I always admired Steve Jobs.  Partly because I love his products, but partly because he and I share a similar ideology.  Since I’ve discovered my love for photography and business, I’ve been able to come to grips the absolute importance of what I choose as a Career Choice.  I remember Lumuli telling me that I was a completely different person since going from teaching to photography.  I’m happier, I’m more content, I’m not as stressed-out.  You’ll catch me saying, “This is what I was meant to do.”  Let me tell you – it’s weird going from practically a non-profit ministry, to a budding photography business.  It’s easy to look at Teaching and think, “Wow – rewarding.  What a good thing you’re doing for the world, etc.”  Photography is not necessarily such a cut-and-dry, difference-making career.  But, there have been so many times that I have been blessed to see where my photography has made a difference in someone’s life – where it has given me reward beyond measure.

One instant in particular was from a mom who called me about photographing her daughter’s senior pictures a few years ago.  Mom told me that her daughter’s dad had left her when she was three and after several years of therapy, she had never really recovered.  She went on to tell me that her daughter was incredibly insecure, really didn’t want to have her photographs taken and that she was kind of a cranky girl.  I’ll admit.  After this precursor, I was not looking forward to the session.  I was so afraid that no matter what gorgeous images I took of her, she would never see it that way.

Well, they ordered and a few weeks passed.  Mom called me out of the blue.  She told me, “I don’t know what you did, but my daughter has been a completely different girl since having her photographs taken by you.  I am not exaggerating when I say that your photographs were therapeutic.”  She went on to tell me that her daughter had gotten asked to prom that year.  She really wanted to wear her converse sneakers, but after she told her date, he said to her, “You wear your converse, I won’t be going with you.”  To which she said, “Fine.  I’ll go stag.”  And she did.  She would have never done that prior to our session.

Talk about rewarding.  Talk about humbling.  Talk about loving.my.job.

Steve loved his job.  Did you know that he salaried himself $1 per year since 1997?  Yes, I know the arguments: “he’s making a ton in stock,” “he’s still worth several billion”.  Well, yes, but you’re ignoring the point.  He didn’t have to take that salary.  He could have continued to pay himself the millions of dollars most CEOs make.  Money was not making him happier.  It was the job.  What he did for a living was fulfilling enough for him.

“Being the richest man in the cemetary doesn’t matter to me.  Going to bed at night, saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” ~ Steve Jobs

Lumuli asked me one time, “What would you do with the photography business if we no longer needed the income?”.  I told him I would still be in photography, but I would take photographs for charity.  End of story.  It’s hard to imagine loving a job so much. But I do.

You make a difference in the world.  Whatever job you do, if you love it, you will be great.  Whether it’s being a stay-at-home mom, CEO of a company, or small-business owner, you matter.  Your life is worth doing what you love.  If you aren’t doing that now, find out what that is.  Make it happen.

I often get asked, “Why’d You Get Into Photography?”

I’ve always been an artist.  Most of my life, it was in performance.  I was a lead in all the musicals in High School, I was involved – HYPER-involved – with High School Choir.  I studied Music Education and graduated with that degree from Boise State University.  After Lumuli and I got married, I knew that I wouldn’t want to be away from my children as much as I would if I continued teaching.  Not only that, but making ends meet was proving to be very difficult on a teacher’s salary.  Especially since Lumuli was struggling to find work since moving to the states.

I decided to take up photography.  I’d always loved it.  I didn’t know how to use a camera, but I was bound and determined to learn.  For a little less than a year, I practiced using my camera.  I became pregnant with my son and was stuck on bedrest for 8 weeks. I learned more in that 8 weeks in front of my computer than I had the entire year before!  I knew then, that I was going to pursue this new career full-force as soon as possible after delivering my son.  My son was about 8 months old when I decided to go into the business.  I haven’t looked back since.  It has been such an enormous blessing to our family.  I have been privileged to provide for our family while my husband has attended school for the last five years.  I have also only had to be away from my children an average of 15 hours a week since they were born.  I edit, order, market and network around their sleep schedules.  Most of the time, you’ll see an email reply from me at around midnight and I usually don’t lay my head down on my pillow until about 2:00 a.m.  But I love it.  I have nothing to complain about.  I really, really love it.

