a space for resources and encouragement

welcome to the blog

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When I started this podcast, the goal was to bring mothers in different indutries to this community so that YOU can see the variety of ways you can either start a side hustle or jump right in to a new career with skills you may already have. Today’s guest is not only an amazing listen, […]

Ep. 56 Becoming a Photo Editor, with Alisa McCormick

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 15, 2022

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My guest today is on a mission to help mothers get back to feeling like themselves again through confidence and mindful eating. Karen Brein is a nutrition and wellness coach that used her own experience after kids to help other mamas feeling the same. We start talking about her life pre kids and company and […]

Ep. 55 Using Your Weight Loss Journey to Become a Nutrition Coach, with Karen Bein

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 8, 2022

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Today’s guest has brought a game changing product to the lives of all parents that are grocery shopping with their infants. Lindsey Fleischhauer is the creator of Totes Babies, which fits onto a grocery cart to help keep your infant carrier out of the bottom (hello, GENIUS idea)! Lindsey starts by telling me how she […]

Ep. 54 Making an Infant Carrier Fit in a Grocery Cart, with Lindsey Fleischhauer

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 1, 2022

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WOW, today’s episode I got DEEP with our guest, Whitney Lundeen, on her journey to build her clothing brand Sonnet James. Whitney not only talks about the founder tips and hurdles, but gets really honest and open about her personal struggles, which I think will be really helpful for so many people. Whitney tells me […]

Ep. 53 How a Single Mom Built a Clothing Line for Mothers, with Whitney Lundeen

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 22, 2022

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I am so excited to bring another guest on the show today who had a skill/passion for something and after years of switching careers has found a way to turn that into her fulltime career. Today I am joined by Stacy Aguilar, a graphic designer who helps entrepreneurs with their branding and web design. We […]

Ep. 52 How to Become a Graphic Designer and Work for Yourself, with Stacy Aguilar

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 15, 2022

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WOW. I would say that’s all I can say about this trip, but I’m about to write a whole blog post, so that is obviously NOT all I can say haha.  My parents flew into Ankara last Friday as a surprise for my 32nd birthday! Sean knocked it out of the PARK and helped them […]

Winter Trip To Cappadocia

iPhone Photos, Personal, Travel

February 13, 2022

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There are so many photographers out there that tell you you need to niche down to one or two types of photography and be REALLY good at them to be successful. I’m not going to argue with that at all, I’m going to encourage it actually, but what no one talks about is HOW to […]

My Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Your Photography Niche

Photography Tips

February 10, 2022

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I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to be more productive in one aspect of their life — even my guest, who is a productivity coach! Meaghan Langston, the Meaning Mentor, joins us to kick off season two of the podcast! Meaghan has a similar background as previous guests in that she had a standard […]

Ep. 51 How and Why to Become a Productivity Coach, with Meaghan Langston

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 8, 2022

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Toddlers tend to get a bad rap when it comes to behavior… Don’t get me wrong, they can absolutely be a handful! But I am here to tell you that as a photographer, there are ways to get around their sometimes strong willed opinions when it comes to having their photos taken!There are LOTS of […]

4 Tips For Working With Toddlers In Family Photography Sessions

Photography Tips

February 3, 2022

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Sometimes it just feels like pure chaos in a house with two toddlers. It’s not something I want, but it’s the reality on a regular basis. Once my kids start to act wild, it turns into a spiral of loudness, flailing limbs, and general acting out. I wish I had a magic potion that would […]

5 Tips for Controlling Toddler Chaos Through Connection

Personal

connecting with toddlers

January 9, 2022

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As a mom, and a lover of Christmas cards, I LOVE the photos where my whole family is looking and smiling at the camera. I love them, and as a photographer I know how important it is to get a few in each location of photos JUST like that. And to be honest, when I […]

Why Emotional and Connection Photos Are Just As Valuable as “Christmas Card Photos”

Photography Tips

January 7, 2022

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I am so excited to finish out this amazing first season with a guest who could essentially be the poster child for this podcast! Sarah Peck is the founder of Start Up Parent, which focuses on helping women feel less alone and gives them the tools they need to plan for families during busy careers. […]

Ep. 50 Helping Parents Shift the Way Work is Done and Elevate Their Leadership Capacity, with Sarah Peck

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

December 21, 2021

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When everything went virtual in 2020, all sorts of service providers found a way to make it work with a ton of different digital video platforms. But my guest today, Rebecca Featherstone, wasn’t satisfied with ‘just ok’ when it came to her music lessons. Instead of dealing with it (like so many of us continue […]

