In short – I’m taking a break from blogging for a short period of time! I have blogged consistently 3-4 days a week for the last 5+ years – that’s over 800 blog posts!! And I need a bit of a break. I’ll still be posting over on my Instagram & Facebook page, there just won’t be any new content here on my blog for the next month. Look for me to come back mid-May refreshed, renewed, and with a (slightly) new direction for my blog!
Okay! That’s the jist of it! If you like to read my rambling writings & would like to more fully understand why I’m taking this “blog break”, you can keep reading! Otherwise, no worries! You can simply stop here.
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I originally sat down this morning & tried to write a “fluffy” blog post. I was going to write about wedding ceremony send-offs & exits – seriously! But, then I changed my mind.
My husband is constantly telling me to be “real” & write about our “real” life, so here we go:
Life on the internet is a pretty place. Everyone is smiling, no one ever has meltdowns, the sun is always shining, and the house is never a mess. I’d really like to live in the place the internet has created as our “false reality”.
Because, life isn’t pretty. Everyone is not smiling, in fact, someone is probably having a meltdown over the fact that I haven’t gotten her a snack in the last 10 minutes. The sun might be shining outside, but it’s actually only 40º out & windy, so we really can’t go out to play. And, let’s not even talk about the current (actual) state of my house (I’m sitting next to three overflowing baskets of laundry that need to be washed, dried, and put away – because my office is also our laundry room).
I feel like, the internet portrays life in two ways: either as super-duper-amazing-perfect (and let’s be honest, that’s the life we love to show off) or as an absolute crap-hole (and let’s be honest, we usually share those details when we just want people to feel sorry for us). But in reality, I think “real life” truly falls somewhere in between.
I’ll be honest with you: my business isn’t exactly “hopping” in 2019. After several years of constantly growing & growing & getting bigger & bigger, suddenly, it’s all come to a standstill. Bookings have simply stopped & I hardly get any inquiries (and when I do, I get “ghosted” 99% of the time – meaning the bride never returns my email). And you know what? From what I hear out there in “internet land” – so many other wedding photographers are going thru the exact same thing.
Why?
I wish I had an answer.
Maybe people just aren’t getting married? Maybe brides & grooms aren’t hiring wedding photographers? I’m really scratching my head at this one & wish I knew what was going on.
Other than my business, our lives are actually pretty wonderful. The kids are great, Derrick’s endeavors are going well, we’re coming into summer – but I feel like I have this giant weight on my back that is my business. It’s not growing, it’s not making money, and it’s left me utterly stressed out & frustrated.
I’m not asking for your sympathy, I’m simply being honest. I know businesses have ups & downs, good years & bad years, and I’ve been blessed to have a whole string of really great years.
I love photography. I love wedding days. I love my brides & grooms. But I’m drained & so tired & nothing that I am doing seems to be producing results like it used to.
What does that mean? Why do I say all of this?
I’m sure you’ve seen the saying going around: “If you’re tired, learn to rest, not quit.” If you know me as a person, you know that I’m not a quitter. I do not fail. I attack anything I do with 110% & I win. However, I’m exhausted. And after some soul-searching, a lot of prayer, and some long long discussions with Derrick, I think it’s time for me to enter a season of rest.
That being said, I’m going to take a break from blogging for a short period of time. I have blogged consistently 3-4 days a week for more than five years. Let that sink in. I have written over 800 blog posts. And I have absolutely loved every moment. I really do love writing & I always have – my college professors used to tell me that I should pursue a career with writing. But I think it’s time for a break.
So, I plan on taking the next month “off” of blogging.
I’ll still be posting on Instagram, and I’ll still be posting Abby’s Saturday posts – just in “mini” form on my Facebook page.
It’s time to change things up. I ultimately want to take my blog in a slightly new direction that isn’t so super focused on weddings. I still want to write about weddings (and obviously show off the amazing weddings that I am so privileged to be a part of), but I want to write about our other adventures too! So, I see this break as being just the beginning of something new & exciting!
I need to take a break to focus more on my sweet little family, to help Derrick work through a few big projects he has in the works, and to simply “re-fill” my own self.
I am not quitting my business. I’m still answering emails, working with my current 2019 brides & grooms to plan their wedding days, and yes still looking to book 2019 & 2020 weddings!
I’m simply taking a break from my blog.
I’ll see you all in about a month!
