Big Jumps
About 4 years ago, Geoff and I started a journey. It all began with a friend asking If I’d be willing to photograph her wedding the following year. Geoff and I had photographed a few of my family’s weddings and with those under our belt, combined with our years of photography experience, we were up for the challenge. We set up shop (so to speak), built a website, got the contracts and all the business stuff together. When 2008 ended, on the eve of the new year, Geoff and I set a goal to book 5 weddings in 2009. “5 weddings,” we thought. “How are we ever going to find 5 people to let us shoot their wedding!?” Well, you have to start somewhere!
What happened next, was so amazing, unexpected, thrilling, and most of all, life-changing. The inquiries started coming in. Not from friends or family, but complete strangers that found us and recognized something in our passion, and in our love of people and photography. We booked 17 weddings that year. 17! We could not believe it! It was a crazy year of meeting so many amazing couples, working REALLY hard to be better and better, and most of all, a year for us to realize what we were meant to do in life. In 2010 we photographed 29 weddings and 2011 we’ll finish out at nearly 40.
While The Goodness was growing and growing, Geoff and I had been working our 40 hour a week day-jobs for Apple, Inc. As you can imagine, we were working literally constantly everyday, and sacrificed so much of our social life, free time, family time, etc. to keep up the level of quality and customer service that our growing client base had grown to expect. It was the most rewarding thing in the world, and while we loved every minute of it, it was EXHAUSTING!
Today I am beyond overjoyed to tell you all, my wonderful and loyal readers and clients, that we quit our days jobs. It’s a scary step, leaving the security of a corporate job, but we couldn’t be happier to be focusing all of our time and effort toward something that we love and that we believe in with all our hearts. For us, “The Goodness” truly lives up to it’s name, as that is exactly what it has brought into our lives. Everyday we still cannot believe that we are living this amazingly incredible life, but we are. And for that, we want to thank each and every one of you: our wonderful clients, our blog readers, our supportive friends and family, it’s because of you that our lives are so fortunate and so full of love and goodness.
Here’s a photo from Paul and Lesley’s Shot Spot a couple weeks ago. This pretty sums up how we are feeling right now:
COMMENTS…show some love!
Sarah Maren: I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! Congratulations you crazy kids!
Aimee: I'm so, so proud and happy for you guys. You have been working tirelessly deserve every bit of your amazing success. Don't forget us when you are famous. :)
Ashlee: I am so SO incredibly happy for you two! You are both an inspiration and I am so grateful to have met you this past year working together at Citizen. Your talent and passion lights up the room and I can't wait to see what God has in store for you on this new journey! WORK IT!
Rashell Choo: Congratulations! We absolutely LOVE you guys and your amazing work. Now that you quit your day jobs we can have our lunch date!
Crissie: YEY for a successful business and having more time to spend with your family and friends! You guys are awesome and definitely deserve it!
Christina: Congratulations! How very exciting! You two are truly talented in every way!
Wendy Clemons: You guys are amazing! You do SUCH beautiful work it is incredible. Congrats and good luck!! :) -Wendy & Cory
Kathryn: So Awesome! I love hearing this story!
Beth Baugher: I am BURSTING with pride and joy for you two. What a great story and this is just the very beginning. I am behind you %100 and so thankful to be your friend !
Shannon/Flourish: Congrats! I owe you a dinner at Magpie!
Sabrina Bernardo: Yay! Adam and I are so happy for you two, you do an amazing job and deserve all the "goodness" that come your way!
Lindsay Haddock: I am tremendously happy for the both of you! This is something that most people only dream of doing; may you always have such passion and fullfilment in the work you do each day! Wonderful news. <3
Olivia: Congratulations!!! So looking forward to working with you both soon! :)
Helena: This is a good decision for both of you. Love you both :)
Rashael: I'm so happy for you Lisa, Congratulations!
Renee: CONGRATS!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you two! I have no doubt you will be successful beyond your wildest dreams!!
Rebecca: Congrats you two!!
Mary Hittle: I am so proud of what you have both accomplished. You are both very talented and hard working and deserve all the success you are achieving with your business.
Kristen: Congratulations! You guys have long been an inspiration for me, particularly as I'm a designer as well as a photographer and have been trying to figure out how to combine the two as well as you do. Well done on your fabulous growth and I hope this next chapter of your lives is super awesome :)
Meg Priley: What a great photo! You two are incredibly adorable! :) We have only met you once so far but we know it was a perfect match! We love The Goodness and cannot wait to have you as apart of this BIG time in our lives. Also, cannot wait to spread the word to friends and family about how fantastic you two are. Such beautiful, creative, memorable work!
Maria Bardet: Eric and I could not be happier for you both! I had no idea you were still working your "day jobs". You too are incredible and your works is absolutely amazing. We really enjoyed getting to know you and shooting with you. So great that you are able to do what you LOVE for a living!!!! Congrats!
Sam: You guys are so amazing and so inspiring. Way to take the leap - I know you're going to be AWESOME!
Jamie D: Congratulations you guys! You deserve it. Everyone loves your work!