Sometimes life takes a turn you just don’t see coming. When that turn happens and you are faced with a closed door what do you do? Today I am a full-time photographer who has her own studio and I’m in my 7th year as a business owner. Did I always dream of being a photographer? Was that my original plan? The short answer is no.
I am including the long answer today. So settle in and read all about it.
The Long Answer-
Today, I am 51. I have had jobs lawn mowing, house cleaning, as a receptionist, a day care worker. I worked in a mail room and for awhile in a gravel pit for the City of Portland. Burger King, hospitals and printing shops have all employed me on my life’s journey.
The College Years
When I went to college all I really knew was that I wanted to go to college. I didn’t know what I wanted to be. It was written down in my baby book that at the age of 5 or so,that I wanted to be a movie star and a gardener. By the time I was headed to college neither of those sounded appealing. During my senior year of high school our school newspaper ran an edition highlighting all of the seniors. In my article I stated that my dream job was to be a photographer for National Geographic. However, I had that firmly placed in the “dream job” category and therefore never considered it a real possibility or worthy of pursuit.
College began and I chose Business as my major. An F in Accounting (and the misery of the class) convinced me that was not my path. Elementary Education was next. I don’t even remember making the decision to head that direction. However, I do clearly remember the moment I changed my mind. While standing in the middle of an elementary classroom the thought struck me very clearly “I don’t like these creatures”. It was in that moment I knew I needed a change.
Time for a change –
What I was enjoying was History. My classes were challenging but interesting! I began to remember some of my earliest memories of checking out books at the school library where I found biographies of famous people. I had a love for History from the very beginning and I hadn’t ever identified it! Side note – my high school years were focused on sports and friends. Surprisingly, I was not inspired in my history classes at that time.
Graduating with a BA in History and a certified teaching degree filled me with pride. Shortly after graduation I had my first teaching job, goal accomplished! The path was clearly before me! I believed I would be a high school teacher for the rest of my working years.
When doors slam in your face
For the next 23 years I taught at 3 different high schools. During that time I had both my sons and moved from Georgia to Tennessee to Oregon and finally Washington. I loved teaching and was happy with the part-time schedule and summers off as I straddled the fence of being a mom and a professional.
As my children entered elementary school and then high school I was eager to take on more teaching responsibilities. It was frustrating to be told over and over again that the budget wouldn’t allow for me to be FT. Then one day when both of my sons were in high-school, I was told the budget couldn’t support my part-time status either.
A Decision had to be made –
It was devastating. There is more to this story but for the sake of not writing a book today that is where I will leave it.
Of course the option of pursing other teaching opportunities were out there but my heart just wasn’t in it. I was lost, sad and overwhelmed and felt completely without purpose.
It wouldn’t be accurate to say I bounced back quickly with a plan and a dream. There was plenty of time wallowing in my misery. Thankfully, during my years of teaching I had purchased my first DSLR. I was absolutely in love with digital photography. The immediate feedback was perfect for my personality. There were many school events where I had been the photographer and the school yearbooks were full of images I had taken. People knew I had a camera and could take pictures. Thanks to FB it was easy for me to share the images I was taking.
Baby Steps-
If I had said to myself one day “I am going to start my own business” It never would have happened! I would have been quickly overwhelmed and I would have given up. Thankfully, I was blessed with small opportunities which I choose to say yes to. One step at a time. When the first family contacted me to take their family pictures I was terrified!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn’t know how to charge them and at that time I was still shooting auto. I felt like a complete fraud! For the first couple years I felt like a fraud calling myself a photographer! While I had a college degree to back up my claims of being a teacher I only had a camera, did that qualify me to be a photographer?
Saying “yes” to opportunities –
Slowly, oh so slowly.
To be clear I am not some overnight success story. Oh how I wanted to be! As the years clicked by there are a few things I credit for my little business’s continued growth. First, when opportunities presented themselves I said yes. Then I practiced, studied, asked questions and did my level best to be prepared and skilled as needed. Finally, I committed myself to constant and consistent learning and growth. My first goal was to learn the manual settings on my camera and how to fully utilize the tools I had.
Over the years –
- I said yes to renting an office space – Which meant a terrifying monthly financial commitment for a business that has no predictable income.
- Yes to joining a business networking group – I didn’t even know what it was when I showed up. It was after joining this group that it dawned on me, I was a business owner!
- I showed up to events, networking etc which intimidated me and I knew no one.
- Realizing I needed to hire people to design a website and business cards as well as a logo (It was important for me to come to grips with the fact that I can’t do it all and I have to spend money to have people help me look good).
- I showed up to work every day. I remember my first studio space. I remember sitting there staring out the window with tears running down my face because I had NOTHING to do business wise. It all felt so pointless! But I kept showing up.
This list isn’t exhaustive or to toot my own horn. It is only to show how hard the journey has been. For the first 3-5 years I was scared every day. Now I’m only scared a few times a week.
Life Lesson
Today, as a small business owner I use business skills (first year of college, however, marrying a business guy has been a huge help to my business). My Elementary Education experience was helpful as I raised my kids and helped in their schools and photograph families with little ones. My History degree served me well for 23 years of teaching where my love of teenagers firmly took root. This love helps as I connect with my Senior Session clients.
This was not the path I believed I would be on. I am so thankful that I am here! It has taken years for me to get over missing the classroom. I now can see what a life line photography has been for me. I have grown in ways I didn’t think were possible. Photography has given me the opportunity to meet so many new people. These people have enriched my life in many ways! My heart is so thankful that I found my way to photography!
A few years ago I wrote this blog about my “Why” https://shellyfryphotography.com/my-everyday/photography-business-sf_p-portrait-photographer-vancouver-wa which is another piece of my puzzle.
Hey friend, if you stuck it out to the end of this little walk down memory lane, thank you very much! I would absolutely love to hear if your career took a switch. Of course, you don’t have to write it all out it could just look like this: Teacher now Photographer.
Comment below
Shelly
