Nisha Haq Photography: March 2018

Being a grown up & moving in with the other half (& getting a shiny new office too!)

There have been lots of big changes in the past few months, one of which was deciding to move in with my partner, Rob of almost 7 years and take the plunge in getting a place together! For me, it wasn't something that I thought of doing spontaneously as it's a big leap from seeing each other on some weeknights and evenings but to actually share a place where we can collectively call home was next step for our relationship. With the other half being in the Royal Navy, it was tricky to find the right time to really plan and do it. Being a wedding photographer, I love listening to couple's stories of how they got together, often living with one another first before tying the knot, and it fills me with so much joy hearing how they made it happen. So now it's time for me to follow in their footsteps and I suppose, see what the fuss is all about! :D

We found a lovely 2-bed apartment in a little village called Botley, just on the outskirts of Southampton where we could dip one toe in the countryside and the other on the edges of the city, which seemed like a nice balance. Having lived in the city centre for 6+ years, it was time to experience a little of the country life (I won't be getting a farm just yet! But being surrounded by a little more greenery will do me good!) It's on the top floor of a semi-detached house and I'm a little excited by the fact that we get a front door, a little patch of grass (we can just about fit a BBQ so it's definitely a garden!) an attic, garage and my own home office which all seems like I'm doing the whole 'adulting' pretty well (my mum will be proud!).

I write this blog post today as this weekend it's finally arrived, the big MOVE!

Me being me has prioritised writing this blog post over packing boxes though I feel before everything changes, I wanted to share my thoughts on this next step in my journey so far. Having lived in a shared house since 18, I've learned to be independent but dependent too in the sense of having housemates to talk to when you're feeling both excited and low, and having lived in my current house and have become friends over the years is something I will miss the most. When I transitioned from full-time work in an office environment to working from home and running my business full-time last year, my housemates were my new work colleagues. Although the 'chats by the water-cooler' were replaced by drinking lots of tea in the lounge/kitchen & binging on random TV shows & chatting about life, it was the little things that helped get me through the day and starting life as a freelancer.

I am very excited to be moving into the new place, having chosen our new home two months ago, I feel ready than ever for this next step in my life. I've even prepared myself with design magazines, a trusty Pinterest board, Pantone colour palettes and an Ecoya scented candle to help with the inspiration of decorating the new place. As we head into Spring, it seems the right time for a fresh start and new beginnings, just in time for when wedding season kicks in. I'm sure I will be sharing lots of pictures and a blog post when my shiny new office is up and running (MTV Cribs anyone?) most likely adorned with Ikea furniture!

Let me know your thoughts about what it was like moving in with your other half.

Wish me luck! x

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, by Nisha Haq

#girlboss

Putting Yourself Forward...
(and getting a few awards along the way)

There's one thing I've learned this past year is not fearing putting yourself forward. It's simply saying to yourself 'You know what... I CAN do this' and just going for it. Don't get me wrong, there's always that fear of rejection, or debating internally whether you're good enough for a commission, client, competition, award, job... or anything in life such as asking that cute guy on a date. It's scary! With International Women's Day just last week and speaking on a panel at Southampton Solent University Fearless Females event about boosting your confidence, knowing your worth and generally feeling empowered in doing your own thing, it was refreshing talking to students about freelancing, running a business and how I got to where I am. So I thought I'd write a blog post about all the steps I took to get here today... starting from putting yourself forward.

· · · · ·

IPSE Freelancer Awards 2017
UK Young Freelancer of the Year Winner

I've spoken a bit about how I started with Nisha Haq Photography which I've documented in my 'best of' and business anniversary blog posts and working with and marketing to new clients. I thought I'd focus on the process of entering award competitions, figuring whether it's a good fit for you and what you'd get out it. There are many awards and competitions in a wide range of industries, especially in the photography and wedding industry, from local regions to a national and international audience and panel.

