Last night, I opened up this window to begin writing my motivational monday blog post but for some reason the words just weren’t flowing through my fingers. I knew I wanted to write about when you feel like giving up, but I couldn’t write anything about it because I have days where I feel like giving up and the advice I give to others I don’t listen to, myself.
This morning, I woke up, went out and did some errands and when I came home I opened up my facebook. I came across a post from Browntography a photographer I follow not so closely; but close enough, to know how amazing her work is and her personality. Her post really made me sad, even though her business is not coming to an end, she is taking a break, a much needed one, but it’s still a break. And that’s when I realized I’m not the only one that wants to give up on the business. There were plenty of days when I felt like I was the only one going through the worst times and now I realize I’m not, and it doesn’t make me feel good, if anything it makes me feel worse. Only because I know Brownie (Kathy) started her business pretty much at the same time I did, along with other photographers that I know are going through a rough time.
People just don’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to work a regular job and run a photography business. A photography business where you have to be a receptionist, secretary, bookkeeper, photographer, editor, deliverer, designer, negotiator, etc. It’s very hard to wear so many hats and people not appreciating the value of your work. The value of the memories you are capturing for them. The value of the heirloom you’re creating for their future family and kids. The value of you spending your weekends or days off from work to do these things FOR them. But then I remembered one of my favorite bible verses, Isaiah 40:31:
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
One of the things that has definitely helped me through the ups and downs of my business is my faith in God. Faith in believing He will not let me down, faith in knowing He will provide, and faith in trusting that He will give me the strength that I need.
I just like Brownie, had to take a break, not from my whole business, but from my studio work and it almost tore me apart even though I knew it was for the best. I knew it was very much needed and I knew that only good things would come out of it. So far my decision has not been regretted, because I know God has a much better plan for me than the one I could plan for myself.
Whenever you feel like giving up, on whatever it is that you’re going through, know that God will always have your back and that there’s a reason why He’s allowing you to go through these struggles. After all, when life brings you to your knees you’re in the perfect position to pray.
And as for artists; there will always be a gap… what matters is that you never quit…
Miami Wedding Photographer Andrea Arostegui 