Today’s amazing couple, Nancy and John are college sweethearts that met years ago at UCSC.  We re-visited the place they met, College Eight, went to Natural Bridges State Beach, and then ended our beautiful engagement session today eating delicious ice cream at the Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz, CA.  Amongst all other things, we talked about travel, food, work, and many more, (and their imagery and story will come later in a blog post), but this is just one of the many reasons why I’m thankful for today.

My work weeks do not have a typical schedule, nor do I have any typical week.  If anything, my life became from typical to atypical two years ago when I said farewell to my wonderful coworkers and amazing team at Advent Software, July 1st, 2011.  It’s been two years, and this has been a very important day for Michelle Nicole Photography; it brings back an abundance of nostalgia.  April 2010 is when I chose to become more determined about my photography, and July 1st, 2013 marks the second year anniversary of a full time relationship with my biggest passion, photography.
Over the past few years, I’ve written a lot about my personal growth and shared with you my story and journey.  I haven’t shared a whole lot with you recently, mainly because I started 2013 focusing on my own personal life; being a girl in her mid (to late) twenties should have their life together, right and know what she wants to do?  At the moment, I’m restructuring my goals and it’s taking a little longer than expected, but it’s okay.  When I graduated college at twenty years old, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do – I looked for work and found a new home and family at Advent Software.

My family at Advent Software molded who I was in my college years and turned me into who I was starting and continuing my photography career.  As I read back on my old posts, post one here, post two here, post three here, I laugh about all the great times we had, and I am reminded about all the hard work we put in to get to where we were when I left.

Not only that, these three individuals have a huge impact on my life too, for they are some of my close coworkers that I started Advent Software with.  We recently got together and celebrated six years…

One year ago, I wrote about my one year journey…  you can read about it here.

But now it’s two friggin’ years.  What?  Two?  What was so different from the first year to the second?

Last year was an interesting year filled with self revelation.  With Michelle Nicole Photography, I had AMAZING couples whom I captured their weddings for, the people I love, and also had a magnificent number of new clients who I look forward to working again with years to come.  I also made a few larger investments into the business, and also had to cut a few other things out that weren’t working quite as well.  I showcased in the Great Bridal Expo in March, which I was extremely nervous for, but was an amazing experience meeting new brides for the

remainder of 2013, and 2014.

Being your own boss and business owner has its perks, but it also comes with a great amount of responsibility.  To be honest, one of the hardest things about working for yourself is staying motivated when you’re not bringing as much cheese you thought you’d be.  Being real, financially, life can still be tough sometimes.  Thinking of ways to bring in a little bit more income to reach the goal you thought you’d make, and chase after the bills that have to be paid is not fun.  Thinking about what skills you still have to maybe start submitting your resume into companies to slide back into the corporate world, JUST to make ends meet is disheartening.  Being reminded that you weren’t able to reach a goal and buy your own home at “X” age feels like a failure.  But two years ago, I told myself,

“I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY ROUGH JOURNEY, BUT I HAVE FAITH THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST DECISION I’VE MADE IN MY LIFE.” – FROM JULY 2011 Bittersweet and onto the next chapter (part 3)

It’s a different level of stress I didn’t have two years ago, but… if I didn’t LOVE my work, and if work didn’t love me, and I didn’t love ALL my clients that I meet and who have hired me from the small portrait sessions to their big wedding day, I might as well just say my farewells…

But I’m not giving up.

This year has been fantastic in so many ways, but with several bumps in the road, I spent more time to find “ME“.  While I’d do my work throughout the weekdays, I’d spend my available weekends with my friends who keep me sane.  I also spent a large portion of my time in the city of Angels, Los Angeles, where my extended family is, but also where I’d love to expand my work to (read more below about what’s happening in July!).  In addition, I helped coordinate a workshop in Miami, Key West FL, and Cozumel MX for my wonderful photography mentor, Scott Robert Lim, where I met more amazing photographers around the world.

In addition, I was talking to a friend who I haven’t seen and talked to for years, but we finally had the chance to catch up 🙂  she began asking me about how I made the jump to start my dream job.  I was so excited to hear that she kept up on my story and what I was doing (I didn’t know people read my ramblings! 😉 ) and I as I kind of finished telling her how I did it and how hard it was… I asked her what her dreams are.  She’s a professional Ballroom dancer and one day, she would love to open up her own dance studio.  With her current income from work being re-invested into her dance (costumes, makeup, hair, entry for competitions, etc), getting better in ballroom dancing is costly; in fact, getting better in any profession, requires any investment big and small.  Christine, if you’re reading this – thank you for taking the time to share the things you love to do and want to do; I think it’s so exciting and I want only the best for you.  You’ll know when “that time” to start everything will be, and you’ll have my full support, no matter what.

So as for most corporations, and for the rest of the world, many people’s new year begins in January.  For Michelle Nicole Photography, the full time photography year begins in July; so, happy 2 years of being full time!  Going forward, I’m excited to be capturing weddings in the upcoming months of some amazing brides!  I’m also interested in traveling for your wedding, whether it be here, or in a destination elsewhere!  I’m also still working with my lovely ladies at Shear Fashion Salon and getting personal beauty projects together.  (for those who don’t know, my other passion, well, within photography, is beauty photography.  I love makeup, I love hair, and all the lavish stuff in-between!).

 Never give up in something you believe in.  Never give up your passion.  If you started it in the first place, and feel you’re failing in between, no matter how hard it will be, find a way to make it work.  You’ll always come out positive in the end.  -mn

Thank YOU friends, family, advs fam, SR Community, photography friends, supporters, fans, and most especially, YOU!!!  You are what keeps me going, and you are what is helping Michelle Nicole Photography create history.  I appreciate everything that you do;  thank you!!

♥mn

I will ALSO be in Los Angeles from July 15th to August 2nd, 2013 and open for shoots.  Because of my 2 year anniversary, I will be having a sale on all my sessions in Southern California during this time!  Please share this with your friends and inquire at michelle@michellenicolephoto.com for more information!