The world is beginning to open back up and I’m feeling…sad.
I know, that sounds crazy, but hear me out.
Let me start by saying that I know how privileged this statement is. People have been without income, not able to see family, sick, dying, working overtime, caring for the sick and dying, living with their abusers, missing their senior year or school, and living in their depression.
I have been able to work and still provide services to my clients (past and new) through this quarantine. I don’t take that lightly.
The reason I’m sad is because I had the opportunity to breathe. I was so busy around the holiday season that I didn’t get to see my family. I was photographing families, fulfilling holiday print orders, traveling for weddings, and just running around like crazy.
The reason I’m sad is because it gave me the opportunity to reevaluate my business and what’s important to me and my clients. It’s been a time to reinvent myself. I’ve been able to have time to read those business books, work on my website, write blog posts that can help people, fine new solutions, and just really figure out who I am at my core and how that translates in my business.
The reason I’m sad is because I’ve had the opportunity to connect with people like never before. I’ve talked to friends I haven’t seen in years. Weekly Zoom calls with family has been a highlight. Yes, I miss hugging my family, but I’ve also never talked to them this much. It’s been such a beautiful thing to connect with so many people, including past clients.
I’m fearful of what our new normal will look like. I don’t want the world to go back to taking time and people for granted.
I’m fearful that we’re going to go back to being singular. We have found inventive ways to be there for one another, even thousands of miles away. I don’t want to lose that. I want to stay connected to all of you. I want to keep finding new ways to reach out and help friends, family, and clients.
I’m also hopeful.
I’m hopeful that we will realize how important and precious every moment we have is. That we will hug a little longer and have more family dinners. That we slow down and focus on what’s most important. That we will remember that money doesn’t rule all and being successful isn’t always the most important thing.
I’m hopeful that having all of this time to reflect will give my client’s a new sense of being. That families will have spent valuable time together and want to document that love.
I’m an anxious person and there are things that I’m still very worried about with the world opening back up. But, I’m also a hopeful person and I see so many new possibilities that we were too overwhelmed to see before.
I can’t wait to have clients in front of my camera again, or for the first time. I’m ready for loud laughter, warm hugs, clinking of glasses, the warm sun on our bodies, the ocean at our feet, and to be invited into homes again.
I’m excited to be planning sessions and booking. It was meaningful before, but this is going to be on another level.
A lot of things that used to matter just don’t anymore. What’s mattered the most out of this time is connection and time to reset. It has made me even more in love with what I do and eager to figure out even better ways to serve my clients. While I’m sad at some of life going back to normal, I’m eager to photograph people again. Those in-person connections that I’ve missed so badly will be here again. What a beautiful time to capture it all.
I’m ready to create magic together again.
