Life. Business. Kids. How do I manage it all? What direction is my business going in? What direction am I going in as a person? How do I make it all fit to find the satisfaction I need?
When I took my first photography class almost three years ago, I knew what I wanted, but I never thought I would actually get there. I feel like that class changed me. I met some people I never would have met without photography. I found a determination in myself that I never knew was there. And I knew this is what I wanted to do and succeed in. I want to start out by saying that I am EXTREMELY grateful for this opportnity of being a small business owner and being able to do what I do every day really is a passion of mine and I take great pride in my work. But. I would be lying if I said I didn’t get stressed out and second guess myself sometimes. I have such a hard time juggling my life. In knowing when to say no. And in believing in myself and my work.
Most people think people who own their own business and work from home have it made. And yes. We kind of do. It is very rewarding. But I also think we have it hardest. I come from corporate America. Sitting in an office all day punching numbers for a company I could care less about. But, I also had the kind of job where I worked 9-5, had my nights and weekends free and I left my work at work, so my home time was fun and family.
When you own your own business, it is not like that. My children are in school 4 hours a day. Do you know how quick 4 hours goes by?! I am a busy person. I juggle a lot, and yes I chose to, but I do it. I run a business, I take classes and workshops to keep up, I am a full-time mom running my children back and forth to school, activities, sports and playdates, I am training for a full marathon (hello time consuming activity) and most people don’t know that I also work a couple nights a week at a restaurant. The restaurant will probably go away soon. I am just having a hard time letting it go for some reason. It’s almost like a small security if my business fails. And I really do like the people I work with, so it’s a nice break for me (shout out to my M&S peeps!!). But it’s starting to take up time I just don’t have anymore. Time for myself. Time for my family. And most of all time for my children. TIME!!! I need more time!
I have had some people say to me when I vent about the lack of time I have, “Well, just don’t run…don’t train for a marathon, that will free up some time”. Um. NO! Running is a HUGE part of my life and its literally my cup of coffee in the morning. I don’t drink coffee. I run to wake up. I run to relax. I run to de-stress. I run for mental therapy talks with myself. I run to stay fit. And I run to accomplish something that is important to me. So just like having to go to the bathroom every day. I HAVE to run. Not running is NOT an option.
So how can I balance my life so I am not up until 2am editing sessions? How can I balance my life so I am not jumping around from responding to emails to marketing to editing (all in the same hour).? How can I have more time?
I needed to be mentored. I wanted a portfolio review (am I even good enough to keep going?) I had so many questions on how one can run a successful at home business and still have TIME! Because I missed time. I miss my family. I miss sitting down and eating breakfast. No really, I make breakfast, take a bite and run and do something, come back, take a bite and on to the next thing…. my husband yells at me all the time. Ugh. Anyhoo, so last night I met with Amanda from Amanda Hedgepeth Photography. Ok first off, what a sweet, talented woman she is! She is a busy photographer herself, but has it all together! Totally inspiring. She opened my eyes to so many things last night and I feel like I am embracing this newfound love of my business, my work and where it is going.
First and foremost, I need a schedule. A set schedule. People think being a photographer is just taking pictures. That could not be the farthest from the truth. Being a photographer is about 20% of taking pictures. Most of the stuff is back end stuff such as editing, blogging, marketing, answering emails, keeping up on social networking, keeping tax stuff straight for the year and the list can go on and on.
Editing workflow. No more internet while editing! NO MORE INTERNET WHILE EDITING!! I am awful with that. I will have Bridge and PS up, but also the internet with a Facebook tab, my business email and google. iMessage will be in full force along with my phone right next to me because God forbid I miss a text message from someone who doesn’t have an iPhone and I don’t get their iMessage on my Macbook! I have to stop. Seriously, just stop Jessica. I may go through withdrawals, but I’ll be ok, right?! It will cut down on my editing time immensely without the distraction. Work is work. The rest can wait. Secondly, there are also some days, when the little peeps come home from school and I am on a deadline and I really feel like they get ignored by me. That is not fair to them. And I feel so guilty about it. They are first in my life and after school time will strictly be for them. Maybe for an hour in the late afternoon I can schedule some blogging perhaps, but after school time is my time with them. Because seriously, aren’t they the best?!
Ok, onto answering emails. I’ll be honest, when I get an email from a new client asking for information or an old client looking to fulfill a print order, I get excited. Like SUPER excited. I love the inquiries. I always feel the need to stop what I am doing and email them back right away. I don’t need to do that though. A 24 hour turnaround and having a specific time of day to answer emails is ok! Chances are they are busy doing something else anyway. THIS IS OK! THIS IS OK! (I need to repeat things a lot)
Finding my style & specialty. When Amanda looked at my website last night for a little portfolio review. She loved it! I was stoked! Besides a few tweaks here and there on certain pictures, it was up to par in her eyes and that meant a lot. But now what? Where am I going with it? I shoot a lot of things. Newborns. Children. Family. Weddings. Couples. Events. I’ve even done pet photography. I need to start narrowing it down a bit to a specialty. I mean I don’t need to do it today, but eventually one will outweigh the other and once I finish building my style and brand, I think that will come. So for now, I am having a BLAST getting my feet dipped in it all. I enjoy it all and I’m grateful to have a chance to do it all. But. Eventually I will need to go in one direction. It’s almost like being a college student and figuring out what to major in. You start with Liberal Arts when you don’t know what you want to do and you eventually “major” in something. I’ll get there. My clients will help me, because you guys rock! I’ll start to know what people are looking for from me.
Days off. I WILL have at least one day off a week. One day where I don’t edit, Facebook, check an email or organize print orders. I shouldn’t have to work 7 days a week. Although, my job doesn’t feel like “work” at all. And if life and time allowed me, I might do it 24 hours a day, it’s not fair to my family, or myself. Give a sista a day off! I am all for it!
Pricing. This will change and it will go into effect soon. I am learning right now a lot of people want digitals. I think I am switching to what I was originally doing in the very beginning when I was portfolio building and offering more digital packages. I am ok with being a shoot and share photographer! I can focus more on service and my clients that way. I will still most definitely offer canvases, product and prints (as my professional lab is awesome!), but clients will have more flexibility with this. You will be excited. I promise.
So I think I am starting to figure it all out. I am starting to make a balance somewhere where I can still be Jessica, yet still be Jessica, owner of Nicella Photography, which (fingers crossed) WILL be a successful business. I say this a lot, but I am honestly 200% grateful for each and every one of you who chose me to let into your lives and capture those special moments. You all make me smile and Nicella Photography would not be what it is and where it is going today without you all. Referrals are the best compliments and repeat clients are my favorite.
There are so many exciting things planned for 2014. Spring Mini Sessions in NJ, Beach Mini Sessions in VA, I will be teaming up with Tickle Toes this spring in NJ and will be doing a model call soon for a FREE shoot, where you will receive free product. I am in the works on working on a stylized shoot for your little ones in Virginia Beach as well. And can I even begin to tell you the amazing feedback that “Learn to love. Your Camera” basic DSLR class has gotten?! I am over the moon excited about it! More of these classes are coming soon to VA and NJ.
Keep in touch. Contact me. Let me know your thoughts. Inquire about a session. I am just a regular every day “mom” working my butt off to become successful in something I love and adore. It doesn’t happen overnight, but I have high hopes it WILL happen!
Best and love.
-Jess
