• A NEW CHAPTER •

So, that big news I was talking about? Welp, I’m about to embark on a whollleeee new chapter. I quit my full-time design agency job to chase a little dream that’s been brewing up…to start my own business! AHHH! *throws confetti* Starting mid-July I will be focusing on my love of photography FULL-TIME. I have no idea where it will lead me and no clue as to how things will turn out, but I’m so, so, so, so ready. Ready to get my hands dirty, knee-deep in a whole lot of entrepreneurial goodness (and messiness!).

It’s been great to see how photography has turned into an extension of my creative self. I’ve found ways to integrate it into a lot of my work….another way I get the creative juices flowing. It wasn’t until recently that I figured out how much I love it, and miss it when I’m not doing it. I knew something needed to change somewhere, and this felt right. I know it’s not going to be easy. I know it’s not going to be a bunch of glamorous traveling and photoshoots. I know it’s not going to be a leisurely stroll and the work will just come pouring in. I’m gonna have to work really, really hard. But, I’ve never felt more empowered to go out on a limb and give this 100%. I want to shoot film, I want to shoot weddings, I want to shoot people and their lives, their battles, their achievements, their celebrations. I want to take a step away from the computer (a huge sorry to my poor eyeballs) and get behind a lens. And it’s finally happening.

I CANNOT WAIT.

That being said, the road leading up to this wasn’t easy. There was some planning and some late nights and I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone out there who have not only been supportive, but have helped make this dream a reality. Thank you to my twin sister (and her wonderful advice-giving fiancé) who are getting married in less than 2 months and their constant “you can totally do this” attitude in the midst of planning their own wedding (and remodeling their house?! superman + woman I tell ya). Thank you to my patient-beyond-words boyfriend who has been nothing but incredibly uplifting in the times I didn’t think this would ever happen, and loving even though I needed “5 more minutes to finish this”. Thank you to my roommate and dear friend who supported me with chocolate-covered raisins and letting me take over the living room as the clock ticked past 1am nightly. Thank you to my friends who have believed in me from day 1. Thank you to my family, although at times skeptical, offered a full room upstairs to live in in case I turned into a “starving artist”. Thank you to my coworkers at Tether who have been the best set of coworkers I could ask for…who kept me inspired, sane, and always pushing myself. And thank you God for giving me the courage to take this risk and bare it all.

A lot to do over the next month as a prepare for some big changes, but am so excited to share the news. And for those of you wondering, no, I will not totally be giving up on design. That will always be ingrained in me. There will be fun plans on how to integrate it into my new venture, and I’m excited to see how that balance plays out.

Here goes nothing…

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Lovely image via Flickr