Ep. 49 – Building an App for Music Teachers to Virtual Engage with Their Students, with Rebecca Featherstone

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

rebecca featherstone

December 14, 2021

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How often have you pictured an exciting moment in your life and then it comes and is not at all how you expected?! Well, lucky for you, my guest today is here to help with one of those moments — introducing a dog to your baby! Dominika Knosalla is a dog trainer and founder of […]

Ep. 48 Teaching Dog Owners to Safely Bring a New Baby Home, with Dominika Knossalla-Pado

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

December 7, 2021

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Welcome to The Weekend What To Do!! Each weekend I’m going to walk through a real life situation of mine where I snapped a few photos – and one of the decisions I made to make the pictures the best they could be! Just snapping a photo is GREAT to capture the memory, but there […]

Weekend What To Do: Clean vs Blocked Light

Personal, Photography Tips

December 5, 2021

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I am beyond excited to bring our guest, Christine Lusk, on the podcast today because her business is not only GENIUS but so relevant to my life situation. Christine in the founder of Diplodash, which provides diplomats support services during and after transition to posts, and also while they’re in country! UMMM HELLO, ME!!! Christine […]

Ep. 47: Minimizing Stress for Diplomats, Military Members and Expats, with Christine Lusk

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 30, 2021

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Traveling with toddlers can be quite the daunting task, but I’ve found the best way to calm your nerves is to be as prepared as possible! After moving to Ankara, Turkey this past summer, and just doing our first visit back to the states, I’ve compiled some tips and tricks that have worked best for […]

Tips for International Travel with Toddlers!

Personal, Travel

November 28, 2021

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Today’s guest has been on our wish list for a while and she DID NOT disappoint! Lindsey Laurain, the founder and creator of EZPZ fun is on today and she opens up to us about so many things — building the brand and beyond! For those that don’t know (if there are any, haha), ezpz […]

Ep. 46: A Silicone Baby Placemat To Support Infant Development and Parent’s Sanity, with Lindsey Laurain

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 23, 2021

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When I started this podcast, I wanted to highlight all the behind the scenes takes and insider tips on building something with kids along side. If 2020 (and now, lets be real) taught us anything, it’s that working while parenting is NO JOKE! I have loved getting to hear founders’ stories, specifically how they handled […]

Ep. 45: Creating Clean and Caffeine-Free, Energy Boosting Snacks, with Lisa Curtis

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 16, 2021

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Be honest – how many of you have found yourself scrolling social media during the different pockets of your day? In between Netflix episodes, on your walk upstairs, waiting for your kids to get out of school — anyone? Well, I definitely have, especially these past two years! I have found myself relying on social […]

Ep. 44: How to Limit Your Social Media Addiction

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 11, 2021

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Have you ever been to an amazing wedding, party or celebration and thought ‘damn, I can’t imagine what it took to bring this all together?’! Well, today, you get all the inside scoop on event planning and building a brand that allows you to plan and execute a range of celebrations. I am so excited […]

Ep. 43: How to Grow Your Event Planning Business at Your Own Speed, with Betsy McKay

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 9, 2021

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There are some people who you meet and you realize that they are doing EXACTLY what they were meant to be doing!Kathy Bartelloni started Evolv Hol, providing integrative health tools to support women, mind, body and soul after years of previously professional lives. She dives into how her life has had some crazy pivots and […]

Ep. 42: Becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner, with Kathy Bartelloni

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

November 2, 2021

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Adding another product to my list of things I wish I had when my kids were little today — all thanks to our guest, Beth Fynbo! Beth is the founder of Busy Baby Mat, which helps make life a little easier for Busy Parents everywhere! Beth starts off telling me about her childhood and seeing […]

Ep. 41: Keeping Your Baby Entertained Anywhere and Everywhere, with Beth Fynbo

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

October 26, 2021

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Any of you out there feel like there MUST be a certain product you are looking for, but when you search you can’t find it? For most of us, after we come up empty, we find the next closest thing. But today’s guest is not like most of us! Ashi Jelinek was looking for a […]

Episode 40: Hydrating and Nourishing Families in a Healthier Way, with Ashi Jelinek

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

October 19, 2021

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Bringing another amazing human, mother and entrepreneur to you all for today’s episode! Heather Greco is the founder of Chaos N Cookies, where she helps business owners increase their efficiency and social media impact through her organizational and automation skills, Her main goal is to make sure you are working smarter, not harder! Heather talks […]

