How to Focus on Being Visible Your Way with Guest Albane McGuinness

We talk a lot about visibility on Midlife Unlimited®, and again and again it boils down to not just putting ourselves out there to be see, but actually feeling seen as who we really are. Without feeling that we have to wear that mask to try to fit in, or ward off that fear of judgement... those whispers of not enoughs.

But when we've lost sight of who we really are, this can seem like an impossible dream. How can we unleash the woman we deserve to be on the world when we're unclear of what we actually want or need?

Connect with Albane

https://albanebrand.photography/

https://www.facebook.com/albanebrandphotograhy/

https://www.instagram.com/albanebrandphotography/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to Midlife Unlimited, the podcast for women who want more. I'm your host, Kate Porter, the Midlife Metamorphosis Coach, and I know what it's like to feel stuck navigating the midlife maze. I've looked in the mirror and thought, who is that woman? So Midlife Unlimited is here to let you know you are not alone. You don't have to put on a brave face and put up with it. You don't have to play it safe. Midlife Unlimited is all about ripping off that mask and telling midlife how it really is. Nothing is off limits because together there's no limit to what we can achieve. So, welcome to today's episode. Now we talk a lot about visibility here on Midlife Unlimited, and again and again it boils down to not just putting ourselves out there to be seen, but actually feeling seen as who we really are, without feeling that we'll have to wear that mask to try to fit in or ward off fears of judgment and those whispers of not enough. But when we've lost sight of who we really are, this can seem like an impossible dream. How can we unleash the woman we deserve to be on the world when we're unclear of what we actually want or need? If this resonates, then this episode is just for you. Because I'm delighted to be joined by my guest today, Alban McGuinness, the brand evolution photographer, to talk about how to focus on being visible your way. So welcome, Alban. It's fabulous to have you here.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

Thank you so much for having me, Kate. I'm so, so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

Well, it's about blinking time because you were there when I announced to the world that Midlife Unlimited was going to be a thing. We've met in the flesh loads of times. You've been there when I won awards. Sadly, I wasn't there when you got yours, but I really feel an affinity to you, and I'm really looking forward to today's chat because A, we get each other, B, I think in terms of visibility, we've both been through similar struggles for want of a better word. But we're both all about not just putting ourselves out there, but helping raising other women and men up as well. So I say I think there's going to be a lot that comes out of our chat, and I'm really looking forward to it. But I think we we we had a little pre-chat, as we always do, and an alternative title for our episode could have been how to transform from feeling invisible to invincible, because I love those two words, and you you said that sums up really your own visibility journey, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_02 3:02

Oh, yeah, totally. I mean, when I started, um I was scared of my own camera. Wow, so I was always uh behind saying it's not about me, it's about you, until um I got a coach saying, Well, and then if you want people to feel confident to trust you that you are the person for the job, you need to share your confidence, you need to show up. And I was like, Oh, yes. This was the revelation, and that's been a journey of transformation ever since.

SPEAKER_00 3:37

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I have I have heard that quite a lot about photographers are quite happy being behind the camera, but as you said, it is very much a monkey see, monkey do, and how can you expect the women and men that you photograph to be relaxed and comfortable if you're harboring those feelings of well, I'm glad it's them, not me.

SPEAKER_02 4:02

Yeah, and then you give advice you should be doing this or that when you're not doing it yourself. I mean, how bad is that? So yeah, how can you be done?

