The Chain Store and You

Recently I bought a Groupon... 

     Yes... I am a SUCKER for a deal... you have no idea... It's like a natural high I get when I score a sweet deal. Now... I felt a bit guilty buying this Groupon... It was a deal for portraits... a 16x20 Canvas and a free sitting.. Over $150 savings... at a chain store.  Yes... I KNOW I KNOW! I did it partly because I really wanted a Family portrait and partly because it was cheap... and honestly how bad could it be?

     So I bought the Groupon to said chain portrait store, and scheduled my appointment. The excitement wore off fast as I realized this wasn't going to be that fun... Trying to wrangle 4 kids and 1 fiance to sit and pose for a picture in a 5x5 room wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. WHAT was I thinking?  I rescheduled as the day fastly approached. I REALLY didn't want this... The next day came and I re-scheduled again... Finally I dragged everyone down to said chain store and did the session....

     Ahhhh.... Finally.... I reminisce of days when dragging the kids to sit and say cheese, while getting bapped on the head with a germy tickle duster that 47587 billion other kids had been bapped with. NOW I REMEMBER. The fake smiles, the photographer who was trained in 2 days to push a button on the camera...CRAP... I was dragged off to a computer to view what we had gotten, quickly rushed through, and left me not sure which I like because frankly I didn't really get to see and compare and choose. We quickly threw together a collage, I chose a picture which was the best out of the bunch, and that was that... And for the price I paid, I have NO idea how they keep up with overhead and payroll... because I didn't even pay them enough to cover the costs of printing onto the paper and canvas I ordered. Maybe in hopes I'd come back again to give them my money... Maybe that's it... But the day after I have buyer's remorse even though it cost me less than a dinner out with my Family. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, WHO BAPS A POOR 4 MONTH OLD BABY IN THE FACE TO GET A SMILE? BAHHHHH

    I have been absolutely feeling down on myself as of late, because I don't shoot as much as I want to, and have watched a couple people who've asked me for pricing go off to other local photographers... I forgot why I do what I do, getting myself all wrapped up in others and not focusing on what I create.

     THIS chain store experience reminded me... I don't do this for a quick buck... Yes, I like money... who doesn't? BUT I started this business to capture memories and make beautiful art. I started this business because chain stores weren't making me happy while capturing my memories. I remember WHY I picked up a camera and learned every part, killed my eyes learning online until I fine tuned my skills, learned what I like to do best, and found my niche.  I suppose every once in awhile It's nice to get that little pick me up... That slight reminder to yourself  that YOU ARE GREAT at what you do. I needed that...

SO-   Thank you GROUPON! You've taught me something! Thank you for the experience, the buyers remorse, and the reminder. To all my clients who choose me to capture your memories thank you as well... I enjoy helping you create beautiful memories! I still strive to learn new things every day, and look forward to making myself even better than before! I will no longer compare myself to anyone BUT myself. Which, as you see ... HAS come pretty far since the beginning. 

Now I am darn proud of that!