Sure, sure if you are a girl you have probably posted about ten Facebook statuses about Pumpkin Spice lattes, boots, and sweaters. Yes, we all love those things and if we are being really honest, the secret to our happiness is pretty easy when you combine all of the above. (Guys, I swear we aren’t complicated, just follow that recipe and you’ll be a fall success every single time.) Fall is an amazing time of year, if I could slow down and soak in the crisp air I would probably say it’s my favorite season. The truth of the matter is, for photographers, fall is totally crazy. Not only is it the final stretch of the wedding season marathon, it’s one of the most popular times for engagement photos, family photos, and cool activities like visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards. It’s presence is fleeting and it comes and goes as quickly as the leaves change and the trees become bare. This year has been filled to the brim with incredible clients, beautiful weddings, and oodles and oodles of editing and blogging! If you know a photographer, you can probably attest to the fact that we just look a little tired right now. We are pushing through the end of the busyness, starting to prep things for our next year wedding clients, thinking about sending out Christmas cards, and dreaming of a day off that includes absolutely positively nothing.
My job absolutely feeds my soul. Spending every weekend with grateful clients who are on top of the world and in love is something that will always fire me up. I get to eat cake, dance to “Shout,” and spend time in beautiful venues surrounded by the most joyful humans ever on a weekly basis. My clients are seriously the greatest. They are my encouragers, my friends, the people I dream of sharing a bottle of wine with on a Thursday night and people who have the sweetest of hearts. When I start to feel isolated in this business of one, I just check my email, text messages, or Facebook page to see that my “bosses” are some of the greatest people I have ever encountered. While I love tearing up the dance floor every weekend, I am leave my loving husband and cuddly pups behind for some long drives and even longer days away working. Our weekends off together have been few this summer and getting ready to leave them every weekend is something that breaks my heart a little. I take for granted the fact that my husband is crazy supportive of my dreams, that he is okay with sharing me with my clients, that he doesn’t hate me for being gone every single weekend to work during wedding season. He puts up with my stress, cracks open a bottle of wine when I cry, and celebrates beautiful wedding images after every single wedding day. Our schedules are entirely non-traditional and time off of work together is sparse, but I wouldn’t trade this golden glitter wedding season blur for the world. Why do I love fall? It’s symbolic and a reminder that life is about to slow way down, that with each day the sun sets a bit earlier, I am one day closer to a few quiet months and time cooking and actually doing laundry.
For wedding photographers this is the final stretch, we can do this! We are so full of love for what we do and so seasoned at this point of the year. We are prepared and our systems are flawless! We feel lucky to call this a job and we are blessed to show up and photograph the happiest day of your lives. We are also preparing ourselves for some solid hibernation and snow days at home! If you are feeling burnt out, tired, or stressed, take a deep breath, go on a walk, and know that you are so freaking lucky to call this beautiful life yours. We are almost there, now get out and enjoy the fall. The editing and work will still be there after the leaves are gone, okay?
I hear ya, girl! This post sums it up. 🙂 Now for a quick walk, you’re right, we need it, before a coffee warm up and more pretty wedding work. Hugs- We’ve got this!