Over the past few years a little voice inside my head kept telling me I needed to do more – I needed to give back to the world around me. I responded by giving my time and talents to local causes – Habitat for Humanity and Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue – to name two. I loved it but as I got busier I found I had less time to give.

At the end of 2009 I found myself pondering these questions – 1) who do I want to give back to and 2) how do I want to give back. I knew pretty quickly on that I wanted to help women and children. I ended up choosing two organizations – Save the Children and Grameen Foundation. Both of these organization currently have an A rating with Charity Watch. Save the Children was an easy decision for me – I’ve been involved in the lives of children – be it babysitting, nanny, juniors rowing coach or photographing them since I was 11 years old – perfect fit!

Grameen came on my radar when a Facebook friend referred them to me. In regards to helping women I wanted help them in power and better their circumstances. I started researching micro loan organizations. The majority of the people helped by these organizations are poor women who want to make a change in their lives and the lives of those around them. Hard part was finding a micro loan organization that truly did what it said it would. With the combination of my friend’s referral and their Charity Watch rating I’m confident Grameen Foundation is an excellent match.

Here’s my plan for donating: Complete a session with me this year and I will donate $25 to either Save the Children or Grameen Foundation in your name. I would like you to help me choose which charity you would like the money to go to. For those that have no preference, in December I will evenly divide the money and donate to both organizations. I’m really excited to start giving back in this way and thank-you for helping me make it happen!!

Look up my profile on Twitter (@jenniesjursen) and you will find I predominately tweet about marketing and business. However if you were to follow the original website link in that profile you would have landed on a photographer’s cute child and family portrait site. What gives?

I have been a photographer and business owner since the late 1990’s. First, with the not so successful, Jennie Sjursen Photography and now with Lil Blu Dragonfly and Strawberry Road.

I struggled and struggled with Jennie Sjursen Photography. In an effort to make changes I read books, took countless notes, attended seminars etc and then burnt out. I took a year away from photography – all photography. I put my marketing and design skills to use for a startup company – that didn’t stay started (poor financial plan). I had a decision to make – what am I going to do with all of these skills I picked up along the way?

I decided to go back to photography but Jennie Sjursen Photography was going to stay on the scrap heap. In a very deliberate move Lil Blu Dragonfly and Strawberry Road were created. Visit both sites and you will see there are similarities but other than a link back to each other very little cross over. Each brand was set up to have it’s own feel and identity. Along this very winding road I totally and completely fell in love with the marketing/branding side of the business.

I’m fascinated with small businesses and how they do or don’t use marketing – especially the new communication avenues that are opening up everyday. I want to share what I’ve learned along the way – hopefully make the learning process shorter and less painful for others. So periodically I’ll update this section of my site sharing not only my successes but some failures too. I’ll answer any question as openly and honestly as I can. Hope you join me for the ride and learn something along the way!