What do you think people said to Edison when he was developing the first motion picture camera? I wonder if they applauded him or snickered? Do you think he introduced himself that way or just said his name?

I often wondered this when people asked what I do. A year ago I told people I was a collections manager for a doctors office and had a small photography business. Do you see how I phrased it? I put this PASSION of mine, this service I receive so much JOY and FULFILLMENT from second after a job I really got no joy from. I didn’t call myself a photographer just simply said I had a photography business. I didn’t gush openly about one of the main things in my life that FUELS me and literally makes my heart burn up! I really just didn’t believe in myself. And that’s a VERY hard sentence for me to type out. I just really didn’t believe I could fly yall. I had this drive and passion but I felt myself swimming in a sea of other great creatives and I was feeling like my wings were clipped. I was just grounded. 

My couples were so worth it, my families and seniors and anyone else who would let me document their lives were worth it. I just couldn’t see that I was worth it. I changed my mindset. I put my passion first and began openly and out loud believing in myself. I knew I wanted this career more than anything. I was sacrificing so much family time, personal time, events and social gatherings, sleep and money so I KNEW this was it. 

It all changed with that: introducing myself as a photographer. It validated me and was an open statement that I believed I could fly (I know it’s so hard not to sing the song!) 

I want to just put this out there because a year ago I was the girl who needed it. No one will EVER believe in you, if you don’t believe in yourself. Change little things about yourself: your profile picture, your voicemail, your IG profile description, use what FUELS you as that catalyst to get there. 

You can absolutely FLY, you just have to start flapping your wings <3