Tesla Talks with Tianna
Welcome to Tesla Talks with Tianna! I'm Tianna, your host, and I wear many hats – from successful entrepreneur and business owner to coma survivor, horse trainer, and world explorer. I'm passionate about living life to the fullest, and through inspiring interviews with remarkable individuals, I'm here to help you do the same. Join me every two weeks to break free from life's autopilot and discover actionable steps for an extraordinary life. If you're ready to recharge your inspiration, BUCKLE UP this podcast is for you.
Tesla Talks with Tianna
Courtney Gracie: Capturing Moments and Celebrating the Power of Photography
In this weeks episode of Tesla Talks we chat with Courtney Gracie, a revered studio portrait photographer and model, who brings the beauty of her subjects to life through her lens. Courtney opens up about her journey, from her early inspirations to her transformative experiences in the vibrant world of photography and modeling.
Courtney's passion for photography was sparked by her parents' love for documenting life. She's carried this passion into her work, crafting powerful visual narratives that encapsulate the essence of a person, evoke emotions, and preserve memories. We delve into the profound significance of photography in our lives, and how it reminds us of other's legacy.
We also share our unexpected life twists, including the challenges and triumphs of starting a business amidst a global pandemic. This episode is brimming with laughter, inspiration, and a chance to know Courtney on a more intimate level. Join us, and let's celebrate the transformative power of photography together.
Welcome to Tesla Talks. I'm your host, tiana Tiana, tiana, tucky Tucky. I'll be interviewing high achievers, influential leaders and those with powerful stories. Tune in, buckle up, where bots go 0 to 100 real quick. All right, we have an amazing guest today, courtney. Thank you so much for being on the pod.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, kate, courtney, I have to say, when you see people on Instagram, we all have those people that we follow and you're like, oh my gosh, they're stunning. But, courtney, in person, there is no filter on this woman. She is absolutely stunning. Oh my gosh, probably the most beautiful person I've ever met ever. And, yeah, we all just give us a round of applause, wherever you are, and just give credit to just you're just stunning, oh gosh. Thank you.
Speaker 2:And I love your energy.
Speaker 1:And do you know? What the crazy thing is is that she's actually. You know, you've done a lot of work in front and behind the camera, but I just wanted to make sure that we had the opportunity to put you in front of the camera and the people can meet you, and you've always seen her work in a lot of different places and she definitely deserves this spotlight for this time. Well, gladly, spotlight you.
Speaker 2:And it's such an honor to have you on the pod. Oh, I'm so happy to just chat with you today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're just hanging out. It's all on a road trip and we totally just had a two-spifed jam session. You know the girls summer, just like you know the bridge Swifties. You know what we're talking about. The like oh, I'm drunk. Oh yeah, it was so good. We're going to have it on the Instagram, You'll see it. It was good.
Speaker 1:Thank you for that we're just like hanging out just two Swifties, and I'm so stoked by this opportunity to kind of give a deep dive of people that are so inspiring and we see a lot of amazing work come from them. But we don't always get to see the behind the scenes of what journey it took to get to where you are, and so if you follow Courtney, you know exactly what I'm talking about. We've got like the cute video for thread that you guys did Was it thread, bricksley Bricks? It for Bricksley, bricksley Bricksley. I'm going to re-say that real quick. And if you follow Courtney, she has the most amazing work.
Speaker 1:I see people come out of these shoots and the pictures are amazing. Literally looks like a magazine shoot, which you've done magazine before. So guess, if you want to look like you came out of a magazine and just like absolutely amazing, how are this girl Get on her schedule? She's definitely high demand but worth it. I am so excited because I've always wanted to work with you as well, because I've wanted to be on the cover of a magazine but just for my own use.
Speaker 2:You will be.
Speaker 1:But it's just so cool because now we have the opportunity to take a little road trip, have, do a little deep dive, get to know who you are, and I'd love to hear about your story, oh thank you. So let's just dive in, so yeah, like kind of introduce yourself to our guests and kind of tell us what you're doing these days.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm Courtney Gracie. I am a full time studio portraiture photographer Amazing which means I take people's headshots for loving. And I love it. It is such a blessing to be able to make people feel beautiful for a living. Yeah, like I just get to meet so many different people who do so many different jobs and I just get to make them feel special and seen and beautiful. And it's amazing how much they open up to me in a shoe and like how similar we all are at the end of the day.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's what I do, full time. I've done that. I'm about to hit three years next month. Are you serious? I can't believe that.
