Sometimes you just need a break. A little bit of a retreat. A sabbatical if you will.
2013 has been crazy wonderful for Mary Fields Photography thus far…but also crazy busy. God has blessed my business in ways that blow me away with His faithfulness and leave me in awe of His goodness. My Spring/Summer season flew by with 15 weddings in 16 weeks, along with many other portrait sessions to keep me busy. There were times that I would stand back and wonder how in the world I got here?! I had been dreaming of being a photographer for as long as I could remember but I never thought it would happen…let alone to the point where I was booked solid. It has been a great problem to have and I have been so blessed to work with so many wonderful people.
However, after this first half of 2013, I found myself somewhat exhausted and needing some time to refocus. In many ways this frustrated me as I felt like I should be able to push through. After all, of all things, my passion shouldn’t require a sabbatical, right? Surely, my love for it should supersede the exhaustion. Well, I am willing to admit that I am always learning in this industry as well as life, the most recent lesson being that even the things you love can be exhausting. Even your passions can require a sabbatical. Really…sometimes the healthiest thing for the things you love is to step away from them.
So…that’s what I did. I stepped away from photography for a few weeks and it was one of the healthiest things I have done for my business thus far. It wasn’t exactly planned but my wedding schedule allowed perfectly for it, so I jumped at the opportunity. Before I started Mary Fields Photography full-time, I worked for Kanakuk Kamps (a summer Christian sports camp) in Branson, MO and loved the ministry/people I worked with so dearly that it still is one of my favorite places on earth. I was able to go back for a few weeks and spend some time ‘away’ while I helped as a kid sitter for one of the families. Life was slower, the weather cooler, and it was a great retreat from what had been a crazy spring/summer. I’m so grateful for a job that allows this kind of flexibility. Of course I was still doing work on the side, but other than a styled wedding shoot (more to come on that soon), my camera lay fairly dormant. It was healthy for a girl whose camera had been attached to her hand.
I’m thankful for a retreat. A sabbatical. An opportunity to step away from what I love so that I can be reminded of why I love it.
Here’s to getting back in the saddle for the second half of 2013 with Mary Fields Photography!!!
So, in the name of sabbaticals, rest and retreats from things you love,
I Say, Take Me Back!