This right here?  This is my motivation.  This is my inspiration.  This is my reason for the late nights and early mornings.  This is why I got into photography…

Photography by Yan Photography, Denver, CO

Okay – it’s official.  I’m going to work on blogging again.  And believe me – you’re going to have a LOT of sessions to view .  I have been b.u.s.y. since my last post and can’t wait to share with y’all what I’ve been working on.  I’ve been blessed beyond measure, doing a job I’m passionate about and providing for my family at the same time!  Wow.  I just feel so blessed and privileged…thank you to all of you who have chosen to follow me on this journey.  I appreciate you all…

Now.  What’s your passion?

This gorgeous child is actually the sweet newborn of our AMAZING realtor, Jacob Detweiler of Prudential Jensen & his wife (who is also a talented lender) Jenny Detweiler.  She is absolutely perfect and a COMPLETE miracle.  In the season we are reminded of miracles, it’s only appropriate to share the story.

In Jacob’s words:

Before leaving for Mexico, (Nov. 2009) Jenny and I had discussed how this was going to be our baby making trip. Our first real attempt at starting a family!

A few nights before the trip I was awakened by a dull ache in my groin. On Jenny’s suggestion I went to our family Dr. to check it out. He assumed it was a common infection and supplied some antibiotics and sent me to Mexico.

I still had the occasional ache on our vacation so I went in again for a follow up, upon our return.  Some lab tests were done, concern heightened, and I was sent to a specialist the following day. Wednesday, Dec 2nd 2009, I was diagnosed with testicular Cancer. Shocked we went home and absorbed the news.

The day after my diagnoses my left testical was removed (Dec 3rd).

Test were run on my sperm count before and after the surgery, we were told our chances of conceiving a child naturally, were minimal. I believe they said it was a 5% chance. They said after radiation treatments, that percent could worsen. I was told my radiation treatments would start January 4th. So our time was limited if we were going to give it one last go before treatment.

It took me about a week to recover from the surgery. So baby making was out. I had to bank sperm for two weeks. (A type of Insurance if you will.) So that left us one week to try to conceive before radiation began. The last week in December we went with some friends to Jackson hole to ski and celebrate the New Year.

Shortly after I finished my radiation we found out Jenny was pregnant!
August 23, 2010 Finley Frances Detweiler was born. She was born a month early but was and continues to be healthy and happy!

We have been blessed!

Oh and I am still Cancer free!

Pretty amazing, no?  Sweet, Little Miracle Baby…Thanks for sharing your story, Jenny and Jacob – Consider Yourselves Loved…

I am a total copycat here…I was looking at http://www.debsphotographs.com/photoblog/ and saw that she had posted a beautiful commercial from State Farm.  Yes, People, State Farm.  Just love it .  It really did make me cry…

Anyone wanna help me figure out how to imbed a video?

I’ll Be There

I was recently made aware of this fantastic site.  It really made my day.  I hope it makes you smile…

Gives Me Hope.

I belong to a forum of photographers and every once in awhile, a post really strikes me.  This was actually a post written nearly 2 years ago by the talented Anna Mayer, but it had come up again when another poster found out she was pregnant with her fourth child.  I love the boundaries this Mother crosses when she shares her newborn joy with another…

“I have four babies. Lydia, my last, is one month old. 

Jim spotted me with Lydia right away and sat down right behind me so he could watch her every move. He cooed and chatted with her over my shoulder. Quietly, about half-way through the concert, he wispered to me, “Could I hold her? Please?” My mommy instincts shot into high gear. He smells, he is dirty, he’s too odd. Were she my first, I know I would have found an excuse to keep her. But Lydia is my fourth baby, and I have learned to share. I settled her into his calloused, dirty hands and watched a lonely, misunderstood, grown man melt into the softest of creatures. I have seen few things as beautiful as the two of them together. Lydia, oblivious to the harshness of society’s cruelty. Jim, oblivious to the world around him as he soaked up her sweet smell, her softness, and her unconditional acceptance. 

I nearly cried and I thought, “The world simply needs more fourth babies…” “

What a great post for a Sunday evening…enjoy your day and consider yourselves loved…