I know there are so many photographers that battle with this topic – choosing to have two careers….and each of us has a story that has put us on the past we are on. You are not alone, we are a unique community that has a different element to our business, somewhat of a balancing act… But we are in this together. What’s your story….your path —-
When I began my photography business in 2006 and things really started to get busy in 2007-2008 I found myself obsessed with what I needed to do to go as a full time photographer. But I also found myself overly stressed trying to figure out how I could accomplish this. With a husband and two children it was more than just me, I had to think about them – and they come first, how would a decision like that impact the entire family. During that time I was so focused on this that I burned myself out, 200 + family sessions a year, starting shooting weddings, yet very little time with my own family. I quickly realized I was sacrificing them in order to reach a goal that I still didn’t’ know who set for me.
Maybe the industry itself made me feel as though I wouldn’t be considered ‘legit’ if I didn’t do this full time, maybe it was my own pressure to succeed. Then I realized something had to change. I was at a cross roads and it was coming at me faster than I could handle it. In October of 2009, I had a conversation Dawn Davis (http://bobanddawndavis.com/), which I will always treasure- and it couldn’t have come at better time. She said to me, you can’t be everything to everybody, you have to pick something and go with it! All of the sudden I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. Someone telling me it was OK to do this my way. That I could make the rules. I’m not sure if she ever realized how those words have now years later stuck with me.
After I hung up I took a leap of faith, I decided that wedding photography was what I really loved and felt a passion for. Plus I realized that success could only be determined by me. No one could tell me the definition of success because it’s based on each individual person and not what others believe it should be. The moment I stopped focusing on going full time and put that same effort into my family and my clients my business really took off. Over the next 6 months I decreased the amount of family sessions down to very few and pushed forward with wedding photography. I went from 10-15 weddings a year in 2010 and 2011 to 35 in 2012-2014 and just completed the 2015 season with 40 weddings photographed, but I also was able to focus on what I wanted to accomplish without the stress I was putting on myself.
All of the sudden I felt that the best way to grow with photography business and not feel the stress of booking every single couple was to continue my full time job. Here I am having just got finished my 7th wedding season and still working full-time. I wouldn’t change a thing! I enjoy my daytime job, the company I work for and the people I work with. Working full time outside of photography makes me succeed in other ways while photography allows the creativity to really push myself out of the box and gives me different type of accomplishment.
It’s a unique balance, how do I do it? Well I love it and as long as I continue to love it then that gives me the motivation to continue. I don’t want to say it’s easy, because many times it’s not. However, over the last 18 months my husband and I have built a schedule which allows me to balance all of it while not sacrificing my family or my clients.
Now, there is no way I could do this without my best friend and husband. He supports me like no one else has, because of him I have learned to balance time better, making me a better wife, mother and photographer. I believe that this has made us stronger. We have built a system that works for us and the kids.
Now when someone asks me if I’m a full time photographer I always answer, yes I am a full-time wedding photographer. This is my success. The definition of success for me is reaching for the goals I’ve set for myself, to be a good mother and a good wife, but also to be a good sister, daughter and friend. To be a great photographer and to provide my clients with the best experience I can give them, to capture the memories they allow me to photograph and to stay humble.
As I look forward to 2016 I’m so excited for what’s coming. I’ve got some projects I’m working on – from motivational to helping other creative entrepreneurs through mentoring and a fun photography workshop geared towards non-photographer creatives.
My goal for 2016 is ‘balance’ and giving back by helping others. I hope you join me on this journey. Big announcement coming to the blog on Wednesday as we go into 2016 with a bang!!