Today marks ONE full year I’ve been in business as a wedding photographer! 

A year ago…

 I had just finished my last year as a high school English teacher. I had said goodbye at graduation, given away most of my books, and cleaned my desk. It was challenging to say goodbye to teaching, even though I knew it was the right thing to do.  I had been battling with the desire to pursue photography for a few years, but a series of events that school year led me to take a leap of faith and pursue my dream.

Mary Marantz, a famous photographer, said at a workshop I attended, “No one is going to give you permission to follow your dream and make it a career; you have to give it to yourself.” I let that sink in deep in my soul. Afraid of what others would think of my leaving teaching to be a photographer. Just wanting someone to tell me I was good enough to quit and do this full-time. KnowingI was afraid deep in my soul that there would be no turning back. Just waiting for permission, and I began permitting myself at that moment.

I wrestled and prayed over the decision for a couple more months until my good friends Megan and Brandon Howard’s wedding in January. I shot for almost ten hours, and my feet were swollen, but I was smiling the entire way home! It brings me so much joy to capture the memories of people in love on their wedding day. Honestly, it is my favorite thing in life to do. I had worked an extremely long day, but it didn’t feel like work.  I knew that if given the option to do this and feel this way….and pay my rent, I had to take it.  That was the night I knew I would do this full-time.

What I’ve Learned

This year I have learned an enormous amount about my craft shot more weddings than the last few years combined, spent a lot of money on equipment (and gifts for my clients!), put over 50,000 miles on my car, and worked 80+ hours a week most of the time.

It has been the best year of my entire life!

I am so glad that I chose to pursue my dream, feeling like an honorary bridesmaid at each wedding I’ve shot. I hope the couples I shoot for the rest of my life are like the ones I’ve shot this past year. They are just people who are so in love with each other and passionate about life!  My heart is thrilled to be the one to follow them around and document their love stories. It is a huge responsibility and honor to select memories representing the day these two people promised to become one. It is really important to do it well; not something I take lightly.

I have some pretty lofty goals for the next year to help me be a better business owner, photographer, and person. Here are just a few:

My goals for the next year are to:

·      Complete my online business and photography program

·      Get published in one of my favorite magazines or blogs

·      Book twice as many weddings as last year

·      Work on becoming a hybrid shooter (film and digital)

·      Blog more

·      Learn to balance my work and personal life better….because I’m getting MARRIED in January!

In celebration of my ONE year in business, I am giving a ONE hundred dollar discount off ALL wedding packages booked in June!  

One Year in Business | Sara Touchet Photography | All Rights Reserved | Greenville SC