This past weekend, I spent some time in downtown Annapolis with the Williams’ family for their family session! Boy do I looove this family — they live across the street from us but are moving to another state soon and we are super bummed but very happy for them! Please enjoy my favorites from their session! 
I had a plan. I knew what I was going to blog about for today’s project 52 blog post and it fell right through the cracks.
So, here we are. I was up late last night trying to figure out what I would blog about with my cup of coffee this morning. And it hit me. I’ve been digging – and here’s what I’ve found.
As part of the re-branding process I’m going through right now (as part of my 2013 goals!) I’m being forced to dig deep. I’m forced to dig into my heart and really think about the reason I’m here. The reason I’m working as a full time photographer. The reason I’ve been pouring my soul into this business for 4 years.
I didn’t set out on this path as a child. I wasn’t one of those genius’ that knew exactly what I wanted to do when I was 6 years old. If you had asked me at 6? I probably would have said I wanted to be a ballerina or a gymnast – I’m pretty sure that was what I was into at that age. If there’s anything in this world that I know is true – my lack of dance skills would have left me a starving dancer/gymnast at the ripe age of 21.
When I sat down earlier this week and dug deep and asked myself – Why? Why do I do this? What’s my purpose in this business? The answer was simple.
Eternalizing memories. Capturing moments.
That’s it.
A few short months ago I was working on a slideshow for my brother’s wedding and sorting through all of the photos from our childhood. My parents were photo fanatics. There are photos of everything from the first time my big brother met me to the time my friends and I dressed up in my Mom’s old prom gowns and danced around the house. Oh and the pancake eating contest my girlfriends had on my 5th birthday. It’s all there – all the memories – preserved like a time capsule.
I can’t really say how well I would remember those moments if my parents hadn’t grabbed the camera and clicked the shutter to preserve them. But, now? Looking back at the pictures I can see exactly what was happening. How I was feeling. We had a great childhood – and there’s proof. There are thousands of pictures of our adventures.
That’s it. That’s why I do this. Capturing moments that would otherwise be a fleeting memory. That’s why I’m here.
I don’t want my clients to think: “oh man, Melissa was so much fun – she was such a great person to work with – she is so talented”
No. That’s not what it’s all about. That’s not why I do what I do. I’m not in it for the fame, definitely not in it for the fortune. I’m in it for you.
I want my clients to think: “wow, look how daddy was looking at me when I walked down the aisle”, “look how much fun we had dancing all night”, “remember those first couple of weeks as parents? look at my dark circles. It was so challenging but so rewarding”
Photos aren’t about perfection. Yes, a perfect focus point and the perfect lighting makes a capture that much better… but it’s about the moment – and the preservation of that moment in history. Your history.
One of my goals for this year is to let you in a little more – to show you more of my personal life, and to be more consistent about blogging personal things.
In order to do this, I’ve decided to start on a project – a personal project that will challenge me to take at least one photo of my personal life every week. No matter what it might be, I hope to share a weekly personal photo with you every Friday.
Week 1 – January 4
Early on in this journey of becoming a professional photographer I learned how important it is to network. Some of the photographers I met in the first year of my business are still some of my mentors, my colleagues and confidants. We support each other and laugh together – and love. We are all in it for the same thing – we love capturing the love our clients share and we love being part of our client’s love stories.
I’ve learned over the past few months how important it is to have someone to hold you accountable. It’s easy to let your goals get swept under the rug when you don’t have a boss in the traditional sense of the word. Working in the corporate world I always had more than one boss to keep me on track – to help me stay focused and accomplish my goals. As photographers, in the flurry of wedding season it’s easy to get distracted from our larger goals and focus on the necessities – shooting, shooting, shooting and turning client images around quickly. Of course, these things are important – they always will be. Finding efficiencies (another goal for 2013) in my business and in my personal life will help me balance work and play.
Yesterday, I sat down with a HUGE cup of coffee and a dear friend, confidant and all around amazing woman: Natalie Franke. She’s a truly talented photographer and a huge dreamer. And I mean a HUGE dreamer. Natalie knew she needed someone to hold her accountable too. She needed to make goals for 2013 that weren’t just big dreams, but that were accomplishable.
We have set up a plan this year to meet on a monthly basis to check in on our yearly and monthly goals. Yesterday, we sat in the corner of that Starbucks and scribbled aimlessly on our note pads a million ideas. Not only our business goals but our personal goals, too. Things like, bi-weekly date nights, no technology nights and setting strict office hours (GASP! I know…). Things we want and NEED to improve for our personal well being and our the health of our businesses.
Thank you for following my journey.
Check back next week for a few of my specific goals. It’s terrifying to put them out there because that means they MUST be accomplished!
If you’re anything like me, your spring cleaning starts well before spring – before the smallest little flower bud peeks through the ground. In fact, in our house we’ve decided to re-name it “winter purging”.
Every year, as soon as the holidays are over I have the urge organize and clean our house from top to bottom. On new years day, after the holiday decorations were packed up and back in the attic I organized closets, purged old things we don’t use or need and scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees. There’s just something about the start of a new year, a fresh start, that motivates me to get the house as clean as it can possibly be.
In my cleaning madness, I found a few empty frames that needed prints… and a few frames that have prints, but need newer, updated prints and it got me thinking: I bet my clients also have a few frames that could use updated prints as well!
As a heartfelt thank you for everything you have given me this year: new friendships, the opportunity to witness your love, and the ability to capture your most cherished moments – I’ve decided to run a special on all client prints!
Thank you – from the bottom of my heart.
Melissa Manzione Photography 