Taking Risks

Today, I took a risk.

Actually, I've been taking lots of risks lately.

Remember that first post where I shared my weaknesses to the world? To my friends? To my family? To strangers?

I have been learning from Power of Choice and Power 90 (which, by the way is just a 12 week course in which you learn how to make a lifestyle out of the principles you learn in Power of Choice) that successful people take risks. They open themselves up to the possibility of failure in order to achieve the highest possibilities of success.

Success is also sustained motivation. Motivation to keep moving forward. To keep trying new things. To be vulnerable.

As some of you know I have been dabbling with photography for the last couple years. I initially saw it as a gift I could give my family, but quickly realized it was a gift I could also share with others. I have spent many, MANY hours, days and nights studying all I can on my own. It's not easy and there are some people out there who don't believe there is a place for "momtogs" (mom-photographers). There is a battle going on between established professionals and all the consumers who now have access to semi-pro and pro equipment. The digital age is revolutionizing the timeline of photography.

But back to the point I was making.

I started charging for sessions in 2011 for the first time, thanks to my best photography bud Mandy Potter. She has since moved to Texas, but without her, I would not have had the courage to go forward and book so many family portrait sessions last summer and fall. And then land a corporate product shoot! She started me on that journey, and I am forever grateful for her and her motivation. (I Love you, Mandy!)

Christmas break and the New Year gave me a much-needed break from my hobby and also some time to reflect on where I want to go with it. Some people were already telling me that they wanted pictures in 2012 and it was getting me excited. But at the same time, I realized I needed to make some changes to how I was doing things. So many people told me in 2011 (my husband included) that for the amount of work I was doing, I was basically giving my photography away for DIRT CHEAP. I justified it by saying, "Oh they are my friends and so I want to give them a great deal" and "I live in a poor student area -- nobody can afford more than that" and "Utah is oversaturated with mom-togs that they'll just move on and find someone else."

But with the help of the Choice Processes and my experience with Power 90, I have realized that I was actually making a choice FOR everyone else because of something negative I believe about myself.



I am not good enough.

I am not worth it.

I am a failure.



I, like many people, have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I judge where I am at now with where other people are. And the truth is, I am not taking into account their experience or time or money invested in what they are currently doing.

I have only been doing this for about a year now as a serious hobby. I need to cut myself some slack!

Of course I'm not as good as photographer X whom I admire SO MUCH, but she's been doing this for 10 years now and only found her "photography voice" two years ago. That means I still have 7 more years to practice and THEN I can compare myself to her 2011 self.

We're all on our own journey. I have always been an artist whether it be in dancing or singing or scrapbooking or photography... I have an innate desire to create. And to share with others.

What I create is meant to be enjoyed by others.

But how do I value myself? How do I continue to push myself to become the kind of photographer I want to be in 10 years?

Pricing is a big deal for me. I KNOW how valuable a good deal is. I KNOW how hard it is to make ends meet every month and how precious that dollar really is in it's buying power. This is why it was such a BIG DEAL for me to make the decision I did. Here's why I did it:


-I compared my skills and offering to other photographers in my area and found that the average session fee is $100 OR MORE. $50 was low-balling it.

-I am also motivated by money, and so the more someone invests in me as a photographer, the more I am going to invest myself in them and their session.

-I am on a journey to becoming a lifestyle portrait photographer. I want to be a storyteller. I need to invest in myself and my equipment and my education, which right now comes out of my own pocket. As of today, I am not ready to be a business owner yet and so I have to be more creative about how I can still progress without draining our savings account.

-My husband is a student and we live on a student budget. Needless to say we don't always make ends meet every month, and our savings is getting smaller and smaller. Pretty soon it will be all gone. I want to support him while I'm at home and do a little side job with my skills and talents, and right now that is photography.

-I want to show myself I'm worth it. I'm valuable. Other people have been telling me for quite some time that I am, but I haven't believed it. But I want to now so I am choosing to make that change. I AM WORTH IT.



Again, this was probably THE hardest decision for me. I didn't want people who had already said they wanted to do pictures with me this year to think that because they already told me this that I was taking advantage of them. I didn't want that at all!But this is a change I was already contemplating and it's a risk I MUST take. I realize there will be friends and others who may not stay with me through this change. But it doesn't mean they don't like me. Or that they don't value me.

I am doing this change for me. And I am excited about what it means! I am excited where my journey is going to go this year and what it means for my photography. I just KNOW this is gonna be a dynamite year for me and my creativity. Power 90 is helping me to get what I want out of life, and I want this so bad! I want to allow my creativity to blossom, and to be able to give that gift to my friends and my family is more than I could ask for.

It fulfills me as a person and I believe it is one of the reasons I am here on this earth. To inspire others and to show them the beauty that exists all around.



You can follow my journey on my Facebook page. I plan to get a blog/website up this year, too, and I will let you know what that is when it's ready. :)

Thank you for loving me and for sharing in my journey, whether with encouraging words and/or investing in my photography.

JordanandMandyPotter commented on "Taking Risks"

Feb 15, 2012

I'm so happy you did it! :) You're amazing!!

Rebecca & Jeff commented on "Taking Risks"

Feb 15, 2012

You go Girl!! I'm so excited for you! It is going to be an amazing year and I am so proud of your for taking the plunge! Love you!

Angela commented on "Taking Risks"

Feb 15, 2012

Way to go Janneke! You are definitely heading in the right direction with this attitude! You are worth it and definitely owe it to yourself! :)

Angela Liddle
(liddlefamilymoments.blogspot.com)