**Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Total Wireless through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated to write a post about Total Wireless, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help PROPER keep creating!

Whenever I get asked what I do for a living, it’s a bit tricky to explain. I say “craft & prop stylist” or “blogger” or sometimes it comes out like, “I’m a recipe developer, photographer, stylist, plumber, furniture builder, sewer, graphic designer, crafter, maker, travel blogger, etc.” And that’s usually when people think I’m nuts. The world of blogging has expanded more than I could have anticipated back when I started PROPER years ago. And while we’ve grown here, too, I find that every blog and brand has something special to offer. Some may say that there’s just no room at the table (“YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US!” from Gretchen Weiners comes to mind.), I feel that I’ve been able to stand out apart from the crowd by doing my own thing and not worrying TOO much about what someone else is doing. It’s almost always impossible to not compare yourself to others, but I wanted to share my five tips when it comes to staying true to yourself, staying confident and sharing your own unique spin when styling for yourself or for a client!

Tip #1 – Create A Style That Is Your Own

I’ve always been a fan of color. Whether it’s in fabric, furniture, paper, or even food; it’s something that I feel is necessary in almost everything I do. Whenever I’m coming up with a concept for a shoot, I try to think of ways that we can best showcase products & color schemes. The photos above and below were for a Thanksgiving dinner photoshoot and we brought in all sorts of colorful food and dishes to best highlight the campaign we were working on. It really paid off in the end and is still one of my favorite shoots to date! Instead of choosing a traditional color scheme, I was confident in pulling a plethora of colors that just ended up working. We also used a variety of dishes to enhance the “stylish randomness” that was the table setting!

Tip #2: Roll With The Punches

For me, whenever I’m working, I want those around me to have a great time while also feeling like they’re given good direction. Before a shoot, I spend weeks (or days, given the timeline) creating a concept and plan to follow so that things are as organized as possible. Of course, that’s not always the case and sometimes you have to roll with the punches and fly by the seat of your pants. Take charge and go with it! Have the confidence that what you are working on will come out looking fantastic and you’ll be able to pull it off! That being said, also have the confidence to say “no” at times. I’ve always tried to be a “yes man”, but sometimes, you just gotta say no. Accept the fact that one person can’t do it all. Even Beyonce. I have had to remind myself of that ALL THE TIME.

Tip #3: Be Confident & Consistent

When brands reach out, they’ve usually got a good idea of what they are looking for and they’re hoping you can bring it to life. Sometimes they send examples of past work that they’d like me to replicate, but it always needs a new spin. Something unique, but still true to their brand and mine. Occasionally, brands will send examples of another’s work that they would like us to imitate, and that just won’t fly. Don’t be afraid to push back a bit and point out the need for originality. After all, they are hiring you to bring something original to their product. Let that frame of mind seep into other aspects of your life, not just work. Be confident in everything you do. Whether you sign on a new brand to work with, get your house cleaned from top to bottom before company is coming, or feel that total confidence that comes from getting the best deal in your monthly expenses like your wireless, be confident in yourself and what you are capable of! Remember hearing in elementary school how confidence is sexy? No? Maybe it wasn’t in elementary school, or maybe I just went to a really risqué elementary school, but that rule applies here. Confidence is contagious and can spread. It can spread from work to home, it can spread to your friends, and who couldn’t use a little more UMPH in their lives???

Tip #4: Be The Same Online & In Person

For me personally, I always try to be as friendly and kind as possible. That’s how I am in real life. At least, I would like to think so! (Don’t worry, I am still the proud owner of some MAJOR RBF.) When I’m communicating with brands via email or social media, I want them to get a sense of who I am and who is behind the brand. Then we can decide if it’s a good fit. Also, I feel that brands are more inclined to work with you if you seem more “actual human who makes mistakes” and less “crazy boss lady”. Keep in mind that a super shy person can create a super loud and outgoing brand. And while that is totally doable and acceptable, a brand may hire you for an in person event because they want the same things that they see from you online. Be sure you’re happy with what you put out there! And if you currently aren’t, change it! You’re the boss.

Tip #5: Remember That You Still Have A Life

If you know me in person, you know that I can sometimes become a workaholic. I love to work, and of course, I have bills to be paid. Sometimes I let that get in the way of my real life. My life. I’m now a mother of two and it’s very important that I find a balance between work and momming. It’s important that you remember that whatever you do, whether you’re a content creator, or a mom running a business made up of her family, stay sane. Take breaks. Don’t be afraid to say “NO” or to do what is best for you and your family/business. There’s not enough time in the world for us to stress the little things! Have total confidence in every aspect of your life!

If you want to up your confidence and take it with you everywhere, and you’re in the market for a multi-plan with multi-benefits (like 25gb of shared high-speed data!), check out Total Wireless‘ Shared Family Plan: Get four lines on America’s largest, most dependable 4G LTE† network for only $25 per line, per month. Go to get.totalwireless.com to find a store near you!

*The 30-Day cycle for Shared Data Family Plans begins on the day the first line/device is activated. Any line(s)/device(s) activated later in the first 30-Day cycle will receive only the number of days remaining in that cycle.† To get 4G LTE speed where available you must have a 4G LTE capable device and a 4G LTE SIM card. Actual availability, coverage and speed may vary. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Please refer always to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at TotalWireless.com.