I have been meaning to do a personal blog for a while now.  I’m always thinking about it and then things get busy and I feel selfish sitting down and doing things I enjoy when there is so much on the to-do list.   There still is, but I really wanted to take a moment to reflect a little on my progress so far, and life in general, who knows 🙂

So I opened my Facebook Page November 11th…. it was so scary, the thought of putting my work and myself out there.  I had no real idea where I was going, or even that it would turn into what it is today.  It was simply a hobby that I wanted to show the world my progress.  Little did I know that being holiday season everyone was wanting pictures taken!  It was crazy how fast my calendar filled up and I quickly became overwhelmed but excited at the same time.  I’m soooooooo grateful for each and every person I was able to work with so far!  Anyway, my point is that I had one week that I scheduled like 4 sessions with in 9 days.   That was CRAZY!  I am a FULL time teacher, and not just that, I have many duties that keep me at school later than our normal hours.  Some days I’m there till 9 at night!   So I right away, I looked at my calendar and had to figure out a better balance.   Two sessions a week is about as much as I can handle and still keep my life under control.  Not to mention I need to schedule time to practice, learn, and improve!   So I started booking two a week, and even found that certain days seem to help my work flow better.   Things started falling into place.   Not to mention how much FUN I have been having.   I feel more alive!  I stay up later, get up earlier, just to check on my little business page.  It is incredible.   It has been a long time since I have really buried myself into something full steam, and when I’m away from it I feel it pulling at me.   It really is a great feeling, and I’m so thankful my mom always instilled in me to “do what you love.”

So now that my workflow is under control and conducive with the rest of my life I am so incredibly excited for 2013!!!   The first thing I’m doing to reward my lovely clients (anyone who donated or had a paid session in 2012) will be LOCKED into a great price for all of 2013!  I will be messaging them all with details during my holiday break.  THANK YOU ALL for the support it means SO much!

Ok last thing I wanted to briefly mention is what so many people have asked me about…

So you just started? When did you start liking photography?  So you got a camera??

Kind of a loaded question which I’m going to try and give the short version.  I have ALWAYS loved art and photography, I was that kid that would sit in the dark with my moms polaroid and she would tell me how expensive the film was…. ok that only happened once because all the pictures came out black and I’m pretty sure she hid the camera from me after that.

Let me start again….   I have always been an artist, I grew up with my own little desk in my mothers art studio.  I took every single art and photography class available to me my whole educational career.   From middle school, high school, and my fine arts degree in college.  I even remember the cross roads where I was trying to choose between graphic design and photography.   Everyone said there is more money and job security in design, so that is what I chose.   But I still took every photo class that ODU had to offer.

Does any of that mean I was good??? Heck no!!!   but I had fun, and always knew I loved it.

So fast forward a few years, of me just always being the girl with the camera at parties, and the fancy computer to upload them to…. that was about it for the next generation of my life.

And then I met Amanda.  Many of you know Amanda Hedgepeth of Amanda Hedgepeth Photography.   We used to waitress together at Bubba’s.   We had a few casual conversations about her wedding photographer, and in those very few words, I thought “this girl gets it”  she saw pictures as art, and I could see her little inner artist coming out.   She was always the hardest working with the fewest complaints.  I knew she was going places.  After I left Bubba’s I was friends with Amanda on facebook.  I saw her business grow from the girl I knew at work, into this amazing bombshell professional photographer.  All right before my eyes.  It was incredible.   Amanda shot our engagements, our wedding, and the pictures were everything I dreamed of and more.  duh, because she’s awesome.   Her being Amanda, just gave me a little inspiration and got me thinking about photography again.

Ok, I’m getting there I promise.   So life went on, I dreamed of the day I would pick up a camera again after all those years after college, and life was just moving right along.   Then as I mentioned in my first blog post, at my bridal shower my  mom gave me my first DSLR.  I have to pause and give my husband credit though, he had been wanting to get me one for a while…. which I think is why I burst into tears.   It was something we wanted so badly, but just couldn’t afford it while we were paying for our wedding.   I have never cried like that over a gift…. in my defense I did think it was going to be underwear and bam there was a camera!   lol!    That was in April, and I started actually practicing with my camera in probably July.   And here I am.

But I will say, as many others do.   The camera does not make anyone good at taking pictures.   The person behind it does all the work changing settings, mastering light, editing, and so so so much more.    I am only where I am right now because of hours, upon hours, upon hours of reading, researching, practicing, and failing.   Even all those years of photo classes do not compare to the amount of work I have put in the last 3 months.  So my education, nor my minimal equipment, got me where I am.   Simply hard hard hard work (that doesn’t really feel like work which is the awesome part).   And where I am is no where near where I plan on going… so excited to keep getting better.

That is all for today, sorry it was long, but I don’t get to do these types of entries very often 🙂  in between shoots I’m always practicing, here are a few random shots for ya today.

I hope everyone has an AMAZING Holiday!   Mark and I are driving to durham tonight to see my family, so I’m hoping to blog about our little Christmas coming up.