Apparently 2011 is the year of change in my life. We had a change we weren’t prepared for, a change we weren’t planning on, and now, finally – a change we were hoping for…
My business has grown to the point where I’m able to go part-time at my day job (officially on September 1st)!
This whole year has been a huge year of growth for my business – but early on I was still investing any photography income I made right back into the business for things like my re-branding, and more lenses/cameras/lighting. But now my photography income can actually be used to pay the bills – and that is a really amazing feeling.
What is even more amazing is how insanely supportive my bosses have been throughout this process. You see, I have a very unusual circumstance compared to other photographers who also work day jobs (most who have bosses/co-workers that are completely unaware that they are living a double life) because I started working at the law firm when I was already in school for photography. So when I was hired 5 & 1/2 years ago – my bosses were well aware that I had big dreams that didn’t involve working in their law firm for the rest of my life. I actually remember during the interview my boss asking me why on earth I would want to work at a law firm when I was an artist at heart (he asked because his wife is an artist)… and I nearly started to cry and told him, “I just need to pay. the. bills.” (Such a sad, broke college student I was at the time! haha) But somehow they saw something in me that day that made them decide to hire me regardless of my future plans… and I’m so thankful they did.
Throughout the years they’ve seen me to go from a full-time photography student & part-time law clerk, to a graduate, to a full-time paralegal & a part-time photographer, to a full-time photographer AND a full-time paralegal… and now – to a full-time photographer and a part-time paralegal.
It’s kind of crazy when I think about it. And what is even crazier is that in the meeting I had with my bosses yesterday – they were 100% supportive of the growth of my business, and genuinely concerned about my well-being & happiness. It is unbelievably rare that I could work for a company that is completely aware that I run my own business outside of working hours and that I plan to eventually go full-time with it and leave theirs… yet they still cheer me on, and continue to tell me that they’d love to have me there as long as I can stay.
I know there are days when I complain, and I come home in tears from a bad day at the office, but overall, I am insanely blessed to have met these people and to have called them ‘family’ (along with my fabulous co-workers) for the last 5 & 1/2 years. One thing I am certain of, is that I definitely could not be where I am today if it weren’t for that place and the support I’ve received from every person there – and that’s the truth.
I’m so excited for this next step in my life… and for once I am ready for the change and will be embracing it with open arms! I can’t wait to see what the extra time does for my marriage, my business, and my sanity! 😉
And to prove to you how awesome my work family is… here a quick photo I snapped of most of the crew being goofy at our company outing a week or so ago at Dave & Buster’s! 🙂
