What do you do to get in your creative zone? Do you have a mental process you go through, an album you listen to, a specific drink you pour? For me it's all of the above. All of my greatest work has done in moments where one of these three things were present and once I figured that out, I was able to create environments that were designed to help me win - to help me be the best artist that I can be. 

When I am getting into a creative mood, I need coffee. I don't exactly know what it is about coffee but the taste and the smell is a "cozy place" for me. Once in my comfy spot, physically and mentally, it helps me relax and think freely. 

Another process that I go through includes music. There are special albums that I listen to when I need to check myself back into a zone and regardless of the circumstances going on in my life, it will automatically send me into the perfect mood for creating, dreaming and (most importantly as a wedding photographer) "seeing". The albums depend on the times of the year but to give you a hint, there are 4 (one for each season). 

This one is when I need to pull out the big guns - for when the coffee hasn't worked and the album is over. I need to be in complete silence. Very deep... right? ;) I am generally pretty observant of the world around me and that will sometimes distract me from my work. That being said, the best way for me to tune distractions out is to be quiet and be IN quiet. No working from a local coffee shop on these kind of days. I will just sit in my office, at my desk, and let the silence create what it will in my mind. 

Each of us is unique so your list will look different from mine but it is important to know what your list consists of. I would love to hear what your tricks are for creating and being a star so PLEASE feel free to share! 

Preliminary design of Xoxo Invites