Enjoying Every Moment {St. Louis Children's Photographer} Firefly Universe Fine Portrait Photography

August 27, 2012 · Kiddos, Snapshots

When I began my journey as a stay-at-home mom, I had just graduated from the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver.  I always wanted to be a fine art nature photographer (which I wanted to come second to my job as a mom).  I never thought that taking portraits of people would provide me with the artistic freedom for which I yearned.  However, when our first child was born, naturally, I took her newborn portraits.  A close friend told me (with great enthusiasm) that I had found my niche, and that I should focus on babies, and not so much on “flowers” anymore.  I realized that she was right, and that as a portrait photographer, I could actually be an artist after all, and I began to market myself through word of mouth.

As the years passed, we moved a few times, and were blessed with two more babies.  Because of our out-of-state moves, my photography business was able to develop and grow nice and slowly, and I was still able to spend most of my time with my children.  After staying in St. Louis for a couple of years, though, my business suddenly took off like crazy!  After a couple of years of working over 50 hours per week with three children at home full time, I realized how much I missed my kiddos!!  I was constantly stressed out at the amount of work I had.  It took almost two years for me to even begin to figure out how to balance everything and to truly feel gratitude for my children and my thriving business.

About six months ago, I began reading an amazing book in my “spare” time (“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle).  I’m only half way through it (yes, it’s taking me that long to find the time to read it), but I have finally started to deeply enjoy almost every moment of almost every day.  My husband recently resigned from his job, and now works at home as a freelance animator, artist, and video editor.  The kids started school a couple of weeks ago, and we are beginning to get into a routine.  Although we still work for at least an hour after they get home from school, we stop working as close to 5pm as possible.  We go outside as a family and take a walk, a bicycle/skateboard ride, or a trip to a park.  We all come back home and spend a little time working together to straighten up the house and start dinner.  We eat dinner together every night, and after the kids are in bed, I choose to spend time with my husband 4-5 times a week instead of sitting back down at my computer until the wee hours of the night (or next morning).  I still have a few nights per week that I will work until 1:00am or so, but I try not to do that as often as I used to.  On Saturdays and Sundays, if I am not shooting a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or portrait sessions, I choose to spend time with my family and friends.  I am so much happier now that I’ve made these changes!!  It is still a work in progress, but I am overjoyed at the freedom I have to do this.

I am grateful for my unbelievably awesome husband, my amazing, beautiful, sweet children (who are growing up too fast), for the best friends of our lives who we have made here in St. Louis, for the most wonderful, supportive Jewish community we could ever ask for, and for all the love and business I receive from the best clients in the world!!!!!!  I also thank our Creator…the One LIGHT who is within us all…who connects Everything in Life and makes it ALL possible!

4 Comments

  • Kalanit · Posted August 27, 2012 at 6:14 pm · Link · Reply

    Awwww! Thank you for sharing your story. You are a wonderful mom, fantastic photographer, treasured friend and present wife! Love you!

  • Firefly Universe Blog · Posted August 27, 2012 at 10:02 pm · Link · Reply

    Love you too Kalanit!! Your comment kind of makes it sound like I am your wife!! : )

  • Robin · Posted August 29, 2012 at 1:34 pm · Link · Reply

    Asww… love it!

  • Firefly Universe Blog · Posted September 21, 2012 at 7:10 am · Link · Reply

    Thank you Robin!!

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