On building slow and steady…
When we first started our business, we started with just what we had. Since we were slowly building our portfolio, we didn’t really feel the need to go out and drop massive amounts of money on getting everything for our business perfect right from the beginning. Both of us weren’t really sure where the road would lead us or if it would be something that we could make a living at full time. As things progressed, and we decided to pursue weddings as our primary goal, we knew that there was a whole lot of “stuff” we needed that we didn’t have and we were faced with the dilemma every business person comes to: Do we do it all right now, all at once, and be fully stocked but in debt, or do we build slow and steady and deal with the situations of not having it all from the beginning. We decided on the latter of the two. We put a good percentage of our income into savings for business needs and slowly started checking things off the list in order of importance. Cameras, check. Lighting, check. Website, check. Insurance, check… All the while making little sacrifices here and there, buying used when we could, and always trying to invest wisely in ourselves..
A few weeks ago though we hit a milestone. We actually had enough in our savings to buy three of the big ticket items we’d been dreaming of for years. Nate had no idea it was coming when he got in the car and I said, “Want to go buy a new camera and a new lens?” He looked at me cross-eyed and quickly agreed. (Probably afraid that if he moved too quickly, the dream bubble he was in would burst back into reality and I’d be taking him to the grocery store or something equally as lame.)
We are lucky to have an amazing camera supply store (Colonial Photo and Hobby) nearby. One of the guys who works there became our go-to guy and we built up a bit of a friendship with him over the months and now years. In the beginning we’d go in and say, “We need something that will work for this and that situation.” and he would bring out the best item for it, which was almost always out of our budget
We got to the store, found our friend and said the magic sentence we had only imagined for so long… “We want the new Canon 5D mark 2, and a 50mm 1.2. And we’d like to put a deposit down on the new Canon 7D”. A few minutes later as he was tallying up all of our goodies he looked up at me laughing and said, “I remember when you guys first used to come in here and I’d show you all the lenses and gear and you’d always say no. Now look at you guys. Buying up this stuff!” It was a big change for us.
We got in the car and sat. It was by far the biggest business purchase to date. But we had saved and saved, and worked our asses off for it. And it felt sooooooo good. When we got home Nate took photos of me opening the new gear. And a week later when his camera finally shipped in from Canon I returned the favor. It’s really amazing to see our dream coming true after so many months of stretching and scraping and working way more than 40 hours each week. I know there are lots of people out there struggling and frustrated and by no means do I want to brag. We still have a lot more to grow into, and by no means are we at the end of our road of learning and building. We’re just celebrating a mile-marker along the way. And for those of you out there still in the beginning of the slow and steady build, keep at it! Because the feeling as you reach your goals is worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears. I promise!
It was kind of like Chistmas… times 10…minus the candycanes…
These are our excited faces…
The whole journey reminds me of an old song…
“Looks like we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby
We might’ve took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday
They said, ‘I’ll bet they’ll never make it’
But just look at us holdin’ on
We’re still together still goin’ strong…”
I’m so excited for you guys! Thanks for the reminder that it’s ok to not have everything or be in the exact place you want right away. You reminded me that it’s a process… and a fun process with exciting rewards at that!!
Awww that was our wedding song!!! And we are at that begining stage!!!
Congratulations girl! I’ve got to be honest with you, your post gave me chills and tears at the same time. What a huge moment to you & Nate. Here’s to many more! :)
First I must say you guys absolutely rock!!! I think this is just the beginning of huge things to come!!!
This post almost made me cry. That is so incredibly awesome- The feeling of working so hard for something and them being able to grasp it in your fingers is so amazing! You both inspire me so much! Congrats guys. Now how bout some awesome new images with the new gear ?? *WINK*
Congratulations Becka and Nate! I know that it is such a wonderful feeling to be able to invest in your business. Yay for that awesome equipment!
Becka,
Thanks!! I actually have that video starred in google reader to watch later, because I can’t watch it at work and haven’t gotten a chance to at home yet! I really appreciate your input!
Again my darling I am soooooo proud of you and I know how hard you have both worked and I know how you have sacraficed and I soooooooo appreciate the feelings of accomplishment you must be feeling and as your Mom there is nothing more satisfying then to see your baby work hard for something and attain a goal they have worked for themselves…. I cannot tell you how happy I am for you both….. You have been and continue to be such a blessing to me!!!!! Momma
Congrats you two. I couldn’t be happier for you guys!! I started getting a little tear in my eye when I read the song at the bottom. I don’t know if all my wedding emotions are starting to kick in or what! LOL! Can’t wait to see you guys in EIGHT DAYS!!!!!
OH yay congratulations. Isn’t it so exciting to be able to pull new equipment out of the those perfect boxes. Yay yay yay!
What a great post. So encouraging!! :)
@Lindsey Nate talks about in the video from a few Tuesdays with Nate back but to paraphrase… we kind of fell into Canon. We both had canon cameras before starting our business. Our friends and mentors all shot with Canon so that’s kind of what we learned on and we loved it so there was never a need for us to look into anything else. I think both brands have a lot of strongpoints but I’m really happy with my Canon gear. :)
I’m sure you guys get this all the time, and maybe you’ve even posted about it and I just haven’t come across it, but I have to ask…
Why Canon over Nikon?
because hopefully someday in the nearer than farther future, i’ll be in the market for my first dSLR, and have been debating between the two for over a year.
Oh gosh how exciting!! I would have been freaking out BIG TIME! Congrats and Merry Christmas to you two!!
I sat for a while trying every single option in every single menu until I saw English!!
@Jules HAHA! Oh my what a surprise. Did you get it switched to English? (Or learn Japanese?) ;)
Aah opening up new technology is such a great feeling. I had the same face when opening our Canon Powershot G11…until I turned it on and realised it was all in Japanese and I was like *_*
@Lauren Is it really? Great minds think alike!
@Savannah Yup. That was one of our primary concerns. We wanted to stay out of business debt completely and even though it took us longer we are happy we went this way. :) The way of the tortoise. LOL.
Congrats on seeing the payoff from your early decisions! It’s really inspiring, thank you for sharing this! And by the way, that’s my wedding song. :) Totally appropriate for high school sweethearts, as well as business success shared by sweethearts! (corny I know, I just had to!)
We choose to go this way ourselves with equipment and it has so paid off! A year ago we would have never dreamed that we would have the gear that we own now! It is so nice to know that all our gear is paid for and if business dried up tomorrow we would not be a penny in debt. Glad to see that another photog did the same.