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Award Winning Family Photographer | From Maternity & Babies to Seniors & Underwater Space Coast - Brevard County FL Small Business Spotlight: The Zen Den | St Marys GA Commercial Photography
Read on to learn more about Whitney and The Zen Den.
Tell us about your business. What services/products do you offer? The Zen Den, LLC is a small boutique specializing in organic, all-natural skin care products and health and wellness. I offer products ranging from facial regimens to lotion bars to beard oil. I also offer customized products based on customer needs and aroma preferences. I also carry Soul Flower organic clothing and children's books, and of course our Zen Friends that come with their own Sleepy Time spray!
What inspired you to open your business? My son was my inspiration for opening my business. I was previously an environmental scientist and special education teacher. After finding out that my son is high-functioning autistic, I realized that I would need more flexibility and time to help him as he grows. I also discovered how essential oils really helped him during difficult times. People began asking me for products, and I felt a calling. So, I decided to find a space and offer my handmade products to everyone!
Who is your biggest inspiration in life/business? My biggest inspiration is my son and my family in both my life and my business.
What is your favorite quote? Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try. What do you love most about what you do? What I am providing people with a healthy alternative to the skin care products out there loaded with chemicals and toxins. I love hearing everyone say, "It smells so good in here!" and "It is so relaxing in here!" when they come into my shop. I love that I can help others who have questions about a natural approach to health and wellness.
What is your biggest success with your business to date? What are you most proud of? My biggest success so far is opening!! I have also had huge success with my Rejuvenate Butter, which is a blend of essential oils and carriers that have shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic effects. Everyone who has purchased it, has raved about it. I am most proud of my events for special needs families, as it is a way for the children to do a fun activity and for the parents to socialize and support each other.
Do you have a memorable moment in your business that you can share with us? My first First Friday in downtown St Marys. It was the second day that my doors were open, and I scrambled to find a musician to play out front. It all came together perfectly, and there was so much energy in here. I didn't know that many people could fit in my little store. It felt like a sign that everything will be ok, and that I made the right decision opening my shop. What can your clients expect from you when they order/purchase from you? Friendly and helpful service. I am also very honest, and want people to find the right product for their needs. even if I have to create a custom product (which I love to do!). They should also understand that every product is fresh and made with organic ingredients. My products do not contain preservatives so they must be used within two years.
Tell us three things about you that we might not know. I never stop learning new things. I love swimming. I love making people smile. Name three local businesses you love and why. Bessie's- It is a wonderful place to grab a quick, delicious lunch and some ice cream! Cottle and Gunn- They always have new things, and you never know what creative items you will find in there! Submarine Museum- My husband is a submariner, and there is a lot of amazing history. My son loves looking through the periscope too!
Update: The Zen Den 's St Marys location has closed. The Beauty of Maternity Mini Sessions | Amelia Island Maternity PhotographerThere are only a select few mini sessions that I offer, and a maternity mini session is one that can be added to a newborn session or baby plan. Maternity minis are momma only so you get the whole session to yourself. It's the perfect way to celebrate the miracle of pregnancy and get some beautiful images to remember it by. And you won't have to listen to your husband grumble about yet another photo session (or maybe he's deployed or out at sea) or worry about whether your children will be in a good mood. Even though I work to make sure you have a good time either way, for some, it's just nice to have a little time to yourself with the little one you're carrying. Maybe pamper yourself by getting your hair and makeup done before your session and take the evening to yourself. Here are two maternity mini sessions we did at the beach with two dresses I recently made. The first one is a mostly lace gown for a momma who feels comfortable enough to show a little but doesn't want her bare belly showing. The second is for a momma who wants to bare her belly and it's fun to see what shapes we get from the wind.
Read more on why you should consider doing a maternity photo session and check out my maternity guide too. <3 Kim Owner/Photographer-Artist Kimberly Tank Art & Photography Are you expecting? Do you want a beautiful work of art to display to remember the beauty of pregnancy? Contact me for information on scheduling a maternity session! In-Home & Outdoor Lifestyle Newborn Photography | Saint Marys Newborn PhotographerWhile it's true that most newborn sessions take place in the first two weeks, that doesn't mean you can't have a newborn session with a baby over two weeks. Since my photography style is lifestyle and not very posed, newborn session can take place anytime in the first month while baby is still little. This sweet little boy was 4 weeks for his session and slept beautifully for the first part when we took his solo portraits. He was awake for the family portion of the session and I loved capturing his parents and older siblings interacting with him. To me, that's the best part of photographing an older newborn. We started the session with his solo newborn portraits since he was asleep when I arrived. Mom had this adorable fox hat and diaper cover for him to wear and loves outdoor portraits so we did his outside. And being in the south, it was plenty warm enough for him to be nice and cozy too!