SPEAKER_00 4:12

And I love that. I love the fact that you you're with me on let's be perfectly imperfect, let's go for it. And later on, you're going to be sharing your top tips for being visible our way on our terms, because you've learned some amazing lessons in the last few months alone because you did your 100 days of visibility challenge that I was delighted to be part of. I mean, I wasn't, I I did it, I did it, and it's tough, but you've learned well some really evolutionary lessons from that. That you're now I mean, you're mid-rebrand. So when we give your contact details later that are also in the show notes, it will be a kind of website is a work in progress because it's all being, shall we say? And I I've had a sneak peek, I think it's all looking rather fabulous. But uh, you actually mentioned the other day in a post you did, and I I say I'm not sure where the saying comes from, but it's not one I've heard before. But I think it really summarizes what we're chatting about today. And if I could quote it back at you, it's visibility is not about being seen, it's about being seen as a force for change. And I think at this time in our lives, and we'll we'll be talking, if we may, a bit about your backstory as well, your own metamorphosis journey, but change, both changes that we make ourselves, but also changes that we've got no control over, can really impact how we feel about putting ourselves out there, can't they?

SPEAKER_02 5:42

Yeah, it can be it can be a bit scary. I mean, when when life um gives you a change you do want to happen, uh you've got two choices. You either um stay where you are and feel really sad and stay in your cocoon, or you're like, I've been given life. I've got a child to um to raise. So what do I do? And I chose to um after losing my my husband, I chose to uh do all I could to give all I could to my uh my only child. And and that's I suppose that's why it started the um uh the that's when the metamorphosis started. Um because my my photography business started when my husband was poor. It happened six months after I started my my business. So the visibility side of things was uh a struggle and that wasn't on my top list. So in that way, uh visibility was too scary and I didn't have time to deal with that. So when um when things happened, uh when uh Nick passed, I then had the choice to move on in a way of I need to keep on uh building my business or I go back to a nine to five job. And in order to raise my child, my solution was to um push my business forward. And that's when I discovered that being visible, I mean it took me a long time, you know. I had to be in the right headspace, it took me ages, but I finally I finally clicked and I realized that um being visible wasn't about showing off, it was about sharing a mission that I set myself for the business, but also for my my child and myself for my family. I wanted to build something that had to go beyond what life had thrown at me. So it's been it's been a it's been a journey, and and I suppose because of my personal background and what's happened in my business, both of that, that's what I I use to help other women who may be experiencing similar. I want to say to them, there is a way for you to um embrace who you are. Uh it's okay to be who you are, and please show us, you know, share with us your experience.

SPEAKER_00 8:31

So I think one thing that's so lovely, and you speak so openly about your story is vulnerability, and I think that's very important, isn't it? But in terms of photography, obviously it's a very creative career choice. How did it come about? Have you always had a camera in your hand, or was it something you thought, right, I'm gonna give this a go?

SPEAKER_02 8:54

Um, I was always frustrated. Uh, I mean, I come from a family of um both my parents were creative. Uh mum was more within the cooking or sewing, and dad, dad's thing was um wood, uh wood turning and carving and all that, but I never found my niche. And uh until about 2001, someone gave me uh a camera. At that point, I'd got made redundant, so I decided to sign up on a course when I was.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

It was a real like pivotal time, then yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:33

And then seven years later, a friend of mine said, Oh, I would really want you to photograph my friend's wedding. And I was like, Oh, okay. And that friend was pleased with the work I did for her, and because she was uh an event organizer for a local big um company, she recommended me to her clients afterwards, and the rest the rest is history.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

So, how how did it feel that first time? Because it must be such a transition from taking images for your own pleasure to actually and a wedding is such a momentous occasion. If you get that wrong, if you mess if you mess it up, it's not something that you can really oh we'll go back and mock up the whole event. So were these feelings of bloody hell? This is a bit of pressure on.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

Yeah, it was it was so so much so. I mean, plus that you know, I didn't have any assistance. It was a real um go in it. They I you know, they were, I mean, they're friends, they trusted me. So there was no escape. So yeah, I suppose that was a big yeah, thinking about it. That was quite a brave thing to accept it and to decide, yes, I can I'm strong enough, I can do it. Um, but yeah, it's been uh it's been a I didn't think about that, you know, till you mention it. It's kind of yeah, it was a big thing.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

