A New Year
2022 was not the year I was hoping it would be. The best laid plans, huh? Part of it was I wasn't following my heart, and part of it was an injury to my neck that left me side lined for over 12 weeks. Surgery is in my future, but it's nothing to get worked up about.
Anyway, over the past few weeks, I have been working on several new things. Big things! You can imagine my surprise when, in the middle of watching a Christmas movie, it hit me. Most of the things I have been working on are NOT things I want to be working on. They just don't feel....authentic. What do you do when it's time to dig deep, find your passion again, and put the rest on the back burner?
For me, it's kind of like re-arranging my bedroom. I put everything in a big pile, in the middle of the floor. I vacuum the corners of the room, wipe down the base boards, take a Swiffer to the light fixtures, and, once everything is clean, I begin putting things away. I leave out the things that are important, and put the rest where they belong. I might throw away some things, and/or donate some things, but generally, everything has a place to live. When the room is put back together, I will put fresh linens on the bed, fluff up my down filled comforter, and the FLOP, face first into the comforter. I work my butt off for the specific moment when I can flop on the bed. With everything clean and put in it's place, I can start again.
So, that's what I've done with my business. I've cleaned up the corners, moved some things around, threw away some things and let go of others. My business is now clean, sparkly and fresh again. I'm ready to flop into the comforter.
What does 2023 look like for me? More "DogJoy!". More adventures with dogs and friends. Less time behind the key board. More time outside. More time being inspired by the things that I love and have been ignoring because...well, they didn't feel professional. Phooey on being professional! (I mean, there is a time and a place for that.)
To begin with, I want to meet as many PNW dogs as I can. I have a three-pronged approach for this and the prongs are a bit unorthodox. Let me share them with you.
I hate social media, but have come to terms that it is a necessary evil. So, I put a "wish list" on my Instagram tagging some of the dogs in Seattle that I want to meet. Yep, I called them out. It's not a full list, but it's a place to start. It holds me accountable and lets my followers see if I am successful in meeting (and photographing) these dogs on my wish list. More on this in a second.
Because I want more spontaneity in my life, I have created Pop Up Sessions! I am so excited about this! The idea is to have a Pop Up Session whenever I want. It's easy for people to find out about them by signing up for my newsletter. (Can you say lead generator?) My subscribers will get first dibs. The plan is to spend a few hours in some amazing place in Seattle, photographing and playing with new dog friends, and generally making merriment. Then, POOF! I'm gone. I have my first Pop Up Session scheduled for this Saturday, and it sold out in two days! Two days! I didn't even get a chance to post in on social media. (small snicker) The dog's humans will receive 5 watermarked, social media sized digital files of my choice. If that's as far as it goes, that's fine! This isn't about making money, ROI, marketing, or anything business related. It's about meeting new dog and human friends, having an amazing morning with them, and shooting. Oh, and the best part? One of the dogs from my Instagram wish list SIGNED UP for a Pop Up Session! Two birds, people!
Lastly, I have taken a position with Seattle Pup Magazine. This step helps me meet more dogs! I also get to write about dogs. It's a non-paying position, but it will get my butt out of the house and shooting. It is my firm belief that you can't grow as a photographer if you're not shooting! I will be shooting and writing and immersing myself in the dog community of Seattle.
The immense relief of letting things go and finding my "DogJoy" has re-ignited my passion for dogs. I'm looking forward to 2023 instead of dreading it. I will be running through the fields, exploring the woods, and playing in the water with as many dogs as I can. DogJoy
I recognize what a leap of faith this is. But, when I follow my intuition, it's always right. Also, not being able to shoot for all of those weeks really made me sit down and think about what I'm doing and why.
My neck will get fixed eventually, but in the mean time, I will do what I can do find DogJoy in 2023. It probably wont look like I had imagined just a few weeks ago. I wont make six figures this year. I wont be attending big, fancy functions. I wont be producing educational material or podcasts, like I had planned.
However, I will be on my true path and, if you ask me, that's the most important thing.
Hugs to your dog!
Holly