Ahhhh November...

Gratitude in the Chaos (and good friends, my dog, yoga, and in My Coffee, Too)

Ah, November. Greetings, beautiful people! The month when we all suddenly remember we’re supposed to be thankful — usually somewhere between the third school drop-off, the forgotten coffee on the counter, and realizing we’ve double-booked ourselves again.

Running a photography business while juggling life — kids, holidays, meal plans, yoga classes we swear we’ll get to, hydration goals (coffee counts, right?), and the noble quest to keep calm behind slow drivers — is no small feat. Some days it’s balanced and graceful. Other days it’s… let’s just call it creative multitasking to keep it PG.

But through all of it, I find myself endlessly grateful, not in a hashtag-perfect way, but in a deeply human, wow-I’m-doing-my-best kind of way.

The Village That Keeps Me (Mostly) Sane

There’s something really special about the community that surrounds this business. It’s not just about photography — it’s about people who get it. The friends who cheer you on when you’re drowning in editing, the small businesses that collaborate and support one another, and the local families who spread the word because they believe in what you do.

This community reminds me that showing up — even when we’re tired, late, or slightly caffeinated beyond reason — is what matters. We’re all just doing our best, and somehow, it’s enough. Permission Granted. It does take a village, and I love you all for keeping me going.

Clients Who Feel More Like Family (and Probably Deserve a Holiday Card)

To my clients — thank you for trusting me to capture your stories. You invite me into your world — messy, beautiful, authentic — and that’s what makes every session so meaningful. You remind me that perfection isn’t the goal. Connection is. (Say it louder!)

When I photograph your family, your milestones, your joy, I see the same balance (or beautiful imbalance) that I live every day — the laughter, the chaos, the love. The massive effort for the perfect outfit pairings. Working together with you! It's true love. That’s what keeps this work so real.

Lessons, Lattes, and Learning to Let Go

Running this business has been the greatest teacher. It’s taught me patience, resilience, humility, and how to accept that failure sometimes just means “lesson in progress.”

I’m grateful for the clients who value quality over convenience, the community that believes in meaningful service, and the small reminders that it’s okay to not have it all together. Because honestly? No one does.

And still, we show up. We create. We connect. We grow. Yes, please.

Finding Gratitude in the Mess (and the Magic)

So yes, I’ll keep being thankful this November — thankful for the people who keep this dream alive, for the clients who see the heart behind the lens, and for every reminder that we’re all human, learning as we go.

Literally, the page just crashed and didn't save all my cute words in this very blog post. But, I am going with the flow! It's all magic in the end.

Gratitude isn’t always quiet or pretty. Sometimes it’s messy, funny, maybe sometimes embarrassing, and usually found in the middle of chaos. But it’s real — and that’s what I love and what I remind myself I am truly grateful for.

With love, laughter, and a very full heart (and my second cup of coffee this morning),

— Jennifer