This month was the 2nd Anniversary of Purple Elephant Photography. Two years ago I completed my MBA and thought there is no better time than the present to start a new adventure. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into, but I decided to jump into it head first despite my fears.
In the past two years I have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing families and their adorable kiddos. I have watched families grow and have had the privilege of capturing important milestones that they will treasure for years to come. I have learned a crazy amount about the art and science of photography but what surprised me the most if what I have learned about life on this journey so far.
Here are the top 5 life lessons Purple Elephant has taught me:
1. You Get What You Give
As with anything in life, when you invest in something your returns are proportional to your investment. Some people estimate it takes as high as 10,000 hours to master something, so we can't expect to be experts when we try something for the first time. Over the past two years I have seen myself grow in my business more than I could have even imagined and I am so proud of myself for it.
2. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff
I am a perfectionist, so when things aren't exactly perfect, or how I imagined them, I am disappointed. There have been certain images that I have captured that I know are not technically perfect and could be improved. I tend to question whether I should share them with the client. When I have made the decision to deliver them in the gallery it is often these images that have been some of the client's favourites! They love the people and the emotion in the photo and are far less focused on details I might have obsessed over such as technical composition!
This is a great lesson for life. It is important to remember the big picture and try not to focus so much on details and issues that in the end don't really matter. Letting go of these things lets us enjoy life and spend less of our time worrying. Who doesn't want less worrying in our busy lives?!
3. Life (and owning a business) is Like an Iceberg
You have probably heard this one, did you know approximately 10% of iceberg shows on the surface, while about 90% is hidden below? When you think of the work of a photographer you might think it is all about taking photos (the 10%), when in reality it is editing photos, managing social media, website building and maintenance, managing finances and taxes, client management, studying and learning new techniques, searching for and purchasing new equipment and photo set up materials, and of course writing a blog!
What have I learned from this? Never judge anyone/anything based on what you see on the surface. You likely have no idea what is hidden below.
4. Have a Back-up Plan
Life is full of twists and turns so it is always good to have a back-up plan. You never know what life might throw at you, or what you might have to deal with unexpectedly. Acknowledging this and being able to switch gears and adapt is what separates us from being able to move on, learning from experiences, and throwing in the towel.
I learned this the hard way last year when my hard drive failed. I didn't have an up to date back up and I lost a number of photos of one of my good friend's little boy. Note to self: Back-up, Back-up, Back-up. Did I mention back-up?
5. Believe in Yourself
You should be your own biggest fan. If you want others to put their trust in you, you first need to trust yourself that they are making the right decision. Believing in myself is something I have always struggled with (as most women do), but have come to realize how much of a difference it makes in what I am able to achieve in my business and in life. This is something I continue to work on.
I have a Henry Ford quote hanging on my cubicle wall at work that I look at each day that reminds me to believe in myself that I would love to share:
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right."
Life Lessons are all around us. We learn from our successes, but we learn even more from our failures. What life lessons have you learned recently?
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