I was 18 months into running my business and felt I was steadily growing. I was looking for the next big step that would help me increase my confidence, grow my business but also a different way to gain more credibility. I also wanted my clients to invest in someone they could trust. Seeing the successes of previous winners and finalists for the IPSE Freelancer Awards, I felt this would be a fantastic opportunity to be judged not just on photographic ability but on my freelancing as a whole, which happened to be on a national scale. The prospect of putting myself forward was daunting but the best decision I could have made. It was also the last year for me to apply as I would have been too old the following year for the 23 and under category. So it was now or never. Filling out the application form and having to talk about your business, achievements and what you'd do if you won can be intimidating but the whole process makes you stronger as a person. I remember being so close to not applying and almost talking myself out of it. The deadline was looming and just a few minutes to spare until entries closed, just clicking the little button to submit was one of the heart-pulsing things I've done. Looking back, I really didn't have anything to fear!

"Recognising you are good enough and having a positive mindset can feel like the hardest thing in the world sometimes especially as a creative freelancer but if you never try and put yourself out there... you'll never know what spectacular things could happen!"

On my 2-year business anniversary which was the same day as the awards ceremony, I hear my name being called out for UK Young Freelancer of the Year which was an exhilarating experience and taught me that I CAN do it, I AM good enough. Even if I hadn't have won, the whole experience was amazing, getting to meet wonderfully talented people across the country, being involved and getting support from a great organisation such as IPSE. It certainly gives you a new outlook on approaching new challenges... Read more about my journey on the IPSE Freelancer Awards

I talk more about how I started my business, the Freelancer Awards, finding funding & belief, challenges I've had along the way and some fun facts about me in Steve Follands' awesome podcast - Being Freelance. I had the wonderful pleasure of doing my first recorded interview last November.

On a side note... if you're a freelancer and thinking of applying? Good news! Applications are currently open and close 30th March 2018! Don't do what I did and leave it to the last minute. :P

Apply for Young Freelancer of the Year

More info on the award categories

· · · · ·

Hampshire Venus Awards 2017
Best Customer Service Semi-Finalist

Continuing with the mentality of just going for it, after the high of winning the IPSE Young Freelancer of the Year, I thought it would be good to meet more local businesses get involved in a regional competition. This time a little different as I wanted to focus on other areas of my business that were more customer focused. It's quite a unique competition as it's open to predominantly females. I was fortunate enough to reach the semi-finals and it's good to know that people feel I'm giving a good customer service, especially as a one-woman business. Being up against large companies with 50+ employees in a wide range of sectors felt good to represent the wedding photography industry in my home county, Hampshire. I wouldn't have thought to put myself forward in this category but with the magic of a bit of positive thinking, anything is achievable if you put your mind to it.

· · · · ·

UK Wedding Awards 2018
Best Wedding Photographer Finalist

With two major awards in 2017, I had thought of taking a little rest from competitions, however, being passionate about self-development, I'm always thinking of new ways to improve my business, & photography and encouraging myself to try a new challenge every year. With wedding photography being my main focus, I felt it was time to put myself forward in this category. I thought the only way to improve was to go big and enter a national wedding competition, so I decided to enter the UK Wedding Awards 2018 for Best Wedding Photographer with the panelist consisting of editors from Your and Your Wedding Magazine, Perfect Wedding Magazine and Hitched.com.

To my surprise, I found that I made it to the final 30 out of the many thousands of wedding photographers out there. Getting the news of being shortlisted over Christmas, I was speechless and had to double check the email they were sure it was 'me' the judges had selected. Going through the whole process from announcing this exciting news to all my friends, family and network and getting their amazing support from all corners of the globe and to know they were rooting for me was such a huge confidence boost. People were sharing the news, voting, sending good luck wishes, from past and future clients, friends from my school days... I never expected to receive so much support and genuine excitement in what I was doing. Yesterday I found out the winners for the awards which I was shortlisted in. It wasn't meant to be this year for me but I'm very proud of this big achievement to be recognised on a national level despite being a full-time wedding photographer for only eight months.

Entering a competition within my chosen industry and up against some inspiring and talented photographers was another level of daunting, especially as my business was directly being judged amongst the best wedding businesses in the UK. I had no idea I would get this far in the competition and to say it's been a confidence boost is an understatement. To put yourself forward in front of a panel of experts and also give future clients extra confidence in who they were investing in is a wonderful feeling and one of the best reasons to enter competitions, either within your industry or completely different, it's such a fantastic way to grow as a person and a business.

All I can say is... put yourself forward!

If you're interested in 1-2-1 mentorship or guest speaking at an event, whether its photography training, starting a creative business or tips on taking the plunge into being self-employed and being a freelancer, please get in touch.

