Due Date | Personal Post

Today was supposed to be my due date.

(If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can go here for whenever I found out I was pregnant, and here for whenver I found out I had miscarried).

It's crazy how fast nine months can pass! I cant believe it's October, and I definitely can't believe it's October 21st.

I have a couple thoughts on everything:

-Even though I've been really sad today (more sad than I thought I'd be), it's amazing how close God is. Just in the past few days, I've had random people call me saying that God put me on their heart and they had to call me. They had NO idea that today was the day my baby was due. They had NO idea that I was sad. As well, I've had one person have a dream about Josh and I--we got out of our car to show her our two kids - a little boy and a little girl. That was so encouraging to me!

-Someone pointed out to me the other day that God is seemingly breathing 'hope' into this situation. Through dreams (such as above) and through Him just speaking to me and others, saying that I will bear again.

So I come out of this knowing very strongly, a few characteristics of God - God is near. He is the greatest comforter. He loves me deeply (and keeps trying to uplift my heart). God brings hope - the only hope I have is in Him. He holds my life in His hands (and the little life that was once in my belly, and now is in his hands in heaven).

I don't know where you are right now, but I do hope and pray, that you know all of the above things about God. Once you understand God on that level, the pain seems to dissipate a little because you can  trust Him and know He's in control. And things don't seem as chaotic as before.

Thank you for all who have prayed for me during this time. And thank you to all of you who have sympathized with me through your own experiences.

Until my next post (which I promise will be more fun and exciting),

My Book List | Personal - Business

Sadly, when I look at my bookshelf, I don't see tons of books that I've read, but many books that I've purchased and never read. Does anyone else feel that way or am I the only one? :)

To add to the irony, I have recently checked out a few books from the library. I like books, if you can't tell. Or maybe it's just the information books bring. 

I have been amazed lately at a few books I've been reading. One of them is called Permission Marketing, by Seth Godin. GREAT book on marketing. 

You see, whenever I started this 'business' over a year ago, I never really thought I'd be starting a business. If you have read the "About Me" section on my website, you will see that I wasn't trying to start a business - you could say that it fell on my lap. In Dallas I know tons of people and they know and trust me, so I constantly was having clients. It was a lot of fun!

In contrast, here in Phoenix it's been a little more difficult. I don't know anyone - except a few friends that are apart of the internship we're going through. So, I have found myself starting over, in a sense, trying to figure out how to stand out - how to show that you can trust me and what I have to offer. It's been making me reevaluate why I am a photographer and what my goals are in this industry. 

The book is great as it has brought some new perspectives on marketing - things I've never thought about. Maybe I'm just an extreme novice, but it's been very helpful to me in how I think "Marketing". Check it out if you haven't read it.

Another book I have checked out but haven't touched yet is Personality Not Included by Rohit Bhargava. It looks really good, but haven't really dove into it yet. I plan to after I finish Permission Marketing. If anyone has read this and has any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them.

And the other book that I have been reading slowly is Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days by Jay Conrad Levinson and Al Lautenslager. It has been a very good book (I have read other Guerrilla Marketing books) and has opened my eyes to new concepts and how I should be thinking. 

As you've noticed, these are all Marketing books which I have been thoroughly enjoying. I think it's good to always be reading, inputting new concepts and ideas into your mind to wrestle with. As I commented in a previous post, you should always be wanting to upgrade your skills in your industry. And mine being photography, I not only need to be upgrading my skills of taking pictures, I need to upgrade my business skills and ability to market myself.

So, that is my current book list; it will probably change soon, but for now, that's what I'm reading.

Have you found any useful books in your industry or in the photography industry? I'd love to hear them!

What's Cooking? | Learning & Growing

Question...

Are you constantly trying to learn new things to improve your skills, professionalism, and style? I know personally, that I strive to become a better photographer, marketer, wife, friend, colleague, etc. the list goes on (not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture). Why? Well, I don't think it's good to become self-satisfied in my thinking and doing.

I think it can be so easy to become complacent. I think in many ways many companies have become stagnant and have thought, "The old marketing ideas have worked, so we will continue doing them, even if they aren't as effective as they first were..." I think it's highly valuable to always be on your best game - always be researching, always be looking for new angles and new ways to say and do things.  

I'm currently reading the book Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0 (picked it up today and will finish the last 50 pages tomorrow - it's that interesting!) and it's unbelievable the amount of FREE sources we have to find information. Information about jobs, about how to improve ourselves, how to be more creative, and more. The information is endless. (And just a side note, in case you are wondering because of the book title, I am looking for a job - more info on that later)

Especially, when you think about the internet. This book has made me realize that the internet is constantly changing. What I have learned today about search engines and helpful sties is now old news. It is impractical to think that you could keep up with everything. 

So...What does this have to do with photography or me?

I have been mulling over in my mind lately the idea of complacency and I really don't want it in my life. I want to become better in all the things I'm associated with. As things change, I want to change. I want to embrace change. Especially in the photography world. Do you want change in your specialty or personal life? When you honestly think about it, does the word change scare or motivate you? I think to become more effective in whatever your calling/job is in this life, you must not become complacent. 

And just want to mention that by using the word complacent, I'm not meaning content. I DO feel that you should be content in the situation you are in. I think there must be a balance of being content, yet not being complacent. You are always looking for new opportunities to grow your skills, talents, ideas, etc., but you are okay where you're at for the time being because God has brought you to that situation/place for a specific reason. It's just not becoming stuck there, unwilling to move because you're comfortable. Which, as humans we have a knack for doing.

Anyways, that is some of what I'm learning right now. Do you have any thoughts regarding complacency, being content and so forth? I'd love to hear them.