I'm not very good with change, but it's time.
In 2007 we got our business license and started GC Photography. I was still learning the ropes so I decided to run the business and assist Gary during sessions. Over the years, I learned a lot and took over almost all of the photography while Gary assisted in weddings and worked full time as a teacher.
When Koen was born in 2009, I ended up not returning to teaching and was able to work as a photographer part time. There was a lot of balancing going on; how much work to take, when, and what kind. We were contantly trying to figure out how much to grow the business and then slow it down after the arrival of each child. We liked keeping it small, simple and low cost to keep our prices down. More than anything, we are so, so incredibly thankful for all of those that have supported us over the years.
What an awesome experience to have your own business. I could work while the kids napped. I could be home with my kids. I could go on their field trips. I didn't have to worry about daycare except for weddings. We had great photography equipment that I knew how to use and I could capture our day to day beautifully.
About 100 weddings and 250ish family sessions later, it is time for a change. The hard part about having your own photography business is that you work on weekends. Every weekend. Your holidays need to be planned a year in advance because of wedding bookings. When your kids stop napping early at the age of 2 (Nya Chapman!!), you need to work at night when they go to bed. I want to still love photography.
Right now, we are taking a step back. We will still take 5 weddings per year (please continue to pass our name on to your friends!), but at this time, no more family sessions.
{Our `baby' Nya and her silly tan lines}
I have one little girl still at home and would love to spend my time with her without worrying about all that work that needs to get done. I have a `little' 5 year old boy who is still home part time this year. I have an 8 year old who is growing like a weed and I want to be sure to have quality time with him each evening after school.
I have been doing some teaching on call so I hope to continue with that. I also hope to work on my personal blog a bit more (you can find it
here). It's a bit scary saying `goodbye' to an income but I know that family and sanity come first. Our kids are only little once and we love using our weekends to explore.
Remember, we will still keep our licence and insurance to keep doing weddings so please continue to recommend us. Also, depending on how things go, I can see opening up a Spring Family Mini Sessions day or something similar. I still have three more sessions over the next month and then it will be quiet for a while.
Again, thank you so much to everyone who has booked us or recommended us or commented or encouraged us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have met so many awesome people through photography and I am so grateful for you all.
Please continue to follow GC Photography. We will still have posts about once a month.
Love, Louise & Gary
