I’ve had so many ask about my business, how it’s going, and why I chose to move out of the studio space.  Most look at me funny when I tell them that I stay home with Harper, and only work very part-time now.  I’ve worked so hard the last 5+ years to build the business, why stop the momentum?

This transition from fancy-artist-photographer to broom-holding-diaper-changer has been humbling to say the least! Today if I’m honest, I’m struggling a bit with finding my identity in photography. No specific reason, just the feeling of being a has-been. Unfortunately, I’ve secretly feared people forgetting about me and forgetting about my photography work. But I pause, and remember what’s really important.  Keep your eye on the prize Heather, He’s called you to so much more.

September 30th was the last day that I had my beloved studio space…with the option of renewing the lease I knew that God was calling me away and in a different direction. A direction He’s been pointing me in for what seems to have been 5 years.  I was building my business with a great plan while He knew that it’s course would be changed.  I reflect fondly on how God has worked in my business. I went from no work to always being busy the first two months of officially launching. I even had the joy of teaching and speaking at a couple of workshops, a long time dream of mine and one that I hope to keep accomplishing. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to other countries to photograph weddings. What a blessing!  Fast forward to now, and I know that this is not the season for me to seek more praise of my work, but to be homeward focused and to do it well.

I’ve made a billion mistakes in this last year, but I think I’ve finally learned the balance of home-life and business life. I’ve learned that this delicate balance is redefined each month as my family has different needs. I want to greet my husband in the evenings with a sweet kiss, and a happy hello. I don’t want to miss one minute of loving on Harper and teaching her through each milestone. I want to make the time to encourage, and spend quality time with my friends.  I wasn’t always good at being intentional with my friendships while running my busy business. I’m thankful to have strong friendships that I now value, instead of expect. Being too busy makes it quite easy to become self-important, and excuse regularly serving others, you know?  It sure is for me anyways…I’m thankful for gracious clients, a gracious husband, and a gracious God that allow me to stumble my way through!

So…all of this is what I’ve spent the last year learning…and yet still learning. I’m having to give the photography business back to Him over and over again. When things get overwhelming, I simply remember what I consider is success for me according to what He has called me to in this specific order…

Am I seeking the Lord?

Am I being a good wife?

Am I being a good mom?

Am I being a good friend?

Am I being a good business owner?

Do these things well, and do them to the glory of God.

Thank you to my friend Arden Prucha for the photo of me in the studio.  How proud and thankful I am of the accomplishment of my own studio.    It was a wonderful 3 years in that space!

And thank you to my sweet friend Kim Jones for the lovely portraits of our family!!

don’t miss the slide show at the bottom of the post (there are some crazy awesome photos in that set!) and it took forever to make.

{seriously the cutest baby i’ve ever seen.}

SLIDE SHOW! <——click it

i honestly don’t think i’ve ever been so moved by photos. not because of my skills, but because i got to document life. the relationship between husband and wife, the amazing endurance that God has blessed women with in order to persevere through labor. it’s amazing!

as a photographer i sat back and watched the story unfold. typically, i have some control over my work. i place a bride and groom just so, i use a cute chair for a portrait with a child. but with this photography there was no interfering. i was challenged to not only document the mother in labor, but to find details that moved the story along. i used the movement of fans to represent time, and photos of clocks to give the viewers perspective as if they were there. i used photos of a tree in color to show what time of day it was. it was so wonderful to view photography in that way. this is why i love home-births. they’re so personal and intimate. i’m truly thankful that my friends, my dear friends allowed me to witness their births.

be sure to check out their slide shows.  there’s just something about photos set to music…

audrey’s slide show

arden’s slide show

here are a few of my favorite shots from audrey and arden’s births

and arden’s

this image above might be one of my favorites of all time.

you can read audrey’s birth story here

and

arden’s birth story here

i really challenged myself to incorporate some colors and textures that i haven’t seen in template design…i’m super excited about what transpired! all very different in design. i hope you love them as much as i do!

AND this year the templates are drag and drop, so all you’ll have to do is scale your photos to size, super easy and quick!

i can’t thank you all enough for telling your fellow photographer friends about these templates. without you all i would never sell a set, so a BIG THANK YOU from me!

harper is:

super happy

ticklish

lover of animals (especially dogs)

baby kisser

an explorer (hates sitting still. ever.)

strong

really funny

mama’s girl (the way she wraps her arms around my neck so tight melts my heart.)

a definite extrovert (loves-loves people. large crowds are her fave.)

a fan of the word “duck.” (she says it all day long and it applies to everything (obviously). and she has her own duck-word language.)

most playful with her daddy. (she can’t get enough of him tickling her.)

not a very good shopper (i’m convinced one day this will change. i about have to put on a circus show to get her all the way through grocery shopping. however, to her credit i am quite thorough in my grocery shopping.)

as her proud mama, i can’t wait to see her grow. i learn more and more about her everyday. i pray for her heart, and i pray that God would show me what He’s gifted her in so that I can point her there, and facilitate what He’s trusted her with.  i already know He’s gifted her with a sweet love of people.  i’m so thankful He’s entrusted her to me!

as it turns out, harps is much better at the self timer portraits then her ol’ mom and pops…she looked and smiled on every one. we however, were a hot mess…:)

at one point i wanted a sweet simple photo of her sitting on the backdrop, but what i got was a sweet baby making a beeline right for me.  that’s the joy of being mama and photographer.  your baby runs straight for you which results in a billion out of focus images as you frantically try to capture them coming towards you. so i decided to just photograph her sitting on my belly with my feet in the background to appropriately remember the moment.

her daddy was just a few inches away in almost every photo to make sure she didn’t face-plant. he was quite nervous the whole time…i’m happy to report that as active as she is, not once did she face-plant. success!

goodness i love her!

{more to come}

for the photographer: i used “dreamy”, “warm dreamy”, and “purple haze” from my in the works Art-is action set.  once i’m done tweaking, these will be offered on the site .