I’ve been asked several times lately how I got into photography. Honestly, I just laugh and say that it wasn’t really my plan…but more God’s plan. In grad school, I had this visual arts project that I used some pics of our girls that I had literally snapped with our point and shoot camera. The professor asked who had done them and when I said I had, he laughed and said “no really, who did these”? When I saw that look in his eye I knew he saw something in me that I had never recognized. He planted a seed that day in my heart.  Time passed, I graduated with my MEd. in education with plans on returning to the classroom once our twins entered kindergarten. The military threw an unexpected move our way…so we rolled with it and prepared for our move to…wait for it…HAWAII!!!! Sweeetttt!!!

I began (as all teachers do) to prepare for changing my license over to our new state. Once we arrived on Island and were settled I began visiting the district office to gather all necessary documents. On my second visit, the nice lady at the front desk pulled me aside and said, “Listen, you seem so nice and sweet. But I have to be honest with you. You are not going to get a job right away on the windward side of the island. You are a military spouse and those jobs are tough to come by because you’ll be leaving the island in a few years…if you want to travel over the mountain and work in one of our at-risk schools, your chances are much better…but you know, that commute is brutal.” I stood there stunned at what she had just said. What about equal opportunity? I had worked SO HARD on my Master’s Degree while being a mommy to our three girls. I nearly lost my mind several times during those two years!!!  🙂  She went on to say that I should look into subbing, maybe I could get my foot in the door that way. I was thankful that she was honest about the challenges but bewildered at what I was to do now.

My sweet and loving husband didn’t blink an eye. He said, “Well, you have an opportunity here to take a chance that you never would have taken otherwise. Grab your camera and build a business. You can do this and I’ve got your back!” He has been my biggest cheerleader and such a blessing through this entire entrepreneurship adventure. He has never doubted my talents or my drive. So, I put my teaching portfolio away and built a portfolio of another kind. Beginning a photography business in Paradise was a total blessing and allowed me to learn my craft with backgrounds that you can’t really “mess up”…hahaha!! But I did learn to trust God’s plan, seize the opportunity, and go for my dreams! I learned that photography fed my soul. And I developed a love for seeing authentic relationships through the lens of my camera.

Some food for thought if you are in a time of discernment while you are beginning your own journey, struggling to make your dreams a reality, or just need some encouragement:

1- When One Door Closes….Knock On Another
I’ve seen people beat their head against a wall trying to make a situation work when clearly it wasn’t meant to be. Instead of changing their perspective or direction…they continued to fight for what they thought was their path. Am I saying give up easily? NO! But sometimes we miss the forest for the trees. Try to see a bigger picture. Are you being led in a different direction, is the timing just not right, or is there something better coming your way if you’ll just be patient. I have learned this tough lesson many times over…yes, I am stubborn. But whether it was with a business decision or awaiting military orders numerous times….we always tried to see the bigger picture.  I had no clue how to even start…but I just did it.  I had never taken a business or photography class.  I learned as I went.  Now I’ve created two websites, a blog, edited what feels like millions of portraits, served countless amazing clients, traveled for destination weddings, relocated and rebuilt my business halfway around the world.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do what is your heart’s desire.  Where there is a will…there is a way!  No matter where you are in life right now: awaiting college acceptance, deciding on whether to start your own business, or what direction you should take your business, or whether you should take a different job, or request specific orders….know that you must trust God’s plan for your life and know that great things await!

2- Bloom Where You Are Planted
This is definitely a Military Spouse motto because we are often uprooted and sent on to create a new life at the next duty station. However, this applies to any stage of life you find yourself in.

Heading off to college: get involved in activities or a group that share a common interest, meet new friends, be social, get a job, study hard, go home to see your mother (oh wait, did I slip that in there?!?!)

Relocating to a new town: volunteer, find a new church, meet your neighbors, attend festivals and local events, play tourist in your new town.

Starting a business: plug in to a local small business group, find others who do what you do and begin to network, volunteer your services or goods to local causes, make connections with other businesses that cater to the same ideal clients

3- Find a Cheerleader
This may be your spouse, a friend, a parent, a neighbor, a fellow business owner. Find someone that believes in you and will give you words of encouragement on those tough days. Find someone that you can run ideas by, will help proof read your new pricing guide, and will give you their honest opinion. Once you’ve found that cheerleader, nurture that relationship….tell them how much their opinion and help mean to you. And take them a cupcake or coffee every now and then. 🙂

Know that this life is a one-way trip…we don’t get do overs. Make your decisions count. Follow your heart…and your dreams.

Blessings,
Corry

These are some of the amazing families that took a chance on me and helped my business thrive.  They were my cheerleaders!  So thankful and so blessed!  



My “office” during our time in Hawaii….Kaneohe Bay, Kailua Beach and Lanikai beach were where I did a lot of shooting.  Not too shabby!!  🙂  It wasn’t really possible to have a bad day at work!!  
This was how we spent our down time….it was such an amazing three and half years with our girls.  We were outside year round, living a simple life, and enjoying the sand between our toes.  Ahhh… Paradise! (I swear when we moved back to the mainland, our girls had to learn how to wear closed toed shoes and long pants.  That first winter in NC was brutal….they were not fans of jeans, boots, or coats!) Hahahahaha