Speaker 1:Like that is like that is a lot of time to just go by, yeah, but when you're doing what you love, you know exactly.
Speaker 2:You can just kind of just happens. It's. It's been such a ride, oh my gosh. So I do that full time and then I have done modeling part time, just taking it as it's come, yeah, since I was about 15, and so I'm about to hit 15 years of that which I just can't believe either.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and just like a blink of an eye, just just, are you 15 years? Yeah, has anything happened? Yeah, you're like 15 years. I was 15, like two years ago. Yeah, how do I have 15 to like? Just you know, right? Yeah, it's so crazy.
Speaker 2:It's crazy, so I love it. Every single day looks different for me. Yeah, and I love it.
Speaker 1:It's been awesome, that's amazing. So so have you always wanted to be in photography. Has it been something that you've always enjoyed doing?
Speaker 2:Yes, ever since I was little, I both of my parents were very good at like documenting our lives. Oh, I love that my brothers and so, like my dad, had professional cameras and his work was always hanging in our home. Oh my gosh, my mom had, like you know, the video camera. That's like the hefty one that has to go on your shoulder.
Speaker 1:So all of our millennials listening, you know what we're talking about. Oh my gosh, like it was like a workout to make these memories. She said like her shoulder. You've got like the hip from carrying your kids and then you've got like the shoulder for carrying the memories you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, honestly, and so I just had an interest in it from a really young age.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I mean kudos to my parents because I look at like the equipment they were working with and the fact that they got such beautiful, like classic images of us as kids. I just am so impressed. So I was the weird girl in high school who always had her camera in her hand.
Speaker 1:Definitely not weird.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. I mean, now that Instagram exists, like right, that's totally normal.
Speaker 1:We're all documenting.
Speaker 2:It's a yeah. It's always been an interest of mine, so I got a degree in it at BYU. I wanted to just be.
Speaker 2:I wanted to master my craft and be the best at what I did, and so for me, education is huge and I will always advocate for it because, even though I do feel like a lot of aspects of photography are self taught, that you have to just make as much work as you can to learn I loved, like the art history aspect of it and I think that has really added to my expertise in what I do. I feel like.
Speaker 1:There's just like this innate sense of desire to be great. Like all the greats that you see doing exceptional work are just like the top people in industries they're always looking to grow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and they're always aiming to be the best and you know, in a world full, you know we have so many photographers in Utah and I feel like it really sets you apart is that you can tell, you can see it in the people that you photograph, that they're so like, they feel it, they feel that they're beautiful and it. You know, I get that feeling every time I look at your pictures and, like all your work, that people feel I've seen people that I know and I feel like that's how I kind of connected with you is that I had people that you had photographed and I know who they are and I've seen, you know Facebook how we have those like fourth grade pictures that I just like never delete, which we probably should.
Speaker 1:But then you're like oh yeah, so that was like I get to know you a little bit better, to know, like who you are, Like you've seen like their progression. Oh yeah, but by mentioning that, just that you know, for people who are just adding you on Facebook, you're looking at who they currently are or like how they want you to see them, or even just you know, maybe some people like, if you're on like online dating or something sometimes they're not the best at taking pictures, that really. I mean, you understand this. Where?
Speaker 1:it's like people take pictures of themselves, like self portraits that don't actually capture who they are, and so you meet them and you're like, oh, wow. Like ever hear people say like, oh, yeah, I just want to date with this guy and yeah, okay, don't look at the pictures, but he was really campers in, you know, and that's just something that, like you know, we're not all innate and blessed.
Speaker 2:I promise he's a 10 by.
Speaker 1:His pictures are actually like not quite there yet, Never, yeah, just not there. But you know and I just feel like you do really amazing job at capturing who they are, because I've seen my friends shout out Eric and Jake will more just get anywhere. Just gonna say Jake, yes, we're like, I'm like that's the Jake I know, you know, and that's the Eric I know or David, you know, and so that makes me so happy.
Speaker 1:Thank you, and that's like you're so welcome and so like. I feel like that is where photography is really so important. I mean people, when you look at your family members, like your memories of remembering your family. But one of my favorite movies is Coco. Oh, you know Coco, like the Disney movie. It's so cute. I cry every time. It's fun oh yeah, Like just no one watch with me, it's fine, it's just so tender. Just because I mean you've seen it right?
