Inspiration

The past two months have been something of a soul searching exercise to really get a focus on our photography business and how that business will fit in the context of our family goals. Our family is our priority and we have some pretty specific ideas of how we want to prioritize our time.
In the past month, I've really been seeking the Lord and I feel like I am beginning to get some clarity. Or if not clarity then, direction. One thing I've been doing is reading other photographers blogs and forums. In doing this (I know I'm slow) I've realized, HEY they are a lot like us! They have children they want to have more time with, they have business issues, they have life issues. And overall on the blogs and forums, they are incredibly generous. Thanks guys! We are new to all this and have already made a lot of mistakes but I hope we are looking at them as opportunities to grow and improve. We also have some work to do but I'm trying hard to be more balanced and patient. Make a plan, sow the seeds, weed, mulch, harvest, save. That's sort of my outline. And tonight I read a quote from Denis Reggie that is going to have me thinking over the next few weeks.

"If you don't know what makes you different in this industry, then you need to either do some serious soul searching or get out of the industry."

A similar thought came to my mind that I heard Mike Colon say, "God made me unique just like He made you unique. Really you don't have any competition because there is only ONE of YOU!"

Just in the past year I owe a lot to photographers I've had the pleasure of meeting and others I only know from their blog and websites. I have been challenged and I feel energized. It's kinda cool. It makes me want to be a better mom, a sweeter wife, a more benevolent person in addition to improving my photography. God is good.

And we are getting a nice big snowstorm (just after all the snow melted) so we'll be "snowed in" over the weekend so I am forced to just think and love. Well that's good too. We have a long way to go but it's a good journey. A great journey. I feel like when I climbed my first mountain and felt the strong cold wind at the top. It took your breath away, but then again so did the view. Here's to the mountaintops and the valleys. May you all be blessed in the journey!