Hey! I just wanted to say thank you for all of the support I’ve received over the past couple days. All of your congratulations, kind words, and encouragement mean so much to me! I never expected so many people to reach out, and I definitely didn’t expect to get as many emails and text messages from people who were excited about my news. I am so grateful to be able to begin this new adventure with so many incredibly supportive people in my corner. THANK YOU!

So I thought it would be fun to share my goals for myself and my business as I make the leap into full time photography. Okay maybe not really fun…at least not in the way that cotton candy and cut off jorts are fun. But I definitely think it is necessary for me to put my goals out there to keep myself accountable. Lucy (my cat/newest coworker) is not going to keep me on top of it. In fact, I bet you anything her first order of business will be to try to convince me that we should be taking naps all day and not doing any work. Hmm..that idea actually doesn’t sound half bad!

In all seriousness, I do have big plans to make the most of my new employment status…there will be much more time for the things I like to do like vlogging and creating styled shoots as well as time for not so fun things like filing taxes and organizing. Ugh. So here’s a list of some of the things I plan to do when I start work full time for ME!

• Learn SEO and use it
• Video blog once a week
• Develop an editing workflow that is seamless and makes sense
• Blog more tips and helpful posts
• Organize my office. KEEP IT ORGANIZED!!!
• Stay on top of my inbox.
• Create a new pricing guide
• Design sample albums
• Develop more ideas for client gifts/suprises
• Blog more images of each session!
• Figure out a good client filing system
• Create a bridal guide for new clients
• Create my own invoices/receipts
• Update my contract
• Bring DIY back to the blog

Personal goals:

• Create a meal plan and cook dinner at least four nights a week
• Go to bed at the same time every night
• Make it to the gym at least four days a week (HA!)
• Read a book a month (at least)
• Shoot for ME

In addition to the things I listed here, I also want to break my shutter. Okay not literally (knock on wood, knock on wood!!) but I want to shoot my heart out. Working full time has meant that when I get off in the evenings, all I have time for are editing, packaging, and other random clerical things. So the opportunities I had for shooting were pretty much limited to when I actually had a session to shoot for a paying client. I am hoping that being full time will mean that there will be more time to dedicate to side projects that I can do for just the love of them. And that I will be able to find some time to shoot because I love photography and want to learn to think of myself as an artist. Photography is one of those things you will ALWAYS be learning and growing at, and I’m excited to have the freedom to push myself and learn new things.

Also, there will be a few other changes. If you are interested in knowing, since I will have more free time I am planning on taking on a few portrait clients a month. Meaning I will now be offering lifestyle portraiture again for couples who are not engaged, families, newborns, etc on a limited basis. These sessions will be shot on weekdays only. For a while I did not have time to commit to portraiture clients, but now I will! At first it will be on a very limited basis…meaning maybe one or two sessions a month, but depending on how things go I may be able to commit to more. We will see!

Lastly, Brad and Stephanie’s wedding has been featured on Hi-Fi Weddings! Hi-Fi Weddings is the PERFECT blog to feature their wedding because Brad and Stephanie are both seriously into music. Their playlist for the day was very lovingly put together by the two of them. Head on over to see the full list of songs they chose as well as leave them some love!!