Lately I’ve been feeling a tug.
A pluck on my heartstrings telling me change is in the air.
I can see transformation and transition all around me. The leaves are beginning to lose their greenish hue as they fade to yellowish orange gold. My little girl is growing up in front of my very eyes as I watch her read, write, and do all the things Kindergarten students do. There’s a parade of construction vehicles across our rural street as they get ready to build more houses and a retail center in our neighborhood.
With all theses transformations happening around me, I feel my own transition unfolding too.
It’s a transition away from photography.
Perhaps not completely, but I can tell the photography journey for our family is changing. We’ve achieved most of the milestone moments that deserve preservation behind the lens. Newborn snuggles, baby smiles, crawling, walking, birthday celebrations, school, friends, and family firsts.
There will still be vacations, and daily life, and school performances, and family reunions.
But the freshness and newness of it all is fading and I’m feeling less inclined to document our life’s story 24/7. I want to be more present, I want to print photos instead of snapping more, and I want to be away from the lens long enough to show my daughter how to uncover a robust creative life of her own. One that may or may not involve the camera.
I want to teach her to know herself and honor the person she’s growing into. I want her to know that her joy, independence, and free spirited playful nature are a gift.
I want to show her what it means to have a mom who is just as free spirited, playful, independent, and joyful as she is.
And I want to share my experiences here without feeling the obligation to tie them to photography tips and technique.
Photography is and always will be a piece of the story here, but what I’ve realized in the last year or so is that the story is so much bigger and more expansive than what happens behind the lens. The real gift I want to leave you is not one of amazing pictures.
It’s the gift of re-discovery.
The gift of finding a fresh perspective.
The gift of feeling supported.
The gift of knowing you matter.
The gift of being less alone.
The gift of honoring YOU and your creativity.
Photography is simply one vehicle in this re-discovery process.
But, I’m about to widen lens a bit. Because I think moms desire to be re-awakened and deserve the space re-discover themselves. With a camera or without.
The camera is the perfect tool to unlock that journey. But it’s not the only way. And thus begins a new chapter here. The one where I become your coach, mentor, and guide beyond the lens.
I’ve been flying under the radar for a few years now coaching and mentoring past students when approached. But I think it’s time to fully come out of hiding and share how excited I am to be stepping in this role fully.
It’s where I feel most alive and where I can make the deepest connections and greatest impact.
If there’s one thing I’ve realized since starting this journey as a mom, blogger, photographer, and teacher it’s that I needed support along the way. And working with coaches has made me see my life and my business in a totally different light.
Here’s what my coaches have gifted me through the years:
Perspective
To help me get out of my own way and see my situation in a different light.
Support
Acting as a sounding board when I don’t want to burden my husband and friends with what’s troubling me for the 1000th time.
Ideas
When I’m feeling stuck, lost, or unsure my mentors have been there to share their past experiences and offer solutions that I couldn’t have dreamed up myself.
Freshness
They’ve encouraged me to follow my heart and try new things that I may not have had the courage to experience otherwise (like this super mom moment or this first time 5k finish)
Community
My coaches have connected me to other amazing creative women through group experiences, ones where the other ladies involved have become some of my very best virtual friends.
Opportunity
They’ve opened the space for my to bust through fears and go after dreams I never even imagined were within my grasp.
It’s taken work and commitment on my part, but having someone holding space for me and acting as that steadfast rock keeping me on solid ground has been invaluable. It’s allowed me to more freely explore my creativity, get out of my own way, and live a life filled with purpose and meaning.
Starting October 14th, I’m going to be leading a small, virtual mentoring where we’ll explore a process of stepping into greater passion and purpose in your life. This could come through bringing more creativity to your days, growing a business, or simply living in a more intentional way. We’ll spend 6 weeks working in a group and one-on-one talking about Freshness, Dreams, Commitment, Fear, Intuition, & Celebration. Want to know more? Drop me a note HERE. I’d love to connect and see if this experience is the right one for you.
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