"Choosing to See"

I was loaned the book, "Choosing to SEE," by Mary Beth Chapman, Steven Curtis Chapman's (Christian Music Writer/Singer) wife. Their story is a horrific one, one of loosing a child. Their life took a devastating turn, as explained in an excerpt from her book:

"Then everything changed forever. I realized I was hearing odd sounds outside-not just the yelling of happy play but screams and commotion. I bolted into the kitchen to head outside just as Shooey ran up the back steps and met me there. "Mom!" she yelled. "Will's hit Maria with the car!" I flew outside. Will was near the garage, holding his little sister in his arms. There was a lot of blood, on both of them. "Maria!" Will was crying. "Maria! Wake Up!"

This is a mind boggling life story that just leaves me with so many questions. Mostly, all starting with WHY?! It is poignant and vulnerable and Real, all favorites of mine. It is not a story emphasizing death, but living life with hurts. How life continues, even after tragedy and disappointment and we have to keep putting one foot in front of the other on a daily basis, even when our heart is broken. I'm not sure why God directed me to this book, it truly hurt to read it. It deeply scares, actually makes we want to drop to the floor and kick and scream, saying, "Not me Lord, don't ever let me have to feel such pain!"

May 21, 2009 Maria Chapman, born in China, the same age as my Grace, left this earth to be with The LORD and I can tell you that I held my own precious China daughter tighter and remembered the miracle and gift she is to me, a little more clearly tonight! LORD, please help me to realize the gift of each day, that You do not promise us forever here on this earth. We are not fully at home here because this is not our Forever Home, but just Until! Praise You God that we have a Hope and knowledge of beyond this broken world. Thank You that You are God, and we are not and that our pain and our story that you bestow upon us is for Your Glory. May I be a good steward of my story and may it indeed be to Your Glory!

I Shoot People, Photographically Speaking!

"The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan," By Dane Sanders
(Design by Debbie Glasserman, Copyrighted Material)


Since the loss of Brian's mortgage business in 2009, we have been trying conventional means to earn a living. Basically our entire married life, and thus, our entire adult life, we have been in a "self-employed" business and job and we have found, with great risk, comes great reward. The Mortgage field is a brutal one, a job that has required many of the sacrifices that are common to building any type of business. Brian found a niche for himself and created an empire of business for the better part of 15 years that afforded us a beautiful home, enabled me to stay at home with our children and enjoy many amazing experiences in life. As we have laid that part of lives behind, we find the entrepreneurial spirit restless within us.

Brian has had a love and passion for photography for as long as I have known him and even it resonates even before that. He has tinkered with it over the years, often spending his personal time and money on cameras, equipment and books to hone in on his skill and natural ability to understand the technical side to things, ever-so-easily. However, in the past, I'd say, 4 years, we've been a little more deliberate in focusing our attention to this "hobby," as photography so often births-itself, and trying to gradually move it into a business. We began with landscapes, moved into family and senior portraits and then while in California, worked contractually with a local newspaper shooting sporting events and local highlights, collaborated an album for a local persimmon farmer, and most recently, with a business owner to capture still shots for a business who's mode of sales was through e-commerce.

All this, to document our journey and experience in the photography world that has led us to this place. Which is Where Exactly, you ask? Precisely my question! Returning to this impresario nudging, I begin a research that will hopefully be the foundation for a Photography Business launch in the upcoming year.

I picked up a book called, "Fast Track Photographer Business Plan," by Dane Sanders and have been diligently applying myself in education in all aspects pertaining to Photography. Although this book has not given an exact mathematical formula for a successful photography business, it has given me a great foundation on business principles. I have found that while reading, I often have similar ideals and ideas roaming around my head, but just haven't been able to frame it into words. The highlights for me have pointed to these concepts: 1) Defining Our Vision 2)Finding a Product/Service that our Target Audience/Clients are willing to pay for (Finding Your Sweet Spot) 3)Criteria for Pricing our Products - considering Overhead & Profit 4)Outsourcing/Scaling/Strategic Partners - Implementing partnerships that share the same Values as we do in our business (WWYD) 5) Marketing/Sales is about Inviting, not old school tactics using pressure and gimmicks, Appreciating & utilizing Touch Points.

One of the most exciting things in all this glory-less research has been the gradual formation and contemplation for our business. What is our Photographic Point of View? The 3 Main area's of emphasis seem to be coming into focus (no pun intended!) and it is Simply Exciting!

"What are you doing right now that requires faith?"

Had one of those moments yesterday when you hope and pray that your kids don't remember the details of your sins when they get older! Just completely lost it, and something I'm realizing, is that, being a parent is one of God's ways to keep you humble. As I'm ranting to my kids about doing the right thing, I demonstrate how we are sinful nature'd beings, just bent on sinning! I took them all aside individually and apologized for my lack of self-control (they come by that honestly) and meekly move-on praying that I don't try harder, but that I have more of God because I know I cannot will or white-knuckle it through the daily stresses of life.

We are reading "Crazy Love," by Francis Chan and this weeks chapter asked, "What are you doing right now that requires faith?" The answer for me, is "Raising my kids!" I am so incredibly inadequate and this world is so incredibly relentless. I feel as if I've come across classified information about this life, and it isn't good. Somewhere in the past two years a truth was revealed that this world sucks! Maybe not news to you, but I was dumbfounded after figuring this out. How I deal with this "intelligence" is still a bit of a mystery. I know this is not the end of the story because God lives and sent His Son to redeem us. I can't wait to learn the rest of the story for me. I'm such a work in progress.