Ep. 39: Keeping Moms From Crumbling, with Heather Greco

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

October 14, 2021

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Today’s guest has been on our wish list for months now, so I am SO PUMPED to be able to share her story with you all. Jacquelyn Rodgers is the founder of Greentop Gifts, which brings diversity to your celebrations with apparel, home décor and stationery. Jacquelyn dives into her past career at Mars, selling candy […]

Episode 38: Bringing Diversity To Your Celebrations, with Jacquelyn Rodgers

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

October 5, 2021

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I am so giddy to bring today’s guest on the podcast!! My Marketing Director, Lauren Lorow is here! She is my behind the scenes, right hand woman on all things podcast and today she is here to tell her story! I found Lauren through a friend of a friend off of an IG story post […]

Episode 37: Finding A Way To Turn Your Past Experience Into A Thriving Consultancy, Lauren Lorow

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

September 28, 2021

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I hope you are all ready to be blown away like I was during todays episode with Elizabeth Miller. I have enjoyed hearing from these amazing women talk about how they took a problem and built out a solution. Elizabeth did that and then found a way to monetize work that truly fueled her soul […]

Episode 36. Integrating Self-Care With Caregiving, with Elizabeth Miller

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

September 21, 2021

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Super excited to share my conversation with Ciara Stockeland today — going into this, I had an idea of what she did and what we would talk about and WOW was I blown away by where things went! Ciara has taken her experiences, her failures (which she owns up to!) and her passions to help […]

Episode 35: Giving Boutique Business Owners The Tools To Thrive, with Ciara Stockeland

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

September 14, 2021

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This was a real pinch me moment for the podcast! When I first thought of this podcast idea (years ago!), I had this vision of chatting with strong, independent and driven women and I have been BLOWN AWAY by the caliber of founders I have had on. Today’s guest is no different — I reached […]

Episode 34: Empowering Women By Decluttering Their Spaces, with Allie Casazza

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

September 7, 2021

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Who is excited for our first Shark Tank guest to join the show (aggressively raises both hands)?! Tara Williams is the founder of Dreamland Baby, which makes beautiful weighted blankets to help you stay calm, fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Tara kicks off with some background on her professional experience; she started in […]

Episode 33: Helping You Fall Asleep Faster and Stay Asleep Longer, with Tara Williams

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

August 31, 2021

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This is the first guest I’ve had that really combined my ‘old’ career and my current entrepreneur life together! Debi Yadegari is the Founder and CEO of Villyge, which is an employer-paid benefit that sets families up for success and helps employees to thrive. I was excited to chat with her and as we got […]

Episode 31: Setting Up Working Parents For Success Through Support and Education, with Debi Yadegari

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

August 19, 2021

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I am super excited to welcome my first UK guest on the podcast today — Cara Sayer is the founder of SnoozeShade, the world’s best-selling range of sun and sleep shades. Cara talks about her extensive career in marketing, PR and event planning (and how being an inventor was not on her career plan). However, […]

Episode 32: Protecting Babies From The Sun and Making Mum’s Lives Easier, with Cara Sayer

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

August 17, 2021

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Allowing Moms To Stress Less In Life and Motherhood Without Guilt, with Tina Unrue Allowing Moms To Finally Be Selfish, with Tina Unrue Helping Moms Stress Less In Life and Motherhood Without Guilt, with Tina Unrue Ever leave a conversation with someone and you feel like you just got a free therapy session and were […]

Episode 30: Allowing Moms To Stress Less In Life and Motherhood, with Tina Unrue

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

August 10, 2021

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I never thought I would be thanking TikTok scrolling for finding me a guest, but here we are! Janna Hattingh is the founder of Booby Food, which (wait for it..) freeze dries your breastmilk into powder so you never have to worry about tossing your breastmilk again! Janna tell me how her personal experience pushed […]

Episode 29: Avoiding Wasted Breast Milk For Mamas, with Janna Hattingh

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

August 3, 2021

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I am excited to welcome our second co-founder story today! Mattye Woodcock and Rachel Coffey are the founders of Namesake Celebrations, which combines their love for thoughtful planning, family heirlooms, and classic beauty. For all my mamas and caregivers that have always wanted that beautiful, thoughtful birthday party but didn’t have the time or creative […]

Episode 28: Creating Meaningful Heirlooms for Special Occasions, with Mattye Woodcock and Rachel Coffey

