Thankful

As I sit here with my kitchen torn apart in preparation for a Thanksgiving Day feast, coffee in hand, while gazing at the snow hitting the ground, I can't help but be overwhelmed by a feeling of thankfulness.  Of course I feel thankful every day for big things in life like family and health, but I often feel so rushed and am literally living Saturday to Saturday that I rarely take a moment to reflect on that thankfulness.

Keeping it real, I would be a liar if I said I didn't complain about the things I am thankful for.  Let me explain.  I love my weekends spent with loved ones.  Who doesn't, right?  But, you see, that is when I have to work.  I'm a wedding photographer and weddings, generally, occur on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  This has been a difficult transition from working M-F, 9-5.  Ironically, I still work M-F, 9-5 while I edit, shoot portrait sessions, market, or network, and now work on weekends as well.  To add insult to injury, 90% of the work load occurs during the spring, summer, and fall; the best months to enjoy life in the north east.  

However, (and this is a big HOWEVER) I feel completely and utterly thankful and blessed to call myself a wedding photographer.  Although the hours are long and there is rarely a day off in the busy season, I feel so lucky to witness a couples' happiest moments.  I know there are a lot of people in the world who hate going to their jobs every day; whether they can't stand their boss, the hours are unbearable, or the work is just unsatisfying, they hate the daily grind.  Fortunately, I don't feel that way and I realize that makes me incredibly lucky for this season of my life.   I have no idea what the future holds for me and/or my business and, honestly, I am still so thankful every time a bride (or groom) inquires about our services for their wedding day and I am able to do this for another year.

So I learn to enjoy the days I do have with my family.  Like, Thanksgiving Day.  There are a lot of people working tomorrow (which is another story) who may be missing dinner with their family and time with their loved ones.  So knowing that my job, which takes me away most weekends and forces me to miss birthdays, dinners, get togethers, etc., allows me to be home tomorrow makes it all that much more sweeter and special.  And for that, I will be eternally grateful.  

Thank you to the 15 brides and grooms and countless portrait clients who have allowed me yet another year to not only capture their most-important moments, but to realize what I do have to be thankful for.  Ultimately, I'm thankful for all your support.  Without my clients, family, and friends I couldn't be who I am or do what I do everyday and that is something I will always cherish about every one of you.

I hope you can find something to be thankful for this year because every dark cloud has it's silver lining and every person you pass may be fighting a battle worse than yours.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  And because every post is much better with a photo (or two) here I am with a couple of my faves enjoying that rare, free moment:*

*and because I'm a photographer I have to admit that these images are taken with a phone :)

Enjoying a glass of wine at Hauser Estate with my Mom while celebrating my 31st birthday

A fall day at Longwood with Aaron.