EXPLORING BROWN’S WOODS
Glenn and I have been going for hikes this year and we recently got to explore Brown’s Woods on the south side of Des Moines. I got to do photography for the joy of doing photography, not the joy of it and for the client. It was cathartic to be able to shoot what I caught my eye vs. what was on the list. I think shooting for joy should be a July thing from now on.

Also, do the planet a favor and clean up your trash. There’s no excuse to leave trash behind on a trail. Nobody likes a litterbug.

WEDDING BREAK
I love July. In all the years I’ve been doing weddings, I have yet to have a July with more than one wedding. And I am not complaining. July is miserably hot and humid and shooting in those conditions is not my cup of tea. I will happily do it, but its also really nice to have a mid-season break. It kind of helps me re-evaluate business needs and focus on design clients.

The other thing I discovered is that it’s also time to create for the joy of creating. I’ve decided that the month of July (as long as l don’t have a month of weddings) will be used for creating for joy and prepping for the remainder of the year. We always talk about how we can’t pour from an empty cup, and I think that applies to creative work. It’s hard to grow if you don’t create for yourself every once in a while.

VACATION IN MINNESOTA
At the beginning of the month, we took a break and went up to MInnesota for about a week. I got to meet Glenn’s brother who lives in Florida, shoot some pool, hike ,and most importantly RELAX. Minnesota has always been a place of relaxation and respite. Every time I go up there I feel like life seems to get a little easier, even if just for a few days. I am so thankful I am marrying a Minnesota man for many reasons, but in this case, its nice because I get to go up there fairly regularly.

OUR STRESS FREE WEDDING
About a year ago, I got connected with a guy named Sean who had started a company similar to The Knot called Our Stress Free Wedding. The purpose of it is to help engaged couples plan their wedding by connecting them with vetted vendors and offering them a planning platform where they can communicate with all of their vendors in one place. The goal with OSFW is to make selecting, planning and communicating as easy as possible. The main reason I decided to join them is because all the vendors are vetted for quality and aren’t just showing up on the front page because they paid to be there. Give them a click and plan your wedding at www.ourstressfreewedding.com.

All in all, July has been a relaxed month. Honestly, I needed it. I get so into my work for weeks on end and then I get tired. I haven’t yet mastered the art of setting boundaries with my job. It’s hard when your main hobby is working. Until I master the boundaries thing, any break will be welcome. It’s a complicated joy and I love every second of it. Business is a long game and I think how well you ride the waves (even the ones you create for yourself) is a big determining factor in success.

That’s all I’ve got for the month. Hope you had a lovely July. Let’s head into fall and keep doing good work.

Cheers.

Emma