Speaker 1:Oh, the Disney movies always like straight to the heart, but like I love how the main takeaway that I got from it was like how are we going to remember people, how are they going to live on, if we don't remember them? Yes, and how they did it. If you haven't seen it, which you should right now, this is your homework go see it. Coco, is you know, talking about the night of the day of the living? Oh, the celebration.
Speaker 2:Do you?
Speaker 1:have the dead. Thank you, I got you, I got you, thank you. So Day of the Dead, where they celebrate their ancestors through these pictures, and they celebrate by putting all their favorite foods on this kind of like a mass representation of their life, just kind of like display, and dedicating that holiday to remembering them, and so I just love that so much.
Speaker 2:That's actually like a huge part of why what I do is special to me. I don't have a very good memory. I don't remember very much of my childhood.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I agree and like it is so, so special to have.
Speaker 2:Like I have a framed picture of my grandma when she graduated high school and it's in my bedroom because it is just so special to me, Like she looks so beautiful in that and like I'm named after my other grandma, grace. Oh sweet.
Speaker 2:And I found we found an old picture of her recently from like a distant family member had for some reason and it's this gorgeous shot of her, and she even signed Love Gracie on it in her handwriting. And I have the chills I'm like. I need someone who's like designed savvy to figure out how to like take that signature off for me so I can use it because it's so beautiful and I just like, I love that memory aspect of photography, Like, yes, I hope these are the kind of pictures that people like hang and their kids like hang on to and love forever.
Speaker 1:So I yeah, oh, my gosh, and I just feel like that would be considered such an honor to like be a part of something like that. Where it's like you know, or like, even just the thought of like capturing. Ooh, you guys, we have our order, our SWIG order.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Oh, I am being pampered. Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, swig, for the amazing snacks of road trip snacks.
Speaker 2:Oh, we went through a drive through.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was personally hand delivered by Talmage. We're going to do like a quick, like a quick stop sign or a sharp left turn. I just had to know what is your order.
Speaker 2:I think this is a triple D, so a dirty diet. Dr Pepper so has coconut.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm sorry, but if you don't like coconut, I know where I stand with you, right? Oh my gosh, I mean, it's really just a whole personality trait.
Speaker 2:Um first roommate after college. I was so excited I need a buckle for this one. That's a good story. Oh, listen up. So yeah, I love coconut, everything. It is my shampoo, conditioner, lotion.
Speaker 1:Are we this person?
Speaker 2:Like I love coconut.
Speaker 1:I'm like do you have the same sense that God not give us the same nose? I think we're sisters.
Speaker 2:I think we literally showed up in coordinating outfits. So we did. Yeah, we're on the same wavelength. Yes, we get. I get my first roommate first apartment out of college and she is deathly allergic to coconut and shrimp my two favorite things.
Speaker 1:God gives the hardest battles to finish these Literally I like.
Speaker 2:I used to have coconut yogurt, greek yogurt every single morning. I made shrimp pasta like weekly and I couldn't have any of that for the year that I lived with her.
Speaker 1:You just have to live like a separate life, like outside your house. I was like I was like I don't think there's like actual essence in it. Right, I feel like the smell of it, you know, like strawberries, like strawberry flavored things don't actually taste like real strawberries, or like cherry.
Speaker 2:I will do this for you, oh not you or just kind of a human.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I would be like Kay. It looks like we're not just a good fit. I'm so sorry, this is my personality and you know I just I can't live authentically without coconut everything. No, we're talking everything Same Like. If there, I mean coconut kind of got like it's, it's nice, like moment and it's never ended. I'm so glad for that. Me too. I mean, coconut wasn't really on my radar until like I was 12, 13 and then people were like holy cow, coconut is a thing. We took a toll detour like a detour with this, but I felt like it was important to mention with our love for coconut.
Speaker 1:Yes, if you want to get to know us. No, no, we'd like to know us, right. Okay, so on your journey with GainTuber you are right now. You've done quite a few things, you've accomplished quite a bit. Who have been some of your favorite people, or like a project that you've really loved reflecting back on in your career?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, that's hard. So many shoots have left me feeling so humbled, like you want me to shoot. You Are you sure? Yeah, because, like you said, there are so many photographers here and even though the niche of studio is considerably smaller, I still have so much respect for the people around here who also shoot studio. I'm constantly in awe of them and the things that they're able to do within their careers. Oh dang it, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I did notice you did a little shoot with someone named Rachel. Yeah, that one was really exciting.
