I bought my first camera in 2011.

I started my business in 2013.

I went full-time in 2017.

…and there are so many things that I wish I figured out earlier!

This new summer blog series is going to explore a few of the lessons it took me entirely too long to learn. Catch up on the rest of the series!

Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4  |  Part 5  |  Part 6

Be Flexible

I’ve been candid about my struggle with anxiety (and posted on the blog about it before!)

At the beginning of my career when I began traveling for work it added a new layer of anxiety for me because of how much was out of my control.

What happened if the flight was delayed or *gasp* canceled?

What happened if there was terrible traffic and I am late to the shoot?

I know it sounds extreme, but in situations where things are out of my control (read: ALWAYS) my mind tracks to the worst-case scenario every time.

To relieve some of my anxiety, my sweet husband used to mark out our itinerary beforehand. Look at this trip I found from 5 years ago:

Eventually with each trip I gained more confidence. I learned that a lot DOES go wrong, things ARE out of my control, Jesus is in complete control, and the world moves on.

Last month I was about to leave for the airport when I received a text that my flight to Destin had been canceled. I quickly booked a different flight to Panama City Beach, couldn’t switch my rental car, and had to Uber between the two airports to pick up my car.

It took me too long, but I’ve finally learned to be flexible with weather, transportation, and my clients. I’ve learned that I can keep a positive attitude, pivot, and be innovative in the face of adversity even when my first plan went awry.

That to say… I DO try to minimize any risk that I can:

– I shoot on XQD and SD cards in case one is corrupt/fails

– I back up everything to external hard drives and the cloud

– I only book completely refundable airfare, hotels, and cars

– I schedule dedicated “travel days” in case of delays

– I allow extra driving time for traffic and/or construction

– I arrive at every shoot 30 minutes before I intend to start shooting

– I bring 2 backup cameras and 3 alternate lenses with me to the shoot