My creative journey started in my childhood bedroom, drawing cartoon characters from all perspectives and detailing their lives as notes in one of many leather bound sketchbooks. I've always 'marched to the beat of my own drum' and I've always been intensely aware of how different I was from a very young age. i've always been consumed by creating. two weeks after highschool graduation i moved to san francisco where I majored in illustration at the academy of art. I've always created to heal, to feel free, to get lost, to find joy, to express myself, to stop time and give new perspective to moments as they pass. later, as i was diagnosed as an adult, i realized i also created to cope with my adhd symptoms. I've always been passionate about art, but it wasn't until I was married with a child on the way, living in my parent's basement that I decided I needed to figure out how to make (good) money doing it. Queue being Done white knuckling life, and the start of clawing my way to the top.
I began my photography business while also working a full-time job. (Sound familiar?) I worked all day, did photography every night/weekend. I was charging next to nothing, (also sound familiar?) staying up until 3am editing with a baby on the way. I was constantly tired and began to resent photography AND my full-time job, because, quite honestly I was half-assing both of them. I was failing as a mom, wife, friend... always gone, always working, always overwhelmed. I knew something had to give.
in 2010 i went to my first photography conference and my eyes were opened; I got the push off the cliff I needed. (The one I'm here to give to you!) Over and over again I heard, "If photography is your passion, quit your other job and be a photographer." I took the advice and ran with it. I quit my full time job just weeks later and went ALL IN.
Guess what happened next?
i about shit my pants. Fear consumed me. "What if I don't have enough clients?" "What if I don't make any money?" "am i good enough?" "Do I even know what I'm doing?!" (I didn't, to be clear.) i got sucked into the comparison game and fell deep into the cold well of envy. i was absolutely convinced i needed to be like everyone else. I TORTURED myself with lies and insecurities. (Imposter syndrome anyone?)
But, THEN guess what happened?
I put my nose down and dug my heels in. I signed up for all the classes, all the workshops, all the conferences. I reached out to profitable photographers and payed for mentorships. I took time to learn, to grow into my own, to find my style and what i liked shooting, I failed. Again and again I failed, but i learned from every failure and kept moving forward.
suddenly, i was booking months in advance. My photography business was making 6-figures less than 2 years after going full time. I made more my second year in full-time business than my father, who's roof I had been living under. I was able to send my husband back to school, to put a down payment on a beautiful home, and was able to move my make-shift basement studio into a cute little spot downtown. I made 'big girl' purchases for my family, and I did it without having to edit until 3am or miss my baby's first steps.
I went from a lost and self doubting artist to the bread winner of my family faster than i knew how to handle it. I've made many mistakes, i've had many trial and error moments, i've spent tens of thousands of dollars on business and photography education, and i've in turn created. a thriving, prosperous business. The best part, I get to make art for a living! I get to do what i love, AND have financial freedom, and i didn't have to be an ass-hole to make that happen!
while I spent a lot of time learning to be a better photographer, I put just as much efford into being a good human. i strongly believe that is the key to having a successful business. I let go of comparison and ego or the need to be 'trendy' or featured/published. I started telling people's stories and LOVING them whole-heartedly while doing so. I created value for my clients that they couldn't get anywhere else; because no one else was me. I built authentic, loving relationships with people, and I gave them a piece of me every time they hired me.
my why: loving others through self expression.
I want to help you turn your passion into profit, without being greedy, salesy, or ego driven. i can, and will help you find and BOOK your dream clients. I want to show you how being a GOOD person and creating value and memories for and with your clients is the real reward; the (good) money you earn is just the cherry on top.
Are you ready to go all in and live the life you've dreamed of, enriched with authentic relationships, more free time and a thriving business?
let's freakin go!