Speaker 2:Yes, and she's stunning, she is. I love her house, I love her, her line, everything. Yeah, I was able to do a few of those magazine shoots for Desert Magazine and she was one of them and, yeah, that was really, really fun. That was so fun. Dash was my assistant and he was just so cute and I just anytime there are dogs on set.
Speaker 1:I'm like let's get him in a shot. Yeah, you're like instant bestie Part, like they're in the shot when I got to shoot.
Speaker 2:I was able to photograph Deloy Hanson a few times now and the second shoot he brought his I think it's a mini golden doodle and I was like let's get him in the shot.
Speaker 1:You're like this is a great shoot for you. And then I was like about the dog?
Speaker 2:Even I'll have people. They'll be like. I will occasionally do family portraits if people beg and she's asking you to beg. No, I don't enjoy them, but I accepted that one because it was individuals. I don't like doing group shots.
Speaker 1:Just something in variables and giving directions. You're so smart.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you. I am proud of myself because I did not go into photography for math or science. Obviously I was like get me away from those things, but it is so funny because there is so much math info there is. And then science in the aspect of controlled variables. That's exactly why I love Studio, because it's like Two of them only To keep open.
Speaker 1:don't worry about having them closed.
Speaker 2:The only control variable is the client, because my light is the same. My backdrop is the same.
Speaker 1:I keep most of my settings the same, and so, and there's that 101 connection where you're like I can't have a one-on-five connection right now, especially when there's a baby crying, or even a dog. That's just kind of like get me out of the studio.
Speaker 2:But this family had me photograph their dogs individually.
Speaker 1:Oh, my gosh really.
Speaker 2:It was so cute, I loved it. I think there were three and I was like, yes, I will photograph your dogs.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm a human person, but I am sorry, the dogs come first.
Speaker 2:I'm a dog person first yes, so I need a dog. What kind of dog would you get? I would do a red golden retriever Like they have. Like a reddish tint, yeah, because I'm too afraid to dye my own hair red.
Speaker 1:You're like accessory or dog, we don't know.
Speaker 2:I just have so much golden retriever energy myself, right, right, they say that it's the best fit.
Speaker 1:Well, you say that your pet is like the owner. You know You're like we are matching the dog to the person.
Speaker 2:If you can't match the energy.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, you're just not it for us. Yeah, coconut. And if you are a dog, who's fun. Yeah, because like that is an instant win for Grace. Yeah, for that's an instant win for Courtney. I am so sorry.
Speaker 2:Honestly, everyone calls me Grace. Really, it is so funny.
Speaker 1:Yep, everyone calls me Courtney, gracey, grace, gracie, for those of you who have been listening along have been on a journey to something great. There's always a need for. I've always heard from the greats that you need to Go back and make sure that you're documenting the journey because you're never gonna be 15 again. You're never gonna be 20 again. What, what are some of those Life you know? Like you know what they say, like this is for the plot.
Speaker 2:Like what are some?
Speaker 1:unexpected detours or you turns that you've had in just life, or even your, your business journey. Your Photography journey has a distance to be sailing how we just like. Hit it off when we were 14.
Speaker 2:I wish it looks like it For sure. Oh gosh, and isn't that funny. I get that all the time. People are like, wow, you're so successful, you're so this or that and I'm like over everything. I feel like I'm struggling so much really. It's yeah, isn't that an interesting thing about social media? But it's true, I I have that thought a few times this summer, like do it for the plot, like do it for the plot.
Speaker 1:It's gonna be great for the story we're.
Speaker 2:I feel like I do that more in dating than in business. But yes, business I feel like even starting this thing at all was this unexpected. I'm very, very risk averse. I never intended to Start a business. I used my degree in photo to pivot to marketing. Mm-hmm and be able to apply those skills in a way that got me a salary and benefits. Yeah, but yeah, COVID hit lost that job less than a year into it and I was terrified Was the same week we had we got hit with the earthquake.
