Support Yourself!

Wow! So it has been a month since I last posted! I cannot believe a month has passed already! Craziness!

Well in that month I have to say I have accomplished a fair amount of things, despite having ebbs and flows in my moods, I have still managed to get things moving with my business, which I am so proud of!

I don't know about you, but when I find myself in a tricky situation, I often want to bury my head in the sand or just stay in bed and forget that my reality ever existed! But now that I am a 'business owner' I feel like I can't do that any more and I have to pull my socks up and just get on with it!

So in the last month, I have accomplished all of the following: -

• Purchased my Public Liability Insurance

• Designed & Purchased Business Cards, Vouchers & Price Lists

• Spoken to lots of Business Advice Lines to make sure what I am doing is right

• Updated my website with pricing packages for my photoshoots

• Watched countless videos on YouTube, researching business start up and as always photography techniques to keep me learning more about my trade

• Started a Social Media schedule with Later.com to help me manage my social accounts more effectively and easily

• I've had my first ever paid shoot as a Freelance Photographer!

• Reached out to a Facebook Mentor for help and advice to help steer me in the right direction with a few things I was concerned about

• I've had another shoot on the 72nd Birthday of the NHS of every one clapping in my village

• I've had several enquiries about my packages

• Researched grants and other financial help for start up businesses

• Created a schedule for my daily routine, to help me stay organised whilst working at home (who new working at home could be so difficult!)

So as you can see I have been a busy little bee! To be fair, I still think there is plenty of things I could have listed, but I am pretty sure I will bore you to tears, especially if Photography isn't your thing! XD

I have said this to a few people, if you had of asked me in January, 'Jaimie, do you think you will have your business up and running by the end of the year?', I would have said 'Helllllllllllllllll NO! I still have so much to learn before I can even think about making that leap of faith'.

However, since lockdown started it has given me time to spend with my camera and I have been able to change my mind set and build my confidence in the space of just a few months. I didn't believe in myself in January and neither did I before then... EVER! So I lacked a lot of self confidence and self esteem, it really has hindered me for a long time. But having the time to spend with my camera guilt free, whilst being on furlough was probably the most free I have ever felt and it has given me a whole new lease on life and given me the courage to learn how I to make a success from my passion.

It really is amazing how things can change in just a few months. My whole life I have lacked the support I have needed to believe in myself and I lacked it from within me. I have a lot of support in reality but none comes close to being half as valuable as the support I give to myself. I have built myself up from the support I have had from my amazing boyfriend and partner in crime, he made me want to believe in myself and want to make something out of our lives and it has made me see what I want our future to look like and hey if it takes in 20 years to get there... I really don't care as long as he is by my side, that really is all that matters to me.

I know it sounds ridiculously cheesy (I don't really care how cheesy it is XD), but my man has shown me what life is really about, the small things, the special moments we spend together, the conversations we have about our future and what we are going to accomplish together next and most importantly the support we have for each other, and each others ideas and plans, is second to none! And without that support I tell you, I would certainly not be where I am today, I am so, so thankful for everything he has done to help me.

I am so excited for the future, and although it is totally uncertain right now, it makes me want to be a photographer even more!

Thank you guys for reading, as you can imagine it's pretty hectic my end right now, but I will aim to post every two weeks now whilst I am focusing on building my business. I do hope to get back to posting weekly as soon as I can.

Have a great weekend every one! Until next time!

Peace & Love