2007

Since it its the start of a brand new year, I've been thinking a lot about how to mold my business to be what and where I want it in the coming years. One of the reasons for my blog is to detail the steps I'm taking and let my friends and clients take this trip along with me, and for some reason, spelling it out here, in a public-ish place, kind of sets it in stone for me. I guess that is why I think everyone should have a blog!

I have a four-year plan which began in the Spring of 2006. The magic number of four occurred to me for two reasons. The biggest is because that will be the time that all of my kids are in school and so I'll be able to operate Ever After on a full-time basis. But the other reason is because I still consider my business at a learning and growing stage, a lot like being in college, and college lasts (typically) 4 years. Its my own work-study program.

When I started this venture, my primary focus was on photography. Of course I needed to learn all about my camera, lenses, lighting, photo editing, etc. But I soon discovered that there is just as much to know about the business side. Things like branding, accounting, how to set prices, how to sell. There is just so much to learn. Will four years be enough time?

I think it will. This last year has been such a big one for me. I have had some beautiful photo shoots with the most amazing kids and patient parents. I've learned tons of things from every single session and walked away each time with a new friend. That is just amazing to me. I have grown so much, and so has my business, because of the wonderful connections I've made with my clients. Clients who have sent me NEW clients. If things keep going at this rate, I'll have a very hard time keeping it small for these four years.

So, I want to thank each of my past clients for allowing me the opportunity to learn as I photograph you and your families:

Gilda Alexander (Daughters 1st birthday party)
Karla Andre (My first family session)
Corrie Angelo (two sessions!)
Lisa Bielefeld (family session and LOTS of referrals-Thank You!)
Judi Boehme (family session)
Carla Brassfield (soon to be my first wedding!)
Kristin Brunet (Christmas mini-session)
Michelle Cortez (requests my photoshop skills to create collages)
Christina Cantu (Her newborn daughter was my very first session EVER-Thanks!)
Julie Chinni (session of her gorgeous little boy-I use his images a lot on my website)
Andrea Cunningham (she is my sister, I photographed my nephew and her at the river.)
Clarissa Flores (Christmas mini-session)
Johanna Hernandez (two sessions!)
Gina Herrera (MANY sessions of her fantastic and VERY photogenic kids)
Denise Hinojosa (unbelievable session with her 16 year old goddaughter)
April Ferrell (I happen to get lots of wonderful candid shots as her kids play with mine)
Shawna Garcia (daughters Graduation party)
Jessica McDonald (Christmas mini-session with her hunky husband!)
Kasey Mora (session of her son and daughter for Father's Day, and she gets the prize for the number of referrals she has sent me!)
Donna Poisso (my first Senior session of her very handsome son)
Rochelle Roussell (two sessions!)
Leslie Sexton (fun family session, including their car)
Casey Urbanowski (wait until you see the results of her wedding shoot planned for this spring-she is up for anything!)
Andrea Vallance (family session, and her husband let me borrow his flash equipment along with some fantastic advice)
Esther Wilkson (Christmas mini-session. These were so much fun.)

Wow, that was a long list. And this year is already well underway. I have one opening available in January, and then I am completely booked until the end of March.

I have a lot of work cut out for me, so stay tuned and be a part of the process with me. It won't be a boring story!