This month, I celebrate my 15th year as a small business owner.
I started this photography business as a senior in high school when I picked up my mom’s camera and fell in love. Who knew all those years ago that my favorite little hobby would become my livelihood and greatest passion. My parents probably thought it was just a phase, but just like my love for emo music, it ended up being built to last.
I want to be real with you, my biggest fear has always been failure. But that comes in many different forms. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, and that includes myself. I’ve worked hard at building this business over the years. I missed countless family gatherings and events, milestones of the ones I love, and nights out with friends because I was too busy building my dream. I am not apologizing for it, it was a choice I would make over and over again, but it hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been my choice.
I’d like to say I’ve done it, dream accomplished. It’s smooth sailing from here. But dreams can evolve. That’s the beauty and curse of owning a small business, it’s constantly growing and adjusting to fit what I want and what my clients need. I can focus on those photography projects that I didn’t have as much time for in my early years. I can try new things that maybe I didn’t have the courage to try before. I can take the risks to keep this dream growing and to keep my creativity fresh.
One of my biggest goals these last few years is to show my clients how beautiful they are inside and out. I love helping boost your confidence. I love seeing your faces as you look at your images and live in that moment again and again. Photography is a powerful art form. It allows people to relive memories. As cheesy as that sounds, it’s so true.
I couldn’t have done this without my support system. I’m lucky to have had parents that were willing to let me pursue this dream and let me run a studio out of their basement for years in the beginning. My business partner, Keysha, has been with me for almost 9 of these 15 years. I’d be lost without her. And a loving husband who has been here from the start. He’s helped me grow into the person I am today and has dealt with many tears and anxiety ridden nights as I struggled with where to go and what to do next in this journey.
If you want to help make year 15 an awesome one, call me. Let’s take some pictures. Visit our website.
-Karlee
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