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

July 27, 2021

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So many of these mamas come on and I am blown away by their grit, passion and love for their industry. Many of my past guests have done some really cool things that many of us do, but they have found their niche and community to grow it. Today’s guest, Sara Reese, is a jewelry […]

Episode 27: Designing Custom Jewelry For Milestone Moments, with Erica Reese

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

July 20, 2021

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Ever wonder where I find these amazing guests? Usually I scour the internet, stalk (no joke) and reach out to women I think would be a great fit for you all… until today! A couple weeks ago my sister in law called me to rave about a new brand of tortilla chips she found (and […]

Episode 26: Expanding You Snack Options, with Jennifer Davidson

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

July 13, 2021

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When people think about entrepreneurship and building a business, they often think about the creative pieces and the awesome aspects that come along. What we forget to think about is all the strategic work that comes along with it (hello book keeping, invoicing and more)! Today’s founder is Dorothy Kolb, CEO of DK East Associates, […]

Episode 25: Empowering Business Owners at a C-Suite Level, with Dorothy Kolb

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

July 6, 2021

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As I continue to talk with these amazing women, I’m hearing more stories of accidental entrepreneurship, which is so cool! Todays guest, Chantel Powell, is the founder of Play Pits, which she started out of necessity! Chantel gives a quick job history, which began in costumes for Tyler Perry Studios then transitioned to an Executive […]

Episode 24: Saving Parents’ Noses Through Natural Deodorant, with Chantel Powell

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

June 29, 2021

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I am SO excited for our first medical professional to join us on the podcast! You may wonder how someone in the medical field, with years of schooling was able to change up her career path with tiny human in tow — and don’t you worry, I got ALL the details from our guest! Abby […]

Episode 23: Personalizing Physical Therapy For Pre and Post Natal Women, with Abby Bales

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

June 22, 2021

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The number of women I get to speak with who are tackling different businesses and brands continues to amaze me! Today’s guest, Shannon McLay, is the founder of The Financial Gym, which provides you with a personal financial trainer to put you in control of your finances, one step at a time. Shannon starts by […]

Episode 22: Breaking Down Money To Give Financial Freedom, with Shannon McLay

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

June 15, 2021

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YOU GUYS (!!!), I am so giddy about today’s guest!! Beth, from Days with Grey, joins me to chat all the things behind her amazing brand. As a mom with two toddlers that need a lot of stimulation and little time to plan a full curriculum for them, I am so appreciative that Beth created […]

Ep. 21: Inviting Play Into Every Family’s Day, with Beth, from @DaysWithGrey

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

June 8, 2021

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When I first found this week’s guest, Monica Lensink, I went down a HUGE rabbit hole of her site and recipes… and to be honest, the photography behind it!! Monica is the Founder and recipe developer of Nourish and Fete, an online food blog that is BEYOND delicious and (most importantly for me) practical for […]

Episode 20: Developing Recipes That Every Family Member Will Enjoy, with Monica Lensink

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

June 1, 2021

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I continue to be blown away by the passion, enthusiasm and grit the mothers I have gotten to speak with on this show have! When I started the show, I wanted to highlight these women, the tools they used and the mistakes they have learned from, so that those of you who are thinking of […]

Episode 19: Reimagining the Way PR Agencies are Built, with Cristina Gordon

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

May 25, 2021

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Have you ever had a time where you took a break from drinking? Maybe dry January, during pregnancy or just a health stint? Well, if you have (or even if you haven’t), you may have noticed that there are not many options out there. Have you noticed that there seems to be a different type […]

Episode 18: Changing The Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry, with Emree Woods

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

May 18, 2021

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Do you ever meet someone and instantly click with them on so many levels? Well that happened with my guest this week, Jill Cromwell. When I first came across Jill, I was very impressed by her professional path, then as we talked and got to know one another, I was able to confirm we were […]

Episode 17: Setting Her Own Rules While Helping Media Companies Grow, with Jill Cromwell

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

May 11, 2021

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There are so many things you don’t realize about being a parent until you are one — the insane exhaustion, the HUNDREDS of photos you take while they sleep in that funny position or how snacks can easily become meals! One of the biggest things that shocked me, was how much STUFF these tiny humans […]

Episode 16: Creating a Shared Closet for Kids to Help Moms and Our Planet, with Lauren Gregor

