Exactly one year ago today I drove myself to Bridgeport, Connecticut to file what would become Karen Morneau Photography LLC. While Bridgeport is only 30 minutes away it seemed like I was traveling across the country as I knew the journey I was about to embark on would be a long one. There were many things going through my head: Is this really the right thing to do? Am I really capable of running a business? What if I don’t succeed? It was probably one of the scariest moments of my life. It took less than 2 hours before I was back home staring at my LLC papers thinking….”Okay, let the fun begin”!
I am so happy to celebrate my first year in business today. What I feared so much has truly been one of the hardest but rewarding accomplishments in my life (aside from having children!). When I sat down to write this I made a list of all that has happened in the last year:
– I officially made a career out of my passion for photography
– I created a solid business plan and followed it to a “T”!
– I designed a website
– I learned to navigate the ever changing social media industry
– I photographed 219 clients
– I built a photography studio
– I helped raise money for churches, schools, non profit organizations through the donation of my time and services
– I mentored an aspiring photographer through the High School internship program
– I was featured in an article in the Wilton Bulletin
– My work was published in Wilton Magazine
This past year has brought me so much joy. My goal in re-entering the workforce was to do something I love while also making a difference in someone’s life. Being a photographer has done just that for me! I love entering clients lives at some of their happiest times. There is no greater joy for me than photographing a newborn baby, a baby celebrating their first birthday, a toddler with a missing tooth, little girls in matching dresses, a high school senior with so much to look forward to, and so many more! I love when a client reaches out to let me know how much they love their pictures. The fact that I was able to take something I love so much and make someone else happy is all that matters to me.
So, as I write this today (it is one of my first of many blogs to come), I want to thank so many people for standing by me through this first year. It was not easy at times and there were times I thought to “throw in the towel” but my family, friends and supportive clients kept me on track! I have so much planned in the next year, 5 years, 10 years and on! I hope you will all continue on this journey with me! It’s been said before but I believe it so deeply:
“A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words”…
I look forward to telling many stories throughout the years to come!
