New

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Change is scary. Change makes me anxious. For a very long time I’ve known that I fear change on so many levels. To change means that one has to take some kind of action, and being brave enough to do that means acknowledging the fear of what could go wrong.

Back in October, my heart and mind went through a lot of changing. I took a few baby steps to prepare for what was in store for the future of my business, but now it’s time for that big action. Those smaller steps affected only me, but the changes coming affects my clients. I just want to make sure that I am doing what’s best for everyone.

It is hard to come up with a pricing plan. I have let myself be taken advantage of throughout the years because I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I decided that I’m going to take a more hands off approach to dealing with the money. It’s important that I let others know that I value the service that I provide them. I enjoy it. I love having something to offer people. It is valuable, and my time is valuable.

With that being said, I’ve made a ton of changes (purchases that will boost my business, plans that will structure programs with community service work and incentives, enrolling in a business course, updating my website and boosting my marketing strategies), but I’m still dragging my feet on my pricing. I would appreciate prayers for that.

The biggest change coming in 2021 is my business model and what I offer. I plan to focus primarily on families and seniors. I will still take other bookings here and there, but my hope is to master those two areas. My senior program is my baby right now, and I’m so excited for that I can‘t see straight! Aside from my focus shifting, I will also be venturing into offering heirloom products. I will be still offering digitals on a rolling basis. The more products you buy, the more digitals you receive. I have come to the point where my goal is to get my clients’ portraits on more than just their facebooks. I want them to receive something that will last a lifetime.

In my home, I had a lot of Home Interior and such when we got married. All over my house was meaningless art. As we had kids and my value of photography grew, I wanted my whole house covered with our memories and milestones. My first huge purchases for my two girls were milestone packages at The Picture People. WORTH EVERY PENNY. I have had their one year pictures hanging in my living room for 11 and 9 years. Then, we purchased my first camera. That camera is responsible for so many of the captured moments hanging on my walls now including my first big “photoshoot” for Lincoln’s first birthday. My walls are MINE now. They weren’t before. They were full of things. Now they’re full of memories. I will never not value my memories. They’re too valuable to me to be hid in an album on Facebook or in the cloud to be forgotten.

As I have said, change makes me so nervous, but I have to be true to who I am and who God wants me to be. He said in Psalm 31:18, “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.” I am taking that to heart. I value what I do, and I work from my heart. I value my time because I work hard and often. My time is taken from my kids (as with any working mother), so if it’s going to be taken from them, then it’s going to be used for good work. I want every job to be my best work, and I want it to show.

All that being said, I never want to place too much value on myself so that I lose that humbleness that I think is important in every aspect of life. It’s a thin line I think, and I don’t want to cross it.

This is a pretty lengthy post to say what is going on in my head. I struggle daily with “imposter syndrome.” I never feel good enough. In a way, the need to prove myself has pushed me to keep going. It can also be very debilitating though. I truly desire your prayers as I go through this process. Thank you for being loyal readers. Writing is part of EVERY process in my life. I know I’m not alone.