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4 years ago, I was just starting my photography business.  I was lucky enough to come from a huge extended family and many of them were graduating high school and getting married.  It was a perfect opportunity to shoot for free and beg any photographer who would let me second shoot with them at weddings or events.  I didn’t just buy a camera one day and start charging the next.  I look back at some of my work back  when I started and laugh…but its where I was at the time and that’s how I learned.  Luckily, I still had my day job to rely on.  As time went on, I was finally getting calls from people I didn’t know and booking weddings on my own.  SCORE! But I still wasn’t there…..I still wasn’t to the point where I felt like I could really make a career of this.  In the mean time, Jay and I moved to Muleshoe….I moved my hair salon here and pushed what I felt like I did best…..I never pushed my photography because it wasn’t what was paying the bills.  I still booked family friends and area seniors….but still didn’t feel like it was time to take the plunge and quit my job.  Then in the spring of 2010,  I finally started seeing that I should really do this, I started taking classes and really pushing myself to take it to the next level.  I really “LEARNED” about the ins and outs of the business and my equipment.  I booked 6 weddings that year on my own….then I was able to bring on second shooters of my own!  11 seniors, 3 bridals, 6 engagements, 4 newborns, 13 families and 5 mini session dates that year as well … (I love minis……I don’t shoot that cheap often,  but love when parents have an opportunity to get just a few great pics of their kids)   I was closer….but still didn’t feel like I could rely on my photography.

Then in December 2011, I booked my first trip to WPPI….sat through classes and met tons of photographers and new friends.  After that trip, I realized….what am I doing? Why am I not doing this full time?  This is what I love!  And if I keep waiting until I feel like “I’m there”  Ill never do it!  So I came home and just DID IT!  I phased out of hair and eventually left the salon….it was bittersweet, but its what I felt like it needed to do.  Since then, Ive been so blessed!  I quit my day job at what is traditionally known as a photographers “off season”  and upgraded my equipment along with backups and quality lenses…. what was I thinking!!!  But it worked…..I booked seniors! ( 18 sessions and only 7 of them I knew prior to their session)  My in-laws were opening a new wedding venue and I was lucky enough to book a few of their events and even more blessed to have strangers call and ask me to be their photographer for their weddings this year as well….therefore adding in engagements and bridal sessions.   Its been a blessing beyond measure and I really wasn’t expecting this at all.  I may drive several of you crazy with all of my updates and posts on facebook, but facebook has been a very big reason for my growing business…..I love posting photos of my clients and I love networking, that’s how people recognize my work and who I am….its all about the “tagging!”

Since Ive became busier I have had several people comment on how fast Ive grown (acting shocked actually or like I’m unworthy or something)……I don’t think its been fast at all. (But they also think I just woke up one morning and decided to become a photographer a few months ago)  But I feel like I needed the knowledge and experience to ever make it into a job.  It took lots of time and I still don’t feel like I am there.  I still look at photos from 2 months ago and think of what I did wrong and what I should have done in order to make it better.  I come into my home office and really do “go to work”  Its a real job, and I spend 40+ hours a week photographing, editing, and taking care of piles and piles of paperwork from contracts, taxes, and orders.  I love it.  But its far from easy….I really do work hard.  I average around 6 hours a day on the computer editing photos from sessions.  I use the best software… Photoshop CS5 along with Adobe lightroom.  I’m not editing your photos in iphoto or Picassa.  Its a job that I’m proud of and I spend a great deal of effort getting your photos out as quick as I can.   But just because I’m getting them done quickly, please don’t think I’m pushing an easy button and its ready for me in a matter of minutes.  I spend at least 4 hours on one single session AFTER I get home.

Ive invested a lot into this business and I’m even more excited about whats to come!  My goals before 2013……get one of my weddings PUBLISHED!  ….i’m determined!  and second….Book a destination wedding outside of the US (Ive got my passport ready to go!)   We will see how it goes!  But until then, I’m thrilled at where I am at and Im not letting anything or anyone bring me down.

Okay there is my spill/rant ……happy Tuesday!  I’m off to photograph my last two seniors of the year!   ….and because every blog post needs a photo, here is one of Harlow and Austyn this past weekend.