After taking a nursing break, we did some indoor portraits with the family in their sun room overlooking the river. These were definitely some of my favorites of the session.
Little man was doing so well, we had plenty of time to head outside and do more photos with the whole family outside too.
Thank you D Family for commissioning me to capture this special time in your lives. It was truly an honor. <3 Kim Owner/Photographer-Artist Kimberly Tank Art & Photography Expecting a little one or have a newborn and want to capture this short time while they're tiny and new? Do you want to capture the connection and relationship with your new baby? Contact me today for more information on scheduling a newborn session! Underwater Pool Session | St Marys GA Child PhotographerOver the last couple of years, I've seen some really amazing and beautiful underwater photography and knew I wanted to try it. I'm always taking photos of my son at the beach and wanted to at least be able to capture all the fun he has in the waves without worrying about my camera getting wet. So earlier this year, I purchased an underwater housing for my camera so that I could give it a try. After playing with it at the beach, I knew I needed to try it in the pool. I knew it would be a big challenge and more difficult than shooting above water, but I had no idea how truly challenging it is until I did it. It's definitely something I want to do more of though and I'm always looking to challenge myself and improve my photography skills. The editing involved was also diffferent from what I normally do...make sure to check out the before and after below! I'm looking forward to being able to invest in a better housing for my camera soon! This session was done with some older kids and it was fun to capture their sibling interactions too.
And now for the before and after!
<3 Kim Owner/Photographer-Artist Kimberly Tank Art & Photography Want some fun photos of your children and family? Contact me for information on scheduling a session! Fun Mom Project | St Marys - Fernandina Beach Motherhood PhotographerI've followed several projects that other photographers have done that feature something special about motherhood. I loved what they captured and contemplated if there was something like that that I could do. I didn't want it to be the same thing though. Then I finally figured it out... I wanted to find a way to feature moms having fun with their kids. So often, Dads are seen as "the fun ones" and moms are more often the ones taking the pictures of Dad having fun with the kids. But Moms are fun too! And Mom needs to be present in the photographs so the kids remember she was there having fun with them too, it wasn't just Dad! My idea arose from all the fun I have with my own son and how often I would document him doing something fun or him with my husband, but rarely was I getting in the photos too. So often, I would think, man I wish there was someone here to take a picture of the fun we're having. I realized I had already been capturing these moments whenever I saw them happening during family sessions (and of course with Dads too). So this year I began the Fun Mom Project. I had originally hoped I would have an image for every day in May but I didn't start it quite early enough and had several reschedules or cancellations. So I ended up with one a week for May but this is just the beginning. I plan to continue this project and I have some ideas for what I might turn it into later when I have a bigger collection (more on that to come!).
For each mom featured in the project, I try to capture something fun they do with their kids and then have them write a little something to include with their photo. These aren't traditional portraits but they're something that will help these children look back and remember how much fun they had WITH their Moms.
This first momma I have known for 5 years. She has so much knowledge about nature and plants and I loved seeing her teaching her boys about something they could dig up from the backyard and eat. And when you're a kid, digging in the dirt with mom is pretty high on the fun list.
"There's a short window of time to impress upon a child's memory the smell of the soil on a warm day, the feel of the earth under bare feet, the taste of wildflowers and herbs from mom's garden. I want the sound of waves crashing on the sand, and the tug of the ocean on their ankles, to be engraved on my children's souls. The only way we can save our planet, is to cultivate a deep and sustaining love for every part of life and death on this Earth, within our children, and hope we're not too late." ~Jess, Fun Mom
When you love the beach, there's always fun to be had. These two love playing in the sand at the beach but little Miss M had always been hesitant of the waves. I captured them playing in the sand, but then she decided to give the waves a try and she ended up loving it! This photo captured her joy the first time playing in the waves with her mom. I love that I was there for it and captured this special moment for them.
"I absolutely love our time at the beach together. I have always loved the ocean and I am so excited to share its beauty with my daughter. Seeing her face light up when we find a really cool sea shell and hearing her infectious giggle as the waves splash up on her are memories I will always cherish and I hope she looks back on these photos some day and remembers our little adventures. " ~Liz, Fun Mom
Another Momma who's super special to me, this mom is such a great boy mom and I witness her having fun with her boys often so I knew she needed to be part of this project. We did their session in their backyard and they have a great tree swing that she got on with her youngest. I know her boys will look back at their childhood and remember how fun they had with their mom, and now they'll have some photographs to help them remember.
