A Plan of Action

{Welcome back to another edition of No Mom Talk Monday! If you aren’t sure of the rules, they are really simple: You can write about whatever you want…except your kids. The link up is at the bottom! Enjoy!}

If you remember a few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how I was about to start doing things for me. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who stands behind me 100% no matter what that “something” may be. I’ve been debating for a while on how I wanted to go about pursuing my love and passion for photography while in Kodiak. It’s been a little tricky and has weighed on my heart since we found out we were moving out here. But I think, at least for now, that I have finally made a decision.

We just do not have the means for me to open a business; at least not a portrait business. The weather here is so unpredictable and without a studio to work in, I wouldn’t really be able to successfully start up a portrait business. That being said, I’m not a huge fan of Studio Photography anyway…unless it’s done properly; and there is a really amazing photographer here whom I’ve been lucky enough to befriend who DOES do it right. While I was lucky enough to be able to take photos of some good friends while I was in Alabama, I just don’t have the equipment or the talent right now to feel comfortable going into business. The economy makes it hard for photographers starting out. It really does. Unless you are good enough to charge adequately for your talents, you end up spending more than you make. And it’s just not financially feasible for us.

So, that being said: I’ve decided to take the next year to LEARN. To continue to soak up and learn as much as I can about photography, about lighting, about technique and poses. And I’m going to use this next year to grow my equipment. While I wholeheartedly agree that it’s not the camera or the lenses that make a good photograph, you do have to have quality equipment to do quality work. I need to upgrade my camera; I need new lenses specifically for portraiture. And I need to find my niche. I really have no desire to shoot Weddings. My heart is really in children’s and family portraiture as well as couples. [Couples meaning Engagement and family Maternity Sessions].

Instead of focusing on starting up a business, I’m going to focus on expanding my Print Shop and building quality work there. Alaska is a beautiful, beautiful place with a lot of photographic opportunity. I want to build up my shop and focus a lot on my technique as a Still Life photographer while I’m here with all of this gorgeous scenery to inspire me. Because still life, next to lifestyle children’s portraiture, is my other favorite.

So that’s where I am with that.

As far as Graphic Design goes: I’m looking into taking some online classes and some college courses starting in probably August. Again, there are a few things that I will need to get this off the ground, but I confident that I can get started in this with what I have right now. I did my own blog and created all of the graphics here, so in a month or so, I’m looking to add some premade logos to my Etsy Shop as a starting point. And as I become a little more familiar with CSS, Html, and WordPress coding, I’m hoping to get more into blog design.

And lastly, I want to focus on my writing—both in reference to this blog and in other forms. I am really wanting to actively start on a novel. I have a few ideas swirling around, though I’m unsure of where those ideas will go. But writing is something I have to pursue.

You can’t get anywhere without a plan. So I’m eager to see where this journey will take me. Each new year brings new things; so I’m willing to embrace whatever is ahead of me.

OH! I almost forgot! I need to announce the winner of the Giveaway I hosted. 🙂 I actually had three people guess the correct answer. In fact, the very first guess that I got was correct. Jessica Lynn guessed right to begin with. The answer? Number Five: No I did not dye my hair pink in college. Mandy C. and Katie [who was actually one of my BFF’s in college] also guessed the right answer. And since I’m awesome feeling generous and want to share the love, I’ll be giving all three of you a prize! Jessica will receive her choice of either: One Set of Three 5×7 prints from my Etsy Shop OR Two 8×10 prints. Mandy and Katie, you each receive an 8×10 of your choice. If you ladies will email me with your address and which print you want, I’ll try to get these out to you in the next week or so.

Thanks everyone for playing!!