Today, I want to take time to visit with Selina Boertlein - owner of Picture Me By The Sea. My family has worked with Selina a multitude of times, and I wanted to highlight this mom in business!
Photo provided by Picture Me By The Sea Photography:
Getting to know Selina --
I wanted to know how Selina got started with photography. I feel like there is always some kind of history in our choices to be business leaders. Selina told me how she found a free camera as the prize from a cereal box when she was about 10 years old! So, before she even hit high school, she fell in love with photography. She says, "it was love at first film development!"
Without giving away her age, Selina says she's been doing photography as a hobby for nearly 30 years. She says, about 10 years ago, she started taking photos professionally.
When asked why Selina loves photography, she said, "I love capturing a memory." She went on to say that there's something nostalgic about capturing the moments we think we will never forget. In those moments, we see beauty or the unfolding of a special occasion; but with time and aging, we inevitably forget. This is true for my family; my grandmother had Alzheimer's and if it wasn't for photos helping her remember; she would not have been able to! Photos tell a story, but they also awaken our memories and feelings. Photos hold so much emotion for many.
I have a bit of a passion for photography, so I asked Selina what was the strangest photo she'd ever taken! Selina told me that she has a photo of her daughter's hand while she was receiving her first dose of a long road on chemotherapy. She told me that her daughter had a reaction to a vaccine, including acute kidney failure; which caused her to have IgA Nephropathy and Dermatomyositis. She says the photo was a way to document this process, but she never expected it to gain the popularity is has. She says the photo has been published dozens of times in medical articles over the years. She closes that story with, "I actually hate that photo" and I can completely understand why as a mother.
We all know that it's hard finding positives in our lives somedays, so I asked what Selina finds most rewarding about being a photographer. She said her reward comes from seeing how happy her work makes other people. Selina says one other fun thing is the ability to experiment. She has many techniques and enjoys learning and experimenting with those.
I also wanted to know how Selina is able to manage having a successful business while being a mom and juggling other activities. She responded, ever so eloquently, "life in general is all about portion control." She went on to say that her God is number 1, her family is next and everything else gets portioned so that is doesn't take over the 2 most important things. I feel like I need a lesson on this portion control in my life, what about the rest of you Macaroni Moms?
When asked about challenges as a business owner; Selina thinks back to several clients who had gotten taken advantage of by someone claiming to be a photographer who took their money and never did their pictures. Selina says that her first experience with this was when she moved to this area. She says about 70% of her new clients are very suspicious of her.
When asked to share words of advice for mom's who are considering joining the workforce or a business, Selina says it's important to set goals up front. She says it's important to know how much time you can commit to working and don't waver. She says work is very good at taking over without her noticing. She says she is constantly checking in and being mindful of work taking more time than she would like. She says, "you have to find the balance that benefits your family the most. Not just financially but spiritually and physically as well."
For contacting Selina, visit Picture Me By The Sea or go to her Facebook Page!
Selina is a one woman show, but she often mentors teenagers and her hardworking husband helps a lot on big events. She is supported by her family. Selina is battling thyroid cancer (so get those throat checks, ladies) and wants to give a shout out to her girlfriends who pushed her to do this work. Selina is a homeschooling mother. She has graduated one, has another prepping for high school and one going into kindergarten next year. She also has dealt with many medical conditions (herself and her family) and says she understands how hard life can be. She says, "as a result we offer discounted photo shoots to families who homeschool and families who are fighting for the lives of their children."
Our family has used Selina for previous photos and we are always satisfied! She even took photos of our beloved dog! :-)
I would like to thank Selina for taking time to talk with me! I look forward to seeing her work from the Onslow County Out of the Darkness Walk on 10/7/17. Selina is the featured photographer for that day!