Yeah, because because one of the many things I love about you, and there are many, including your love of leopard print and the bright lipstick. Oh, I've been at loads of events where you've been the event photographer, and you have this amazing ability to just weave seamlessly, and this must have been something that you've you got right from that very first paid booking, because there so often I've been at things, and the photographer is like, they're in the way, they're this, they're that. No, you you capture the essence of what's going on and of the women there, and it's beautiful, it's not just the posed images, it's the behind the scenes, it's the rapport reportage. I mean, I I never know the proper word for it, but you know, the I love the photojournalism almost. Well, it's photojournalism. Um, and I think that's one of your many strengths that you you just sublimely a part of it, the synergy. And it's not like, oh god, there's the photographer. It's like, no, you I mean, does it does it do you literally put yourself into the energy of the room? Is that how it works?

SPEAKER_02 12:07

Yeah, I want people to be able to look back at the images and feel like they're there again, they can they can feel those feelings that were happening during that event. Um, some people have called me uh, they said to me that um I seem to see through their soul. Um and that's you know, I think it's it's beautiful when you let people be themselves and you capture that, these are the most beautiful photos. They are genuine, authentic, and then and then you can relate back to that. Whether it's business pictures or family photos, when you see a genuine love, a genuine um togetherness, that is priceless, and that's what I love capturing. That's why I try to be as discreet as possible. I also talk a lot to people because I want them to feel like they can trust me and that I see them the way the way they are, and I let them be, and then I kick.

SPEAKER_00 13:15

Yeah, no, absolutely, and what what I love as well, obviously, you're all about capturing the the real essence, whether it be of your actual the person you're taking, whether it's a portrait, whether it's capturing the atmosphere in an event. But we were talking about the event, which I think is the first time we actually met face to face, which was Olivia's Showtime back in 2024. And you actually said obviously, you've been through a her a huge journey, lose losing your soulmate and being a single mum of a little girl, and it's just like that was not just the end of your changes. So you said literally since we met 18 months ago or whatever it is now, you feel like a different woman sitting here talking to me now.

SPEAKER_02 14:02

Yeah, and I feel like I've so I've pushed my visibility journey further and and I've gained clarity. I'm not apologetic about who I am. This is me, take it or leave it. And it's kind of liberating, you know. But for many years, being an only child, you know, some very often we say only children are selfish, you know, they're a bit this that. And that's I didn't want to be that person, so I've gone the opposite way, being in the background. And then I realized I thought, well, that ban, you know, you are who you are, just embrace it and and share it, you know, forget about being an only child. The people who don't who think you are showing off, they're not worth being in your world anyway. So let's tidy up the background, and then uh, and then yes, over the past over the past 18 months, I've gained so I've gained clarity, I've been bolder and decided, right, well, I need to um I don't want to wait to be seen, I need to put myself out there because that's the only time things can happen. And uh, and that's landed me some bigger contracts, and um, and yeah, um I keep going. Yeah, so well, let's get track. No, you can't, yeah, no, you go on. So from a hundred days of visibility, now it's uh 365. Here we go.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

Yeah, absolutely. No, I was gonna say, let's let's go back because obviously I was already in your world, but you suddenly said, well, not suddenly, I'm sure you thought about it, maybe not long and hard, but you'd thought about right, I'm gonna do 100 days of visibility. But you didn't just do it for you, you actually created this wonderful community and you took other people, myself included, on the journey with you and you cheerleaded us, cheer-led, I'm not sure what the right word is, but you encouraged us. We had a WhatsApp group. So, how did it feel at the beginning? Did you think we're gonna do this together? Did you think some people might come along, some might fall away by the wayside? How did you go about planning it all?

SPEAKER_02 16:31

It came from a really uh an idea while I was walking the dog, just like that. And I thought, well, why not? Let's do it.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

I think the best things often do, don't they? That and in the shower, people seem to have brilliant moments.

