Melanie Yost Author and Performance Coach to the High Achiever in All of Us
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June 2015
How two children shaped photographer’s unique style By Emily Hollingsworth
by Christina Ferber
We all know that hard work and determination can help us succeed, but sometimes we need a little extra push to realize that success. Enter Melanie Yost: an advisor and business coach who can help individuals accomplish their goals, and find a balance between their professional and personal lives. “I am a performance coach who helps high achievers, who already know how to be successful, get a better understanding of their story,” says Yost. “In essence, I help people break free of patterns and find a clear focus so that they can achieve their dreams.” With a background in psychotherapy and social work, Melanie brings many years of experience to the table in order to help others prioritize and organize their business and personal lives. Yost is also the author of the book, “Give from the Heart, Receive What You Are Worth,” which showcases ways to create a profitable business. She also offers online workshops and tele-summits on her site that range from helping people learn better ways to communicate, to making money using passive income principles, and her ‘Escape for Insanity Island’ workshop will be available to download for free very soon. “I am really good at helping those who are wrapped too tight unwind a little, and I help them break things down
CARRIE HARMSEN
into practical steps, so that they can be even more successful in all areas of their lives,” says Yost. The true focus of Yost’s expertise is in helping business professionals get to where they want to go. She helps individuals figure out their unique story, and then helps plan and implement strategies that will help them get there. She offers individually tailored packages that fit the client’s needs, goals, and budget, and can also facilitate workshops and company retreats geared toward all employees of a business. “My primary job is to help people decide what their priorities are, and format a plan to achieve them. I help them figure out their unique selling position, who their ideal customers are, and what their core marketing message is,” Yost says. “All of these are related when figuring out how you want a business to grow and achieve the goals you have set. I often feel like a lighthouse because I don’t point people in any one direction. Instead I shine the light so they can figure out where they should go next.” Her newest workshop, “The Alchemy of Happiness,” is focused around finding and keeping more meaningful relationships, discovering more fun and freedom, and getting the most out of your business and life. It will be an opportunity to bring nature and people together at Hazelwild Farm on June 5-7. More workshops geared around happiness are coming up for the fall. To find out about the products and services that Melanie offers, or to register for the workshop, go to www.melanieyost.com and start the journey toward achieving your dreams.
Christina Ferber is a teacher, writer and a mom who shares storis of our community and the peope who make it great, every month in Front Porch.
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It all started with the birth of her son. Carrie Harmsen began taking pictures of him after her husband bought her a camera. Wanting to capture everything that her son did, she began taking photos. It was in her drive to snapshot her growing son that she discovered a new passion of her own: photography. Harmsen started photographing professionally in 2014. She specializes in portraits, particularly for families and children. “I definitely prefer people as to [something like] landscape,” Harmsen said. Harmsen enjoys doing natural portraits, particularly taking photos outdoors. As portraits can be intimidating for young children, she doesn’t bring a lot of supplies. She lets a child play or walk around during the photo shoot and takes pictures when they are most comfortable. “It’s pretty laidback,” Harmsen said on creating a relaxing environment for children, “wherever the child walks, we work with that.” In addition to doing photo shoots outdoors, Harmsen, her husband, and her two children also enjoy spending time outside in the Fredericksburg area. Their area of choice during the summer is Braehead Farm off of Lafayette Boulevard, where they will bring a picnic and spend time with their two children. Their son, Will, is now five and a half, and their daughter has recently turned three. While Harmsen sees any photo shoot as a challenge, she considers it her greatest achievement when she can capture a frame-worthy photograph of her children, especially when it is not easy. “They fight me,” Harmsen said, laughing. “Any photo I can get of them is perfect.” In keeping with her philosophy for natural-looking photographs, Harmsen opts out of using flash. Instead, she uses her camera’s manual settings to adjust for any lighting. Harmsen learned about her camera’s manual setting six months after receiving the camera in 2010. Utilizing the manual setting was a turning point in her decision to be a professional photographer, and she encourages budding photographers to learn how to use all of the settings that their cameras offer.
“It’s not as complicated as you think,” Harmsen said on using the manual setting, “it’s easy to figure out.” Harmsen and her family lived in North Stafford before moving to Fredericksburg two years ago. Harmsen has enjoyed the area’s diverse settings. “We’ve loved being here in the city,” Harmsen said. “There’s lots of great places. Farms, downtown, suburbs…” Harmsen was formerly a fifth grade teacher at Lafayette Upper Elementary School, and she considers returning to teaching once both of her children are in school. In the meantime, Harmsen puts all of her energy into being a professional photographer and a stay at home mom. “It’s been a good creative outlet for me,” Harmsen said on being a photographer. “It’s a good way to get out, meet people in the community.” The most rewarding aspect of being a photographer for Harmsen is visiting a family’s home after doing a photo shoot for them and seeing her photos framed and hung on the wall. “Shoot what you love,” Harmsen said on finding one’s own specific brand of photography. “Now I don’t just [take pictures of] my kids, but other peoples’ kids, too.” See Carrie’s Photo Gallery at carrieharmsenphotography.com/
Emily Hollingsworth is a UMW student who is studying English Literature and Journalism NOTE: Carrie Harmsen is this month’s cover photographer
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June 2015
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