Because I'm going to dance until my feet don't touch the ground. For those who don't know, this is probably my favorite part of the year-- the butt end of May. Not only is it warm enough to go out and do stuff, but my best friends start trickling back home to Fargo, ND. I never consider Fargo a place I want to be until its these last two weeks. That's when friends like Carl and Chance finally come home from different corners of the country. I'm pretty damn lucky to have Ellen here, at NDSU, year round-- but let me tell you, Fargo sucks with out those two. (Chance not pictured) When the gang is finally back together, Fargo feels so much more like home. We stay up for hours, catch up, talk about our dreams and new plans. And this time, it was different. The biggest thing about each of us is that none of us settles for less - we're always pushing each other. This time, my friends asked me-- when was the last time I shot for myself? I feel like every time I pull out my camera, it's for some client-driven agenda and that's it. I used to shoot everything for fun and pure joy, but now it's starting to feel like a job rather than a passion. This past weekend I was shooting underneath one of my favorite photographers and she told me when she was in college, she shot so much that by the time she graduated, she was so burnt out. I specifically booked myself for the rest of may because I had burned myself out to a point where I almost hated turning on my camera. "So Nikki, why don't you start shooting for yourself?" Well, Carl, that's a very good question. Why don't I? I've come to a point where, in the midst of rebranding my photography, that I need to rebrand myself too. I need to remember why I start. Sometimes when I want to quit, I need to remind myself that I would have killed to be where I am today. This month of May I am completely booked. I'm still working, but I'm mostly working on me (and rebranding, nannying, seeing friends before they leave, and almost every organization under the sun, SOS someone help me.)
xoxo- NM
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It's a never ending love affair. Its falling in love with the way my camera fits into my hands. Its seeing love unravel itself before my eyes. Its the addiction to seeing people smile and laugh so hard tears stream down their cheeks. The story I'm writing here is the explanation why I have not blogged in almost two months. I have found the dream job my soul loves and can not get enough of. Since January, I spend every waking moment thinking about perfect lighting, compact flash cards, and new lenses to the point where this small day dream turned into a small business. Next thing I knew I ordered contracts, collaborated for small businesses, booked weddings, and more. It all kind of happened so fast that I barely had a chance to pause and look what I've created. So here I am, confessing my biggest step and my greatest love affair. Over the course of the past five months I have turned a dream into a reality by fighting like hell to get to where I am.
I set myself up on social media plans, did the collaborations, volunteered to do as many (more like too many) free shoots, and connected with everyone I need to know to get myself to where I am today. Yes, to those potential clients, I am young and my work is new but I don't settle for less and I won't stop kicking my butt to keep getting better. Now, I'm transferring to MSUM for their photography program, I became an alumni of my sorority, I prioritized the friends that believed in me, and though this has been stressful and crazy, I've never been happier. I'll see you next time, xoxo NM |
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