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

May 4, 2021

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As a mom of two little humans, I know I speak for SO MANY of us when I say that we will do ANYTHING to get more sleep (both for us and our kids)! Sleep is so essential to our lives, our health and our relationships– that’s why I’m so pumped to have Brittney Stefanic […]

Episode 15: Building A Brand Around Helping People Sleep Better, with Brittney Stefanic

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

April 27, 2021

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I am tapping into my Richmond mom entrepreneur pool again to bring you another AMAZING guest for today’s episode. I am joined by Jammie Baker, a personal stylist who pivoted her career after realizing how difficult it was to navigate style postpartum herself! She aims to empower busy moms with confidence to crush their everyday […]

Episode 14: Making Her Love of Fashion a Career, and Making That Career Fit Her Life, with Jammie Baker

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

April 20, 2021

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When it comes to quitting your job and starting a small business as a mom, your spouse is likely going to have something to say about it. In this episode, I walk through my journey in entrepreneurship with my husband Sean to get his insight and mindset from the beginning of my photography business to […]

Ep. 13: How To Get Your Spouse On Board When Starting a Business, with Dana’s Husband Sean Graham

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

April 15, 2021

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I was super excited to chat with Aubree for this episode as her story felt so similar to mine, just in a different industry. We had our kids at the same time and decided to make the leap after our second, so I resonated with so many of the thoughts, doubts and challenges she brought […]

Episode 12: How a Teacher Became a Virtual Assistant, and Now Leads Other Freelancers to Success!

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

April 13, 2021

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I continue to be impressed with the women who have taken time to come on this show, open up and give an in-depth look to some of the craziest times in their lives. Every guest has given me something new to take into my motherhood and career worlds and it’s something I can’t thank them […]

Episode 11: Leaving Law to Become a Gluten Free Baker, with Ilana Eck.

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

April 6, 2021

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If you know me at all, or have been listening to these past few episodes, you know that I am not one for those cliché hacks that seem to be constantly thrown around in the self help world. Instead, I try to rethink and shift my approach towards things, which helps keep my sanity (for […]

Episode 10: How to change the way you think about time management

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 30, 2021

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I am so excited for you to hear my chat with Katie McNamara today because her big leap from a corporate finance career to founding a children clothing brand reminds me so much of mine! Katie let’s me in on how she made such a drastic change, how starting her business two months before her […]

Episode 9: Founding A Sustainable Children’s Clothing Brand, with Katie McNamara

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 23, 2021

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Today we have our first co-founders on the podcast. It was so fun and enlightening to talk to Danielle and Wendy from sweatconnected. We hear from their backgrounds and how it led them to starting a fitness company in the middle of the pandemic (talk about being bold!). They even get me emotional discussing how […]

Ep. 8: Pivoting a Fitness Business During a Pandemic, with Wendy Wolfson and Danielle Devine-Baum of sweatconnected

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 16, 2021

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Fear – it’s a heavy word and can be completely crippling emotionally, socially and professionally. Just typing this out, I’m starting to mental note things I am weary about in my day to day! Today I will dive into a fear phase that everyone has felt towards the beginning of something new (whether it is […]

Episode 7: How to move past fear when starting something new

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 9, 2021

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Anyone else feel like they keep seeing these beautiful before and after organization photos, shows and videos, then immediately get the urge to do it all yourself? Somehow the idea of doing it sounds great, yet, I’ve never made much progress. BUT, after talking to today’s guest, Jessica Luck, founder of Inspiring Organization, I finally […]

Episode 06: From County Government Employee to Professional Organizer

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

March 2, 2021

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Whoop woo, we’re back again this week! On today’s episode, I’m breaking down the difference between the NEEDS and WANTS in your business. This episode is primarily geared for those who are considering starting a business, but hopefully it will apply if you’re starting any endeavor. If you have already made this leap, there are […]

Episode 5: Oversaturated Markets and “Finding the Need” for your business

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 23, 2021

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When I started my photography business, I didn’t have a ton of experience — let’s just say I needed to brush off the dust on my camera that was jammed in the back of the closet! I’ve found that one of the biggest obstacles people (women, in particular) have when thinking about starting a business […]

Episode 04: From Co-Op Mom to Toy Library Owner, with Lisa Bourven

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 16, 2021

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It’s my first solo episode — that’s right, just me on this one! As a reminder, one week we’ll have a guest on for an in depth conversation and then the following week I’ll highlight a common struggle I have seen come up between moms and entrepreneurs. The topic will be based on the discussion […]

Ep. 03: What If I Don’t Have Time For Self Care?

