Lesson Learned...and then some

My camera broke this week (which is kind of like having your building collapse in an ordinary small business). And not in the, “I am an enthusiast so although very annoying, I can wait for two weeks for it to be repaired kind of way”. Nope! It broke in the, “When I got home I sat on the edge of the couch and sobbed like a crazy woman because I am in the photography profession and can’t afford for this to happen” kind of way. I was at the end of a photo session for a friend and her three adorable winter clad boys when it just blacked out. As if it weren’t upsetting enough that I couldn’t photograph any more of those rosy little cheeks, I found out that I had to send my camera in for repair with no estimate of turnaround. I went from slightly stressed to a huge wreck in .0568 seconds. My husband was calm (kudos to him because I was a mess). He gingerly printed the UPS label, took his time to package the camera nice and neat, and then went for a leisurely drive to the nearest UPS center. Me? I couldn’t catch a positive thought if it whipped out a shiny silver pot and hit me over the head with it! This was the third lesson I have learned in the Photography industry. The first was to always have a media card backup and never place the used one in my pocket before I go on a carousel. The second was to always have a backup battery. Are you sensing a theme here? Yes, backups of everything! (including a camera) Luckily for me, I have amazing friends and they all came running to my rescue at a full sprint. Upon disclosing my panicked/crazy woman status on Facebook, I had three friends offer up their cameras in the interim and I was able to take pictures at a friend’s baby shower.

Although I started my weekend off with a break down (and that is putting it lightly) it played out quite nicely. I was surrounded by love and families all weekend. Most of my family gathered together in Fairfax, Virginia to celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday. As we sat around the table in the middle of the busy restaurant, I had a moment. Oprah would call it an “Ah-ha” moment, but I call it a “thank the Good Lord for blessing my life” moment. I remember it in explicit detail. Addisyn was sitting on my lap chewing on a baby spoon and reaching for everything in her sight. The restaurant noise was muffled and faded into the background of our dinner conversation. I glanced up after having kissed my little girl on her head to join in one of the numerous conversations going on around the table. When I looked up, I caught my dad’s eye and saw a very familiar look. It was the look of peace, contentment, and love…I knew in that moment, we were having the same experience. I smiled quietly to myself enjoying the wave of peace and leaned over to give Addisyn another kiss. Maybe one of the greatest lessons I have learned in life is the importance of embracing the love of those around you.





























With Love,



Stacy




P.S. A new and upgraded camera has been purchased so now I will have two!