SPEAKER_02 16:44

And then I thought, if if I help others, I knew that would be the motivation to be consistent. Maybe if I'd done it just for myself, maybe after a few days it might have, you know, something might have taken over. But because I felt responsible to I'd promised I'd given my word that would help others, then there was no way around it. I had to do it. And um, and yeah, and I've seen I've seen some women change and you know grow and blossom even more. So, you know, if you feel like, well, mission accomplished.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

No, absolutely, because as you just said, that it's that magical accountability, isn't it? When you say you're gonna do something and then other people go, but but you said you were gonna do that. So we we don't bring shoulds into it, we just do bring the thing of right, I'm gonna do this thing, and by taking fabulous people along with you on the journey, I mean, that's how Midlife Unlimited came about. That's how, well, let's start talking about what you've achieved. I will use the word achieved as a result of the hundred days, but perhaps we could intertwine with that the lessons learnt along the way that we can share with listeners. So obviously, your hundred days of visibility has resulted in a community, a rebrand. Talk us through, talk us through because it's it's all so intertwined with your own personal development and metamorphosis, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Yeah, so so we well the the hundred days became became a community, became a friendship, which uh also led to uh inspiring more people. I've got a bigger community around me. Um and it's also helped me to see that I could lead the way and from following all the time I've managed to um help a community and show them that there is a way, there is a way to be uh to be seen. Um I've also realized that sometimes people don't say they see you, but they do. And it's also helped me to gain more contracts for my for my business on the back of that. Even a year later, someone said to me the other day, oh Alban, I remember doing the uh you doing the visibility, the hundred days visibility challenge. Um, I want us to work together. Really? You never said anything before. So it shows by being visible and sharing our experiences what we are all about. We inspire people without us realizing the extent of it. And that's that's the beauty, and that's that's what keeps me motivated. That's why I want to keep doing it because it's not about um it's not about the glory of it. It's about, you know, even women who are on the quiet not saying anything, but if it can give them some inspiration to do something for themselves to lead a better life and be happier, then all the better. So that's why I keep going and I keep talking about visibility.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

I love that. I love that. Because I know you you said before that embracing visibility requires overcoming barriers both internal and external, isn't it? It's a twofold thing.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

Yeah, it's uh in my experience, it's meant a lot of self-development, listening to a lot of podcasts, re reading about self-development, and that's what you find the golden nuggets from listening to other people. You find what feels right for you, and then you put it into practice, and that's what's giving you more clarity and helps you with a confidence to be more visible. And for the external side of things, you need to accept that some people might not like it. I don't know, but then you need to accept that it's all right. As long as you're happy, the people who deserve to be in your world will be happy for you as well. The others, they can go their way.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

Yeah, and I think timing-wise, you know, now we're we're loving our midlies, the ups and downs, and it is very much that moment of I mean, there's there's the phrase the the rude F word that's going around, you know, not giving many of the F's. But I think it's true. I think I think we do learn to think, well, those that are in our corner are in our corner, and if you're not in our corner, well, I haven't really got time for you, to be honest. So, I mean, in terms of obviously what you've achieved, and I love it, I absolutely love it. But in have you surprised yourself, or have there been any any results or outcomes that are coming to fruition now that you wouldn't have even dared to dream a year ago?

SPEAKER_02 22:08

So um about six months ago, I actually I was doing an event, I was uh photographing an event, and I approached one of the speakers when she came off stage. And her talk was about you know, when you're in business, it's not about being the cleverest, which I suppose I always had a bit of a of an issue with, you know, feeling that I wasn't the top IQ, you know, whatever. Um, and that's kind of also stopped me in my visibility. But when she said it, I mean, she's so successful, I thought that's refreshing. So she gave me another, you know, something that I learned from listening to her. So I went I went to see her straight after, which I would have never done before. I would have stayed in my corner, I would have had all this talk, but would have kept it to myself. So I went to see her, talk to her, and um I said something really cheesy, as you do, but it's never though.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

You think it's cheesy, but in actual fact, it's probably not at all. And if it is, so what?

