Where am I?

Wondering why I'm so silent {on the blog} this week?! Well..... super last minute {as in- Monday} I found out about a four day, 16 hour FREE online training course for newbie photographers that's all about branding and building your business. {*Exactly* where I am right now in my photography journey!}

 The only thing is that it's going on this week. today. *right now*! phew! So I quickly squeezed it into this weeks schedule and have spent  the past two afternoons glued to my Mac {7 1/2 hours down, 8 1/2 to go}. Each day holds four, one hour sessions which are back.to.back. Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed each evening... hoping all the pages of notes I've scribbled down will supplement what I forget!

After sitting for so long yesterday, I got to move around and unwind shooting this gorgeous girl's senior session. It turned out so lovely despite quickly fading daylight!! 

So while we're on the topic of photography and since I'm continually asked why I don't have a business/website yet, I'd like to take the opportunity to talk a little bit about where I am.

My answer to those types of questions is usually along the lines of "not just yet!! I'm focusing on the business side of things currently...making sure I know what I need to know to be good for the long run!"

Let me break down my answer a little.

 I would whole heartedly LOVE to just jump into things right now and start shooting away... forgetting all about taxes, branding, etc. But I've heard photographers say over and over, "It was so easy to jump into the market once I knew my camera and editing... but then came tax time and I was out! I hadn't even thought about keeping track of my finances!" or "I wish I had known all of this in the beginning... now I'm having to start all over and work through the branding process while I'd rather be focusing on other aspects of my business." 

Since I have been afforded so many incredible materials online and so much awesome advice and mentoring via other photographers, I would be absolutely *stupid* not to take advantage of it all and learn whatever I can on the front end! 

Yes, this makes for a little slower beginning but I am confident it will save me so much in the long run!!

Currently I am:

setting up my business {getting taxes, insurance & such in order}

in the beginning stages of branding {website, blog, cards, packaging...}

learning more & more about niche marketing {pricing, ideal clients...}

and of course learning tons about photography itself ALL.the.time!!

Am I still available for photography jobs in the meantime?! Definitely. I simply won't be advertising or shooting/working under a business name. Please shoot me an email! diligent4christ1993@hotmail.com

{getting a professional/business email will be one of the first things to come!! YES! haha}

And oh my goodness this is completely off topic but the coffee shop I'm in just started baking brownies and they smell amaaaaazing!!! Anyone wanna drop in and buy me one? :D

So that's pretty much where I am... plugging' away & working to, Lord willing, have everything in place for a grand reveal come springtime!! Thanks for all of your encouragement & input! I always love hearing from you!