or perhaps even discover the Wild Woman and Goddess within them, who want to feel empowered, who want their clients to "know" them from their images displayed on their website, who want to leave a legacy, who want to show they are more than mommy, wife, worker, who want to reveal the magic that lies within. 

Meg: "Revealing the magic within." So powerful. So how do you work with your clients to design their ideal shoot?

Mina: Often clients come to me and have no idea what they want to do for their shoot. So we start off with some questions. Some of the questions are basic but some of them start to dig deeper. For example, a client might answer I love nature or I love flowers. So then I ask, how does nature make you feel? And then it's the feeling(s) we start delving into. Those answers reveal so much and that's when my vision takes over. I use my intuition to visualize the styling, the location and other ideas. Then we work together to find just the right outfits, location(s), props and mood. 

Meg: That sounds incredible! Sign me up! However, some women are squeamish about being in front of the camera. How do you make your clients feel comfortable being in the spotlight?

Mina: Believe me, I know how awkward it can be to be in front of a camera! I've had a photoshoot done and being comfortable from the minute you walk in the door is so important to how the overall experience is going unfold. 

On the day of the shoot the first thing we do is go over some details to get those out of the way and then go through outfits, accessories and styling. Then it's time for hair and makeup. I work with some amazing artists that are super friendly and engaging. You can't help but be relaxed around them. We'll have some snacks (nobody wants to be starving when they're trying to pose!), coffee, tea or maybe even champagne. :) Depending on the shoot, we sometimes use my home for a studio and my clients get a very nice dose of zen here!

Then when it's time to shoot, I walk my clients through everything. How to stand, where to look, what to do with their hands, what kind of gaze and expression. There's a lot of hand holding at first but I can tell you that by the end, every single time, that awkwardness has simply disappeared and my Goddesses are rocking it on that Wild Woman who has emerged! 

Meg: I love that! And think it would benefit all women to see themselves in that light. What do you want your clients to feel when they see their portraits?

Mina: I want my clients to feel like they've been transformed. That they have unleashed their Wild Woman that was craving to be released. That they embody the Goddess they are. 

I want them to feel powerful, empowered, brave, beautiful, liberated, on fire, bold, amazing, excited, fearless, loved by themselves.

Meg: This is such important work you're doing to empower women to love themselves. Why do you think it's important for all women to see & recognize their inner goddess?

Mina: Our Inner Goddess or Wild Woman is the essence of who we are as women. She is beyond the daily errands, the laundry and dishes, the taking care of others. She is who we want to be, whether that's powerful and bold, or vulnerable and soft. When you say to yourself I wish I was (fill in the blank)... guess what? You already are because She is always there inside of us. And when we see and recognize this we are able to invoke and embody Her all the time. And then we are unstoppable. 
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Are you as ready as me to sign up for a session after reading that interview? If so, Mina has some incredible specials going on during the month of May! Free hair and makeup for the Signature session or take $250 off her Wildest Dreams session. Both specials are available through May 31st.

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Mina has had successful careers in Telecommunications and Graphic Design. But there was a disconnect in what she was doing and who she is. It’s when she started taking more photographs that it clicked – pun intended! She found her purpose in helping women connect with their Inner Goddess, their Wild Woman and helping female entrepreneurs build their businesses with photography that is authentic and true to their brand. Mina also teaches yoga, dabbles in astrology, is a flower junkie, is married to an amazing man, has the two most awesome cats ever, and loves hanging out in her backyard oasis, sipping coffee or cocktails. 

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Scanning Services Are NOT Created Equally!

2/11/2014

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As tempting as these Groupon and Living Social offers might appear, you are trusting these companies with your precious memories. You ship your photos, home movies, slides or negatives away, trust the provider to handle them with care and return them safely back to you. Oftentimes, my clients are stressed just imagining shipping these items away; however, did you know that many of these companies further outsource your memories? Sometimes even to foreign shores? A quick scan of Yelp reviews for these companies are enough to keep me away from their tempting offers.

While I know the price is right, your memories are one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable, so isn't it more valuable to place them into hands you can trust?

