What do ya say to takin' chances?

I say, I'm scared. :) I've always considered myself to be a risk taker...and as that may be somewhat true, I have found that I am a very cautious risk taker. Not a very thrilling combination. There's nothing exhilarating to watching someone crawl to the edge of a cliff and gently let themselves drop off! But, if there were a need to cast such a scene, I'd be the perfect star.
This is coming as "old news" to most of you, but I'm quitting my job at State Farm and am taking the "drop" into full-time photography! I've danced around with the idea for several months now, and about a month ago, I was talking to my boss and before I could reel them back in, the words, "I think this is me saying that I need to quit this job..." came spilling out of my mouth. As I was walking back to my desk, I was struck with the notion that I had just quit my job and wanted to spin around and crack some joke about how I had apparently lost my mind. But I didn't because in my gut (aka, my family...they often serve as a pretty good voice to that "knowing" inside of me) I knew it's the right thing to do.

Yes, there are moments when I'm really quit terrified...but most of all, I'm EXCITED!!! I am!!! I'm excited to finally be able to put the time, energy, and love into photography...as this past year, I've been like a very bad girlfriend to photography. Neglecting and giving not even second, but more like 5th priority to it. I was riding the elevator at work this morning, and someone asked me what I do, and I said, "Actually, I'm a photographer"...saying those words were like coming home. Well, to a home where you have crazy kids running around, it's in a bit of a disarray and you know you've got some major housecleaning to do to make it what it needs to be...but home, nonetheless.

I was at a conference in Chicago and Jasmine Star (one of my photography heroes) was telling her story and said that she was sitting at her kitchen table one night not knowing what to do with her future and her husband, JD, said, "I would rather you fail at something you love than succeed at something you hate". Those words pierced into my heart like a sword...wow, that was more dramatic than I meant for it to sound! Okay, not a sword :) but something about that touched a very deep part of me and I knew once again, that I was making the right decision. I was succeeding at work, but I was not loving it.

One more thing that I think is worth noting here is that they said to figure out what you do well and focus in on that. Well, I know that what I do best is couples, adults, weddings...I know that's where my love is, and so with that, I'm announcing that I am a wedding photographer. That's not to say that I won't ever shoot a family, or children's session again, but my business will be focused on weddings/engagements/and couples.

So there you have it...what do I say to taking chances? Yes, I'm scared, but it's a good scared. A necessary scared. A scared that makes me excited that I am where I am, and that I'm about to not just roll off, but will taking a flying leap off the edge. And should there not be a net or water at the bottom to catch me, well, I know that taking that leap was a bigger success than standing still dreaming of "if only". So here's to jumping...Bonzai!!!

Oh, and since it's so much more fun to have a picture, here's an image from a recent shoot...um, love Love LOVE this couple, the light, and their love!