Liz and Phil, Chicago Style

They lured me to Chicago with promises of meeting their cats and Appletini's. Phil and Liz hired me sight unseen after seeing my website and talking to me on the phone, which is not totally unusual but I really do love being able to connect with people in person before the wedding if possible and I was smitten with these two within minutes. I love that my clients feel like they know me well enough to bribe me with pets and drinks even when they have not met me.

Meeting with Liz and Phil and the fun we had together really made me do some thinking on the way home.

Several years ago when I changed the tone of my website I got a lot of flack for it. I was told it was "Too chatty, too irreverent for such a high price point in my town, that I wouldn't attract the kinds of weddings I wanted, and are you freaking crazy to make fun of getting the dress dirty and dipping by the Art Museum? And why would people care that you hate licorice?"

I'll admit for about 5.3 seconds I wavered. I thought that perhaps these were valid points. Without sounding like a Diva, I knew my stuff was good enough to stand up to the top shooters in my area but for me I really dig the personal connections and that is really important to me. I love that I daily get inquiries from people for weddings that attach photos of their dog because they know I love dogs. I love that my clients want to go out to have a beer with me after their engagement session. I don't want a big studio with a ton of employees and overhead, I want to work in my jammies 90% at home and shoot weddings the other 10%. I love that every week end when I shoot a wedding when I hug my bride and groom goodbye at the end of the day they feel like friends.

For me, it's what makes me love my job...like a whole damn lot. Some clients I spend lots of time with in person, some it's more via email and phone and then time on the day. But without fail since I personalized my business I've been a happier person. Not a Bridezilla for miles.

Being happy? It's a very good thing.

Look at Phil and Liz...you'll see the happiness.