As many of you know, my passion for taking pictures is tremendous.  For the last year there wasn’t a day in which I didn’t take at least one picture.  I decided to put my passion to work by opening a photography business. I haven’t been this excited in many, many months!

The idea of me getting out there, doing something I love, pursuing my dreams and fulfilling myself is very appealing. I have known for a long time now that being a stay-at-home-mom was not going to fulfill me and working full-time, outside the house is even less appealing.

While trying to determine what line of work I should go into, it became obvious the photography business is a perfect match for me. At the same time, I feel, doing something more with my photography skills is the best way of saying “Thank You” to all those people who inspired me, helped me, pushed me, and motivated me for the last few years.

During the last year I have learned a lot, I have mostly learned what I don’t know about photography and my skills, and there’s still a lot to learn and master, but I have also learned something else; “Nothing changes, if nothing changes”.

My first attempt to open a photography business failed. Probably because I was not prepared, but also because I was a first time mother with PPD, and with nothing else than a one lens camera. I had done a few free sessions for my portfolio and with each one I realized more, and more how unprofessional the pictures are and how awkward I feel doing those sessions. I came to the conclusion that this path is forever closed to me, and that I will never become a professional photographer. For the next two years I was OK with being just a clicking mom, but secretly I was dreaming that maybe one day… , some day… Finally that day has come. This time the idea came straight from me. I wasn’t pushed by anybody else’s suggestions. I know it might not be the best timing because our second baby is only 7 months old and requires almost constant attention.

For example, during one of my latest sessions I had to take her with me.  At some point I had to put on my wonder woman suit and both of my arms went to work. She wasn’t a happy camper unless I was holding her. Thanks to a very open-minded family we had fun continuing the session, but my arms and my back surely did not appreciate it the next day.

So, I am aware that going out there will require a little adjustment in my husband’s schedule to take care of one or both of our kids while I am gone.

But as I said before: nothing changes if nothing changes; there will never be the right time. I will never have the right equipment, and my pictures will never be good enough for people to want to hire me (in my humble opinion).

At the same time I am aware that I take better pictures than some of the professional photographers out there, who earn good money and have many clients. The difference between me and them lies in the self-esteem, confidence, and of course, better equipment.

This time I do not expect a lot. I take it easy, and more than anything else I want to have fun and provide people a precious moment to keep for their future.

I am an amateur photographer. I took only one photography class (in which I learned nothing that I didn’t already know) but I have learned a lot from my own mistakes, and from my friend, a fellow photographer.

I do many rookie mistakes, still, and that would be ok if I wanted to stay an amateur forever, just a clicking mom whose camera serves for capturing family memories. The switch to being a professional, being paid for my pictures, is going to motivate me to get better, to do better, to learn more, and more, finally to change as a person; get more confidence and portray myself in a better light.

In my 10 years of using more than just a “soap on the rope” (as my husband calls it), I’ve had two film SLR cameras (which I am going to be re-united with in several weeks!!!), and three DSLR’s. One of my DSLR cameras got stolen with all the additional equipment I had worked so hard to gather (lenses, tripod, camera bag, filters, batteries). I was in my third trimester of my first pregnancy. I cried a river for days until I had received a package, and then I cried even more.

The package was from my friends; a few of them I have never met in person. With some we have been just Facebook friends; Friends who were brought together through the common passion for photography. My family and I had a chance to meet two of them last year while they were visiting the West Coast.

I use this camera and the lenses that I got from them to this day. I have a deep appreciation for what they did for me, and achieving success as a photographer would be the best THANK YOU I could possibly express.

My first step to make a change has been made. The vision of photographing lovely families is very exciting. At the same time I am frightened, as well. What if my business fails again? What should I do to improve my services? What if I succeed? (Silly question, right?, but it scares me as bad as the one about failing).

Those questions will be answered soon and I can’t wait to discover the answers. This is a new beginning and things will change.

 Do any of you have your own business? How did you start? How long did it take you to decide to go with your own business? How did it feel?  

This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Mom Photographer. The photographs used in this post are credited to the author and  her husband.

Ewa Samples

Ewa was born, and raised in Poland. She graduated University with a master's degree in Mass-Media Education. This daring mom hitchhiked from Berlin, Germany through Switzerland and France to Barcelona, Spain and back again! She left Poland to become an Au Pair in California and looked after twins of gay parents for almost 2 years. There, she met her future husband through Couch Surfing, an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals. Today she enjoys her life one picture at a time. She runs a photography business in sunny California and document her daughters life one picture at a time. You can find this artistic mom on her blog, Ewa Samples Photography, on Twitter @EwaSamples or on Facebook!

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