Changes and a New Business

I began homeschooling each of our boys when they started 6th grade, a.k.a. middle school. They're a year apart, so I began with Caleb in 2005 and Zach joined us in 2006. If I was going to homeschool them through the end of high school, that meant an eight-year journey ahead of me. Eight years seemed like a very long time. Even within the first few years, it was hard to imagine that I'd ever not be homeschooling. Not that I was in a hurry or anything, but it's like when your kids are born. The thought of having them go to school, be in high school, or not live under your roof isn't a concept you can - or even want to - consider.

Fast forward almost seven years. That 12-year-old boy with whom I began the adventure of homeschooling is 18 1/2. He's a senior in our homeschool. He graduates this spring. Of course, that means that his 17-year-old brother's close behind. I am nearing the end of my homeschool mom career. It still kind of blows my mind to think about it. Though it felt so long in the beginning, now I can't believe we're in this place already. There's still so much I feel that I need to do, so much that I want to do. Like have a big, huge do over.

Not really. But sort of.

Sigh.

Last year I started to wonder what this would mean for me when they'd both graduated. As a parent, and especially as a homeschool parent, you work your way out of a job. At least that's usually the goal. We get along okay being a single-income household, so it's not like I have to go to work. I'm sure I could get used to just having free time all day, but I doubt that would be very good for me (sloth, laziness, boredom anyone?).

I've often considered taking my photography into a business. But I usually talk myself out of it. Or in and out of it. I'm a good decision maker like that. It typically depended upon the day and my mood. I think it's mostly been a lack of confidence. But something that I've found to be good for myself is to pretend I'm someone else. What would I say to me if I were a friend of mine? Well, last year, when I won a year's subscription for a photography web site, upgraded my camera, and was obviously becoming much more immersed in the art of making photos, I'd tell myself that maybe it was time to pursue this as a business.

So in my confidently hesitant mode, that's exactly what I did. Well, after talking about it with John, praying about it, and looking at the bigger picture, it seemed like a good time to give it a shot. Out of town friends and holidays took over somewhat, but since the beginning of the year, I've been working on the business side of things. I've read that many photographers fail, not because they're not good at producing lovely images, but because they don't have their business ducks in a row. So I've been working on the ducks.

I'm very close to officially being in business. To actually scheduling sessions and taking pictures of real clients and getting paid. That's not to say that the engagement, weddings, and senior I shot weren't real clients. They were and are. And they even paid me.

I've been a little hesitant to share my site and Facebook page and such, because there's not a lot going on there. But I suppose that's to be expected, right? If you're new, how do you have a portfolio (working on that). However, I those weddings, the engagement, the senior session, and a couple of portraits. So I do have a little something. And I have a name. Besides Bunny Trails. Besides Dianne Godwin. A name for my new business:



I even had business cards printed. I was kind of pushed into it, but that's a story for another post, as this one is becoming rather long.

So all this backstory to say that I'm starting a photography business. It's exciting and a teeny bit scary, but that's okay. It's something I can work on part-time while I complete the homeschool journey, and if all goes well, I can delve much deeper into it when I've reached the end of that chapter.

Oh yeah, the links.

{extra}ordinary life photography

{extra}ordinary life photography on Facebook

Please be patient. I'm still working on both. But I know if I was the one reading this, I'd want the links. Cause I'm curious like that.

Maybe you are, too. If not, you don't have to click them.

Either way is fine.

p.s. - the Bunny Trails Photography was something I used on my photogblog. But not really what I wanted going into business. So it's still on many of my blog photos, but not meant to confuse you.