Photo Cred: Mai Fotography

Warning: This post is going to be all over the place.

I am writing this at 6:07am on Monday, March 28th, 2016. Even though the sky is overcast outside my window and the ground is wet, the birds are still chirping happily. The house is quiet. Shaun, Koa and our pup Bentley are all still sleeping soundly. Any other Monday at this time, I’d still be on this computer. Usually finishing up a blog post, editing, emailing or doing another task I could fit in before I have to get ready for my full-time job. But today is different.

I quit my full-time job. 

WHOA that feels weird to type. I have tried to blog this a million times but felt it’d be best if I just woke up and shared my feelings. I have been working full-time since I graduated college 7 years ago. The last 3 of those 7 years I added a photography business. The last 19 months we threw in the most adorable kid we could have prayed for. My mindset has definitely shifted over these years. My photography business has really taken off and I realized years ago that I had finally found my passion. It is extremely challenging to work full-time, be a wife and mom and run a business. I wanted to be home with Koa more, be more attentive to Shaun (my business office hours took over most evenings and early mornings), and really take my business to the next level. I made the decision to eventually go full-time on my birthday last August, picked a date and worked. my. butt. off. I can’t believe the day is finally here. Most Sunday nights after Koa has gone to bed, you can find me in the office working or watching TV with Shaun with my laptop right in front of me. I’ll hop in the bed around 1am and wake up at 6am to finish what I was working on. This is actually not just Sunday night but most nights. Last night was different. I was able to be present. We laughed for a few hours together watching reality TV and all I could do was smile because things are going to be so different. I’m going to have set office hours to devote to my business and spend all time outside of those hours with my family. I get more time with my son! I could cry just typing that! Going for walks, trips to Busch Gardens, spending lazy days at home…this is what I’m looking forward to the most. He is our pride & joy and I’m so happy to have so much more family time. Koa deserves the best version of me. Shaun does too. And you know what, I owe it to myself.

My last day at my full-time job was Friday. My amazing co-workers took me to lunch and I took a half day. As soon as I walked out of the building… waterworks. I cried all the way to my car and then all the way home. I’m talking ugly crying, too. I was just filled with so many emotions. So much hard work has been put into this dream and it has finally paid off. Remember when Will Smith’s character finally got that job after being homeless in Pursuit of Happyness? Remember when he walked out of the building onto the busy street and just cried tears of joy?! Yep, that was me. I remember a kind woman asking me if everything was okay and through tears I replied, “It is now.”

I have just prayed SO hard for this and it was not an easy decision. I’ve prayed to God to show me that this is the right path and he has constantly put everything into place. I have the most AMAZING brides and cannot wait to love them and serve that much more! I shot my first wedding of the year last weekend (Chiquita & Jerome!), delivered their full gallery and I’ll be working on their album this week. Not at midnight… but during the day. I’m going to be giving my brides my best working hours and a full heart. I am over the moon excited.

Thank you all for your constant support in my business. God, my family, friends, brides and all of you readers keep me so uplifted and motivated and I couldn’t ask for more. If you would have told me years ago that I’d be a full-time photographer, a full-time entrepreneur… I would have laughed at you. I still chuckle now because it’s still so hard to believe. It probably won’t hit me until next week after I really dive in. I’m still working on a huge secret project and can’t wait to share more. You guys, I am just so excited. I have built this awesome business part-time over the past 3 years and I’m pretty darn proud of it. I can’t wait to see how Angie McPherson Photography grows now that I’m doing it full-time. Again, thank you all for believing in me. I’m going to log off now and spend the morning with my little family. God is good.

Joyfully,