Today we were published on Wedding Chicks (a sweet-as, big deal and must-read-for- any-bride-or-generally-creative-soul wedding site). We are stoked about this and maybe even peed our pants a little.
Which brings me to this-I have been pondering this thing called success of late. Perhaps my long thoughts on the subject are not an incidental coincidence with the second birthday of our beloved business.
At the beginning of “Elizabethtown” Orlando says, “....Success. Success, not greatness was the only god the entire world served.” #icantbelieveiamquotingthatmovie
Which, if you want to go there, is a whole lot to think about.
To be honest, we have worked incessantly in the past two years to get this beast called our business off the ground and really soaring. (And, I mean, we are aiming for really.) Late nights, early mornings and long days have certainly seen us more than our friends.
Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Let me assure you, masses, we have our overalls on and are intimate with that four letter word beginning with a W.
This work has been Jonathan’s dream for the last 1.5 decades.
It has become our dream.
When we started the business two years ago, we didn’t know what in the H#$$ we were doing. Now, at the onset of our third year, we can happily say that we have learned a thousand lessons (yes, literally) and have a few small victories under our belts.
As you know, we just won a couple of local awards. Weeeee.
We finally passed 1000 LIKES on our Facebook page. (You too can get all trendy go LIKE our page here.)
Our wedding bookings for next year are tripled compared to what they were at this time last year. #youwantjonoandlaynietoo #dontworrywestillhaveafewopenings
These are all miniature milestones in the bigger picture of where our business is going; but they are exciting signs of progress for us nonetheless.
But-sometimes we ask ourselves-are we where we “should be” as we start year #3? And this is what I say-
Who.
knows.
What we do know, with our whole hearts, is that with all the exciting things and all the disappointments, neither of us would go back and un-do this giant leap of faith called starting our own business.
While we will both say it’s been one of the most challenging things we’ve ever done, we just won’t talk in this space about all the people we know with cameras trying to make a living at photography; or the frigid, long Canadian winters when most people don’t want their photos taken or the nuances of actually being self-employed.
What we will talk about is how it is also one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever done.
There is just nothing like working with your best friend.
There is just nothing like being your own boss.
There is just nothing like being paid to create beautiful art.
There is just nothing like being invited into someone’s life to capture all the significant pieces of their journey.
There is nothing like doing what you know you were born to do.
There is just nothing like getting to challenge and be challenged in your field every day.
There is just nothing like being able to meet incredible, inspiring and fun people at every turn and walk a bit with them.
My heart feels so full from this journey; I plan to write a book just on this topic one day, know that.
SO, as we commence year #3 of the biz, we’re so grateful for every person who has believed in us and supported us to make it this far.
THANK you to our parents who read our blog faithfullly and LIKE the crap out of every single move we make on Facebook.
THANK YOU to our friends and everyone else who have given us a chance and championed our small triumphs along the way.
THANK YOU to Jocey at the aforementioned Wedding Chicks who has been over-the-top with her encouragement and kindnesses in the past few months.
THANK YOU to Chantal who wrote after booking us to shoot her wedding to say, I would have to say I am very excited. Love your work! your website! your blog! I can definitely feel the passion and love is all that you do. Ever since I found your website no other photographer can compare. It made our day.
THANK YOU to everyone who has recommended us to a friend or colleague or stranger.
THANK YOU to Catherine and to Anne who have allowed me to process through business thoughts, ideas and discouragements incessantly.
THANK YOU to Jacques who told us in the very beginning that there was no doubt we’d be successful-because we are talented and hardworking- but that we needed to decide from the start what we’d do with the success. That’s what matters most he said.
We couldn’t have come this far alone.
We won’t fight to be famous; but we will fight for excellence, to make all the magnificent art we can, for as long as we can.
So perhaps we will end our days with less distinction than Annie Leibovitz (whom we love) but as long as we are holding hands on our front porch, with amazing tales and memories we shall count ourselves blessed. ...But oh wait-we are so blessed already.
So, after all, I am rather convinced that success for my life looks like a gorgeous collection of lifelong friendships, of values kept, of knowing we’ve given it everything we’ve got along the way and of living from the inside out, from the marrow of our beings. So come on success-I’m not afraid of you. I’m here with everything I am to soak you in. I hope we like each other. I think we just might.
