Sometimes random thoughts run circles in my mind and I always think, I need to blog about that. Here are a few things I would love for my clients to know.
I am thankful and overwhelmed. When I expanded my photography business to include portraits in 2012, I didn’t know if anyone would let me take their picture. By July, I was booked up through the remainder of the year and your support hasn’t wavered since. I am truly blessed to have your trust. But at times, trying to be the SuperPhotographerMomWorkerChristian is exhausting. My e-mailbox beckons with messages I haven’t answered. The clothes are piled up on the couch. I haven’t gone to bed before midnight in a very long time. I am working tirelessly to maintain a full-time “day job,” a home with two wonderful boys, a marriage, and to provide top notch customer service and products for you, but I am behind… on all of those goals.
I love what I do. Even when I am tired or frustrated because I can’t catch up, meeting you at a photo session energizes me. Snapping that first picture and seeing your eyes sparkle sends waves of happiness through my psyche. Snuggling with a newborn and seeing the protection and love of his mom is priceless. Watching a teenage boy or girl gain confidence as we discover his or her inner rock star brings joy to my heart. Every time.
I take this very seriously. I have worked very hard to learn what I need to know to provide you with the best images possible. I started learning from my dad when I was a child. I have spent hours in workshops, in classes, at professional organization meetings, and with other photographers to improve my skills. I am almost always working to improve some aspect of my photography. I am proud of what I can do with a camera. I want you to be proud of your images, too. It bugs me when I see others who have not invested time learning how to manipulate light or the camera settings charging others for substandard work. It bothers me more when I think people can’t see the difference. It bothers me when people pick up a semi-professional camera for the first time and represent themselves as industry experts months later. It shouldn’t. But it does.
I am not getting rich on photography. I am not even paying the bills with photography. I have set my prices to be affordable for families like mine. I don’t aspire to be the photographer of the rich and famous, I aspire to be the photographer for my friends, my family, and friends I have yet to meet. If my friends happen to be rich and famous, I don’t charge them extra. 🙂 My prices barely cover the cost of the equipment I use.
Sometimes I mess up. I am terribly flawed at many things. Sometimes I check my e-mail and know I can’t respond adequately by my phone, so I wait to respond, then forget. Sometimes I take on more than I can handle and your pictures are not ready when I would like for them to be. Sometimes I get so excited about a picture, I forget to change the shutter speed or shake with excitement and miss the moment altogether… but not often. Sometimes I eat too much… but that is a different topic.
I do what I do to serve God. It might sound corny, but the whole reason I started this business was to bring glory to God. I want you to see yourself and your family as the beautiful people God created you to be. I want to help families who have fallen on hard times and need a boost. I want to share the gifts God has given me with others through images or by helping them achieve their own goals with photography. Everything I am able to do is because of blessings I have received, and I want to return the blessings.
I appreciate you. I know you have choices. I know funds are limited and you need to spend them wisely. I know you want to look your best and have memories of this time in your family’s life. I know spending an hour or two in front of the camera is not everyone’s idea of a fun day. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for bending your arms and sitting in that funny position when I ask you to and for allowing me to tell corny jokes. Thank you for having patience with me.
I am still having fun. I really am. Sometimes I feel like it is time to shut down the business altogether because I know I am not able to keep up. But I would miss all of you, your smiles, your eyes, your laughter, watching your reaction when you see how amazing you look in the back of my camera. I can’t give that up.
But I do have to slow down. My boys need me. They are growing up fast. My oldest made the school soccer team this year and I don’t want to miss a minute of his joy. My youngest has finally found a hobby and will be showing his 4-H animals this fall. I want to see him direct a 200 pound pig around the show ring. My husband needs me. My students from my “day job” need me. So if you contact me for a session, and I have to say “no,” please don’t think it is because I don’t want to photograph you or your family. I do. I just can’t do it all. So I will continue to keep a waiting list and I will gladly refer you to an experienced, trusted photographer when I can’t fit you in. Please keep calling and messaging me for sessions, in advance if possible. Just be patient. And know that I am trying, unsuccessfully, to be SuperPhotographerMomWorkerChristian.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1
You are inspiring and I’m thankful I’ve met you.