SPEAKER_02 23:21

And then uh, so yeah, so she's she's Albanian. I said, Well, my thing was I'm not Albanian, but my name is Alban. Boom. I like that, it's a memorable line, and that's how she she commissioned me to document her event where she had 600 people coming, you know, and I was like, Oh my god, and since that something else got you know happened, and uh and she invited me to do other things, and since that, you know, more and more I've I've grown in confidence even even more. So it it goes to show one little moment of feeling uncomfortable can lead to so much more, and daring to be visible is definitely worth it.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Now that's I love that word. I love that word, and sometimes you think people go, oh, do I dare? And I don't mean that in terms of because to me that's negative. Do I dare? That means you're fearing what other people will think. But if you if you're daring yourself, it is that wonderful, nervous-sided pushing yourself. Oh, can I can I do this? And even if it's like, well, maybe uh add that yet to go, well, can I do it yet? What do I need to enable me to do it? So, in terms of daring, how how many ways have you actually pushed yourself and gone, go on, have a go.

SPEAKER_02 24:48

Yeah, so well, for for a start, before I attend networking or other events where I photograph, now before I go, I always set myself a goal. Because before, you know, I was in the in the headspace of I need to create this, that, that. But now I'm like, right, yes, I need to create this and that, but I also need to think about the business, or I need to get something from it as well. So I always have one goal. I study who's gonna be there, or you know, and then I'm like, right, today I want to connect with one person, I want to introduce myself to one person. So by having this in the background, I can't forget this is my mission, this is what I set myself to do, and I can't not do it because it's it's been said. So that's you know, that's what's been helping me to develop my confidence because you never know where a conversation can take you next, like my cheese with Morella.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

No, it's so true, it really is. When I talk about joining the dots, and it is the domino effect as well, isn't it? It's kind of if you just push that domino a little bit, it'll start toppling, and you just never know where it does. And it's all about connection, isn't it? And I don't I don't mean oh, it's who you know, da-da-da. I mean in terms of having intentional conversations that are actually shared passions and and not just trying to do the hard sell route, but actually finding genuine connections with people and cheerleading and raising each other up because that's so powerful, isn't it? And people remember that. People remember how you make them feel, don't they?

SPEAKER_02 26:39

Yeah, exactly. And I suppose you know, another another mission for me to um decide to push the visibility. So it's not only for my for my family, but it's also I know like when I get the opportunity to connect with people, I can I can help my clients or my community because I've connected myself with new people, I can then pass it on. And I love that when when we can see some uh connections blossoming, and we're both we're both the same. That's why we've got the vibrant connections awards in the world.

SPEAKER_00 27:14

I was gonna say joy, yes, listeners. You have two vibrant connection award winners here because that's what it is it is the joy of connection, isn't it? And I think especially now, I mean, I I love I love meeting new people, I love conversations, but it's actually sharing and imparting your experiences, which is another thing that Midlife Unlimited is all about. And when it comes to people that you've met and and how you've shared experiences, I mean, when you're doing a photo shoot with someone, you really are getting behind the mask, aren't you? I mean, do you find that people in general I suppose you can't really generalize, are they feeling nervous? Are they feeling, yeah? I mean, do you have chats beforehand or or often is it the first time that you've physically met face to face, or does it literally it could be any of the above?

SPEAKER_02 28:14

It can be any of the above, but generally speaking, we uh at least have a conversation on Zoom. But usually we have met in person before. Um I feel like it's key to feel like there's a connection between between us two to in order you know for the person to feel relaxed to be in front of my camera and for me to feel like I can do them I can do them justice. I would never take photos of someone that I don't feel I can trust because I don't want you know when I photograph someone, I put myself in the shoes of their potential client. And and I I wouldn't want to be misleading with photos. I so yeah, the connecting beforehand is absolutely fundamental. And even the the top people who've reached you know great levels, they also feel nervous. So they also need to be uh to be looked after and reminded, you know, that yeah, it's gonna be alright, we're gonna have a great time. A bit like the way you do when you uh you welcome your guests on your on your podcast, you know, you give them the tools to feel relaxed, it's gonna be okay. It's yes, maybe a different experience, but it's gonna be okay, and we're gonna have a great time. And that's what I do with the photos as well.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

