FINALLY, the end was in sight. There was light at the end of the tunnel. We were signing Henry up for preschool. I️ started making my plans. I️ would take the year of preschool to build up my portfolio, get social media going, revamp my website, reconsider all of the business details - and I️ could take my time doing it since he doesn't start kindergarten until the Fall of 2021.
Preparing The Comeback
In June of 2019, I️ took the Professional Photographers of America certification exam and passed. In November of 2019, my portfolio was reviewed by the Professional Photographers of America board and it also passed. After ten years of working as a photographer, I️ can finally say that I️ am a Certified Professional Photographer. Next, I️ began the paperwork to reestablish Hartstein Photography as an LLC and it finalized in February of 2020. Now that all of the details were wrapping up, I began drafting an email to my clients to announce my comeback and what this first year was going to look like. Simultaneously, I️ began creating marketing pieces for social media. And then it happened.
Left Turn Out Of Nowhere
In an instant - everything changed. The schools announced that because of a virus called COVID-19, they were sending everyone to e-learning, including my kindergartner and my 4th grader. My favorite meme to come out of that time in history said this, "Anyone else feel like life is being written by a 4th grader right now? 'And there was this virus and everyone was scared. And then the world ran out of toilet paper. Yeah, and then there was no school for like a month and then it snowed!!'" I️ loved it because that was exactly how it felt to me. I could particularly relate, having a fourth grader living with me. What we didn't realize was that this was going to last a lot longer than a month. What I️ didn't know yet was that all of the plans I'd been working were all of a sudden scrambled. My business model of focusing primarily on Births and Fresh48s was completely out the window.
So Now What
I️t's now October of 2020 and I'm still not allowed in the hospitals. That is, unless Dad-To-Be doesn't mind staying home (yeah, right). I've spent the last six months soul searching about where I️ want to pivot from here. I️ love births and will always offer them. Even if the hospitals aren't accessible to my services, birthing centers, and home births are still possibilities.
What have I️ discovered about myself and what is it that resonates with me, ultimately enabling me to create soulful, meaningful works for my clients (guests? ... friends? ... stars? We'll get there) ? Continue on to the last blog entry to find out what's coming!
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