Blog from Rebecca Williams Photography

Celebrating Childhood in Timeless Monochrome: A Journey Through Black and White Portraits

Today, I want to take you on a journey through the enchanting world of black and white portraits of children. I’m Rebecca Williams, a portrait photographer based in Central Arkansas, and I have a soft spot for capturing the raw essence of childhood in monochromatic magic.

For over 18 years, I’ve had the honor of freezing precious moments in time for families all around the world. My goal? To create photographs that speak directly to the heart, where the giggles, the curious eyes, and the tender hugs shine brighter than any color palette.

Now, you might be wondering what’s with all the fancy credentials like being a PPA Certified Professional Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, and APPA Associate Fellow. Well, they sure sound impressive, but let me tell you, what truly matters is the passion and love I pour into every shot.

Black and white photography is my soul language. Stripping away the colors allows me to focus solely on the emotions and connections that define childhood. There’s something timeless and authentic about the monochrome simplicity that tugs at my heartstrings.

Along the way, my work has been honored with awards and accolades at both state and national levels. But what’s more important to me is the joy and happiness I bring to families through my art. There’s nothing quite like seeing the beaming smiles on their faces when they glimpse their cherished memories immortalized in black and white.

You know, sometimes we all need a little break to recharge our creative batteries. Right now, I’m taking a well-deserved artistic intermission. It’s a time to explore new inspirations, experiment with fresh ideas, and grow as an artist.

But hey, don’t fret! You can still explore my treasure trove of past works in my portfolio. Each photograph tells a unique story, reflecting the love and connection shared within each family.

So, let’s stay connected! I invite you to join me on my social media adventures, where I’ll be sharing musings, behind-the-scenes stories, and everything else that sparks my creativity.

To all the families who have allowed me into their lives, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your trust and support have been the driving force behind my artistic journey, and I’m forever grateful.

As I take this artistic pause, I can’t wait to return with fresh perspectives and renewed passion. When the time is right, I’ll be here, eager and excited to capture more beautiful memories with all of you.

Until then, let’s keep celebrating the beauty of childhood, cherishing the moments, and finding inspiration in the simplest of joys.

Sending warm wishes and creative vibes.

Your Guide to Printing Memories: How to Print Your Digital Images from Mpix.com

Photography/Business, Uncategorized

We hope you’re still basking in the glow of your stunning wall gallery featuring those beautiful black and white portraits of your little ones. As promised, we’re here to guide you through the process of printing your digital images from the comfort of your home using Mpix.com. It’s time to turn those cherished memories into tangible keepsakes that will brighten your spaces and warm your hearts.

Step 1: Visit Mpix.com

First things first, head over to Mpix.com, the go-to destination for high-quality photo printing. It’s a user-friendly website that makes the printing process a breeze, and they offer various options to suit your preferences.

Step 2: Create an Account

If you don’t have an account already, take a moment to sign up. Having an account will make it easier to manage your orders and access your previous purchases in the future.

Step 3: Select Your Printing Product

Once you’re logged in, navigate to the “Prints” section. Here, you’ll find a range of print products, from traditional photo prints to canvas wraps and everything in between. Since you received digital images, you might want to go for their premium photo prints or stunning metal prints for a modern touch.

Step 4: Choose Your Image

Select the image from your gallery that you want to print. If you’re unsure about which photo to pick, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a personal recommendation – we know your images like the back of our cameras!

Step 5: Select Size and Finish

Now, it’s time to choose the size of your print. Mpix.com offers various size options, so you can select one that perfectly complements your space. Don’t forget to choose a finish that suits your style, whether it’s glossy, lustre, or matte.

Step 6: Customize Your Order

At this stage, you have the option to customize your order further. You can crop your image, add a white border, or even personalize it with a special message if you’re planning to gift it to a loved one.

Step 7: Review and Add to Cart

Double-check all the details to ensure everything is just the way you want it. Once you’re happy with your selection, add the print to your cart and proceed to checkout.

Step 8: Shipping and Delivery

Choose your preferred shipping method and provide your shipping address. Mpix.com offers various shipping options to accommodate your timeline, so you can expect your prints to arrive at your doorstep in no time.

And voilà! You’ve successfully ordered your prints from Mpix.com, turning your digital memories into tangible treasures that will adorn your walls and bring joy to your home.

We’re delighted to have been a part of this beautiful journey with you, and we’re thrilled that you now have the opportunity to cherish these timeless moments forever.

If you have any questions or need assistance during the printing process, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to ensure that every step of this experience is as delightful as the memories captured in those photographs.

Happy printing!

Shop Cabot First

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

I’ve been working on something for the past couple of weeks.

Feeling pretty helpless, I began looking around to see what was needed and how the skills I have could help fill the void. New Facebook groups are popping up everywhere, but things get buried in social posts – there’s no way to categorize or search. That’s what a website is for.

So, I present: ShopCabotFirst.com A site built for the small business community in Cabot during this mess. It’s simple (very simple), and is a gathering of the small businesses in our city. It will adapt as we go – test and adjust – and (hopefully) will give people an easy place to go to find food, gift certificates, fun things to do, and other products and services.

There’s no charge for businesses to join – the site is being hosted under my existing website, so there’s no hard cost for me, and I’m happy to donate my time and skills.

This might be a temporary site – just to get us through the crisis, or it might evolve into something permanent. Either way, it doesn’t work without you! If you’d like to have your business featured, FILL OUT THIS FORM.

