Lifestyle photographer| Clovis|End of the year reflection
End of the year reflection
As we are wrapping 2021, gosh has it been a crazy year. I think we all hoped this year was different than last year. We hoped things go back to normal like pre-pandemic days. Looking back at where I was last year during this time and a year from now, I was working a full time job as behavioral therapist helping families through the unknown of the world and how difficult COVID was for all of us. During this time last year I realized that life is short and that I needed to go after what I loved, AKA photography. I knew I had to try my hardest to make what I love and what i’m really good at is business. So around December is when I started considering starting to do photography again. Before this I had took over two years off doing photography. I was doing some film projects. Cinema is my other love next to photography. Fun fact about me. After that I started working as a behavioral therapist. I loved doing that so much as well but I always felt like I needed to pursue photography again. I'm a creator at heart.
What I’ve learned
So I put into action my comeback.I knew how difficult it would be but this time around I wasn't afraid of failure. I knew I was going to try my best. I've practiced and practiced my craft. I tried to learn as much as I could before I reopened and rebranded my photography business. I researched courses, I considered investing in crazy gear which I never did buy thank goodness. To only learn now that trusting my gut instincts, believing in myself, and keep trying even if I failed was the best way to approach this. I also learned that as a creator I had the option to create and to work with anyone I wanted which led to discovering I didn't have to work with every single client that walked through my door if we didn't share the same vision. You see, art is mutual and photography is a unique form of art that captures many things in my work I like to capture connections between people and showcase real emotion and real personalities so when I was 100% sure of what I wanted to capture I learned to cut everyone else out. Prior before that, old me would have took any client without really understanding what that meant.
All the families I’ve met
Gosh I've met so many families this year. I really missed human to human connection. I worked with some families twice this year who would book me for a second session. It's such a good feeling knowing that I get to create these memories for a family to have for many years. From working with moms who are pregnant, then had their newborn babies, and capturing their first memories are so special to me you have no idea, it means the world.
Why I do what I do
I probably have an endless list of why I do what I do but just to sum it up, I simply love photography and I love working with people and most of all I love having creative control over what I do. I'm a mom with a camera. I'm trying to grow a small business that I'm super passionate about and at the same time trying to juggle mom life. My household is pretty hectic but I wouldn't trade it for the world. They say you never work a day in your life if you love what you do and I stand behind that 100%.
Moving forward
I say moving forward I'll keep doing what I've learned the past couple months which is to trust myself and go for it. I will allow myself to be as creative as I want to be without thinking what other people might say or if they like what I'm doing. Definitely not comparing myself to other photographers is something I will not be doing moving forward.
Any new changes
I mentioned I love cinema and film so I have been considering including video into my business. It's still not a for sure thing. I'm highly considering it since I love it so much but if there's any changes this would be one.
I would like to say thank you for everyone who joined me this year. It hasn't really been a full year since I reopened Five Oceano Photography but the last couple of months have been super fun with amazing memories and lots of growth, so if you were with me on this ride I appreciate you and I'm grateful for you.
