WYOtribe Sneak Peak

One of the phrases I identify most strongly with is "It takes a village to raise a child", or more colloquially, "It takes a village". A community oriented, tribal-living lover, I envision a world where we can find our way into small tribes where like-minded people co-exist, collaborate, and thrive.

I moved to Laramie last August, and I was immediately taken by the sense of community and people's openness and camaraderie. I started looking for my tribe immediately, a little with purpose and a little by just going out in the town and inserting myself and my children in the local scene. Slowly, we started meeting people (both business owners and other families and attendees) and finding out about free activities for the kids to do almost every day.

I started bringing my camera along as a way of documenting the discovery of my tribe, but also as a way of sharing with others what is out there for families to do on a low budget and on a regular basis. People is also slowly getting to know us and we have already made friends that we hang out with without needing a planned activity.

Here is a sneak peak of my tribe, and of a project I have called "WYOtribe". I will feature different activities I do and have done (with the summer months, some are hibernating) on the blog in the next months, and tell you what I like most about them. It is my wish that you may use it as a resource for your own family activities and as an inspiration to find your own tribe.

Rebecca, owner of just trails and organizer of Little Laramie Hikers, a Meetup group for hikers with kids.

Spring hike to Vedauwoo with Little Laramie Hikers

Winter hike with Little Laramie Hikers

Winter hike with Little Laramie Hikers to Happy Jack trail

Winter hike with Little Laramie Hikers to Happy Jack trail

Story time at Night Heron bookstore & coffee shop

Tea time at Night Heron bookstore & coffee shop

Smores at Vedauwoo campground on a hike with Little Laramie Hikers

 

 

Open play at the High Plains Civic Center

Playful sensuality

When I first saw Elise, bare face and long, straight hair, I thought: "I want to discover her". You know, like those models or actresses that live a low-profile, normal life and somebody discover them on an airplane or the supermarket and put them on billboards. She looked to me like a diamond in the raw. But was I wrong.

Elise does not need to be discovered because she knows already what she is and what she wants. She has a degree in neuroscience, sky-like eyes, and a way to explain things that leaves no room for questions. When I told her the kind of photography that I do, she showed curiosity first and immediately jumped on board with setting up a session. I knew it was going to be easy: outer beauty that cannot be hidden behind bulky sweaters, a 1940s vibe that screams to be unveiled, confidence that cannot be faked.

Her photos are the first of a new direction in Lightfolly's way to capture beauty. Through contemporary, fashion inspired women's portraits, I will aim to show you like you've never seen yourself before. And yes, Elise also ventured into boudoir a little bit. But we will save those for her and her man, T. I know that you will love the ones I am sharing here just as well.

Pretty Little Things

The crafter in me wants to make Lightfolly's packaging, marketing materials and studio equipment. She is battling with the business woman, whom insecurely exclaims that a professional front is a must. But, for now, this battle may not be necessary at all.

Lightfolly is moving into a more narrow, specialized, exciting direction now, about which you'll hear very soon. As part of it, I am incorporating the color folly into the brand and logo, and giving it a central place. The 50's blue that I started with and loved in the beginning seems to be popping up everywhere now, so I am shifting it to a more turquoise version which complements folly magnificently. These changes were taking place when it came time to send my first order to a client and I found myself wondering how to package the prints and CD with their digital images.

I want to share with you Lightfolly's first crafty, hand-made, home-made packaging I sent out. It involved sewing, framing squares, and purchasing delicious card stock in the local scrapbooking store. The CD case is folded simplicity and the main envelope is my version of a folio box. I enjoyed immensely making the packaging myself, and I am pleased with how professional it looked. You can tell me what you think; in the meantime I need to decide how I will package the 3 bamboo wall hangings in my studio right now, waiting to be delivered. And also, how will Lightfolly deal with packaging when demand prohibits from hand-made goodness.