If high-speed scanning and/or slide, negative, and home movie conversions are what you're looking for, trust me, your certified photo organizer, when I recommend you avoid those Groupon deals and stick with a highly reputable company such as Fotobridge. I have personally met the owner and am looking forward to seeing her again at the APPO Conference this week. I know that once your memories arrive at their New Jersey facility, that is where they stay. I know your memories are handled with kid gloves from the minute they arrive. I know they have NEVER lost anyone's memories. And I know, while you might never see their services discounted on Groupon, you will NEVER be disappointed with the quality and level of service you'll receive when working with them.

So give the gift of scanning this Valentine's Day. Any orders* placed using the code McCourt01 will receive an extra set of JPG DVDs at NO COST. Hooray! It's no Groupon, but you can rest assured your precious memories will be in the best hands!

*Code expires Tuesday, February 18th


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REVIEW: WeMontage Removable Photo Wallpaper

1/29/2014

4 Comments

 
We all lead busy lives… so busy that even the things we enjoy the most get put off not just by days, but possibly by months, maybe even years. And like many of my clients, I am very often too busy to ENJOY my photos. But 2014 is the year we’re changing all that, right???

I am embarrassed to say that in the summer of 2013, I ordered a phenomenal new photo product called WeMontage, a customized, removable photo collage wallpaper. I was SO excited, I couldn’t WAIT for the package to arrive. At the time, the smallest size you could order was a 4’ x 6’ panel, so that’s what I ordered. And even though I’d marked out the dimensions on my wall, it wasn’t until the package arrived that I realized just how large that really is. But back to my embarrassment. So my beautiful WeMontage wallpaper arrived in August 2013 and can you guess when we got around to hanging it? January. 2014. Seriously. When I think about it, that’s just ridiculous. But the truth is, it was TOTALLY worth the wait. I now have this stunning collage of my family with larger-than-life photos proudly displayed on a wall that is the focal point for guests entering my home. I have received so many compliments on the product and it has inspired me to share my ideas for its application with practically everyone I meet.

Throughout the entire process, I have gotten to know WeMontage’s owner, James Oliver, and he is simply fabulous. He is so pumped about his product and will bend over backwards to please his clients. He is uber-responsive and so very helpful every step of the way. He listened and responded to feedback from clients wishing for smaller sizes and now offers a 2' x 3' poster-size, too. I envision his product in yoga studios with images of serene landscapes, in gymnastics facilities with images of all the young team gymnasts, in dorm rooms (what a great graduation gift!), in schools, in offices, and of course, in our homes.

So if you’re looking for a creative, one-of-a-kind way to display photos in your home or business, check out WeMontage today. If you'd like assistance creating your own, I would be thrilled to help and can offer you 10% off the retail price through the month of February. Contact me today and let’s get started helping YOU enjoy YOUR photos again this year!
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My New Favorite Photo Product

3/21/2013

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I've been making digital photo books for so many years and I will always love looking at them. But I've recently fallen in love with turning my photos and video clips into slideshows set to music. The stories I'm telling really come alive in this format. They're slightly less labor intensive to create, plus, you get the gratification of seeing your finished product instantly once produced. In addition, you can share them so easily with family and friends by loading them on to your iPad or Smartphone.
I want YOU to be able to bring your stories to life via this format, too! To view a few samples, click here. And if you'd like to learn more about the powerful emotions these videos evoke, read my Lake Ridge Patch blog post here. 
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Spring Special Offer! 50% off Custom Slideshows - OFFER NOW EXPIRED

3/20/2013

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I can be reached at megan@picturethisps.com or 703.875.0554
Kind words from my client, Dona Blackman:

[On the day we met] "I shared that I was struggling to put together a slideshow for my Mom's 80th birthday party (the next day). [Megan] said "Let me help you. I am here for you." Megan was my lifesaver. She not only produced the best slideshow I have ever seen, she met me late to upload the pictures and again on Saturday morning to provide me the DVD's. The music and transition of the pictures was flawless. Let's just say I cried the first time I saw it. My Mom loved it as did all the family members."
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    About Me

    I'm an APPO-certified personal photo organizer with a passion for helping people protect and share their family photos.

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