Back when I first started my photography business, nearly 10 years ago, I would have never imagined it would have gone this far. I’ve been able to start two other businesses as a result of being a photographer, as well as continue to manage a successful portrait and wedding photography business.
A few years back, I decided that I would scale back on the number of weddings I did each year, mostly due to the fact that my life was getting busier and busier with my personal life and my kids. And, I get more enjoyment out of family and high school senior photos. Weddings are super stressful, and when I’m facing constant stress at home raising my children, it is difficult to transition to even more stress for my job. This is the very first year in which I do not have a wedding scheduled since 2006. While I miss aspects of wedding photography, my heart and soul wasn’t in it 100%. That isn’t fair to myself or my couples.
Along with scaling back weddings, continuing to rent my studio in Minneapolis was also on my mind. I loved the convenience of having a place to shoot in Minnesota in the winter, however for the other months out of the year, I hardly used it. Besides, I truly love sessions that are in the home with more of a lifestyle-feel.
This was the year I finally pulled the trigger and said good-bye to studio photography. It was very difficult to walk away from such an amazing space, probably the best one I have ever rented. However, it was time to move forward with my business, without a studio to worry about.
This allows me to do a couple of things. First, I am able to simplify my pricing. Secondly, I will be taking on less sessions throughout the year, in an effort to be able to focus more on family and on the few sessions I do have. The exception will be in the fall, when the demand is high for family photos.
So, if you are planning on booking a session with me this year, you may want to get on my calendar as soon as possible. I will not be working more than 1-2 days a week, and I can get in multiple sessions during a night if the schedules line up. August, September, and October tend to fill up quickly, as it is the busiest time of the year for me. I will also be holding 1 or 2 days of mini-sessions in the fall, depending on demand. You can email me at info@liveandlovestudios.com or just visit my contact page.
Thanks for reading and sticking with me all of these years! It has been a fun ride, but I feel like I have finally found my zone for my work/life balance. Hope to see you family in front of the camera soon!
Jackie
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