Thank you 2011 and to all of the awesome families I met this year and all of the families who let me continue to watch their children grow up!
This is the time I reflect on the year, make changes to my business, see what works and what didn’t…I am amazed at how much my business has grown to exponential levels since 2008. Each year, I turn down clients because of the sheer volume and what I’m able to manage at any given time. This is not a terrible problem to have! I do, however, overbook sometimes because I love my repeat clients and it is very hard to say no! This can be a problem in completing galleries and orders on time. In order to do better in 2012, I have made the hard decision to eliminate mini sessions because they are rarely mini in the number of proofs I present (remember, the majority of my time is spent editing!)
I’m also focusing more and more on a lifestyle nature in photographing your family. I LOVE a natural feel to my photographs and after almost 5 years of being in business, I have found that while families may request a particular prop, what they really love most, are the natural, no props and unposed photographs in their galleries. I feel like this is my niche, where my heart is, what I’m good at and where I want to keep going. There are a TON of new photographers in the area, they’re doing all the props and cliche poses. I want to be different and give you something that maybe no one else can: I want you to be able see your family like you’ve never seen each other together before.
And finally, I vow to just keep a tighter reign on my schedule. My New Year’s Resolution is to laugh with my daughter more instead of being stressed out over schedule issues, editing and such before she starts school full time in the Fall. I started this business in 2008 because I was inspired by her. I always try to keep that in mind. She is growing up and I don’t want to miss a moment! Speaking of which, she just turned 5 on Christmas Eve… always the model for me. We made it to five years with no feeding tube, no daily medications, no oxygen supplements, and… none of the other things that “could’ve happened”.
Thank you to my Christmas Eve miracle for always putting my life back into perspective. And thank YOU for supporting me along this incredible photographic journey! It has truly been my therapy and I am forever grateful.
I really can’t wait until the day she is old enough to help me with sessions. I have a feeling she’s going to be great.
