Be fearless in pursuit of your dreams!

Like a lot of you, I am spending New Years Day 2020, reflecting on 2019 and all the amazing things it brought. Sure, it had it’s failures, but it had even more successes. The biggest lesson it taught me, was to be fearless in pursuit of your dreams! The year was filled with crazy adventures with friends (Yosemite National Park needs to be on your bucket list!) and adventures on my own (Showit United will blow your mind!). Lost a dear friend (cancer sucks!) and met some amazing new friends. I photographed some of the most incredible families, and spent wedding days with some of the most incredible couples out there!

When I counted up all my sessions and weddings from the past year, I was shocked to find I photographed 116 sessions! Y’all, that was without putting as much effort into marketing as I should have because I was so new and had no idea what I was doing! I was just trying to figure out how to navigate this new business journey!

Every year, I pick one thing I want to focus on in the following year. This year, that is really narrowing down my own editing style. As a new photographer, it’s easy to feel like you have to be a cookie cutter version of those who have mentored you. I’ve learned in the past year that is something that was actually holding me back and I am so thankful to have broken out of that mindset and seen the growth that has taken place in my work since then.

I have also learned that it’s ok to be different than the “trend” of photographers we see all over social media. Finding MY look is an amazing feeling! I never imagined I would be in the top 3 in the cover contest of the My Montana Wedding magazine, up against some of the most successful ladies in the industry. Win or lose, I already feel like a winner!

There are so many changes I have planned for my business this year, and I cannot wait to implement them. I want to be a blessing to my clients! But I also want to always be a blessing to my fellow creatives and photographer friends. There seems to be this stigma in our area that you can’t be friends with people in your same industry. Well….I think that is just an immature way to think. There are enough clients to go around, and a raising tide raises all ships! I am so thankful for my little group of photographer friends and the bond we have. I would not be where I am without these ladies, and I am so thankful! We shared so many highs and lows together this year (see Yosemite photos below!)

So as we head into 2020, be fearless in pursuit of your dreams! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and show the world who YOU are! Don’t try to be a cookie cutter version of someone else. The world doesn’t need another version of them….it needs YOU! It a new year, a new decade, and you have 365 days to do you boo! Cheers to growth, change, and prosperity!

Thank you for following me along on this crazy journey! I will be blogging and sending out email newsletters more consistently in 2020, so be sure to get your name on the list!

I love you ALL!!!!

Leah