Blog 400: What Changed Between Showing Up and Standing Firm
When we published our 300th blog, we were already committed — but commitment and confidence aren’t the same thing.
The last 100 posts weren’t just about consistency. They were about becoming steadier operators, better storytellers, and calmer decision-makers.
The Pain We Didn’t Talk About Enough
Between blogs 300 and 400, the biggest challenge wasn’t volume — it was pressure.
Last-minute changes (no pun intended) used to rattle us. A location falling through, permits getting flagged, weather shifting, timelines compressing within 24 hours — all of it felt heavy. Every pivot felt like a potential failure instead of just part of the job.
Midday light? We used to avoid it entirely. If golden hour wasn’t an option, we felt boxed in.
Now we understand the truth: clients don’t propose on ideal schedules — they propose on real ones.
And real life doesn’t wait for perfect light.
The Shift: There’s No “I” in Team
One of the biggest sacrifices we made was letting go of the idea that we had to do everything ourselves.
We started reinvesting into the business — not just gear, but support:
Site optimization and technical SEO
Backlinks and long-term marketing strategy
Partnering with vendors and venues to secure permits before problems happen
That decision alone changed how we operate. It freed mental space, reduced friction, and allowed us to focus on what actually moves the needle: planning, execution, and client care.
Growth You Can Feel on the Job
Something subtle but important changed in how we shoot.
When we arrive at a proposal or courthouse wedding now, the flow is smoother. We see angles faster. We know where to stand, when to move, when to let moments breathe. Our editing is cleaner, more confident, more intentional.
We no longer fight harsh light — we adapt to it.
We adjust modifiers, positioning, exposure, and expectations because we’ve done it enough times to trust ourselves.
That confidence only comes from reps — and reps come from showing up even when conditions aren’t ideal.
Storytelling Became the Backbone
Writing 100 more blogs didn’t just help SEO — it sharpened how we think.
We’re better at telling client stories because we’re better at listening.
Better at planning because we ask better questions.
Better at guiding clients because we’ve learned how much certainty matters when someone is about to propose or get married.
Every booking has become more personal. The planning, scouting, and communication aren’t steps anymore — they’re a craft we genuinely treasure.
Carrying the Weight, Choosing to Continue
Before the end of the year, we also officially formed our LLC — a step that made everything feel more real, more permanent, more accountable.
Around that same time, my mom passed away in December.
I’m still moving through that loss. Some days are heavier than others. During her final month, while she was on life support, we had multiple bookings each week. There were moments I genuinely didn’t know where I was supposed to be — at the hospital with my mom, or honoring the promises we had made to our clients.
I wrestled with that decision more than I ever have.
And then I heard my mom’s voice clearly in my head:
If you have work, you should go.
My parents were incredibly hardworking people. They believed deeply in showing up, in responsibility, in doing right by others. In many ways, continuing to work during that time wasn’t me stepping away from my mom — it was me carrying forward what she taught me.
That season changed how I view this business. It stopped being just what we do — it became part of who we are and what we stand for.
Looking Ahead
Blog 400 isn’t about being “done.”
It’s about being more composed than we were at 300. More patient. More collaborative. More prepared.
We don’t panic when plans change.
We don’t wait for perfect conditions.
We don’t build alone anymore.
And when life gets heavy, we still show up — with care, intention, and respect for the people who trust us with their moments.
Here’s to the next 100 — built with steadier hands, clearer systems, and the values passed down to us, carried forward in every story we tell.
