Personal: Finding Balance | Virginia Wedding Photographer

Personal

Jan 22, 2015

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tb-balance

We’re only 22 days into the new year and I am already finding myself backlogged on editing, stressing a little and physically sick.  I am thankful for understanding and patient friends and family, but I’ve realized that I am going to have a repeat of last year if I don’t gain some control.  My friend reminded me that sickness is God’s way of forcing me to slow down because otherwise I would continue to run a mile a minute (figuratively, of course) and never stop to make time for myself.  Here I am missing work and literally confined to my bed and the couch for the past few days due to a sinus infection, but today I’m feeling better after some rest and meds, but I still sound like a man! lol

Last year was a great year for the business, I topped out on my booking goals, had numerous features, attended a large photography conference, several industry networking events, and still managed to give my full-time job my best effort and win awards there.  With all of that accomplished, I wish I could pat myself on the back but I can’t.  I did all this at the expense of my relationships.  It became all to common for people to call me or email me and start the email with “I know you’re busy…” or “I can never reach you…” or for my local friends to be surprised if I was in town on any given weekend or for my family to drop plans to visit me because they couldn’t keep track of my schedule and that’s just not how I want things to be. Simply put, it’s not cool. I can’t take the people that are always in my corner for granted and if I don’t grab 2015 by the horns then that’s just the path that I’m headed down again.

I decided that I love pouring my energy and love into a client’s wedding day and that will never change.  I love to love on my couples!  I love to remind them of why they fell in love, but I have to focus on how to do that without sacrificing my love for my own friends and family.  So, that means no more months of shooting EVERY single weekend. That also means putting limits on what and who I shoot.  I love LOVE and couples are what speak to me, I have become okay with referring out clients to my other photographer friends that specialize in families, children and babies, etc. I am unable to do it all and I’ve decided it’s okay!  If I am following my passion then it means giving 100% of me to the people that book me and in order for me to give that 100% then I have to shoot what I am passionate about. The one exception to that rule will be the clients that have been in my corner since the beginning.  My priority will be engagements, weddings and anniversary celebrations of love. I felt the need to write this down not because people will read it and feel turned off, that’s not my goal, but in order for me to hold myself accountable and for the people that clap for my accomplishments to hold me accountable and so that I am present to clap for theirs as well!

As I saw my industry colleagues selecting words that will define their year, I thought about what could me that one word can best define how I plan to approach 2015.  After talking to a good friend, we came up with the word “BALANCE”…actually, he came up with that word!  I beat my head up against the wall for a couple of weeks trying to think of a word that describes everything that I just mentioned and after explaining what I was doing to my friend, the word “balance” just flowed off of his tongue liked he’d been waiting for me to ask. So, there it is…BALANCE!  I’m going to approach 2015 by finding the proper balance between work, photography, family and friends.  This is so refreshing but so necessary to keep me from pulling all night editing sessions and relying on coffee to make it through each day. It’s so necessary to keep me from going to hang out at my friends house and falling asleep.  It’s so necessary to keeping me from missing out on all the things I moved from California to Virginia to be a part of- family.  My focus will allow me to love on the people that love me!  So, cheers to 2015 and finding BALANCE!

  1. Fellicia Sherman says:

    Good for you Terri

  2. Riette says:

    You go girl! Cheering for you!

  3. Thanks Riette!!!! I love you girlie!! Cheers to great things for both of us in 2015!

  4. Ebony S says:

    It takes tremendous courage to find your truth and commit to it. I commend you for that. Cheers to an amazing 2015.

  5. Erica Hilliard says:

    It takes some people all of their lives to realize “Balance” is important. ☺️ Thanks for sharing your journey, Terry. As always, I’m cheering for you and can’t wait to see what 2015 has in store for you!

  6. Christie Lyles says:

    Love…and so sad, but true for most of us! Cheers to 2015!

  7. Catra Godwin says:

    Balance is key! Good for you for having the courage to make changes, Terri! I’m so happy for you!

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