the week in review

Whoa. I wasn't planning on such a busy week. I decided at the last minute to attend a workshop led by one of my favorite photographers in Grand Rapids. It was a marvelous thing. I learned so much. I'm still trying to process it all.

I enjoy my business, but I also know that the schedule I'm keeping is not sustainable. I get overwhelmed sometimes when I think about the ages of my kids and know that I'm supposed to be a stay-at-home mom right now. I never wanted to work when they were this age, and I don't need to work-- so why am I??? I started something that I enjoyed and now I'm just trying to keep up! God's blessed this business in so many ways so now I have to figure out what to do with it!

Truth be told, I'd like to have a night off every once in a while. I'd like to just sit and read a book-- or call a friend-- or work on a house project-- or watch a movie without a laptop in front of my face.

Something has to change.

I set clear boundaries to my schedule this fall. I announced that I was booked a long time ago. Still, I get inquiries regularly and keep turning people away. Simple economics says that I need to increase my prices. It's a problem, I know, but I just feel like increasing my prices gives this impression that I'm money hungry. It's awkward for me. But why would I keep my pricing the same and stay busier that I want to be? And isn't making money the purpose of a business?

I received a lot of confidence through this workshop to take that next step. I don't intend to be a photographer that's a "good deal." I want to work less. I want to produce art. I want my clients to invest in my vision.

She covered so many other topics-- marketing, photoshop, creative development, etc. I was giddy.

Yes, things at TFP will be changing next year! Thanks, in advance, for your encouragement to do so!

Since the kids were on Fall Break, we stayed in Michigan for a bit and then headed to Columbus to celebrate my grandma's birthday. We got back just in time to put their costumes on!

Jonah told me about two months ago that he wanted to be the solar system for halloween. Wow.

It was a joint effort. Pop, Grammy, and I were all working on making this contraption work. He was so proud.


Lydia knew in August that she wanted to be a cowgirl. I was grateful that it was self-explanatory. Of course, she told me she wants to be a refrigerator next year :)