Speaker 2:There's this like unprecedented pandemic and I lose my job and you know I'm alone I I didn't. You know I didn't have a wedding, that and people gave me food storage and like I had Nothing to no one to fall back on and I'm like the world is burning. What am I gonna do? Yeah, and I looked for work for about six months and lived on savings and as they started to dwindle, I'm like, okay, what am I gonna do? And I had this skill in my back pocket and I was like you know what I'm gonna use, like the last of my savings? Get my photo equipment, because at least this is something that I know how to do. I love doing it, it makes me happy and I can like be just doing this in the meantime as I continue my job search. And then it took off and I was like why didn't I believe in myself? Why didn't I, like it never occurred to me that I could do that?
Speaker 1:Isn't that so interesting, how some things that are in retrospect so blatantly and obvious what, what our path is and what we are Destined to do. Sometimes it's so hard for ourselves to see yeah and you know we we do these things Sometimes little pieces at a time. We get one foot in there and we get a toe kind of just testing the water and Then looking back when you do the full, going full, hundred hundred percent, look back and just like duh, like I can't see myself do anything else.
Speaker 2:That's the typical, I think, advice that people give is like get your study 9 to 5 and then do your hobby on the weekends and build it up until you can quit your 9 to 5, which are still. I mean I wish I could have followed. Yeah, yeah, I wish I could have had a little bit more financial stability going into it. But like what a tender mercy. To just be thrown into it and have to sink or swim and that's just how it's always been is like as Business owner, especially in the arts, it ebbs and flows and so, yeah, it's been Wild roller coaster and I'm so grateful for who it has made me and the things that I've learned and and how much I've grown and who I've become through it. I'm just so grateful.
Speaker 1:That is. That is so amazing. Do you ever feel like? Do you ever think about who you would have been if you didn't just yes the plunge? Right just like didn't do Make that, that jump into doing that. Mm-hmm, does ever like scary.
Speaker 2:It's weird like, yeah, what if I?
Speaker 1:am stuck doing what I don't love for the rest of my life. Yes, it's not scary.
Speaker 2:It is kind of scary, but I do like try to hold on to the belief that things happen for a reason and that, as long as you are doing your best, it works out for the best.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely. What would you think if, like you, got to sit in a tassel, maybe with younger Gracie she? Was like, which I'm sure was just like the cutest little person ever. Yeah, how would you feel if you had the opportunity to go back? What would you say to her? Oh my gosh now, being yourself now and what you know now and what you've experienced, yeah, oh.
Speaker 2:That makes me emotional. I just hug her Because, yeah, life is so different than I ever thought I was gonna be, but it's also so much better than I ever thought I was gonna be. So, yeah, bless her. She has a rough road ahead, but it just made her stronger in the long run.
Speaker 1:I Think she would really. I think she'd give you a hug back like have you ever seen those little? I've you heard that sound on tiktok where it's like a little picture of somebody and like a Age, you know four or five. We have a business. Oh yeah, I like saw that I can't stop some time. I'm like, oh crap, I'm gonna start crying.
Speaker 1:I know, you know, it's just like and it's like Courtney, we have a business, we shot Rachel Parcell and then you'll be able to say soon, like we have a dog, we have a red golden retriever.
Speaker 2:Oh, hopefully. Yes, I need a little baby in my life.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. I mean, yeah, isn't that just so crazy. Like life is never how we think, you know. They say like if you have a plan, god laughs and is like Truly, but I do think, without dipping too much into religion though, that is a huge part of my life and I'm sure it is for you that you know the universe or God, like everything, like you said, is just, is all for our good.
Speaker 1:And everything that we do is going to be for the plot or it's going to be for something, and he utilizes it. And you know our team using all of our parts for the podcast, you know, like they're going to create the best parts and take it, and just going through the journey is helping mold and shape us into who we're supposed to be. You know, I love that, and every part that was difficult about COVID forced you to become that person. Yeah, there has to be something that pushes you from where you are now to where you're going. You have to change something about yourself. Now that you know, in order to be the person that you want to be, you have to change and and it's fun, it is fun.
Speaker 2:Like I think that is one thing I would tell Baby Courtney is like oh, baby Courtney, change is fun. It is so exciting to change your mind completely, like things that I used to be so staunch and passionate about for opinion-wise, I have completely flipped a 180, and it's so fun. Like it's fun to change your mind and it's fun to grow and learn and do different things and like surprise yourself.