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, by Nisha Haq

#FearlessFemales

Fearless Females:
A passion for dance - Jasmine Sandhu

"Be brave; if you want something then go get it because no one is going to make it happen for you… it’s got to come from you!"

What does it mean to be a fearless female? For me, it's a woman who tries something new without the guarantee it’ll work but takes the plunge anyway. Those of are the females I’m inspired by and look up to. Being a businesswoman myself, I’m fascinated by how many females who are doing their own thing, making waves in their industry and community and being a #girlboss whilst doing it! This new project came together from the passion for bold unique women and wanting to tell their story.

For my first feature and launching on International Women’s Day today, I wanted to share the inspiring story of Jasmine Sandhu who set up her new Bhangra dance business in Southampton only six months ago. Having met on a photoshoot in August 2017, we were talking about our dreams and aspirations, one of which was Jasmine’s love for dance and creating her own classes. Two months later, she’s hosting a taster session with the dance hall packed of newcomers eager to try this new dance class in the South! Encouraging diversity, fitness and confidence, she’s had a phenomenal start. Meet 22-year-old, fun-loving, fabulous & fearless Jasmine.

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Nisha: What inspired you to start this unique business, South Coast Bhangra?

Jasmine: I always loved dancing and I always struggled with fitting in the conventional route so I thought that’s it… It’s time for this woman to go on a mission! I wanted to create Bhangra class on the South Coast. At weddings I would get compliments on dancing and wanted to start my own classes - so I did!

Have you always had a passion for dance?

Always. Even before I started to attend classes, I would always be dancing in the living room with my grandma and this is when I was four! I did some ballet classes in primary school but then my mum took me to Bollywood classes when I was about eight/nine years old; absolutely loved how bright and fun the moves and music were!

Then I went on to also learn Kathak dance which is Northern Indian classical dance - this was really interesting and different to the relaxed movie style moves from Bollywood. In college, I took Dance as an A-Level which was about contemporary dance and this was a whole new ballpark for me but I learnt SO MUCH about dance in general which made me into a much stronger, wiser and even more passionate dancer. Now here I am with my Bhangra classes!

Studying, training, and running a new business, you must be a busy woman! Do you have a particular routine, lifestyle you work to?

Oh dear lord… Well, my life consists of a lot of lists, lotsa lotsa lists! Lists on my phone, notepads, sticky notes and multiple whiteboards designated to different aspects of my lifestyle. Tick one thing off and three more are added but it is the only way to make sure you stay organised and most importantly, stay sane! Keeping all of this on your mind can cause you to break down and feel buried in a pile of thoughts and tasks which only end up growing and end up creating a big ball of anxiety.

Every day is different for me and that is just how I like it but the above needs to be kept under control since I do not adopt a particular routine. My daily list will alter and there is no specific time frame to get tasks done (unless required externally by others) - as long as those tasks are ticked off by the end of the day then it’s happy days.

I regularly see your sisters and mother attend your dance classes. Is family a big part of how you run your business?

Absolutely - my sisters love to come and dance and have fun. They love to come and see the whole group as we are all like a big family. The class is great on a Wednesday because it breaks up the week so they can dance off any stresses and dance on towards the weekend! My mum is an ABSOLUTE BABE! She helps me out with my admin and finances which can be so difficult to deal with when it’s just one person running the show. We are super close as a family; we are always there supporting one another, I love them a lot.

How do you come up with dance moves for the classes? Tell me about the process of thinking a new routine and teaching to a new class.

This is just something I end up doing at the most random times. I may be laying in bed post-midnight or in the car - anywhere where it’s just me and the music although I can’t force it! The best work, for me, happens naturally. Once I mentally choreograph I then tend to try it out physically and tweak bits and then I apply any knowledge I’ve adopted from my years of experience. I like to keep it fresh and I always like my choreography to have an element of uniqueness and originality.

What are your biggest inspirations when it comes to business, dance or both?

My biggest inspirations are my parents and also my grandparents; especially my paternal grandfather. He taught me that no matter how old you are, it is never too late to make your dream come true. He taught me that no matter what people say, you keep fighting and you keep moving forward. My granddad proved to me that you can be in the worst situation and you can completely turn it around. He taught me that your physical age is one thing but your spiritual and mental age can be whatever you want it to be. There’s only one way to go and that is upwards! Thanks Baba!

