Myself Anew

I've been making some big changes in my life. I recently divorced my husband of two years, which was a relationship for nearly 8 years. Its strange but being there, being with him put me into a 'box'. Free from that situation I feel like I am myself again. All the creativity, all the confidence, all the drive & determination... My hunger if you will... It has returned and I am myself anew.

I can see it in my photos, I can see it in my business. I started doing photos in November of last year. Now I am have been doing it for a full year and I will end the year with 6 weddings (not counting friends or family, but unique client weddings). A full year of thinking I had drive, thinking I was motivated and I have 6 weddings to show for it. Since I have decided to stop settling, stop being idle, stop being a passenger in my life and take control I have booked 6 weddings for this next year. My prices have also doubled... This is huge. Now this is determination. I have been reading Anne Ruthmann's project blog PhotoLovecat and came across the following post called Getting Out of the Part Time Trap .

This article could not be more true. Could not be more me. It sums up my hopes and dreams, my fears... I am so scared to not have a steady paycheck. To quit my cushy 9-5 job with excellent pay and equally excellent benefits to pursue my photography full time. The article points out how working for myself is 'a lot less risky' than working for someone else. Some good points from it include:

• no one can fire you for taking time off to deal with family matters
• you can always have the corner office with the view
• you control how much money you make each month
• the profits you help bring in go to buying you a better house and car, rather than the executive you work for
• you decide how much your time is worth
• you decide how much you want to work

"Even if you stayed part time and simply doubled your prices and ended up with only half the amount of work - you're better off because you now have more time and are making more profit for less work! If you still have another job, now is the BEST time to raise your prices" <--- She was sooo talking to me. I'm taking the leap. I'm not looking back. I'm kicking ass and taking names and I am going to make it. When? My goal is to be full time without a safety net by next November. Look out world here I come! I leave you with my latest and greated favorite photo... Enjoy :)