As we were grieving our loss, I pulled out old picture albums and began remembering.  Things I never saw before, people I didn’t know and lives I’d never been a part of unfolded in those pages.  We laughed and we cried but together we treasured those moments.  So while this is my business and my life I beg of you…take pictures!!! Write on them or journal to remember who they were and where they were taken.  Capture those moments- get those wall portraits to treasure in your times of joy but also in times of loss.  If you don’t come to me…go SOMEWHERE- don’t let the years go by until it’s too late.

We didn’t look at the wildlife prints purchased or the other belongings- we remembered with the portraits taken of a man we all loved.  They’re all we have left of him.

RIP MEL- we love you!

Icy Nights 2010

Click on the words above ICY NIGHTS 2010 to view just the final few minutes of the amazing prom slideshow that the Class of 2011 is selling.  10.00 buys you an amazing DVD featuring the ENTIRE event starting from decorating through formal portraits taken by Dawn’s Photography, entire grand march and post prom event!  Soooo much fun and an amazing keep sake!  100% of proceeds goes to the Class of 2011.  Sign up today or call 218-589-8924 to get your copy today!

These images are my baby and her friends- God has been good to me- I am blessed!

When I opened my business 6 years ago I had one goal…to be debt free in 5 years.  At all costs, I had to make that happen.  There’s a lot of sacrifice that goes along with building a business literally from the ground up  and setting a goal like that.  I’ll never do anything like that again that’s for sure.  Although attainable it wasn’t without cost.

For those of you who’ve been here you know that I love Chocolate Brown and so a few years ago I had an employee paint most of the walls that great chocolate brown.  It was never done completely right though… Furniture wasn’t moved correctly and there were areas that the old maroon or white showed through and it always looked a bit sloppy.  Kind of drove me crazy-I’m not gonna lie.  Busy building my business I never took the time for the details of presentation and finer things.  I simply survived from one session to the next so as to reach that goal.

In January,  I sat down and wrote myself a list of goals that I wished to attain in my personal life and business life.  Taking control of my business with me as the person in charge was first and formost.  I had been coasting for far too long.  Things were spinning out of control, my family, my staff and my customers all wondered where they fit into this whirlwind and it left me frustrated most of the time.  So I sat down crossed off a bunch of dates in my schedule and specified each of them to a task.

I wrote out an employee handbook, had my first ever employee meeting and the girls knew what I needed from them.  Change is tough and the girls were amazingly receptive to this for the most part. Afterward a couple of them talked to me specifically about how nice it would be to have the ability to know what I needed done without having to ask.  You see, we have a lot of fun here but that cannot be at the cost of a satisfied customer.  I needed to know that the details were done at ALL times and that my customers were not left wanting for anything more than to come back because it was such an amazing experience.  I believe that with these changes- this will happen and the experience our customers receive will be like none other in the area has to offer.

Which leads me to the second thing on my list- the appearance of my craft, my skill and my love displayed in this amazing studio that I worked so hard to build.  I wanted it to take your breath away as you walk through my doors.  The dark and classy brown (with maroon peaking through) just wasn’t cutting it.  Rita offered her time and her love of painting to do it right.  And wow- lighter and brighter does more than change a wall- it changes a mood.  And you are never quite sure where that new coat of paint may come into play!  Here is our new dressing room… LOVE the color as a backdrop too! It’s fun and fresh to come into Dawn’s Photography and to work in it every day is so refreshing.  I invite you into my dream to share it with me.  The coffee is always ready and I don’t have to take your portrait for you to come and pay me a visit- just call ahead of time as I always reserve the studio JUST FOR YOU!!!!  So I want to know that I have time to share my life with you and you alone.

I’m working on the 3rd thing on that list.  Time with my family.  With a daughter who is now almost 17 and a Senior in a few days and another at 14,  I know that I gave up valuable life experiences with them to reach that all important 5 year plan.  I know…had I been working at a different profession, I wouldn’t have been able to shut the doors to attend nearly every ball game, school event and to be just a jaunt away when they were sick.  But we quit doing the bigger things like shopping trips to Mall of America (we made it!) and 2 week long camping trips (can’t wait to do her Senior Portraits on one of these this summer!)  We experienced life in hours- a few here and a few there.  Mom was always “here” but not always “HERE” if you know what I mean.  No regrets- don’t get me wrong- not ONE!  I did alot of things with my girls that my nursing career would never have enabled me to do but to those moms out there who think they are going to pick up a camera, put photography behind their name and build a business, it isn’t without cost and constant CONSTANT sacrifice.  It’s more than picking up a camera, it’s learning a PROFESSION.  And to call yourself a professional  you must make the sacrifices to be and learn professionalism.  Had someone told me that 6 years ago I may have not had to learn every single thing the hard way.

The other items on my list are yet to come but I’m feeling excited about the success of the top three.  I pray that I can continue to succeed in business, in life and in the pursuit of my happiness.  And who knows- perhaps one day after these 2 amazing daughters of mine are all grown up they may find the passion in what I did and I will have a legacy to leave them.  After all, it was in the front seat of the car on our Mother-Daughter trip to Mall of  America that the oldest one looked out the window with my little point and shoot camera and captured this image.