One year ago, I decided to take on the commitment and the challenge to make a business happen. Before June 1st, 2012 it was just a dream and thought of it more as a hobby. As I became more and more obsessed with this hobby and fell so in love with it to ever see myself stopping the rage … I turned myself over to the courthouse to sign paperwork to make Stephanie Messick Photography reality!
Gosh, I remember how EXCITED I was receiving this piece of paper in the mail a year ago!
Honestly, it was scary because I dove into everything head first! Who am I kidding, I have never owned a business or ever took a business class! Very intimidating to say the least … but you know what? When you have a passion and have the goal to succeed, everything will lay into place. It boggles my mind how God will lay down each stepping stone in the right direction to make it happen! Of course now though, there are SOOOOO many things that I want to tweak up and change but I do know that it is going to take a little patience and time. π Especially through this CRAZY June schedule! June and mostly July is BOOKED up! This makes me THRILLED, but also I realize that I cannot let myself burn out. I have been full speed with my business for a solid year and know that resting time is now CRUCIAL as I have had to take a step back once before and realize I was overworking myself too much at once. Of course though, this also means not to fall behind. I am very aware of my deadlines I have set for myself and make sure I am still on task with a little give as I go through my June schedule. π
So funny to look back a year ago and see the goals I had lined up for my business and I … and FORTUNATELY to tell you that I have completed every single one of them minus completing the bridal guide (which is still a work in progress) and to tell you that most of those goals were completed in the first four months of this year!!! This only leads me to believe that I need a new set of goals to write out now for me to look back on another year of being in business! π So here are some new goals for Stephanie Messick Photography for this year!
BUSINESS:
* Continue to get together with local photographers! It is super important that photographers reach out to one another in the community because we all get each other like peas in a pod! I have just sent out an invite for another get together for an editing night on June 14th! If you are a photographer and interested in joining our group of fabulous photographers, email me at info@stephaniemessick.com!
Β * Keep up with other photographers blogs. Honestly, I was really trying to be better about this for awhile and I notice as soon as I get busy, I barely have time to post up what I need to post which leaves me no time to look at other blogs. This is a MUST do better!
* Continue to put together the Bridal Guide. I am in the process of getting together a booklet I can pass to my fabulous brides with all kinds of nifty information regarding their engagement session, pre-wedding prep, the big day and post-wedding! So far it is fabulous and valuable information that I have gained to know through my year of experience and look forward to sharing with my brides. π
*Expand and GROW ideas! I am realizing how important this is because every photographer will come to the point of asking themselves, “Why am I doing this task this way?” Now time to reach out to new ideas and strategies and I am thrilled to test them out! I do not want to run on an empty tank … I need to keep full and always look up to brighter ideas to keep my business energized!
* Readjust my pricing. This will be happening this week! With the newer pricing, I would like to book an additional 10-15 weddings for 2014. Right now, I have 11-12 booked! π
* Stay on top of my month to dos, editing, emails, meetings and deadlines! Β I would say that I have been pretty in tuned with this, which is why I need to remind myself to not let myself slip. There are times where I let my email go for a few days (especially when it comes to the weekends) … but that is okay
PERSONAL:
* Healthier Lifestyle. Mostly is now … except for today as I will indudge in some fabulous Cheesecake Factory cheesecake tonight for my Birthday! π Hehe! But I do need to get back into training for my runs coming up in the next few months ahead!
Β * Read! I know this is really not something I have time to do at the moment, but I would love to get back into reading soon. This might have to wait until vacation time in mid-July when I go to the beach with my boyfriend’s family … YES!
* Experimental Cooking. Whenever I have the chance to cook, I refer to the fabulous PINTEREST for inspiring ideas for cooking! I have some fabulous finds from there that I am always excited about!
Β * Start looking for my own place. I was in the process of doing this late last year and got caught up with business work … so the idea was tossed to the side. Now, I am back at the search again as I search for a cute little house in or near Warrenton with the perfect office space for my business to settle. π I hope this can happen sometime this summer!
This is kind of an overwhelming day as I celebrate not only my one year anniversary for Stephanie Messick Photography … but tomorrow is my one year anniversary at my NOW part time graphic designer job at Piedmont Press & Graphics … and it is coincidentally, my Birthday today! I am now a quarter of a century old, as my sister likes to put it. Dun dun dunnnnn. Weird. Can I please be 22 years old again? Haha! Anyways, so today I will be celebrating my Birthday and the two fabulous opportunities I have embarked a year ago! To do so, I am hosting a fun little GIVEAWAY!
Giveaway directions: I have chosen out a random number that will correspond to the numbered comment below. So if you are the third person to comment and my chosen number is 3, then I will be announcing you as the winner on Thursday, June 6th!!! π Giveaway ends at midnight tonight! This is FREE so why NOT just comment below and give it a shot?!
Okay, so the question to you is:
Name a song (Artist and Song Title β or name off as best as possible) that is a dancing MUST at a wedding reception!
It is okay if someone else names off the same thing before you, but please do not copy someone else’s on purpose.You can be creative with this answer and not stick to the first thought of “Gangnam Style or Cupid Shuffle”.
Of course I cannot forget to tell you what is in it for you!!!
I will be giving the winner a $25 Gift Card to ITunes! Yay!
My personal answer to this question:
” Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi! Haha … or even for a slow dance of “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Machine!
Comment below and list off your favorite dancing song, whether it is a slow or fast-upbeat song, I would LOVE to hear your choice! π Have fun and good luck!!! xoxo
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