3 FAMILIES - 3 WEEKS

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

I am offering a special kind of giveaway. I want to give a service to three families who deserve a little extra kindness right now.

Is it you? Is it a friend? All you have to do to enter this contest is send me an email at susanmonsonphotography(at)gmail(dot)com or through my contact page on my website.

In the email, please tell me about the family you are entering for. What makes this family special? Why do these people need the service right now?

I want to give what I can to three special families. You can help me to do that by spreading the word. Get the information out there. Please tell people about this project, and encourage them to enter as well.

My heart is so full, and I want to do my best to spread a little more happiness around.

This contest is for Utah Residents only, and all sessions will be done in Utah County.

The contest closes February 9.

Now, EMAIL ME! :)

With Love,
Susan

What a difference a year makes...

At the start of 2010 I was a hobbyist photographer with a dream. But I also was a hobbyist photographer with a huge amount of self doubt. "How can I start a business? No one will like what I do." "Maybe I suck at this." "Maybe I should go to school first." And then I would search the internet for answers, and find things like, "...just a mom with a camera..." and "...fake pro photographer who works out of my home..." or "You can tell  you haven't gone to school..." and I would cry and cry and cry. I would contemplate throwing in the towel. I would judge myself so harshly, and compare my work to that of others. I looked for validation constantly...

And then... I decided I AM good enough. I decided it DOESN'T MATTER if I went to school or not. The proof is in the pudding. I have seen countless people who have the education, who can't take a good picture to save their life, and on the other hand, I have seen COUNTLESS people who have no formal education who are amazing at what they do.

I don't profess to be perfect. I don't pretend to have all the answers or know everything. But I do know this... I love what I do. I am grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me to pursue my dream. I strive to constantly improve. I work hard at gaining more experience and growing each day. I try to give back to others as often as I can.

I started this business at the end of January 2010. I ended that first year, 63 shoots later, having paid off my equipment, and having been able to help support my family by doing what I love. So many blessings in such a short amount of time. I feel overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude to my Heavenly Father, my family, my friends, my "fans", my clients, for all the immense support given to me by them. I would not have gotten through this last year without you. Honestly and truly. I would have failed miserably because I would have given up. I would not have been able to go from my humble facebook page and blog to having the courage to start a website.

Thank you thank you thank you, you mean the world to me.

With love,
Susan