A Turning Point

As I drove down Wednesday night to the location for a family session in Groton Long Point, Conn, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of peace thinking back to this time last year.  I was having a “is this really my life” moment.  These moments come and go, and many times I have to snap myself back to the present to not get so caught up in my own emotions.  It’s a “reflectors mind” always at work!

A year ago I was standing alongside the portrait photographer who changed the game for me in my own work, someone who inspires me daily, and now, on the same date, a year later, here I was driving to the very beach location where my family spent all my childhood summers to photograph a family who are making their own traditions of summertime memories in GLP.  WOW!

My goodness, is this all for real?!! As my eyes began to well up, I quickly re-directed my mind and took it all in!

Ok I digress…forgive me :).

This is an entry I began writing a year ago and well, as time would have it, I ran out of it as a hectic fall season full of family sessions was quickly on the horizon.  And to be completely honest, any time I would sit to write this particular entry, I had a difficult time even wrapping my mind around the incredible experience that provided me so much growth and clarity in my business…all nestled with so much genuine care and kindness.

This week last year was a MAJOR turning point for me as a photographer.

Last year, I packed my bags and headed up North to Portland, Maine to work side-by-side with the fabulous motherhood and family portrait photographer, Tiffany Farley.  Two full days of one-on-one mentoring with one of the sweetest and most talented photographers.  She is seriously such a lovely person whose heart and vision aligns so much with my own heart and work.

I remember in the weeks prior to leaving, printing out ALL my business plans from the year and getting organized with my millions of questions and ideas.  For me, this was a learning opportunity that I couldn’t believe was actually becoming a reality!

With an empty notebook and pen in hand, I was ready to absorb as much of Tiffany’s teachings, suggestions, advice and knowledge as possible, to hear her perspective and honest thoughts on my business, what was working and what wasn’t.  We dug deep as we sat around a local coffeehouse table with our mugs full of deliciously strong freshly brewed coffee and got to work.

There were many light bulb moments and I could see how excited she was in providing me with so much clarity as we sat unraveling the layers to discovering what truly lied beneath each photograph I create for the families that step in front of my camera.  And with those remarkable discoveries, she gave me the tangible next steps to continue to grow my business into the next phase.  And then came the unspoken permission.  Permission to be me.  Permission to explore my vision and to trust in timing.  Just some of my many personal takeaways.

After coming home, I started working behind the scenes on my new website, re-branding, new logo design, improving my client experience…and of course tried to convince Justin we should move to Maine so I could always photograph families on that gorgeous Maine coastline!

Day one of the workshop was tackling all things business and brand related.  Day two included an instructional hands-on sunset portrait session with a stunning mother and her soon to be one-year old daughter in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  With the waves crashing against the rocks and sailboats passing in the distance, Tiffany walked me through her own camera settings and how she finds the perfect light in any location.  We would stop down, look at my images together and critique as we went along looking at composition, technical settings, white balance, you name it.

A behind the scenes iphone picture 

Even a year later, I still think back to those two days of aha moments!  I drove away from that experience having had so much fun, sharing laughter, deep conversations, and a renewed sense of inspiration heading into the busiest part of the photography season.  The years of silently praying for my road to becoming a full-time photographer had never felt more on my doorstep than after this workshop.

We all have our personal turning points.  The moments that make us realize moving forward is within reach.  Whether it’s that job promotion, that unexpected opportunity that opens new doors, the degree you worked so hard to hold in your hands, that new job you didn’t expect to get, or the blessing of welcoming new life to your arms.  They are the moments that impact future change.  The good kind of change, the life-altering kind of change.  This experience was most definitely a turning point in the growth of my business.

I am excited to share some favorites from our sunset shoot in Cape Elizabeth.  I have plans to hang several of these photographs in my home office, to remind me of my turning point and a beautiful memory that means so much to my heart and the growth of my business.

With gratitude to:
Our gorgeous model- Spring Smith- Family & Wedding Photographer/Owner of Spring Smith Studios
The sweetest Hair & Makeup Artist- Stacia Trault / Owner of Stacia Makeup Artistry