Post cards from ITALY

I found these photos from a trip I took around Italy a few years back. Flipping through the endless files inspired me to be more purposeful in taking travel photos, not just snapping ferociously. (Old habits may die hard but now you can hold me to my new goal!)

In 8 days Clint, my sis and I will be heading to a small neighborhood in Lazio, Italy called Trastevere (Near Rome's city center).

We pooled our must see lists and came up with a photo scavenger hunt to document our trip.

Note that I didn't add relaxing...the top item on all our lists. Hah ha. I will probably be sharing the most on Snapchat (laurarosedavis) and a few pics on Instagram during the week and then right back here next Sunday at 7pm highlight images from our hunt. Ciao!

photo scavenger hunt ROME

1. Campo de' Fiori in the morning to sample olive oils and Balsamic vinegars at the market
2. Nel buco del mulo for a sandwich
3. Mail a post card from the Vatican City at Poste Vaticare
4. Vendita Libri, Cioccolata e Vino to sample an editable shot glasses made of chocolate
5. Walk up Gianicolo Hill - admire Rome and the cannons that fire at midday
6. Cacio e pepe osteria for a classic dish of spaghetti carbonara ... a recipe from the chef

7. Visit Trevi fountain at midnight!
8. Sample every flavor of Gelato at the Frigidarium in Piazza Navona
9. Catch a glimpse of the eye of the Pantheon, or oculus
10. Antico Caffè del Moro to sip a pear collins
11. Pizza and vino at Dar Poeta
12. Selfie w/ The Sistine Chapel's ceiling. 5,000 square ft of frescoes. Don't get caught this time
13. Lunch at La Boccaccia Trastevere for a broccoli and sausage pizza

14. Meet friends on the the widest stairway in all of Europe, Spanish Steps
15. Aristocampo for an eggplant and wild boar dinner
16. Much needed dawn run through the Vatican City
17. Deliver Nespresso in bed to my hubby every morning
18. Visit the cross at the Colosseum
19. Sunday morning walk from our cottage to the Porta Portese Flea Market

Why not a wedding photo or two?!... Sorrento wedding was amazing and a fantastic couple.

Who cares what my style is.

Let's be real for a minute. Saying I was nervous to work with TNL Denim was an understatement. What I knew of Kristi  the girl boss behind TNL was that she ran a small business featuring vintage and distressed denim. Pretty cool, huh? I have on heavy rotation three pieces of TNL Denim with five more on order. Do I hear addict? Ummm, YES. This style was different from my norm but I was in love with pairing our two styles.

So why was I nervous? Kristi's small business was smokin' but her style is GRUNNNGE and that intimidated me. 

Ask anyone, I am many things but grunge is NOT one. I adore pretty in all forms. Long flowing hair and sophisticated styles is the mantra my drum beats to. This edgy girl with her vibrant, gritty style (AND PURPLE HAIR, that I secretly adore) was the kind of gutsy chic that makes me sweat... just a little. 

She wanted to work with me. WHAT. THE. HECK?! I was equally shocked and delighted.

But, let's get a little more real here. I'm nervous before EVERY photo shoot. Seriously. It doesn't matter if it's for a big time client or my aunt Jane.

Ten years I've been playing this mind game against myself. Always trying to one up my last photo shoot. Might sound torturous, but that's just me being me. I like hard. I like challenging. I even like those clients who've been dubbed by other photographers as "problem" or "needy".

So, I said what comes out naturally for me. "Hey Kristi, why don't you load up your car with fall denim and spend the weekend on my couch."

I had baskets of doubt that I could actually make this lady happy with my photo skills but something told me I should.

What I realized by day 2 of our 3 day shoot is that Kristi and I have EVERYTHING important in common.

During a 3a.m. chat I got brave enough to ask her why in the world she had confidence I would be a good photographer fit for her brand?

Her response made me wonder what I was thinking the last ten years.
 

Her words were so simple and so profound it make me want to rethink my whole business. 3a.m. or not.

"You took the time to learn about me and my business. Even though our styles are dramatically different I feel like you get me and the message I want my brand to share. It's clear your business has a frame work that values all the same things I do.  It's the moving parts, or the style, that changes to fit your client and that's something I value."

Blow my mind, Kristi.

How have I never seen this concept so clearly before? My style isn't nearly as important as simply understanding yours. Now that's the kind of challenge I like.

I mean dang this girl is good. She even got Clint and I to model some of her denim for our fall look book with TNL. (Photo credits to the lovely, J Poochini.) Can't wait to share more.

Next Sunday at 7pm right here, friends. - So much love for y'all. - Laura