I absolutely love owning a business. I love the control that I have over it. I love that I make the calls.

That being said, it’s not an easy job. There are so many stresses. If I’m not out there getting new leads, meeting (and booking) new clients, I’m not getting money in the bank. I’m going to be honest, there have been some very hard months since I went full-time. I have been extremely humbled during the last two years! I joke with people that if they want to grow in their trust in God…open a business. I think I’m going to start also saying, if you want to grow in humility…open a business as your only income.

I’m pretty sure I’ve shared before how I felt like I had to start over all over again when I went full-time. I never realized how prideful and stagnant I had become. I thought, “I’ve shot XX amount of weddings, I know what I’m doing.” Thankfully, Bret reminded me that this is a terrible attitude to have. To run a successful business, you HAVE to have an attitude of “I don’t know it all, I will NEVER know it all, I will ALWAYS be learning.”

I also finally settled on a brand for us….and it’s a fluid thing, brand…especially for us….but, here’s where we’re at right now….

Passionately, unveiling, cherishing and attempting to capture God’s glory in every client by being emotionally connected.

People have said some awesome things about how we work…how well we fit in with the family/wedding party….how we can be in the background, but a part of the party. But there’s one way that I feel like we could do a better job….and that’s telling people WHY and HOW we are that way.

It is Christ giving us the strength to do so, the passion and talent come from Him.

We pray before each and every wedding….not only that we would do a good job and that our work would bless each couple….but that they would have an awesome marriage.

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve wanted to quit. Just throw in the towel and do something else….especially when the bank account is getting scary low….or I see a way I need to grow and I’m just stuck…or when I know I have to get that new piece of gear, but again, the money just isn’t there.

But that’s when I’m graciously reminded that God created me for this. When I was starting to write my book on being a Christian business owner (which is currently on the shelf, ha ha, pun somewhat intended), I noticed SO many patterns in my life that pointed to me running a photography business.

He also graciously reminds me of those that our work has touched…..I reread all of my testimonies on bad days (so big thank you to everyone has written a testimony!) I also remember the power that is in a photograph. It is truly humbling to know that I have taken the last formal picture of people…whether at a family portrait session or a wedding.

I am not a perfect photographer/business owner/wife/friend/blogger….but I am learning that I am a perfect vessel for God to work through.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Random info – this picture was taken near the lake where Dirty Dancing was filmed. I took it with a little point and shoot and it’s still one of my favorites.

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