Wedding season is officially underway, and a lot of clients want to know that you have the tools you need. Not every client does but occasionally you get the client asking about what kind of gear you have. They may recognize your tools of the trade, they may just want to know that you're prepared and not just bringing your iPhone to their big day. I thought I would give a rundown of what I carry with me on wedding days and how I prepare to capture my clients' most valuable moments.

The last few weeks have been a mixed bag. A lot of really good things but a few really terrifying things. I met with a client last week who is working with a really interesting startup company (due to my confidentiality policy I won't disclose that here) that I'm super stoked to work with. On the sad and bad side things, the graphics card on my desktop computer crapped out.

These are some of the biggest temptations that new business owners face. Avoiding these may be more costly than not, but they are certainly cheaper than the consequences. Don't forget that part of building your brand is building your reputation and the integrity of your company, and that comes down to what you do when you think nobody will notice. Your brand is worth a good reputation. In fact, it depends on it.

Lots of great things are happening these days! I got my passport, which I have been wanting for years. If you feel like getting hitched in Jamaica or you want portraits in the Canadian Rockies, I can do that now. Also in this section of entrepreneurial trail,  got a new organization tool from House of Flynn that my business has been needing for a long time, and I'm singing the praises of my friend Jill Belgarde.

Over the past year of photographing people, I've been exploring the vulnerability of being a subject because I want my clients to feel like being photographed is natural and effortless. Last week I covered some of my experiences with photographing people who aren't comfortable or aren't accustomed to being photographed and advised photographers to put themselves in their clients' place and model for someone. If you're considering having photos taken, this post is for you.

So we flipped the calendar again. How about that? How's 2018 treating you? So far, my year has been busy, as I have unexpectedly had to devote time to taking care of a sick family member. I haven't just been ignoring everyone.

I've always gone against the grain. From the time I was a kindergartner writing swear words on my daily journal, to today, when I felt judged for going out on my own. I've always done my own thing. I not only go against the grain, I have a stubborn way of splintering the wood of convention. I didn't go to college till I was 27 because I wanted to climb and pursue things that were actually worth the time, not just worth the money. Then I abandoned the world of traditional employment for startups and starting my own company, to pursue a line of work that was, again, worth the time, not just the money.

2017 was kind of a whirlwind. I kicked it off with a client going MIA and finished it with working with some of my favorite clients ever. It's definitely been a year of growth for me as a business owner and as a person. If I'm completely honest, this year was hard. It was really good, but it was hard. The initial thrill of starting your own company wore off and the hard part that I knew was coming finally came. 2018 will see my second birthday as a company, and hopefully more growth in the mean time!

This is a short story about coming home. After spending 6 years beating depression, getting a degree, and starting my own company, I left myself. In a lot of ways I found myself, but over the course of those battles and pursuits, I left my free spirit behind. I fell into the trap of convention, andI found my spirit silenced. That changed on November 21st. That night my soul took a breath it had been waiting years for.