When I decided to start my photography business, I was beyond excited. It was all I could think of. My mind was constantly going with art and business ideas. I couldn’t sleep. I was passionate (and very naive).
Since June of 2010, I have learned so much about business, people, art, and myself. And one of the most important things I’ve learned is that running a portrait business in the current photography market is not for me.
I LOVE photography. I’m beyond passionate about it and its role in my life, but I’ve HAD IT (why sugar coat it??) with my portrait business. I’m drained. I’m tired. I’m disappointed. I’ve agonized over this decision for months and today I make it official. As of this moment, I am no longer taking client sessions. Wildflower Picks Photography is closed.
There are so many reasons that I’ve made this decision, and I have so many thoughts on the photography industry and market, business in this geographical region, and women in business. I’d be happy to bore you with them sometime one-on-one if you’d like. Send me an email and we can do lunch or tea (yep, tea).
I’m sad, but I’m also really really relieved. For one, I can stop debating and changing my mind every few days. And now I can move on and explore some other areas of my life. For example, I’m LOVING blogging at Life Light Art. This is a creative outlet for me, a way to combine my love of photography with my love of writing. I’m also exploring fine art photography and have a little Etsy shop going. I’m entertaining notions of expanding this idea and creating my own online shop selling fully designed, ready-to-hang wall displays… maybe. And I really like the idea of second shooting a wedding or two if the opportunity presented itself. I have no idea where I’m going from here, but I’m going there with gusto.
To all of my clients who have trusted me with your family images, THANK YOU! I’m so honored that you chose me, and I sincerely hope you treasure your portraits forever. If you’d like to purchase a complete set of digital images from your session, please contact me by the end of April, and watch this blog and your email for a huge frame sale I’ll be having soon.
I recently started another blog, an online alter-ego if you will. I’m blogging about photography, my family, art, food, and crafty stuff at Life Light Art. What’s the difference between there and here you ask?
Wildflower Picks blog: Professional portraits of clients
Life Light Art blog: Images of my family, my life, and my art. My Life Light Art blog is more about the creation than the end product, and I’m using the space to explore the connection between life and art. I do so directly sometimes, like in this post about my husband. But most times, I’m letting things fall where they will and finding the connection later. This blog is where you’ll find tips on how to photograph your everyday life, how to make gluten-free cookies, and see what mischief my children got into each week.
I’d love for you to follow both of my blogs. Check out Bloglovin’… it’s super easy to use and sends you an email each night when there are new posts on the blogs you follow. Or you could like my Life Light Art Facebook page to stay in the loop too.
And, I’m super excited to announce that my Life Light Art Etsy shop is open and ready for business! Here are a few of my favorite images from my shop. Keep an eye on Life Light Art for a fine art print giveaway in the next few weeks.
Do you know about Bloglovin‘? I just found it… I’ve been stuck in the world of Google Reader and this is way better, especially for the visual people like me. Plus it suggests other blogs you may like based on what blogs you are already following. Check it out and add your favorite blogs for easy reading 
Have you seen my new website?! It’s still being fine tuned and added to, but I’m so excited to show it off. Take a look and let me know what you think
Well, it’s about time! I finally have all of my Disney photos edited and sorted. I took just shy of 2,000 of them myself and combining those with Brad’s iPhone, 5 rolls of Holga film, my mother-in-law’s camera, and the Disney PhotoPass we bought, I had 2,500 pictures to comb through. But it’s done and my Blurb photo book is ready to be made (once I find time to lay it out in lightroom).
We went to Disney the last week in October. Brad and the girls and I flew down to Florida and met Brad’s parents. This is the way to do Disney with little ones… have grandparents there too! It was so nice to have someone to go on the teacup ride that I dreaded, to hold my camera occasionally, to chase a runaway child, and even a couple of nights to put the children to bed so Brad and I could visit the parks alone. Plus now our girls will have great memories with their grandparents. Well, Eva will… Maggie might be a bit young to remember, but she’ll have pictures to see of herself having a great time with her grandparents!
We stayed at Cypress Pointe Resort just outside of the park. It was amazing (the website doesn’t do it justice)… we had a three-bedroom apartment essentially with an awesome pool and playground. It would have been nice to be super close to Magic Kingdom, but I can’t imagine giving up the comfort and space we had.
I carried my camera with me everyday. It was truly a labor of love. By the end of the week, my back, neck, and arms were a tight, tangled mess from carrying the weight of it plus a purse and children. But it was so worth it!
Here are some of my favorites from my “good” camera. Looking at them again reminds me of how much I fell in love with Disney; I can’t wait to go back!
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I can’t believe Parker is a year old already! It feels like just a few weeks ago I was shooting her newborn session!
Parker’s newborn and 4 month old sessions were indoors. We shot her 8 month pictures in a park (and just narrowly missed a decent amount of rain). So for this session, we went in a completely different direction. I love the results! Having the session in the town that she was born in is really special and personal… years from now, Parker should cherish these images. I hope that Lindsey and Sean enjoy them now!
Thank you Lindsey and Sean for choosing me to document your baby girl’s first year. I look forward to seeing you regularly as she grows!!
Henry was scheduled to arrive while I was on vacation in Disney, and I was a little nervous that he’d be getting a little old for a newborn session by the time I got back. But we lucked out and Henry greeted everyone a few days early and I was able to take his newborn pictures 2 days before I left. Not only is he super cute, but he was one of the most laid-back newborns I’ve worked with. I love newborn sessions, and I especially love them with sweet babies like Henry. Thank you Carrie and David for inviting me into your home, for heating it up to 80+ degrees, and for spending your afternoon with a camera in your face!
This little girl is one of the most serious 5-month olds I’ve met–happy, adorable, content to blow spit bubbles, but not so willing to show me her smile. But towards the end of our session, she cracked and for the briefest of seconds, I saw her grin (the trip outside in the unseasonably warm weather or the silly toy I was squeaking and balancing on my head probably didn’t hurt anything).
I started a personal project several months ago. I have my mother-in-law’s manual focus SLR film camera loaded with a roll of black and white Ilford Delta 3200. When I see something that’s still and calm and beautiful, I take a picture.
The interesting thing is that this one roll of film lasts a long time. I savor it. I take the picture slowly and carefully. I carefully meter and adjust my settings. I carefully focus and refocus. I look and compose carefully. And I start to see everyday objects differently. What really surprised me is how often I was inspired by light and shape.
My life is usually very busy and loud (I have a three year old and a two year old). These images remind me that there is peace, calm, and quiet in my world. I love them.