Well, we had that lovely chat beforehand. Uh I was really moved when you said, you know, I I've been saying we're gonna get you on, we're gonna get you on. And this is going back to the very early days of Midlife Unlimited that's now moving into 14 months old. But you actually said, A, you're popping your podcast cherry with me. And B, and B, you really felt that now was the right time for you to come on. Yeah, whereas a year ago the conversation would have been very different.

SPEAKER_02 30:08

Yeah, I feel like I've got more to share now than I would have before. I would have probably um been a bit more shy before. But now I feel like you know, I can see I can see what I've been doing as made has made an impact on my community and myself. And and I can, you know, I've had the proof in the puddings. So so that's why I'm I'm happy to talk about it because I know I know it works, and that's why you know it's time to uh to share this experience to make to get people more people on board to to realize it and and embrace embrace visibility as well.

SPEAKER_00 30:52

So in terms of we'll go back to that word visibility, in terms of doing it our way, so that it feels I won't say comfortable because we don't do comfortable, but so it feels true, it feels aligned to us, because I do think that's really important, rather than just being visible for the sake of it. What what are the main lessons do you think that you've learned that have made you continue and take it to the next level with say your community, with your rebrand? What top what are your top takeaways do you think to in to share with listeners?

SPEAKER_02 31:28

Uh so uh the takeaways uh be consistent with your visibility. Being visible doesn't mean you've got to be on social media 24-7. Being visible can mean you are reconnecting with uh past colleagues, with you know, new new connections. That's being visible, and sometimes people get confused, they they feel like, oh, I don't want to be visible, I don't want to be on social media, but that's not just the thing. You can be visible appearing on a podcast, you can be visible, you know, trying to get a PR, um uh an article in a magazine, uh good networking, go for a walk with someone you haven't seen for ages. It it's got to be your way, and when you think about that, you're like, oh, I can be visible, but you know, it doesn't mean I'm stressed, you know, creating my post for Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook. So then you kind of step back, breathe, and think, actually, yeah, I can do it. And then things become a bit easier, and then it becomes a bit more natural, and you find your own pattern. As long as you're consistent, people will know, you know, if you decide to uh to be visible every Wednesday going to a networking, so be it, people will expect to see you every Wednesday. So it's got to be it's got to be your way. That's you know, people only resonate with authenticity. And then if you think it like this, then visibility doesn't come, doesn't become something that is overwhelming, it becomes natural, and people will be more likely to connect with you if they feel you can they can they can see who you truly are.

SPEAKER_00 33:24

No, that's that's so true because I think when when you have that sense of oh blunkin' eck, I've got to go and do it again, and and that whether that's in-person events, whether that's online, whether that's doing your social posts, that that seeps through, doesn't it? That feeling of oh, I'd rather be pulling my eyelashes out than doing it. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 33:46

Yeah, and then there's then there's no point because you don't get any joy out of it. But once you've got you find the joy of of your, you know, what your visibility means, you know, if you can relate your um connect your your visibility with your mission. If you think, right, you know, for me it was uh my child, you know, I you know, like I kind of signed a pact with with myself that I wanted um to inspire Jordan and and and share things and do all I can. So that's my mission, and that's why I'm visible. Once you find your yeah, your why book, you know, it kind of it's beyond you, and then it's a lot easier to to be visible when it it's not just it's not just about you, it's because you've got more to uh to express. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:41

Oh, I love that. I love that. And obviously, all your contact details are in the show notes for our episode, and you've got your own guest profile on the Midlife Unlimited podcast website, and I'll be inviting you in a little while to share verbally your details. But there's a reason why obviously we're coming out February, beginning of February, your website may not necessarily be accessible at the time we come out because you've got what I'm blinking excited for you. Talk us through what is going on.