"I hope my boys remember that we laughed a lot, a lot more than we fussed--that it was ok to make messes and many, many mistakes. That we'd get up, dust ourselves off and try again. That it was a lot more fun to be real than to be perfect. That they could come to me with any problem and feel heard and acceptance. That they are loved more than all the stars. Infinitely." ~ Amy, Fun Mom
The last one I have for now is a mom whose family is living full time in an RV. They'll soon be hitting the road and traveling the country. What an amazing and fun experience that will be for them! They also love to read, and although it's a different kind of fun than the more active fun with first think of with kids, reading together is still fun (and my son loves to read as well). So we captured them reading together.
"One of our favorite things to do as a family is read. It inspires us to use our imaginations and we enjoying diving into the stories. We also enjoy using this time to connect to one another and making the most of this quality time. If you were to look around our house you'd see books in all sorts of nooks and crannies. Some of our favorites are "Oh the Places You'll Go," "My Monster Mama Loves Me So," any of the Llama Llama books, as well as the classics and anything from Lamplighter Ministries." ~ Tiffany, Fun Mom
Do you want to capture you and your kids having fun together? Contact me for more information or to book your session! <3 Kim Owner/Artist-Photographer Kimberly Tank Art & Photography
Best Summer Session Locations | St Marys & Amelia Island Family & Child PhotographerThe hot summer days are here. And with that, the humidity and afternoon thunderstorms. Between the heat, humidity, and summer travels, it's no surprise that having family portraits done is not on most people's minds. But there are so many fun things about summer to capture, beautiful sunsets and landscapes, and lighter schedules while the kids are out of school. But where can we avoid the heat and get some beautiful family portraits, you might ask? I'm here to give you some of my favorite summer session locations to beat the heat and capture the fun of summer with your family.
The Beach This first one might be the most obvious, but the beach is a great location to have a summer session. Sunrise or sunset are the best times for both temperature and light. Even on the hottest days, we'll most likely have an ocean breeze to help it not feel so hot. Plus, we can capture your family having fun splashing in the water! Amelia Island and Big Talbot Island are my favorite beach locations.
Read more reasons to have a summer beach session here. Crooked River State Park Probably my favorite location that isn't the beach, Crooked River State Park in St Marys is a great place to do a morning session in the summer before it gets too hot and buggy. If we get a breezy day, the evenings aren't too terrible if you bring bug spray. The light in the evening is lovely. There's plenty of shady spots to keep the sun at bay, trails to explore, and playgrounds to play. You can even do a round of mini golf!
Your Home Yep, we can totally do a session at your home! If your home is well lit, we can do the whole session inside. This kind of session is a lifestyle session so there's not much posing and I'm just there to capture your family in their element (with some direction too!). For families with younger kids who aren't going to make it to sunset without turning into a pumpkin, this is a good option for earlier in the day when they're happier. I can also capture your family playing in the yard or in and around the pool if you have one!
Contact me for more information or to book your session! <3 Kim Owner/Artist-Photographer Kimberly Tank Art & Photography Baby's First Year Milestones | Baby Photography - Saint Marys GAThis sweet, adorable baby seriously has the best smile ever. And I may be a little biased but I can't count how many times people stopped to say how cute she is. I really can't blame them! Here are a few favorites from her sitting milestone session.
I love to capture the details that we normally capture for newborn sessions, those little hands and feet, the eyelashes, etc. Those small things that are so easy to forget without a photograph to help us remember.
This quilt was made especially for Baby M, so we incorporated both sides of it in her session.
She decided to show off for us as the end and hung on to the bench and stood long enough for me to capture it.
Thank you B Family for always trusting me to capture these memories for you! <3 Kim Owner/Artist-Photographer Kimberly Tank Art & Photography I only take on a limited number of Baby Plan Memberships for each calendar year to ensure the highest quality of service to all of my clients. If you're interested in becoming a plan member, I'd love to chat with you! Contact me here. |
Kimberly Tank is an award-winning professional photographer in Rockledge, FL, servicing Brevard County on the Space Coast in Central Florida (including Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Merritt Island, Viera and surrounding areas). Using natural light and custom on location sessions, Kimberly Tank specializes in photographing families from babies to seniors and commercial clients, both on land and underwater; providing an exceptional customer experience and helping save you time and preserve this chapter in your life's story. Kimberly Tank is a proud member and ambassador of National Association of Professional Child Photographers. Signup for my monthly newsletter and receive a FREE PDF on taking better photos of your kids! Click HERE Contact Me for more info and/or to book a session
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Kimberly Tank is an award winning professional lifestyle photographer in Rockledge, FL, servicing Brevard County in Central Florida (including Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, Viera and surrounding areas). Using natural light and custom on location sessions, Kimberly Tank specializes in photographing families from babies to seniors and underwater photography; providing an exceptional customer experience and helping you capture your story and turn your memories into works of art.