April 1st began a series that will allow me to be transparent about the people that have influenced my personal and professional growth. When I look at where I have achieved success, I can honestly say that I never did it alone. There was always someone there that believed in me, motivated me, encouraged me, or pushed me to continue. This series is dedicated to those people!

“If you admire somebody, you should go ahead and tell them. People never get the flowers while they can still smell them.” ― Kanye West

DAY 16: BRANDI CROSBY

In looking back at some of the individuals that I have shared with whoever happens to read this, I realize that I have been very fortunate to develop relationships with people all over the country.  I can be very reserved in unfamiliar settings but in settings where I know many people, I’m quite the opposite- it’s like my super powers activate!  Day 16 brings me to my biggest corporate cheerleader- Brandi Crosby! I met Brandi one year during a work conference in Las Vegas.  I went up to her and introduced myself because I was being my outgoing self in a familiar work environment, but I saw an unfamiliar face.  When I told her my name, she looked down at me and me and said “Hi” and walked away.  She is 5’10” in flat shoes and I am 5’5″ on a very good day, so she literally looked down at me. I thought to myself “wait a minute, that wasn’t supposed to happen, she must not have seen my cape or the ‘S’ on my chest”!!!  I retreated back to a group of familiar co-workers to lick my wounds.

About a year later, Brandi and I were placed the same work project for our respective states- she is in Michigan and I am in Virginia.  She reached out to me regarding the project and all I could remember was how short she was with me the previous year in Sin City.  I didn’t bring it up immediately though, I just played nice and answered her questions.  Throughout this project we talked regularly and work conversations then moved to personal conversations.  I didn’t allow our first encounter to ruin my chance to get to know her and I am so thankful that I didn’t!  Brandi has become one of my closest friends and biggest cheerleaders in the shortest amount of time.

I have been fortunate to see some success with my career and there is never anyone happier for me than Brandi and vice versa. Luckily, I have a very rewarding job, so when people ask when I am going full-time with photography I can’t answer that because I enjoy what I do.  Prior to me leaving the company we worked for, Brandi was there to celebrate my accomplishments.  She was there to pray for me as I went up for promotions, she was there to listen to my career aspirations and she was there when I decided I was leaving that company to pursue another opportunity.  She never once told me something I wanted to do wouldn’t work!  She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.  She encouraged me as I worked to complete my M.B.A. and has just about completed hers!!! She was there to see the results of my first few photo sessions and has been along for the ride since and shares my work with her hubby and family.  I’ve never met her daughter personally, but I’ve Facetime’d them so I feel like I know her and I adore her!

One of the goals I had in 2012 was to shoot a destination wedding and when I booked my first one, Brandi came along for the trip!  Who does that?!?! When she got out of the taxi in St. Lucia, I was so nervous about the wedding but I was so happy to see her.  She gave herself the title of photography assistant but she didn’t do any assisting because she was on vacation!

Brandi went from a stranger at work to one of my closest gal pals and I always look forward to catching up with her.  I think the reason our relationship has blossomed so much is because while we’re at different places in our lives we learn and grow from each other each time we talk.  She’s seen the good, bad and ugly with me and she’s still around!  Everyone needs a Brandi!  I am thankful that we trust each other with information that we wouldn’t share with most people and she is the first person that I call when life is rewarding or when it doesn’t make sense.  She would be the person that could write a “tell-all” book about me because she pays attention to what I do! She makes me feel like I can conquer the world, but  she keeps me grounded in the process.  Brandi was one of the first names that I’d written down when I decided to share “Watermarks on my Soul” for all of the reasons that I just mentioned.

Currently, we work for different companies, but we’re still in touch on a regular basis.  Brandi, I don’t know what the future holds for either of us, but I am so thankful that our awkward first encounter didn’t stand in the way of the real friendship that we’ve developed.  While I love reminding you how mean you were to me, I love you even more for everything that you have done for me!!! Cheers to your success!!

• Watermarks on my Soul : The Why
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 1 – My Parents
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 2- Rae Images
• Watermarks on my Soul : Day 3- Quad and Keisha Smith
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 4- Laura Huntley Photography
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 5- Mark Baskin
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 6- Andre Dalton
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 7- Leroy Walker, Jr.
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 8-  The Champions
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 9- The Woolfolks
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 10- Abby Grace
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 11- Lacoya Heggie
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 12- The Gaines Family
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 13- Randi Blakeney
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 14- Monica, Farrah, Kara and Christie
• Watermarks on my Soul: Day 15- Pastor Aaron and First Lady Shaunta’