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 8, 2021

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Stacey Caito is a leading Northern Virginia realtor and mom of three. She spent the early stages of her career as an assistant project leader at an electrical firm and has been a full time realtor for the past few years.

Episode 02: From An Electrical Firm to Real Estate Agent, with Stacey Caito

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 8, 2021

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Are you trying to figure out how to spend more time with your babies, but can’t afford to quit your 9-5? Or maybe you’re already hustling your side gig and need some tips on how to manage your work amidst the chaos of your daily life. Either way, join me as we navigate through motherhood and entrepreneurship… and how so many moms just like you and me have made it happen!

Ep. 01: From Insurance Broker to Motherhood Photographer, with your host Dana Graham!

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 8, 2021

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You hear it over and over from podcast hosts — make sure to rate and review, it really helps! So, YES, Im going to tell you the same thing, but I want to give a little insight as to why. As you know, I am not a pushy sales person, so if Im asking you […]

How to Leave a Rating and Review on Apple Podcasts

Amidst The Chaos Podcast

February 8, 2021

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GOOOOOOD morning and happy new year!! We are over here getting a fresh start on the week, the month, and the year. This squishy little girl seemed like the freshest way to start off the blog for 2021. She was born smack in the middle of busy season, and her welcome to the world blog […]

New Babies and a New Year | Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer

Newborns

January 4, 2021

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A sunset family session with lots of tips for photography at golden hour!

A Golden Hour Session Full of Glow | Sandy Spring, MD

Families, Photography Tips

December 29, 2020

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I have been wanting to shoot at the DC War Memorial for a MINUTE. There’s access to clean light, a beautiful white marble backdrop, and it’s convenient for my DC families! I can tell you that it did NOT disappoint, and that had nothing to do with the location. I MEAN DO YOU SEE THIS […]

A Morning Session in the City | Washington, DC

Families

August 19, 2020

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I just want to say… These two are some of my favorite people on earth! Their wedding was pretty heavily affected by Coronavirus, and I was just floored by the way they so eloquently pivoted their original plans into something new. This day was so perfectly them and I feel so, so honored to have […]

An Intimate Mountain Wedding | Charlottesville, VA

Couples

July 27, 2020

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OHHHH man I am just dying over this session. A location with a field AND a beach?! This is the good life. This sweet baby boy was the absolute CHILLEST newborn I have ever seen!! He just hungout and went with the flow as we ventured around Terrapin Nature Park in Maryland. This family has […]

A Waterfront Newborn Session | Annapolis, MD

Newborns

July 17, 2020

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More BOYS!! I just love all the little boys I’ve been seeing lately – they are so fun and bring such a wild joy to our sessions. The T family spent an hour with me mid morning, and boy did we find the CUTEST little area in Fort Hunt Park for their photos. Baby boy […]

A Mid Morning Summer Family Session | Alexandria VA

Families

July 15, 2020

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Another baby born amidst a pandemic, and another family that has handled such unprecedented times SO well! I am so glad we waited for VA to open back up a little bit to have our session in their gorgeous home – little Evelyn’s nursery is just SO cute! Big brother showed me all around and […]

A Pandemic Newborn and a FUN Big Brother | Ashburn, VA

Newborns

July 12, 2020

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It is not possible to remain calm and have ANY chill when you’ve just birthed twin newborns, have a toddler at home, AND IT WAS DURING A FREAKING PANDEMIC. OR SO ONE WOULD THINK. Turns out if you thought that (it me), you’re dead wrong. This mama and daddy were seriously so calm, cool, and […]

An In Home Twin Newborn Session in the City | Washington D.C.

Newborns

July 8, 2020

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I have known this sweet family since they were a party of two… and now they’re a party of FIVE!! They are the sweetest (and maybe most model-esque?!) family and I just love to be around them. We met at the Agricultural History Farm Park and there were these beautiful tall grasses – perfect for […]

A Family of 5 Outdoor Newborn Session | Rockville MD

Families, Newborns

July 6, 2020

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This family is our home away from home. Dustin was Sean’s Platoon Leader in Afghanistan in 2010-2011, and our families have stayed close ever since. They live just outside of Pittsburg, and we try to get together a few times year. I have to say, for a long distance friendship we do an excellent job […]

A Mid-Afternoon Family Session | Gore, VA

Families, Personal

June 27, 2020

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We are done having babies… but editing session honestly made me reconsider that decision for a minute ?? We spent just about an hour in Manassas, just before sunset. It’s easy to have a sunset session when your baby has just entered thew world and doesn’t have a bedtime yet ? Baby Olivia ate and […]

