Taking Steps

Since high school, I've dreamed of being a photographer.  I don't know why I didn't follow that path from the start.  I wish I'd had an advocate who would have told me to just follow my heart.  Instead, I was surrounded by practical people who encouraged me to consider "real" career options.

Being an impassioned tree hugger, I studied environmental science in college.  My dream evolved to becoming a naturalist and sharing my love of the outdoors with others.  Photography could follow along as a complimentary hobby.

But I got married, followed my husband's career, had kids and stayed home to raise the kids to facilitate his executive pursuits.  Reality was, one can't just be a naturalist anywhere.  And we lived where his career opportunities were to be found.

Now he's out of work and I find myself suddenly in my mid 50's and in the middle of a big-ass mid life crisis.  I have no career, no job experience to speak of, my kids are almost grown and I've been wringing my hands over what to do next.  As I consider the options, I find myself (perhaps selfishly) coming back to photography.  I've pursued it as a serious hobby over the last 8 - 10 years.  I have the technical chops, I am constantly working of being visually aware of everything around me.  I believe I have what it takes be "become a photographer".  All I lack, is confidence that I can differentiate myself and make a business from my hobby.  Don't get me wrong...I know I can do good work.  But spend a few hours on the internet browsing galleries and it's clear that there are thousands of talented shooters out there.  So I've wrestled internally about this for months and I keep coming back to one fact.  If I want to do this, the time is now.

I've had my own business before and I KNOW how hard it is.  The business wasn't exactly a failure but if finally overwhelmed me.  My kids were still relatively young and I was spread too thin.  I wasn't doing anything as well as I would have liked...including being a mom to my children.  So I had to make a choice and the business came to an end.  This experience also affects my confidence.  If I try again can I really make it work?

So this weekend I went to the library and got some books about starting a business in photography.  I just feel like I have to go about it in a very thoughtful way right from the start.  It's not as simple as making some business cards, putting up a web site and waiting for the phone to ring.  I've decided to be very deliberate in taking each tiny step and hopefully my dream can become real.

So, it seems fitting to try and chronicle this journey here in this blog.  After all....it is a dream.  I've got lots to consider, choices to make and a great deal to learn.  I'm hoping that in getting my thoughts out here that some ideas will come together more quickly.  And I'm hoping that by saying this publicly in my blog, I'll feel I've committed to something.  Will you all help me stay on track?

Photographically, I have some new skills to practice and develop.  But that seems secondary to everything else I need to plan and/or act on to bring a business to life.  I'll always be our shooting...it's what I do.  Finding and dusting off my business person hat is the bigger challenge.  But the first tiny step has been taken....I've told you I'm doing it!