“You’re ready. Do what you love. Do what makes you truly happy. Protect yourself from negativity and the fears of failing. Take the risk. Take this leap! Know that there is NEVER a perfect time, you will probably only ever get part time results until you make a full time commitment, and the choice is yours. What’s the worst that can happen? There is always another job out there for you, should you ever really want to have a ‘fall back’ option. The only good time to make the leap into full time photographer is now.”
Dreams! We do talk a lot about them. After all, we all are dreamers and they say dreams are the blueprint of our real success!
My ultimate dream since shooting my first wedding has been to become a full time photographer. This dream has been a faint light at the end of a tunnel for me, but it’s always been something I hoped would somehow work out. As a strong believer in fate I knew if I stayed true to myself and my goals (and hustled my bum off) then eventually the right things would fall into my place if they were meant to be. I am over flowing with so many feelings of excitement and anxiousness as I announce that I have finally taken that huge leap – the biggest in my professional career so far – to catch up to that little light at the end of the tunnel. (Insert happy dance here!)
I came across an exciting opportunity that has led to sharing this exciting blog post today! Next week I will say goodbye to my wonderful corporate work colleagues; (some of who are my dearest of friends) to follow my dreams of pursing full time wedding and portrait photography. Most people who start photography businesses do so part-time and only dream of exactly this. What I believe to have been fate, came knocking on my door this month. I was put in contact with a local husband and wife photography team who own our local Lifetouch (wwww.lifetouch.com) specializing in School Portraits. The goal of Lifetouch is to capture smiling faces, kindergarten through high school graduation on the tradition of the good old school ‘Picture Day’. I am extremely excited to be joining a team of like-minded people who also have a passion for taking photographs. I look forward to working in the schools and photographing lots of students throughout the school season. In my summer months I will be focusing full time on Niche and dedicating my time and efforts to all my wonderful clients and loved ones.
To say I am excited about all of these changes is an understatement! The last few years in particular have been a complete whirlwind for me. I’ve made several sacrifices to always ensure that my photography business and clients were at the top of my priority list. I’ve taken on as many clients as I could handle (and then some!) still while working a full time day-job, and it has been completely demanding and draining. Behind the scenes, I’ve put in endless amounts of hours; day and night and have truly struggled to find a balance with it all and then find a way to make time for those near and dear to me. In the last few months I’ve had to turn photography business away simply because there weren’t enough hours in the day. I feel grateful to be in this position and to be tossing around the questions of; do I go for it and follow my dreams leaving my day-job behind, or do I scale back on my photography all together and start reclaiming a bit of my time and life?
Luckily, all the stars have aligned and I am taking my big leap. My aim and goal with all of this is to be able to balance my desires, so that my focus becomes a worthy ideal that I can be content, excited and happy with. I am still in awe that this is my life right now and I am really doing it. A life that took a leap of faith out of my corporate office with a big window and into full time photography. I know without doubt that the routine 9-5 desk job was never the right fit for me, I think any of those who have worked with me would attest to that.. I can now say with confidence that the free-spirit in me truly was not cut out for the corporate life, politics and procedures. However giving up a secure, stable job and pay check is a scary thing! My fingers are crossed this all works out as I hope.. and even if it doesn’t I will never regret trying, so here’s to hoping!
This is an opportunity I whole-heartedly can’t wait to pursue and feel so fortunate for the support and opportunities I have been given in this life. I have faith in this exciting new chapter and I know I will be so enriched personally and professionally by following these dreams and goals. I can’t wait to dive in and let the fun begin; I finally get to experience the success and happiness of dedicating myself full time to photography while enjoying a balanced lifestyle while chasing that captivating light.
I love all of you for supporting me on this amazing journey and I cannot wait to continue writing these next chapters for Niche with all of my amazing clients, supporters and loved ones; past, present and future. Cheers to dreams, may we never stop chasing them.
With love,
Nik. xx