Shelly C., Lately

Thank you for visiting Shelly C. Studio! I am thrilled to be able to share some of my favorite creative aspirations with you. As a Georgia based mother, photographer and branding strategist, it is a passion of mine play the role of storyteller through her lens, projects, and moments in motherhood.

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Styling My Tiny Backyard Patio

Since moving into my two bedroom rental earlier this year, it has been a fun project to decorate the place. I love this journey so much. As I discovery more about letting things go in an effort to live minimalist lifestyle, it is becoming even clearly that much style can be created in a tiny space. It will be fun to share with you some of the little details of my home like my love for Houseplants or how we are at home as 

We are an outdoors family. I mean we live, eat, and play as much as possible outdoors. My back patio has really been under-used over the last few months. Mainly because I felt like it was just such a tight spot. But last weekend after my mom gifted the kids an adorable little picnic table that she actually found while out thrifting, I knew that it was time to get this patio in shape for us to enjoy and hopefully entertain soon.

I decided that less is more was the effect that I wanted to achieve. One thing I do love about my back patio are the large palms that bring a tropical vibe. All I needed was five pieces to pull together a cozy area that we can spend our fall days and nights. I'm looking forward to inviting over a few guests to for an Autumn backyard bbq.

GeT The Look just 5 pieces

 Source List:

Hanover Folding Chair Set

Room Essentials Folding Table

Lula & Georgia Banana Palm Pillow

Amherst Fretwork Rug

Step2 Playful Picnic Table

Do you have plans to revamp your backyard soon? What do you love/dislike most about your outdoor spaces? 

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A Could-Do List For Fall

Go on a picnic

Bake a pie

Take a fishing trip

Visit a pumpkin patch

Go apple picking in a orchard

Attend fall festivals

Decorate with fall blooms

Host a dinner party

Roast Marshmallows

Paint Pumpkins

Attend the Scarecrow Stroll 

These are just a few of the fun activities that I hope to get to this fall! I love to spend as much time out wandering with my family at this time of year because the weather is always perfect and the sights are too beautiful to miss. I call this a could-do list because as a mom, I know all to well the pressure to do it all but if we miss out on something’s that’s okay...there is always another day or year.  

  We got a jumpstart on our Fall Bucket List by having a picnic while fishing in the park this weekend. 

The way to experience fall is to just enjoy it! 

So tell me what’s on you could-do list this season? What are you favorite events to attend?

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News and Changes!

Hi, friends! If you've followed my blog and business for a while then you know that one of the things I love most about being a creative ntrepreneur is the freedom that it gives me. It is truly a blessing to contribute to projects that I'm passionate about like my blog, branding & business consulting, and raising a family (my greatest passion yet). I decided at the beginning of the year to step back from promoting and taking on too many clients to focus on establishing a routine for my family. I am thankful for the clients that respected this choice and patiently waited for this moment for me to return. 

have spent the summer preparing the kids to start a new school year. Whenever I had a spare moment, it was spent planning internally how and when to relaunch Shelly C Studio. And more importantly, what necessary changes I would make to ensure that I do not experience burnout or invest any time doing things I don't love.  

So, with that said, I want to share a few announcements about my blog, Shelly C. Lately and  business, Shelly C. Studio:

Shelly C Studio started out of a passion for small business and marketing. So, you may have noticed on my social media platforms that has been my focus for the last year. I want to spend as much of my time helping other businesses perfect their branding especially visually. I will continue to grow this aspect of my business by offering workshops, one-on-one consulting, and contributing creatively to custom design, photography, and marketing projects for lifestyle brands locally and online. More info on these services can be found here. 

I have gained so much of my experience as a professional photographer from family portrait sessions. Though, this will not be promoted much on my website or social media, I will continue to offer this service to a limited number of shoots per month. All of my portrait sessions are styled and a great amount of detail will be put into the planning of location, attire, themes, etc. I have a specific vision for my photography portfolio and will be more selective about the shoots that I book. 

So speaking of portfolio and vision, I am now offering Lifestyle sessions for couples, families, best friends, and entrepreneurs. The images captured  is more photojournalistic, candid, and seek to share the day in the life. The sessions will capture a few hours of you at home or work with real-life moments instead of a series of poses. 

I do have a rate card with packages priced with the option to add prints and albums.  For more information click here.

And as for the blog, I will continue to share updates on my family, travel, worklife and experiences. I plan to share webinars and more tips for growing a business especially using tools like Instagram, authentic branding, and intentional marketing.  

As always, thank you for staying with me on this journey and feel free to reach out with feedback. I look forward to meeting new clients and growing in a way that is authentic  and groundbreaking. 

xo, 

Shelly C.  

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Musing on August

The thing about creativity is that you just never know when it will kick in. By feeding it you can encourage a creative spark. Give yourself time to get lost in your thoughts. And indulging in the small things and simple pleasures allow space for brilliance to follow freely from your soul.

Late summer is the perfect time for lingering under clouds until nightfall, stargazing, and finding gratitude in the way the Sun rises everyday to reveal the Earth's beauty. I always look forward to August because it slowly brings summer to a close by enchanting us with the changes of a new season. It's a time to wind down. All that we have to do really is show up, watch the magic happen, and be inspired. 

xo, 

Shelly C.  

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What I'm lovin' lately

 Lately, I have shared many conversations with people from all walks of life. And somehow these conversations keep coming around to one topic in particular and is, truly loving the life we live.  Of course, it got me to thinking what is it that I truly love about my life. 

 So I want to share with you the things that have been making me incredibly happy for quite some time now.

