Suzanne Melissa Photography, Engagement, Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Scottsdale Arizona, Phoenix Arizona » Scottsdale Arizona Wedding and Portrait Photography

With my decision to go full time I am working on putting more ME into my business.  This feels strange and slightly narcissistic to type out, but I’m learning that it’s a crucial part to being successful in a heavily saturated market.  When I meet with brides I always tell them that even if they don’t hire me make sure you like your wedding photographer.  You are going to invite this person to perhaps the most important day of your life.  You want to LIKE them and really feel a connection with them. It will make a difference in your photos and your overall wedding day experience.

To help build that connection I realize that I have to put more ME on the blog for YOU my clients.  Feel free to check out the “About” section of my blog for a quick speed date of getting to know me, but also know that I will be blogging more personal tidbits under the “Personal” section of my blog.

To kick things off here is my favorite picture from my honeymoon.  This was taken as we boarded the dinner cruise with warm seafood and cocktails so strong I was afraid to stand next to a fire for fear my breath would ignite into a ball of flame!  I still have that dress and I might just have to dig it out and wear it this summer!

One of my goals for 2012 was to quit my day job and a few weeks ago I did just that!  I have been a civil engineer for over ten years and have had a very fortunate career.  Fortunate, but not full-filling.

While on maternity leave I purchased EXPOSED by Jasmine Star.  I’ve heard her say this before, but as I read this quote I realized it was time to act:

“I would rather see you fail at something you love then succeed at something you hate.”

I should note that I didn’t hate my job, but I also didn’t love it.  Quitting was complicated though.  My job paid well, had good benefits including 401k and paid time off and…and this was the big one.  I was a part owner in the company.  Quitting would mean that I would have to give all of this up.

I asked myself what was the worst case scenario if I quit my day job, pursued photography and failed.  What if I failed?  What if I never booked a single wedding or turned a single profit?  What did failing look like?  It turned out to be a surprisingly simple answer: I would return to engineering as an employee and not an owner…and I was perfectly okay with that.

Now that I knew what failure looked liked I was able to think about what success looked like.  Success would be spending more time with family (specifically my new son Andrew) and turning a passion into a successful business.  I realized how simple “success” would be.  Success didn’t have to be becoming the best wedding photographer ever and booking 100 weddings a year.  It would simply be spending more time with my family and getting paid to do what I love.

I’m tempted to say that the decision seemed suddenly simple.  Just like an actor that has been working in their craft for 20 years and suddenly becomes an overnight success.  My decision was years in the making, but when all of the pieces fell into the right place it was suddenly clear what I wanted to do.  I wanted to quit…and I did.

I am officially launching Suzanne Melissa Photography and my first employee is this little guy with the title of “Director of Cuteness”.

He was in the process of cutting his first tooth, so it was non-stop drooling.

So unprofessional to cry at work!

I hope you are doing what you LOVE!

It’s that time of year when I promise myself to go on a diet (again), to spend more quality time with my family and to stop watching excessive amounts of reality TV.  I almost can’t take anymore of Team Mom 2 (seriously-If Jannelle goes back with Kiefer one more time I’m going to stop watching…until the next episode).

Anywho-who, this year I decided it’s time to go big or go home with my New Year’s Resolutions.  I’m not just going on a diet I’m on a mission to lose 30 pounds, make a serious commitment to my family and to put all of my creative energy into my photography business.

I’ve read on-line that people who write down their goals make on average % more over their lifetime than those that don’t.  80% of Americans say they don’t write down their goals, but a study out of University of California showed that people who write down their goals, share them with friends and regularly update their friends on the progress are 33% more successful in accomplishing their goals.  Just WRITE THEM DOWN and you have already increased your odds of success without doing anything else!  (Maybe I should send Jannelle some pen and paper??).

So my friends, here are my goals for 2012.  I decided to split them between Business and Personal.  I wanted to have an even 20 for each, so I am leaving myself some room to add on later in the year.

Business

1. New business cards
2. Update portfolio
3. CD cases
4. Welcome package for brides
5. Book 10 weddings for 2012
6. Book 15 portrait sessions
7. Book 5 newborn or maternity
8. Network w/venues, other photogs, and others
9. Develop wedding workflow
10. Better reception images
11. Be featured on a wedding blog
12. Have a wedding published
13. Attend two PUG meetings
14. 2^nd shoot for other photographers
15. Buy 100mm Macro Lens
16. Attend a workshop
17. Watch Photo DVDs
18. Photograph wedding at a venue I have never worked with
19. Make two new photography friends

Personal

1. Lose 30 lbs
2. Wear a bathing suit on my b-day
3. Add a new meal each month
4. Take swim lessons w/Andrew
5. Have date night with the following couples w/Trey and Kandy, Mom and Rick, Dad and Cindy
6. Hang pictures on the walls…anywhere!
7. Decorate Andrew’s room
8. Hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim
9. Take 6 month and 1 year pics of Andrew
10. Organize/decorate office
11. Go to lunch/coffee w/Bre
12. Take a vacation
13. Read 5 books
14. Tailbone to heal
15. Get pregnant
16. Complete Legacy File
17. Quit day job
18. Run a 5k

You’ll notice that number 2 on my personal list is to wear a bathing suit on my birthday (August 31…just in case you wanted to plan ahead!).  I’m pretty sure the picture below is the last time I was photographed in a bathing suit.

So go ahead, don’t be scared. Write down your goals, tell a friend and start earning 9% more!