Speaker 1:Be in your new era.
Speaker 2:Like it's funny to become the person that you would have like hated or like yeah, asked, like yeah, it's so funny and it just makes you a better person, I think too, because now I have so much more empathy for those people or those ideas or different things, so good.
Speaker 1:I mean we need to have you like a permanent, like installment on this podcast Because you just like I'm just like peeking my head out in the middle and like it's me Hi.
Speaker 2:Like Ken and Barbie. Like, hop up in the back seat. Barbie, hi Barbie, I'm obsessed with that movie.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's okay, I'm okay with going into my Barbie era forever. I mean, just check these out.
Speaker 2:Yes For those watching. They're so cute. Do you see these? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:See, I need to be more like you. Oh no, no, Courtney, we need to be like you. So we have a really quick, fun segment we would like to call zero to 60, since we're in a zero to 60 vehicle, yeah, and we love to do these little rapid fire, just to.
Speaker 2:Just for fun things All right, hit me with that.
Speaker 1:So how this works is that we have 500 questions and so we're not answering them all the way. Okay, we're like we've already gone through 500 questions. They're going to put me through that in like two minutes. So how this works is that I'm going to give you anywhere from one to 500, we have 500 questions are all numbered, and you're going to give me three, starting with one at a time, and I'm going to randomly go through this list and we're going to let fate find the question. So let's hear your first number 55. Is there any reason you pick 55?
Speaker 2:I love, like the cute little cosmic numbers during the day, like 11, 11. Oh my gosh, she's here.
Speaker 1:It's just like the cute things in life. Oh my gosh Cute. What are some of your favorite ice cream toppings?
Speaker 2:Anything Chocolate. Chocolate Like chocolate brownie hot fudge.
Speaker 1:Give us all the chocolate. Yes, love that. Do you have? Like a specific place you like to go to?
Speaker 2:Right here Freddie's. She's so good, like the favorite frozen custard.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, freddie's she's so good. I'm going to have to go back to the office after Buckle up. We're going right now. Bye guys, we're coming Next number. I'm going to have to go to the office.
Speaker 2:Let's do 222.
Speaker 1:What were the last two books that you read? Oh my gosh, I love books. I'm so glad you're a reader, because that would have been so awkward.
Speaker 2:Yes, no, I love books. This year I've been reading Brianna Weist Ooh okay. I think that's how you say her last name W-I-E-S-T. In the comments you let us know I will. Her book went viral. The 101 essays that'll change the way you think. Oh yeah, the white and black covers. So I've been reading all of her books this year and I'm obsessed with her Truly. It is like the most life-changing stuff. I love it so much because she's grounded in psychology, but then she writes it in a very poetic way.
Speaker 1:Oh, so it's not super medical, it's easily digested.
Speaker 2:It's not the thick stuff like the body keeps the score, it's like. But it's also not like Rupi Kaur, it's in the middle.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that. I have to look at it with that up.
Speaker 2:So her works are, yeah, like 101 essays that'll change the way you think the mountain is you Ceremony. So those are what I've been reading this year. Ooh.
Speaker 1:Love that.
Speaker 2:They're so good. You'll have to tell me what you think.
Speaker 1:Oh, I will. We're going to do like a little Instagram review. Yes, we'll follow up with that. Okay, last one, hmm, first one that comes to your mind.
Speaker 2:Let's do 30. 30.
Speaker 1:30 special number.
Speaker 2:I turned 30 in 30 days. What I'm like. How?
Speaker 1:do we talk? We are celebrating 30 days from now. Yes, please.
Speaker 2:I was supposed to be in the Tesla Party in the Tesla, and I'm so sad because obviously I'm heartbroken for what happened. Yes, that is just terrifying, the thought of like, can you flee into the water? Yeah, I mean. So I'm heartbroken for them. Our hearts go out to Maui Truly, and I'm also sad for me because it was like all the last few months have been tough.
Speaker 1:Everybody is just so sad and I'm like make it to Maui.
Speaker 2:Make it to Maui like you can do it. And like my life just looks so different. Yeah, At 30, then I ever was like prepared to think it would be or like yeah, so I was very excited to spend it on a beach.
Speaker 1:Hey, do you know what? In the comments, we can use the power of our audience. Send us your favorite locations or alternatives to.
Speaker 2:Hawaii. They're also very beautiful.
