Last April, we had the pleasure of traveling to Jamaica to photograph Nate and Lauren's wedding at the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort in Montego Bay. It was an absolutely beautiful, relaxed affair filled with lots of fun and laughter, and today, I am thrilled to see it featured on In Bliss. Check it out here!
Thank you to Rachel and Dean at In Bliss for showcasing our work and a lovely couple!
Up there ^ ... That's Monty, our little Winter Olympian wannabe. Unfortunately, he's not very aerodynamic and his coordination isn't so great, so I don't think he really has a chance (but don't tell him I said that).
Each night for the past week or so, after dinner, Josh and I settle in on the couch, turn on NBC, and watch with anticipation as snowboarders, bobsledders, skiers, and skaters leave everything they have out on the snow and ice to try to win a coveted gold medal. Hearing these athlete's stories and seeing those darned TD Ameritrade rewind commercials got me thinking... why do we, as entrepreneurs and creatives, hold ourselves to a different standard than these athletes?
You see, it's really not all that different. We both have a passion, something deep within driving us, a yearning for success, but the difference, for most of us, is the time we put into it. These athletes spend years, even decades, honing their skills to try and become the best in their field. Gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White have been ice dancing together for 17 years, snowboardcross bronze medalist Alex Diebold started on the slopes over 20 years ago at the age of four, and 36-year old alpine skier Bode Miller began training for his ski career at 13. These people have fully devoted most of their lives to their craft, and even they have experienced failure along the way.
But entrepreneurs... creatives... I think we expect success to happen virtually overnight. Even when we know it's not realistic at such an early stage in our careers, we want the perfect clients, a big fat paycheck, and work that would make Annie Liebovitz or Steve Jobs or whoever your industry idol may be sob at the beauty of it all, and when that doesn't happen right away, we get frustrated, disappointed, and downright over it. The real problem though isn't our market or our equipment or any other excuse we create for ourselves... it's that we expect perfection, instant gratification, and the whole kit and caboodle when we haven't put in the time. The truth is becoming great, and arguably more important - sustaining such greatness, takes lots of time, consistency, effort, and drive. It's an ongoing process of learning and making mistakes, figuring out who you are as a photographer/writer/inventor/etc., and doing it all over again a million times.
Do me a favor: Look back at your early work (as painful as it may be... whew... thank goodness for improved camera skills) and see how far you've come. Be proud of yourself and keep on trying. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and your business won't be either, but if you stick with it and work hard, one day, it just might be what you've always dreamed of.
And just in case that wasn't enough of a pep talk, my friends, watch this video by Ira Glass:
Ann Marie and Austin were referred to me by the lovely Faye of Coordinating Dreams, and I couldn't be happier that she sent them my way. I almost always know from the first meeting when a couple is going to be a good fit, and I was certain that these two were a perfect addition to our 2014 wedding lineup.
Not only are Austin and Ann Marie two of the most genuinely nice people, but they love to have fun and are a joy to be around. Most of our engagement session was spent laughing, and they certainly made sure it didn't feel like work. Despite a rainy forecast all week, we were able to venture to western NC and ended up having perfect weather.
We met up in downtown Blowing Rock, where we began their session with a little fun in the park...
Next, we headed just up the road to Chetola Resort, where the afternoon light was absolutely perfect...
We ended the day in Boone, where Ann Marie and Austin first met, and were lucky to find a gate open at the stadium on the campus of their alma mater, Appalachian State University...
How do I not have a pair of gloves that fun?! I see a search for Penn State pom-pom mittens in my near future.
Austin+Ann Marie :: Thank you so much for giving me the honor of being part of this very exciting part of your lives together! I look forward to your wedding this summer in Winston-Salem and can't wait to laugh some more with the two of you :)
Engaged? Contact us today to reserve your wedding date.
Like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and photos!
All images ©2014 Glessner Photography. Please do not save, copy, edit, or use in any way without Glessner Photography's express written permission. Violators may be prosecuted.