Tell me a little more about Bhangra dancing…

Bhangra originated in the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. It is a folk dance originated in the North of India and was commonly performed on the Harvest periods of the year. Bhangra was predominantly performed by males and was also used as a way to exercise and gain strength. Over time, people created Bhangra teams and began competing which is where we are at now! Bhangra has evolved over the years from traditional folk style to modern bhangra inspired by other dance styles - it’s cool to experiment!

Name your greatest success (or something you’re really proud of) in your business:

Seeing my aims being achieved; there’s no greater feeling when you’re told that you’re an awesome teacher and you bring everyone together in a fun class while ensuring everyone gets a good workout. Not only do you learn how to do Bhangra, but you become part of a family. The focus is to learn together, dance together, smile together and grow as individuals, together! Our aim: to promote diversity, equality, mental wellness and physical fitness. Everybody is welcome, all ages, all ethnicities, all abilities.

As a business owner myself, there are times I lack self-confidence. Do you have any processes that help you with confidence in both your business and yourself?

I listen to Ted Talks - the app is amazing! You can listen remotely so the talks are always with you and there are loads of different topics you can choose from depending on how you are feeling - from uplifting content to content to help increase confidence.

Thoughts and feelings are directly linked to each other - it is not possible to be feeling bad and say you’re fine and you’re having good thoughts. I ask myself multiple times throughout the day “Jas, how are you feeling?” and if it’s not positive and not how I want to feel then I get myself to change my thoughts to positive ones. Don’t get me wrong, you can’t feel happy and great all day every day… that’s just not human. Just figure out what the true underlying issue is and you can address it. Also, I say surround yourself with positive people - these don’t have to be people happy all day every day but just people who can empathise with you and help pick you up and direct you the right way when you need it; true friends.

Name a woman (or women), past or present, whom you admire or look up to:
My mum; her career journey is incredible and again she has shown me that anything is possible - you can achieve what you want but it has to come from you (come from within). Only you can do it.

Often we see more male dancers in Bhangra, especially in Bollywood. Was that one of the motivations to create an inclusive place for anyone to try Bhangra?

Yes! I wanted all ages, all abilities, all genders and all ethnicities to feel like they are welcome at South Coast Bhangra classes. Funnily enough, the majority of our participants are female!

What are your plans for the future?

To inspire, to grow, to achieve - keep it fresh, have fun and continue meeting amazing people on the way!

What advice would you give to people interested in trying out Bhangra for the first time?

Would you have to have a certain fitness level or previous dance experience? No previous experience needed! I’d say to people to be prepared to get a good workout from my classes but don’t be afraid. I came across dance by chance and I found my passion in life! Whether people want to get fit, meet new people, learn a new style, or want to prepare for any weddings or parties - you’re all welcome! Try it out and see for yourself!

To celebrate International Women’s Day today, what message do you have for females or anyone looking to start or grow their business or to simply try something new:

Be brave; if you want something then go get it because no one is going to make it happen for you… it’s got to come from you! Start planning and build a picture and a plan then go ahead and implement it - try now and avoid any regret later. Keep motivated - people will be negative and you need to remember you can’t change them, but you can change you! Keep your mind free from any bad thoughts and keep thinking about how far you can grow - show them how it’s done and prove them wrong. Who knows, this might just be the best thing that ever happens to you...

You can sign up and find out more information on South Coast Bhangra dance classes and your nearest class here.
Currently run on Wednesdays and Fridays.

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Being a grown up & moving in with the other half (& getting a shiny new office too!)

Putting Yourself Forward...
(and getting a few awards along the way)

Fearless Females:
A passion for dance - Jasmine Sandhu

About me

Best of 2018 - Weddings

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Being a grown up & moving in with the other half (& getting a shiny new office too!)

Putting Yourself Forward... (and getting a few awards along the way)

Fearless Females: A passion for dance - Jasmine Sandhu

About me

Best of 2018 - Weddings

Search This Blog

FEATURED POST

Labels

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

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Like on Facebook

Contact

Putting Yourself Forward...
(and getting a few awards along the way)

Fearless Females:
A passion for dance - Jasmine Sandhu