1. I'll start with the summer rains that we're experiencing in southeast Georgia. It's been incredibly peaceful. 

2. Speaking of rain, I may as well mention the ocean. Last weekend, the kids and I vacationed in Saint Petersburg, FL with family. We spent hours in the ocean. I believe in power of water and it's ability to calm, cleanse, and revive our spirits.  

3.  I cannot say enough about my Canon 6D and FujiFilm Instax Mini 8 cameras. It is such a beautiful piece of equipment and I've loved learning to use it over the last 12 months. I've captured so many memories with this camera and feel proud of my growth as a photographer.

4. Living intentionally creative, every chance that I get. Someday when I get the courage to share more of my personal story, you will see how creativity saved me. How my camera gave me a voice when I'd lost the words to express any emotions. Now I live each moment as a opportunity to pour creative light and energy into the world. 

5. Another really long story for another day but after several years of rebuilding my life, I now have a home that my children and I can call our own. I'm loving making it cozy, decorating and filling this space with my favorite things like plants, tribal prints, and staying true to my love of minimal and clean decor. 

6. Fresh flowers! I've never been a flower kinda girl like I'd cringe at the sight of them because they usually arrived with an apology or condolences. But lately, they're arriving frequently as a gesture of love and kindness. I cannot be more thrilled. Who doesn't more of that in their life? 

7. The color pink is another one of those things that I avoided like the plague but there is something about blush and peachy corals that make my heart race. My closet is starting to get a little hue but I still love the classics- black, white, & denim!  

8. Lastly, as you all know, I'm loving growing as a woman and mama to my three children.  Not much to say here, they're my everything! By learning to love their individual differences this year I'm beginning to recognize and appreciate some of my own quirks. Funny how bringing children into the world can make you look deeper inside.  

Well, I hope you all are truly loving your lives, spaces, places, and most especially the people that you're with. Life's too short to do anything but live & love truly.  

xo, 

Shelly C. 

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Simple Pleasures:: Blueberry Picking

I took the kids out on a little adventure a few weekends ago to pick blueberries at the Bulltown Berry Farm in Ludowici, GA! These two keep me so busy but today the sun got the best of all of us. I think the blueberry popsicles, smoothies, and jam we'll make is going to be worth it. Taking food fresh from the farm to table is the best! 

So, here's a glimpse at our time together. I love taking day trips like this because it reminds of fulfilling and bountiful the simple things in life can feel. It's so nice to get out in nature for fresh air and bask in the glow of the sun. 

Sending you all love, light, & hoping that you have a beautiful summer. 

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Five Ways To Repurpose Instagram Lives

By now you have heard the news, last week lnstagram debuted the save feature for live videos! This is an amazing thing for bloggers, broadcasters and businesses who can repost their live videos later for everyone to see. How do you use Instagram Live stories? Well, I've shared five ideas to help get you started!

  Are you excited about the changes happening on Instagram? Is this one easy to adapt into your business & marketing strategy?

Comment below.

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BACKDROP PHOTO IDEAS FOR YOUR BLOG

Photography on blogs has been a huge source of inspiration for several years now. Some bloggers have taken on many of their photo projects themselves and others outsource professional photographers and stock shops, like Shelly C. Stockshop to fulfill the need for swoon worthy imagery. So today I thought I would share some ideas for blog photo backdrops + backgrounds, using all of my own photos as examples.

Keep scrolling and get inspired!  

FOOD 

FLOWERS  

DESKTOP + WORKSPACE  

BEAUTY + FASHION PRODUCTS

LANDSCAPE

Remember that your photography is a visual representation of your brand. Make sure to use photos that are authentic to your brand, hi-resolution images, and follow all copyright laws when using anything created by someone else. Tons of images like the ones in this post can be found online and even ordered from here . 

I also suggest using these tips on Mastering Flatlays to express your own creativity.  

Hope you found this helpful, friends! Which image is your favorite? What other background ideas do you have? 

Share your thought below. 

xo,

Shelly C.  

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What are you wearing today?! ----------------------------------------- We spend a great deal of time curating our wardrobes. Developing a personal style helps you to stay focused when you're out shopping. Well, a brand guide does the same thing. It helps you to make the right choices for your business because it is a finely curated brand identity. Using your guide on a regular basis will allow you to convey authenticity and consistency with clarity to your community. ----------------------------------------- What does your branding say about you today? Need help developing your brand identity? Contact me at the link in my bio and LET'S TALK!

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Spring is king! Hope you've all had an amazing Monday + First Day of Spring....🌸

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What's on your agenda this week? I've shared a few of my favorite tools for managing Instagram on my blog! (link in bio) And working on some more fun posts today. 📸:: @myfabulousdesign

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{Make your own rules & love your life} "Don't compare your hustle to their highlight reels." -Sofia Amorusa

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And just like that, it's already Friday! It has been a busy and beautiful week for me. How has yours been so far? Who's ready for the weekend? 🙋🏽

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How would you sum up your Wednesday in two words? "Sparkle + Shine" describes my day perfectly so far. Let me know yours in the comments 👇 📸:: @shellyclately

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Take a look at the Brand Style Guide that I developed for my company! I love seeing all of these elements come together as an representation of *Shelly C Studio's everyday calm, chic, + cool sense of style.💫 www.shellycstudio.com

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./nature is never in a rush and still everything gets accomplished. Spring is here + great things are already happening in this season. I'm longing to slow down & get lost in a field of flowers again. (at South Carolina)

[shellycstudio-blog1]

./nature is never in a rush and still everything gets accomplished. Spring is here + great things are already happening in this season. I'm longing to slow down & get lost in a field of flowers again. (at South Carolina)