SPEAKER_02 35:14

So I I'm going through a rebrand and bring it on.

SPEAKER_00 35:22

If that doesn't sum up the whole visibility concept that we're talking about, I don't know what does. So why? Why are you rebranding?

SPEAKER_02 35:30

Because my brand has evolved, and because I encourage people to share the evolution of their business, so it only made sense to show that my brand is evolving as well. So I've actually commissioned a uh brand designer to work with me, someone who totally um understands who I am and what I'm all about, the lovely Hazel Turner.

SPEAKER_00 35:59

She was part of the visibility challenge as well, wasn't she? Yeah, see it all it all comes together, peeps.

SPEAKER_02 36:05

It all comes together by exchanging um talks, uh attending similar events, and and yeah, and I knew she she got me. And when she actually showed me what she'd created for me, I I I literally cried. Um was it that bad? So I was awesome. I'm being duh. I'd never I'd never had something like that done for me. Um and it felt like it gave me another another boost to want to keep to keep going and do more. Um so yeah, so the brand is uh is evolving. Uh I've put a few uh bits and pieces out, but the the website is still worked on as we speak, so that will be that will be soon. But basically, I'm taking everyone who wants to get support to show up and you know have their brand see uh um have their brand documented to show you know how they how they grow.

SPEAKER_00 37:21

Because when we are in business, I mean you you know, you know, like from the podcast where it was 14 months ago to where it is now, it's it's changed, it's you know, it's grown, it's well literally we found out the day we're recording that we are a top 10 podcast. Thank you very much for that. So whoop whoop, but uh it's all about constantly evolving, isn't it? And I love the fact that what you just said, reading between the lines is you feel now the rebrand is a beautiful extension of how you're actually feeling about your business because you said all before you wouldn't have invested the time, the effort, the the financial I mean, obviously that's something to bear in mind, but it is just showing how much you you you understand yourself now, which is what we were saying at the very beginning. You now have such a clear understanding of how being visible affects you and what it can bring.

SPEAKER_02 38:21

Exactly. And I've I've realized that it's not about being perfect, it's about it's about just being you, simple, simple. It's going back to the drawing board. Who are you? This is this is the way to uh to be visible by just being you, and you know, like I mean, that's another reason why I'm letting the grey hair show, you know. That's another liberating thing.

SPEAKER_00 38:51

Uh before no. Oh, with me, it was mass a massive part of my own metamorphosis was that feeling of yes, and I feel I feel more me now than ever before because it's another part of ripping off that mask, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 39:06

Mask, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, uh couldn't agree more.

SPEAKER_00 39:11

I'm so excited. I'm so excited. Well, say we're gonna be giving your contact details in a minute. Um, because I know there are gonna be so many people that are listening that will want to get in touch, want to find out more. And obviously your your in-person meetups as well. But before we give more details of that, you're not going to escape. You're not going to escape, even though you're popping your podcast cherry with me. Even more reason for me to ask the same three questions that I ask each of my fabulous female guests. If there's a reason behind your answer, I'd love to hear it. You're allowed multiple answers within reason. But we're going to start the first question What is your midlife anthem? The song or piece of music that when you hear it, you go, Today is gonna be a good day.

SPEAKER_02 40:00

Right, I'm probably I'm not sure I'm gonna say it right, but it's by Marvin Gay and it's Ain't No Mountains High Enough. And each time I hear this song, you know, like just even thinking about it gets me really emotional. But it it gives it gives me the oomph to uh to have a bit of a boogie in the kitchen and get on with things. And I just I just love it.

SPEAKER_00 40:23

Just love it. Absolutely, absolutely. It's like, yeah, nothing can stop me. Nothing can stop me. I've got the music, I'm going for it. Well, I I'd love to know then. You're all fired up. What question number two is your midlife mantra that you're saying to the world while you're doing the boogie? Right.

