10 lessons I've learned in 10 years of being a photographer....

Ahhhhh! Ya’ll!! I can’t even believe this post is happening. Ten years ago today, I shot my very first photoshoot EVER. It was of my best friend, Kendra, in her mom’s backyard. I had owned my camera about two weeks thanks to an early Christmas gift from my mom. I never in 200 years would have guessed that session would’ve started a domino effect of the rest of my life. I’ve learned so many things, screwed up A LOT of times, traveled a lot of miles + met some dang cool people along the way. I feel like I’ve grown up with a camera in my hand. I guess I have. Lol This photo was taken on Easter 2010 when I was shadowing Kim Durham with KD Photography on a senior boy photoshoot. I had absolutely ZERO idea what the heck I was in for. To be quite honest, if I had any idea what the next ten years would include, I maybe wouldn’t have picked up my camera again. Or, maybe I would have. Who really knows?!

Here are ten lessons I have learned in the last ten years:

1. Be nice to everyone always.

2. Under promise + over deliver always.

3. Answer questions before they can even be asked.

4. Network, network, network. Refer back to #1.

5. Pay those taxes, do the things, make it legal.

6. It’s not about you. It’s about the clients I am serving. They all have a very different story. Do it justice.

7. You can’t make everyone happy. Learn that early and accept it.

8. Set boundaries + stick to them.

9. Know your worth + add tax. It’s okay to not be everyone’s cup of tea + it’s okay to not be in everyone’s budget.

10. Save, invest, learn, grow, never stay stagnant.

What a WILD ride 10 years have been. In those years, I have graduated high school, college and university, gotten engaged + married, and moved a million times. I have photographed countless sessions + over 100 weddings. I’ve photographed the Daddy of ‘em all + the Miss Rodeo American pageant and the Cinch Timed Events Championships.

I’ve missed ball games and weddings and graduations and family and friend celebrations. I’ve laughed, cried, and been stressed and been on Cloud 9. I’ve hosted an art gallery and published a dadgum book.

Some of the very best people in my life are there because of photography + I truly can’t imagine my life without it. I am so very, incredibly thankful and honored and loved by all the people I have met and loved on and worked with and been challenged by.

Thank you for being here right now reading this blog + thank you for supporting me and this business. Here’s to 10 more..maybe…. - BC