As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
This year is off to a wild start. I literally star This year is off to a wild start. I literally started the New Year on the road, driving somewhere just south of Raleigh. We slept in Raleigh for a few hours and then finished the drive to our new home in the DMV. We have been here just over a week now which feels pretty hard to believe. In some ways, it feels shorter and in others, it feels much longer. I don't feel at home yet but yesterday was a beautiful day and definitely the best one that I have had since we moved here. It definitely has me feeling hopeful. I know that this year won't magically be better than last year but I am going to be doing everything I can to make it a better year for myself and everyone I know.
Instagram post 18186913066037488 Instagram post 18186913066037488
Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the sam Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the same time is going to be incredibly difficult! 💔
Merry Christmas from our favorite little polar bea Merry Christmas from our favorite little polar bear. 🤍🎄
Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with jo Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with joy and laughter. 🎄☃️🕯
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Uncategorized · September 17, 2014

Women in Business: Maddy from Mad Hearts Photography

Too often in our society, people picture men in their heads when they hear words like, “boss”, “entrepreneur”, or “CEO”. Being a small business owner has put me in touch with so many successful female business owners and entrepreneurs that when I hear these words, I often picture a woman or I just don’t assume anything at all. Women are obviously just as capable as men when it comes to the business world and it is high time that women business owners and entrepreneurs are more visible in the media in our society. This is where the idea for Women in Business was born. Women in Business is a monthly feature that highlights female entrepreneurs and business owners. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about small businesses in various fields, but it is a great shopping guide for supporting small businesses.  

An Interview with Maddy from Mad Hearts Photography

Tell us a little bit about your business. When did you officially start your business? What exactly do you do and how long have you been doing it?

I started my photography business in 2010, but I was taking pictures way before then. My dad was an avid hobbyist and he spoiled me with camera gear from a very early age. I’m so grateful that he encouraged and nurtured that love of photography in me, though I never imagined in a million years that I would eventually be making a living off of it! Like most small businesses, my first clients were my friends and family. Once I felt comfortable enough to start charging for my services, I made it official with the state of New Jersey and created a website…yay! I started promoting my business and services via social media. That, along with positive word of mouth, has helped my business grow to where it is today.

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What is your favorite thing about owning your own business?

My favorite thing is probably the most challenging: being my own boss. It’s great because I have 100% say in the direction the business takes and how it operates, but I’m also responsible for everything that comes along with owning a business: both the good and bad.

What challenges come with being a photographer?

There are a gazillion of us out there! And every day there’s more and more of us coming into the industry. So I think one of the biggest obstacles to being a photographer is finding your voice in order to set yourself apart from the pack.

How would you describe your photographic voice?

If I had to describe my work to others, I’d say it’s fresh, clean and classic. I also love capturing connection – whether it’s connection with another person (as in spouses, families, couples) or connection with the camera (individual portraits). I’m not huge on props, editing trends and other gimmicks. My goal is to create portraits that will stand the test of time.

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What was the best piece of advice you were given pertaining to your business?

Money can buy you lots of things, but the one thing it cannot buy is time. So learn to value your time, first and foremost, and use it wisely.

What changes have you seen in your work since you first stepped behind the camera?

Wow…too many to list here! My editing style and shooting style have changed dramatically since the beginning. Before I used to rely on post processing a lot, now I really try to get it as perfect as possible in camera, so that editing is a breeze. I also don’t spend as much time finding amazing locations and instead focus my energies on finding beautiful light and natural reflectors. I have also slowed down when it comes to shooting. Shooting quality vs. quantity. If the light is perfect in one location, I rather stay there and exhaust all my posing options. One thing still remains: I love my images to pop! But now, I rely on shooting techniques that will help me achieve that pop in my portraits in camera and not the contrast/saturation/sharpen sliders in Photoshop.

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Do you have a favorite memory from being behind the camera?

My favorite memory behind the lens was probably photographing my parents last year! I always end up having a blast during sessions, but being able to share that experience with my parents was something truly special. They left with a greater appreciation of what I do and I got to witness their love in a whole new light. A month after our session, my dad was diagnosed with cancer and his health has quickly deteriorated since then. It’s hard to imagine that it’s only been a year since that session, but I will forever treasure the memories (and pictures!) we made that day.

What/who inspires you and your work?

I find inspiration in all sorts of genres, even the ones I don’t shoot myself. Lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in fashion magazines and catalogs. Whenever I’m standing in line at the grocery store, I’m examining the magazine covers to see how the models were posed and the lighting that was used. As for who’s inspiring me these days, photographers like Ben Sasso, Shoda Love, Sue Bryce, Michelle Moore, Katelyn James are a few names in the photography world I look up to. They all have very different styles, but the one thing they have in common is consistency. You can always count on them to produce top notch work no matter who’s in front of their lens!

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What advice would you give to someone who is looking to enter the field of photography?

I could write an entire book on this topic alone! There are so many things I wish someone told me when I started. For starters, invest in yourself. By that I mean, education! There are all sorts of camera gear and photography products and even workshop/classes out that promise to be the magic fix. Don’t buy into those claims. The only way to become a better photographer is to do your research and practice, practice, practice! As for the business side of things: specialize. It’ll make branding and marketing yourself so much easier and it’s a great way to stand out from the pack. I started my business shooting all kinds of sessions and now that I’m trying to specialize in glamour/wedding photography exclusively, it’s so much harder to do! I’ve built such a strong client base of families I’ve photographed over the years that it feels terrible turning them away this late in the game.

How do you define success as a business owner?

Success to me means having a healthy work/life balance. It’s being able to do the thing you love, pay the bills and still have time leftover to enjoy life.  I’m not going to lie, in the beginning – it’s hard! There’s a lot of sweat equity that goes into starting your own business, but the rewards make this journey worthwhile!

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In: Uncategorized · Tagged: business, business advice, small business, small business owners, women in business

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Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
This year is off to a wild start. I literally star This year is off to a wild start. I literally started the New Year on the road, driving somewhere just south of Raleigh. We slept in Raleigh for a few hours and then finished the drive to our new home in the DMV. We have been here just over a week now which feels pretty hard to believe. In some ways, it feels shorter and in others, it feels much longer. I don't feel at home yet but yesterday was a beautiful day and definitely the best one that I have had since we moved here. It definitely has me feeling hopeful. I know that this year won't magically be better than last year but I am going to be doing everything I can to make it a better year for myself and everyone I know.
Instagram post 18186913066037488 Instagram post 18186913066037488
Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the sam Saying goodbye to Christmas and Orlando at the same time is going to be incredibly difficult! 💔
Merry Christmas from our favorite little polar bea Merry Christmas from our favorite little polar bear. 🤍🎄
Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with jo Merry Christmas! I hope your day is filled with joy and laughter. 🎄☃️🕯
One of my favorite things to do during the holiday One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is visit NYC. I usually love to go around Thanksgiving or the first week of December. I'm really missing it this year but it's exciting to know that next year around this time I will be a short drive away from NYC.

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