SPEAKER_02 40:48

So the mantra is show up, be seen, and make it matter.

SPEAKER_00 40:55

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_02 40:56

Otherwise, what's the point of being here?

SPEAKER_00 41:02

I love that. I love especially the make it matter bit as well. Yeah, that just takes it next level, doesn't it? Yeah, because we all have something, something that is worth sharing.

SPEAKER_02 41:16

It takes different forms depending on who we are, but we all have something to share. So we need to make it matter. We can't just be selfish and keep it to ourselves, we need to share it, and that goes with the visibility.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

Oh, it all goes hand in hand. Anyone would think we might have planned this episode a little bit, it's just all coming together. So your thought, I was a bit of a cackle there. Sorry, listeners. Um, so before we go into your contact details, then the final question drum roll, please. What is the title of your autobiography? So, are you ready?

SPEAKER_02 41:54

I am so the title is French, fierce, and finally visible.

SPEAKER_01 42:04

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_02 42:08

And then maybe with a subtitle, uh it would be um going from invisible to invincible, something something along those lines because I think it kind of sum up sums up the uh the background where I come from and you know shows the shows the journey. So I'm gonna have to write it then.

SPEAKER_00 42:33

Yeah, yeah, I'll I'll I'll I'll help edit it. Or it could be a coffee cake, never put my teeth in, a coffee table book of fabulous photographs.

SPEAKER_02 42:44

Oh yeah, or you've given me another idea, Kate. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_00 42:52

I want to be in it, I want to be in it. Oh, yeah. Well, we've we've got a little spring photo shoot coming up, haven't we? So uh I'll I'll have to be like, ha ha ha. Well, talking of photo shoots, then obviously all your contact details are in the show notes for our episode and on your guest profile on the Midlife Unlimited podcast website. But please talk listeners through how they can get in contact with you, my love.

SPEAKER_02 43:22

So recently uh we've launched, well, I've I've launched the Visibility Studio Meetups on the back of the 100-day visibility challenge. So we meet uh once a month in different different areas. So it's a group of about 12 to 15 people, and during that uh that time I help giving uh strategies on visibility. Um, I give tips, we share uh yeah, we share knowledge, we share uh advice, and I also take photos. Um three everyone goes away with three uh three portraits after after the meetup. So that's been quite popular, and to see again to see everyone connecting together and and expressing you know their struggles, their their wins is absolutely uh beautiful. And uh, you know, like I'm on the third coming up, and people keep coming back, and I love it. So that's you know on the again, it's on the back of the hundred days visibility challenge, so that's another great win. Um people can also connect with me via Instagram, or uh they can find me at Alban Brand Photography, Alban with an E. Um and uh LinkedIn it's Alban McGinnis Double N. And um yeah, the website is gonna be soon, but it's gonna be albanbrand.photography.

SPEAKER_00 44:58

Excellent, excellent, excellent. Oh well, I'm so excited for I've seen some of it and it's looking absolutely amazing. So here's to an wonderful 2026 and beyond. I can't wait to see you in the flesh and give you a big squeeze again. Um listeners, I would love your feedback on today's episode. So it'd be fabulous if you could leave a review or you can email or text me via the link in the show notes. Come and join the Midlife Unlimited podcast Facebook group. Again, link in the show notes, uh, where you'll find the website link as well with details of how to join the wait list for more, my award-winning all-in-one coaching programme that returns in the spring this year. And you can find details of how you can work one-to-one with me to pop your podcast, Cherry. Yes, you heard it right. So, thank you for joining me, our band. It's been an absolute pleasure, well worth the wait. I'm sure you'll agree, listeners. Thank you for listening. I look forward to tuning in next week because don't forget Midlife Unlimited has a new episode every Thursday available wherever you listen to your podcast. So here's the being fabulous and flourishing together and living Midlife Unlimited. Thanks ever so much for joining me. Bye.