A Pandemic-Induced Outdoor Newborn Session | Manassas, VA

Families, Newborns

June 25, 2020

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My little fam headed down to Virginia Beach last week for our OWN family photos before Sean heads out of town for work. I was SO excited to sneak in a mommy and me session with these two GORGEOUS redheads. I honestly wasn’t even thinking about how absolutely glowy this session was going to be; […]

A Marsh Motherhood Session | Virginia Beach, VA

Families

June 13, 2020

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This couple… I have all the love in the world for them! When Brittany asked me last fall if I would consider photographing her wedding I was honestly the most flatted I’ve been in my whole life. I am not a wedding photographer by nature, but I might revisit that position after photographing these two. […]

A Post-Corona Engagement Session at Maymont | Von + Brittany | Richmond, VA

Couples

June 13, 2020

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To spare you of the absolutely mundane, technical details… I have a new website, with a new blog. My old blogs were not able to transfer, but I couldn’t care less. There weren’t many anyways (I think I blogged maybe 5 out of 120 sessions in 2019, whoops)! SOOO here we are… welcome! My name […]

A New Virtual Beginning for Dana Graham Photography | Manassas Battlefield Family Self Portraits

Families, Personal

May 18, 2020

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There are very few times in life that you get to say, oh my GOSH, I am SO happy I didn’t wait to do XYZ. When I first had the inspiration for my Motherhood Appreciation Event to welcome all my 2019 clients to come see my new studio, I really didn’t have an excuse for […]

A Motherhood Event… In February! | DGP Studio, Falls Church, Virginia

Milestones

May 9, 2020

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The curls. The kisses. The squishy cheeks. When going into a session for a new family of five, I tend to brace myself a little bit HAHA. There’s always some chaos just because of sheer number of people, but usually the children are all pretty little and are craving any new comer’s attention (as they […]

The Best Big Sisters for the SWEETEST Baby Brother

Newborns

February 15, 2020

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A Mommy and Me Milestone session for this big girl’s nine month portraits! The joy and sass this child gives to all of us in these photos is priceless. I just love her sweet little rolls and her toothless grin! Mama is wearing a favorite from the client closet – it looks AMAZING on her, […]

A Nine Month Milestone Session | DGP Studio, Falls Church, VA

Milestones

February 10, 2020

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This baby girl was just absolutely precious, but her parents were almost more precious. I love when you can FEEL how much new parents love their new baby, just from walking in the front door. Baby had a little scare on the day of our originally scheduled session, so we postponed until the next week. […]

A Home Fit For a Newborn Princess | Reston, Virginia

Newborns

February 5, 2020

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“How is she ONE already?!” That’s pretty much the most commonly used phrase in my studio when it comes to first birthday milestone sessions, and rightfully so! How did your sweet tiny newborn become this little person in the blink of an eye? It was so fun to meet this family for the first time […]

A Studio First Birthday | DGP Studio, Falls Church, VA

Milestones

February 3, 2020

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Marley and her mama came in to help me try on some of the new studio dresses for my client closet, and to take some photographs of the updated studio! Boy they did not disappoint! The dress, bow, and wrap are all in the client closet, and this is one of the studio set ups […]

An Ethereal 3 Month Milestone Session | DGP Studio, Falls Church, Virginia

Milestones

January 29, 2020

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Happy first birthday to this ADORABLE baby girl!! I just love the simplicity of this shoot. The details were just so tasteful and adorable, plus those big brown eyes just melt my heart. The last outfit is now in the client closet!

A First Birthday Cake Smash | DGP Studio, Falls Church, Virginia

Milestones

December 19, 2019

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You go with the kids’ flow. It’s just a very basic rule that I’ve learned as a photographer. If you want to keep the kiddos happy, don’t force the photo. Just get them to trust and like you by playing with them and paying attention to them, and they’ll do whatever you ask! This family […]

A Winter Waterfront Family Session | Virginia Beach, Virginia

Families

December 6, 2019

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This new mama and daddy used to live in Northern Virginia, but relocated to Charlottesville for work before baby was born! OF COURSE I made the drive for these three, and couldn’t have been more thrilled to meet sweet baby C in just the first few days home from the hospital. This baby’s daddy read […]