Speaker 1:I've heard, like Fiji, you know, italy, sardinia.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, greece is like top of the bucket list. Let's go to Greece, all right, yes, okay, let's do it. We'll come back when Maui has had a chance to rebuild and give me a little time.
Speaker 1:But it'll be back. What is the strongest animal you can win against with just your bare hands and feet?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't know, that's scary to think about. Let's do another one.
Speaker 1:Mine would be a lizard, because I'd probably just like sweep it away. I don't know.
Speaker 2:Okay, I see. Yeah, I'm like picturing myself with like a leopard.
Speaker 1:Because you are wearing a leopard and you're like, you're like, I'm the baddest thing in this jungle. Watch out. Yeah, I don't know. Do you want a different?
Speaker 2:question. Let's do a different one. See, 30 is not it. I just need. I need to do 29 over, you know 29. Do you want to do that one? Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1:How often do you go into a room and forget why you went into that room? Never You're like. My memory is immaculate.
Speaker 2:I do have a pretty good memory.
Speaker 1:Do you know, what Can you just like? Maybe like brush a little bit of that onto me, because that's impressive.
Speaker 2:It is one of my strengths, like I rarely forget things, I never lose things, and so, but anytime that it does rarely happen, it feels devastating because I'm like this is not me.
Speaker 1:This is not me. Oh my gosh. When it happens to me, I'm like this is me. We've had this happen multiple times. You know today already when can everyone find you? How can people connect to you online? What you got going on? What could we send our audience to?
Speaker 2:You're so sweet. You can find me, courtney Gracie Courtney underscore Gracie on Instagram or Courtney underscore Gracie photography on.
Speaker 1:Instagram Okay, amazing.
Speaker 2:My website is the same Courtneygraciecom.
Speaker 1:I will link it in the show notes down below Perfect.
Speaker 2:And then I'm hoping to do in person classes soon. So amazing, like intro to photo 101, like for photographers and models. Anyone like anyone who just got a nice camera. Here's how to use it. Oh amazing, the absolute basics, because I have so many friends in that boat and yeah like you said, we want people to be able to create those memories in the most beautiful way that they can.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'd love to offer that, and then I've always done one on one, modeling coaching, and I'd love to do a class soon.
Speaker 1:Hey, I'll be there. Hey, if you guys want to do like a meetup, let's just meet up at this class. It's going to be amazing, it's going to be so fun because, honestly, it's like it's.
Speaker 2:it would be helpful for your iPhone shots, it's helpful for just like, your confidence and like yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I mean, I don't know about you, but I have definitely had my fair share of you know, in front of the Eiffel Tower, like these important pictures, and I put them in the hands of like random strangers, Right, Do you ever have that happen to you, where it's like do they not know what they're doing? I mean no offense, I mean thank you so much if you ever took my picture, but but you know like, they're just like. I got a ton.
Speaker 2:I swear, did you look at them? No, no, every trip I've been on, I will bring my nice camera and I will like give them a mini can like a mini directions for them. I'll set up all the settings for them and I'll place them exactly where I want them, and then I'm like okay, all you have to do is push a button and stand where I would stand just to get the exact same thing and it's never the same. It's.
Speaker 1:Well, this is just going to be amazing, because not only are we helping the individuals in the classes become better photographers, better posers, not posers, it's for me, for you, yeah, for you for me.
Speaker 1:Better people as the subject and pictures and just creating better memories and really giving something for you know, documenting your life in a way that is so beautiful and is passing on a beautiful legacy. We are also creating better strangers and public who give better photos to people like Disneyland to think about. It's a gift that gives to the world. Keeps on giving on. Courtney, thank you so much for being on the podcast. It was a blast.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. I love their road trip.
Speaker 1:I know it was so fun and we got our cute little snacks. Yes, cheers, cheers to that. Until next time, please go right and review the podcast. We love hearing from you. It helps us so much and we want to know what you want to hear on the podcast. So please give us a little, a little feedback and share with anyone who would love to hear these stories. We are so inspired by everyone that came on, inspired by Courtney and everything that she has shared, and if you know anybody that would be super inspiring that you want to hear the inside scoop on. Give us a little shout out, reach out to us. We have our Instagram, we have our all of our socials. We'd love to hear from you and, until next time, keep on your journey and keep on inspiring the world around you.