Who I Was When I Started My Business vs. Who I Am Today

When I first started my photography business, success looked like doing everything and saying yes to everyone.

At that time, my two oldest boys were just one and two years old. I had just quit my full-time job so I could be home with them while still contributing financially. My only goal back then was simple — to make it work.

I didn’t have a business plan or systems. I didn’t even really know what I was doing. But what I did have was passion, hope, and determination. And to be fair — getting business was easy back then. Marketing was simple. I could post a sneak peek or a mini session promotion on Facebook, and sessions would book within hours. My prices were low, my schedule was full, and I was running on adrenaline and love for photography.

The Early Years: Saying Yes to Everyone

A typical day in those early years looked like passing my husband like ships in the night. He’d come home from work, and I’d leave to photograph sessions. Especially during the busy seasons, life felt chaotic — like I was constantly chasing the next session, the next gallery, the next paycheck.

Looking back now, I realize I missed out on a lot of my boys’ childhood because I was always working, always trying to survive. I loved what I did, but I was pouring every ounce of myself into a business that wasn’t built to sustain me yet.

The Turning Point: Redefining Success

Everything started to shift in 2018 when we moved and finally got out of debt. That moment of financial freedom changed everything for me.

It was the first time I’d ever truly felt what freedom felt like — not just financially, but emotionally. And I realized that every “no” I said to things that didn’t align was really a “yes” to the life I wanted, not the one I felt trapped in.

That realization changed how I ran my business. I started being intentional with my time, my energy, and my clients. I stopped trying to be everything to everyone — and started being exactly who I was meant to be.

The Woman I Am Today

Fast forward 16 years, and my definition of success couldn’t look more different.

Today, success looks like doing the things I love and waking up every day excited about my purpose, my work, and my life. I actually enjoy saying no because it feels empowering — it’s proof that I’ve broken through that old belief that I have to please everyone.

I’ve built a business that aligns with who I am. I’ve learned that showing up authentically — without worrying about what others think — attracts the kind of clients and people I truly want in my life.

Hopes and prayers are still part of the equation, but now they’re backed by strategy, experience, and deep connections. I have systems in place, clarity in my direction, and peace in knowing that I’ve built something sustainable and meaningful.

Then vs. Now

Then, success meant:
✔️ Saying yes to everything
✔️ Hoping it would all work out
✔️ Running on chaos and coffee

Now, success means:
✨ Doing the work I love with purpose
✨ Having freedom to say no
✨ Creating balance, impact, and joy

A Message to My Younger Self

If I could go back and tell that younger version of me anything, it would be this:

You don’t have to do it all to be enough. You don’t have to say yes to everything to be successful. The most beautiful version of your business and life will come when you learn to trust yourself, stay true to your purpose, and build from a place of peace instead of pressure.