Running this business that I started a mere 8 months ago has really forced me to realize some things about myself. Things that I have to accept to be successful. Like the fact that I'm not the most organized person in the world. I forget things. I'm a MOM. I do this all by myself, and when my little boy gets sick this business gets put on hold so I can be mommy. And I have to be honest, with both myself and with all of you out there...being a wife, mommy, daughter, and sister come first. My family is going through a LOT right now, and I hope to be able to share that with you all one day, but they come first. And I lost sight of that this year. So I need to find a happy medium with this love of mine and how it impacts my family.
Owning a business means being your own boss, for sure. And there are tons of perks that come with that. Tons of responsibilities come with that as well. And if I want to be successful I have to be the best boss there is. And not just the best boss, but the smartest boss too. Have y'all heard that saying work smarter not harder? Well that is going to be my 2013 motto. Because I realized a few things this busy season. I have been so incredibly blessed to have gotten so many clients. To have captured so many memories for so many amazing people. I have also learned that I can't please everyone. And there will always be those clients who are simply going to take advantage of you and try to milk you for everything they can. I think people forget that there is an actual woman running this show, a woman who is putting everything she possibly has into this business. Not because it's a great way to make easy money (it's not...I'm still poor! lol!) but because of one reason.
Passion.
A session isn't just a session to me. It's an hour of time for me to capture these moments that are going to slip away. I assure you, you will forget the fuzziness of your new baby's body hair. You'll forget how they stuck their tongue out all the time. You'll forget how they grew into that chubby little toddler who wouldn't look at the camera to save their life. You'll forget how that little toddler learned to say "cheese!!" and scrunch their face up as tight as they could. Or, in my case, that chubby little two year old boy who sees mommy with the camera and decides he's going to be like mommy, asks her to say "cheese" then looks at his pretend camera to view the image and goes "awwwww" in the absolute sweetest little voice there is. Frozen. Forever. Because I captured that. That toddler will grow into a school aged child. Who will learn their ABC's. Who will read chapter books. Who will lose their baby teeth. Who's freckles will fade. Who will turn into young adults as they go on to high school. First cars. First kisses. First heart break. Daddy's little girl forever. Momma's boys, no matter how tough they may act. Football and cheerleading. Soccer and ballet. Frozen. Forever. Engagements and weddings. Pregnancies and newborns. And the cycle continues.
Passion. I have a passion to capture these moments. Because I have a family who I love very much and I do not want these memories to fade away. I didn't get maternity photos done. I didn't get newborn pictures done. It's a regret I have that I can't ever recreate. I can't remember the last professional session my immediate family (mom, dad, brother, sisters) did. I think it was in college, almost ten years ago. I can't remember. I don't even know where those pictures are. So, this day a year ago I got my first DSLR camera. Begin passion. That passion for myself grew into a passion for others. These aren't just pretty pictures. They're moments. Frozen. Everyone deserves to have moments that are dear to them to be frozen for forever.
So, with all of that long, drawn out ramblings, it leads me to this. Things are changing for 2013. I'm going to take my business a lot more seriously. Because you all deserve that. You deserve a photographer who is not only going to snap a picture (anyone can do that) but who is going to capture a moment that evokes emotion for you, so when you look at it you can't help but to smell the air that day. To hear the sounds. To remember the argument you all had right before the session because someone, inevitably, got their outfit dirty! :) And you deserve to have the best customer service, and the best images, and everything done in a timely manner.
On the otherhand, my family deserves to have the best wife/momma/daughter/sister out there. I will be taking on less sessions. I have a new pricing structure, that I think will work much better for both you and I. I'll have an updated site and a better blogging system. I'll be focusing on that the next few days, along with some relaxing and enjoying time with my family!
I cannot thank those clients enough who took a chance on me this year. If not for you all I would not be where I am today. You are all VIP to me, and will be treated as such! I certainly hope these changes do not deter anyone away, but rather makes you think about the woman behind this business. And all that goes into a session, from start to finish, to get you your beautiful moments.
I plan on doing a few more blog posts in the next week or so, a best of 2012 so to speak, a very personal blog post that I can't quite bring myself to write yet, then the last post that announces the changes and links to my new site and blog. I'm
