DIVING INTO PIXELS 40 HOURS A WEEK

​You guys. I did it. I made the jump from pursuing this editing dream on just nights and weekends, to diving into pixels everyday. A month ago I quit my day job and went full time with my business. It was a scary, exciting, exhausting & exhilarating process. I've had about 43 days to process all of this and get into a "groove" and I wanted to celebrate this milestone with YOU.  

One of the greatest challenges in this process was the transition period. Most days I worked 8 hours at a Real Estate office, came home, and worked until midnight-2am. Most weekends I was working as well. It was  long hours, not a lot of sleep, and my husband cleaned the house and did the grocery shopping (thank you Babe!) I kept pushing forward, and the day came when I was able to wake up, and walk upstairs to my office for the first time.   It.was.amazing! 

There were a lot of uncertainties when Aaron & I made the decision for me to go full time with my business, but I don't regret it one bit. 

I invited a few of my photographer clients & friends to help me celebrate! I asked them what their greatest challenge and their greatest joy was about being a business owner. Bonus - they are all #girlbosses! I am inspired by their work, amazed at their knowledge, and challenged by their excellence in what they do. 


​

"We only get one life, and I refuse to spend 80% of it at a job I don't enjoy." 

Mikenzie Bean

Owner of Grey to Blue Photography
greytoblue.com

Founder of Two Halves
twohalves.org

Mikenzie is amazing. She owns Grey to Blue Photography & captures love so beautifully. In her spare time she starts Non-Profit organizations that exude love & generosity. (You gotta check out her Capsule Weddings on twohalves.org!)Here’s what Mikenzie had to say about being a business owner. 


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

 Shutting my brain off! My biggest challenge in running my own business has been trying to keep work and my home life separate. When you own your own business, your to-do list is endless! There is always something that can be done. When you work from home, it's hard to put down said list and just focus on your family! I have to really lay down a set time that I won't work any more, and get out of the house with my husband, even if it's just walking our dog. I try to always focus on how his day went and how his business is going. Really, I have to just focus on turning my brain off and winding down. 


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

Oh my goodness there are so many! I would say having the complete freedom to work from where I want, when I want. I had a friend in Virgina who needed me to come stay with her after having a baby. I was able to pick up and go stay with her for two weeks without asking anyone for permission, and still getting paid! Society has taught us that work takes 80% of your time, and that's just the way it is. Bull! We only get this one life, and I refuse to spend 80% of it at a job I don't enjoy.

---

Kelly Kirksey Fisk

Owner of Kelly Kirksey Photography
kellykirkseyphotography.com

I love Kelly! She's amazing at capturing the most important days of her client's lives, and I am in awe at how she balances being a photographer, wife, and mom. Her work is beautiful & the experience she gives her brides is one of a kind! 

​WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

The biggest challenge for my business is just balancing it all. I am a wife, mom, daughter, friend and business owner. It's hard to do all of those things well at the same time. I've struggled balancing it all, but have been trying to get better by setting boundaries and focusing more on relationships and not letting work overshadow everything. 

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

It sounds so cliche, but the greatest reward I get from my business is happy clients. Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing their face when they get their pictures or hearing the excitement in their voices when they look through their wedding pictures or family session. Since words of affirmation is my love language, it's my greatest reward when I hear how happy they are. 

"Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing their face when they get their pictures or hearing the excitement in their voices when they look through their wedding pictures or family session."

---

Naomi Wilcox

Owner of Nomi Photography
nomi-photography.com

Naomi was the Maid of Honor at my wedding, and a dear friend of mine.  I don't know what I'd do without the love, advice, and laughter she brings to my life! We started our businesses around the same time, so we are always chatting about being girl bosses :) 


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

Managing time! I run Nomi Photography from my home & sometimes a local coffee shop, but usually at home. The same home I have dirty dishes (there’s some even as we speak) & the same home I still have not finished decorating for fall. I battle a lot with focusing on just one thing without being distracted by something not photography business related. 


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

Managing my time! Haha it’s true! To me it’s a blessing & a hardship. If a family member is having a hard day, I can drop what I’m doing with usually not too much regret & go be with them. If we’ve run out of milk & I need to grab some groceries for supper quick, I can do that. If I want to work my fingers off one day, I can usually make sure the Crockpot is going for dinner & work away! 

Managing time is the best & worst part of running your own business for me personally. I use my email, my Notes in my phone & my beloved Simplified Planner by Emily Ley (with different colored pens for different activities!) to help me daily fight that balance :) 

"Managing my time is the best & worst part of running your own business. " 

---

 "There are seasons to lean in and push towards my goals and times to step back and celebrate progress."

Laura Davis

Owner of Charming Studios 
everdaycharming.com
charminginlove.com
mycharmingchild.com

Laura is a dear friend, and a seasoned business owner who knows her stuff! (She's been in the biz 10+ years!)  I ask for her advice all.the.time. She helps me brainstorm and come up with new business ideas. She's also our photographer! Laura has captured  Aaron & I's engagement, wedding, and life after marriage. 


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?

The biggest challenge of running my own business is actually running my own business and not letting it run me. There are seasons to lean in and push towards my goals and times to step back and celebrate progress. Over all the biggest challenges I've run into is me. Sometimes I'm the only thing holding me back. A clear mind is the best tool you can have. Rest, take time away to refresh and reflect on your progress and how you can better run your business and not the other way around. 

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

The greatest reward in running a small business is living a 9-5 life that you created and direct. It's worth every penny, even the ones you lose.