Cabot Social Distancing BINGO

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

I’ve spent the last week combing through resources and helps for our local small businesses. This unprecedented pandemic is a curveball that no one saw coming, and what owners really need (a large pile of free cash) isn’t out there.

As citizens and community members who have to stay six feet apart, we can still play a role in helping our businesses through. Rather than an afterthought, shopping Cabot First has to become a habit.

Here’s a fun way to keep our local Cabot businesses at the top of our minds during this time of “apartness”.

To make ordering from the businesses easier, here’s the links to their social media:

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Cabot T-Shirt Company

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My favorite spas and salons:

Timothy’s Signature Salon

Inner Peace

Massage Therapy by Kandy Sadowsky, LMT

My kid’s after school activities:

Cabot Dance Academy

Limelight Performance Academy

Hapkido

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SBA EIDL Loans for Cabot Small Businesses

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

***THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY CHANGES FREQUENTLY – I’ll try to keep this post updated and as accurate as possible.***

I’ve participated in three webinars this week about the SBA Disaster Loans for the COVID-10 crisis. I wanted to give a quick synopsis with tips and more resources to assist the small businesses in our community with applying.

If you’re a visual learner, I did a Facebook Live overview. You can WATCH IT HERE.

Some important notes:

First, there is no fee to apply and no obligation to accept the funds if approved. Therefore, if you THINK you MAY need assistance with your working capital during this crisis, go ahead and fill out the application so that you are in the system. This is a first come/first serve program.

Secondly, applying for this program DOES NOT preclude you from other programs that may be offered by the CARES act (expected to pass the House today), or other stimulus that may pass in the future.

Finally, some changes to eligibility – sole proprietors ARE eligible to apply. Also, if you were in business as of March 23, 2020 you ARE eligible to apply.

Loan Info:

This is a LOAN program – not a grant. Funds will have to be repaid
It is a federal debt, therefore not forgivable
Funds can be used for Working Capital (fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, etc). Funds CAN NOT be used for expansion or refinancing
These loans are usually made for physical disasters and the application does not specifically address the COVID-19 crisis
Amounts are up to $2 Million
Interest rates are 3.75% for small businesses
Max term is 30 years
Collateral is required for loans over $25, 000 (no real estate as collateral)
When applying online, record your user name, password, and application number

RESOURCES:

SBA Application Link – To begin the application process (the apply online feature is currently down, but expected to be back up within 72 hours)
SBA Webinar Slide Deck – A detailed overview of completing the application
ASBTDC Webinar – An overview of the loan guidelines and eligibility
Conductor Overview – A detailed preparation guide from The Conductor

My goal is to be a guide for small businesses during this crisis. Please let me know how I can best serve you. The best way to follow me is on Facebook.

Entrepreneurs Are Like Football Players

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Embracing a Culture of Failure

If you’ve ever spoken to me for more than five minutes you’ve heard me say this: Entrepreneurs are the key to economic development. Growing our economy is as simple as giving the small business owners the support they need to succeed. When they succeed they grow. When they grow they hire more employees, and those jobs grow our local economy.

Becoming entrepreneurial focused also means allowing businesses to fail faster. Give them the tools and support to be able to “call it” before the business drowns them. Having measurables and goals when starting out helps keep a business from floundering forever with the owner wondering what’s going wrong.

Entrepreneurs have a courageous and tenacious spirit. The innovations and inspiration doesn’t stop when one venture fails. That spirit of innovation continues – the entrepreneur learns from the previous experience and they try again. When the entrepreneur feels supported by the leadership and citizens, then we have community development. This is the catalyst for a thriving city.

We need to identify the innovators and entrepreneurs in our community and plug them into resources that can help them start faster, grow faster, and (if necessary) fail faster.

A few of the resources in Central Arkansas (where I’m located) are:

The Conductor – The Conductor’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and all of their programming is FREE!

SCORE – In addition to in person assistance, SCORE has many online training workshops to help small business owners.

ASBTDC – The ASBTDC is data focused and information driven. They can help bring a business from idea to reality.

These are just a few of the vast amount of resources available to entrepreneurs.

Do you know an entrepreneur (or someone with an entrepreneurial spirit)? Pass this post along to them.

Now, for the correlation to football…

I am an Ohio State Football fan – no other sport, just Ohio State Football. And, I’m not a nerdy fan – I don’t pay attention to what happens in the off season, or who gets drafted to what teams in the NFL. I just watch the games on Saturdays.

This year when I turned the first game on, there was a new quarterback – someone I’d never heard of – Justin Fields. A bit skeptical, especially with a NEW COACH as well, I quickly realized Fields was amazing. Some of you may not know, but Ohio State made it to the college football playoffs this year – they had a perfect season – hadn’t lost a single game, and were playing Clemson. It was a rough game – we started out ahead, but fell behind by less than seven points, and the game was in the final seconds when Justin Fields threw the ball into the end zone! I came up off the couch when I saw it caught! But, I quickly deflated when I realized the player who caught the ball was wearing Clemson orange.

Justin Fields, who had been almost flawless all season, had thrown an interception. I couldn’t believe it. Justin couldn’t believe it. Coach Day couldn’t believe it. Ohio State had lost.

But, Justin Fields didn’t decide to give up football because of one bad day. He’s out there now getting ready to lead the team to victory next season!

That’s how we should look at the entrepreneurs in our communities. They are the leaders in our economic development. We need to give them the training and conditioning to do what they do best and succeed. And, when, inevitably, there are fails, we need to give them the space to shake it off and get back out there.

Failure leads to innovation. Learn to embrace it.