Now, if you know me at all... I have a big heart for others but when it comes to groups of women, you might find me running for the hills. There are two reason's I'm not a nurse: 1) I can't stick someone with a needle. 2) There are just too many women.

I've never been great at reading other peoples emotions and if you come to me in tears, you can bet that there is going to be an awkward pat on the back from a distance. But the group of women you see in these photos are more than I could have ever ran from. They get me. They support me. They love me. Truly.

They taught me how to feel true confidence in myself. They helped me through some of my hardest times emotionally and they have given me the tools to run my businesses like a BOSS. These women are true gems.

I had no idea what I didn't know. My mind has been blown more times than I can count with business tools in the last 2 years. I can talk about email automation, social media marketing, video editing and production, income streams... the list goes on but imagine you are yawning by now so let me just tell you this:

5 years ago, I started offering winter micro sessions for my photography clients. Before I started working with Maskcara artists this is what they looked like for me as a photographer:

30 families tops • 3 days of sessions • 6 hours editing • 3 days of sending emails to each family & following up with them.

This is what it looked like in 2019:

150 families • 3 days of sessions • 4 hours editing • 1 Afternoon of sending one automated email to ALL of those families with their personal passwords and download information. 

When I say that learning business tools from other Maskcara Artists changed my life. I mean it!

I'm a competitive person by nature. If there was any thing the National 4H Organization taught me as a youth, it was to constantly look at how I could make my best better. So when Masckara offered rewards trips for hitting top sales... You bet your booty that I was going to reach for the stars. I LOVE to travel. I want to experience the world and while my hubby and I love traveling to places that are as historically packed as our trip to Ireland a few years ago, he is not the beach bum at heart that I am. 

Can you say girls trip?! Last year was an all inclusive trip to Cancun and this coming year, I will be joining some of my favorite artists in Cabo!

Not to mention the trips to Salt Lake City and Nashville for conferences. All experiences that didn't have to come out of my family's pocket. I am making my adventures come true in the most unexpected way. Talk about a way to get out of comfort zones!

This might be my favorite part. Maskcara does not require any artist to sign up other artists and when I first started I very loudly stated that I would NEVER sign up another artist. I didn't ever want the label of having a "team". Ugh, it still makes me cringe a little thinking of other companies that have ruined that word. 

God had another plan for me. I truly think He put me in this place to find a calling with mentoring other business women. This year have personally mentored over 25 women in Masckara's Artist program and have co-hosted two training events that have brought in artists from all over the midwest. You'll see more photos and a video from those events below!

This makes my heart SOAR! Fellow photographers, stay at home moms, social workers, dispatchers, hair stylists, accountants, college students, county officials, cafe cooks.... They are women from all walks of life, but we all have one thing in common. We are all part of my own personal Maskcara Sisterhood of love and support. If you have ever thought of joining us, we would love to have you!