Well, here it is, the first day of the 2nd year of my shooting weddings as my main focus. As I look back over the last year, I consider the many things that worked, the ones that didn’t, and the ones I thought about but never tried. So to remind myself and to possible help others who are struggling to find that level ground, here is what worked and what didn’t.

What 10 things really worked In 2012

1. Simplifying my logo and my brand. Before it was over kill, now it is simple, my work speaks for who I am and my logo is simple stated and adds to my business with out distracting from the most important part, my clients.
2. This ProPhoto blog. It was worth every penny and still is. It is usually the main place people follow me and keep up with whats going on.
3. Moving my website to SHOWIT. Shout out. One simple fee each month, no hosting charges, free + Sites for clients, and the ability to design it any way you wish. no limitations on the number of images, or where you can put items, or what you want on your contact form. Love it. For real.
4. Using client worksheets and individual file folders with their emails, contact information, and contracts all together in one place. It made things so much easier.
5. Organizing my office and my life out side the office……….and then every two months doing it again, because lets face it, with two boys and a hubby in my household………..my organization efforts become undo pretty quickly. My office is the only sacred place……..they just know better than to mess with it. The closets, washroom, and kitchen cabinets……..completely different story.
6. Putting myself out there more, meeting other photographers and finding some amazing friends. I am actually a shy person, I would rather stick to the people I already know and I don’t trust easy. I started this business alone, I didn’t know of any photographers besides the people at Sears, JcPenney, and Wal-mart. It was difficult and a little lonely at times, not having some one who understood my language when it came to my love of photography. Finding other friends in this industry, helping each other, and encouraging each other has made me realize that if I can help one person reach their dream, save one person from the loneliness and doubt I faced, then it is worth it.
7. Submitting for on-line sites and contest. Although I have only ever been brave enough to submit to Wedding Gawker, they always accept my post and put me out there. I entered one contest and was voted 1st in the bride category by some of the best most renown photographers in the business, I was honored and humbled by it. Both of these has pushed my on-line presence to a higher level.
8. Putting money into my gear, editing software, computer, books on photography& natural lighting, and some awesome courses hosted on Creative Live. The pay off to my clients has no price tag.
9. Putting a set monthly amount into advertising. It opened up new areas of business for me.
10. Enjoying my job. Keeping a smile on my face while I am shooting and letting my love for what I do shine through. I can’t count the number of times that people came up to me during a reception and said they were so happy to finally see a wedding photography who smiled and looked like they were enjoying what they were doing. Attitude matters and I try to let the joy I carry in my heart shine through at each wedding I shoot.

What 10 things really didn’t work in 2012

1. Over shooting. Most of the year I spent thinking quantity mattered more, but sometimes in shooting for quantity, you miss special moments. So now I wait and try to capture that image that is filled with emotion.
2. Not taking days off. Completely off and letting clients know that I was taking off. There is no time clock on this job and it is easy to work everyday……I mean EVERYDAY of the year. Even if you say your taking off, you still work, edit something, update your website, work on a blog post, etc. I got over stressed this year, stress I put on myself by not taking some me time to refocus.
3. Not saying no. Sometimes I put to many irons in the fire and I couldn’t keep up. I had to work hard to learn to say no and stick to it.
4. Not scheduling working hours and sticking to them. I love my family and editing while they sit in the room is not spending quality time with them.
5. My pricing structure. I ended the year barely above the amount I had to spend on my business and that doesn’t work when trying to grow a business.
6. Listening to others ideas of how I should shoot. The truth is, every one sees the world different. The way I like the light in an image, some one else might not…….and that’s ok with me. If we where all the same, the world would be a boring place and not nearly as inspiring.
7. Not culling my weddings the day after I shoot them. I ended up finding amazing images from the weddings after I had already posted the blog post. So many amazing shots where never seen by potential clients.
8. Thinking I can do it all and not out sourcing some of my work. Learned that I am not super woman.
9. Not always answering emails with in a 24 hour period. Emails are important, and they need to be answered with in 24 hours………….and not by an automated response………….they need to be answered by you. So type up a sample response in word and copy paste it if you have to, but answer them……………….and you’ll find you book more amazing clients.
10. Overbooking certain months. This goes back to saying no. I am learning to space my sessions so that I can edit and return the images in a quicker time frame. That matters to me.

I hope my successes and failures helps some one else, who is struggling, set themselves up for an amazing year by using what I have learned and applying it to their business or life.

I hope this year is the best year you have had to date.

And while seeing something like this and winning some amazing prizes felt pretty awesome……………….

my clients telling how happy they are, is really what lets me know that I am doing the right thing.

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I am a Wedding & Lifestyle photographer, Spider hater, hot tea drinker, sarcasm loving, mom of two boys, and center of my sexy hubby’s world. I truly believe there is no better job than to capture the memories of the most special times in a client’s life. I believe in passion, in love, in forever lasting romance, in hope, in joy, and in laughing until you almost pee yourself, because laughter heals the heart. I believe the glass is half full…and even if it really is half empty, I’d rather not know. I choose a smile over a frown, tears of joy over tears of sorrow, and I believe that brokenness makes your stronger, not weaker, so take the negative life may throw your way, and turn it into the stepping block you need to climb higher in life, always keep yourself at the higher level instead of lowering yourself down to the level of others.

I service all of Louisiana including, Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Carlyss, Eunice, Alexandria, Shreveport, Lafayette, New Orleans, Monroe, and  Natchitoches. Serving all of Texas including, Beaumont, Dallas, Huston, and Orange Texas. Serving Mississippi and Alabama. Destinations anywhere including, Florida, California, New York, Cancun, and other destinations abroad.  Check out my website here: http://suzygphotography.com

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