A Destination Baby Girl Newborn Session | Charlottesville, Virginia

Newborns

December 3, 2019

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I mean how in the world did I get lucky enough to get to photograph this couple?! What a gorgeous family, in a gorgeous location choice of Old Town Alexandria. We hit some of the cobblestone streets as well as the waterfront. It is such a great choice for a fall maternity session, especially with […]

An Old Town, Fall Maternity Session | Old Town Alexandria, Virginia

Maternity

November 18, 2019

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This little boy smiled in EVERY. SINGLE. PHOTO. How is that even possible?! He was so, so cute and I just was blown away by what a happy guy he was. We spent the session letting him run around and love on his mama and daddy, and I honestly would have stayed there all night […]

Changing Leaves and a Changing Family Session | Washington, DC

Families

November 17, 2019

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This sweet family wanted an outdoor session in the park with so much history for their family, so of course we went for it! Baby E was still small enough to keep warm in blankets, and I love the ‘newborn’ feel of this session, even if it was just a family session! It’s always possible […]

A DC Park Family Session | Washington, DC

Families, Newborns

November 11, 2019

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The happiest, stick loving, dancing little boy captured my HEART at this family session! How adorable is this little man?! All three of them are actually the cutest little fam, and we all had so much fun at our session. We went down to Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, Virginia to capture some updated photos […]

A Fall Family Session On The Marsh | Alexandria, Virginia

Families

November 3, 2019

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Fun fact: This family was fully outfitted by Target. And I love every minute of it! These babies are also almost identical to my babies in age and it made me literally go home and book a session of my own that evening haha. We spent the evening at the Rust Nature Sanctuary and had […]

A Fall Family Field Session | Leesburg, Virginia

Families

October 20, 2019

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I choked back tears this entire session. Yes, I am aware that is a little unprofessional, but I will NOT apologize for just loving this family so hard that my eyes broke. It’s not my fault… I mean do you SEE them?! Plus, mama is my best friend of 10+ years, and dad is a’ight […]

A Very Personal Fresh 48 | Alexandria, Virginia

Fresh 48

October 3, 2019

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Two toddlers. A very pregnant mama. Fall-In-Virginia weather (unpredictable, but of course hot and humid today, haha). And this amazingly fun family ABSO.LUTELY. ROCKED IT! We had so much fun and I was in awe of how in tune with each other all four of them were. It makes my heart so happy to capture […]

A Fall, Field Maternity Session | Manassas, Virginia

Families, Maternity

September 29, 2019

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Baby R made her debut into this AMAZING family and stole everyone’s hearts in the process! I loved mom and dad’s white, neutral master bedroom and loved how the focus really could be on this new family of three. It was summer and a bright sunny day, which made the light in their house just […]

A Gorgeous Townhome Newborn Session | Ashburn, Virginia

Newborns

September 5, 2019

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THAT BABY SMILED FOR A POSED PHOTO! Are you kiiiiiiidding me?! How adorable is she? This family was just perfection. I honestly couldn’t believe they had just come home from the hospital a week prior! This session was so fun and relaxed because mom and dad were so fun and relaxed. It made my job […]

An Intimate In-Home Newborn Session | Washington, DC

Newborns

August 28, 2019

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When your best friend of 10+ years is pregnant with her first baby… yeah, that’s a motherhood photographer’s DREAM. Not to mention, her and her husband look like actual models. My life is amazing. These two (almost three!) made my life last fall when we ran down by the water in Arlington for a quick […]

A Summer Evening Maternity Session | Arlington, Virgnia

Maternity

August 28, 2019

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This sweet family took front porch pictures before they were cool! While this family felt they missed the window for “newborn” photos, we still wanted to do something special for their growing family for mom’s birthday! We spent the morning taking photos on their porch and in their house, and I just love how they […]

A Spring In Home Family Session

Families

June 15, 2019

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When your mom is a designer, you KNOW your in home newborn sessions is going to be epic! This sweet family in Washington, D.C. welcomed their baby boy home to the coziest, most beautiful sanctuary a newborn (and his photographer) could ask for! I just love the details on their walls – minimalistic yet makes […]

An In-Home Newborn Session In The City | Washington, DC

Newborns

May 21, 2019

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True Life Confession: This session made me want to have another baby. …and we are done having babies. But oh man, what I would give to go back and have a Fresh 48 session for both of my babies. I feel like it was such a blur, and I wish I had known then that […]

The Freshest of Fresh 48s at Fairfax Hospital | Fairfax Virginia

Fresh 48

April 30, 2019

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