I bought the frames.
Now, as I was navigating the crowded Expo floor carrying my giant three by four foot box in front of me like a battering ram, I was having second thoughts. I was going to have to take this box to the next workshop with me. Lugging it across the resort, down the convention center escalators, around the cutesie shops, through the Opryland Hotel’s halls and conservatory, and then waiting for the valet to bring my car was out of the question. The workshop started in ten minutes. The last time I waited for the valet to bring my car, it took 17 minutes. Nope. It had to go with me. Luckily, I snagged a chair on the end of a row, cozied the giant behemoth of cardboard up next to me and proceeded to look at the other attendees with a quizzical, “What? Everybody travels with one of these –where’s your box?” expression. I received the acquiescing nods. I was panting and my arms were sore. I began to wonder, “How did this happen?”
I wasn’t even going to go to Imaging this year. In fact, I had all but resigned to give up on my photography business altogether. However, the gentle persuasion (yelling and admonition) of my friends and family convinced me to give it another go. My business is part of my soul, but I’ve not been nurturing that part of me for a while. I’ve let other issues take priority. And those issues needed priority. It was their season. But now, it’s time to get back to it. I bought my pass, and drove into Nashville on Saturday, a day later than planned due to weather. I missed the pre-convention class I was hoping to take, so I made a last minute swap and was able to sit in on a workshop given by a photographer I’ve admired for years. Right away, I felt inspiration building. I couldn’t wait to get home and try out the tricks I was learning! The next day, I was in an 8am session about marketing, and the speaker cupped both hands to her mouth and yelled, “YOU NEED TO BLOG!” Ugh. I knew she was right, but I’ve had writer’s block for THREE YEARS! However, after her session, I was ready! YES! I’M GOING TO BLOG!
Next session was the Keynote Speaker. His goal was to motivate us to market ourselves to the younger generations. Build relationships. Make it personal. BLOG!
Up next, the Expo! Every photography vendor imaginable, plus more, under one roof! I had a list of products I needed to find and I made my way around the floor. I had several workable options, but with two days left, there was no need to hurry. That’s when it happened.
I was passing a frame vendor, and because frames were on my list, I stopped to browse. Suddenly, I froze, trapped in a tractor beam of beautiful framey goodness. Unable to look away, I was drawn to the gray ornate rectangles of beauty. I asked about having them shipped and was told they were made out of a close-out moulding, and were a show special. I would have to take them with me. They only had twelve and they were sold as cases of six. Six 16×20 lovely gray frames. I needed them. I HAD to have them. Portraits of my children BEGGED to be surrounded by this moulding. I played it cool and casually said, “I may be back. I’m going to finish my rounds around the floor.”
I left the booth and immediately began calculating how heavy they would be, how long it would take me to get them to the car. Would they fit? I wondered if the freezing temps would affect them (No, Becky! Don’t be dumb!) I started to panic. WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE WAS BUYING THEM RIGHT NOW? My life would be incomplete without those frames on my wall! My phone rang. It was my sister informing me that Nashville was expecting another wave of snow. If I didn’t want to be driving on ice in Tennessee (no, thank you!), I’d need to leave early the next morning.
That settled it. I rushed back and bought the frames. I maneuvered that giant box to the next workshop session. During that session, I realized that I wanted to make tween photography the main focus of my business for this season in my life. I was inspired, motivated, READY! YES! I’M GOING TO BLOG!
The next morning, I attended my final session, a session given by father and son photographers. They spoke of the importance of printing our work. Ensuring that our grandchildren know we existed. It was powerful. A great way to end my shortened trip.
I ran to the trade show, made my last minute purchases/decisions, got the car and headed home. I was on top of the world! I was going to crush it! My chest was swelling with excitement! I was imagining my clients returning for their portrait reveals and falling in love with the images of their children. I WAS READY!
Then I returned home, walked through the door, and life started happening again. Kids needed attention, my husband had surgery, meals needed cooked. I found the motivation slowly draining away. “I’ve got to do something for my business,” I would whisper to myself as I fell into bed, “tomorrow.”
So, today, after a week, I said it out loud. To my family. “I have to do something for my business!”
“What do you need to do?”
“I NEED TO BLOG!”
“Then go do it.”
“Also, I need to make your pictures, because I have some awesome frames begging to be filled.”
