Really feelin’ this wedding at Jester King Brewery
This fall/winter season has kicked my ass. I’ve been sick three times, had to move, work 60+ hour weeks and try to save money for Christmas! It’s been an amazing ride this year and the end result is that I am still so in love with my business. After years of hard work, I’m getting some of the most amazing clients. People that truly fuel me on so many different levels. Running a creative business like this…there are a ton of ups and downs. Some years, I hate this business. No, scratch that. I hate running a business.
I get tired, worn down, and burnt out. Being a solopreneur means that it’s mostly just me, doing the shooting, editing, social media, client care, finances, website upkeep, SEO, advertising, etc. It gets me down sometimes, I’m not gonna lie. For most of 2018, I searched deep down to discover if anything else might be a good fit for me. I looked into life coaching, various jobs on Craigslist.
I applied to Starbucks, the receptionist at Orange Theory Fitness, and a few other things. I wanted to know what the Universe had to say.
I didn’t even hear back from Starbucks. I think the Universe was loud and clear. So I re-poured myself into my business. This year, I launched a new company (and had to put it back down), rebranded entirely (in 48 hours, no less. Thanks bipolar mania), I signed up for a workshop next year (good lord, I’m so excited for it), then took my dying business and breathed new life into it.
Photography is my soul. I know so many people say that. Perhaps it’s true. I’m not going to shit on someone’s belief. However, my business has been me…for nine years. It’s always been there for me, helping me achieve goals I never thought I could achieve.
And finally, the referral train is picking up. Starting a referral system is HARD. Austin is a city filled with amazing creativity. Lots of talent (albeit, not a lot of talent/business savvy put together). But this year, over 40% of my income came from past clients/referrals. FINALLY. This wedding with Paulina and Oleg is a referral from my wedding with Kristal and Josh, back in Jamaica 2016. Both of these ladies are therapists in the city and y’all know how I feel about therapy! hah!
This Jewish wedding in Austin is everything and my clients are incredible humans. Paulina just exudes gentle kindness. She has this wonderful look she gives you, where you feel as if she’s giving you space to exist in that moment. Her smile is infectious and her joy in marrying Oleg is palpable. They’re just so cute together!
I’m sincerely hoping to photograph another Jewish wedding in Austin (and photograph more weddings at Jester King Brewery), soon! One of the things I loved about this was Oleg’s parents staying up until 3am in Israel to see them get married over an iPad! I’ve done various Jewish weddings and I always just love the energy of the people. It’s one of my favorite cultures and always has been, since I was a kid and my best friend brought me to Temple one Friday.
Anyway, take a gander at all the joy this Jewish wedding in Austin has to bring! Side note: are you wondering whether or not you should tip your vendors? Make sure to read my hot take on whether or not to tip wedding vendors.
