Word seems to be getting around our small town, so I thought it was time that I went ahead and officially let my clients know. I have accepted a teaching position at Lincoln County High School.
It hasn't seemed official before today, but after working all afternoon at the school, it is finally beginning to feel real. This is something that I have thought I would enjoy doing for some time. Some of you may be aware that I started back to school last fall to complete my Masters in Business Education. That ball start rolling last summer when I applied for a business teaching position at LCHS but didn't get it. Well, a position came open over the Christmas holiday, and I got the call! It was completely unexpected, and the past week has been a whirlwind. I will begin teaching next week. This semester I will be teaching Desktop Publishing, Business Management and Multimedia. While I am teaching, I will continue to work towards my MBE. I should complete it within two years.
So I know the question on everyone's mind is what does this mean for brandi barnes photography.
Before I received the call last week, I had been thinking for months about the future of my business. I knew that I was going to have to make some major changes and had begun working on those. Pricing and scheduling both needed to change for the good of my family. Now a completely new variable has been added to the equation. I will be working and going to school full-time on top of being a wife and mom.
Here are my plans for bbp as it stands today.
I will honor all gift certificates that have previously been purchased through the end of 2014. After that they will expire. I will do my best to work with your schedule.
I will not be accepting any new clients. I will be happy to refer you to a photographer who I have confidence in to provide you with a beautiful product.
I will schedule appointments with current clients as my schedule will permit. I know that I will not be able to do every session, and I will be happy to refer you to a photographer I think has a similar style and philosophy to mine.
I may try to schedule mini-sessions through the year. I will just have to see what my work, school and family schedules will allow me to do.
My mother-in-law said it best Sunday when she said that she thought this was "a God thing." I could not agree more. I have prayed and prayed for Him to provide me with work that would give me more time to spend with my family. I'm a wife and mom before all things, and I was finding myself away from the four most important people in my life more and more. I believe this is His answer to me. He seems to make me wait for things. I guess He is still trying to teach me patience, but I really believe this is the path he has planned for me.
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. -- Proverbs 16:9
Thank you for all your support over the years. I have so many friends who started out as clients. I believe that was part of His plan for me, too. That was how you were to be brought into my life. I started this business because of my love of photography, and this is just a new chapter.