Earlier this week my hairdresser told me about a vitamin line he would soon be carrying. Included in his line would be a “gentle sleeping pill”. My response, “HA! I have two little boys. I don’t have that problem”. Lesson learned; don’t brag about your ability to fall asleep! Tonight marks night two of tossing and turning. So, hi there! Here I am, at 2 am, finally writing about a subject that has been on my mind for a while; Keeping up with the Jones’…or I guess the 21st century version, Keeping up with THE Kardashians’.
So how does this apply to a photography business? Who/ what could I possibly be trying to keep up with? Thanks Pinterest for showing me all the awesome photographers out there (http://www.kathleenweibelphotography.com) because now I’m trying to keep up with THEM and want to produce dreamy, drool worthy pictures like them! So I HAVE to have the amazing gear that produces those amazing images, right? Well, it helps, but not necessarily. (http://petapixel.com/2014/11/21/video-gear-6x-price-get-6x-better-photo-spoiler-no/)
Remember that book from childhood, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. Give the mouse a cookie and she’ll want a glass of milk, give the mouse a glass of milk and she’ll want…. I have become the mouse. Give me a nice compact digital camera and I will want a DSLR, give me a DSLR and I’ll want a lens. Give me a lens and I will want a new camera…
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being the mouse (ha!) BUT, being the mouse is NOT okay! It is OK to have dreams and a wish list, but it is NOT okay to constantly want and to not be thankful for what you have. I am so lucky to be kept grounded by a husband who reminds me to be content with what I have. How lucky am I to take such amazing pictures of my kiddos and other peoples’ kiddos!
So today I am taking the time to look back. I am reminding myself of how far I have come. I am going to stop and be thankful that I have my cookie (my entry level DSLR that I’m rocking!) and my milk (the 85 mm 1.8 lens that I LOVE) and my party (so many wonderful friends and clients who are on my team and support what I am doing)!
I am taking the time to remember that my intent was to approach this business deliberately; stepping slowly into the pool of photography instead of diving in head first. Slowing deciding on and figuring exactly what my style is, to understand what my preferences are and which gear would best suit me.
I am taking the time to remember why I started my business in the first place; to offer relaxed, personalized outdoor sessions, and why I started when I did; to be able to offer affordable pricing to clients as I learn and decide how I want my business to be run. (There was a point where I could not have afforded the kids of pictures I now take of my sons) Hmmm. Actually working on that business plan is starting to look like a good idea. I suspect it would have helped me do this long ago, helping me to be proud of what I am achieving! At least now I know my style, simple, personal, and capturing what it means to be a certain age.
So, while I am going to try to stop keeping up with the Kardashian’s, I need to be thankful that in some ways I am the Kardashians! I may be working with basic gear and may have a simple natural style, but I am rocking it. And on a side note, blogging at 2am is just as good as sleeping pill! My head is ready for a pillow!