Where am I in this industry?
I’ve been asking myself this question ever since I started my professional business two and a half years ago. I came into the photography industry with a camera, a blog, and no idea how to brand myself or what the expenses were going to be. I just thought I could improve on my skills and ask you all to join me on my journey. Very early on in my “professional” career in 2010, I discovered wedding photographers Jasmine Star and Katelyn James and began dreaming of becoming a premier wedding photographer for this region. I loved their work, but more than that I loved their business and their brand. So I began switching gears and put my focus on weddings. It made a ton of sense to me, really, because I LOVED to attend weddings, I am a huge hopeless romantic, and as cliché as it may seem, I lovelove. In 2011, my first full year in the business, I took on weddings for the first time and everything seemed to fall into place. I booked six weddings right off the bat without even marketing myself as a wedding photographer and I quickly fell in love with every single part of it- even the ten hours of being on my feet in not-so- cute-but- entirely- cozy- wedding shoes. My plan was to make 2012 my “it” year as Stacy Hart, Wedding Photographer and begin branding myself that way. Except sometimes plans don’t work out. Although 2012 was my first official full time year, I wasn’t putting in full time effort. I was blessed with news of my second pregnancy early 2012 and my business, and my blog for that matter, took another backseat while I tried to get through the ucky and exhaustive parts of my first and third trimesters. Instead of it being “the year of the wedding”, it ended up being the “year of reflection”. I was discouraged and doubtful. I thought if I wasn’t a wedding photographer then I wouldn’t have a story to tell or a business to take pride in. I compared myself to other well branded wedding photographers; liking their ideas better than my own, and searched for a place I could fit in. I even resented having a business andbeing a mommy. And just like being in a bad relationship, I began to lose sight of who I was as a person, not just a photographer. This is when I realized I needed divine intervention. In late 2012 I began to pray for my business. I consulted with my hubby and we spent hours upon hours talking out all of my dreams for Stacy Hart Photography. I began to ask myself all the right questions: Why is that I must brand myself as a wedding photographer? Why do I have a passion for weddings? What photography am I willing to give up for all weddings? And the big one, at what cost is being a wedding photographer to my family? During this time I began booking more newborns, portraits, and family sessions. And with each newborn and child session, I found I wasn’t confused and I was feeling at peace with where I was in my profession.
This is where the branding started falling into place. You see, branding is not just a really cool logo and website, it is supposed to be a reflection of who I am. I realized that while I was trying to book twenty weddings in one year, I was still so passionate about writing on my “mommy” blog. The two didn’t match. Most brides don’t relate to the musings of a mommy, but I wasn’t ready to give all that up because being a mommy and a wife is who I am. More than that, I didn’t want to give up photographing and posting pictures of all the things I loved to photograph; my children, your children, the love between a husband and wife who have been married for five years, or the love poured over a new little baby.
-Palm to forehead, heavens open, trumpets sound, angels sing, light switch turns on-
However you want to say it, I was unintentionally defining myself and my brand in this crazy competitive industry. When I realized where my business was already directed based on the passion I had as a mommy, I stopped fighting the wedding fight. And I thought to myself, why does the love or the pictures have to stop after the wedding? It doesn’t! I photograph and write about my children and my husband all the time. I talk the most about my relationships with them and their relationship with each other because they bring me so much joy.
Over the past couple months I have watched close friends, family and complete strangers lose family members they love and I have been broken hearted about it. I have related to them purely because I am a mother and being a mom has been God given to me. Here I was, trying to make my photography career about a huge event like a wedding day lwhen the whole point of my “One More for Love” blog was telling you all about my journey as a mom and how my love has multiplied ever since I have been married… A love by which we both had thrived, miraculously had multiplied. Photographing the love after a wedding is also sooo important.
Today I am very excited to announce the new “Stacy Hart Photography” going forward. Something I have poured two and a half years of love into that now has a very specific direction…your children, your husband, your love.
Because the love doesn’t stop after your vows…
With this very specific and huge change of direction in my business came a little change to the blog, website, and marketing material. I hope you check out the new site, and if you decide to book with me, I hope you will enjoy the whole new unique experience.
What does this mean for my wedding photography? Well, I already have a few booked this year that I am thrilled about capturing and I even have a few inquiries out. To be honest, I don’t know if I can completely stop weddings, but starting in 2013 I am booking a limited number of them. You will not see weddings on my new site, but I do have a website just for my wedding portfolio if anyone should ask.
Click here to be redirected to my website.
A big thank you to Denise at Denise Tuttle Designs. She has sacrificed many hours away from her family to help make this rebrand happen. Also, to my husband who is my website guru and who supports everything about my business. Without you two, this would not have been possible!
Kellan says thank you for stopping by!
Kellan says thank you for stopping by!
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